Career Research and Job Searching
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Job Search Strategies |
Free access to job search, resume writing, interviewing and career guides
Why do I have to Research the Organizations?
Links for Researching Organizations
Does Networking Really Work?
Ideas on How to Search for a Job
Free access to job search, resume writing, interviewing and career guides
Through its professional connections the Saint Mary's Library has access to free career guides that may be read on-line. Click "HERE" to access the library's home page, scroll down to the lower left corner, select "Career Collection", and insert your topic (i.e. interviewing) for a list of offerings. Using this will save you much money.
Researching Organizations and Industries
Why is it beneficial to you to research organizations?
How to research organizations:
Researching Small Companies:
Almost every business these days, regardless of size, has a website that can provide a wealth of information. Yet, sometimes the best way to get information about small companies is to call and ask them to send any printed information that would help acquaint you with their business. A number of smaller companies may not have any printed information, in which case you may call and ask to speak to someone who can answer a brief list of research questions. Begin your research well before your interview. The local Chamber of Commerce is an excellent resource both for information about the company, as well as suggestions for other sources of information (e.g., a local business publication). Finally, check with a reference librarian at a local library for suggestions about how to research area employers.
What type of information should be gathered?:
Examples of information you will want to research:
Research The Position:
Internet Links for Researching Companies
SMC Cushwa-Leighton Library - The Saint Mary's College Cushwa-Leighton Library provides excellent online resources for researching various types of employers. You can search through nine different business-related databases and journals for information on companies.
10k Wizard - www.asd.com Provides overview information and SEC filings for any publicly held company. This site allows you to search for keywords through all of a company's filings, or even the entire SEC database.
American School Directory -www.asd.com Lists 108,000 K-12 schools in the U.S. Includes contact information, calendars, and more.
SuperPages.com - www.bigbook.com A Yellow Pages for the U.S. Find employers by name and location or by category. Includes maps to help you locate the business.
Corporate Window - www.corporatewindow.com Financial information and links to corporate web sites.
DowJones.com - Find a business and its location through a keyword search. Jump to headlines from any of 29 industries.
Forbes - Forbes' powerful search engine provides links to articles and other information about hundreds of businesses.
Forbes Platinum 400 - Based on growth and profitability, Forbes' editors pick the 400 best-performing big companies in the U.S.
Hoover's - www.hoovers.com Summarizes key information on hundreds of America's largest employers.
Monster - Research Companies - Research company profiles alphabetically.
WetFeet.com - Offers profiles of 1000's of companies for your review. Search alphabetically or by industry.
Saint Mary's College does not guarantee information provided on the WWW links. Please carefully verify all information.
Networking
Networking is an extremely important piece of the employment seeking process. As with all aspects of gaining employment, networking is a tool for you to use along with your education, skills, resume, ability to communicate, and good references. When all aspects of the employment search process are put together, you can expect a positive outcome.
Networking has become a buzz word, but let's look at networking for what it really is. Networking is making contacts with people you know personally, professionally, and educationally. EVERYONE you know is part of your network; they can introduce you to other people, share job leads, and often can give excellent employment information and advice. List all the people that you know or that know you on the REFERRAL/NETWORKING FORM below. Examples of developing a formal network are as follows:
The more individuals you contact, the more names you will obtain for additional contacts. You may only start with 10 names. But, if each person on this list gives you the name of another person to contact about a job lead, you have 20 people aware of your employment wants and needs and looking for possible options.
After you have a few names on your list, your next step is to approach them. If you intend to contact alumnae identified through the Alumnae Resource Network, review the information on the ARN and ideas on how to approach them. In general, tell your contacts that you are searching for employment and that you would appreciate any advice or information that they would be willing to share. Give them your resume and ask them if they know of anyone who might be hiring employees with your background and interests. Remember to recontact the individuals in your network every 3-4 weeks to find out if anyone has any new information and to keep everyone informed. Set up a schedule so that you maintain periodic contact with them.
Networking Tips
Job Search Ideas
On-Campus Interviews, job leads from the CCO and developing a strong network of people that you contact on a regular basis are VERY effective ways to obtain employment. However, there are other, more traditional methods of seeking employment. People get hired every day. The methods of hiring come from a variety of resources. It is to your advantage to diversify your job search and to use many different approaches to finding a job. Below are several ways in which to conduct your job search.
Six Steps to a Successful Internship Search- This handout defines the fundamental steps to conducting an effective search with links to CCO resources.
Six Tips for a Satisfying Job Search- Modified from the internship handout to guide those seeking a full-time job.
Internet Resume Posting - Gain assistance from the CCO on how to create an on-line resume. Posting them at sites such as Go Belles or Monster.com will allow you to gain national exposure, while broadening your understanding as to the diversity of jobs and careers available to you.
Internet Job Search Sites - There are several Internet sites that will assist you in searching for jobs. See Job Search Links below.
Internships/Volunteering - This method of getting employed is becoming a very popular way of hiring for some companies, especially those coming into the workplace as Interns. Companies are wanting to see how you work, your potential, and how well you and the organization "click."
Want Ads- This is probably the most popular way of seeking positions. However, with the Internet becoming so widely used, companies will often post their openings on their Home Pages.
Government Jobs - Federal, state and local governments employ nearly ten percent of the total job market. For most positions you must pre-register, file an application, and take the appropriate test or civil service examination. Keep in mind that the application process can take from three months to a year. Make sure that you plan your job search accordingly. Contact the agency in which you are interested to ascertain their application procedures.
Links on Various Careers |
Be BOLD- For information on careers with impact, this is a valuable site for those who want to make a positive difference in the world.
Department of Labor - US Government Employment and Training Administration. Excellent source of objective information about careers.
Indiana University - Excellent career exploration site. Self-assessment, occupational research, and job postings in the Midwest. Must register as a resident of Indiana (with your SMC address).
Quintessential Careers - Extensive links to top sites for student job seekers and career changers.
University of Waterloo - Excellent & highly rated steps and information. Self-assessment, Occupational Research, Decision-Making
Vault.com - Research careers, jobs and companies
Job Search Links |
Several employment-related sites are listed below. The first group represents some of the most comprehensive sites with most providing links to and information on a multitude of other sites.
A word of caution about using the WWW for your employment search. While the WWW is an excellent source of information and can provide you with many options and ideas, the personal contacts and networking still rank higher in terms of success rates for gaining employment. You must use many resources in your employment search.
AfterCollege - Lists thousands of entry-level positions.
Art SEARCH - This is a publication in the SMC Communication Department. Ask for it!
The National Employment Bulletin for the Arts published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc. National job listings for any arts related occupations. Sections are divided into: Administration, Artistic, Production, Internships/Career Development, and Education.
Career Bank - A great site where you can connect with possible employers for people interested in accounting and finance.
Career Builder - Search jobs, get company profiles, post a resume, check out online job fairs, career opportunities abroad, a link to Fortune Magazine Career Resource Center, and College Connection offering helpful links and information on getting started on getting a job.
Career Choices - Career opportunities available within specific fields.
Career Lab - Lists various links to career web sites.
Career Magazine - Offers a list of job openings, information on employers and job fairs, a recruiter directory, a consultant directory, a resume bank, relocation resources, and career links.
Career Paradise - "Top 12" Career and Job Search Sites
Careeronestop.com - Your source for employment information and inspiration.
Hoover's - Summarizes key information on hundreds of America's largest employers
Indeed.com- This job search engine searches cyberspace high and low for postings and can be calibrated to send you e-mails on the opportunities you seek by position title, keywords, or geographic preference. Highly recommended for all job seekers.
IndianaINTERN.net- A fascinating site offering information on internships within the State of Indiana, career descriptions, metropolitan areas, and career/job fairs.
Internet Job Searching by Field - Sites to help you find a job in your major.
Jammin Jobs - National job board listing thousands of open positions.
Job Bank USA - Specializes in providing career information including job and resume database services to job candidates, employers and recruitment firms in the U.S. and worldwide.
Job/Internship Vacancies Via the Internet - Links to job vacancies by major; includes Non-profit volunteer opportunities.
Job Finder Advisory - an interactive unique system offering customized, comprehensive and free expert career and job-hunting advice based on the job seeker education, current job search status, and many other parameters.
Job Web - Search for current openings or company information.
Microsoft Office Templates for job search correspondence- Eighteen templates are featured covering most dimensions of the job search. The ones on setting up information interviews and following up after the interview are highly recommended for your viewing.
Monster Board - Offers links for resources if you are a college student, interested in human resources, health care, echnology, executive, or international careers.
Occupational Outlook Quarterly - OOQ is a helpful resource from the US Department of Labor. Has options such as statistics, info for students and employers, and articles. OOQ provides practical information on jobs and careers. Articles are written in straightforward, non-technical language and cover a wide variety of career and work-related topics such as new and emerging occupations, training opportunities, salary trends, and results of new studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Online Recruiters Directory - has two main functions to help job seekers : a comprehensive, nationwide recruiters directory. The visitor can search for recruiters and headhunters by location, specialty or by other various criteria. The job seeker can send her resume to all relevant recruiters with one click; a Job Board Directory that is searchable by location or by specialty. There are more than 60 Job Boards listed in this directory.
The Riley Guide - The most extensive compilation of internet links for career exploration and job search success, this site was created and is managed by a master reference librarian.
Salary.Com - Average salary ranges for various occupations.
UHS Berkeley Career links - Search by industry for links to information in a particular field of study.
Wall Street Journal for College Students - Jobs across the country.
WetFeet.Com - Good source of career/job search information. Provides job listings and resume posting.
My Summers - A great resource for college students looking for summer work at a camp.
WhoHasJobs.com -Positions in numerous career fields.
RESOURCES BY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
CareerPath.com - Includes finding a job, post a resume, manage your career, company profiles, find a job fair, chat and boards, and press box.
Bestplaces.net - Provides information on cities all across the country.
JobSmart California - Provides information on the job market in California.
Ohio - Provides information on the job market in Ohio.
Chicago Jobs - Links to information about job opportunities in the Chicago area.
Yahoo - Get Local - Get access to company job pages, information on improving your resume, where to find job fairs and job banks, recruiting and placement services, and resume listing services.
ICPAC - This site has many helpful resources including resume help, information about careers, career links, and information about careers in Indiana.
INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
ESL Teaching Opportunities in Korea- WorknPlay invites Saint Mary's students to consider working in Korea teaching English. All majors will be considered. Successful candidates must possess a baccalaureate degree.
4 International Jobs & Careers- International employment directory selecting and reviewing worldwide top job sites and career resources. 4icj.com is a starting point for finding overseas jobs and work abroad. It covers 190 countries and includes more than 1000 job sites and career resources classified according to 18 categories.
Global Database - Information on virtually every country and links to work, study, volunteer, and travel opportunities.
Jobsearch.ie - This third party employment service posts jobs in Ireland and extensive information on the Irish jobs sector. This site also incorporates an Irish housing search. There is no fee for using its services.
Nova Group of Japan- All majors are invited to teach English in Japan and Taiwan. This organization has a primary recruiting office in Chicago, IL and is keenly interested in Saint Mary's graduates.
Overseas Job Express - Information about overseas opportunities (teaching, engineering, medical, etc.)
PeopleBank: The Employment Network - Get your personality profile, and get the stats on those who use the database.
The Riley Guide: International Job Opportunities - General recruiters based on location/population, and links to resources for specific industries and occupations.
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. -Teaching English overseas.
University of Oregon Career Center - Links for international job opportunities.
Vietnam Works -The recruiting website for Vietnam that list opportunities from the largest multinational companies and the most successful local companies in Vietnam.
FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
The INS website - A list of top companies that hire international students.
The Department of Labor website - This government database compiles all companies that have filed H1-B Labor Certifications. These are companies that are working with students during their one year practical training, and may hire them permanently.
H1Base - Databases of organizations that have a history of hiring foreign individuals.
JobWeb - Good general information about working in the U.S.
iStudentCity - A great site with information for international students from start to finish. Includes on-line chats with other international students as well as helpful hits for job searching after graduation.
Global Career Center - International career services company with foreign and domestic jobs, international resume writing services, video conferencing, work permit processing, and more.
The Politix Group - Information on government/political jobs for non-US citizens.
International Student Exchange and Study Abroad Resource Center - General information for students studying in the US.
International Careers - Advice on job searching as an international student.
RESOURCES FOR COMMUNICATION MAJORS
O'Dwyer's Inside News of PR - Offers job information and advice, firm rankings, recognition of current issues facing Public Relations and a job database.
American Advertising Federation - Made up of 50,000 members, the AAF cultivated the industry's present andfuture leaders. The "College Connection" link offers information on membership, student chapters, and internships.
American Film Institute - The only national arts organization devoted to film, television, and video.
American Society of Newspaper Editors - Information on breaking into the journalism professions.
Association for Women in Communications - AWIC's membership is made up of more than 7,500 professional communicators representing the spectrum of communication careers, including corporate communication, marketing, radio, television, graphic design, technical writing, Internet publishing, and communication law.
Entertainment Employment Journal - Job/internship listings and company profiles for job seekers in film, TV, cable or radio.
International Association of Business Communicators - With 12,500 members, IABC promotes quality standards in organizational communication.
National Association of Broadcasters - For 75 years, NAB has focused on maintaining a favorable governmental climate for the business of free over-the-air broadcasting.
National Communication Association - NCA's focus is primarily academic and stresses the study, criticism, research, teaching, and application of communication principles.
Public Relations Society of America - Made up of 18,000 members worldwide, PRSA is active in developing public relations talent. The "Student Society" button provides information on student-run campus chapters and conferences.
Radio-Television News Directors Association - RTNDA serves electronic news professionals encompassing local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable, and other electronic media in more than 30 countries. The site offers a comprehensive section on employment resources.
Sunoasis Jobs - Job listings and resources for students pursuing careers in writing, editing,or copywriting.
Society of Professional Journalists - Resource for students interested in directing, editing, and presenting news and editorial content both in broadcast and print formats.
Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Inc. - A foundation that promotes careers in journalism.
Indiana Broadcasters Association - Gateway to career opportunities in broadcasting.
Career Page - Search for current job opportunities in broadcasting across the country.
RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION MAJORS
** NOTE: There is a fee involved with many educational job listing sites. Be sure to check into this before signing up for services.
Academic Employment Network - Job opportunities by state.
AGENT K-12- Information from Education Week and Teacher Magazines. Offers a free job vacancy, career coaching, and resume referral service for graduates seeking teaching and administrative positions.
American Association for Employment in Education - Click on the link for "Education Candidates." Project Connect lists job openings across the country. There is also a school district locator that provides demographic and contact information. Excellent site for teacher candidates!
American School Directory - Lists 108,000 K-12 schools in the US.
Education America Network - Vacancies nationally and internationally. Online education articles, education-related bookstore, web forum, and job fair directory.
Education Week - Run by American Educators. Search by region or job title.
English School Watch - View of teaching ESL abroad, comprhensive information and guidelines for new ESL teachers allowing them to make informed decisions regarding the selection of an ESL recruiter, overseas school employer, and selection of a fair and equitable ESL labor contract.
Friends of the World Teaching - Overseas teaching opportunities.
Independent Educational Services
National Association of Teacher's Agencies
Overseas Teaching Opportunities - Network of American overseas and international schools, and the great job opportunities (PreK-12) they can offer. Teachers teach their subjects in English.
SchoolSpring.com - Free educator job search. Apply online, get email job alerts, find 1000s of teaching jobs from dozens of sites with the SchoolSpring SuperSearch.
Teacher's Employment Network -
Teachers Job Fairs - Online employment service listing thousands of private/public school postions.
Teachers-Teachers.com- FREE service that enables all education personnel, including teachers, administrators, speech pathologist, occupational therapists, and other related personnel, to market themselves to over 10,000 public and private schools nationwide.
The English Job Maze - This is an International ESL/EFL job & information site for ESL/EFL teachers and employers around the world. Comprehensive TESL guide to pay, taxes, visas, travel, etc, in 50 of the world's most popular teaching destinations.
The Making of a Teacher - NCEI's report on state licensing requirements and preparing for the classroom.
EMPLOYMENT AT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Be BOLD- For information on careers with impact, this is a valuable site for those who want to make a positive difference in the world.
Good Works - Job and internship opportunities in companies that provide services and products to nonprofit organizations.
Non-profit Career Network- How and where to get a job in non-profit companies and helpful tips.
The Riley Guide Non-Profit Directories - Descriptions to sites for jobs in the non-profit sector.
Human Services Career Network - Connects Social and Human Services employers with candidates accross the nation.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
HRS Federal Job Search -Open federal jobs, how to apply, and offers links to state employment offices. A subscription fee applies for some services.
United States Office of Personnel Management - The U.S. Government's official site for jobs and employment information provided by the United States Office of Personnel Management. Offers current job openings listed by field, general information, and an on-line application. Provides a list of the USA's hottest jobs and information about those jobs.
HEALTH CARE - NURSING EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
CampusRN.com - Only site in the marketplace that is solely geared to entry-level or new graduate nursing candidates.
Health Care Jobs Online - Offers links for jobs in the healh care field.
Nurse Degree Hunter - Post your nursing resume and search for jobs with complete confidentiality.
MedSearch America - Offers information on education and training, Q&A, links and articles, interviews and networking, resumes and letters, career management, expert advice, quizzes and tools. Search by location and choose category "medical/health care."
Medzilla.com - Job openings in the fields of biotechnology, healthcare, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and science-related industries.
National League for Nursing - Information on nursing programs, scholarships, education/career opport.
National Student Nurses' Association - Jobs for students pursuing a career in nursing. Become a member of the NSNA, read publications from the NSNA, recieve career advice and links to other helpful web sites.
Physicians Employment - Employment opportunities for physicians (employment fellowships, residencies), nursing, and allied health practitioners.
Nurse Degree Hunter - Nursing jobs for alumni with professional degrees from the top nusing schools.
Monster: Healthcare - Jobsearch bank for healthcare related occupations.
WhoHasHealthcareJobs.com - Search for healthcare positions by employer and state.
Indiana Health Careers.com -Designed to connect Careers Seekers and Employers in Indiana's Health Industry, easily, effectively and securely.
SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
Chemsoc- Royal Society of Chemistry offers listings of industrial/academic vacancies in the U.S. and abroad. Profiles chemists careers. Has a list of international Internet resources for job hunting, and information on continuing professional development.
JobSpectrum.org - A site for chemical scientists and employers. Search job postings, post resumes to a secure database, receive e-mail alerts of new openings, and apply for jobs online.
Science Jobs- Offers job-posting services for chemistry and bioscience careers. The site contains a mix of postdoctoral positions and full-time jobs in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe. Also supplies information on job hunting and career management and a resume-posting service.
RESOURCES FOR SOCIAL WORK MAJORS
SMC Department of Social Work - The SMC Department of Social Work offers information on the various career paths that SMC alums have taken as well as professional associations and national career statistical information.
RESOURCES FOR MINORITIES & WOMEN
American Indian Science & Engineering Society - AISES is an organization that provides opportunities for American Indians and Native Alaskans to pursue studies in science, engineering and technology areas. This site offers information on scholarships, internships, and job opportunities.
Asian Pacific American Job Search - Information technology service for Asian Pacific Americans. Offers job and internship listings, as well as information on events taking place in Asian Pacific communities.
Association of Latino Professionals in Fianance and Accounting - A source for Latino's pursuing a career in accounting, finance, or a related field.
Bilingual Jobs - Offers job searches and listings by language and location for bilingual job seekers.
Black-CollegianOnline - Includes jobs listed by employers with a special interest in minority candidates.
Hispanic Business - Links job seekers with Fortune 500 companies.
LatPro.com - Resources and job listings for Spanish and Portuguese speakers.
NAFEO HBCU Institutions- The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education is an association of Black Colleges and Universities. A resource for Black students to search for internships, jobs and offers information on the NAFEO HBCU career fair.
National Association of Black Accountants - A professional association with the purpose of developing, encouraging, and serving as a resource for African-Americans and other minorities in the accounting and finance professions. Offers job search links, NABA membership and publications.
National Society of Black Engineers - With over 10,000 members, the National Society of Black Engineers (NBSE) is the largest student-managed organization in the country. This site offers information on membership with the NBSE, regional conferences, careers, events, and scholarships.
www.womenswork.org - Comprehensive career information for women entering computer science field.
The Association for Women in Science - Offers scholarships/loan opportunities, a mentoring program, career advice, etc. for women entering science related fields.
The Tribal Employment Newsletter - Lists of employers and job postings for Native Americans.
Diversity Working - Largest diversity online job board on the internet, diversityworking.com's services are marketed toward all groups underrespresented in the workplace.
Backstage Jobs - Job listing service for all behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre and live entertainment. BackstageJobs.com does not post any acting or performing jobs.
University of South Carolina - Web site from the University of South Carolina with many links.
Artslynx International Theatre Resources - Information on topics ranging from acting through children's theatre to world theatre resources.
Careers in Technical Theatre - Description of "behind-the-scenes" careers in technical theatre from the Association of British Theatre Technicians.
Broadcast Executive Director's Association - Descriptions of various jobs in broadcasting.
National Association of Broadcasters - Resources for those just starting a broadcasting career, as well as those searching for new positions.
TV and Radio Jobs - Broadcast-related links on this site include radio news and employment information.
Broadcast Employment Services - Find information on salaries, upcoming conferences, and a master TV station index for help in locating stations in the US. Also, job listings, resume posting, freelance tips, and a job bank (links to station openings).
Showbizjobs - Jobs in broadcasting, post production, recording, theatre management, film/TV/Video.
Playbill On-Line - Browse job postings by category: performer, technical, design, administrative, academic.
TheatreJobs.com - www.theatrejobs.com
On-line database includes 100s of ads in all fields of theatre. Members ($35 for students) can also post resume and/or portfolio.
SOUTH BEND & INDIANA EMPLOYMENT
Indiana Job Central- Live and work in Indiana. Database features internship and full-time positions.
JobsMichiana.com - Resume posting and job listings for jobs in the Michiana area.
Michiana Careers Online - Resume posting and job listings for jobs in the South Bend and Elkhart areas.
Ready for Life - St. Joseph, Marshall, and Kosciusko Counties job opportunities and employee needs.
South Bend Tribune Online - local employment opportunities from all industries.
SouthBendHelpWanted.com - Resume posting, job listings, and information for job seekers.
Michiana Free-Net - 25 individual employment sites for the job seeker in the Michiana area.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
www.Financejobs.com - Lists jobs for both finance and accounting.
FinCareer - A career network for finance.
Robert Half - largest specialized placement service for accounting and finance professionals.
Vault - Assistance especially for consulting, finance, law, BA, TV news, and more.
VOLUNTEERING
Office of Civic and Social Engagement at Saint Mary's College
Center for Social Concerns (CSC) at the University of Notre Dame
Jesuit Volunteer Corps
National Career Fairs |
Career Conferences of America -
Career Fairs - Searchable by dates and states
24/7 Collegiate Career Fair - Register for free and you can post a resume or search the job data base by city, state, field and/or keyword. Especially geared toward new graduates.
