During the year that you graduate, you should begin thinking and planning your job hunt strategies.  Job searching includes resume/cover letter writing, learning interviewing skills, and job search tactics.  Resumes and cover letters provide an opportunity for you to promote yourself as a qualified candidate. However, they won't get you a job, just an interview.  Employment and Career Services provides numerous resources aimed at individual vocations and on how to put together a great resume and cover letter.  Preparing for an interview is essential. There are many resources that can provide you with potential interview questions to study and role-play.  Learning to network will help you market yourself to potential employers.  

How to Conduct a Job Search
For most of us, finding a job is hard work. Employment and Career Services works with students on an individual basis to assess the needs and resources necessary for students to be successful in their job search.

Statistics show that a successful job search is one that encompasses a variety of resources; therefore, counselors work with students in defining the various resources available. This helps to increase the number of job opportunities available to students. Employment and Career Services is located in the College Center Room 161.  Please call 719-549-3040 to make an appointment.

10 Steps to a Successful Job Search:

1. Keep an accurate record of everything you do pertaining to your search.
2. Identify the geographic areas you are willing to work.
3. Identify all employers within that area who could effectively utilize your skills/education.
4. Research those companies and develop a list of 20-25 companies in which you are most interested. Employer and industry information is available online and in our Career Library. Please make an appointment to use our library.
5. After conducting research, select the five companies of greatest interest to you.
6. Present yourself on paper. Send a resume and cover letter to the employer, stating your interest in obtaining a personal interview or the opportunity to speak with them in person about the company or organization.
7. Make appointments, if possible, with the person in each of those organizations who has the authority to hire you. If that is not possible, make an appointment with someone in the personnel office of that organization.
8. If you are unable to schedule an employment interview, try to arrange an informational interview.
9. If you have not received any offers at this point, go back to step 4 and select the next five employers on your initial list. Note: consider other geographical areas in which you are willing to work.
10. Periodically re-contact those employers in which you are most interested. Sometimes persistent, systematic contacts will lead to a job offer.

The most effective job search techniques come from your own creative efforts. The goal is to find positions before they become public information. For further suggestions to improve your job search, come to Employment and Career Services to discuss your personal "plan of action" with a counselor. Use College Central Network for a listing of jobs posted for students and alumni.  Call for an appointment: 719-549-3040.