Learn how to proactively identify, plan and organize the steps to develop an effective job search strategy.

1. Job Search Strategies
Erin Richey – Assistant Director, MBA Career Consultant
Office of Career Services
Robert H. Smith School of Business

2. What is the first word that
comes to mind when you
hear the term
“JOB SEARCH”?

3.  The online
application
“black hole”
 Lack of
feedback from
employers
 It’s a “numbers”
game
Why Is A Job Search So Frustrating!?!

4. InterviewSuccessFomula.com Study
– Via Forbes.com article - http://ow.ly/mbq94
▪ There were 3.6 million job openings at the end of 2012.
About 80% of available jobs are never advertised.
▪ The average number of people who apply for any given
job: 118. 20% of those applicants get an interview.
▪ Many companies use talent-management software
(applicant tracking systems) to screen resumes, weeding
out up to 50% of applications before anyone ever looks
at a resume or cover letter.
Job Search Stats for the Digital Era

5. Job Search Stats for the Digital Era
 On average, interviews last 40 minutes. After that, it usually
takes 24 hours to two weeks to hear from the company with
their decision.
 What do employees look for before making an offer? About
36% look for multitasking skills; 31% look for initiative; 21%
look for creative thinking; and 12% look for something else
in the candidate.
 In the U.S., 42% of professionals are uncomfortable
negotiating salary. By not negotiating, an individual stands to
lose more than $500,000 by the time they reach 60.
 More than half (56%) of all employers reported that a
candidate rejected their job offer in 2012.

6. What’s Wrong With This Picture?

7.  Casting too wide a net
 Relying solely on the internet
 Not tailoring resume & cover letter
to each position
 Not spending enough time “in”
your search
 Not tracking progress
 Over qualifying network
connections
 Lack of follow-up
 Carelessness in application process
 Lack of a well-defined strategy
Common Job Search Mistakes

8. Discover Develop Connect Engage
These four words convey our values and play a vital role in the fulfillment of
our OCS mission and promise to our students and employers
OCS Core Values

9. Discover
• …Your
interests,
skills and
values
Develop
• …Your
marketing
document
s and a
detailed
search
strategy
Connect
• …with
networks
to identify
opportunit
ies and
lower
“barriers
to entry”
Engage
• …In a well
planned,
focused
and
successful
job
search!
Developing A Winning Job
Search Strategy

10. ▪ What do you want?
– What do you enjoy? What are you good at? What do you
value?
– Clarify focus areas
▪ Importance of Assessments
▪ Field, Function & Company Research
– wetfeet.com
– careers-in-business.com
– Virtual Business Information Center – vbic.umd.edu
*Your OCS coach is a great resource for this stage*
DISCOVER

11. DEVELOP
Now that you know WHAT you
want, it’s time to get organized
Marketing Document Development
– Resume
– Cover Letter
– Network Messaging Templates
Strategy Development
– Source identification
– Timeframe & Location Preferences
– Getting Organized
– Setting Goals

12. CONNECT
Networking in Action
Importance of Networking
Developing An Outreach Strategy
– Networks Brainstorm
– Networking Tracking Spreadsheet
– Informational Interviews
Networking Through Social Media
– LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook
– Making the Most of LinkedIn Webinar

13. ENGAGE
Action Time!
Tracking Your Progress & Keeping Score
– Job Search Tracking Spreadsheet
– Progress Scorecard
“Good Week” in a Job Search
– Full Time vs. “While Working”
– Quality vs. Quantity
Job Search Teams
Paying it Forward

14. Questions or
Comments?
DISCOVER
DEVELOP
CONNECT
ENGAGE