2. McGraw-Hill/Irwin PPT Module 26 Researching Jobs ©2007, The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved.

3. 26-1 Researching Jobs  To learn how to  Analyze your own values and interests.  Find information about employers.  Use the Internet in your job search.  Find posted jobs and tap into the hidden job market.

4. 26-2 Researching Jobs  To learn how to  Deal with difficulties in your record.  Decide whether to keep your current job or look for a new one.

5. 26-3 Researching Jobs Start by answering these questions:  What do I need to know about myself to job hunt?  What do I need to know about companies that might hire me?  Should I do information interviews?

6. 26-4 Researching Jobs Start by answering these questions:  What is the “hidden job market”? How do I tap into it?  What do I do if I’ve got a major weakness?

7. 26-5 Before Job Hunting, Know  What achievements give you satisfaction and why.  Whether you prefer  Firm or flexible deadlines.  Solitary or group work.  Specific or general instructions.  High or low pressure.  Fast or slow tracks to promotion.

8. 26-6 Before Job Hunting, Know continued  If you’re willing to  Take work home.  Travel.  Spend less time with friends and family.  How important money is to you.  Where you want to live.  If the job serves a personal goal or is simply “a way to make a living.”

9. 26-7 What to Know About Companies  What the job itself involves.  Who will receive your correspondence and the corresponding address.  What the organization does and at least four or five facts about it.

10. 26-8 Where to Get Information  General Directories  Standard and Poor’s Register of Corporations, Directors, and Executives; Thomas Register of American Manufacturers.  Specialized Directories  Accounting Firms and Practitioners; O’Dwyer’s Directory of Public Relations Firms.  Trade Journals  Advertising Age; Cable Communication Magazine; Canadian Business; The Practical Accountant; Today’s Realtor.

11. 26-9 Where to Get Information continued  Web Resources  America’s Job Bank (www.ajb.dni.us/index.html).  Asia Net (www.asia-net.com).  CareerMosaic (www.careermosaic.com).  Career Path Online (www.careerpath.com).  Federal Jobs Central (www.fedjobs.com).  Monster Board (www.monster.com).  SkillSearch (www.skillsearch.com).  Vault (www.vault.com).

12. 26-10 Information Interviews  Let you know whether or not you’d like the job.  Give you specific information.  Create a good image of you.

13. 26-11 Information Interview Questions  Consider asking  What are you working on right now?  How do you spend your typical day?  Have your duties changed a lot since you started working here?  What do you like best about your job? Least?

14. 26-12 Information Interview Questions continued  Consider asking  What do you think the future holds for this type of work?  How did you get this job?  What courses, activities, or jobs would you recommend for someone who wants to do this kind of work?

15. 26-13 Hidden Job Market  Consists of unadvertised jobs.  To tap, use referral interviews.  Ask people you know for a referral to someone in the profession you’re interested in, then schedule an interview with that person.

16. 26-14 Hidden Job Market continued  Clarify that you’re not asking for a job, but just for information about the field or general job opportunities.

17. 26-15 Hidden Job Market continued  Take along a résumé, but only for tips on how to improve it; at the end of the interview, consider asking for a referral.  Send follow-up letters.

18. 26-16 Potential Job Hunting Challenges  “All of my experience is in my family’s business.”  “I’ve been out of the job market for a while.”  “I want to change job fields.”  “I was fired.”  “I don’t have any experience.”  “I’m a lot older than they want.”