There are many different ways of finding a job. Ideally, you want to have a plan in place so that you can be strategic about the job search process. The basic steps include the following:

1. Self-Exploration: It is important to evaluate your strengths, attributes and needs before you focus your career goals. Consider your interests, skills, personality and work-related values (i.e., what you want out of your career). The self-assessment process can be done independently or with the assistance of a career counselor. It may be helpful to utilize an online inventory such as the Strong Interest Inventory or Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator.

2. Research: Once you’ve thought about your career needs, you need to research your options. It is important to understand the specific requirements of the industries you are considering to determine what will be the right fit for you. Research also helps to better tailor your resume and prepare for interviews. Consider the following:

   • Education and skill requirements
   • Day-to-day job operations and tasks
   • Industry trends
   • Skills and experiences valued in the field
   • Salary information
   • Hiring cycles and industry recruiting practices

   You can gather this information through books, speaking with industry professionals (known as an informational interview,), alumni and online through research tools such as The Vault and Wetfeet.

3. Find (or Create) Opportunities: The most effective way of learning about openings is through the process of networking , where you create relationships with contacts in your field of choice. Other ways of finding out about positions include:

   • On-campus recruiting through InterviewTrak
   • Online postings through general and targeted job boards, including ColumbiaTrak
   • Applying directly on the company websites
   • Attending career fairs
   • Obtaining an internship
   • Sending speculative letters to a company when no explicit opening is posted