Question

1. List seven ways you can explore career opportunities while still in college

2. How do job seekers find their best jobs?

3. Although one may not actually find a job on the Internet, how can the big job boards be helpful to job hunters?

4. What is the hidden job market, and how can candidates find jobs in it?

5. In searching for a job, how can you build a personal brand, and why is it important to do so?

6. How do chronological and functional résumés differ, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

7. What is an ATS, and how does it affect the way you prepare a résumé?

8. Why is it important to include a cover message with all résumés you send, even if you send them by e-mail?

Answer 1

How do job seekers find their best jobs?

The high percentage of successful personal referrals (78%) and social media hiring (56%) suggest that your job hunt should focus laser sharp on networking in its various forms-- maximizing personal and social media networking, followed by pursuing leads resulting from internships.

Although one may not actually find a job on the internet, how can the big job boards be helpful to job hunters?

Job boards can help to provide information on interviewing, salaries and résumés. They inform those seeking employment about the jobs that are available and the skills that are required. They are also helpful to find internships and jobs that do not require more than two years of experience.

What is the hidden job market, and how can candidates find jobs in it?

The hidden job market contains job openings that are not divulged to the public. This contains between 50 and 80 percent of the job market. The best way to find a job is by networking. These companies do not want to hire unqualified candidates and prefer to select from options they know. Networking can be accomplished by building a personal network and using social media.

In searching for a job, how can you build a personal brand, and why is it important to do so?

Building a personal brand is important because it emphasizes the skills you possess. You can build a brand by deciding what qualities make you special and come up with a tagline that accurately sells yourself. The next step is to create a business card and an email that is professional and easy to remember. Finally, you should create a sales pitch for yourself; this is a maximum of 30 seconds long and describes you and your skills.

What is a customized résumé and why should you have one?

A customized résumé is a résumé that is tailored to a specific position and the employer’s needs. It is very important to have a customized résumé because the competition is so intense you will not succeed with a generic one. A customized résumé will make you look well organized and professional.

How do chronological and functional résumés differ, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

The chronological résumé shows job history from the most recent to the least. This is a good format for those with experience in the working world. Most employers prefer this format because it is familiar and it shows the applicants experience clearly. The disadvantage is if the applicant does not have great prior job history.

The functional résumé focuses on the applicant’s skills instead of past employment. This style highlights accomplishments and helps to hide negative employment experiences. This is a great style for people just starting out in the employment world because it is not dependent on prior job history. It is a disadvantage because employers are suspicious that candidates are trying to hide something.

What is an ATS, and how does it affect the way you prepare a résumé?

ATS stands for: applicant tracking system. This is a system that screens résumés for employers looking for applicants that match the job requirements. This affects your résumé by making it even more difficult. This system searches for keywords and nouns that satisfy the job requirement. This means you want to make sure to study the terms, advertisement and job descriptions of what you are applying for. Make sure to incorporate this information into your résumé, so as to not be skipped over.