Whether you are looking for a summer job, part time job, or after graduation job, a successful job search has several key components.

Prepare

Make sure that your resume is updated, you have a strong cover letter, and you have references and any other supporting materials ready to send out. Make sure you have asked qualified individuals to review these documents. They are your first impression with employers and can be the downfall of getting an interview or be your key into the position of your dreams. Do not take these materials lightly.

Target

After you prepare your materials, you will want to target companies that are involved with things that you feel passionate about or interest you. We recommend buying a notebook to help you keep track of the list of employers you find. Some resources you can use to help target companies include but are not limited to: Career Services, the phone book, the Chamber of Commerce, internet, newspapers, alumni, friends, family, faculty, past internship sites, job banks book series, United Way office...

Contact

After you have made a list of employers — find someone whom you can contact either through e-mail or phone. This is where your resume and cover letter will go to work. Make sure you target the individual organization and show that you understand what they do and why you want to be a part of that. If you call — you can always start by talking to Human Resources — but it also helps to try to contact someone higher up. Don't be afraid to ask if you can come in and learn more about the organization — this is called an informational interview. If there is somewhere you really want to be — think about volunteering or interning to get an inside track.