Full Time Job Search Tips

A full-time job search process differs a bit from a co-op/intern search process. The following provides tips and resources to prepare you for your full-time job search in the technology field as a UC college student.

WHERE ARE THE JOBS?

  • College-site Full-Time Jobs: UC Handshake has full-time positions posted to UC students and recent alumni. This includes employers who are looking for UC candidates for full-time and part-time roles. Sign-up for alerts and complete your profile in UC Handshake. Several local, national and international companies advertise on UC Handshake.

  • LinkedIn: Update your Linkedin profile with your technical skills and solicit endorsements and recommendations from your past internships/co-ops and peers. Set your profile to “open to and seeking opportunities” (see setup guide).

  • Social Media and Networking: Continue to network online, at UC and in your local community. For instance, there are many major related and career related list servs to hear about opportunities. One example is through the Pre Professional Advising Center (PPAC) list serve for Pre-Health and Pre-Law students. Sign up on their site.

  • Career Fairs: Large scale career fairs occur at UC In the Fall and Spring. Smaller major or career specific events such as COAS Career Fair, Communications Career Fair, Sport Management Career Fair, Law School Fair, Sales and Marketing Career Expo, and other events takes place. All events are on UC Handshake under events. Be sure to attend to network with companies. Cincinnati, as well as other cities, have active tech Meetup groups in the area as well as FREE or low-cost tech events advertised on EventBrite. Be aware and sign up for alerts from both of these networking sites. Do not discount connecting with Professional Associations locally, regionally, and nationally related to your career and professional of interest.

  • Full-time Search Sites: Review, set up your profile, and utilize the following job sites.

    • Career One Stop – links you directly to jobs based on search.

    • Indeed – most comprehensive list of jobs from boards, sites, etc.

    • Career Builder – provides resume posting so employers can reach out to you based on your resume

    • GetWork – takes jobs directly from company sites

    • Idealist.org - Non for Profit job listings

    • Scouted - a site recommended for recent grads wehre you work directly with recruiters.

    • Direct Jobs - take postings directly from job boards and association's pages

    • USAjobs – database for government jobs

    • LinkedIn – Use Linkedin companies section to find out more about a company (statistics, promotions, etc.)

  • Temp to Hire: Not sure where to start. Consider stopping by Robert Half, Adecco, or another temp to hire agency to get your foot in the door and gain experience while you search for a full-time permanent role. Here is a quick list of recommended recruiting agencies in the Cincinnati area.

BEYOND THE APPLICATION PROCESS

  • Interview Research Tip: When researching companies for interviews not only google the company but check their interview process and reviews on Glassdoor to get an opinion.

  • Network: Continue to network at events on campus, in the city, or where you are hoping to relocate to this year. Career Fairs, Company events (additional are on Handshake), Cincinnati area events like the Big College Day and Area tech event. Participate in virtual career fairs (The Intelligence Community and Dept of Homeland security offer career fairs each semester and field candidates for hire here). Get involved in regional and national associations related to your focus.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THOSE RELOCATING

  • Looking to Relocate: For those looking to relocate outside of Cincinnati or your current location, here are a few job search considerations:

    • Resumes: Add cities of consideration to your head of your resume. Note that you may be asked for a local job interview and should be willing to travel to and attend If you do this. Some companies will pay for you to interview locally, but be prepared that this is not an option for all companies.

    • Cover Letter: Be transparent about wanting to move to the area – mention your thoughtful reason and intention within reason for relocation. Ex. “I have tailored my selective search to opportunities in the Las Vegas area to get back to my family and friends and be a part of the innovative tech hub in the city that never sleeps.”

    • LinkedIn: Utilized linked in to direct your search and reach out to alumni in the area working in your field and at companies of interest. Set up informational interviews and begin to the network prior to your move.

    • Companies: Are there companies where you are currently as a local with multi-sites in the U.S., where you could possibly move to in the future? This may be one way to get to where you want to be long-term.

    • Resources: visit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site to find if your chosen city has a local the local directory of businesses in the area to focus your search.

    • Research Companies and Develop a list: Check out the following how to research companies balance article that includes links to sites to find up and coming industries, hot and trending company lists, and sites where you can research competitors of targeted companies (i.e. hoovers) and companies by location (i.e superpages).

NEGOTIATING TIPS

As a co-op, we ask that you DO NOT negotiate your salary. However, this is a different scenario as you consider full-time offers. The following resources provide tips on how you can best represent yourself in the negotiation process:

  1. 15 rules for Negotiating a Job Offer from Harvard Business Review

  2. How to Negotiate, Accept or Decline a Job Offer from Balance Careers

  3. Salary Negotiation Tips from Balance Careers

A few tips that standout that I wanted to highlight:

Do your research prior to asking for more money or benefits. If you ask for money to relocate, is this something that the company already addressed in the job posting? Are salaries public and if so, is your salary ask within reason when considering the job location, responsibilities, title, industry, and company size. For instance, state salaries are viewable and accessible to the public. Some salary information is posted on Glassdoor and often a range is listed. Check minimum and preferred qualifications in the posting and use this information to visualize where you land.

Consider timing and that the professional world is small. Be considerate of the company you are working with regardless if you plan to work with the company or not. Your professional world is small and more than likely you will run into the professionals interviewing you in the future at a conference or a future job. In the best situation, you make a firm offer and do not quickly rescind that offer due to a new recent “better” offer. Furthermore, if you are granted an offer. It may just mean that the position was not a good fit. Try to still maintain respect in this situation as you may run into these folx again.

FULL-TIME INTERVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

In a full-time search, there will be multiple rounds of interviews typically. As a co-op or intern, you may have had only 1 screening interview. Prepare for each interview and consider the individual(s) that you are meeting with and what information they should know about you and your past experience. The conversation with a future peer team member will look different than your interview with the search committee, the hiring manager, or the head of the division (aka. Chief Human Resources Officer, Vice President of Sales).

Good luck with your full-time search. Professional Career Coaches in the Bearcat Studio are always available to assist and support you in this process. Schedule an appointment via UC Handshake.