This document provides guidance on job seeking strategies, including understanding different routes into employment, finding potential employers and hidden jobs, and assessing and focusing your job search. It outlines tips for targeting companies, utilizing the open and hidden job markets, networking, informational interviewing, speculative applications, work experience, developing an action plan, and seeking career advice and guidance. The key messages are to understand your strengths and goals, research opportunities, expand your network, plan your search strategy, and get help from career development resources.

1. Job Seeking Strategies
Iram Sial
Careers Consultant
Career Development Centre

2. Objectives
This session will help you to:
• Understand the different routes into
employment
• Find potential employers and hidden jobs
• Assess and focus your job search strategy

3. Getting started
• What job do I want?
• What have I got to offer?
• What jobs are out there?

4. Targeting companies
• Business activity
• Size
• Training
• Prospects
• Culture
• Travel
• Location
• Salary
• Benefits
• Security

5. Iceberg principle
70%
The open
job market
Advertised
posts
The hidden
Job market
Direct
approaches
Networking
30%

6. Open job market
• Internet - engage.westminster.ac.uk engage+
-company websites
- job sites www.targetjobs.co.uk, www.prospects.ac.uk, www.milkround.com
• Recruitment agencies
• Recruitment fairs
• Local and national press
• Job centre Plus

7. Finding the hidden jobs
• Networking
• Informational interviewing
• Work (experience), temping and
volunteering
• Speculative applications - in writing
• Cold calling - in person, by phone

8. Networking
• Family, friends, fellow students
• Clubs and associations
• Tutors and careers consultants
• Previous employers
• Professional associations
• Alumni Association

9. Social networking
Linkedin, facebook, twitter.....
• Establish contact with professionals you
have recently met
• Research or follow specific companies /
personnel
• Identify industry trends
But take care over your online profile.....

10. Informational interviewing
• When you find someone who knows about
a field or occupation
• Ask for a short interview / chat
• This is not JOB SEARCH – it is
RESEARCH

11. Benefits of networking /
interviewing
• What employers are looking for?
• Information about specific companies
• Industry trends, challenges and
opportunities
• Job hunting advice
• Expand your network
• Possible experience / work opportunities

12. Networking/informational
interviewing exercise
• Write “ME” in the middle of the page
• Pick one of the jobs that you’d like. Who
do you know who might be able to help
you with finding information about the job
and potential vacancies?

13. Networking exercise
Runs own building firm
and does own HRTony
(Uncle)
Theresa
(Neighbour)
Works in a recruitment
agency
Jenny
(Zumba)
Welfare officer in
a bank
Matthew
(Brother)
Julie
(Friend)
H&S trainer
Sumi
(Colleague)
Nigel
(ex colleague)
TU Officer
Mark
(Her husband)
Plays squash with NHS
HR manager
As you start chasing leads, you can add to it. The above does not include contact
through groups (alumni association, professional bodies), online (linkedin) or
‘warm’ leads HR at work / at university.
ME

14. Work experience, temping or
volunteering
• Keep a record of your achievements
• Make the most of professional contacts
and explore new ones
• Find out about other job roles
• Volunteer for new / extra responsibilities
• Be interested in everything and everyone!

15. Work experience tips
Sandhya Tanna, Careers Adviser, University of Reading

16. Speculative approaches
• Identify possible companies via:
word of mouth / networking
newspapers / online business news
online communities
professional bodies
• Identify relevant contact via:
cold calling (phone or in person)
linkedin

17. Speculative applications
• Research the company / roles
• Target named person, with a relevant role
in the organisation
• Develop a persuasive, targeted CV and
covering letter
• Follow up with a phone call
• Ask for further contacts
• Keep a record of all activity

18. Your action plan
• What are you aiming for?
(Your career goals)
• What is your current situation?
(Job hunting activities underway)
• What actions will you take?
(Specific action steps with target dates)

19. Useful links
• Harvard Tips – networking guide
• Career player – networking, job hunting, social
media
• Linkedin – student guides to getting started
• Speculative applications guide - CDC
And for advertised positions, don’t forget....
CDC - engage.westminster.ac.uk
Online vacancy and events system
• Targeted vacancy sources
• Resources/advice/info

20. Useful links
engage.westminster.ac.uk
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.targetjobs.co.uk
www.milkround.com
www.gradjobs.co.uk
www.totaljobs.com
www.insidecareers.co.uk
www.monster.co.uk
www.fish4.co.uk
www.jobserve.com
www.jobs.guardian.co.uk
www.grb.uk.com

21. Further information and
guidance
Career Development Centre:
• 20-minute quick queries: Book on day after 9.30am
CV, covering letter, application form advice
• 45-minute: individual career coaching,
detailed career planning, mock interviews
CDC resources:
• CV Guide
• Videos and DVDs
• Free sector-specific and general careers publications
(all services available up to 3 years after graduation)

22. Contact us
Central London
Cavendish House
1st Floor
101 New Cavendish Street
Nearest tube: Warren St/
Goodge St/Gt Portland St
BUS: 453
Tel: 020 7911 5184
E-mail: careers@wmin.ac.uk
www.westminster.ac.uk/careers

23. In summary
• Know what you have to offer and what you
want
• Know what’s out there
• Develop your network
• Plan your campaign
• Review it regularly
....and, if you need help, seek advice and
guidance