Introduction to Nonacademic Job Hunting
Although it is tempting to jump headfirst into a job search, taking time to think, learn and strategize will optimize your results. The points listed below should be carefully considered prior to embarking on a job search.
Conduct a Thorough Self-Assessment
If you haven't seriously considered what you want in a career, it is critical that you spend time engaged in self assessment before embarking on your job search. If you have not already identified the skills you can offer potential employers and the characteristics you value in a job, you will be unable to successfully sell yourself to possible employers. You will waste time pursuing jobs that are not a good fit for you skills, values, and interests. Information about self-assessment can be found on the GCCSO Web site.
Be Proactive
No one owes you a job, and you certainly will not find one unless you take responsibility for the process. Be flexible and open-minded. You never know where an opportunity will lead, so take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.
Be Persistent
Follow up on everything you do, and don't take "no" for an answer. If you submit your résumé via e-mail to a job posting, also submit a hard copy, place a phone call to the organization, and even stop by the organization (if possible) to reinforce your interest in the position. Although you don't want to annoy anyone, expressing a sincere interest in a position or organization is appropriate. Following up gives you more exposure, making it more likely that an employer will remember and consider you. Often the most memorable job candidate is the one who receives the offer.
Have a Plan
Consider your job search as a part-time to full-time job and structure your days and weeks accordingly. Set aside several blocks of time each week to focus on your job search. Assume a managerial role by setting realistic daily, weekly, and monthly goals, and strive to meet these objectives. For example, plan to make a certain number of phone calls, mail a specified number of letters and résumés, and follow up on a finite number of leads per week. Keep thorough records of all these activities, including an appointment calendar and a detailed log of calls, e-mail, mail, and follow-up activities.
Do Your Research
Researching career options and organizations is an essential step prior to beginning the job search. Without this knowledge, how can you be certain you are searching in the right places for the opportunities that will best satisfy your goals? And without having some basic knowledge about the organizations you are applying to, how can you possibly persuade them to hire you? Since research comes naturally to many graduate students and because most information is readily available on the Internet, career exploration and organizational research should not be an inordinately cumbersome process. Information about exploring careers and tools for researching organizations are available on the GCCSO Web site.
Go After the Organization, Not the Job
Jobs constantly change and evolve, and being satisfied with your work environment is often more important than your actual responsibilities and tasks. If an appealing organization has a job available, but that position is not quite what you were looking for, you might still consider it. Here's why: once you have landed a job with an organization and established yourself, it is usually much easier to change positions within that organization. Getting your foot in the door, even in a position that is not quite what you want, may be an excellent first step to landing your dream job with an organization you really like.
Be Open-Minded and Flexible
Just because the organization or the job is not exactly what you envisioned, don't write it off automatically. Sometimes an unexpected opportunity will lead you to opportunities you had never imagined! Also, don't limit yourself by saying things like "I only want to work for a Fortune 100 Company." Small firms with fewer than twenty people can be extremely rewarding, and these firms actually create two thirds of all new jobs!
Be Realistic
It is important to maintain an optimistic, self-confident, and realistic attitude when looking for a job. Try to view your job search as a learning process and remember that you are also engaged in a matching process: you are looking for the right job as much as employers are looking for the right employee. Prepare for a long job search, especially during difficult economic times, and expect the process to last anywhere from four to eight months. Rejection is inevitable, so be prepared. Try not to take it personally and seek out feedback that will help you improve your search.
Manage Your Expectations
Although you may have remarkable skills and years of experience in graduate school, many employers may not consider this to be directly relevant to the job you are seeking. In fact, many employers are just now realizing the value of employees with advanced training. Without tangible work experience, you may have to start with an entry-level position. Do not let this discourage you. Although starting at the bottom of an organization may not be what you envisioned, sometimes it is the only way to gain entrance into a particular organization or industry. Employees with advanced degrees have sophisticated skills, maturity, and learn quickly; they consequently advance more rapidly within an organization than their younger, less seasoned peers.