Module 26 - Researching Jobs
Module 26
Researching Jobs
LO 26-1 Know yourself for successful job hunts.
LO 26-2 Know companies for successful job hunts.
LO 26-3 Recognize signs for staying with or leaving a job.
LO 26-4 Apply strategies for information interviews.
LO 26-5 Apply strategies for tapping into the hidden job market.
LO 26-6 Assess weaknesses for stronger job application appeals.
Module Overview
Many students wait until the last minute to begin searching for a job. In fact, some students
graduate with no clue about finding the right job—one that allows them to best use their skills in
an organization they want to work for. The fact that the job market at the beginning of the 21st
was robust may also have given students the illusion that finding a job takes little or no effort or
skill.
In an ideal world, the job search process would begin before students ever set foot on a college
campus. Students would have a sense of their likes and dislikes, as well as their aptitudes and
abilities. They would combine this knowledge with what lifestyles they hope to live and then
take the appropriate coursework. Students would also intern or find jobs while in school to give
them practical knowledge in the field. Lastly, they would seek mentors and cultivate networks to
guide them in their studies and career moves.
Well, that’s the ideal world; reality is likely the opposite. For some students, the job application
process means creating a generic résumé and cover letter, making a hundred photocopies, and
sending them out to as many companies as they have stamps for. (Some career counselors even
teach this approach.) Instead of this “shotgun” methodology, students would likely fare better
treating the job search as an ongoing, proactive process, one that begins with research.
Teaching Tip: No jobs are recession proof, and regardless of a healthy economy, jobs
in some fields are always difficult to obtain. Chances are your students already
know this, but some still underestimate the time and effort required to find a good
job. Ask students to share information about challenges they’ve had finding a job or
those of people they know. The goal of this discussion is to help students
understand the realities of a competitive marketplace, not to discourage them. With
each account, ask the class if they can suggest constructive approaches to deal with
challenges. Where possible, have them describe solutions to find a job.
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