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Job Search Tools

Getting Started

Before you begin to search for a job, focus on your career goals and develop an idea of the kind of position you would like to have. Spend time thinking about how your strengths, interests, skills, and values relate to work environments. Have an idea of possible position titles or career fields you might want to pursue. Doing this will narrow where and how you look for positions. If you struggle with thinking about this, visit a career counselor for help.

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Identifying Fraudulent Job and Internship Postings

Job and Internship Search Links

Make Meaningful Connections

Participate in Campus Programs and Events

There are a variety of job fairs, workshops, and other events that employers participate in to directly connect with students. Participating in these events will get you face-to-face with a number of employers. Be sure to prepare yourself for any networking event by researching the employers, knowing what you have to offer them, having your resume available, and dressing professionally. Review our upcoming events in Handshake.

Develop a Target List of Employers

To find information on employers, look through employer directories such as the Book of Lists in the Strommen Center or the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits online. LinkedIn is another great resource for researching companies.

Final Considerations

  • Ask a career counselor to critique your resume, review your situation, and help you brainstorm new strategies.
  • Try using a staffing agency. Temporary jobs will pay you money, help you learn more about the world of work, and may even help you meet a prospective employer.
  • Consider taking any job in an organization or field which interests you, even if it is not at the level for which you are prepared. Once you get inside an organization, you may be able to move up.
  • If you are unable to find the job you want in the area you live, think about moving. Economic conditions are not the same all over the country. Research to find what areas have plentiful jobs in your field.
  • Volunteer your time to gain experience. Volunteers who do well may receive consideration when hiring occurs.
  • Arrange informational interviews with employers and others in the fields which interest you. This will help make you a more informed candidate and you may learn about potential employers.