The Job Seeker’s Toolbox – Researching a New Job

Step Up Recruiting helps job candidates and employers. In part 1 of this ongoing series of posts designed to help you, the job seeker, we talked about how to write a great cover letter. In part 2, we gave you some hands-on tips to craft and finesse that great résumé of yours. In this third article, we’ll share a few terrific pointers on how to research your new job.

What is your Criterion?

To avoid wasted effort and time, come up with a list of questions before you conduct your research. We’ve included a few sample questions to get you started:

1. Do you prefer to work locally, or are you willing to relocate?
2. Do you have an initial salary range that reflects your investment in education? 
3. Is health care or other benefits important to you?
   Tip: When the time comes, you may need to negotiate salary and benefits. Read this helpful article for sound advice on the subject.
4. What company cultures and values are most important to you?
5. Do you have a shortlist of favorite companies that might meet your personal and professional goals?

Armed with your list of key questions or conditions, you can now begin your quest to find companies that meet your criteria!

Do the Research

As you begin your job research in earnest, Step Up Recruiting recommends one cautionary note in terms of sharing your personal information. While most people will never get caught up in a questionable scheme or fraud, it pays to keep your info safe. If something sounds far too good to be true, it probably is.

To narrow your initial job/employer search, we suggest you keep the following in mind:

• If you possess a degree in the field, industry, or specific job type that interests you, consider investigating what requirements other than education are required.
• Related to the above, if you still have access to your college or university student or career services, consult with them first.
• Reviewing the list of questions you developed earlier, eliminate jobs that do not interest you. For example, if you’re not willing to relocate, that’s one thing you can omit before you start your search.
• Employ all the search techniques you know on- and off-line. 
• For methods you may not know, ask others for advice. Besides the Internet, look at newspapers, local ads, and ask your network as much as you can.
• Network! Networking often makes the difference in finding out important details or in landing that first interview. Tell friends, neighbors, and within reason, people you meet in your daily travels that you’re looking for work.
• If you are using a placement company such as Step Up Recruiting in your industry, reach out to your contact. Not only are they a potential source for the ideal job, but they can be a helpful advocate at all stages of your job search and even after placement.

Since, at this stage, you’ll do most of your research on the Internet, we suggest you include the following search guidelines.

1. Limit your search to the things you want or need the most. 
   • a. Look at company websites, yes, but focus on salary or benefits if those things motivate you the most. 
   • b. You may also consider how an organization’s leadership works or the company’s culture. 
   • c. If you’re concerned about how a company treats its employees, understand how you want to be treated. 
2. Take advantage of a substantial set of search parameters and filters that Google and other search engines offer. After you enter a search term in Google, click the Settings button, then click Advanced Search to open a robust set of fields to help you narrow search terms down.

Happy and successful job hunting!

Questions? Need some expert advice? Contact Step Up Recruiting today!