Optimizing Your Job Search Resources

Before you start your job search
        Ask yourself these questions:

• Why am I looking for a job? A job search requires time, effort, and determination. Be sure you are committed to the task and firmly believe that a new position is the next step in your career.
• How do I know if I should make a job change? If you like your present job but are unhappy with some aspect of it, consider talking to your supervisor or H.R. about ways to fix the problem. If there’s no solution, it may be time to change jobs.
• What kind of job am I interested in? Do I need an entry-level position? A parallel position? An upward move? What are my priorities? Flexible hours? Higher pay? Working closer to home?
• How do I prepare for a job search? Have I updated my career documents? Written down my current network of people? Created an appealing online presence? Learned how to search for jobs online? Practiced for interviews?

Note about internships: If you are looking for an internship, many of the same job search tips will work for you! Be sure to see Key Components of the Work Experience and Selecting a Valuable Work Experience.

First Step: Create Your Career Documents

• Create a resume. Create a professional resume (See Easy Steps for a Chronological Resume-TEMPLATE or Easy Steps for a Functional Resume-TEMPLATE) and ask a career consultant to review it. Check Program-Specific Resume Tip Sheets to see if there is a resume tip sheet for your program.
• Write a cover letter. Create a cover letter for a specific job posting you would like to apply for and ask a career consultant to review it. (See Easy Steps for Cover Letter Completion and Cover Letter TEMPLATES)
• Compile a reference list. Contact three to five supervisors, instructors, or co-workers to ask if you can include them on a professional reference list. (See Creating Your Reference List and Reference List TEMPLATE)

Second Step: Use Networking and Online Resources for Your Job Search

• List your current “network.” List the current network of people you know in the workforce: immediate family, extended family, friends, neighbors, fellow students. Let them know your career goals and ask questions about their companies, especially if they work in the same field.
• Handshake
  1. Develop your Handshake profile to attract employers. (See Handshake Login and Benefits)
  2. Check What’s Trending Now? This shows current job and internship postings on Handshake.
• LinkedIn
  1. Develop your LinkedIn profile to attract employers and recruiters. (See Making LinkedIn Work for You)
  2. Watch for job postings and career-related events in Baker College Student and Alumni Group on LinkedIn.

Third Step: Decide Which Jobs to Apply For

• Decide the distance you’re willing to commute or if you might be happy with a remote or hybrid position.
• Research each company carefully. Look at their website, LinkedIn page, Facebook page, and news articles.
• Consider your education and experience. Do you meet the basic requirements listed in the job posting? If you are missing a skill listed as “preferred” or only have a “related degree” or “related experience,” don’t disqualify yourself. Let them decide.
•  Be sure to revise your cover letter and resume when needed to target the requirements in a specific job posting. Submitting a generic-sounding resume or cover letter won’t motivate the  employer to call you for an interview.   

Fourth Step: Prepare for Interviews

• Complete a mock interview with a career consultant using a specific job posting. (See Mock Interview Prep Sheet)
• Think of your top five or six transferable soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, organization); write down stories you could tell in an interview showing these skills in action. (See Telling Stories That Get the Job and Interviewing With the STAR Technique)
• Always practice answering interview questions aloud. Interviewing is a verbal skill.

Follow Up: Contact Each Employer After Applying or Interviewing

• Applications-Follow up approximately one week after applying to a business by sending an email. Ask about the progress of your application and express continued interest in the job.
• Interviews-Follow up with a thank you email within 24 hours after completing an interview. Follow up with a note of inquiry one week after completing the interview expressing continued interest in the job. (See What to Do After an Interview)

Final Advice: Be Ready to Discuss Salary Expectations

When employers bring up the topic of your salary expectations, be ready. You may be asked for your salary expectations on an application form, in an interview, or when a job is offered by the employer. (See Discussing Your Salary Expectations With Confidence)

• Research the average compensation for the role, and consider your experience level and region (See Bureau of Labor and Statistics).
  • Know the average amount per hour (ex. $30,000/year divided by 52 weeks divided by 40 hrs.=$15/hr.)
  • Know the average amount per year (ex. $15/hr. x 40 hrs./week x 52 weeks in a year=$30,000.)
• Decide the minimum pay rate that you would accept. For example, if the minimum you would accept is $40,000, you shouldn’t just settle for the minimum. State a range starting a little above $40,000. You could say, “I would like to earn $45,000 to $50,000.” In higher pay ranges, you may want to state larger differences. If your acceptable minimum is $70,000, you could say, “I would like to earn $80,000 to $90,000.”

Revised 10 July 2024