Researching
Jobs
by
ResumeEdge
Now that you've determined
your interests and skills, it's time
to do some heavy-duty research. (Don't
lose sight of the fact that your
ability to do efficient, productive
research in your quest for employment
is the direct result of the skills
you gained in your liberal arts degree!)
Figure out what job descriptions
match your skills and passions. Determine
your long-term and short-term career
goals. The Occupational Outlook Handbook
and the Dictionary of Occupational
Titles, as well as many other job
search books can be quite helpful.
Don't forget to look into jobs in
the non-profit sector.
The next step is reconciling
your self-assessment and research
with the job market. You may not
find a perfect match, but with some
creativity you should at least be
able to find a job that will put
you on the right track or help you
gain the skills you will need to
achieve your long-term goal.
Since you've targeted
some potential employers, it's time
to market yourself. When you put
together your cover letter and resume,
tailor them to the company's mission.
Think about how the skills you learned
in that Shakespeare class apply to
your chosen line of work. For example,
in journalism, the fact you crafted
an excellent academic research paper
on animal imagery in Taming of the
Shrew translates to an ability to
write and report a story. In management
consulting, your class presentation
about madness in Hamlet translates
to upper-level presentation and organization
skills.
Also, in marketing yourself
to employers, use language appropriate
to the field in which the company
works. It's important to come across
as someone with a vision for your
future as well as specific, immediate
ambitions. Convey an understanding
of the broad goals of the company
as well as specific ideas of how
you will contribute and better the
company.
Remember that
while your first job probably won't
match your long-term career goal,
it is a stepping stone, the first
step on a path toward your dreams.
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