NU’s job bank, OCR and More

Job Search - Steps

The After-Graduation Search – it’s different from a Co-op job search!
  • It’s very competitive - you are entering a real world marketplace on your own
  • You have to research and find opportunities - only a few will "come to you"
  • You don’t get matched to an after-graduation job

Start with these NU Career Services resources:

Job Search Strategy Tip: USE NU RESOURCES FIRST

5 Steps Explore and define what you want Target your resume to a job type Find and apply for jobs: HCL/Job Boards/Company Sites Prepare for interviews Negotiate salary and consider offer Yes! Accept offer. Enjoy your new job! Research careers, industries, companies Talk to people in your desired field Research job descriptions-learn what employers want Talk to people-Network! With Co-op employers, alumni, friends Write cover letters tailored to jobs Research company and its industry to prepare Research salary information Decline politely. Regroup. Find more leads

Define what you want

  • Type of job you want – this is your target job
  • Industry you want to work in
  • Type, perhaps size of company
  • Location of company

Target not yet clear? Many possible targets? We can help. Make an appointment. For more on figuring out your target...

Research

  • Research to learn what employers are looking for in candidates for the kind of job you want...

  • Research to find companies or organizations that lead you to job leads

The more you know about what employers in your field are looking for, the better you can position yourself for success in your search! For more on job search research…

Research Resources

Update and Target your Resume

Your resume is your number one job search tool, no matter whether you are searching for your first internship, an after-graduation job or searching for your last job in a long career. There are specific updates you need to do to make your resume work for the after-graduation search. More on resumes...

Plan your search strategy

How you plan your search depends on your chosen field. Learn about how people find jobs in your field using the web for research AND informational interviews - talking to people - in your field to find out how people got their jobs in the field.

TIPS:

  • Find NU Alumni to talk to (use the Husky Nation tab on the portal or get help from a Career Services counselor). What companies or organizations do they work for?
  • Find professional organizations in your field – they often give employment overviews, define pathways into a field, ofter job postings in the field.
  • Google ‘Your field careers” – often offer broad overviews, define specific career paths, suggest further strategy.

Find and pursue job possibilities and leads

  • Start with HuskyCareerLink – employers post there because they specifically want NU graduates.
    • Search for jobs (try browsing your first time in; next time, look at recently added jobs, at the top of the list).
    • Search the Employers section for employers in your industry or field. They are interested in NU students even if you don’t see jobs posted on HCL. Go directly to the companies’ websites for postings. If there is a Campus or College or New Graduates section, go there. NOTE: HCL employers are primarily Boston area based.

No matter how many co-ops you have done, or how accomplished you feel as you complete your program, search in the entry level marketplace. This is the marketplace looking for new graduates, and the one in which you will do well. Unless you have 3-5 years of experience, you will still be considered entry level in most fields.A recent Monster search of entry level jobs returned jobs looking for anywhere from 0 to 9 years of experience!

  • Find companies. When you defined what you want, what companies came up as possibilities?
    • Use Research Resources above to find specific companies
      • Try CareerSearch to find competitors of a company you know
    • Try using www.simplyhired.com or www.indeed.com to find companies hiring people to do what you want to do and jobs
    • Find company lists in business directories like the Boston Business Journal’s Book of Lists. (Ask Career Services).
    • Use the leading newspaper site of your target location e.g. www.bostonworks.com for Boston for top local employers
  • Find job websites specific to your industry:
  • Other Sites:

    The web is a powerful source for finding opportunities. Ultimately, people hire people.

    The most common reason for stalled searches? Overreliance on the web. The best strategy when that happens? Find people to talk to.

    You can run out of job postings. You will NEVER run out of people to talk to.

    Write Cover Letters

    Cover letters are a new challenge if you’ve never needed to write one before. They are a must for most seniors and new graduates looking for jobs. For more...

    Prepare for Interviews

    Preparation is the most important factor in interview success. Don’t leave your preparation to the last minute. You need to prepare responses to typical questions, including the famous "Tell me about yourself", plan how to show how your skills and experience make you a contributor. For more on interviewing, how to prepare and practice, tips for doing well, and info on different types of interviews like phone interviews, case interviews and technical interviews.

    Talk to People – Networking and Informational Interviewing

    Networking - or making connections - is the process of talking to people to learn about possibilities, to find out about career paths, and to get your name out there. Even if you don’t know this to be true, assume that the world is full of people who are willing and able, even happy to be helpful to you.

    Networking is the most frequently underused step in job searches.

    For more on networking, how to use it, what it is and is not, and how to build a network click here.

    Track and manage your search

    Imagine you've got 25 resumes out there. A call comes in from a recruiter from a company you'd LOVE to work for, but you can't remember exactly what job you applied for.

    Develop a system for tracking contacts, dates of contact, whom you were referred by, job applications and everything else you can think of to keep you prepared for that call, and sane!

    Use a notebook, a spreadsheet, or google "job search tracking" and find a form you like on line.

    Negotiate Offers and Salaries

    An employer offers you a job and you’re really excited but you don’t know how to talk about money. Click here for more on salary history, salary guidance, talking about money, understanding an offer,managing multiple offers and actually negotiating an offer.