Hello everyone!
This week’s question is very fitting with the current situation of social distancing: How do I approach job searching remotely?
Even though many career fairs were not available as a networking opportunity for students or employers this semester, there are plenty of ways to connect with prospective employers.
LinkedIn: If you are wanting to speak with a representative of a company you are interested in, what better way than to connect on LinkedIn! You can search for a specific company using the search bar or look through the open positions in the “Jobs” section. Recruiters, as well as employees of companies, are on LinkedIn. You could reach out to both! Find someone in the position that you are interested in — whether it be intern or full-time — and send them a message, connection request, or both! Tell them you are interested in their position and would love to hear about their job and company. People love to talk about themselves, so this is a great opportunity to gain insight!
CAREERLINK: NDSU students, even if you are graduating this semester you have access to CAREERLINK for life! You can always utilize this career management tool for job searching or finding employers of interest. Without career fairs, employers are still looking for ways to connect with students and are seeking interns and full-time employees for the summer and upcoming year. Make sure to check CAREERLINK for any added positions, as it updates frequently and be on the lookout for some new ways to learn about companies in the Resources section!
Cold-Calling: Don’t forget that a lot of jobs that people have were not actually posted online. They received their positions through networking connections, reaching out to the employer online, or cold-calling. If you have a company of interest, but no jobs are currently posted, reach out! You can email or call the company to demonstrate what you have to offer and see if they have anything that fits you. They may have never considered the value of certain majors/skills at their company, until someone calls and asks. Don’t underestimate the ability of making a connection with someone!
Not only can you utilize the above three tools, but also any job searching website such as:
- USAJobs
- Job Service ND
- Indeed
- Monster
- Glassdoor
Job searching remotely may seem like a daunting task, but don’t lose hope! Everyone is adjusting to the new “normal” (including employers!). Focus on getting your name out there and remaining optimistic. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at the Career and Advising Center! Though we aren’t there in-person, we can assist you virtually!
That concludes this week’s blog. Please write your questions on the lower, right side of the main page of our website!
https://career-advising.ndsu.edu/
I will be answering them every Friday. Ask any question you like, no question is too small!
Signing Off,
A CM
