There are many important parts to anyone’s job search. A well written and put-together resume, together with a stellar (and well-prepared!) interview are two of them. There is a most important step in between, however, that connects those two crucial pieces. And this is finding a job to apply to in the first place.
With the plethora of companies involved in scientific pursuits, there are a great many options available when searching for a job. One of the most common is a job board. A job board is a website that brings together a great many job ads from both companies and recruiting firms. This is a good place to start your job search, as there will be a variety of companies represented in everything from entry level to more advanced positions. You can typically confine your search to a specific area or region, and search for keywords, such as “entry level chemist” or “Research and Development Associate.” Some job boards are very general (ex: Monster, Indeed) and will include jobs that are not necessarily specific to science. Some sites may be more specific, either to the field of work (ex: Careers in Food) or by region (ex: Jobs in Minneapolis). You can use any basic internet search engine to find these sites.
Some of these job boards will offer a “direct application” and some will require you to create a profile. While it is easier to simply send in your resume/cover letter in for each individual job, creating a profile and posting your resume on that job board can have many advantages. First, it’s often free to create those profiles. And second, having your profile posted makes it easier for a recruiter to find your resume.
Other places to find jobs are the company websites themselves. If you know the company you are looking for, it can be relatively easy to find. Otherwise, you could run a basic search for the type of company you are looking for. I.e. Pharmaceutical companies in Minnesota, food companies in Minnesota, etc. In many of these cases, you will need to create a profile on the company’s career site, similar to the job boards. Some company sites will offer a “site notification” you can have sent to your e-mail account. These notifications will alert you when a job matching your search or profile is posted.
A newer option to find jobs is on various social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, or Linked In. Many companies will have a page/profile/etc. on these sites, and often may place advertisements for various job openings on those sites. Like the company pages, you can often sign up for job alerts, or merely “like” or “follow” that page in order to get updates in your news feed. This means you will be less likely to miss a new job opportunity with that company, and hear when new positions are posted that much quicker!
A career/job fair can be another option you may want to consider in your search. Many colleges/universities offer career fairs, both general and in specific fields, for new or soon to be graduates. Both companies and staffing agencies can be represented here. In some instances, they may simply be looking to collect resumes and network with new graduates. At other times, they may be holding interviews during, or after that career fair. For companies looking to interview on site, they often require interested candidates to apply/sign-up for an interview ahead of time. Be sure to get information from the career fair ahead of time to see if this is the case.
Another option in your job search is connecting with recruiters at staffing agencies (such as Verum Staffing!). A major benefit to connecting with a recruiter is that we may be working with companies on positions that simply aren’t posted on those company website, especially in regards to entry level positions. Staffing agencies use many of the above methods to post the jobs we are working on; a simple internet search or a career fair may be another place to connect with a recruiter. As a general note, staffing agencies are being paid by the companies to find candidates; this means that they are not the same as a job search firm (who would find a job for a person, not a person for a job!). But that being said, recruiters are still a great option, as you never know when we will have a job where you could be great fit!
One very important word of caution in your job search; be sure to keep a record of what jobs you are applying for, where you found them, and who you have spoken with regarding a position. Since both companies and recruiter usually place job advertisements in multiple places, it can be easy to find yourself applying to the same job more than once! Besides not giving a very professional appearance, it has more direct implications in regards to staffing agencies. If you give permission for a staffing agency to represent you for that particular job, you would not be able to be represented in that instance by any other staffing agency. (NOTE: some companies will require you to sign a document stating that you are giving them permission to represent you. Be sure to understand whether you are giving them permission to represent you for that specific job, that company, or for a specific length of time).
In short, there are a great many places to find a scientific job. Your best bet it to use multiple and varied sources, keep track of where and what you apply to, and keep at it! Best of luck from all of us here at Verum Staffing!
Stay tuned for our next article on 07/31/14 where we’ll cover some of the basics of the online application process. Until then, feel free to catch up on our previous articles, and be sure to check out our pages on Linked In, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ for the latest news and opportunities available through Verum Staffing! If you are interested in speaking with us further regarding positions we have available, future opportunities, or interview/resume help, please send an email to lhoff@verumstaffing.com to set up an informational interview.