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3 tips for the job hunters – Metro US

3 tips for the job hunters

Nick Schaefer, director of career services at Gwynedd-Mercy College, has a few tips for job seekers.

1. Cast your net wide as you identify potential employers. Don’t limit your research to online sources — check the yellow pages and the chamber of commerce as well. Make a list and contact those companies to see what opportunities might be available. “Be proactive,” Schaefer says. “Eighty percent of the jobs out there are never even advertised.”

2. Networking is crucial. Get the word out through family, friends, your professors and others. Post a profile on LinkedIn and connect to everyone you know, not just the people in your field. Network with new people as well. “Join the professional organization in your field, and participate in that organization,” recommends Schaefer. “Volunteer to work at a conference. You’ll have the opportunity to meet — and talk with — a lot of people.”

3. Stay organized. You’ll be talking to dozens of people, and it’s easy to lose track of what you’ve done and what you need to do. Schaefer recommends setting up a spreadsheet covering information like, including: Who you’ve contacted (and when and how); what information (or which resume) you sent; what has already happened; and what needs to happen. “Keep track of everything!” Schaefer says.