Directing your next professional step search?

Remember that all jobs are not at the companies you know…only about 10% of the jobs are at companies with 1,000+ employees. Therefore, a majority of the jobs exist at organizations that you have not heard of....yet. While you should still search and apply to the organizations you know, expanding your search may present you an opportunity to work with a contractor to that major company that leads you to that “dream” job or provides you with a more well rounded experience at the smaller company that makes you an attractive candidate in the long run.

As a co-op or intern, you want to build as many skills as you can. I hope that you discover new opportunities that you currently do not know exists. Be open and flexible.

The Directed Job Search.

Starting Point. Identify Employers and Organizations of Interest.

A resource the is reference throughout this blog is the 2 Hour Job Search book. The book identifies a few steps to take in your job search. An easy first step is to identify "Dream" Employers. These may be companies or work sites you can name off the top of your head or ones you discover the further you dive into your career path and interests. With these companies in mind, expand the list by researching their competitors (i.e. conduct a google search or use hoovers.com) to find these like companies. Another great resource is vault.com that lists internship programs by industry and provides "best of" lists to explore competitive programs. You also can research companies based on values and their environment and culture. The Human Rights Campaign has a Corporate Equality Index each year that rates companies based on valuing equity & inclusion within their business. Fortune Magazine and Diversity, Inc. also rates companies based on diversity and their work environment, as well.

Step 1: Identify Positions of Interests and Keyword Search Terms.

In some majors, you do not have a direct path to your career and part of your experience search is gaining the necessary skills and on-the job experience to get you to where you want to be post-graduation. Here are a few quick strategies to come up with a list of employers.

1. Research alum working in the field and identify potential jobs of interest (record job titles). Use the LinkedIn alumni tool (how to tool) to find alum from your major and working in industries/positions that are of interest to you.

2. Google "your major" job keyword search terms and discover specific careers and the search terms associated with your career paths of interest. An example of search keywords per type of career list.

Ex. Psychology majors work in human resources , sales, content management, market research, fundraising, development, program advising...

As you complete, Step 2. Pay attention to "keywords" in the position description and "position titles" that will help you further in your search to find positions of interest and companies you are interested in as you continue your search and career journey.

Step 2: Search Current Openings.

Check out the following sites to find jobs of interest using your keywords and position titles:

1. UC Handshake . Explore part-time, internships, campus jobs, and full-time roles. Setup job alerts to your email or apps.

2. LinkedIn. Search Jobs and Find UC alumni to connect with working at companies or organizations of interest OR in roles that you aspire to.

3. CareerOneStop. A search engine pulling from Indeed, Career Builder, State Job Portals, and America's Job Exchange.

4. Indeed. A comprehensive job board.

5. Idealist. A listing of non for profit opportunities.

6. WehireAmerica.com - powered by Jobipedia. Often has unique postings compared to other large job site platforms.

7. Internships.com. List of internships and some are only listed on this site or with company site. This site also highlights skills needed and market research based on each posting.

8. Google Jobs Tool. Pulls from multiple platforms.

9. Direct Jobs. Positions taken directly from job boards and association sites.

10. Not sure which Job Board appeals to your interests and location, check out the

Add a search for remote positions to your search. Sites such as flexjobs and remote.co focus on remote jobs which in the current environment are continuing to grow. Both of these sites offer premium versions (paid), but the free updates also provide ideas about which companies are currently hiring.

Try to find sites on your own based on your career interests, like this Wordpress site listing opportunities for Psychology students.

*Setup Alerts to your email/apps by location and position titles.

Step 4: Network and Expand your Search and Knowledge

1. Network with alumni in your chosen area via LinkedIn

You can directly find alum at your university that live and work in your area of interest (position type and geographical location). Take note of the companies they are work for related to your industry and career interests. Integrated learning strategies posted this following article providing details on how to connect. In short make sure UC and the image is attached to your profile. Then one way to find alum is to go to People and use the Filters – Location, Universities. Connect with alum working at places of interest to you and in your field. Reach out with an introduction in your connection message inviting an informal conversation to learn more about their path and your common field of interest in the area. Reference the informational interview blog for additional insights into the future conversation.

Sample Message: Hi [Name], I saw that you are a fellow UC Bearcat. I am a 3rd year majoring in [major] and exploring early career opportunities [intern/co-ops] in the area. I was reaching out to see if you would be open to an informational interview. I believe I could learn a lot from your career path and journey. Kind regards, Your NAME

2: Attend networking events in your chosen area related to your area of interests.

Check Meetup, Eventbrite, local visitors bureau, and do a web search of job fairs/networking events in your area.

If you are seeking a position and not somewhere locally, concentrate your efforts to networking online. Seek out virtual meetups, try to video chat professionals in the field, and possibly plan a concentrated trip during a short timeframe or long weekend to meet people in person.

3. Volunteer to gain experience

Consider volunteering at local non-for-profits to gain experience and connect with other professionals.

Opportunities are available at UC through the Center for Community Engagement (sign-up for their listserv) and at sites like Volunteer Match and Cincinnati Cares. Seek out opportunities at Non for Profits in the area using Great Non for Profits site or GuideStar.

4. Consider targeting companies with your similar values

Often times, success at an organization if found when the culture, environment, and company's values match your own. Companies who work on their culture to build inclusive spaces are highlighted by community organizations as well as national organizations, like the Human Rights Campaign which publishes a Corporate Equality Index each year rating companies on their inclusiveness towards LGBTQIA employees. Reference this Muse article that provides additional advice.

5. Learn while you search. Add skills and knowledge to your portfolio as you search. You may find software experience (i.e. Salesforce, SharePoint) or other experience that will help you market yourself in the job search. Pick up these skills using UC's free LinkedIn Learning tool or through other providers. An example recently is where several psychology students earned Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certifications and received a job offer through their certification provider to gain experience in the psychology field while at UC. An example of a posting where the employer helps you get certified.

Record, Track, and Document your Progress

Start to build an excel document with the following column headers to keep track of networking and job information. See sample below. Download and make your own.

Downloadable Job Search Tracking Template.

Should I wait to submit another application? No. Many students how many applications should you apply to? I am sure you have heard "don't put all of your eggs in one basket". This applies to job searching. Apply to experiences you are interested in and see what you land. Without using your network it can take between 18-25 applications to land an interview. This number decreases the more you utilize your network and have direct experience in the field.

Application Tips. Consider what will make you a marketable candidate where you may or may not be able to network in person.

Resume. List the city, state of where you are wanting to move or are directing your search in your header.

Housing. Research housing options in the area and connect with UC students who may already be living there. DAAP students created the following site to help UC students connect with other students living and working in several U.S. cities.

Location. Consider where you are situated (locally or out of state) when seeking employment in a certain area. Let employers know you are willing to video chat, meet online, and know that some employers may require you to interview in person. Can you afford to fly to the area for an interview when asked (time-wise or expense-wise). Just be prepared with your answer if the situation comes up. Also, be aware that the earlier you are in your career, the less likely that you will receive relocation assistance as employers will expect you to have the means to move to the area on your own as you are seeking employment there. We hope that these things come your way – paid flights for interviews, housing assistance…but this is not always the case.

College Resources. Last but not least, connect with a career coach or former Professional Development course instructor for more advice and tips throughout the process.

Job Search Infographic.