Six Top Job Search Tips

Your individual job search strategy needs to be tailored to your individual situation. The following tips apply to everyone, whether you are seeking an internship, co-op or permanent position, whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.

1. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

If you limit your job search to just one method, you will limit your options. Use a mix of methods.

2. No one job search method will reveal all of the jobs out there.

Not every kind of job or industry is represented in every job search method. For example there are many jobs you will not find through the On-Campus Interviewing Program, and there are many jobs you will not find posted on Internet sites. If you want to maximize your options, you will need to use multiple methods. (See pros and cons of the ways to look for jobs.)

3. Start early.

That means at the beginning of your final year if you're completing your degree, and it means in fall if you're looking for a summer internship. Some employers look for hires and recruit many months in advance of the anticipated work-start date. If you don't start early, you can still find opportunity, but you will have missed out on some of the options.

4. Learn how others pursuing your career field or industry have been successful.

Notice the plural on "others." Don't limit yourself to one source.

Talk to faculty in your department.

Talk to students who will graduate (or have graduated) ahead of you.

Talk to members of your professional associations and student chapters of professional organizations.

Talk to alumni volunteers you find in VT CareerLink.

See How VT Graduates Found Full-time Jobs in the Post-Graduation Report. You can see universitywide statistics and statistics for your college. Use the methods that worked for past graduates (you'll always see networking ranking high).

5. Learn to think beyond major.

Some of you have a major that equals a job title. Most of you don't. Learn to think about occupations, industries, kinds of businesses, job skills and career fields. The real world is not organized by major. (See the Monster Major-to-Career Converter to see job titles and get ideas.)

6. Don't expect your job search to be quick and easy.

A job search is hard work. Your motivation and attitude are the keys to your success. Expect to put in as much work, for two semesters, as a really tough 3-credit-hour class in which you want to get an A. It's worth that to you.