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Finding a Job

Iowa Opportunities

  • Iowa is a bioscience epicenter, leading the nation in bioproducts, crop genetics, human health, and animal health.
  • Iowa is known as the hub for ag-tech and animal health research.
  • Iowa ranks second nationally for wind energy.
  • Iowa is a national leader in the finance and insurance industries.
  • Healthcare is one of the fastest growing segments of Iowa's economy and is the largest employment sector in the state.
  • 90% of Iowa's exports are from the advanced manufacturing sector, which is Iowa's largest industry. In 2022, Iowa exported over $26 billion in manufactured goods and agricultural products.

Finding a Job

The job search really begins as soon as you enter college or you begin on-the-job training or an apprenticeship program – that's when you'll begin to focus on understanding the career you want and developing the skills you need to be successful at that job. 

Job Search Strategies

  • Use your personal network of friends and family to help you get your foot in the door.
  • Set up and use casual meetings to find out more about employers and jobs.
  • Become an intern (paid or unpaid) at a company you would like to work for.
  • Shadow a person in your chosen field to gain experience and develop contacts.
  • Tap into your school's or your program's alumni group for career advice.
  • Join professional organizations related to your chosen field.
  • Think about temping for a company. You can meet people in your field for future networking and possibly work into a full-time position.
  • Set up a LinkedIn account. 

If you're attending college, you can take steps to finding the right job. If you didn't start as a freshman, don't panic – you can start now.


Applying for a Job

Earning money is, of course, great. Earning money while gaining valuable work experience is even better. So how should you go about actually landing the job?

Strange as it may seem, even a part-time job as a fry cook has certain requirements. To get any job, you must convince the employer you are dependable, responsible and willing to do what's asked of you. Jobs that ask you to deal with the public, work in an office or interact with professionals have specific guidelines as well.

The hiring process usually involves four steps:

Application

The employer provides these forms. It's a good idea to check for printable versions on the company website and fill them out ahead of time. You can take a completed form with you or use it as practice. Applications usually ask for:

  • Biographical information. Fill out all spaces as accurately as possible. Employers are going to be a little concerned if you put down the wrong Social Security number.
  • Previous employers or work experience. If you've never held a job before, feel free to write "not applicable" in these spaces. But, if you've babysat, worked on a farm or done other odd jobs, use these areas to highlight what you've learned.
  • Education and skills. Even if you haven't completed high school, fill in your school's name and the dates you've attended. In the blank for "degree," you can write that you are currently enrolled. Use the skills area to draw attention to your computer, phone or other office skills.
  • References. Write down adults who know you but aren't related to you. Your school counselor, teachers, neighbors and coaches are good resources.

Cover Letter

Would you stride right up to a company president's office to ask for a job without having been introduced in some way? Not likely. A cover letter serves the same purpose as that introduction – before your resume brashly states that you are the right person for the job, your cover letter eases into who you are and why you might be a good fit for the position.

Because people who screen applicants have different personalities and workloads, some of your cover letters may get tossed aside as an unnecessary restatement of the information on your resume. But many of them will be read, and since you aren't likely to lose an opportunity because of a well-written cover letter, it's a good policy to always include one.

A good cover letter should reveal:

  • How well you communicate in writing. Make your sentences and paragraphs clear and to the point. Avoid exaggeration and overblown words.
  • Your level of professionalism. Write with respect for the reader's time, intellect and purpose.
  • Clues to your personality. Remain professional but allow some of your own personality to seep through.
  • Your experience and qualifications. Briefly point out what makes you ideal for this position.
  • Attention to detail. Make sure your letter is free of typos and misspelled words and that you've addressed the letter to the person who is hiring for the position. Also name the position you're applying for (and remember to change it for each mailing if you're sending out many at once).

Elements of a cover letter include:

  1. The opening. The first paragraph should briefly say:
    • Who you are ("a senior at ABC College graduating with a business degree in May").
    • What position you are applying for.
    • How you heard about the opening.
  2. The pitch. Four to five sentences should be enough for the second paragraph to demonstrate:
    • Why you are the best candidate for the job.
    • What your qualifications and skills are.
    • Two or three short examples of specific abilities.
  3. The push. Use the third paragraph to:
    • Make a positive comment about the organization.
    • Demonstrate enthusiasm for the position.
    • Show that you've chosen this company for a particular reason, not just because you're looking for a job and they happen to have one open.
  4. The call to action. A one- or two-sentence paragraph should end your letter with:
    • Your availability. Especially if you live outside the immediate area of the company, let the reader know when you will be available for a face-to-face meeting. Generally, you should be available at their convenience.
    • Your next step. If you have contact information, say when you'll call or e-mail to ensure your materials were received or to set up a meeting (then do it).
    • Thanks. Always extend your appreciation for the reader's time and consideration.

Before you send your letter, proofread it carefully. Ask a friend or roommate to read it as well; they may catch something you missed. Go online to search for sample cover letters.

Resume

With a good cover letter comes a good resume. Now that you're completing college coursework and hopefully getting some good work experience, it's time to create a resume that will get your skills noticed. This piece of paper will usually be the first impression you make with an employer, so make the effort for an effective resume.

Depending on your career field, one type of resume may work well for many openings or you may need to change the format for each opportunity. Either way, you do need to customize your resume for every job you apply for.

Create a Resume

Use logical order to build an impressive resume.

  1. Collect data.
    • Brainstorm to identify your accomplishments in:
      • Education.
      • Training.
      • Experience.
    • Include what you're doing now and work backward.
    • Choose the most relevant information to include.
    • Decide what type of resume will work best. Review styles of resumes online or in books available from the library or bookstore.
  2. Build your resume.
    • Contact information. Includes your name, address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address.
      • Avoid nicknames.
      • Use information where employers can be sure to contact you, like your parent's address or your cell phone number.
      • Make sure your phone greetings and e-mail address sound professional.
      • Include the URL to your website if it reflects your professional goals (and does not include any photos or posts that could embarrass you).
    • Objective. Tells potential employers about the type of work you hope to do.
      • Be specific about the job you are applying for. If you are sending out multiple resumes, don't forget to change it for different employers and positions.
    • Education.
      • List your most recent educational information first.
      • Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution and any minors or concentrations.
      • Include your grade point average if it's higher than 3.0.
      • Remember any special recognition or academic awards.
    • Work experience. Briefly outlines work that enhances your skills.
      • Use action words to describe your duties.
      • Avoid long words or phrases that sound impressive but don't really say anything.
      • Work backward from your most recent work experience.
      • Include:
        • Title of position.
        • Name of organization.
        • Dates of employment.
        • Specific skills and information.
    • Other information. Include any that apply to you and seem to mesh with the job description.
      • Special skills or abilities.
      • Leadership experience.
      • Participation in sports.
      • Volunteer experience or other employment.
    • References.
      • Note that references are available upon request and make a separate page for references.
      • Talk to anyone you list first to make sure they're willing to be a reference for you.
  3. Design your resume. Make your resume easy to read or to scan into a database.
    • Use one side of white or off-white 8½" x 11" paper.
    • Use one non-decorative typeface in 10- to 14-point font size.
    • Avoid italics, script and underlined words.
    • Don't use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics or shading.
    • Lay out your information in a standard format:
      • Personal information.
      • Objective.
      • Education, then work experience (if you are a recent graduate).
      • Work experience, then education (if you graduated a year ago or more).
    • Don't fold or staple your resume. (If you're mailing it, send it in a large envelope.)

Interview

The interview is the final, and often most nerve-racking, part of applying for a job. You can minimize your nerves by preparing for the interview, taking care with your appearance, and planning to be your best during the meeting.

  • Preparation
    • Learn what you can about the organization by researching it online or at the library.
    • Think about how your qualifications fit the job and the organization's overall mission.
    • Be ready with answers to questions like, "Why should I hire you?" or "What are your weaknesses?"
  • Appearance
    • Dress appropriately. Wear nicer clothes even if you'll end up wearing a fast-food uniform at the job.
    • Be well groomed. Iron your clothes and make sure your hair is neat.
    • Don't chew gum. Fresh breath is a plus, of course, but no one likes to see you chomping and blowing bubbles.
  • Conduct for the interview
    • Be early.
    • Greet your interviewer with a businesslike handshake.
    • Use your manners and proper English. Say "yes" instead of "yeah" and avoid slang.
    • Relax and answer each question as well as you can.
    • Be cooperative and enthusiastic.
    • Ask questions, especially some that can't be answered by reading the company's website.
    • Show interest with eye contact and good posture.
    • Thank the interviewer when you leave, and follow up with a short thank-you note.
  • Information to take to an interview.
    • Two forms of government-issued identification. These could include a Social Security card, a driver's license or permit, or a school identification card.
    • A copy of your resume or application.
    • References

Interview Skills

An interview is a lot like a first date. Although you want the other person to like you for who you really are, a good first impression is important. So, put on clothes you might not ordinarily wear, practice smiling and shaking hands in front of the mirror, and think a lot about what you're going to say.

Many interviewers ask the same types of questions. Here are some strategies for answering the most common.

Tell me about yourself. Your answer should include four parts:

  1. Career information.
  2. Your strengths, skills and accomplishments.
  3. Education information.
  4. Personal information (not a lot, but show how you're involved in the community).

Strategies:

  • Take no longer than two minutes to answer this question.
  • Finish strongly by saying how your experience ties to the position or why you're interested in the job.

Tell me about the time... The interviewer is seeing how your previous experiences will influence you in this position.

Strategies:

  • Demonstrate future accomplishments the employer can expect from you.
  • Prepare stories and examples to show how you handled a particular situation.
  • Explain the situation, what you did and the results of your actions.

Potential variations:

  • Tell me about a time when you failed. What happened and how did you recover?
  • Tell me about a time you succeeded. Give a specific example.
  • Tell me about a time you were working with someone who wasn't pulling their weight or who had a different value system than you do. How did you deal with this person?

What are your long-term goals? Employers use this question to understand you better.

Strategies:

  • Focus on how your goals fit with the organization's mission.
  • Tell how you think this position will help you reach those goals.

Why do you want to work here? The interviewer has probably guessed you need a job. They're also gauging how much thought you've given to where you want to work.

Strategies:

  • Give two or three reasons why you want to work for this company.
  • Explain why this position is a good fit for you.
  • Demonstrate that you know what you want and that you've researched the organization.

Why should we hire you? This is your chance to convince the interviewer what a great asset you would be for them.

Strategies:

  • Say why you're a perfect fit for the job.
  • Tell about your strengths and skills.

Other common questions:

  • If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
  • Why do you want to work for us?
  • What salary are you seeking?
  • What three positive things would your previous boss/your family/your friends say about you?
  • What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
  • When were you most satisfied with your job?
  • What are your goals?
  • What were the responsibilities of your last job?
  • What was the last project you headed up and what was the outcome?
  • Why are you leaving your present job?
  • What would be your ideal working situation?
  • What was the last book you read?
  • What do you know about our company?

Sometimes interviewers will ask you a question that could, if you answer honestly, make it harder for you to get the job. Sometimes this is done intentionally to see how you react, and sometimes it's unintentional. Whether the question is a trap or an illegal one, you need to be prepared.

Interview Traps

What did you like least about your last job? or What did you think about your previous boss?

Strategies:

  • Demonstrate that whatever happened in the past, you are confident you will be happy in this position.
  • Talk about certain tasks that you weren't happy with rather than office politics or any people within the company.

What are your weaknesses?

Strategies:

  • Be honest. Don't make up a faux weakness like "I work too hard."
  • Minimize your weaknesses and emphasize your strengths.
  • Focus on professional traits rather than personal qualities.
  • Choose one weakness and say what your plan is to keep it from affecting this job.

What's your salary history?

Strategies:

  • Defer your answer until you know if the company would like to hire you.
  • Turn the question around and ask what the salary range is for the current opening and where your experience would place you in that range.
  • Know what similar positions pay by looking online or at starting Iowa salaries.
Illegal Questions

Certain questions cannot be legally asked in the United States during a job interview. The answers to these questions could be used to discriminate against you based on your:

  • Age.
  • Race or color.
  • Disability.
  • Gender.
  • National origin.
  • Religion.
  • Creed.

Common illegal questions

  • Do you have children or do you plan on having children?
  • What was your maiden name?
  • When were you born?
  • What is your race?
  • Do you have any physical or mental disabilities?
  • Do you have a drug or alcohol problem?
  • Are you taking any prescription drugs?
  • Would working on weekends conflict with your religion?
  • What country are you a citizen of?

Strategies:

  • Ignore the question but deal with the concern behind the questions. For example, if you are asked what country you're a citizen of, you can reply that you are authorized to work in this country. Or you could use a question about children as a jumping off point to talk about your ability to be flexible in your schedule.
  • Inform the interviewer that the question is illegal and you are uncomfortable answering it.

Career Center

The career center and its staff are there on campus, and part of your tuition bill pays for the service, so you might as well go over and see how they can help. You will probably be pleasantly surprised with the services they offer to help with your job search. (Colleges like to advertise that a high percentage of their graduates are employed.)

Career assessment. The staff can help you explore your interests, career goals, skills, values and personality to help you find the right career.

Workshops and seminars. Contact your center to get their calendar of events. You might find workshops on resume writing, interview skills, networking, dining etiquette, job search strategies, applying to graduate school and more. These are great opportunities to learn how to make the most of your job search efforts.

Resume building. Career center staff keeps up to date on the latest in resume writing. They can also help you write cover letters that won't get lost in the shuffle.

On-campus interviews. Employers often send recruiters to campus. Talk with those representatives to explore different job opportunities and to practice interview skills.

Internship information. The career center often acts on behalf of area companies who have internship opportunities or who are looking for promising students in need of assistance.

Mock interviews. A mock interview is a great way to practice and hone your interview skills. The staff can give you valuable feedback on how to present your best abilities to employers.

Career and salary information. The staff will know, or know where to find, salary and job market trends that will help you in your job search.

Employer information. Career centers often sponsor sessions for students who want to learn more about companies from the companies' representatives.

Career library. You will find a variety of resources to help you with your job search, including:

  • Company brochures and annual reports.
  • News articles.
  • Periodicals and newspapers.
  • Employment newsletters.

Internship

An internship offers a great way to experience a specific work environment. It's your chance to try a job out, get to know some people and gain experience outside the classroom. Some internships are paid, but many aren't. Even if you don't get paid, internships are well worth the hours because many employers look for experience rather than high grade point averages in applicants.

A good internship may pay off in a full-time job offer after graduation as well.

Where to Find Internships

You can use these and other sources to locate internships.

  • Campus career center. Counselors there should know:
    • Which area companies offer internships.
    • Where previous students have interned.
    • Recruiters who know what internships are available.
  • Professors and advisors in your major. They often know what's available at places previous students had success.
  • Alumni. Alumni from your school, and particularly your program, are a great source for information and referrals.
  • Family, friends and acquaintances. Even if someone doesn't work in your career field, they may know someone who does.
  • Internet. Check the Web for internship sites like www.internjobs.com.
  • Contacts on campus. Other students, professors and department heads may be able to give you a lead on internship opportunities.

Read tips for finding internships.

Make the Most of Your Internship

Once you land an internship, don't just show up and do the minimum required every day. This is the beginning of your future, so make the most of it.

  • Learn everything you can about the industry. Ask questions and develop relationships with:
    • Other employees.
    • Clients.
    • Vendors.
  • Keep busy and look for additional projects. Taking the initiative gives you confidence in your abilities and shows employers what a valuable employee you would be.
  • Read what you can about the industry. You may end up in a position to suggest direction and ideas to your coworkers.
  • Avoid complaining. Even if you're doing grunt work, you're learning the job.
  • Don't be afraid or intimidated. Demonstrate the latest techniques from your classes and be useful to everyone.
  • Take advantage of any opportunities that come your way because you're a temporary employee. Management may include you on projects to give you a taste of the real world or to avoid a problem with a permanent employee.
  • Ask to attend meetings and events. Watch and learn.
  • Be diplomatic. Although it may seem like you have nothing to lose, you never know when you may need to work with these people in the future.
  • Make friends with the company superstar. Certain people have a lot of influence in their departments or fields. Learn from them and develop a relationship for the future.

Steps for college students by year. 

Freshman Year

Start early to get ready for life after college.

  • Begin to explore careers at your college career center.
  • If you haven't done so yet, write your resume. Revise it as you accomplish more in college.
  • Join campus organizations and clubs related to your professional interests.
  • Look for work in your chosen career field during the school year and summer break.

Sophomore Year

Continue your plans and prepare for your future.

  • Declare your major if you now know what you want to do.
  • Talk to several employers in your career field so you understand it better. (Keep in contact with them for future job leads.)
  • Start to build a personal network of professors, professionals and other students who may be able to help you later (and who you may be able to help).
  • Continue to work in your chosen career field during the school year and summer break.

Junior Year

Now is the time to make sure you've got everything under control.

  • Make sure you have good relationships with professors and department heads in your major. They are:
    • Good people to use as references for jobs.
    • Often able to refer employers to promising students.
  • Run for office in student government or student groups to develop leadership experience.
  • Talk to more employers in your career field in informal settings.
  • Look for a summer job as close to your chosen career as possible.

Senior Year

Spend this year looking for a job and preparing for your career.

  • Focus any special classroom projects or essays on your major or profession.
  • Create a cover letter that you can adapt for various job opportunities.
  • Polish your resume and begin sending it out for interesting openings.
  • Keep talking to employers about your career choice.
  • See recruiters visiting your campus. Recruiter visits are great for:
    • Networking and establishing contacts.
    • Polishing interview skills.
  • Take advantage of career center programs, workshops and job fairs.
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