The Basics

Where do you begin to actually look for open jobs?

Hopefully, you've got your resume ready, a draft of your cover letter, and a good sense of what you want to do.

You now need to do the tedious part of your job hunt: Searching and applying for open jobs. This is often the most time consuming part of a job search (or feels like it).

1. Target the companies that you want to work for first.
• Larger companies will often have their own applications (online or offline) that they will want you to fill out, so be sure to set aside plenty of time for this first step.
• Be sure to use your resume as a reference, some job boards allow you to upload your resume completely!
  
2. Go to the online job boards and create an account.
• Fill out your profile as completely as possible, this can also take a little bit longer, so set aside plenty of time.
• Start searching for jobs! Most job boards let you search by company or job title.
• Do as many variations on job titles as you can think of - there is no standardization for job titles and duties don't always match the title.
3. Go to Craigslist.org and start searching for job postings.
• Craigslist lets you search by city, job title, and profession. Do all three!
4. Search online for local newspapers, want ads, etc.
• Local papers (and some TV stations) have want ads online. Each ad will have different contact information, so be sure to use the form contact requested in the ad!
5. Go offline and pick up a couple of local newspapers (daily, weekly, etc.) and persue those job ads.
6. Go to your local unemployment office.
• Believe it or not, unemployment offices often have job postings that no other place has and they have all the resources available to apply (copying, faxing, internet access, etc.) at no cost to you!
  
7. If you're hunting for a retail or food service job, go to the store you'd like to work at and ask if they are hiring.
• If you've already applied online, let them know, they can then take your name back to their Human Resources and request your application.
8. Make a list of temporary staffing agencies or recruitment firms and start contacting them.
• Agencies are great if you need work right away or know for a fact that the company you want to work for hires people through that agency.
• Be aware that agencies will want to have you come in and fill out paperwork, take screening tests, or participate in an interview or orientation prior to them sending you out on assignments. This can take as much as an entire day.
  

Where to Find Open Jobs

- Links to Online Job Postings
- Marketing Yourself
- Networking
- Inquiring
- Applying