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Job Search in a Down Economy: News, Tips, Encouragement

Top Nine Tips For Graduating Seniors Searching For Jobs In A Down Economy

  1. Start now on your job search. Finding your job may take a while.
    Define the kind of job do you want? In what industry? At what organizations?
  2. Research who’s hiring? What are your target markets and companies?
  3. Develop your message or brand and market yourself proactively and energetically
    Build a Powerful Brand
  4. Perfect your resume and cover letter: tailor as needed to specific jobs
    • Focus on what you have to offer that the employer wants. Target the job
    • Highlight the impacts you have had on a project, a process or an organization
    • Proofread relentlessly. Get a second opinion
      • 12 Tips to get your resume noticed!
  5. Understand how employers will look at your resume
  6. Use NU resources first - HuskyCareerLink jobs, then HuskyCareerLink Employers (strongest in the Boston area)
    • Try entry level job boards: Monstertrak, Simplyhired
    • Find your niches, research companies, find contacts, find professional associations in your field – use Google!
    • If you use Monster, HotJobs or CareerBuilder, dig for entry level jobs
    • Search widely and flexibly. Do not count on automated searches
  7. Cast A Wide Net: be flexible, inventive, creative, resilient
    Tough times affect our whole economy. Your plans to land your "A" job may go off the rails no matter how hard you try.
    • Develop plans B through ??? when your Plan A is hard to ccomplish
    • A short term contract or a part time job or a volunteer job can lead to a great long term job, and will definitely lead to new professional contacts A short term contract can lead to a great long term job
    • Employers understand "survival jobs" (job that pay the rent) as a way to manage in tough times. Make the most of what you do
  8. Get out from behind your laptop! Only 15% of all jobs are even there!
    Connect with people to find out who might be hiring, who can lead you to people at organizations you’re interested in, who can share how they found their first jobs. This is called networking—need help it? ASK!
    • Start with people you know: family, friends, co-op employers, faculty, teammates
    • Broaden your reach to HuskyNation (NU Alumni) professional associations, community organizations, LinkedIn, Facebook
    • Find a way to connect that is comfortable for you.
      • If you are the quiet type, there’s a networking style for you
  9. Keep believing in yourself and what you can contribute! You may getmany "no’s" on your way to your "YES!"