This document provides tips on managing the job search process through 12 steps: 1) Use a variety of search methods; 2) Build your network; 3) Research target industries and companies; 4) Be proactive in contacting employers; 5) Develop promotional materials like resumes; 6) Focus your search on specific targets; 7) Conduct informational interviews; 8) Participate in campus recruiting; 9) Consider temporary work or volunteering; 10) Plan each job to prepare for future opportunities; 11) Get organized to track your search; 12) Follow up on all contacts and applications. The document emphasizes preparation, a tailored approach, persistence, and follow through.

1. HOW TO MANAGE THE JOB
SEARCH PROCESS

2. Table of Contents
 Tips
 1. Use a Variety of Methods
 2. Build Your Network
 3. Research
 4. Be Proactive
 5. Develop Promotional and Marketing Tools
 6. Focus your Search
 7. Conduct Informational Interviews
 8. Participate in Campus Recruiting Programs
 9. Consider Temporary Work, Interning, or Volunteering
 10. Plan Strategically for Your Next Opportunity
 11. Get Organized
 12. Follow-Up
 Questions?

3. Tips
 Set specific and manageable goals
 Unrealistic and broad goal: for the week to get a great job
 Realistic: for the week to make 3 new contacts in your target
industry, spend an hour doing web research on your target
companies, attend 2 employer information sessions, check BU
CareerLink 3 times
 Set aside time in your schedule devoted to it
 Create a weekly to-do list
 Including what you will accomplish for the week
 How much time you will devote to each action
 Tasks with ongoing basis
 Checking BU CareerLink (Undergrad or MBA) for
resumé submission deadlines, job postings, and upcoming
events

4. 1. Use a Variety of Methods
 Common strategy: apply to advertised jobs
 Responding to job postings in newspaper, Internet websites, and
professional publications
 BUT: only 20% of job openings are posted
 Research target organizations
 Consult with the Pardee Library to identify company names and research
resources
 Use BU CareerLink (Undergrad or MBA) and other web resources to
research your field and identify potential jobs
 Networking and directly marketing your skills
 Avoid using large web-based Internet sites
 Success rates for this tactic are extremely low
 Work in groups to brainstorm ideas
 Some knowledge may be irrelevant to your search but vital to others’

5. 2. Build Your Network
 “What if I don‟t„ know any professionals in my field or at
my target company?
 Begin with who you do know or with personal referrals including
alumni, faculty, family and peers
 Put the word out that you are looking for a job in a
particular field
 Follow up promptly on any leads you receive
 Take part in campus and SMG events
 Student organization-sponsored panels, alumni events, career fairs,
and employer information sessions
 Use the Career Advisory Network
 Always be sure to follow up informational interviews with
thank you notes
 Keep these contacts updated on your progress

6. 3. Research
 Research on your target industry, firms and positions
 Before you send your resumé or your cover letter
 Learn about those companies
 Can ask informed questions
 Demonstrate your accomplishments effectively
 Articulate your match to the company’s culture and mission
 Identify those that match your values and interest
 Determine websites, professional journals, and
newspapers that will be useful to you in your job search
 Check them regularly
 Check out websites of relevant organizations
 Many offer discounts on student memberships and trade
conferences
 Great way to meet people in the industry

7. 4. Be Proactive
 Contact the manager of the department or
division where you want to work for each target
company
 If you couldn‟t establish a personal contact
within the company
 Visit the company’s website
 Check some of the electronic research resources
 Simply phone the company to get the name of the
appropriate manager
 Requires preparation, research, practice, and
persistence

8. 5. Develop Promotional and Marketing Tools
 You are the product
 Your resumé and cover letter are the tools
 Your potential market is your target company
 Be specific
 Your interests
 Relevant skills and experiences
 How you will contributes to the organization
 Tailor each cover letter and resumé to the
position, hiring contact, and company

9. 6. Focus Your Search
 Avoid both the restrictively narrow and the unreasonably broad
search
 Narrow it to be effective and specific
 Broaden it to include traditional firms in addition to those on the cutting edge
 Look at smaller firms, related industries, and competitors
 Employers can identify a generic and unfocused resumé and
cover letter
 It reflects ill-prepared attempts to find ANY job
 Develop a list of target companies based on your industry and
geographic preferences
 Aim for a long list so you can edit down as you learn more about company
 Use contacts from trade organizations, student groups, and other
networking contacts to build the list
 Provide a brief description of each company on the list
 Keep the list by the phone in case an employer calls

10. 7. Conduct Informational Interviews
 Set up one by following up with contacts
 Those you may meet at career fairs, information sessions,
or networking events
 Utilize the Career Advisory Network
 Identify alumni interested in providing career advice
 Obtain “market-based” advice
 About job opportunities and career paths in a specific field,
industry, or organization
 Learn what it takes to do well
 Purpose: obtain information
 Not to ask for a job!!

11. 8. Participate in Campus Recruiting Programs
 Check BU CareerLink (Undergrad or MBA)
regularly
 For recruiting deadlines, dates of information sessions,
career fairs, and career-related events
 Attend information sessions
 Crucial to attend one of every employer for whom you plan
on submitting a resumé
 If you have to miss an information session
 Try to come in a few minutes before to introduce yourself
to the recruiters
 Let them know you value their time and you are truly
interested in what they have to say

12. 9. Consider Temporary work, Interning or
Volunteering
 Get an insider‟s advantage
 Especially when it comes time for the company to fill a
full-time opening
 Develop skills that pertain directly to the
department or position you seek
 Growing trend of “Temp to Perm” positions
 Employer gets an opportunity to assess a new
employee before making a position permanent

13. 10. Plan Strategically for Your Next
Opportunity
 On average, over a lifetime, an individual
will...
 Change careers 5 times
 Change jobs anywhere between 15-18 times
 Each position you take
 Should strategically prepare you for the next step in
your career
 Each networking contact
 Should bring you closer to your goal of connecting
with the hiring manager

14. 11. Get Organized
 Create a spreadsheet filing system
 Keep track of names, addresses, titles, contacts, e-
mails, resumés sent, and responses received
 Should not be organized around post-it
notes
 Can use a daily planner or simple database
 Whatever system that works for you
 You never know when you‟re going to get a
call from an employer
 Better not to get caught off-guard

15. 12. Follow-up
 Most Important: what you do with the names
and contacts you have gathered
 Timing and follow-through may be
particularly important in securing your job
 Follow-up on
 All contacts you make
 All resumés and cover letters you send
 All interviews you have

16. Questions?
 To find out more information and resources:
 Continue browsing the Virtual Career Center
 Visit the Feld Career Center and consult with one of
our counselors!
 Our office is located on the first floor, left of the stairs in the far
left corner.
 Email us at: careers@bu.edu
 Office Hours
 Monday - Friday: 9AM - 5PM