Job Hunting | Thomas Edison State University

Job hunting requires effort, attention to detail, persistence and follow through. Use any and all means available in your search, devoting your time to the resources that prove the most fruitful for you.

College Central Network Kick off your job search by checking out CollegeCentral.com, TESU’s job posting site:

View jobs from employers looking for TESU students and graduates. Set up alerts so you don’t miss out on a great opportunity.
View jobs across major national job posting sites. Set up alerts so you don’t miss out on more great opportunities.

Networking

Consistently, networking is the most common and effective job source for new hires. Employers prefer to hire candidates that someone they trust says will do a good job. Building an effective professional network is essential for job search success.

Your network begins with your family, friends and friends of family. These are people who care about you. In most cases, if they can help, they are happy to do so. Make those you know aware that you are building a network and in what field. Expand your contacts through social media sites, like LinkedIn, and by joining trade and professional associations. As you build these relationships, ask your contacts if they know of anyone else that could be helpful.

Initially don’t ask those in your network for a job. Learn as much as you can from them and share your goals with them. Do this by performing informational interviews. Once you have established a relationship, it is fine to ask if they know of any career opportunities and if they would be comfortable referring you.

Informational interviewing
Five Tips for Non-Awkward Informational Interviews

Do your homework — learn the following:
- Your contact’s backgrounds (LinkedIn profiles)
- Basic information about the contact’s career field (available through the Occupational Outlook Handbook)
- Basic information about the contact’s employers
  - Employer websites.
  - Search for background on the company online.
Be timely
- Specify how long you want to meet with them and then stick to that timespan unless they offer (unsolicited) to continue the conversation.
- Start on time — be there a few minutes early. If the interview is conducted by phone or online, contact them at appointed time.
Ask thoughtful questions — be sure to listen more than you talk
- Start with introductory information.
  - What is their role?
  - How did they get to their position?
  - Would they suggest a similar path for someone looking to get into this field?
- Use your preparation.
  - Inquire about things you wanted to know but couldn’t find in your research.
  - Ask for clarification on items that came up in your research that you did not expect.
- Gain their perspective. Ask:
  - What do you wish that you had known when you were in my shoes?
  - What do you think I should have asked about that I didn’t?
  - Do you have any recommendations you could make for me to move forward in this field?
Follow up with them
- Send a thank you note within 24 hours.
- Follow up every 2-3 months to stay in touch. In follow ups, Ask:
  - How they are doing and tell them how things are going in your search.
  - For them to look over your resume.
  - If they become aware of any openings in the field, to let you know.
The importance of your social media presence in job hunting
Clean up your online presence
- Google yourself. If you don’t like the results, try to address them.
- See: 8 Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Social Media (Because Hiring Managers Really Do Look at It)
- Maintain viewpoint neutrality online.
  - Remove any posts on divisive issues.
  - Suspend connection to groups and individuals that focus on divisive issues.
- If you are aware of troubling issues that could arise from your social media presence, consider paying a reputable service to “clean” your profile.
Update your profile picture to a professional image

Be sure to link to your resume
Build your professional presence
Important sites
- Create a profile on LinkedIn — regardless of your field.
- Consider adding other professional networking sites: Workplace, Jobr, Debut and Slack to name a few. However, don’t replace your LinkedIn profile with one of these since LinkedIn is by far the most widely used.
- Don’t overlook socially oriented sites (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) as ways of learning more about the employer or getting to know individuals working for the organization.
- Follow professionals and companies.
  - Do not worry about where they are located or if you want to work for them right now.
  - Become familiar with the posts and the people who post.
- Join professional interest groups and connect with people in your field.
- Post thought-provoking, career-relevant content. This is your field; demonstrate what you know.
- Comment on other posts in a professional manner.
- See who has been looking at your profile, if they are in your field, message them to connect.
Reach out to professionals in your field, alumni of the institution(s) and/or groups you are affiliated with.
- Request an informational interview or ask to connect on a specific topic (See Informational Interviewing above).
- Make your outreach to new contacts tailored, specific, thoughtful and engaging.
- Check out Job Postings — sign up for alerts.
Join trade or professional associations
- Many organizations offer free/reduced memberships for students and/or new graduates.
- Join these organizations at the national, regional and local levels.
- Attend their conferences, workshops and/or trade shows.
- Volunteer to work the registration desk for an event; meet everyone who enters.
  - If the event is live, distribute business cards.
  - If the event is virtual, send your contact information through the chat box.
- Actively engage in any newcomer events, mentoring opportunities and programs — speak when appropriate.
- Volunteer for a committee, subcommittee or knowledge community — reach out to the members of the group.
- Utilize Networking Conversation Starters.
- Connect with your degree program’s mentors, students and alumni.
- Check out TESU’s Alumnifire page to connect with alumni and students.
- Read articles on the subject of online learner networking:
  - Networking for Online Learners
  - Online Student Networking Is Just as Important and Not as Difficult as it Sounds
Get to know your mentors
- Connect outside of class and ask for their input.
- Participate in discussions and activities.

Identify Employers for Direct Outreach

Direct outreach has changed with the implementation of online resume submission platforms. If you seek to contact an organization, you need to either have a specific person’s email or apply through their Applicant Tracking System — which typically requires that you respond to a specific posting. However, applying directly to an employer is still a good tactic.

Search the internet for top employers within your field and location boundaries.

Check out specialized listings.

Chambers of commerce in your region.
Consider professional association membership lists.
Utilize resourcenet.org to find social service agencies (precede with county, e.g., mercerresourcenet.org).

Target employer “careers” or “jobs” websites.

Apply to open jobs that appeal to you.
Apply to all positions for which you are qualified.

Job Fairs

Job fairs are excellent opportunities to connect with potential employers face to face. Even if there are only a small number of employers attending in which you are interested, it’s worth pursuing.

Live Events

Seek a list of attending employers prior to the event and research the employers.
Prepare an elevator pitch (30 second introduction of yourself).
Integrate something you know about the organization into the elevator pitch.

Virtual Events

Determine the rules of the event; most require advanced registration and resume submission.
Adhere to the schedule but be prepared to wait if the employer is running behind.
Use your elevator pitch to introduce yourself.

Job Boards

Identify field-specific job boards.

Professional associations often offer members the opportunity to post jobs. Find professional associations in your field.
Check What Can I Do With This Major for job board specific to your area of study and job interest.

Identify national job boards, such as:

Review job postings.

Go to the employer’s website, review the posting, and apply through the employer.
If the employer is not identified or the posting is not on the employer’s site, proceed cautiously (the position may not exist).

Avoiding Job Scams

Recently a number of job search scams have come to light. Overall, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Follow these rules to protect yourself from scams:

Verify job offers for virtual processes prior to providing personal information such as SSN (Social Security Number) or your Driver’s License information.
Ensure that the contact is a brick-and-mortar address, not just a P.O. box.
If an employer offers to provide you with startup funds for a home office, be cautious.
- Request a purchasing card or that they purchase any equipment needed.
- Do not deposit checks for more money than what was agreed upon. Never agree to deposit a check and return unused funds.
- Do not make purchases until the check has cleared.
If the job offers an unexpectedly high payrate, be cautious!
Remember you are not an employee until you complete federal hiring paperwork. Until you are completing these on authorized sites/forms, be cautious about providing proof of identity or banking information.
- I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification
- W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate