Making the Most of Your Next Job Hunt

CAREER CORNER

We've all been in that place where you need to find a job - but aren't sure where to start. We all want to find the right job opportunities and make ourselves stand out in today's competitive market.

The good news is - there are hundreds of tools to use for finding the perfect job, ranging from generic and niche job boards to social media channels, networking groups and staffing agency websites. The bad news is - it can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the options.

We sought advice from our Orlando campus Director of Student Affairs, Liane Pardo-Mansfield, and Graduate Employment Specialist, Akiya Nivens, on what tips and tools they suggest to students when looking for a job.

Finding Your Way Online

In today's job market, most of the searching and applying is done online as compared to years past when you would look at the newspaper or mail out resumes. The options seem endless when it comes to different tools to use online.

"I have the students use e-Hired, Indeed or LinkedIn typically, but any of the job search engines are great places to start," Nivens said. "Finding employment is a numbers game. I suggest you apply for 10 jobs a day, which should turn into five potential interviews per week." Pardo-Mansfield agrees about e-Hired. "It's is a great tool for building your resume, receiving daily job leads and searching for new jobs."

When it comes to doing research on possible employers, Nivens tells students to use Glassdoor, "Which is a great website where employees and former employees anonymously review companies and their management. Glassdoor also shows job openings within the company once you've created a profile."

"It is also wise to research the Department of Labor's website, which gives up-to-date statistics and wages for the field you're interested in," Nivens explained.

What to Do Offline

Even though much of your job search will happen online, there are still things you can do offline that will help you find the job you're looking for.

Pardo-Mansfield says to hit the pavement. "Do field marketing by carving out an area within the zone you want to work that is densely populated with medical or dental offices pertinent to your field and visit all of them. Dress to impress, bring your resume and go with an attitude of expanding your network," she said.

"Never forget the old saying, 'It's not what you know, but who you know.' Simply use all your resources by asking the simple question 'do you know anyone hiring,'" she explained.

Campus Support

Another great offline resource is Concorde's Graduate Employment Resources (GES) team. They help complete interview prep, spruce up your resume and learn about new leads that come in regularly. "Maintain a good working relationship with your GES team and be responsive to contact attempts," Pardo-Mansfield said. "If you don't answer your phone or email, the opportunity could pass you by."

Using these tips and tools won't guarantee you get a job, but your chances are far greater if you do. Put in the work and utilize all the tools you can. The right job is out there for you!