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Job Search Strategies

The hidden job market leads to jobs 58-62 percent of the time. There is less competition with the hidden job market because very few know about the positions. Furthermore, only 15 percent of all jobs are advertised. Employers rely on employee referrals and other methods the other 85 percent of the time.

These are the four job search strategies that work:

Targeted Job Search

A targeted search means identifying specific areas to pursue that will generate the best results while allowing you to have control over your search. Today’s economy dictates that job hunters be more knowledgeable, determined and focused than ever before to reach their goals. Learn all you can about the companies for which you are interested.

Before you start any search use tools like Vault or The Muse for an overview of the organization and its industry profile. Research all you can about the company. Visit the company’s website to ensure that you understand the breadth of what they do. Review the organization’s background, values, vision and mission statement. Learn about their products, services and client base. Read recent press releases for insight into projected growth and stability. Go to LinkedIn to find the hiring manager’s name. Review trade or business publications. Seek perspective and insight into their industry standing. Develop a question list. Prepare to ask about the organization or position based on your research.

Employers in California by Major

Employer Industry Number of Employers
Accounting 16,170
Actuarial Science 29,266
Advertising 7,100
Aerospace Engineering 1,704
African American Studies 2,196
Agricultural Business Management 5,974
Agriculture 15,772
American Sign Language 112
Animal Science 12,637
Anthropology 659
Antitrust & Trade Law 35
Archaeology 466
Architectural Engineering 2,063
Architecture 6,292
Art & Fine Arts 7,303
Asian Studies 2,358
Astronomy & Astrophysics 69
Automotive Engineering 2,524
Aviation Management 2,060
Bankruptcy Law 371
Biochemistry 6,568
Biology 7,409
Biomedical Engineering 2,251
Biophysics 4,272
Biotechnology & Bioinformatics 1,478
Botany & Plant Science 4,043
Business & Corporate Law 401
Business Analytics 8,529
Business Management 97,299
Chemical Engineering 5,904
Chemistry 6,899
Cinematography 7,224
Civil Engineering 5,896
Classical Studies 3,564
Cognitive Science 1,012
Communications & Media Studies 22,993
Comparative Literature 7,737
Computer Engineering 18,441
Computer Science 36,496
Construction Management 6,032
Criminal Justice 5,631
Criminal Law 1,922
Criminal Prosecution 321
Cyber Security 303
Dance 2,509
Data Science 989
Divorce & Family Law 1,013
Drama, Theater & Visual Arts 7,945
eBusiness 5,630
Ecology 2,610
Economics 861
Education 28,483
Electrical Engineering 20,733
Energy Conservation Engineering 1,965
Engineering Physics 1,673
English 10,654
Entertainment Management 1,365
Entrepreneurship 886
Environmental Engineering 3,848
Environmental Studies 3,548
Equine Studies 591
Fashion Merchandising 30,710
Finance 26,838
Forensic Science 477
Forestry & Natural Resources 2,266
Genetics & Genomics 424
Geography 917
Geology & Earth Science 4,907
Graphic Design & Commercial Art 6,104
Healthcare Management 1,695
History 3,963
Hotel Management 4,045
Human Development & Family Studies 21,040
Human Resource Management 2,999
Immigration & Naturalization Law 665
Industrial Design 579
Industrial Engineering 2,106
Interior Design 5,650
International Affairs 552
International Business 3,574
Journalism 8,043
Kinesiology & Exercise Science 20,067
Labor & Employment Law 322
Labor Relations 4,742
Landscape Architecture 4,624
Language Studies 3,411
Legal Services 43,064
Library Science 2,242
Linguistics 2,148
Logistics & Supply Chain Mgmt 9,571
Malpractice & Negligence Law 140
Management Information Systems 10,308
Marine Science 442
Marketing 9,877
Materials Science & Engineering 8,794
Mathematics 6,529
Mechanical Engineering 20,313
Meteorology & Atmospheric Science 562
Microbiology 3,978
Middle Eastern Studies 600
Music 4,465
Music & Sound Engineering 3,340
Nanotechnology 93
Naval & Marine Engineering 514
Nuclear Engineering 156
Optical Engineering 624
Paralegal Studies 8,201
Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law 352
Petroleum & Gas Engineering 1,212
Photography 12,733
Physics 2,765
Political Science 4,364
Polymer Science & Engineering 202
Psychology 9,155
Public Defender 117
Public Finance & Taxation 587
Public Health 980
Public Policy 4,995
Public Relations 1,445
Real Estate 94,321
Real Estate Law 606
Religion 27,878
Restaurant Management 14,148
Retail Management 17,313
Risk Management 14,423
Robotics 524
Science & Technology Management 12,160
Social Work 42,263
Software Engineering 27,811
Sports Management 16,131
Statistics 5,018
Structural Engineering 3,789
Surveying 1,228
Tax Law 228
Transportation Engineering 1,856
Urban Planning 1,657
Veterinary Science 5,789
Zoology 1,671

Face-to-Face Networking

Did you know that you are five times more likely to be hired if you have been referred by an employee than if you apply without knowing anyone in the organization? You’ll build stronger relationships and reach people in the offline world you’ve only chatted with on the computer. Communicating in person showcases your personality and helps people genuinely connect with you. It leads to learning more about the industry and might even get a job or job lead.

Make a list of people you know. Associations and school alumni groups are very useful in networking and often their websites have job postings for members. If you have worked for an employer in the past, look for an alumni group for that employer on LinkedIn groups. You’ll find many ways to connect with other alumni from FPU this way as well.

Networking – learn all the ins and outs of networking and professional networking etiquette

Networking at Career Fairs

 

Social Media Networking

Social media can connect you to people or businesses you are interested in locally, nationally and internationally. By connecting with peers, your network will be accessible and available to you when you need it. Your connections will also be able to contact you and stay current with your professional updates.

Social media can also help you build relationships with key influential people in your industry that you may not otherwise meet. LinkedIn and Twitter are useful platforms for building rapport with people in your chosen field or specialization. LinkedIn has changed the follow-up process that takes place after networking events. Rather than exchanging business cards, you can simply take a picture of a person’s business card, look them up on LinkedIn and connect with them to be reminded of what they look like, their industry, experience and more.

With 95 percent of recruiters using LinkedIn to vet candidates and 79 percent of them hiring someone through LinkedIn, it is essential that your online public presence is professional and reflective of your experience, skills and abilities. When seeking new opportunities or looking to make a career change, your online image can help to set you apart from other applicants. You can even improve your reputation if you’re connected with industry leaders and members on social media.

Social media platforms, especially Twitter and Facebook, have become known as the first source for news and events. There are many business leaders who often share great, informative articles about the current state of business, marketing and innovation. You can also find some of the LinkedIn influences recognized by your industry. Oftentimes, they write excellent blog posts or articles to share their insights and experiences. See the Social Media page for more tips.

Whatever you do, always be grateful for those who are willing to help and thank them for their time and assistance. This goes a long way towards making them want to help you in the future. Every meeting you get and the opportunities that result will be because of your networking efforts and establishing relationships. Write a thank you note, keep in contact—and pay it forward. What you give you get in return.

Traditional Job Search

A traditional job search is simply applying for jobs that are announced on an employer’s website, on job aggregators like Indeed or Glassdoor, job boards like FPU’s Handshake and classified ads such as Craigslist. A word of caution: protect your privacy against scams, keep a low profile if you’re already employed and make sure to only use about 20 percent of your time searching this way. The other 80 percent of your time should be spent through a targeted job search and networking.

Don’t forget to track your job search efforts. It’s a pain, but it will provide you with valuable information on which job sites are most effective for you and which are a waste of your time, which employers are most interested in you and those that don’t seem so interested. This will help you be more efficient in your job search. There are several free job search tracking tools out there such as Handshake, Glassdoor Job Tracker and Startwire. Jibber Jobber has several optional paid upgrade features, but the basic features are free.

Salary Negotiation

Are you getting a good offer? What is your job worth? These sites can help you know for sure:

Relocation Information

Moving to a new city can be tough. Getting the right information can make it easier. If your new job requires you to move, these sites may be helpful

  • Home Fair – obtain a salary calculator, city reports and cost of living for different cities
  • LiveCareer Relocation – find a collection of the best relocation and moving tools and resources to assist job-seekers who are considering relocating
  • City-Data.com – obtain detailed, informative profiles for every city in the United States
  • Movoto – learn about your new neighborhood
  • Neighborhood Scout – find demographic information and more about your new city