Finding job openings

Hi guys, I have just graduated with an AAS with a networking concentration and have been looking for jobs. I have applied to maybe 5 jobs in the past week, with one interview. I am still in the running for that position, and hopefully will get lucky and get it. However, I am going to keep looking until I hear back about it. I have read on here that there are people saying they are sending out hundreds of resumes a week. Are there really that many openings in your areas? I live in a town with roughly 20,000 people, with a few bigger cities about 30-40 minutes away. The 5 positions that I have applied for are the only IT positions that I have found available in my area. I have not started applying to positions in cities close to me though. I am just wondering how you guys find out about all these openings. I am mostly just using Monster.com right now and looking on companies websites. What other ways should I use to find openings?

Thanks!

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Comments

Devilsbane

You have to search for different things. I haven't heard or someone sending hundreds a week. I have heard or 10-20 a week, but that doesn't last very long.

You also don't know, if you are willing to relocate sending 100 in a week isn't that hard. 2 per state.

earweed

A lot may not necessarily be where there are openings but where the posssibility of jobs exist.

erpadmin

I have had 4 positions in IT. Two of them was done with a "in", and two of them was all me. Those two I used hotjobs and Monster. I tend to stay at a place a minimum of three years to show employers I have stability. It helps my situation too that 3 out of 4 of those jobs have been with local and state government (Those were my "in"s...but the last, current job was all me, thanks to PeopleSoft. They loved the fact that I demonstrated my job functions and was already "in the system" but still treated work as if I worked in the private sector).

My advice for anyone seeking employment, whether you are a grasshopper or a wise old owl, be as personable as you possibly can. You don't have to brown-nose, or be a patronizing hygiene product...but if you come across as unfriendly, you will not get hired. You gotta show a willingness to do the job that no one else will do. No one wanted to do PeopleSoft, in my case "because it's just another f'ing application....I just want to stick with Windows or Cisco and be like 1000s of other folks in IT." Now, I have a salary that affords me a comfortable lifestyle. If I stay at the place I'm at for 5 more years, I'll see 6 figures. Which is more reason to get my degree. A Bachelor's plus a job that's already paying me $100k will guarantee I get to be paid to be someone's boss in 5 years. And 13 years, I had started at the bottom, doing jack-of-all-trades IT.

Just something to look forward to, in case you or anyone else gets discouraged. Just keep trucking, and you will find your career. Definitely check out monster and dice and be ready to go to your nearest metro area, if you have to. Or check out your state's and city's website and see if there are any openings.

MeanDrunkR2D2

Personally, I'm not a fan of Monster, but you have to use all the job sites to find good employment. I'd highly recommend Careerbuilder and Dice.com to add to your list of sites to check out. Also, look at the company websites for the companies in your town to see if they have posted any jobs on there that you may not find on one of the job sites out there. Job searching can be a hard and frustrating job, but just remember to go back to those company sites weekly to see if they have added any new positions that you may be qualified for.

And until you get an offer, you still need to search. I've had it happen where the companies have dragged out the process and the recruiter I was working with kept telling me that I was the top dog in the race, but they weren't ready to make a decision and 2 weeks later they went and hired someone else. (Shockingly, because they were a woman and they wanted a woman for the position). Keep on looking and you'll find something soon enough.

erpadmin

I would passively use recruiters/headhunters, but never rely on them. They only care about their commission and do not put your needs first (99.9% of the time).

The onus will always be on you to make the resume stand out (and if you have to pay $ for a resume writer, that might not be a bad investment...remember you can always write a resume yourself for free, but if you resume doesn't stand out, it will be used for something else...and it won't be for getting you placed.

).

Hotjobs was great too, but I believe that's Monster now. Between Monster, Careerbuilder and Dice and a GREAT resume, that's pretty much your shot. Even Craigslist is a great place to look for jobs. (I've seen a number of jobs available that would be decent entry-level IT). Definitely check CL out.

MeanDrunkR2D2

Another thing I would try, since you have graduated, is to check with your School's career department. Some schools have a great setup that can help you find companies that don't necessarily use those job boards. Set up an appointment with someone in career services at your college and they may be able to help you out. For me, mine landed me 3 positions that I've had in my professional career that I would have never found otherwise.

Devilsbane

I did a lot of monster searches. Applied at a lot of places with no luck. Eventually landed a job with a recruiting firm that found my resume on monster and emailed me to find out if I would be a good fit. Eventually, they got me a job and I couldn't be happier.

BradleyHU

MeanDrunkR2D2 wrote: »

Personally, I'm not a fan of Monster, but you have to use all the job sites to find good employment. I'd highly recommend Careerbuilder and Dice.com to add to your list of sites to check out. Also, look at the company websites for the companies in your town to see if they have posted any jobs on there that you may not find on one of the job sites out there. Job searching can be a hard and frustrating job, but just remember to go back to those company sites weekly to see if they have added any new positions that you may be qualified for.

And until you get an offer, you still need to search. I've had it happen where the companies have dragged out the process and the recruiter I was working with kept telling me that I was the top dog in the race, but they weren't ready to make a decision and 2 weeks later they went and hired someone else. (Shockingly, because they were a woman and they wanted a woman for the position). Keep on looking and you'll find something soon enough.

monster is way better than careerbuilder....hotjobs is trash too, but every once in a while you'll strike gold on CB or HJ....monster works more than the others. But I do most of my searching thru Indeed anyways....

MeanDrunkR2D2

BradleyHU wrote: »

monster is way better than careerbuilder....hotjobs is trash too, but every once in a while you'll strike gold on CB or HJ....monster works more than the others. But I do most of my searching thru Indeed anyways....

I guess in my area I've just had better luck using careerbuilder. Although Dice is even better than those two. Here Monster has far fewer companies using it so I can see more job postings. But the key really is to use all of the job sites to help out.

Devilsbane

MeanDrunkR2D2 wrote: »

I guess in my area I've just had better luck using careerbuilder. Although Dice is even better than those two. Here Monster has far fewer companies using it so I can see more job postings. But the key really is to use all of the job sites to help out.

At least in my area I often find the same posts on all of them.

jtoast

Unless you've got a wife and kids, don't limit yourself to just your area. There's a lot of money out there to be made by someone who is willing to travel. If you want good money and experience, go where the jobs are, don't wait for the jobs to come to your area.

BradleyHU

jtoast wrote: »

Unless you've got a wife and kids, don't limit yourself to just your area. There's a lot of money out there to be made by someone who is willing to travel. If you want good money and experience, go where the jobs are, don't wait for the jobs to come to your area.

yeah...even still, if the larger cities are 30-40 minutes away, thats nothing...i'd apply in a heartbeat if i lived in a small town.

jtoast

BradleyHU wrote: »

yeah...even still, if the larger cities are 30-40 minutes away, thats nothing...i'd apply in a heartbeat if i lived in a small town.

When I applied for my current job I was told it was a 2 week contract position helping their permanent guys setup a Vista ZTI image. It was a 150 mile round trip daily commute but I needed a job.

At the end of the two weeks, they asked me if I wanted to work on something else. I said yes and they extended my contract for 6 months. I've now been permanent for almost 2 years.

What I'm trying to say is, don't discount any opportunity no matter how crappy it looks to be on the surface. If it will potentialy get you either money or experience which leads to money, apply for it.

Shay_41_41

BradleyHU wrote: »

yeah...even still, if the larger cities are 30-40 minutes away, thats nothing...i'd apply in a heartbeat if i lived in a small town.

I actually got a offer to work at a helpdesk in a city about 35 minutes away, which would be awesome, except that it only pays $9 an hour and is only 25 hours a week. If that was in my town I would take it in a heartbeat just for the experience, but for $9 an hour and 25 hours a week, I am just not sure its worth the drive. Also my car is crap, I am not even sure it can get me up and back long enough till I save up enough for a new car...

I am still waiting to hear back about another position though. Its for a Data Center Technical Specialist. I don't think its really an entry level position, but my advisor is in really good with one of the supervisors and she put in a good word for me, and she thinks I have a good shot at getting it. Hope shes right...

ipconfig.all

Congratulation at least you got offered a job that is good. Ever considered moving there? anyway its good for experinece

Shay_41_41

I would not be able to afford to move there making $9 an hour. I just graduated college, still live with my parents, and don't have a whole lot of money saved up.

Bokeh

Dont forget sites like Craigslist and Indeed.com. Also join linkedin and start networking with current and former students, faculty, etc. Someone should know about an opening. Volunteer at local churches, non profits, etc

miller811

I have not seen simplyhired.com listed here.... It is a good consilidated search site. They will send you an email every morning with jobs that meet your search criteria.