Career Services: Presentation - Job Search Strategies

You can find live webinar dates on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthlandPioneerCareerServices

Also at NPC Event's Calendar at https://www.npc.edu/calendar

This is the first webinar everyone who is new to the job search process should take.

Jump start your job search by being prepared.  We will cover how to put together a Personal Marketing Plan (i.e. a job search plan) and a professional objective statement.  A Personal Marketing Plan is like your own personal resume that you keep private and share only with your network and never with hiring managers.  You will use the Personal Marketing Plan to help you network with your professional, personal, and community contacts to help you gather information and generate job leads.

You can download the webinar slides as well as samples of Personal Marketing Plans from this page.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to come to the job fair as prepared and polished as possible so that you can leave with employers' contact information and viable job leads.  Sometimes you only get one shot to make a good impression.  We strongly recommend the following:

PREPARE BEFORE THE JOB-FAIR

1.  Register for an account on two free job board platforms and upload your resume.  These platforms will make it easy for you to search for jobs, access important job-search resources/tips, and allow employers to find you. NPC Jobs Connection has some podcasts on everything related to job search.  We highly recommend listening to the podcasts on job fairs on the NPC Jobs Connection platform.

• NPC Jobs Connection (https://www.collegecentral.com/npc/Community.cfm)
• Arizona@WORK Arizona Job Connection (https://www.azjobconnection.gov/jobseeker/registrations/new)

2.  Visit the NPC Career Services website (https://www.npc.edu/career-services) to find information that will help you create a resume, communicate your strengths, and be more productive in your job search.  We particularly recommend that you watch the recorded webinars on LibGuides.  

3.  Create a resume and get it reviewed.  Once you create a resume, you can email your resume to NPC Career Services for a review at careerservices@npc.edu.  The more polished your resume, the more confident and effective you will be at sharing your strengths and qualifications with employers.  

4.  Prepare your elevator pitch.  To prepare for the job fair, think of an 30-60 second introduction you will give to an employer.  This is called an "elevator pitch."  Because job fairs are more "conversational" and less formal than an interview, make sure your elevator pitch sounds naturally and is inserted at a natural point in the conversation with the employer in order to avoid it sounding awkward.  Your elevator pitch should include the following:  who you are, what your qualifications are (skills, education, work experience, etc.) and what kind of work you are looking for.  If you want feedback on your elevator pitch, you can contact NPC Career Services at careerservices@npc.edu.  It's a good idea to craft and practice your elevator pitch BEFORE the meeting to maximize your chances of finding employment.  You can watch a video on the elevator pitch and adapt it to your circumstances:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb0Yz_5ZYzI 

AT THE JOB FAIR:

1. Dress, groom, and behave the same way as you would for a job interview. The way you dress at a job fair is the same as you would for an interview.  You will only have a few minutes to make an impression as a job candidate. Positive first impressions are critical.
2. Bring a padfolio/folder, notebook paper, and pens so you can take notes, write down your thoughts/ideas, record employer contact information, etc. Collect handouts and business cards.  Be sure to keep this organized so you don't mix the information up.  By taking good notes, you will be able to follow-up with the employers more effectively.  Besides the practical need for these items, using these items during the job search makes a good impression on employers.  
3. Turn off your cell phone and other electronic devices! Ringers, alerts and phone conversations are distracting and disrespectful. You wouldn't do this at a job interview, would you?  Let the employers know that they are your main focus.
4. Give yourself plenty of time to attend the job fair.  Because we are socially distancing, lines may be long for some employers, and you don't want to appear rushed or cut conversations short because you didn't give yourself enough time to attend.  
5. Visit the community organization tables.  These organizations have been selected because of the resources or services they have that will help you with your job search.  Keep an open mind and don't skip them and miss out on opportunities because you made the wrong assumptions.  
6. Stop by the NPC Career Services table for a resume review.  
7. Want a career instead of just a job?  Want to be skilled so you can earn a middle-income wage?    Stop by the NPC table to find out about different programs.  Programs range from GED classes, vocational / direct-to-work pathways, etc.  
8. Introduce yourself to company representatives in a positive and confident manner; say hello, and give a short overview of your strengths/qualifications/experience and type of job desired.  Practice good listening skills and get employer's contact and job opening information for follow-up after the fair.  Be prepared to offer a copy of your resume, if it seems appropriate.  Be prepared with some questions for the employer about their company or the job opportunity such as required qualifications, advancement opportunities, job/career advice, etc.

AFTER THE EVENT (PERSIST!)

After the event, you should make it a point to follow up with an emai or phone call expressing your interest in the company and/or job opportunity. Use your notes to help you craft your message showing that you remember them and their opportunity.  If emailing, you may want to include an updated résumé, a link to an electronic portfolio, or provide better answers to specific questions asked during the event. You should send a follow-up email 1-2 days after the event.  If you are making a telephone call, follow-up with them 1-2 days after the event to express interest and inquire about next steps (or if you already have information on how to apply, let them know when you will be submitting your application; or if you already applied at the job fair, to remind them that you applied and inquire as to next steps).