1. Secrets of a Successful
Job Search
Cara Valentine
Graduate Career Counselor
Career Development Center
Cleveland 306
716-878-5811
www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc

2. Getting to know you…
 Name?
 Class Year?
 Major?
 Possible Career?
 Why are you here? What you hope to
learn?
 Where are you in your job search?
What efforts have you made thus far?

3. Before You Begin
 Self Assessment
◦ Examine your situation- why am I job searching?
 Recent Graduate or Graduating
 Unemployed
 Need new skills
 Unhappy in your current role
 Upward mobility
◦ Know your options -
http://www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/choose.html
◦ Research skills necessary for your desired occupations
 Occupational Outlook Handbook
 Preparation is key - Updates are essential
◦ Resume
◦ Cover letter
◦ References
◦ Interviewing skills
◦ Portfolio

4. Job Creation Timeline
1. Hiring manager needs to fulfill a job
◦ Someone got fired
◦ Someone took a job at another company
◦ Someone got promoted
◦ Expansion position
2. Hiring manager asks his “network”: does anyone know
someone?
3. Job is posted internally and resumes come in from current
employees and referrals
4. Resumes reviewed, interviewing starts. If they find
someone, job is filled.
5. Job not filled? Then start advertising and accepting
resumes (A lot of them)
6. Recruiter/Talent Acquisition or HR screen resumes (not
hiring manager) and then pass on a short list of top
candidates to hiring manager.
7. Interviews starts
8. Offer is given

5. Four strategies to identify job
openings
 Advertised job openings
◦ Interstate highway- quickest and easiest, but
extremely congested with candidates
 Targeting specific organizations
◦ The scenic route- takes more time, but is less
congested
 Job fairs & campus recruitment
◦ The face-to-face connection
 Networking
◦ Using the people you know and who know to you
to generate job leads

6. Advertised job openings
 CDC Website
◦ http://bsccdc01.buffalostate.edu/cdc/libsearch/job-links.php
◦ http://bsccdc01.buffalostate.edu/cdc/libsearch/job-links.php
 Classified ads – paper and online
 Online job search engines
◦ Indeed
◦ Careerbuilder
◦ Monster
◦ Any many many more!!
 Going directly to the organization’s website **
 ORCA – CDC job postings
 NACE Link on ORCA
 Websites and publications related to your
◦ Field: http://www.1st-writer.com/job_sites_by_industry.htm
◦ Location: http://www.1st-writer.com/job_sites_by_state.htm

7. Things to consider when
targeting/applying to advertised postings
 Use job agents, or push technology to save time
 When possible go to the organization’s website to
apply directly to positions
 Upload your resume and cover letter when
possible
 Target your resume and cover letters to each
specific position/organization

8. Targeting Specific Organizations
 Who would hire you?
◦ Make a list of potential employers and industries
◦ Target your search to specific industries, positions
and/or locations
 Local, regional, and national directories
◦ Career Search – on ORCA
◦ Stop by the CDC- Business First Book of Lists

9. Strategies
 Keep track of who you are contacting and
follow up
 Send tailored resumes and cover letters of
inquiry
 Conduct extensive research on the
organization
 Visit the organization’s website and check
for an employment page

10. Job Fairs & Recruitment
 CDC fair schedule
◦ http://www.buffalostate.edu/offices/cdc/job-
fairs.html
◦ Use job fair participant lists to develop inquiry
lists
 CDC recruitment calendar
◦ http://bsccdc01.buffalostate.edu/cdc/oncampus/on-
campus.asp
 WNYACCC - www.wnyaccc.org
 National Career Fairs
http://www.nationalcareerfairs.com/** Making face to face connections is the best way to build your network!!

11. Networking
 What is networking?
◦ Definition: to develop relationships with people who can be
helpful to one professionally, especially in finding
employment or moving to a higher position
 How many of you feel like as a college student you
do NOT have a network?
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTU2FkVyoUw
 BSC Professor?
 BSC Staff?
 Part-time job?
 Volunteer?
 Family Members?
 Friends?
**The work you do and the relationships you build stay with you
forever!

12. How to Increase Your
Network Use employer directories to contact employers to conduct
informational interviews
 Always ask current contacts who they might refer you to for
more information
 Professional Associations
 Connect with a mentor
 Conferences
 Workshops/Seminars
 Alumni Chapters/Groups
 Social Media-
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest

13. Informational Interviewing
 What is it exactly?
◦ Interview initiated by you with someone working in
an organization or career field of interest to you
 Why they are useful:
◦ gain realistic information about what you've heard or
read about careers
◦ expand your knowledge of the job market
◦ learn about additional career paths
◦ build your professional network
◦ learn about the skills and attributes sought in
potential hires

14. Make Your Meetings Count
 Ask your contacts to keep you informed
and stay in touch
 Ask for a business card – keep a log
 Bring your resume – just in case
 Make sure you can identify what you have
learned
 Send a thank you note

15. Social Media - LinkedIn
Why I advocated so strongly for LinkedIn:
◦ Hits 3 of the 4 Targets
 Advertised Job Openings
 LinkedIn Profile = Electronic Copy of your resume
 Just like job boards- saved jobs searches can be sent to you weekly
 Some organizations are now only posting their open positions on LinkedIn- if you aren’t on you are missing out
on those opportunities!
 Targeting Specific Organizations
 Search for companies by name, keyword or industry
 “Follow” companies to get industry articles, hiring trends, etc on your newsfeed
 Networking
 Directly connect with other professionals and hiring managers/recruiters
 Remember: Face to face connections > LinkedIn connections
◦ Helps you Research & Learn
 What type of companies are out there that I can work for?
 What jobs are being advertised?
 What skills and educational background do other professionals have in my field? (put on resume)
 What does this company do?
 Where is this company located?
 How big is this company?
 What is the company website?
 Who do I address my cover letter to?
 Are people being hired? Are people being fired?
◦ The relationships you make stay with you forever
 You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours
 Lets share valuable information
 Who do you know?

16. 5 Common Networking Mistakes
 Networking on the fly
 Expecting too much too soon
 Job seeking described as info interviewing
 Not paying attention to advice
 Ignoring the give back dimension

17. Final Thoughts
 A positive attitude goes a long way
 Be patient and persistent
 Evaluate your situation
 Make the necessary changes/updates
 Follow up with all contacts and positions
 Take advantage of the resources that are available
to you

18. Questions?
Cara Valentine
valentc01@buffalostate.edu
716-878-5811
** Find me on LinkedIn!!