Whether you are applying to a job or internship, service activity, research position or other opportunity, use the following strategies to help with the search.
Where to search for jobs
You can always start your job search with Handshake, since employers there are specifically targeting college students and recent grads. You will also want to check other job boards that might be specific to your industry or interests. As you prepare to apply for jobs, remember that the Career Development Center offers resume samples, application guides, and other tips to help you prepare.
Broad job boards
Indeed lists thousands of employment opportunities, and you can filter your preferences by industry and location. LinkedIn can tailor job recommendations based on your profile. Mac’s List is specific to the Northwest, and GoinGlobal is very helpful for international job and internship searches.
Government jobs
USA Jobs is where all federal government jobs are listed (Department of Fish and Wildlife, NASA, FBI, Department of Energy, and more.). It includes unique experiences for current students and recent graduates. Note that state, county and local government positions are typically listed on their own websites (e.g. State of California jobs or Oregon.gov). Want to expand your search from federal positions to similar state and local agencies? Check out the Career Development Center's government agency mapping document, which provides listings of federal agencies and their state and local counterparts in several U.S. states. You can also use tools such as ONET to obtain occupational information on hundreds of careers based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Nonprofit jobs
Idealist and Work for Good are examples of places to look for nonprofit jobs. The Nonprofit Association of Oregon is a regional database for nonprofit work opportunities.
Faculty/academic jobs
Chronicle Vitae, a service of the Chronicle of Higher Education, is a hub for graduate level, faculty, research and other academic positions.
Employment agencies
Another way to find jobs is to work with a hiring or temp agency, which is usually free to applicants. CampusPoint is an example of a Northwest-based company that focuses on placing current students and recent graduates with local companies.
Strategies for Job Searching
1.
Know Yourself And Your Target
- Identify your interests. When you read a position description, picture yourself doing the tasks it lists. Are they a fit?
- Be able to communicate your skills and accomplishments to employers and organizations.
- Make a list of organizations that interest you.
- Set goals and track deadlines.
2.
Create and Maintain a Presence
- Clearly articulate relevant skills in your resume and cover letter.
- Tailor your documents to each position you apply for.
- Create a thorough LinkedIn profile.
- Make sure that social media privacy settings portray you in a professional way.
- Send a thank you note within one day of connecting with a contact or recruiter.
- Reach out to employers two weeks after submitting your resume to see if they received it and to reiterate your interest.
3.
Get Professional Experience
- Work part-time, volunteer and get an internship.
- Consider research, unpaid opportunities and job shadows.
- Join student organizations in your field and be active.
4.
Be Open-Minded
- Be open to all types of industries and positions that will leverage your skill set (for-profits and nonprofits, government agencies, small and medium companies, service organizations, etc).
- Look for positions in a variety of geographical locations.
- Don’t focus only on the position; instead, look at the skills required for the position. You may be qualified for more positions than you think.
5.
Develop a Network
- Conduct informational interviews.
- Join professional associations and clubs.
- Leverage social media (like LinkedIn) to connect with professionals in your desired area, and periodically reach out to companies, recruiters, and professionals in your network.
- Attend networking opportunities provided by the university (career expo).
6.
Use OSU Resources
- Ask your network for advice.
- Visit the Career Development Center.
- Leverage your peers and professors for opportunities or advice.
Tips
- Establish personal contact with any organization you plan to apply to.
- Meet a recruiter, call with questions about an application, get a friend to put in a good word for you or conduct informational interviews.
- Don’t be anonymous!
Tips
-
Be patient and positive.
- Start early! Depending on the position and field, searches can take months.
- Try a different approach if your current one isn’t working.
Networking
Networking gives you a competitive edge in the market. Your network is a web of people whom you know personally, professionally and/or academically. Learn more about how to expand and strengthen your network by visiting the Career Development Center's networking page.
Career Fairs
Career fairs or career expos are valuable, on-campus opportunities to find, meet and network with hundreds of potential employers. Learn more about how to make the most out of career fairs by visiting the Career Development Center's career fairs page.
Be Cautious of Fraudulent or Unsafe Opportunities
The Career Development Center strives to check every employer and position that is posted to Handshake to make sure they are genuine. However, sometimes fraudulent postings do make it through. Additionally, scammers may contact students directly through email, phone or on other reputable sites like LinkedIn. Some may reference the university, the Career Development Center, or other departments and programs at OSU to make their posting seem more legitimate.
If you have received a suspicious email, please review the information below. You can always contact us at [email protected] or 541-737-4085; we’re here to help. Additionally, Oregon State University has resources on phishing and spam to assist you in protecting your identity.
Some job scams are easy to spot, while others appear legitimate. So, how do you know who to trust? You can start with these basic guidelines to avoid a potential scam.
In general, look for job postings on official websites such as Handshake, company website “Careers” pages, USAJobs.gov, etc. and those that have been shared with you from Oregon State advisors and professors. Avoid listings on Facebook, Craigslist, etc. that you can’t trace back to the company’s official job site.
NEVER
- Give out personal information like your social security number, credit card information or bank account number over email or phone.
- Take cashier’s checks or money orders as a form of payment. Fake checks are common.
- Cash a check that comes with “extra money.” Sometimes scammers will send checks that require you to deposit a check at your bank, withdraw the “extra” money as cash, and then deposit that cash elsewhere. The check will bounce.
- Agree to purchase gift cards or equipment for an employer.
- Wire funds via Western Union, MoneyGram or any other service. Anyone who asks you to wire money is a scammer.
- Apply for jobs listed by someone that is unable to meet with you.
- Agree to a background check unless you have met the employer in person.
- Apply for a job that is emailed to you that you are not expecting.
ALWAYS
- Review job and internship descriptions thoroughly. If a job is offering a lot of money for very little work, it could be a scammer trying to get personal information from you.
- Research the employer. Do they have a reputable website or professional references? Is the job listing you want to apply for also on their main career page?
- Do they have a valid physical street address? Do they have a clear description of what they do and who their customers are, or is their information vague and potentially intentionally hiding information?
- Check employer messages carefully for spelling errors and incorrect grammar, as well as non-professional tone and personal email addresses (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo domains instead of “@nordstrom” or “@nike.com”).
- Meet face-to-face with a potential employer. An in-person or virtual interview or informal discussion will help you determine the employer’s intentions.
- Be sure to choose a public place to meet, tell someone where you are going and bring your cell phone, just in case.
- Trust your instincts. If a job sounds too good to be true, it is likely a scam.
Reporting Fraud and Scams
Think it’s a scam or unsure? Report it!
- Contact the Career Development Center so we can review the position/employer.
- You should contact your local police department if money has been transferred.
- If you did transfer bank information, contact your bank and lock your accounts.
- File an incident report with the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.
- Send any phishing emails to [email protected], and they will work to block the sender.
Information adapted from the National Association of Colleges and Employers and Rutgers University – New Brunswick, Office of Career Exploration and Success