By Jocelyn Torres-Barbosa

Starting up your job search at any point can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’re a senior exploring next steps after graduation, a professional who’s looking for a change, or a current student looking for new opportunities, this is an optimal moment to kickstart your job hunt.

Here are some things to consider when looking for a new job:

Career Toolkit: Typically, your resume is your first impression on potential employers. Additionally, having a cover letter can also be part of the process. Making sure you have a good start to both when applying to positions is the first step. Try building a master resume to get you started. Master resumes can be helpful to have as it is something used to have everything you’ve done in the past, at your fingertips. Consider including an education section, all paid and unpaid internships, jobs, volunteer experiences, shadowing, leadership positions, academic projects, skills and technology section and anything else you have accomplished that you think would be relevant for your resume. Don’t worry too much about length on this as is meant to be more about your content rather than length. When it is time for the actual job application, tailoring your resume and cover letter are important. Now that you have all your experience in one place, when applying, determine what is most relevant for that position and copy it to another document. Try incorporating key terms from the job description and tailoring it to showcase your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that make you qualified for that position. When writing your cover letter, creating a brand statement that incorporates why you would be a good fit for the company is important. Be specific with your cover letter and show who you are in it!

Making a target employer list: Understanding where you want to apply, whether that is based on a general location or certain values, drafting a target list of employers can help your job search. To begin this, either open up an excel spreadsheet or google sheets (whichever you prefer) and use this to organize yourself in terms of what the company name is, organizations you’re interested in and anything interesting that stood out to you about them. To look for those companies, utilize platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, or any other job sites by using relevant industry-related keywords that you are interested in. Also try exploring various avenues, including company websites, industry-specific job platforms, and professional organizations. Reach out directly to companies you admire, even if they don’t have posted openings. Sometimes, the best opportunities are hidden and require a proactive approach. When conducting this search, ask yourself questions like “do you see yourself working here?” or “why are you interested in this position?” 

Keeping yourself organized: When applying for several positions at a time, it can be easy to lose track of which ones you finished or when you applied to them. That’s why it’s important to keep yourself organized throughout this process. Utilizing an excel file or a word document to write down everything about your job process. Creating sections like which company you applied to, the position name, when you applied for the position, a possible link to the position description can all be helpful throughout the process.

Managing stress: The hunt for a job can be stressful, so it’s important to take a few steps along the way to help manage that stress. A few things to remember are to be active in your search. Whether that be updating your resume, browsing through company websites or keeping yourself tidy wherever you are can go a long way. Some other things to remember are to take care of yourself and have support. Managing stress can be easier when you are fully rested and overall healthy. Remember to take a breather every now and then during your search and to allow for others to help you along the process. That can be friends, family or even reaching out to a DePaul Career Center Advisor for help on this journey can help you stay focused and manage your stress. 

Navigating the job market at any point in your career can seem challenging, but with careful planning and strategic execution, you can increase your chances of landing the perfect job. Remember, your journey might have some twists and turns, but each step brings you closer to landing a job. Good luck!

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Interested in crafting your resume, starting an employer target list, tailoring your documents to a specific job position, finding opportunities, or building your network? That’s exactly where we come in. Whether you’re a senior looking for post graduate opportunities, an alumni looking for a new opportunity or a student looking for employment opportunities, we are here to help you through your job search process. Book an appointment with Jocelyn, or another member of the advising community through Handshake, or by calling the front desk at (773) 325-7431.