Job Search

When searching for a job after graduation there's a lot to consider. Job searching can be very overwhelming and time consuming. Whether you are at the very beginning of your career or you are looking to change direction after years in your field, the Career Design Center is here to help!

Before Job Searching

Before you begin your job search, take some time to conduct a self - assessment and clearly establish your goals. The job search process begins with knowing yourself and what you hope to achieve after graduation. Before you begin your job search it is important to ask yourself some important questions:

  • Where do I want to live?
  • What type of industry do I want to work in?
  • What type of work environment do I want?
  • What hours do I want to work? (morning, afternoon, evening, overnights)
  • How would I like to grow in my career?
  • Would I like to work on site, remotely, or a hybrid schedule?

It is important to know yourself, your personality, your interests, and your work values in order to make an informed decision about what career is right for you. Take a free career assessment on Focus2 to research careers that meet your interests, skills, strengths, and values to help get you started.

Be sure to update your cover letter, resume, and practice interviewing skills using Big Interview as you begin the job search process. The key to being successful in your job search is preparation.

 

Here are a few resources to help you with self exploration and understanding your options:

What Can I Do With This Major?

What Can I Do With This Major will help you find popular careers and types of employers in these areas whether you're exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field.

 Focus2

Focus 2 guides students through a reliable, intuitive career & education decision-making model to help them choose majors offered at Geneseo, explore occupations & make informed career decisions. To access your FREE account, click the link above, then click the "register" button. Type in the access code "knight" and complete your registration. From there, you will be able to take different assessments and learn more about different careers and majors. For additional information view our Focus2 Guide.

 

3 Key Strategies For An Effective Job Search

  1. Respond to online openings
    This strategy includes searching for and applying to positions advertised by employers on Handshake, company websites, job search specific websites (e.g. indeed.com, ZipRecruiter.com, etc.)
  2. Target employers
    A good job search includes efforts to engage with employer postings and proactively identify opportunities within an agency. To do this you should create a list of employers that align with your goals based on research you've done. After creating your list of employers you can: 
  • Search for openings on the organization's website
  • Contact them by phone or email to ask about current job opportunities
  • Develop relationships through networking

           3.  Network
               Networking is an important professional skill and a proactive job search strategy. In order to network you will need to communicate with people you already know and you will need to reach out to contacts within companies/agencies you seek to build relationships with. Both kinds of contacts and relationships are important during a job search and throughout your career. When networking with people you have the opportunity to learn about them, their company, and their areas of interest. When you share your goals and interests with them, in turn, they may share their networking resources, industry knowledge, and professional contacts with you. 

Visit the Alumni Career Advisor Network to begin networking with Geneseo alumni!

 

LinkedIn is another great way to expand your professional network. To learn more click here!

 

Job Search Websites

Evaluating and Negotiating Job Offers

After receiving a job offer it is important to take the time to carefully evaluate it, so that you can make an informed decision to accept it or reject it. 

When evaluating a job offer be sure to consider the entire compensation package - salary, benefits, work environment, etc. Consider all of the pros and cons and ask for time to evaluate the offer. It is acceptable to ask the employer if you can have time to think about the job offer. Remember to evaluate your own personal situation today and determine what the best course of action is for you and your career goals right now.

Negotiating a Job Offer

When your receive a job offer be sure to read the offer over carefully and make sure that that you understand the total compensation package you will receive including salary, benefits, time off, etc. Various aspects of the job offer you receive may be negotiated depending on the type of industry. Use the following resources and/or contact the Career Design Center at careers@geneseo.edu or 585-245-5721 to speak with a career coach to determine if negotiation is appropriate and to determine your approach.

Salary Resources
  • Big Interview - an introduction to negotiation:
    • Login (or register if it is your first time visiting Big Interview)
    • Select the interviews option from the top menu
    • select Interview Curriculum
    • Select Negotiation Curriculum
    • Select Negotiation Basics
    • Watch "How Negotiation Works"
  • Work Smart & Start Smart: Salary Negotiation - register to take a free self - guided online course on salary negotiation from The American Association of University Women (AAUW)

Additional Resource for Salary Research

Accepting A Job Offer

Should you decide to accept the job offer you receive, the organization should send you a letter detailing all the aspects of what you negotiated. Write a letter of acceptance outlining your hiring terms. 

Declining A Job Offer

The reality is, not every job is right for everyone. It is important to remember the purpose of an interview: it gives the company an opportunity to decide if you are a good candidate for the job and it allows you to decide if the position and the company are the right fit for you. Should you decide to decline the job offer, write a letter of rejection. It is important to remember the organization you interviewed with may post your ideal job at a later date. When declining a job offer it is important to end the interaction with the employer on good terms.

Additional Resources