Job Search Tips
Before beginning any job search you must first understand yourself. What are your short and long term goals? What do you want to do and where might you want to do it? That is, you may know that you want to be a financial analyst but are unclear if you should work for a local bank or a large insurance company.
Once you have discovered your specific area of interest, we recommend that you pursue a number of job search approaches. Here are some suggestions for how to get started.
Network, Network, Network
Hands down, networking remains one of the most effective tools in identifying opportunities. It is also the most time consuming. Networking is about establishing relationships to help access a hidden employment market containing many unadvertised jobs. Meeting and talking with people in your target field is the best way to explore your career options, gather information, and understand how to best market yourself to potential employers.
Get connected to FalconNet, the newly created Bentley University career networking site. With FalconNet, you will be able to: build professional relationships with fellow students and alumni that can help you “get your foot in the door” at top-tier organizations in your specific field of interest; get the real scoop on what internships and full-time jobs are like at organizations across the country and throughout the world; and be better prepared for interviews by learning the types of questions companies ask in a first, second or final round of interviews. To join, go to www.bentley.edu/falconnet.
Attend meetings of professional associations and become an active member. This is a great way to meet people in your field. Speak with fellow members, share your interests, solicit their advice or assistance in your job search.
Attend one of the many networking events held by the Undergraduate Career Services staff. (i.e. Career Fairs, Resume Critique Night, Career Spotlight events, etc.) Contact the person(s) you met and ask for the name of appropriate colleagues in other offices across the country.
Attend “open” on-campus information sessions. Throughout the fall and spring, many employers visit Bentley’s campus to speak about their firm, and potential opportunities within. Short of the interview itself, there is no better way for students to gain significant, one-on-one face time with employers who have demonstrated a strong interest in Bentley students. For more information on upcoming information sessions, log on to BentleyLink and check out the company schedules.
On-Campus Recruiting
This is a quick, effective tool for identifying job openings. Last year alone, over 1500 companies posted internship and full-time opportunities. Log on to BentleyLink, Bentley's on-line job posting system.
Career Fairs
Sure they are crowded and a bit overwhelming, but they do allow students some one-on-one time with potential employers. Keep in mind, Career Fairs and Expos happen all the time, not just at Bentley University. Get on the internet and see what additional fairs may be happening in and around this area throughout the year. Or, go to the Undergraduate Career Services Website under “Career Fairs” to access some of the more popular Career Fair sites.
Surf the Net
Visit specific company websites. Have a company in mind? Visit the website and check out their job openings. However, don’t solely apply on-line. Make sure that in addition to uploading your resume in their system that you get a specific contact name and address and send a complete application (resume and cover letter) to that individual. Not sure who the “contact” is? Call the company’s main number and ask who is in charge of college or entry-level recruiting. Be sure to get the appropriate title and correct spelling of that individual’s name.
Don’t have a specific company in mind?
That’s okay too. The Center for Career Services now offers GOINGLOBAL, which provides access to international career and employment resources including more than 100,000 world-wide job openings, internship listings, industry profiles and country-specific career information for countries. The Going Global Country Guides provides professional advice and insider tips for 24 countries on such topics as employment trends, recruiters, staffing agencies, work permit regulations, salary ranges, professional and trade associations, and cultural advice. To access GOINGLOBAL go to: www.bentley.edu/career-services/undergraduate
Post your resume on-line.
The internet hosts a variety of sites that allow you to post your resume. Employers then pay a fee to access these sites and identify candidates of interest. Some of the more popular sites include Monster.com, Boston.com, etc. For a more complete listing of resume posting sites, visit the “Job/Internship Search” section within the Undergraduate Career Services Website.
Visit the Solomon Baker Library. There are tremendous resources available to you in the library on campus as well. The library subscribes to many on-line (and print) resources that can assist you in researching employers both during your job search and while preparing for an interview. If the resources are new to you and you need some assistance in navigating them, please see the Reference Librarians. They are there to point you in the right direction.
Third-Party Employment Firms
Generally speaking, UCS does not recommend the use of “headhunters” or “recruiting agencies” for entry-level positions. However, this can be an effective tool for temporary placement. For example, if you are a freshman or sophomore with little work experience and are seeking temporary summer employment, this can often be a good way to get your foot in the door. For your convenience we have posted the names of a number of temporary placement firms on our website, under “Job/Internship Search”. However, we do recommend that you speak with an advisor before pursuing this avenue.Specialized Programs
Are you a student of color? Check out opportunities offered through INROADS, SEO or even Harvard’s Summer Venture Program. For a more complete listing, check out our website, under “Sites by Major/Interest”.
Mass Mailings
While this requires a lot of effort, it can prove fruitful. We suggest you mail your resume to a large number of organizations in your chosen field and geographic preference. You can obtain a listing of companies through the yellow pages, various directories, Dun & Bradstreet or CareerSearch. With a mass mailing, your application should include a resume and cover letter. While you need not customize every application, double-check that you have changed the company name and address each and every time.
Targeted Mailings
Compile a list of the top 20 organizations for which you would want to work. Track down the appropriate contact name, title, and address for each company. Write a separate cover letter and even, in some cases, a more customized resume, based on the specific needs and culture of the firm. Essentially, you are putting out far fewer, but far better, resumes than in the previously mentioned mass mailing.
Remember, studies show that less than 15% of job openings are posted. Therefore, a truly effective job search will employ all the tactics listed above coupled with a positive attitude, persistence and follow through. So don’t give up. And know that you can always come to UCS with any questions that you have during your search.
Good luck!
