Kentucky State University Career Guide

Self-Evaluation Before you try to market yourself to potential employers, you need to know something about what you are looking for and what you have to offer. The more you know about your interests, skills, abilities, values, goals and personal qualities, the greater your opportunities are for finding the most suitable position. Networking Networking is a job search technique that involves purposefully seeking out and interacting with selected individuals who can assist you in getting job interviews and offers. Researching an Employer Your task in the job search is to find the most suitable position for yourself. You will need to use your research and investigative skills to discover job openings and prepare for an interview. Your Resume A resume is a critical tool in your job search. It is, essentially, a summary of your qualifications and experience that communicates enough information to an employer to elicit further interest. Letter Writing Letter-writing skills are essential to your job search. Excellent cover and thank-you letters often make a difference in whether or not you are considered for a position. Interviewing Skills For most fields, without an interview you will not get a job. It is in this stage of your job search that you convince an employer to hire you. Evaluating Job Offers This section outlines the factors you will want to consider when determining whether or not you will accept a position. Making the Most of Your New Job This section gives tips that can help you to excel and avoid some of the common pitfalls of being the “new kid on the block.”

Tools for Your Job Search

Pursuing your career plans

is a process that requires

your full commitment. You

have invested thousands of

hours to get your degree.

Taking shortcuts and using

a “hit or miss” approach to

the job search process will

only diminish your chances

of getting the job you really

want! Organizing an effective

job search will assist you in

achieving your career goals.

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