A job search is like taking an additional class: it’s a process and takes time, so
don't wait until your final year to get started! When you plan, organize, and remain
optimistic and persistent, you will be more effective. Job boards and Google searches are helpful but relied upon too much as the primary
way to find a job. Take time to reflect on your goals, so you can narrow your search
using criteria such as location, industry, and job function. Utilize the strategies
and resources outlined on this page; schedule an appointment with a CDI staff member
for assistance!
The most important first step is understanding what roles and organizations interest
you. Finding a job is easier when you know what you are looking for! Stay open to
possibilities; however, have a few starting points. Identify your top three job role
priorities and focus on accepting interviews only with the organizations that meet
your goals. Job search timelines vary by industry and organization. On average, plan
on 3-6 months of a highly active job search. Some industries depend upon the junior year internship
to identify their top entry-level candidates. Do not wait until your final year of
college to begin your job search. The earlier you explore your options and get your
materials organized, the more “in control” of the process you will be.
A job search is most effective when you utilize multiple approaches and resources:
Handshake , industry-specific online job boards, networking, and proactive, targeted outreach
strategies.
Relationships are key: reach out to faculty, mentors, alumni and colleagues to get
direct referrals and introductions.
Not all jobs are posted online or on the same websites. Go directly to the website
for an organization that interests you!
Target employers: research organizations that interest you. Follow and engage with
them on LinkedIn. Look for friends or alumni who work at organizations of interest.
The more you talk with others, you will tap into the hidden job market (jobs that
are posted online but are available). Applying to 10 well-researched opportunities
and getting personal, faculty, and alumni referrals is far more effective than applying
to 100 jobs online.
Attend career fairs and career events on campus to meet employers and alumni.
Participate in employer-hosted virtual events on Handshake.
Build your professional online presence: LinkedIn is the ideal platform to use for
professional branding, and you can proactively follow organizations and reach out
to talent acquisition professionals and alumni.
Researching employers is perhaps the single-most important activity you will undertake
in your job search. Review Avoiding Job Scams and Researching Employers (PDF 386KB). Your research will help you:
Discover organizations that are a good match for you
Identify an organization’s goals and needs
Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your skills and experiences that
match the employer’s needs
Identify what questions to ask
Demonstrate your interest in and enthusiasm for the organization
Answer interview questions with confidence
Make an informed employment decision
Unfortunately, many job seekers overlook the importance of research when undertaking
a job search. It’s common for employers to comment that job candidates haven’t “done
their homework,” and instead come into interviews with little or no knowledge about
the organization. These candidates flounder, asking questions that could be easily
answered by a cursory look at the organization's website or literature. They make
a poor impression because employers assume lack of research means lack of interest.
Where should you begin? Start by developing a list of organizations in which you might
be interested—those that have the types of jobs or do the type of work that interests
you. These could be organizations that attend campus career fairs and special events,
or they might be companies you have identified on your own. Look at Chambers of Commerce,
which provide extensive lists of all businesses within a specific geographic area;
for example, York County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Research organizations to obtain information in each of the following categories:
Organizational overview: age, size, financial outlook, growth, and structure
Trends/issues in the industry
Mission, philosophy, objectives
Public or private or foreign-owned
Location of plants, offices, stores, subsidiaries
Products and/or services
Names of key executives
Competitors
Sales, assets, earnings
Growth history and current growth activity
Current challenges
Major achievements and activity, issues, news
Career paths, training, benefits
Company culture
Resources for Research
Start with the organization’s website
Dacus Library: tap into university library research databases
Career Center: review the Handshake employer profile
LinkedIn: review and follow the organization’s page
Public libraries have online research tools available for free. In the business category,
you may find ReferenceUSA, with information for more than 20 million U.S. companies,
including nonprofit organizations. Speak to a reference librarian for additional options
to research organizations.
Visit the Winthrop University page on LinkedIn to find alumni working in organizations
in which you are interested.
Professional associations in your field of interest.
What is the proper amount of time an employer should allow you to thoroughly assess—and
accept—a job offer?
It is a race among employers to access top talent as early as possible. Most employers
seeking May grads are recruiting in the fall for their openings. Employers also use
their internship programs to identify the top talent before they begin their final
year of school.
When employers make offers for May graduates in early in the fall, giving students
until at least Thanksgiving before they are required to make a decision is reasonable.
Universities typically host fall recruiting events in September, so students should
be well-educated on employer opportunities by that time.
When it gets later in the recruitment season, say December/January, it is common (and
appropriate) for employers to give shorter deadline windows, but ideally no less than
two weeks. Here's the challenge: most employers cannot wait for an indefinite period
of time to hear back from you regarding your decision because they have a need to
fill. The longer you have to decide, the likelihood of finding another great new hire
for the position will be lessened.
If you are well-educated on what you are looking for and seek out the roles that meet
these criteria, then you will have a basis for accepting the right opportunity once
it is offered or declining an offer to continue to seek out the role of your dreams.
Proactively know your career goals and seek them out rather than explore all of your opportunities and then select.
Below is a sample list of job factors to rank in order to help you evaluate offers:
After considering a job offer (the job, salary, benefits, etc.) and weighing the pros
and cons, you decide: You don’t want the job.
Not every job is right for every person. Remember the purpose of the interview: it
gives the organization an opportunity to decide if you’re a good candidate for the
job and lets you evaluate if the position and organization are the right fit for you.
If you choose to reject the company’s offer, here are five things to know:
It’s okay to say no thank you. You aren’t the first person to reject a job offer.
In addition, the position is going to be filled by another candidate.
A rejected employer may appreciate your answer. If you know the job or organization
is not a good fit for you, declining the job offer is the right thing to do. Hiring
an employee is expensive. Accepting a job offer you are unsure of—and then resigning
a few months later—costs time and money for both you and the organization.
Say thank you. There must have been something that kept both you and the employer
interested through at least two rounds of interviews. Be sure to thank the person
offering the job for their interest in hiring you. (Note: Leave a good impression.
You may want to work for that company in the future!)
Be professional when you tell other people. Don’t bad-mouth a company or specific
person within an organization. Note: If you believe any interviewers acted inappropriately
(asked illegal or uncomfortable questions), speak to someone in your campus career
center. While it’s not appropriate for you to speak ill of someone in your rejection
letter, you also need not let improper recruiting conduct go unaddressed.
Give them your decision in writing. It is imperative that you send an e-mail or letter
to the person making the offer letting him or her know of your decision. In large
organizations, a formal job offer letter may come from a human resources representative.
In this case, send a letter to the hiring manager and forward a copy of the letter
to the HR representative. As with thank-you letters, rejection letters are professional
and concise.
Sample Rejection Letter
Mr. John Smith
Senior Account Manager
PPR Public Relations
123 Main Street
Rock Hill, SC 29732
Dear Mr. Smith,
Thank you very much for offering me the Public Relations Assistant position with PPR
Public Relations. I enjoyed meeting you and your team.
After much deliberation, I have decided to decline your offer, to pursue an opportunity
more aligned with my career goals. Please know that my decision was a difficult one,
as I was impressed with the opportunity presented.
I wish you the best in your recruiting efforts for the position. Perhaps our paths
will cross in the future.
Indeed.com - web crawler job database for thousands of jobs based on geographical location.
Millions of jobs are posted from a variety of sources.
USAjobs.gov - the Federal government’s official job list and search board with additional information
for veterans and for individuals with disabilities.
Idealist.org - the world’s largest search engine for non-profit, government, volunteer, internship
and social positions
GoGovernment.org - a guide to all aspects of obtaining federal government work including application
process tips and finding the right fit.
LinkedIn - a personalized and interactive portfolio to interact and engage with your
professional network and establish new relationships within your field of interest.
Follow companies you are interested in and comment on their photos in a professional
manner.
Facebook – use the “Friends of Friends” feature to extend your personal network and
look for potential job opportunities. “Like” the companies that you want to be involved
with and stay active on their professional pages.
Instagram - a visual platform to demonstrate your creativity, accomplishments, where
you have been, where you are going, and who you have met along the way.
