Ten Ways to Use Information In Your Job Search (Building an informed job search) The key to getting a job offer is matching an employer's needs to your abilities. The more you know about a potential employer's business, the more likely you are to make the link that will lead to an offer. There are probably hundreds of ways to use information in your job search and they are only limited by your creativity. Here are 10 of the best that will give you a competitive edge in the market. 1. Identify target companies. Firms that are prime candidates for your skills can be identified using computer databases or printed directories. lincolnjobs.com contains a directory of businesses in Lincoln and the types of occupations they employ. 2. Check out the community resources. There are many organizations in Lincoln who are in the business to help you locate the right job for you. lincolnjobs.com contains a directory of these organizations with a brief description of the services they provide. This directory lists: - Business Associations - Community Centers - Educational Resources - Employment Agencies - General Community Information - Job Training, Job Services and Related Resources Many of these organizations list the names of contacts, email addresses and phone numbers. You can also hot link to their websites when available. 3. Read the classified ads. Don't limit your job search. Use every resource you can to find job leads. The Lincoln Journal Star has a website that allows you to view job openings with local employers. Remember, if you're interested in learning about a particular company in Lincoln, check out the Employer Profiles section of lincolnjobs.com. 4. Contact associations with placement services - network. There are associations of people with common interests in almost every industry and profession. The best way to locate appropriate organizations is to look in the "Community Resources" area of lincolnjobs.com. 5. Identify people who can become part of your network. There are many good ways to do this. In addition to your professional acquaintances, association membership directories are useful. To obtain a directory you may have to join the organization, but don't overlook friends who may be members! Also consider your college alumni office which keeps track of fellow graduates; they may be able to provide you with special lists. 6. Prepare for an interview. Too many job seekers walk into an interview without the most rudimentary knowledge of the firm, the interviewer, the product line, or even the industry. And guess who the easiest people are for interviewers to reject? Researching companies can prepare you to appear more knowledgeable. The business section of the Lincoln Journal Star features news about employers in the daily and weekend papers. Take time to read the articles thoughtfully, trying to draw a picture of the firm, its competitive posture, and its direction. List questions that might be appropriately raised during the interview. 7. Learn about industry trends: history and forecasts. Learning the trends in a particular industry can help you evaluate opportuntities more wisely. There are many resources available in city libraries that specifically feature this information. 8. Know the latest on companies & industries you target. This means read. Read the business section of the newspaper, the weekly business journals and the trade press. 9. Negotiate with knowledge of compensation levels & perks. The National Business Employment Weekly often publishes salary surveys by industry or profession. Most the the salary statistics are gathered by associations who query their members for the purpose of quantifying the professions progress. In addition to salary, benefits may be surveyed as well. 10. Know yourself, your work preferences, skills and abilities. Be prepared to discuss your past successes with the person you are interviewing or networking with. Make sure you have done your homework and be able to tell people more than what you've done in your past jobs. Be able to relate how well you performed in other jobs. Give them specific examples of the size of projects, the timelines involved, the skills you used and the final results. This illustrates to potential employers your ability to do similar work for them. Don't forget that volunteer work counts when you are relating your skills and abilities. Back to the resume submission page

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