This presentation explores some of the most effective ways to search for a job, including networking, canvassing, advertised vacancies, and using LinkedIn for job search.

1. Career Ready Program
Seminar 3: Best ways to find a job
Career Development Centre
La Trobe University
latrobe.edu.au/students/careers CRICOS Provider 00115M

2. Quiz - What % graduates obtained employment from ...
1. Advertisement on internet
2. Family or friends
3. University careers service
4. Approached employer directly
5. Work contacts
6. Careers fair or info session
7. Approached by employer
8. Other university source (e.g., lecturers)
9. Advertisement in print media
10. Recruiter/employment agency
11. Posted resume on the internet
12. Other
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3. Answers - graduates obtained employment from ...
1. Advertisement on internet 26%
2. Family or friends 15%
3. University careers service 11%
4. Approached employer directly 9%
5. Work contacts 6%
6. Careers fair or info session 6%
7. Approached by employer 6%
8. Other university source (e.g., lecturers) 5%
9. Advertisement in print media 4%
10. Recruiter/employment agency 4%
11. Posted resume on the internet 1%
12. Other 7%
Source: GradStats, Graduate Careers, December 2012
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4. Best Ways to Find a Job
Networks Canvassing
Social
Media Advertised
Networking vacancies
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5. Advertised Vacancies

6. Advertised job vacancies
• Employment websites
www.seek.com.au
www.mycareer.com.au
www.careerone.com.au
• La Trobe’s CareerHub
latrobe.edu.au/students/careers
• Company websites
• Professional associations
• Recruitment agencies
www.rcsa.com.au
• Newspapers
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7. Tips for job websites
• Register your profile so employers can search for you
• Subscribe to job email alerts
• Check everyday for new listings
• Apply ASAP – many employers close vacancies once they
receive enough applications
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8. Tips for Recruitment Agencies
• They work for the employer, not you
• Register with agencies advertising jobs in your field
• Build relationship with recruiter
• Accept short-term / contract roles
• Ask for feedback on resume, interviews
What are 3 things I could do to improve my interview performance?
In what ways could I make improvements to my resume?
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9. Canvassing

10. Canvassing
1. Identify companies in your target industry to contact
2. Identify potential contacts within each company
Hiring managers, not HR departments!
Use LinkedIn, personal networks, company websites, to find contacts
3. Decide on contact approach
Email, phone, social media, in-person
4. Prepare tailored cover letter and resume
5. Make contact and provide a copy of your resume
6. Follow-up as appropriate or agreed
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11. Networking

12. Networking is …
• building two-way, mutually beneficial
relationships one person at a time
• for the long term
• one of the most important professional
skills you can develop
• not about collecting business cards!
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13. How to network
• Preparation: What do you want?
Names, ideas, introductions?
• Talk with a purpose
Communicate your personal brand; Share your knowledge
• Actively listen
Pay attention; Show that you are listening; Summarise what they’ve said
• Ask open ended questions
Why? How? Where? Who?
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14. Networking at an event
You are at a conference and you don’t know anyone there. What
are some ways you could approach someone?
• Introduce yourself
• Firm handshake, maintain
eye contact
• Use your ‘elevator pitch’
• Enjoy the conversation
• Exit strategy
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15. Ending a conversation
• Sometimes a cause of awkwardness
• Aims:
End the conversation gracefully; leave a good impression
• Exit strategies:
Introduce your new contact to another person
Have a prepared exit phrase
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16. Ending a conversation – exit phrase
“It’s been great meeting you, however I promised I’d
circulate the room. Do you have a business card?”
“I’m sure you want to meet other people, so I’ll let you
go. Do you have a business card?”
“It’s been great speaking with you. I’ll send you a copy of
my proposal tomorrow. Do you have a business card?”
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17. Follow up
If you don’t follow up …
… what was the point going to the networking event?
Send an email after the event:
 Thank you for meeting
 A document or weblink you discussed
 Your resume if appropriate
 Send an invite to join your Linkedin network
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18. Tips
• Always be polite and friendly
• Be proactive and approach employers
• Have an opening line
• Speak clearly
• Leave a conversation gracefully
• Always behave professionally
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19. Develop your elevator pitch
A brief summary that introduces who you are, your
interests, skills and experiences, and states what you are
seeking
“Hi my name is ... I have recently graduated with a science degree,
majoring in genetics. I’m really interested in how we can use web
2.0 technology to increase people’s awareness of inherited
disorders.”
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20. Develop your elevator pitch
• Take 5 minutes to draft out your elevator pitch
• What do you want to say about yourself?
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21. Networking activity
• Make contact with 2 people in the room you don’t already
know
• Use your elevator pitch
• Ask questions / short conversation
• End the conversation gracefully
You’ve got 10 minutes!
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22. LinkedIn for Job Search

23. Firstly, a word about social networking
• Employers do conduct background searches
• Will anything be embarrassing if seen by an employer?
• Make sure privacy settings keep employers separated from
friends
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24. LinkedIn for Job Search
About LinkedIn
• 3M+ members in Australia (approx. 25% of workforce) + 187M
worldwide
• 2M+ company pages
• Free to join
You don’t need to buy a subscription unless you want the advanced features
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25. Ideas for using LinkedIn for job search
• Create your professional profile (like a resume)
Recruiters do search for people on LinkedIn
• Start building your network
Upload your current contacts
Search for people in your industry
Ask your contacts to introduce you to new people
• View company pages
Best research tool for canvassing employers
See current job listings
See list of employees on LinkedIn – connect with them!
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26. Ideas for using LinkedIn for job search
• Search for job advertisements
Vacancies from all around the world
• Career planning research
See the career paths people with your degree have taken
• Preparation for an interview
Read the profiles of the people on the interview panel
• Join discussion groups
Sharing your knowledge or asking questions can lead to making contacts
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27. Tips
Profile
• Use an appropriate photo
Clear, headshot only, dressed professionally
• Create a profile that summarises your experiences
It does not need to be an exact copy of your resume
• Ask for endorsements and recommendations
• Include a meaningful headline
Science student seeking internship in biotechnology sector
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28. Summary & Next Steps

29. Summary
In searching for work:
• Set some goals for meeting new contacts
• Work out which websites you will use to search for advertised
jobs
• Identify networking events to attend
• Get feedback so you know where to make improvements
(cover letter, interviews, etc)
• Don’t give up
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30. Next Steps
• Online modules …
• Complete a LinkedIn profile
• Establish a networking plan – establish x number of contacts
per month or target companies / industries
• Identify professional associations, conferences, workshops to
attend to build professional network
• Setting up job alerts on major job boards
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31. Next seminar
Seminar 4: Applying for Work
[Date]
[Time]
[Venue]
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32. Thank you
Connect with us via:
Web: latrobe.edu.au/students/careers
Facebook: facebook.com/LaTrobeCareers
Twitter: @LTUcareers
Email: careers@latrobe.edu.au