This document outlines steps for preparing for and conducting a job search, including taking a self-inventory, updating resumes and cover letters, developing an elevator pitch, leveraging networking and social media, and maintaining a strong personal brand. It notes that while jobs are fewer, opportunities still exist in fields like education, healthcare, and information technology. Networking is emphasized as the most effective strategy, with only 5% of jobs found through online applications. Proper interview preparation and maintaining a positive attitude are also recommended.

1. Presented by
Jason Cascone, Director of Career Development
C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University

2. Preparing Yourself
 Get in the right frame of mind
 Take self-inventory
 Put together your materials
 Send the materials

3. Are there jobs?
 LI hit highest unemployment in 15 years
 Hit hardest is retail
 Hit softest Information Technology
 Even a small drop in government positions
 Growing jobs in Education and
Healthcare
 NY Metro area is driven by financial
services industry
 Financial planning
 Accounting
 Yes there are… but there are fewer jobs with more
competition
 Economic stimulus package is said to have money slated for federal government jobs,
jobs in infrastructure development (mostly blue collar jobs), healthcare and white collar
jobs as a result of growth in the above

4. Job Loss and Its Effect
 4 Stages of Job Loss Grief
 Numbness
 Yearning
 Disorganization and
Despair
 Reorganization
 Deborah Kitner: http://www.marketingsource.com/articles/view/2495

5. Coping
 Openly acknowledge the loss and the associated
feelings
 Find support
 Find ways to succeed and affirm your self-worth
 Deepen relationships and reconnect
 Maintain your health

6. Additional Coping Methods
 Compartmentalize your feelings related to job search
 It most likely wasn’t your fault
 You are still a good person and an
effective employee
 Ignore the statistics and forget
the numbers
 You can only control YOURSELF!
 Get comfortable with the idea of
the “survivor job”
 There is no shame in downsizing nor is there shame in trying to
make ends meet

8. Review Your Qualifications
 Edit your resume
 Appropriate format
 Is it up to date -- including last job?
 Does it focus on ACCOMPLISHMENTS and SUCCESSES
when possible?
 Does it represent you the way you want it to?
 When someone else reads the resume, what impression
do they get of you?
 Make a list of your strengths

9. Review Your Qualifications
 What deficits did you discover?
 How can you improve yourself to remove those deficits?
Learn new technology or update skills

Finish a degree

Get a certificate in a new area or to update knowledge

 Do you have reasonable explanations for those
deficits?
 Are these real or perceived deficits? Can the
perception be controlled?

10. Write a Sample Cover Letter
 Cover letters are another IMPORTANT way to market
yourself
 Cover letters DO NOT reiterate the resume
 Cover letters directly and concretely highlight RELEVENT:
 Skills
 Qualifications
 Experiences and Accomplishments
 Goals and Motivations
 Your interest in the company
 Your contribution

11. Develop Your Elevator Pitch
 Use the elevator pitch to introduce yourself to
potential network contacts
 Career fairs, professional assoc., etc.
 Tell me about yourself
 This can look similar to your
cover letter though verbal and shorter
 What is your expertise? What are you
looking for? What do you hope to
accomplish?

13. Your Personal Brand
 Your personal brand is your
 Main contribution to the workforce
 Your greatest set of strengths or strength
 How you want to be perceived
 Slogan, theme, marketing, creates
credibility
 Know your market
 This brand should be in your pitch,
resume, cover letter, and interview

14. Interviewing Skills
 Basics of interviewing have not changed:
 Enthusiasm
 Positivity
 Eye contact and good body language
 Behavioral interviewing
 Responding with proof
 All answers need proof!
 You have been preparing for the interview through
previous activities

16. Job Search
 Network, network, network
 Only about 5% of jobs are landed off of the Internet
and newspapers
 For every 12 informational
interviews, 1 job offer

17. Internet
 Good for company and industry research
 Visit company websites
 Good to skim job boards – better if you can find
industry specific job boards
 Jobboardreviews.com
 Google: “job board” <industry>
 Becoming an excellent resource for
networking

19. Social Networking Sites
 LinkedIn.com, Facebook.com
 Establish expertise
 Your profile
 Gather and post endorsements
 Use Q&A to answer questions
 Be visible
 Stay in touch with your network
 Help others
 Send invitations
 Grow your network
 Reach out to those in your target market
 Join and start groups

23. Other Online Activities
 Twitter
 Another social networking site
 Blogging
 Online diary
 You choose the subject
 Show your expertise in an area
 Provide good resources and information

24. Time Spent on Job Searching
Job Boards and
Research
Newspapers
Networking

25. When Do I Send Out My Resume?
 When any appropriate opportunity has been located
 When a network contact asks for it
 When enough research has been done to create good
focused marketing materials for a company you wish
to work for
 At career fairs

26. Questions
www.liu.edu/pep -- resume and cover letter handbooks in the student section
jason.cascone@liu.edu
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn!