Job Search

The first job grads get out of NTI is sometimes one that lasts a lifetime or sometimes a stepping stone. Sometimes the economy, mergers, or new management forces a change. Your best bet in finding a job you want is make it your job. Job hunts can take months, so you need to be organized, prepared and motivated.

Start with your resume. Make sure you update it to reflect recent work experiences and training. Look at some ads online (see the next section), find commonalities, and link those commonalities to the skills you have developed. Write a resume that highlights the skills employers want.

Next, know who’s hiring. Search, search, and research. The Internet is a great resource, but you need to use a variety of search tools. Remember, some of the most common, like Monster.com, require employers to pay a fee to post a job. This often deters smaller companies from posting with them. So don’t rely on one service. Look around.

If Minnesota is home and you want to stay here, these sites focus on Minnesota.

iseek – Research Employers (good for searching prospective employers in a specific region or specific field)
MN Workforce Center
Minnesota Works
MinnesotaJobs.com
Jobs section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune
MN State Job Search

And remember, most jobs are acquired via networking. So, speak with friends in the industry, call old classmates, call NTI to let us know you are looking, sign up for the NTI Alumni Listserv, join related organizations in the region, and attend Chamber of Commerce meetings. Do whatever you can think of to connect with others who can help. The more you connect, the more likely you will find the job you want at the company you want.

Next, start answering those job ads and postings. But DON’T send a resume without a CUSTOMIZED cover letter. You need to apply for each job as if it is the only one you want. You need to clearly articulate how you meet each qualification they want, while demonstrating you have the attitude, work ethic and communication skills every employer wants.

So, you send out dozens of resumes and get no responses. Now what? Well, first get feedback on the resume and cover letters you have been sending. Maybe they could use some polishing. If not, call, follow up, go after the job or jobs you want. Be tenacious. Also, be aware that the job market may be very slow and you may be up against people with more experience or education. You may need to look out of the area or even to other states.

So, let’s say you get a call or an email for a interview. After jumping up and down, be sure to prepare, prepare, prepare. And by the way, dress well. Dress for the boss’s job.

Then, send them a thank you letter. If ten equally qualified people are up for the same job and only five send a thank you letter, your competition just got cut in half.

Lastly, think about salary. Look at the average wages in your field. The experience you have may be irrelevant if the market is down. So be prepared with information. Know the amount you need to survive as well as the average pay for your skills in your geographic area.

If this process seems laborious, it is. Finding a job is hard work–if you want good one, and you may need to do more than is described on this page. You may need to create an efolio, be interviewed over the phone, fly to an interview, take a pay cut, move, take a job outside of your chosen field, or even go back to school. Nothing ever remains the same. Work is constantly changing. The better prepared you are to meet these changes, the better off you will be in the long run.