The Office of Career Development at Shawnee State University houses a variety of resources to assist you in developing your personal job search plan. You will find resources in the Career Library and software on the lab computers to be very helpful. To assist your planning efforts, the following summary highlights some of the primary topics you will need to consider.
Set Aside Time
Searching for a job takes more time than you might imagine. The first takes is to establish your goals. How many hours per week will you devote to your job search? Schedule those hours on your weekly calendar. Determine how many cover letters and resumes you will send out each week and how many interviews you will schedule each week.
Be Decisive
- Carefully define your career objective(s).
- Determine the geographic areas in which you are willing to work.
- Calculate the income you are seeking.
- Determine the benefits important to you.
Develop, Purchase, or Gain Access to the Resources You will Need to Conduct Your Search
- Resume(s)
- Cover letter(s)
- Interviewing skills
- Computer
- Stationary
- Business apparel for interviews
- Funds for traveling to interviews
- Databases/calendar for tracking status of Job inquires
- Sources of information regarding job opportunities
- Phone
- Fax
- Copier
- Postage
- Envelopes
Research Sources of Information Regarding Job Opportunities
Directories
- Manufacturing - hard copy version
- Manufacturing - databases on CD ROM
- Telephone
- Specialty - business, education, health, social service, technical, etc.
- Career Development and most libraries house these and other directories.
Internet
- Visit Career Development for a list of relevant sites.
- Explore selected comprehensive career-related sites on the Web.
- Explore selected local, state and federal government web sites.
- Explore corporate and agency web sites.
- Register with College Central Network for job opportunities and career advice
- Access placement bulletins from other colleges and universities.
- Newspaper classified ads are easily accessed via the Web.
- Use a search engine to access the telephone yellow pages.
Job Search Literature
Career Development and most libraries house a variety of books describing job search techniques. These resources often list sources of information regarding job opportunities.
Network
- People will help you....if you ask!
- Alert everyone you know to the fact that your are seeking employment.
- Contact anyone who you feel may assist you in your job search effort.
- Maintain regular contact with Career Development
- Register with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Take Advantage of the Office of Career Development
- Meet with a career counselor as needed.
- Explore the services and resources housed in Career Development
- Utilize Career Library resources.
- Utilize Career Laboratory computers.
