Job Hunter Newsletter
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Setting up Job Search Central

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Contents

Job Search Video

"The Fatal Interview Sin"

Be careful to avoid making one of the biggest mistakes in interviewing. It's easy to do with nearly every question and your interviewer will pick up on it. But if you're ready you can impress by giving the answer they want the first time they ask. Get the details you need to prepare by watching our one-minute-video tip:

www.CollegeGrad.com/job-search-videos/the-fatal-interview-sin.shtml

CollegeGrad.com features more than 60 job tips in one minute video format. Review them all at:

www.CollegeGrad.com/job-search-videos

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Job Search Tip of the Week, by Brian Krueger, author of "College Grad Job Hunter," the #1 book for entry level job search:

"Setting up Job Search Central"

Job hunting is serious business. To be successful, you need to organize your job search like a business. Having a folder labeled "Jobs" buried under a pile of papers on your desk will not be adequate for long-term survival. You need to set up a control center for your job search, which we will refer to as Job Search Central.

Job Search Central is a physical location where you can organize and plan your job search. For many, Job Search Central is located at their desk in their dorm room or apartment. But don't fight for space within the midst of an otherwise unorganized life. Job search requires the utmost in organization to be fully effective.

First, plan out and organize the physical area itself. You need to set up a work space where you can quickly access your information, make phone calls, and plan out your search. Get a comfortable chair where you can truly do productive work for long periods of time. Make sure you have plenty of desktop space in which to work. And keep the work space clean and neat, not because Mom asked you to—do it because it will make you more efficient and productive. You might even consider placing some inspirational quotations or phrases on your wall to cheer you up and cheer you on when the going gets tough. Even the most effective job search will comprise a series of rejections before the ultimate acceptance. So make your work environment as positive and uplifting as possible.

Once your physical work space is set up, it's time to get organized. Excessive layers of wood pulp strata on top of the desk tend to suck in and obliterate new information, so beware. The "piling filing system" only serves to perpetuate disorganization. Do not make your end-of-year move the only time you sort through the paper mountain. Worse yet, disorganization unwittingly serves as an accomplice to procrastination because of the perpetual feeling that you "can never seem to get organized." And your disorganization can serve as a convenient excuse for not beginning your job search, perpetually putting it off. Master the mountain now, even if it means filing all paperwork in a vertical file marked "General" until it is later sorted. Always keep your work area open and accessible.

As part of a successful job search, you will be gathering and utilizing enormous amounts of information. It is not enough to just write down notes on slips of paper and pile them onto an open corner of the desk. Believe me, there is nothing worse than losing the phone number of the company that just called to set up an interview. Set up and label vertical files to organize information on each and every company in which you have an interest. Set up a computer folder called /Jobs or dedicate a flash drive to your job search. In this way, you can file away information you gather until it is needed and necessary. You may also want to set up files on job search topics you run across. Your copy costs will likely go up dramatically this semester. But do not just accumulate and file away worthless information. Always ask: "Will this help me in the future?" Then file it—or discard it.

One of the most basic ways to track information is a simple "While You Were Out" pad and pen tacked down next to the phone. If you live alone, it gives you an automatic location for capturing information. If you live with others, it can be a lifesaver (or jobsaver) for capturing that critical phone call. It is amazing how often phone numbers are lost or taken down incorrectly, especially in the college environment. When I hear, "Just a minute, I have to find something to write on," I know that my name, company name, and phone number are being written on a gum wrapper, an empty twelve-pack box, or possibly worse. Make sure you have message pads available and ask anyone/everyone who answers your phone to use them. If you are personally taking down the information, it is best to take it down directly in a pocket organizer, such as a Day-Timer or Franklin Planner or PDA (more on that coming up) so that it is captured and logged for future reference. As a fallback, make sure you have an organized way for yourself and others to capture the information. Remember "The Roommate Factor"—the probability of your roommate losing the phone number is directly proportional to the importance of the call. Have a central location—a bulletin board on the wall next to the phone—for posting the message.

Next newsletter: "Telephone Etiquette and Proper Use of Voicemail"

Contents

Education Center

"Hot Industries: Healthcare"

There's no doubt that the healthcare industry is booming. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, seven of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the country are in healthcare. Job opportunities are expected to grow in all related fields, including: healthcare administration, nursing, medical and dental assisting, x-ray technology, and more. If you've ever wanted to break into one of these fields, now is the time.

Because it's so important for healthcare professionals to be on the cutting edge of health and medical advances, continued education is not only recommended, but often required. That means pursuing not just degrees, but certifications and continuing education units can make or break your employment potential. Fortunately, online healthcare classes and degrees coupled with flexible campus-based programs make keeping your credentials current easier than ever before, even if you're already working full-time. Choose a program below to learn more.

Check Out Healthcare Degree Programs:

www.CollegeGrad.com/education/health/

Contents

- Help Spread The Word!

Do you know of someone who can benefit from the information in this newsletter? Simply forward this e-mail to them and tell them to subscribe at http://www.CollegeGrad.com/newsletter. Thanks for spreading the good word!

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Job Search Links:

Contents

- Job Search Book Online

There are at least two other entry level Web sites that offer books on job searching, proclaming that they will tell you everything you need to know about entry level job search.

However, there is a very important point about these books they don't mention up front: they cost money.

At CollegeGrad.com, we give you two things they don't:

  1. The #1 entry level job search book ("College Grad Job Hunter").
  2. It's free.

It's that simple. So don't buy the hype. Read the real information you need for FREE:

http://www.CollegeGrad.com/book

Don't ever pay for books or reports or resources of lower quality when you can access the very best quality information for free.

P.S. Yes, you can buy "College Grad Job Hunter" in hardcopy format as well at Amazon.com for $15 (actually, 30% off that price), but the online version is better. Why? Because the version at Amazon.com is being continually updated at CollegeGrad.com. So the most current version of the book is actually the online, free version.

Disclaimer: please note that all of the links were active as of the newsletter publication, but some may become inactive over time.


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