Researching the Job Market: Researching the Job Market: Kelley School of Business X420Kelley School of Business X420

Discussion Session #84Discussion Session #84

Ideal Job Preferences: IJPIdeal Job Preferences: IJP

• identify characteristics of your IJP

• prioritize• focus on skills• list desires

• “must haves”• “would prefer”• “dreams”

First, a little detective work….

“After you’ve eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, is the truth….”

““Reasonable and appropriate….”Reasonable and appropriate….” Marketable skillsMarketable skills Capabilities/TendenciesCapabilities/Tendencies

– ( Career Leader test?!)( Career Leader test?!) NeedsNeeds

– Salary ( 30’s to 40’s in Midwest Salary ( 30’s to 40’s in Midwest with business degree)with business degree)

– Location (limiting job search Location (limiting job search possibilities)possibilities)

– Training (expanding career Training (expanding career planning options)planning options)

Refining the IJPRefining the IJP

What types of jobs are out there?What types of jobs are out there?

Reality Check:People and Publications

Matching IJP CharacteristicsMatching IJP Characteristics

Surveying the PossibilitiesSurveying the Possibilities OBSERVATIONOBSERVATION

LISTENINGLISTENING

READINGREADING

Surveying means “scouting out the Surveying means “scouting out the territory….”territory….”

Once you’ve surveyed –Once you’ve surveyed –

you’ve got a “map” with which to you’ve got a “map” with which to guide your research.guide your research.

The fount of available informationThe fount of available informationcan seem inexhaustible…can seem inexhaustible…

Sources of InformationSources of Information

PEOPLEPEOPLE– EXISTING CONTACTSEXISTING CONTACTS– FUTURE CONTACTSFUTURE CONTACTS

PUBLISHED PUBLISHED SOURCESSOURCES– PRINTEDPRINTED– COMPUTERIZEDCOMPUTERIZED

Published SourcesPublished Sources Objective InformationObjective Information Autonomous ResearchAutonomous Research

May be OutdatedMay be Outdated Limited in ScopeLimited in Scope

Evaluate Evaluate Published InformationPublished Information

AccuracyAccuracy CompletenessCompleteness

Relevancy to YouRelevancy to You

Check with Networking ContactsCheck with Networking Contacts

NETWORKING is the BEST NETWORKING is the BEST WAYWAY

People Provide First-Hand InformationPeople Provide First-Hand Information

CompaniesCompanies

The FieldThe Field

OpportunitiesOpportunities

““People…People who need People…People who need people….”people….”

People ProvidePeople Provide

access to the “hidden job market”access to the “hidden job market” personal introductionspersonal introductions

personal feedbackpersonal feedback

People Perils…..People Perils….. People mayPeople may......

Provide opinion rather than factsProvide opinion rather than facts Be prejudiced in their viewsBe prejudiced in their views

Not know much about the topicNot know much about the topic Have “hidden agendas”Have “hidden agendas”

A Dual ApproachA Dual Approach PPublications ublications

research research supports supports networkingnetworking

People People supply supply first-hand first-hand informationinformation

A Strategy of ComplementsA Strategy of Complements

Networking Networking aids in aids in researching researching the job the job marketmarket

Information Information interviews interviews researching researching the job the job market aid in market aid in networkingnetworking

Networking requires -Networking requires -

Preparation Preparation (knowledge)(knowledge)

WillWill

PersistencePersistence get appointment get appointment guide discussionsguide discussions follow up on relationshipsfollow up on relationships

Networking is stressful…Networking is stressful… Results may not be immediate or tangibleResults may not be immediate or tangible

Process can become time-consumingProcess can become time-consuming

Obstacles external…Obstacles external… Feeling overwhelmed Feeling overwhelmed

by the wealth of by the wealth of materialmaterial

Life’s routine troubles Life’s routine troubles piled upon the effortpiled upon the effort

Obstacles internal…Obstacles internal… ProcrastinationProcrastination

Perception that effort is undignifiedPerception that effort is undignified

BUT ONLY YOU CALL TELL WHAT HELPS REALIZE YOUR IJP

So…stay cool, stay focused, stay balanced… emulate the ideal warrior

Develop a balanced approachDevelop a balanced approach

When self-confidence is high, pursue When self-confidence is high, pursue networkingnetworking

When you are feeling low, pursue publications When you are feeling low, pursue publications researchresearch

……stay centered ….stay centered ….

EVALUATION EVALUATION QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

USE:USE:a. Strongly Agreea. Strongly Agreeb. Agreeb. Agreec. Disagreec. Disagreed. Strongly Disagreed. Strongly Disagreee. Don’t Knowe. Don’t Know

1.I found the presentation material easy to understand.

2. This Advantage session increased my knowledge on the subject presented.

3. I will be able to use some of the information from this Advantage session in the future.

4. The presenter was well prepared for this session.

5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.