{"id":7473,"date":"2021-07-23T22:02:20","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T22:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/?page_id=7473"},"modified":"2024-10-15T20:31:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T20:31:37","slug":"job-search-strategies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/job-search-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Job search strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row content_width=&#8221;grid&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1446198786982{padding-top: 65px !important;padding-bottom: 41px !important;background-color: #f4f4f4 !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<h5>Finding the right role<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner section\"><\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25px&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]An effective job search strategy focuses on quality, not quantity. Here\u2019s how to develop your plan and target the right employers and roles.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>In this Section<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#target\">Targeting jobs and companies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#LAMP\">The 2-Hour Job Search: LAMP method<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#TIARA\">TIARA: Questions for informational interviews<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#risk\">Assessing your career change risk<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#workEnvt\">Identifying your work environment preferences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#SWOT\">SWOT Analysis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Before you get started, we suggest you do the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify your first, second and third function and industry preferences and outline them in RCareer.<\/li>\n<li>Review the Career Curriculum Calendar, which includes dates for Campus Recruitment events and workshops.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-message  \" style=\"background-color: #e20778\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-message-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"qodef-close\">\n\t\t\t<i class=\"q_font_elegant_icon icon_close\"  style=\"color: #e20778\"><\/i>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"qodef-message-text-holder\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-message-text\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-message-text-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>What is RCareer?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>RCareer is your &#8220;go to&#8221; career portal, where you can create your profile (career preferences, work experiences and skills), sign up for coaching appointments, upload your resume and cover letter, review and apply to job postings, and register for career workshops and company events.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIydGFyZ2V0JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRQ==[\/vc_raw_html][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>Targeting jobs and companies<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]The most common job search method is to scour online job boards. However, studies have shown that\u00a0only 20% to 25% of all jobs are formally advertised<em>.<\/em>\u00a0People who don\u2019t tap into the \u201chidden job market\u201d likely miss out on a wealth of opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Finding unadvertised opportunities requires a proactive approach: targeting. This is a highly effective job search strategy, yet it\u2019s also the most underused. Rather than sending out hundreds of applications and hoping for the best, we recommend focusing on specific companies and job functions, and finding the right people to connect with for key information and access. Doing your homework makes you a well-informed candidate, and it narrows your search to the opportunities that fit you best.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus on companies that meet YOUR specific criteria, such as industry, type of organization, size, growth potential, organizational culture, location, length of commute and other factors.<\/li>\n<li>Become a subject matter expert in your target industry or industries to learn about trends (are companies growing or downsizing, what skills are in demand, etc.) Make use of what you learned in the Scanning your horizon section.<\/li>\n<li>Develop and maintain a target company list and then network into those organizations. We have <a href=\"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/job-search-strategies\/company-pages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">company pages<\/a>\u00a0to help with interview preparation (requires log-in with your Rotman ID).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyTEFNUCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>The 2-Hour Job Search<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are many ways to develop your target company list, but we recommend using the\u00a0<strong>LAMP<\/strong>\u00a0method by Steve Dalton, as explained in his book <em>The 2-Hour Job Search: Using Technology to Find the Right Job Faster<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>L<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Generate your LIST of potential targets (minimum 40 employers).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>A\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Focus on ALUMNI contacts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>M<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 MOTIVATION \u2013 rate employers from 1 to 5, with 5 denoting your dream employer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>P<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Does the company have a job POSTING? This is a proxy measure of whether the company is hiring.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sort employers first by Motivation (high to low), second by Postings and third by Alumni. Focus on your target employers that are currently hiring.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Find the LAMP list spreadsheet on the first sheet of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/pzmio2o24akpj0c\/Job%20Search%20Tracker.xlsx?dl=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Job Search Tracker workbook<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyVElBUkElMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZhJTNF[\/vc_raw_html][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>TIARA: Questions for informational meetings<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text]TIARA is the acronym for Steve Dalton\u2019s suggested approach to asking questions at informational meetings: Trends, Insights, Advice, Resources, Assignments. Dalton includes TIARA in his book, <em>The 2-Hour Job Search<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This structure maximizes the likelihood of a successful informational meeting that not only builds rapport with your contact but also elicits usable information. TIARA is built on the premise that you begin the conversation by treating your contact as an expert. Over the course of the meeting, your questions will shift in tone and depth so that you frame your contact more personally as a potential mentor or coach, maximizing the chance that you\u2019ll turn them into an advocate.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trends<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What trends are impacting your business\/field most right now?<\/li>\n<li>How has your business or field changed most since you started?<\/li>\n<li>How do you think your business or field will change most dramatically in the next several years?<\/li>\n<li>How do you see the industry evolving (e.g., current state, new entrants, etc.)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Insights<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I would appreciate hearing about your:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Time at ________________<\/p>\n<p>Career path in the ______________ industry<\/p>\n<p>What you enjoyed doing the most in your career to date<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What surprises you most about your job\/field\/employer?<\/li>\n<li>What\u2019s the best lesson you\u2019ve learned on the job?<\/li>\n<li>What\u2019s been your most valuable experience at your employer so far, and why?<\/li>\n<li>If you had to attribute your success to one skill or trait, what would it be?<\/li>\n<li>Is that trait shared by many across the organization, or is it unique and you\u2019ve adapted it to your advantage?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Advice<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What can I be doing right now to prepare myself for a career in this field?<\/li>\n<li>If I got hired, what should I be sure to do within the first 30 days to get off to the fastest start possible?<\/li>\n<li>What do you know now that you wished you\u2019d known when you were in my position?<\/li>\n<li>If you were me, what would you be doing right now to maximize your chances of breaking into this industry\/field\/function?<\/li>\n<li>What skills and abilities are most sought after in\/at [field\/employer]?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What resources should I be sure to look into next?<\/li>\n<li>What next steps would you recommend for someone in my situation?<\/li>\n<li>Can you think of anyone I should speak to next?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Assignments<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What project(s) have you done that you felt added the most value?<\/li>\n<li>Have any projects increased in popularity recently at your organization?<\/li>\n<li>Have you had interns\/new graduates in the past? If so, what sort of projects have they done?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Read more about informational meetings in our <a href=\"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/networking\/\">Networking<\/a> section.[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIycmlzayUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>Assessing your career change risk<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Career transitions involve effort and risk. We all have different capacities for each, and it\u2019s important to consider how much you can handle. This will help you develop realistic expectations and plan your job search strategy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Download our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/m3zottrg1dso2sifmrajh\/Risk-Tolerance-Self-Assessment-for-Career-Switchers.xlsx?dl=0&amp;rlkey=ghgl201dkb3livfjdi18kdi0x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Risk Tolerance Self Assessment for Career Switchers worksheet<\/a> to assess your preparation and risk tolerance.[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyd29ya0VudnQlMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZhJTNF[\/vc_raw_html][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>Identifying your work environment preferences<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text]What kind of work environment appeals to you? Company characteristics vary widely, so it\u2019s worth thinking about which settings you work and feel best in. If you have strong preferences, this could narrow down your search considerably.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Download the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/nit0ylptc0qjtog\/Identify%20My%20Work%20Environment%20Preferences.pdf?dl=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Identifying My Work Environment Preferences worksheet<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYSUyMGlkJTNEJTIyU1dPVCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>SWOT analysis<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Completing a SWOT analysis for your career search will help you distinguish yourself from your peers and identify your gaps. It will also help you understand what you can and can\u2019t change, so you can focus on what\u2019s within your control<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>Strengths <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">What makes you unique?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">What do you do well?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>Weaknesses <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">What areas need improvement?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">What are others likely to see as weaknesses?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>Opportunities <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">What is occurring in the market (industry\/location\/organization)?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\"><strong>Threats <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px\">Who is your competition?<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>Learn more<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Research: Search press releases on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newswire.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cision<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/NewsRoom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GlobeNewswire<\/a> for company and industry news.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;]\n<blockquote class=\"qodef-blockquote-shortcode\"  >\n\t<h4 class=\"qodef-blockquote-text\">\n\t<span>Next steps<\/span>\n\t<\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;30px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Create a LAMP list using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/pzmio2o24akpj0c\/Job%20Search%20Tracker.xlsx?dl=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Career Services\u2019 Job Search Tracker Excel workbook<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rotman.utoronto.ca\/faculty-and-research\/milt-harris-library\/student-resources\/career-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Career Guides<\/a>: Use this database to build a target company list.<\/li>\n<li>Attend Career Services workshops.<\/li>\n<li>Consult your Career Coach for support and advice on your job search strategy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Next: <a href=\"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/campus-recruiting\/\">Campus recruiting<\/a><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row content_width=&#8221;grid&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1446198786982{padding-top: 65px !important;padding-bottom: 41px !important;background-color: #f4f4f4 !important;}&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text] Finding the right role [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25px&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]An effective job search strategy focuses on&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":746,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7473","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/746"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7473"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9907,"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7473\/revisions\/9907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.rotman.utoronto.ca\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}