Methods & Resources

Listed below are methods that you may pursue, both reactive and proactive, to identify possible employment leads. Successful searches involve careful preparation, multiple strategies, and, most importantly, good follow-through. The following information provides various strategies for your consideration.

Utilize the Office of Career Services
Career Services provides you with numerous resources and contacts with employers. Briefly, Career Services offers: the on-campus interview program, job listings, career directories, online job postings, Career Expo and much, much more. 

To take full advantage of these services, it is important for you to meet with a career counselor to discuss your goals and plans. A career counselor can help direct you to resources that will be most helpful to your specific interests. Follow up on all leads and keep the Career Services staff informed of your progress. Remember: the responsibility of securing a job rests with you - no one else can do it for you. The Career Services staff will provide support, guidance, and information to help you with this important task.

Networking
One of the most effective means of locating a job is through networking. To begin, develop a list of people who would be willing to assist you: relatives, friends, faculty, Rollins alumni, former employers, high school teachers, and other professionals. Provide each of these individuals with a copy of your resume and make sure that they are aware of your career goals. Ask the people in your network for names of employers with potential interest in your skills and qualifications. Follow up on all leads. When contacting prospective employers, be sure to mention the name of the person who provided the lead; this information may cause the employer to consider your candidacy more favorably.

In addition, you may create a network through people you meet in professional meetings, seminars, or conferences. Following such meetings, be sure to introduce yourself to the speaker and other attendees; ask for a business card before parting company. You should then follow up in writing requesting information or an interview.

Keep your network informed of your progress. It is good, professional etiquette to send thank you notes or letters to everyone who has assisted you.

Newspapers and Trade Magazines
Many job seekers utilize the newspaper and trade magazines as a source of identifying job leads. This convenient means of identifying job openings has limited value. It has been reported that less than 10% of college graduates find career-oriented positions through this means. There are a few exceptions. Technical, clerical, and health-related careers are generally abundant in the Sunday ads. Regardless of your career interests, reading the want ads should be only one of your many strategies employed to identify job leads.

To increase your success rate, you should adhere to the following advice: respond quickly, within a few days of the listing; when possible, research the organization before applying and incorporate your findings in a cover letter; when the name of the employer is listed, follow up with a phone call a few days after the deadline or closing date to inquire about the hiring time line.

Keep in mind, if a position sounds too good to be true ($75,000 plus car, no experience required) then, most likely, it is not legitimate.

Internet
Employment and job search web sites of all different kinds exist on the Internet. Many sites offer advice on conducting an effective job search for a particular field while others offer job listings and resume drops. For a list of job search websites where you can begin your search, visit the Career Related Websites page.

Area Job Fairs
A job fair can be an efficient method of talking with many employers all under one roof. While the "one shot" approach sounds appealing, in actuality, it can be quite confusing and sometimes frustrating. When preparing for a job fair, it is helpful to have a list of employers registered for the event. Review the list and identify 5-10 employers that you would like to meet.

On the day of the event, dress professionally and be prepared to distribute your resume. You should prepare a list of questions to ask the employers. In greeting the employer, smile, extend your hand and state your name clearly. You should be prepared for a very brief discussion so be sure you know what you want to ask or tell the employer. Ask the employer for a business card and leave a copy of your resume with him/her. After talking with all of your targeted employers, spend some time meeting other employers; you may be pleasantly surprised by their opportunities.

You should follow up on all job fair leads within a week; be sure to mail the employer another copy of your resume in case it was misplaced during the job fair.

Local and regional job fairs are listed in the Future Focus email and on the Dates to Remember page as they become known to Career Services. The annual Rollins College Career Expo is held in March.

Targeted Mail Campaign
If you have identified employers for whom you would like to work, you should consider sending targeted cover letters accompanied by your resume. Do not try to shortcut the system by sending generic cover letters; the employer will easily identify a form letter and will assume that your interest is not sincere. This proactive method provides you with control in reaching employers you want to reach. To increase your effectiveness, try to identify an internal contact with whom you can discuss organizational needs and goals. You will then be able to incorporate this information in your cover letter. Be sure to follow up on all letters.

If you are planning a long distance job search, keep in mind that you will probably meet with a lot of rejection unless you can offer unique skills. For most positions, employers have access to qualified candidates in their immediate geographical vicinity. To improve your chances of being considered try to identify an internal contact. Another effective approach is to plan a time that you can visit the area and inform the employer of your plans to visit and your availability.

Do not be surprised if you do not hear back from employers; many do not send letters unless they have an opening and feel that you are qualified.

Internal Campaigns
One of the biggest obstacles that you will need to overcome is getting your foot in the door. Once you have accomplished this task, you are half way there! For this reason, the internal campaign is highly effective. Consider all previous jobs, internships, and volunteer work; for each experience you already have established a "foot in the door". Regardless of your previous position in these organizations, you will have an advantage in applying for more professional and permanent positions. Contact your previous supervisors for each experience; explain that you are now in the process of applying for full-time positions and ask for advice and assistance. This method may help you uncover positions that you did not know existed.

Third Party Agencies
Employment agencies may be contacted by various businesses to find part-time and full-time candidates for their vacant positions. If you decide to work with an employment agency, be sure to check around. Always make sure that the employer assumes the agency’s fee and that you will not be charged a fee. You are also encouraged to check with the Better Business Bureau regarding the reputation of the agency. In meeting with an employment agency representative, be sure to have a clear career goal; some job seekers feel that they have been persuaded to take a position in which they had no real interest. Also, be sure to read all contracts carefully before signing.

Government Personnel Offices
Local municipal, county, city, state, and federal offices have job postings for government positions. Be sure to follow application procedures as stated on the job posting.

Chamber of Commerce
These organizations can be contacted to obtain information about employers in their area. There may be a small fee that you will be asked to pay to receive information about local employers or the majority of the information can often be found for free on the Internet.

Directories
Located in the Career Resource Library are various directories to help you identify employers by geographical preference or by industry preference. Bookstores and public libraries also carry employment directories to help you identify possible employment leads.

Reciprocity
If you wish to relocate to an area outside of central Florida, we encourage you to take advantage of the reciprocity agreement that we have with various colleges and universities throughout the U.S. This agreement allows Rollins students access to many services and resources at Career Services offices located in the area in which you plan to conduct your job search. You must be willing to physically visit the Career Services office in your chosen geographical area; they will not provide resources over the phone. Some colleges and universities will charge a fee to you while others make services available at no charge. If you would like to receive reciprocity, please contact Career Services at least four weeks prior to your planned visit to the area.