Finding a job has been described as the toughest job many people will ever encounter. Why? Because succeeding calls for skills and perspectives that are seldom formally taught, and there is much misinformation out there about how people actually win positions. While it is tempting to believe that employers hire most people by advertising their need somewhere and choosing from the subsequent applicant responses, and that a strategy must simply be a search for the most job listings, the truth is that employers use other means to hire people, and that there is not a consistent pattern of hiring practices company to company, industry to industry. Without a consistent "system" to rely on, job seekers are justifiably frustrated.

Whether seeking an internship, some other temporary role, or a permanent position, students need to learn how employers in the career fields of their interest may conduct hiring efforts. Some use campus recruiting extensively if they know their needs in advance. Others use internal employee referrals or other networking to identify candidates. Some may draw on information that candidates have sent on an exploratory basis, not knowing what current or anticipated needs may be. The Internet has dramatically impacted the exchange of information between candidates and employers.

One of the priorities of the Career Services Network is to help students and alumni understand what steps they will need to take to secure opportunities, and which steps - campus recruiting, networking, direct approach - will be most productive in their particular fields.

For further assistance

Students and alumni should start with their home college career offices to obtain individual or group assistance. As their needs dictate, they should also connect with all-campus offices such as the Center for Career Services for additional connections and coaching through the process of job or internship finding. A fuller treatment of the process of finding a job is offered on the site for the Center for Career Services.