The Dos and Do Nots of Job Hunting

It can be tough to find a job in today's "frozen" economy. Everywhere you look, people are getting laid off and companies are making cutbacks. There's no question, no one can afford to waste time using ineffective techniques in hunting for a job. In his book What Color is Your Parachute?, job-hunting guru, Richard N. Berkeley offers tips on how (and how not) to find a job. Some of his tips may surprise you. According to Berkeley: The five worst ways to find a job are:

1. Using Internet searches (4.1 percent of those who randomly search the Internet find jobs there).
2. Mailing out resumes to employers at random--the shot-gun approach (7 percent success rate).
3. Answering ads in professional or trade journals (7 percent success rate).
4. Answering local newspaper ads (5 to 24 percent success rate).
5. Using private employment agencies or search firms (2 to 28 percent success rate).

The five best ways to find a job are:

1. Asking for job leads from friends and family, staff at career centers or community contacts (33 percent success rate).
2. Knocking on the door of an employer that interests you, whether they are known to have a vacancy or not (47 percent success rate).
3. By yourself, using a phone book to identify companies that provide fields of interest to you, contacting them and asking about potential jobs (69 percent success rate).
4. In a group, using a phone book to identify companies that provide fields of interest to you, contacting them and asking about potential jobs (84 percent success rate--two or more heads must be better than one).
5. Conducting an in-depth "job hunt experience," in which you spend time investigating what you want to do with those who are doing it and using them to guidance and as referrals (86 percent success rate).

On a related note, Dr. Jacquelyn P. Robinson of Auburn University conducted a study about job searches that revealed some similar results. Robinson found that many Americans wrongly believe classified ads and a "shot-gun" approach to handing out resumes are good ways to gain job leads. Interestingly, she found that employers cited state employment agencies as the largest source for new hires. Behind state employment agencies, Robinson found that current employees who referred friends, family or acquaintances were the next highest source for jobs. More from Robinson's study can be found here.

Happy hunting!

Contributing: Tijs Sirrine

Alumni Career Services

Did you know that the Alumni Association provides a wide range of career services for graduates? If you are currently in the job market, visit our Career Services site to look for jobs, get advice, or even set up a meeting with our career specialist.

Are you looking for a job or recently started a new one? Email us and let us know what your experience has been so that we can write a post about the job market from your eyes.

Networking over Lunch

Everybody has to eat, right? For those of you in the greater Provo area, the Recent Grad Program has put together a great way for you to build a network of up-and-coming professionals in the area. The Young Professionals Networking Lunch is aimed a building a strong community of recent graduates in the area. The lunches are held the 3rd Friday of every month at the new (and very good) Spark Restaurant Lounge in the Wells Fargo Building in Downtown Provo. Lunch costs $8 and aside from some mingling, attendees are treated to a 20-minute mini-lecture from a professional in the area.

This month we will be hearing from John Dye, CEO of Fluid Studios in Salt Lake. Please register online at lunches.aa.byu.edu. Seating is limited and registrations won't be taken at the door.

Cheers!