Career Decision Making

Conducting a Job Search

  1. Utilize All Of Your Resources: These resources can be Networking/Referrals, The Internet, WIU Career Services Office, Career Fairs, and On-Campus Recruiting.
  2. Start Early: Check the Internet for specific company information on a site such as The Vault, www.vault.com. Sites such as Career Builder, www.careerbuilder.com and The College Grad Job Hunter www.collegegrad.com , will allow you to research career information on a variety of occupational fields. These 3 sites are linked to our home page at careers.wiu.edu.
  3. Have A Thick Skin: Searching for a job can be frustrating and you may be rejected for a position or may not even receive an interview.
  4. Don't Wait For Anything To Come To You: You must create your own opportunities because the world does not owe anybody anything.

Job Search Highlights

Western Illinois University Career Services:

  1. Students can now register on-line with the eRecruiting system. This system will allow students to create an on-line profile and publish their personal resume into "resume books" that will be viewed by employers. Go to our home page, careers.wiu.edu and locate the eRecruiting link to begin the process. There are also job listings posted on this site.
  2. The Career Services Office sponsors Career Fairs throughout the school year. These fairs offer the student a chance to meet and speak to numerous employers at one time. The office will also sponsor a "virtual career fair" on-line on their home page. careers.wiu.edu
  3. The Career Services Office will establish on-campus recruiting days where employers will come to campus to conduct formal job interviews with potential candidates. Contact the office for the list of employers, days, and times. careers.wiu.edu

Networking: It is not what you know, but whom you know, and who knows you!

  1. Start by contacting all of the professional people that you believe can assist you in finding the job you want. Contact Faculty Members, Current/Former Employers, University Career Services, Fraternity Brothers/Sorority Sisters, and Family Members.
  2. You should tell every contact person what type of position that you are looking for. Try to be as specific as you can and don't tell them, 'I'll take anything', because that is what you will end up with, anything.
  3. Follow-up any information that you are given, because your initial contact may not (or may) have all the information that you are seeking.
  4. Join a professional organization and take an active role within the organization. Many times these organizations are "Old Boy/Old Girl clubs" that are fully connected to the network in a profession.

The Internet

  1. The Internet is full of useful information for your career search and it has just as much (and possibly more) useless information for your career search. Don't rely solely on the Internet to find your dream job.
  2. On the WIU Career Service home page there is a link (Job & Internship Listings) that will allow you to view over 300 resources that are cataloged by major, career interest, and industry. In addition, use www.indeed.com as a starting point in your Internet search.

Newspapers, Direct Mailings & Search Firms

  1. Newspapers only account for about 20% of the positions available in the job market and the majority of the jobs that are listed are usually the ones that are in high demand.
  2. Directly mailing resumes to potential employers in the hope of obtaining a position is risky at best. You will need a targeted resume and cover letter. If you choose to use this method you will need to follow-up with each resume/letter that you send out.
  3. Utilizing a Search Firm in your job search is literally paying someone else to do your leg-work. The search firm is loyal to themselves and they are interested in receiving their compensation for their services. They want you (the applicant) to take whatever job you are interviewing for so they can receive their compensation.

The Top Career Search Mistakes

  1. Failure to Network: You must learn how to meet, greet, wine, dine, and genuinely charm the socks off people the rest of your lives.
  2. Failure to Invest the Time: It takes time and effort to find the job/position that you really want. If you are no longer on-campus and still not employed you should spend 30 to 35 hours per-week looking for employment.
  3. Failure to Open-Up Geographically: No matter what the job market is like, you should think about going where the jobs are as your first priority. (Leave your parents home and stand on your own)
  4. Failure to Vary Your Search Approach: The "one-size-fits-all" resume and cover letter will not work for every job. Think about "targeting" your documents.
  5. Failure to Leave the Attitude and Image On-Campus: You are no longer on-campus and you are not a professional yet either. If you believe that the world is waiting for you with open arms, you will be in for the shock of your life.