There is more to getting a job of your choice than just having a degree. Your degree will open many doors, but it is up to you to obtain the employment you desire. For most of us, the most difficult part of the job search process is deciding "what I want to be when I grow up." That is because we are convinced that whatever career we pick we are stuck with it. We are sure there is only one job we are destined for, if only we could figure out what that one job is.

The job search, however, is a process...one that may not happen linearly. While we have listed the following information in "steps, " the bulleted items remind you that there is often overlap between the stops and often you may find yourself going back and forth between a few of them.

Step One - Take a Look at Yourself

The most important step in the process, this will help to build your confidence in your capabilities and provide you with more direction and focus. Your search will be more productive if you know something about yourself. It is easier to convince someone to hire you if you know what you do best. It is your task to articulate what characteristics/talents will make you marketable to employers. Keep in mind also what you are interested in and how this fits with your particular talents.

Step Two - Prepare Your Resume

Developing your resume can aid in the process of articulating your skills, talents, and interests. Please see the Resume Writing Guidelines for more information and/or stop into Career Services for help. Before you visit or call employers, you should have your resume ready.

Step Three - Develop a Work Plan

"It is often helpful to treat the job search like a class and dedicate a certain amount of time to it per week:"

Before launching your job search campaign, you need to develop a work plan. The job search is a time-consuming process. Having a solid work plan and organized records will help insure that you do not miss deadlines or fail to follow up on a lead, contact, or interview. The more committed you are to the job search, the greater the chances of finding a job that you like and is satisfactory to you at this time in your life, paving the way for a rewarding career in the years ahead.

Step Four - Investigating The Job Market Developing Contacts

"Networking and utilizing contacts in the field are helpful both for gaining information to determine if a field is right for you as well as seeking a position in that field."

Everyone has contacts including you! Broaden those contacts. Utilizing those contacts does not mean you are not getting a job on your own - remember that the majority of available jobs are filled by word of mouth. You will discover important information about employment opportunities through your personal contacts. Let friends, relatives, faculty, etc., know that you are looking for a job. Career Services staff, VU alumni, and Career Fair employers can also be used for informational and networking purposes. Use these contacts to obtain the name of individuals with whom it might be valuable for you to speak. Your last question when speaking with someone about career opportunities should be "Can you recommend someone else I should speak with?"

Step Five - Applying For Positions

• Utilizing multiple job search strategies work the best - do not simply rely on one resource (i.e. contacts, various internet sties in addition to pinpointing companies on your own).
• You may choose to apply for advertised openings on company websites, the web, newspaper or Career Services' Online Job list. You can apply to specific employers even if they do not have positions currently advertised.
• Mass mailings are often used by students but, unfortunately, they require a lot of effort and often do not reap many benefits. The number of resumes received by an employer can be in the hundreds. Usually a majority of those are screened out. Whenever mailing out a resume, following up with email or phone calls is critical. Though it may be more labor intensive in the short-term, seeking out a specific contact at a company before applying will increase the likelihood of your resume being seen.

Step Six - Interviewing With a Company

Step Seven - Follow Up

Make sure you personalize the thank you note to the company and position you applied for - mention something from your interview so they know you are truly interested! Sample Thank You Letters