Search Strategies you’ll use forever

"Your job search after college is only the first of many in your life. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American with a Bachelor’s degree has about ten different jobs between the ages of 18 and 34. In college you’ll be expected to learn about job search processes-whether it’s finding a part-time job or an internship. To survive—and advance—you’ll have to become skilled at job hunting. From jobs and internships your first job out of college is just the beginning of a life long process.

"Searching for a job isn’t like taking a class. Although the resume seems like a writing assignment, it’s really an “advertisement” for a meeting. And the interview, which looks like an exam, is more like a date: it determines whether there are enough interests in common to take the relationship a step further. The job search is successful only if you take charge and develop a job search strategy. So, maybe you will need to rethink your strategy… there is no one job search technique that will work every time for everyone."

–Kelley Bishop
Executive Director, Career Services

Three Job Search Facts You Need to Know

1. 75% of all jobs are never advertised.

It’s a lot cheaper and faster for an employer to hire a relative, a friend, or someone they’ve met before. Otherwise, they have to go to the trouble (and expense) of writing up a job description, filing paperwork, having a search, and then, finally, hiring someone.

For this reason, and the two others below, many jobs are never advertised.

2. Who you know is as important as what you know.

Most people get their jobs from friends and acquaintances—NOT the Internet.

3. 98% of U.S. employers have less than 100 employees.

These companies often do not recruit from college campuses. You can find these “hidden” employers with some of the tools available through MySpartanCareer.

What do these three search facts mean to you?

  • The Internet should not be your only means of searching for jobs.
  • Talking to people and asking questions may be your best job search strategy.
  • Take advantage of MSU resources like MySpartanCareer, events, and career fairs to meet and discover potential employers.

Passive Search Tools (Starting Points for Beginning Seekers)

  • Career Fairs (if you don’t do your homework first and treat them like a job supermarket)

  • MySpartanCareer Job & Internship Search (browsing posted positions)

  • Job Postings via Employer Websites, Professional Organizations, Trade Publications

  • Internship Directories

  • Other Internet Job Boards/Sites—but know whether or not your employers of interest use these sources to post positions

When you’re passively searching, you’re just seeing what’s out there. That’s great for a first step, but you’ve got to take extra steps to uncover what’s NOT advertised, and possibly create a place for yourself!


Get this info in the Career Passport format here.