Most job opportunities are not advertised in the published job market. Often, the best jobs are filled through word-of-mouth networking.

Instead, many successful job applicants take a proactive approach to their job hunt and advertise themselves to the companies they wish to work for.

To help you get started on your job search, we’ve created a list of accessible information resources:

Network
Access the hidden job market when you network with professors, career counselors, guest speakers, and industry professionals. Don’t be afraid to cold call the company that you want to work for and get to know them a little better. When an opening arrives in the future they will remember your enthusiasm.

Information Interviews
Get in the habit of doing some informational interviews. This is a career research strategy that allows you to interview companies of interest to learn more about them and specific career fields within them. This is a win-win situation for you, as it will help you expand your career network, and to determine whether or not this career field or company is really suited to you. And most companies and professionals are very receptive to giving you the interviews, keeping you in mind for upcoming opportunities, and if they really like you, giving you some tips to prepare you for similar positions. But remember, like many job hunting strategies, you have to start this long before you actually need your first real job.

Labour market information
Research current labour market information to determine the employment trends and salary data of your career field of interest.

Now that you’ve begun to think about your job search, relax knowing that the right opportunities will come to you at the right time. Keep checking these key resources for potential jobs and don’t forget to network.

Oh, and don’t be shy. Drop by locazU, trade textbooks and network with other students and share resources from courses to jobs.