How much time should you spend looking for a job? A general rule for job searching if you are working or going to school full time is to spend 8 hours a week. If you are not working or going to school you should consider your job search to be your full time job. You will have better luck by having a cohesive plan in place.

• Map out your strategy in advance
• Set daily and weekly objectives so that you have a concrete way to evaluate your progress
• Determine the amount of time you will allocate to:
  • Identify target organizations
  • Research
  • Make contact
  • Follow up
• Schedule at least one activity away from home each day to get yourself out into the community and energized
• Organize your days of searching for work just as you would a regular work day
• Record all of your appointments, activities and results

It is important to have support during a job search. Even the most positive searches contain frustration. There are many support groups for individuals going through a job search. There are networking groups that meet to share information and support each other. It helps to have supportive family and friends. Some people may not want to share their job search with others but it is important to remember that most people find jobs through networking with friends. Additional ways to help in a job search include:

State job placement services-States have offices in most cities that provide leads and assistance in finding jobs. Some businesses will only work through these offices for employees.

Private job placement agencies-Private agencies help individuals find jobs, often for a fee that is paid by the individual or the company seeking the employee.

Temp agencies-Some workers find that working on a temporary basis is a great way to find a job. It also lets the individual learn more about a company before taking a traditional position.

Internet -There are many websites that will post resumes and job information on-line. These sites also have much information on finding jobs. Many individuals will focus a lot of time and energy on these sites not realizing that it is often the least successful way to find a job.

Human Resources-Targeting the human resources department of companies you are interested in can be very helpful. Making the connection with a recruiter can help attach a face to a resume or application.

There are several phases a company will go through before deciding to advertise a job. The most effective way for you to find work is to tap into jobs that have not yet been advertised. These jobs are part of what is referred to as the hidden job market. Why hidden? The hidden job market includes:

• Necessary work that no one has identified
• Work that has been identified but for which candidate recruitment has not yet begun
• Work that has been identified and for which informal (word-of-mouth) recruitment has begun

It is a widely acknowledged fact that between 80% and 90% of all jobs available at a given time are not advertised. Accordingly, you should spend 80% of your job search time on creative methods that enable you to be successful finding out about these types of positions. Read articles about companies reporting their business plans, expansions, changes and new additions. Consider small to medium sized employers as more jobs are being created in these sectors. You need to target your application to the person who would hire for the position. Here are some ways to get your resume into the right hands:

• In person-This is probably the most effective method, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet with people who hire because of their increased workload and the number of job seekers who want to speak with them. However, do your research, prepare your resume, and go. If you are in the vicinity, you may find it productive to walk in and ask if the head of the department you would like to work in could speak with you. It's more difficult to dismiss a person than a resume. Larger companies have recruiters who hire. These individuals often get hundreds of applications to review.
• Through a telephone call- If distance does not permit an initial personal visit, telephone to make preliminary inquiries and/or to arrange a meeting at a mutually convenient time. When you have the hiring manager on the phone, be ready to make a strong first impression. State your name first and then how you found out about him/her, (e.g., name of person who referred you). Present a 30 to 60 second commercial about what you can contribute to the company. Ask for a meeting to be able to provide more details. If the person doesn’t want to meet with you, ask if you could phone again in 2 to 3 weeks to inquire about opportunities with their company.
• Applying by mailing your resume- Remember to address your letter to a particular person who hires for the area you want to work in, not to a title like "Marketing Manager". In your letter, mention how you found out about the position and include the name of the person who referred you (if you were given permission to do so). Tailor your qualifications to the employer’s needs. With so many resumes being received by employers, yours needs to attract their attention and be readable in 15 seconds or less! The focus is on what you can contribute. A poor response rate can often be attributed to what appears to be a lack of self-direction. Include your career objective and relate your abilities, skills and experience to that specific area within the organization. Show the reader that you will solve their problem, fill a need they have, and/or make their life easier. It is critical to follow up your mail with a phone call and/or visit.
• Networking- Networking is making connections with individuals and groups of people, and can be accomplished by personal meetings, through the telephone, on paper, or via the Internet. Networking contacts can help you locate job opportunities in both the visible and hidden job markets. It is estimated that 65-90% of jobs are found through networking. An informal survey among your employed friends would reveal that many, if not most, found employment this way. You can't begin networking, however, until you have defined the type of work you want. Interviews to help you decide on potential occupations are called information interviews and should not be confused with networking interviews. Getting the two straight in your mind may be difficult. If you have reviewed both of these principles and are still a little unsure, please speak to someone in Career Services. Networking can bring many benefits to the job seeker. Individuals who find employment in this manner tend to be more satisfied in their job and earn a higher income. Steering away from the advertised market has other advantages too since it often over represents low paid/unskilled or highly paid/highly skilled positions. Most people find work somewhere in between these two extremes. Secondly, the advertised market can be deceiving since many jobs are non-existent or already filled before being printed. Lastly, the qualifications listed in such ads can be significantly higher than the actual requirements of the job being advertised.

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