Sophie PageCareer management for graduate studentsService des stages et du placement

To make an appointment: service.placement@polymtl.ca

Job Search, How To View It Differently ?

Fall 2012

Goals:

To obtain a better understanding of the job search strategies in order to integrate the labor market successfully.

Internship Employment

To understand job search VS learning its techniques

How will we do this:

Propose a job search method in 5 steps

JOB SEARCH METHOD IN 5 STEPS

Job search method in 5 steps

5. Be succesful in interviews

4. Apply on jobs

3. Establish a strategy for your contact and networking

2. Highlight your potential

1. Learn about the labor market

STEP 1 Learn About The Labor

Market

1.1. Research the labor market1.2. Understand the hiring process of companies

1.1. Research the labor market

It will help you to:

Know the types of jobs available in your area of expertise. What can I do with my diploma?

Validate the tasks or responsabilities that you would like to find in a job.

Would you like to work in a R&D center? In a consulting firm? In the gouvernement? As a scientific writer, etc.

Better understand the employers needs.

1.1. Research the labor market

Comprehend the requirements of the labor market in your field.

Specific technology, computer language, etc.

Learn the language, values and culture of industries that interest you.

Explore and be open and flexible in face of events or opportunities.

How to get information The web site www.icriq.com is a good starting

point Consult the Service de Placement site http://www.polymtl.ca/sp/etudiant/liens/repertoire.php#entreprise

Jobs sites http://www.polymtl.ca/sp/ http://www.indeed.ca/ http://www.academiccareers.com/ http://www.engineeringcareers.ca/

Meet professionals Informational interviews Conference

1.2. Understand the hiring process of companies

The hiring process for companies1. First : Manager expresses a need for

additionnal ressources:1. Determines the ideal candidate’s

profile2. Starts a research for potential

candidates

Employers recruitment practices

1. Internal (someone that I have seen at work or from whom I received an application.)

2. Network someone that has been recommended (by a contact,

professor, friend, etc.). Bonus.

3. Human Ressources

4. Ads (newspapers and internet)

Characteristics of the labor market Hidden job market

Why the displayed offers have very specific requirements and looking for someone with experience?

Job Seekers’ Strategies 1. Manager

2. Networking, someone that you know.

3. UnsolicitedApplications, Human ressource.

4. Employmentservices (La Ruche, agence de placement, etc.).

5. Ads in newspapers or on Internet.

Employers recruitment practices

Receiving the

applications(100)

Evaluation of resumes and

letters(25)

Phone interview

(15)Interview(s)

(10)Tests(10)

Reference check(2-3)

Job proposition

(1)

2. Second: The selection process of dpt. of human resources

Job Posting Who receives the resume. At what point are the resume and the letter read. How much time will the human ressources dpt.

take to analyse the resume. It’s very important to customize your resume to

fit the job and the company. Be aware of how you can stand out from your

competition.

STEP 2Highlight Your Potential

2. Highlight your potential

Validate your skills

What makes a person an excellent

professional?

Academic achievement Translate your knowledge into skills. A

format more desirable for an employer. Example:

My dissertation described the impact of abc on the process of xyz.

Research and wrote a dissertation of subject X Identified research problem and designed criteria to

evaluate possible explanation. Developed timeline and supervised team of

undergraduate researchers.

Draw the connectionsExamine your profile!Self-analysis exercise

Your education:

• What did you do or learn during your education (diploma, courses, projects) that could convince the employer that you are able to do each task?

Your experience:

• What did you gain from all your work experience (job title, responsibilities, tasks, etc.), paid or unpaid, that could be connected to this future job?

Your knowledge:

• Among all your specialized, technical, computer and other knowledge, which items are pertinent for this job offer?

Your personality:

• Among all your personality characteristics, which are pertinent for this position?

Others:

• What other experiences and skills could be interesting for your profile (ex. Professional membership, certification, continuing education, etc.)?

STEP 3Establish A Strategy For

Your Contact And Networking

3.1. What is networking?3.3. How and Where to network?

3.4. How to make a contact?

What is networking? The objective is to have a conversation

and build a rapport with someone.

Be genuine and friendly. Your shared interests might lead to something

interesting. Don’t focus on the end result. You will have to listen, to ask questions and

share information.

How and where to network

Personal, academic and social network Classmates, friends, family, professor,

Neighbors, etc. Parties, Laboratory, voluntering, conference,

departmental seminars, etc.

Job fairs and career days More information to come

How and where to network Social media (Twitter, facebook and LinkedIn)

Create a professionnal profil. Follow the compagnies of interest. Get information and do some research.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0sdTdcM2Wshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbwvK5Al0dQ&feature=relatedhttp://learn.linkedin.com/students/step-1/

Establish a strategy for your contact

Name of employer

Info on employer

Person of interest/title

Phone and email

address

Address Follow-up

Make a contact Contact the employers (Phone call, letter and

follow-up): Before you make any contact with the employers, it’s

important to ask yourself 3 questions: What does the organisation do? Why am I interested and motivated by this position

and this organisation? Among all my skills, which ones are more relevant

for this position?

How to make contact How to make contact with a person of

interest ?

Version A I am looking for a job.

Version B Potential between my profile and what I know of the

company.

How to speak with the person in charge

Secretary Which means to use (internet, phone, etc.)? What is the purpose of this contact?

Get information Get my profile known

Fears of job seekers …

CAREER FAIRS AND SALON DE L’EMPLOI

Use the Career Fair and the Salon de l’emploi efficiently

Get going, it’s time to wise-up!

How to prepare?

1. Check the profile of the organisations which are present.

2. Be strategic! Establish your priorities.3. Identify your strongest assets for the targeted

organisations and prepare your questions.

What to say to the employer?1. Present yourself in 15 to 30 seconds.

In terms of the organisation. Demonstrate your interest and what you know about

the organisation.

Get information on the recruitment process. Follow up after the career fair. You were not present at the career fair…

Suggested questions to ask an employer:

I would like to work as ... do you have this kind of

professionals in your company?

What do they do exactly?

What skills and profile are you

looking for in this type of job?

Do you have any special needs?

How should I apply? Do you

have a name to refer me?

Any other questions whose answers can help you clarify your

career choices ...

STEP 4Apply On Jobs

4. Apply on jobs Is this position for me? Should I customize my resume? What is a resume?

It’s your marketing tool! Focus on the similarities ! Reassure the

employer! A good resume should get the employer

attention in less then 20 secondes.

4. Apply on jobs

• Follow up.

STEP 5 Be Succesful In Interviews

5. Be succesful in interviews

Preparation is the key to your success. Your self-knowledge (interests, motivations, skills,

etc.) What you know about the position (tasks,

qualifications, requirements, etc.) What you know about the company (expertise,

products, employees, market, etc.)

Do not see the interview as a exam but as the occasion to exchange valuable informations.

Book of reference: R. Fry, 101 great answers to the toughest interview questions, Thomson Delmar Learning, Canada, 2007.

Web site: Jobboom, Workopolis, Monster, etc. http://www.interviewstream.com/interviewsuite/

Personalized advice in individual appointment and more workshops to come ...

Conclusion

What I have presented today is an ideal to be achieved ... But the best job search strategy is undoubtedly to take action!

Despite what you hear and read, believe in your project!

Questions?

Thank youTo reach us:

Service des stages et du placement(B-510)

To make an appointement: service.placement@polymtl.ca