Job Search Tools

• Try to search for recently posted listings (see “Control Job Search Results” section).
• Decide if commuting will work for you (search tools can control the search range).
• Plan to periodically run specific job searches (using unique keywords/ titles).
• Use several job search tools and other techniques, search interesting employers you would like to visit or call, join professional network sites such as LinkedIn, joining groups, etc...

Example job strategy

A strategy involves some investigation. After trying some job search tools, one or two might seem best for your search. You also research local companies and newspapers for unlisted jobs.

Your overall strategy includes running two searches and checking four company websites twice per week. Each week, you also contact friends and co-workers to discuss your job search, share resumes, and review hunting tips.
 
You develop a profile on LinkedIn to showcase your skills and connect you to employers and recruiters. You join several LinkedIn groups and investigate professional associations in your field. You also do regular networking (e.g., on Twitter or Facebook) to find and join social conversations in your field.

Your strategy uses a variety of search methods: job boards, company sites, newspapers, phone calls, meetings, and social media. Also consider using Google News alerts, RSS feeds, and job email alerts.

Illinois Job Search

potential employers

Searching for a job using Google makes sense if you want to search across the whole country. But if you are looking locally, you will need to use ZIP code and range settings to target results to your local area. The Illinois Job Search  page is a good place to start.

Discover related job titles and keywords by seeing what other job titles come up in search results. For example, a search for “merchandiser” results in “retailer” or “product handler" jobs. If useful, add the titles to your search keywords and try searching for them too.

Tip: Find a career keyword list in the Prepare area to get started. After logging in, use the Notes tab to save your keywords.

Most search tools also allow you to use symbols and special characters to further refine your search. For example, a search for “writing” may only find job listings that contain the term “writing” in them. Other jobs containing terms like writer, writes, or written may not be found.

To find variations of your keywords, use a wildcard symbol (*). Place the symbol * after the root of a keyword (e.g., “writ*”) to find results for “writing,” “writer,” “writes,” and “written.” See the onscreen instructions located at the top of the Illinois Job Search page for more search character instructions.

Job Search Records

• A draft of your resume (targeted for each job description)
• Document listing your salary history
• A cover letter (also targeted for each job)
• A 30-second script (or elevator speech ) to tell about your skills and work history
• Samples of your work, if applicable
• References (phone numbers, emails and addresses)
• A pen if you are filling out an application in person
• Identification