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Personal contacts
Your family and friends may offer one of the most effective ways to find a job. They may help you directly or put you in touch with someone else who can. Such networking can lead to information about specific job openings, many of which may not be publicly posted.
School career planning and placement offices
High school and college placement offices help students and alumni find jobs. They set up appointments and allow recruiters to use their facilities for interviews. Placement offices usually have a list of part-time, temporary and summer jobs offered on campus. They also may have lists of jobs for regional, nonprofit and government organizations. Students can receive career counseling, testing and job search advice. At career resource libraries, workshops are provided on such topics as job search strategy, resume writing, letter writing and effective interviewing. Often, they will critique drafts of resumes and facilitate interviews at job fairs conducted by the placement office.
Employers
Library and Internet research can help you develop a list of potential employers in your desired field. Employer web sites often contain lists of job openings. Web sites and business directories can provide you with information on how to apply for a position or whom to contact. Even if no open positions are posted, do not hesitate to contact the employer and the relevant department. Set up an interview with someone working in the same area where you wish to work. Ask them how they got started, what they enjoy or dislike about the work, what type of qualifications are necessary for the job and what type of personality succeeds in that position. Even if they don't have a position available, they may be able to put you in contact with other people who might hire you, and they can keep you in mind if a position opens up. Make sure to send them your resume. Directly contacting employers is one of the most successful means of job hunting.
Internet
The Internet provides a variety of information, including job listings and job search resources and techniques. However, no single network or resource will contain all of the information available on employment or career opportunities. Be prepared to search for what you need. Remember that job listings may be posted by field or discipline. So, begin your search using keywords. When searching employment databases on the Internet, it is sometimes possible to send your resume to an employer by e-mail or by posting it on-line. Some sources allow you to send e-mail free of charge, but be careful that you are not going to incur any additional charges for postings or updates.
State employment offices
The State employment service, sometimes called Job Service, operates in coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. Local offices, found nationwide, help job seekers find jobs and help employers find qualified workers at no cost to either. To find the office nearest you, look in the State government telephone listings under "Job Service" or "Employment."
Community agencies
Many nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions and vocational rehabilitation agencies, offer counseling, career development and job placement services, generally targeted to a particular group, such as women, youth, minorities, ex-offenders or older workers.
Classified ads
The "Help Wanted" ads in newspapers list numerous jobs. You should realize, however, that many other job openings are not listed and that classified ads sometimes do not give all of the important information. They may offer little or no description of the job, working conditions or pay. Nonetheless, classified ads are an easy and inexpensive resource to get you started on your job search.
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