Using Labor Market Information

and Professional Associations in

Your Job Search

City College of San FranciscoCareer Development & Counseling DepartmentPrepared by Gregory Johnson

Diminishing Openings--Competitiveness of Job Seeker Depends on

• Job Skills & Communication Skills

• Attitude & Dependability

• Job Search Techniques….finding the job openings through research, connecting & communicating

Labor Market Information --

• What is it?

• Why is it important?

• What is it used for?

• How do I access it?

?

Do your labor market information research before spending your time & money:

• Check out actual jobs• Learn what skills are

actually needed• Is paid experience required?• Will the employer consider

trainee/volunteer experience/internship

• Do they have any entry-level openings?

Labor Market Information is………..

Taking off with new ideas and new strategies….looking at

• Demographics • Organizational/industry/company info• Trends• Professional associations• Contacts that count• Word from the source

Knowing your labor market can open the right doors!

So….where are the jobs?

Networking or Not Working Visible or Hidden?

• Visible.. It is the employer looking for you. But no matter how many job leads you see in this visible market, they only represent 25-30% of all the “real” job vacancies out there. That’s right…..what you “see” is really a small percentage!

• Hidden ..This means that at least 75% of available jobs are not obvious through traditional sources. Job leads that are uncovered from nontraditional sources are considered part of the “hidden” job market.

Why Hide Jobs..Cracking the Mystery

Networking is making connections with people. Job search networking is connecting to the people you know who may have helpful information, advice, tips and referrals regarding your job search.

People trust people they know. Employers often prefer to hire someone who has been recommended to them by a personal contact, friend, colleague, co-worker, etc. The result of this hiring method results in many jobs never advertised or made “visible” but stay “hidden” until a referral shows up. Here are some strategies to “network” your way to useful connections and valuable labor market information….

Researching Companies*

• Want to stand out from the job search competition when responding to job ads? Find the best employer for YOU in the Hidden Job Market? The more you know, the better you will look to the employer!

• There are thousands of useful sites on the Web for investigating industries and companies. Use the sites described here as "jumping off" points as you pursue your target industry or employer. Remember to be specific and to focus on one industry and one position title.

*Source: www.jobstar.org

Professional Associations

• A Professional Association is an organization formed to unite and inform people who work in the same occupation. There are Professional Associations for almost every career field. These organizations often have student chapters and offer networking opportunities at meetings and conferences. Here students can find mentors, internship opportunities, scholarships, as well as information on industry trends and new developments.

Source: www.cacareercafe.com

Professional Associations by Career Pathway

• Agriculture and Natural Resources• Arts, Media & Entertainment• Building Trades & Construction• Education, Child & Family Services• Energy & Utilities• Engineering & Design• Fashion & Interior Design• Finance & Business• Health Science & Medical Technology• Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation• Information Technology• Manufacturing & Product Development• Marketing, Sales, & Service• Public Services• Transportation

Source: www.cacareercafe.com

Go to the Source: Informational Interviews

• Objective: Information about specific industry,occupation or employer

• What are the goals: a brief personal overview of yourself; answers to specific questions; get

more names and suggestions

BE PREPARED BE PATIENT BE PERISTENT

New Markets

+ New Skills

= New Opportunities

Now use your Labor Market knowledge to put it all

together!• Job Searching• Training• Career Planning• Networking• Hidden Jobs