CAPITAL UNIVERSITY’S

SENIOR
Job Search
Handbook

Provided by Capital University Career Services

Campus Center, Lower Level 614/236-6606
www.capital.edu/careers careerservices@capital.edu
 Table of Contents

How to use this booklet................................................................................................. 3

Keep track of your job search ....................................................................................... 4

Write your resume ......................................................................................................... 5

Write your cover letter .................................................................................................. 6

Build your network........................................................................................................ 7

Find posted positions.......................................................................................................8

Apply for positions .........................................................................................................9

Interview for positions ..................................................................................................10

Follow-up after interviews ...........................................................................................11

What’s next? ....................................................................................................................12

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 The Senior’s Job Search Handbook
How to use this booklet
This booklet offers steps for you to follow as you search for jobs during your senior year at
Capital University.

Follow the guidelines for the timing of your job search

At the start of most sections, we provide you with a time frame for completing that step of
the job search. Since students graduate at different times of the year, the job search steps
specify the amount of time remaining before graduation.

Our other resources should be used with this booklet

Each section is designed to be brief. This booklet explains the big picture of the job search,
and then refers you to our other specific booklets when appropriate. Be sure to pick up our
other booklets to help you as you go.

Make an appointment with one of us

Each job search situation is unique. We strongly encourage you to set up an appointment to
receive personalized job search assistance.

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 Keep Track of your job search
Organizing your job search and keeping track of all the details is important!
You might think you will remember the details. YOU WON’T. Read on.

HERE’S A TYPICAL SCENARIO:

Helen saw a great job posting and sent her resume and cover letter over a month ago, but
hasn’t heard anything from them. She just figured they were really rude, and she’d never
want to work there anyway. So she deleted her letter from the computer and threw away her
copy of the posting.
But wait!
Today Helen got a phone call from them inviting her to interview for the position! She can’t
remember the name of the person who received the resume, the description of the position,
nothing! How is she going to interview for the job without sounding like an idiot?

HOW TO AVOID THIS MISERABLE SITUATION:

• Buy a 3-ring binder; it’s a handy place to compile all your job search information
• Buy 3-ring plastic pockets for stuffing smaller items, like newspaper job classifieds

Fill the binder with:

• Copies of each job posting you have responded to
• Copies of the resume and cover letter (this can also remind you of the date you applied
for each job)
• List of questions you might want to ask the employer if you get an interview
• Notes about any contact you have with the employer, and dates of contact
• Notes about any interviews: significant topics discussed, follow-up questions, details that
could be important for the thank-you letter and for the second interview
• Copies of your post-interview thank-you letters

Also keep track of people you meet in your career field (name, title, organization, phone,
email, etc., what you talked about, and the date as well as the names of other contacts you
received). This works for employers you have contacted as well as for people in your
network (see the “Getting Your Foot in the Door” booklet).

You might want to buy a separate calendar to keep in your binder to write dates of your
contacts, your informational interviews or job interviews.

ONE MORE THING: Don’t be like Helen and delete your application materials from your
computer. Save all your job related e-mails and letters in separate folders on your computer.

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 Write your resume
(9-12 months before graduation)

You probably already have a resume if you applied for internships in

your junior year. Update your resume now (or create it for the first
time), and keep it up-to-date throughout your senior year as you add
more internships and other career-related experiences.
NOTE: Some people say that you don’t need a resume. This is simply ridiculous.

DO YOU KNOW…
To get started: • what your resume should
1. Use the “HOW TO WRITE A RESUME” look like?
booklet or the website. • whether you should include
• The booklet is available in Career Services. an objective or not?
• A web-based version is available; the web • which type of information
address is on the cover of this booklet. should be on your resume?
• You can download a PDF of the booklet from
the website.

For additional information:

2. Sign on to VAULT.
• Go to our website www.capital.edu/cc/car and click on the VAULT logo. The
password is ‘crusader’.
• You can get sample resumes as well as download another guide to resume writing.

Then:
3. Make an appointment to have a Career Services staff member review your resume.
• Our phone number and email address are on the cover of this booklet.

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 Write your cover letter
(You’ll need this whenever you’re sending a resume)

You might have never written a cover letter before, especially if you’ve
found all your previous jobs informally. You might not even know what
a cover letter is. You will almost certainly need to learn how to write them. Plan to write a new letter
designed for EACH job for which you apply; you should explain briefly why your experience is a good
fit for their open position! Don’t use generic cover letters; employers can easily tell that you’re “just
fishing”, and aren’t serious about them.

DO YOU KNOW…
To get started: • the 2 types of cover letters?
1. Use the “HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER” • how to handle a request for
booklet or the website. salary history or salary
• The booklet is available in Career Services. requirements?
• A web-based version is available; the web • when it is OK to fax or e-
address is on the cover of this booklet. mail your cover letter and
• You can download a PDF of the booklet from resume?
the website.

For additional information:

2. Sign on to VAULT.
• Go to our website www.capital.edu/cc/car and click on the VAULT logo. The
password is ‘crusader’.
• You can get sample cover letters as well as download another guide to cover letter
writing.

Then:
3. Make an appointment to have a Career Services staff member review your cover
letter.
• Our phone number and email address are on the cover of this booklet.

6
 Build your network
(Start 6 months before graduation;
maintain contact with internship supervisors earlier)

This job search tool is more important than your resume. It’s even
more important than your mother (although she might play an
important role here).

Most students won’t use this enough, which is possibly why networking is so effective. Most
students will peruse the newspaper and www.CUcareers.com once each week (necessary,
but probably not sufficient). YOU will develop and maintain crucial relationships, resulting
in an avalanche of interviews.

Networking is distasteful because it is not immediate. It takes time. You don’t see
immediate results. Instead, you put energy into long-term professional relationships that
allow you access to the huge majority of jobs – the jobs that aren’t advertised.

To get started: DO YOU KNOW…

1. Use the “HOW TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE • how to build your job
DOOR” booklet or the website. search foundation?
• The booklet is available in Career Services. • who you should contact?
• A web-based version is available; the web • what you should say?
address is on the cover of this booklet. • how to overcome your fear?
• You can download a PDF of the booklet from
the website.

For additional information:

2. Sign on to VAULT.
• Go to our website www.capital.edu/cc/car and click on the VAULT logo. The
password is ‘crusader’.
• You can download the guide to “schmoozing”.

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 Find posted positions
(Typically start 4 months before graduation)

Many students ask when they should begin searching

for jobs. It’s difficult to give each student an ideal target time because differences exist
between career fields and organizations. A general guideline is to begin exploring available
job opportunities approximately four months before graduation. You may have to wait until
closer to graduation to apply for some positions. Some large companies still hire during fall
semester for positions that will begin the following September.

80% of available jobs: NETWORKING:

“Networking” means building relationships with people working in your career field.
This probably seems like the opposite of what you want to do (most students just want to
apply for an advertised job and get hired!). But that’s not how it usually happens.
Believe it or not, networking (see previous page), leads to 80% of the available jobs.

20% of available jobs: TRADITIONAL JOB POSTING SOURCES:

Local newspaper
• In Columbus, of course, this is The Dispatch. Be sure to look in the printed paper
for their classifieds. The online version doesn’t seem to be as comprehensive.

Web-based job and internship posting systems

• All employers who contact Capital are directed to www.CUcareers.com, so you
should definitely check this on a regular basis. We also receive job postings on
www.Monstertrak.com (our password is crusader)

• Be careful as you use other job posting systems. Since you can never be sure what
is happening to your personal information, consider limiting your contact
information to your name and email when posting on Monster.com,
JobBoards.com, etc.

Job Fairs
• CareerFest (in February, co-sponsored by Capital)
• The Collegiate Job and Internship Fair (in April, co-sponsored by Capital)
• Other job fairs – if they won’t provide a list of the employers AND the positions
they’re seeking to fill, it might be a big disappointment for you.

Professional journals and other publications

Online employer sites

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 Apply for positions
(2-3 months before graduation)

1. Apply for advertised positions as early as 2-3 months prior

to graduation.
• By the time they actually get around to making an offer, 2
months can easily pass as you apply for the position,
wade through the job search bureaucracy, and complete
interviews.
• If you receive an offer prior to graduation, you can still say “yes”! You can either
defer your start date until after graduation, or offer to begin working part-time
until after finals. This is probably the nicest “problem” you could hope for.

2. When you find a job that matches your DO YOU KNOW…

qualifications, follow the application • how to present your
instructions on the advertisement. references? (Resume Booklet)
• This may include sending a copy of your • how to send materials via
resume and cover letter (never mail a resume e-mail? (Cover letter Booklet)
without a cover letter!), letters of reference, a • how to bend spoons with
list of references, transcripts, etc. your mind? (we don’t either)
• You may need to apply in person. Be sure to
read the instructions carefully!
• If you decide to send your materials via U.S. Mail, make sure you have your
materials printed on resume paper (not copy paper). Also, sending your materials
in a large envelope with a typed label is helpful too.
• You can fax application materials from Career Services for free from 8:30am-
5:00pm.
• An employer may also request that you e-mail your materials. If that is the case,
you will typically use the body of the e-mail as your cover letter. Please see page
17 of “How to Write a Cover Letter” for more specific information.

An important note: Also apply for positions for which you appear somewhat
underqualified. Why? There is usually nothing magic or sacred about the requirements that
you see in the paper or in other job listings. The requirements are often thought of as a "wish
list.” The employer might not get the "ideal" candidate that they are defining in the job
listing, so they’ll interview candidates who do not meet the ideal description.

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 Interview for positions
(9 months before graduation: Large companies
with a college recruiting staff)
(2 months before graduation: Most companies)

Interviewing can be intimidating.

Interviewing is NOT natural, casual conversation, and you
probably have NOT had enough experience with it.

To get started: DO YOU KNOW…

1. Use the “HOW TO INTERVIEW” booklet or • how you should prepare?
the website.
• what you should expect?
• The booklet is available in Career Services.
• what questions you will be
• A web-based version is available; the web
asked?
address is on the cover of this booklet.
• what you should ask the
• You can download a PDF of the booklet from
employer?
the website.

For additional information:

2. Sign on to VAULT.
• Go to our website www.capital.edu/cc/car and click on the VAULT logo. The
password is ‘crusader’.
• You can read related articles as well as download another guide to interviewing.

Then:
3. Make an appointment to talk with a Career Services staff member.
• Our phone number and email address are on the cover of this booklet.
• We can help explain your individual interview situations.

Finally:
4. Schedule a mock interview with a Career Services staff member.
• These “simulation” interviews prepare you for the pace and style of interviews
without the pressure and stress of sitting in front of the real thing.
• Bring a copy of the job description or posting along with your resume, and we can
ask you personalized questions that might come up in your real interview.
• After 15 minutes of simulation, we’ll review your responses, and suggest areas to
improve.

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 Follow up after the interview
(24 hours after interview)

DO YOU KNOW…
Follow-up is essential. Often, employers decide who • what to include in a thank
to offer positions to based on which candidates have you letter?
followed up. No follow-up with an employer may • how to write thank you
mean no employment opportunity. letters to 2 interviewers?
• how to accept an offer?

1. “Thank You” letters

• A letter should be sent within 24 hours of your interview. You can find samples in
the “How to Interview” booklet.

2. Follow-up letters (sent when you wonder if they’ve forgotten you),

• A letter can be sent to politely remind the interviewer that you still exist, by
focusing on your continued interest in the position.
• It’s difficult for us to give you an exact amount of time to wait before following up;
each situation is different, so call or email us if you’re wondering.

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 IMPORTANT POINTS
Read me!
REALITY CHECK
Be realistic about how long the job search will take. Students who have been actively
involved in the process while still in school can often get hired in the field of their choice
before or soon after graduation. On the other hand, if you wait until you graduate, it can
easily take six months or more.

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
Resist the temptation to use employment agencies. Most of them don't really have many
job opportunities available. They have listings, usually similar to those listed in other
places. Of those that do have available opportunities, you must be sure that they are not
charging you any money (like 1-10% of your first year's salary!), and that they do not
require that you accept the first position that is offered to you. If you do decide to use an
employment agency, please be sure to read everything before you sign it!

If you’re a student with a well-developed professional background, you may find it

helpful to work with an employment agency, especially one that is very specific to your
career goal (e.g., soft-drink bottling executive search firms). Remember a couple of
negative points in this case, too: as with entry-level firms, you may have to agree to
accept the first position that is offered to you, and more important, the same positions that
they are providing to you can usually be found through networking. What does this
mean? Let's say that you and another equally qualified candidate are interviewing for the
same position. You are working through an employment agency, so the employer must
pay a fee to hire you. The other person found the job through networking. You might
cost the employer 15-30% more than the other person costs. Who do you think they'll
hire?

SMALL EMPLOYERS
Don't forget about considering small employers! They create most of the new positions
opening now. The Fortune 500 is comparatively stagnant! Also, when you work for a
small employer, you will usually receive more responsibility and gain more experience
than you will in a large company.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
People do get paid for working full time at non-profit organizations! Many people will
tell you that they received much better work experience than they could have working at
a “for profit" organizations. Not-for-profit work environments usually provide more
flexibility and the opportunity to work for an agency with a mission of providing service
to the community.

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HAND WRITTEN LETTERS
If you have limited information to convey in an informational interview thank you letter,
it's okay to send a hand written thank you note instead of a formal typed letter. Some
people prefer this because it is more personal, too.

MENTAL HEALTH
It's easy to get depressed if you're not reaching your goals...so change your goals! Instead
of the long-term goal of finding a job, focus on shorter-term goals. For example, you
might try to call ten people each day, and schedule five informational interviews per
week. You'll feel better about your job search as you accomplish these manageable goals!

ISOLATION IS YOUR ENEMY

You must get out of the house to meet people. Calling from home to make initial contacts
and to arrange appointments is great; take it to the next step and talk to people in person!
This is where you truly develop power and influence in your job search. It is also a good
idea to network with other job hunters. A friend and fellow job searcher may hear of a
great job that is perfect for you!

IT'S NOT WHO YOU KNOW...IT'S WHO KNOWS YOU

Make sure that the people who know about job openings know YOU! Remember the
importance of maintenance letters and other personal contact. Your name must be the
first one on their mind when they hear about a position opening!

ADDITIONAL IDEAS
After getting to know people in your network, find out what professional organizations
they belong to, and ask if you can attend a meeting as their guest. If possible, considering
joining the group.

Work for a temporary agency. Ask for hours that will still leave time during the week for
your full-time job search.

Get a part-time job or do contract work in your field. You can also volunteer for a few
hours a week in your field; show prospective employers that you are serious about your
career!

Find someone who is starting their own business and offer to be a tireless employee and
to help them with every aspect of the business. You'll learn more than other recent
graduates, and make yourself more marketable for your next move.

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 What’s next?
Putting these pieces together
Making sense of all these steps can be difficult. Don’t do it alone! Make an appointment
with one us in Career Services so that we can explain how this will work best for YOU.

Assistance after graduation

Our commitment to you continues after you graduate! Expect to hear from us; we want to
know what you’re doing, and we want to help you if you’re stuck in your job search. Take
the initiative and contact us if you need us.

Realistic expectations
To get a job before you graduate, you’ll need to prepare early, and maybe get a little lucky.
Most students don’t have jobs when they graduate, but the number steadily increases
through six months after graduation (as you can see in the graph below), when almost
everyone will be employed.

Job Search Status of Alumni

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
At Graduation 3 Months After 6 months

Employed (Career) Grad/Prof School Seeking Employment

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