Use the search strategies below to jump start your next job or internship search. Use two or more concurrently to shorten the length of your search!
Stay organized:
- Tracking spreadsheet- Record your progress
- Huntr- keeps track of every detail about your job opportunities. Track contacts, notes, dates, tasks, documents, job descriptions, salaries, locations, company data and more.
Networking
Talking with professionals who have the type of job you are interested in landing, is the number one best search strategy! Spend most of your searching time on this strategy to speed up your job searching timeline. Review the 4 steps of networking below to get started.
- Make a list of EVERYONE you know, regardless of their profession (i.e. you don’t know who they know!). Use this network tracking template to record contacts, track your progress, and organize your referrals.
- Reach out to schedule informational interviews. Request 15-20 minutes to learn more about their career path/organization or ask for referrals.
- Prepare for the conversation: Craft a concise self introduction, dress to impress and be resume ready.
- Follow-up on all leads. Statistically speaking, this is when networkers have success!
Expand your network
- LinkedIn - join groups or review UMD’s alumni page to connect with alumni and employers of interest
- Social Media Networking Strategy, checklist
- Terrapins Connect - connects students with UMD alumni
- Employer networking events - attend to meet professionals and gain knowledge of openings
- Intern - make the most of your internship by requesting informational interviews
- Intern for a Day - one day shadowing experience that allows current students to forge connections
- Road Trips to the Real World- Visit an organization for a day over winter break
- Career Shuttles - a half day, group experience to visit an organization of interest
Targeted Search
Access openings not advertised anywhere by gaining leads from friends, family, and contacts. This is the number one most effective search strategy to identify openings! Get started by contacting organizations that hire within your field and inquire about job opportunities. This strategy can be implemented in person (depending on the type of organization you are targeting), email, phone, or through social media and works best when the resume and cover letter are customized for the organization.
Tips for targeting organizations who value diversity & inclusion
- Resources for Identifying Organizations who Value Diversity
- Identity-Based Career Resources
- Track your progress with this spreadsheet.
- More resources, visit the University Career Center's diversity & inclusion webpage
Posted Positions
Hiring managers who are having a difficult time filling positions (i.e. competition for candidates is tight or they are searching for a hard to find skill set) tend to advertise openings on job boards. The job seeker can search for advertised openings and apply for positions online.
Handshake is UMD’s student & alumni job search platform for on-campus, part-time, internship, and full-time jobs. You can find thousands of opportunities in Handshake at any time.
- BSOS/Major specific Blogs: List openings, usually shared by alumni.
- Tom Manatos: Job openings for government and political positions- paid for by the Feller Center in BSOS.
- Political internship/jobs.
- Healthcare related openings: UMD HPAO ListSERV
- Indeed.com, Linkup, Google Jobs, or Simplyhired: Aggregate search engines yield many options.
- Top niche job boards: Locate niche job boards in your area of interest.
- Identity-based resources/openings.
- Neurodiverse students: Access Mentra | With one application, access hundreds of jobs. Mentra takes the stress out of the job search, by matching neurodivergents with jobs that most align with your neuro-exceptional strengths.
Application Tips
Over 95% of organizations use an Applicant Tracking System to manage applications. Use the tips below to increase your odds of getting past the digital gatekeepers.
- The Best Fonts to Make Your Resume ATS and Recruiter-Friendly
- Pros and Cons of PDF Resumes in Job-Search
- Tips for Beating the Resume Bots: "75 percent of job applications are rejected before a recruiter or hiring manager even sees them."
- Use Jobscan to optimize your resume and boost your interview chances.
- How to Create an ATS Resume that Beats The Bots, by Career Cloud
- See resume samples for BSOS majors.
Employment Agencies
Agencies work for employers to locate job seekers with specific skills to fill short term positions.
A growing number of organizations are outsourcing their hiring to temporary agencies. A temporary agency will locate and vet candidates that possess the skills required for a position. Organizations may use the short term jobs to "test" an employee and then offer the employees that they see as a good fit a full-time position. Other organizations use temp agencies to find professionals to fill in for a short period of time (i.e. the busy season). Learn more about how temp agencies operate.
PREPARE: Identify your skill set and industry references. Also consider your geographical work preferences and contact an agency in that area.
EXPECTATIONS: The initial interview may include tests to assess your skills. Prepare for this interview as you would a traditional interview.
