Beyond the Career Sections of the daily newspapers, there are several key avenues
that you can use in your hunting.
The Internet
The Internet will be an invaluable search tool as you begin to look for work.
Not only are there dozens of excellent job-search sites, but most organizations
have websites that outline their purpose, philosophy, and human resource requirements.
If a particular company appeals to you, get online and check them out. Email
inquiries and request a copy of their annual report. Almost every organization
has communications staff responsible for responding to job inquiries.
Networking
Not everyone likes to network, but like it or not, it is an important part of
job searching. Remember - 'everyone is connected to somebody else', and experts
estimate that 85% of all jobs are not advertised but filled through connections
and word-of-mouth. Talk to family, friends, faculty, bosses and acquaintances
to see if they know of any job openings or career opportunities. Tell them about
your skills and the kind of job you hope to get; odds are they will remember
you if they hear of something suitable.
Professional Associations/ Societies
This will give you a networking advantage. Professional Associations such as
APEGGA regularly hold meetings, events, seminars and workshops that will enable
to you meet and talk to professionals and employers in your field. It will also
keep you "in the loop" about industry trends and opportunities, and
allow you to learn more about organizations that interest you.
Mentors
Mentoring is becoming a hot career/ learning concept. Paring with a more experienced
person in your field provides the chance to develop lasting professional relationships;
it offers the benefit of an insider's wisdom and knowledge along with extended
networking opportunity. Many students shy away from approaching professionals
for mentorship, but the fact is, it is a common and well-received practice that
many successful senior employees participate in. APEGGA offers mentoring guidelines,
seminars and opportunities to learn how to find a mentor.
Volunteer
If you did not volunteer as a student, consider doing so now: volunteering in
any capacity looks good on a resume, improves your skill set and self-confidence
and provides you with another opportunity to meet people in your industry. APEGGA
offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, as do many technical societies
and corporate-sponsored charities.
Career Fairs
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is important to keep on top of Career
Fairs and events in your area. Many organizations actively recruit during these
events, so bring copies of an up-to-date resume. Do not just grab pamphlets
and move on - talk to the staff at each booth. This is a golden opportunity
to find out what a particular company has to offer. APEGGA has an on-line
calendar that lists upcoming Career Events.
APEGGA's Job Member Matching Service
www.apegga.org/employment/