PORT - Finding a Job [LESSON]

Finding a Job Lesson

Finding a Job

One of the most challenging things you'll do in life is find a job in a career that you want to pursue. More than half of college graduates do not work in the field they majored in. A large percentage makes $40,000 or less after graduating from college. It is important to find a job that fits your education and experience and one that pays enough that you can afford to live comfortably. There are many ways to look for a job; however, a combination of methods is usually the best way to find what you want.  We will look at some ways to find a job.

Networking

Networking is one of the best ways to find a job. This is using your relationships to help you find a job. You should start building networks now that you can use later. This means you talk to people that you don't know. You should join organizations to broaden your social contacts. Remember, you are always building your network, so be aware of how you interact with others. Be thoughtful and kind, you never know when the person you are talking to may have an influence on your future.

When you start looking for a job, talk to everyone you know about what you are looking for. Have copies of your resume available to hand to people you run into. Always have an elevator speech available, make sure you have thought about it and updated it with your most recent achievements. Ask people you know who work in the industry or business you want to work in to help you get a job at their company. Most people get jobs through the people they know. 

Professional Social Networking

In addition to your personal networking, you can also use professional social networking. The main professional social network is LinkedIn. This program allows you to post your personal information and network with others that are in the same field. Additionally, there are professional organizations that you can join to also make relationships that can be used for networking. There are many such organizations, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society, Network Professional Association (NPA), and the Women in Technology (WIT). It would benefit you to join one of the organizations for people in your profession to make connections that can help you when you are looking for a new job.  Also, you would want to include your participation in these organizations in your portfolio. You never know if the person reviewing your portfolio may have a connection to the organization.

Online Job Boards

When you are ready to look for a job, search the internet. There are thousands of online job boards out there. Be very specific in what you are looking for, so you don't get overwhelmed with the number of postings. Subscribe to some of the most popular job boards, such as Indeed and SimplyHired.  Often  there are specialized job boards as well that are specialized for the kind of jobs or career field you are looking for. Search for those types of boards, as they will be more targeted to the job you want. You will probably need to go beyond the first page of a search to find a job for the career you want. You can create alerts to job postings, the job board will send you an email when they have new postings that fit your criteria.

Watch the Jobs Boards E-Portfolio video below.

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