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Job Searching


Job Search Strategies:

Finding a job is a job… A college degree doesn’t guarantee you anything, but with one, you have an advantage over those who don’t: You have knowledge, problem solving skills, critical thinking abilities and persistence.

REMEMBER: It's very important to keep track of where you've applied and where you are along the application process. A helpful tool can sometimes be a job search log.

Career Center:

job postings, on campus job fairs, employer interview days, access to regional colleges’ career events...start with us! (Collegecentral.com/mansfield)

Networking:

Family, friends, classmates, faculty, staff, former bosses. Tell people you are looking; ask them for leads about jobs. Networking is the #1 way people get hired. There is NO OTHER METHOD MORE EFFECTIVE THAN NETWORKING!

Mansfield University:

The Career Center hosts on-campus recruiting events (check our calendar). Your faculty is often a great source for job leads because they often have long-term relationships with different employers and MU alums. You should also get involved with the MU Alumni Association, which is a great way to network with our graduates.

Traditional media:

Newspaper (the Sunday section is best for job opportunities), radio, and local TV cable access channel.

Professional Organizations/Licensing Agencies:

Similar to networking, but with a professional focus. People who belong to these organizations are very active within their profession. In addition, these groups host their own job posting boards for members only.

Employment Agencies:

You might also consider applying to work for an employment company, which then tries to place you with their client companies. You can experience a lot of temp work, but it’s a good way to broaden your network, sharpen your skills and learn new ones. You can find a recruiting company in your area at www.RecruitersConnection.com.

Nontraditional methods

Think about volunteering. True, you won’t make much money, but you will meet people and this can be a way to network your way to a job. Also, when you think about employment, don’t just think of corporate or business environments. Great jobs can be found in the non-profit sector (working for charities, government). Not everyone is suited for a corporate career; maybe you are one of them.

Internet:

Used strategically, the Internet is terrific for job searching. If you focus your searches toward your major and the most relevant industries, you may have pretty good luck. If you use the big boards (CareerBuilder.com; Monster.com, etc) you’ll be in a very large ocean with much bigger fish than you can compete against. They are worth a look, though, just to get familiar with the latest hiring trends, where the jobs are geographically, and what employers are generally seeking.

Questionable Hiring Practices of Some Companies:

If you are seeking an internship or job, please be aware of companies that have questionable interviewing practices (such as asking you to pay upfront fees before you are hired), or who do not clearly state what you will be doing in the job.

The best way to avoid questionable companies is doing your research! Following are some websites where you can see if there have been negative reports about a company, and websites with tips on how to conduct company research, and questions to ask in an interview:

Internships:

For information on internships visit our Internship Page.