City University of New York



1228725-295275-200025-400050The City University of New YorkCOPEJob Search Techniques The search for employment can be one of the greatest challenges one faces in adult life. When applying for a position, you must draw upon a wide range of skills that you have developed over years and bring them all to bear within a very narrow window of opportunity that is further crowded by a plethora of people competing for the same job. To maximize the chance of success, take the foregoing suggestions under consideration. Self-assessment An effective job search begins not with looking out, but within. Before embarking on your journey to find the position that’s right for you, it’s vital to determine who you are. Take some time to ask yourself and explicitly define your personality—the qualities, tendencies, and preferences that make you a unique individual. These facets of yourself will shine through at all steps of the application process, and you can use your self-knowledge to your advantage by pursuing positions that best fit your traits. Make an accurate appraisal of your skills and talents; be honest, but fair, and reflect on what you can bring to a firm. Write a detailed list of your abilities and ways as to how you might be able to apply them in a work environment. If you are having trouble developing a skills run-down, the Internet abounds with applications that measure one’s personality traits and match them to fields of occupation. Below is a list of selected sites towards that end:Myers-Brigg Personality Test MAPP (Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential) Five Personality Test your searchBefore you start wading through the sea of help wanted ads out there, it is vitally important to set the parameters of your search. Establishing clear criteria will not only streamline your search efforts, but will also net you better results and get you thinking more clearly about where and how you’re searching. As the saying goes, “time is money”—make the best of yours by always maintaining an awareness of what you’re doing, how you’re doing it, and why you’re doing it. Below are some factors to take into account while searching.The type of workThis is the first step to take when embarking on a job search. It’s also one of the most important since the decisions you make here will influence the entire process. Take time to consider your preferences regarding work. If you’re going to be devoting a third of your life to a job, make it something pleasurable. Management loves nothing more than a happy worker. Interpersonal interaction—consideration of your social needs is an aspect of job searching that can be overlooked in its initial stages. Decide if you’re the type that thrives on meeting and working with many people on a regular basis or if you’re more retiring. Pace—while all offices have deadlines to meet, the emphasis they place on them can vary according to the position. Make sure to find a place that matches your work speed. Content—when looking for a position, it is best to find a place that is involved with a field that you’re interested in. Employers look for applicants who share the company’s vision and know that workers who have an emotional investment in an enterprise often work harder than those who are just there for a paycheck. Job requirementsThis is usually the most salient portion in an advertisement and contains many common factors. Education—depending on the type of work, employers will require that the applicant have a degree beyond high school, typically a bachelor of arts. A diploma is not necessarily a measure of an applicant’s intelligence, but an indicator of his/her perseverance in attempting and completing long-range tasks and mastery of skills necessary in the work environment (e.g., reading comprehension, written communication). Experience—along with a degree, this is the most important factor that employers look for when examining a candidate’s application, but it is a two-way street. Seasoned veterans tend to think and act in determined ways whereas those new to a profession can be more easily shaped according to a manager’s specifications. If you lack directly relevant experience, don’t lose hope. Market the skills that you do have in a way that make you attractive to a particular employer. Emphasize your potential for growth and adaptability.Other skills—in addition to education and experience, an employer may require abilities that don’t necessarily fall under either category (e.g., language skills, non-academic background knowledge). Put this at the forefront of your application, especially if you lack the education or experience. Always look for ways to stand out from the applicant pool. LocationJust as in real estate, this quality is another determining factor in your quest to find work. The phrase “time is money” is applicable here on a number of levels. Transportation costs can represent a large portion of a person’s budget and most employers don’t compensate employees for the time they spend in transit to work. Finances are even more important if the position so far away as to require relocation and all the costs it incurs. Some employers will defray the moving expenses of a new hire, but this practice is far from universal. Check to make sure that the pay can support commuting expenses. Posting date When looking at an advertisement, it is best to prioritize your efforts. Concentrate on the newest posts first and proceed in a reverse chronological order. This will increase the chances of being considered, for employers receive scores of applications every day and often accept only a limited number for review. Apply early and place yourself near the top of the list to ensure the visibility of your resume. At the same time, don’t automatically discount older posts. Although the lag time between the filling of the position and the deactivation of an advertisement can be very great, it’s possible that a company is holding out for the right candidate—you. Schedule flexibility Everyone knows that employment is just one of the many demands that compete for attention in our lives, and finding employment that fits into a person’s life is challenging. While all businesses require a degree of accommodation from their workers, some firms are more understanding than others of their workers’ non-professional obligations. Be honest in the amount of time that you can devote to work. Consistently honoring your time commitments will go a long way to forming a good rapport between you and your employer. Duration of WorkOne of the main distinctions among jobs is the length of employment. While many jobs do not have a pre-determined end, some employers need workers for only a finite amount of time, a fact that can be advantageous to students who wants to test the occupational waters without entering into a full-blown commitment (see Temp Agency section below).Number of Hours Similar to the discussion in the previous section, determining the level of hourly commitment is important to finding the job that best fits. As mentioned before, striking a balance between your profession and other aspects of your life (school, family, etc.) is important not only for your financial health, but also your relational and mental well-being. Compensation Often of the most interest to the applicant, finding a pay rate that meets one’s needs is a major component of a job search. Whether a position pays an hourly rate or an annual salary, there is often room for negotiation based on the applicant’s skills and experience. While it is important not to sell yourself short, being too greedy will encourage the employer to look at other candidates. There are no set rules in agreeing on a pay rate and requires ResourcesInternet Search Engines Once you have determined the qualities that you want in a job, you can begin the search itself, which has become both easier and more difficult in the age of the Internet. The sheer number of different job search methods gives one more hits, but places greater demands on the applicant’s judgment to determine which jobs are the best fit. Below is a list of commonly use search engines. Many of them have functionalities that allow you to create a profile and set up automated e-mail alerts for jobs that fit your specifications. Most of them are free, but some offer premium memberships for a small fee. This list is not comprehensive.Note: While you might not yet have a degree, it is a good idea to check these sites on a regular basis to keep abreast of what kind of positions currently exist and track changes in job offering trends so when you receive your degree, you will know how to tailor your resume to the job you want. General Accounting/Careers-in-Careers-in-Communications asme. mediabistro.film Computer Science Tech-EconomicsAxa LegalU.S. Department of Homeland Security Fbijobs.careers/careers.index.jspLegal-Lawyer International Net-temps.html/doc/html/home/home.shtmlEducation Careers.search.?intc=K-Schools.TeachNYC/default.htmTeachers-Fine and Performing Arts New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Healthcare Marketing Publishing/Media Mediabistro. Temp AgenciesIf you’re not looking to settle into any one job or aren’t sure of your career and want to experiment with a few different fields, contact a temp agency. They offer free placement services and may lead to a full-time position. Like search engines, temp agencies can be both general and specialized. Below is a list of some sites. AccounTempsAdecco Staffing AppleOne Employment ServicesAtrium Staffing Bon Temps Personnel Agency Career Group, Inc. Clarity Core Staffing Epic StaffingKelly Services Merlin AssociatesNew York Staffing Professionals for Nonprofits Temporary Alternatives Temporary Staffing by Suzanne, Ltd.TemPositionsTaylor Hudson Inc.Wall Street Services LinkedInThis website is an excellent resource for both longtime professionals and newcomers to the job market. Similar to Facebook, it enables you to create a free online profile and “friend” both current and prospective employers and colleagues. The site also hosts a multitude of discussion forums dedicated to not only a particular field, but also specific topics within that field. In addition, the site features news articles covering a wide range of job-related subjects including education, economics, technology and more.Professional OrganizationsIf you are considering entering a particular industry, look to join a society that shares your career interests. While these organizations require annual membership fees, many of them offer reduced rates for students and young people. Most, if not all, associations have meetings and conventions on a regular basis. These gatherings are invaluable opportunities to get some face time with established figures in your field, increase your visibility in the professional community, and keep abreast of current issues/trends in the field. Organizational membership is an excellent resume booster, for it is an indication of your dedication to the field in which you wish to work. Job FairsBefore the advent of the Internet, one of the best ways to learn about employment opportunities was the job fair, an event where numerous businesses gathered in one space to showcase themselves and offered applicants the opportunity to meet with representatives and tender their resumes. While Internet search engines are certainly faster and can yield more results, the anonymity of a faceless e-mail denies the applicant the chance to meet face-to-face with a company delegate and make a stronger, more positive, and lasting impression on human resource managers. To find out more on the latest job fairs in the New York area, visit .Resume BuildersAssembling a record of achievement that is comprehensive, concise, and tailored to the position, all the while making it easily readable can seem a daunting task. Distilling the entirety of a job’s many functions into a few lines without omitting relevant aspects is difficult. Fortunately, there are a multitude of Internet resources that offer structure and guidance. Below are a few examples: Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) InternshipsPerhaps one of the greatest challenges for new graduates at the start of their professional lives is getting the proverbial foot in the door. In both good and bad economic times, young people face the age-old paradox—employers turn away young applicants because they lack the necessary experience, but the primary way to gain experience is through employment. An internship is an alternative that enables the student to gain exposure to not only the business world, but life outside academia in general. While it is true that many internships take advantage of students’ free or cut-rate labor and assign them the most menial and undesirable tasks, this is not universally true; a number of internship programs involve the student in the office’s daily operations in a substantive way and can help a student decide whether or not a particular career is the on s/he wishes to pursue. Some programs may lead to employment with the company depending on its financial resources and the intern’s performance. Research the company that offers the internship and find former participants of the program to determine if it is worthwhile. At the same time, be sure to keep expectations realistic; even full-time employees participate in grunt work, so don’t be insulted if you don’t always have an all-star assignment waiting around every corner. For more information on available internships, visit the Career Services Center in room 429 and 430 in the Library Building on the Queensborough campus or visit their website . ................
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