Some popular job search sites are:

• Indeed 
• LinkedIn
• Handshake
• Industry-specific resources
• Professional associations  

For some of you, you may already know which company you want to work for, but do not know if they are currently hiring for the position you want. The best ways to find out would be:

• Check the company’s employment listings on their website
• Speak with a recruiter at a career fair or networking event
• Contact a career counselor for more information about what is available
• Identify job titles in your major

Sometimes all you need is to know the right people, connections and referrals can make all the difference. Any of the following can be great resources for job prospects:

• Career Center
• Professors
• Previous Employers
• Friends or family

Upcoming Career Fairs

One of the best ways to meet employers and learn of opportunities is by attending job fairs. 

Before You Attend

• Obtain a list of attending organizations and create a list of companies you would like to meet with. Research the company and find out which opportunities are available.
• Revise your resume to include all relevant information including internships, awards, activities and any other information that will add to your resume.
• Buy a business suit and make sure that your appearance is conservative and polished.
• Create a 60-second introduction about yourself. The recruiter at the job fair will ask you to talk about yourself. Meet with a career counselor to craft your response.
• Make numerous copies of your resume and print it on resume paper. 

At the Fair

• Assess the layout of the fair noting where the employers are.
• Approach the recruiters with a smile, make eye contact and offer a firm handshake.
• Ask about the organization’s recruiting timetable and generate a list of specific questions to ask each employer which demonstrates your knowledge of the organization. Don’t ask questions that can be found on their website or questions about salary or benefits.
• Collect business cards and informational brochures not the free stuff from the table. Write something unique about your conversation on the back of the business card to include in your follow up email.
• Speak with companies you are less interested in first to get comfortable with the process. 

After the Fair

• Talk with a career counselor about how the job fair went and to identify additional contacts.
• Send thank you notes! Thank the recruiter for their time and remind them of your conversation.
• Follow through with the recruiters about two weeks later to find out the next steps in the process. Most recruiters expect and want you to follow through and some won’t extend an interview if you don’t. 

The job market is always full of people who are looking for positions, which makes this group a perfect target for scammers. With the ever changing ways in which scams can be marketed, it can be difficult to tell which jobs and companies are legitimate and which are not. Here are some tips on how to avoid fraudulent job postings and offers.

• Keep an eye out for pyramid scheme style positions in which you are required to recruit others and sell products to make a profit
• Commission-based jobs can also be scams so do your research on the company before considering these types of positions
• Be wary of businesses that operate out of residential addresses, although some companies are run out of employers’ homes, this is something to consider if the job seems too good to be true
• If an employer asks you to send them money or sends you a check without you having done any work, run the other way. These are common ways in which scammers will take money from job hunters
• Check the employer’s email address, if it is not connected to the company website and is a third party provider (@gmail.com, @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com, etc.) this may be a bad sign
• If an offer includes excessive pay or benefits for the position or for your level of experience this can be a sign that the job is too good to be true
• If an employer asks for personal information (SSN, copy of your birth certificate, a photograph, etc.) before you accept the job, this could be an indication of a scam as well.
• Watch for anonymity. If it is difficult to find an address, actual contact, company name, etc. - this is cause to proceed with caution. Fraudulent postings are illegal, so scammers will try to keep themselves well-hidden.
• The salary range listed is very broad (e.g. "employees can earn from $40K - $80K the first year!")
• When you Google the company name and the word "scam" (e.g. Company X Scam), the results show several scam reports concerning this company. Another source for scam reports is ripoffreport.com.
• You receive an unexpectedly large check (checks are typically slightly less than $500, generally sent or deposited on Fridays)

Verifying Employers:

You can also use the links below to help you to verify the employer is legitimate and trustworthy.

• Better Business Bureau
• Hoovers

Do Your Research

The best thing you can do when searching for a job is to do your research, not only on the company, but on the position for which you are applying and yourself.

• Check out the company’s mission statement, goals, achievements and overall culture when considering applying for or taking a position
• When applying for a position make sure that you know the qualifications and duties that go along with that position
• Lastly, do some research on yourself, know your skills, understand how to best highlight your experiences and definitely be aware of what is on your resume