Job Search Tools

  
As a job seeker the first thing you need to do is pray! After seeking God’s counsel, determine the type of position or career field you would like to pursue. The potential employer is usually more interested in candidates who have a sense of direction and focus regarding their career goals. The next step is to determine the geographic target area in which you desire to work. This may be as narrow as the City of Canton, or as broad as anywhere in the United States. Remember the broader your target area, the more likely you are to find the position that matches with your career goals. Finally, conduct research on your desired career field and learn as much as possible about the employers within this field.

A common problem for most job seekers is knowing where to find vacancy listings. There are many ways to go about conducting a successful job search. The following is a brief list of ideas to help locate the names and addresses of potential employers.

  1. Develop a network
  2. Utilize the Internet
  3. Review local newspapers
  4. Survey publications or journals of professional associations
  5. Read trade magazines
  6. Contact the local Chambers of Commerce
  7. Search through phone directories within your target area
  8. Research company profile information
  9. Relocate to another region or state

A full version of this information is available in the Malone College Job Hunters Guide, which you can obtain free from the Career Development Center.

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 Cover Letters

The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to the potential employer, informing the reader of your interest in being considered for a specific position, and to highlight or elaborate on pertinent information within the enclosed resume. Effective cover letters are clear, to the point, and brief. The letter should convey information in three to four paragraphs that consist of the opening, the body and the closing. The most important ingredient is to inform the reader of what you have to offer regarding your skills, education, and experience, drawing a mental picture for the person of how you plan to make a significant contribution to the organization. In addition, share your passion for your desired career field and why you are interested in this particular employer.

A cover letter should accomplish three things:

    1) Explain the purpose of sending your resume
    2) Entice the employer to review your resume
    3) Target your resume to a specific position or career field

To obtain more detailed information regarding cover letters contact the Career Development Center to obain a free Malone College Job Hunters Guide at  careerdevelopment@malone.edu.
 
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Resume Writing

Before you conduct a job search you will need to develop a professional resume that outlines your skills, career related experience, and education. There are several styles to choose from depending on your background and your career goals. The chronological style is the most popular and easiest to develop, listing your education and career related experience in reverse chronological order. This format works well for those who have many years of career related experience. Another style to consider is the skills format. This style focuses on your career-related skills and how you have demonstrated them, even though your job titles do not specifically match up with your new career objective. This style is beneficial to those who are recent graduates and have limited career-related experience in their background. Career changers may also find this style helpful. One more style to consider is the combination format, combining the chronological and skill formats into one. This also is effective for those who are changing careers and want to show the breadth of their skills and diversity of their work experience.

The Career Development Center encourages you to consider purchasing an account to Career Connections. This is an online service that will assist you with creating and maintaining your resume. You have the option of using the resume-writer template or crate/attach your own version of a resume using Microsoft Word. In addition to the resume writing service, we will also refer your resume to employers as they contact us with job postings. There is a one time registration fee required to establish an account, so contact our office to find out how you can get started with creating your resume today.   

For more information regarding details of how to write your resume contact the Career Development Center to obtain a free Malone College Job Hunters Guide at careerdevelopment@malone.edu. 

 
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  Interviewing
Congratulations! You have been extended an invitation to a job interview. Regarding your cover letter and resume your qualifications seem to match with what the employer is looking for in a candidate. The next step is the interview; you now have the opportunity to convey to the employer your skills and interest in the position. Your resume outlines what you have done; the interview allows you to elaborate on your accomplishments.
 
Remember that the interview is a two-way street. It is an opportunity for you and the employer to converse and assess if the position is a good match. The interview allows you to gain insight into the position or organization and it enables the employer to determine if your skills and abilities will meet their needs to be an affective member of the organization. In addition, most interviews are pleasant and friendly, so relax! Try to enjoy the whole experience.

A full version of employment interviewing information is available in the free Malone College Job Hunters Guide, which can be obtained from the Career Development Center careerdevelopment@malone.edu. 

 
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Job Web

 
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