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Career Services > Students > Job Search

Job Search

The number one way we help students during the job search is by helping you set up a plan. The process of finding a job starts early and can take an average of 3-8 months. Stop by and let us help you get organized!

Steps to a Job Search

1. Know Yourself: Self-Assessment
Values and skills are important to know as they will have the biggest impact on your career decisions. You will also want to be aware of your values, skills, interests, and lifestyle preferences in order to make informed decisions about:
    - What you want to do? (What are your goals? What types of jobs are you looking for?)
    - Who you want to work for, and
    - Where you want to work and live

Checklist:
    - Meet one on one with a career counselor in the CAC to clarify interests
    - Take an assessment. FOCUS, the Self-directed Search and the Myers-Briggs can be taken in the CAC to help clarify your VIP's: values, interests and personality
    - Get a mentor: our Mentor Program connects students with alumni in a field of interest

2. Research Your Career Options
What careers match your identified skills, values, and interests? 

Checklist:
    - Research specific careers: In the CAC resource library and many public libraries you can find book series with specific information about various career fields as well as resources matching majors to career fields. The Occupational Outlook Handbook  and O*Net are also good resources.
    - See where your major can take you! What Can I do with a Major In.... allows you to browse online resources linking your major with popular career options
    - Explore current trends: read newspapers, trade magazines, check business trends in our library resources, watch news programs to discover economic trends and how they affect the fields you are considering.
    - Research employers: Check company websites and read annual reports, do information interviews, research professional organizations for company profiles, access Vault through our Online Career Center, check out Hoover's Online.

3. Develop and Prepare your Job Search Materials
When you decide on possible career paths, the next step is to prepare for the application process. You will need to:
    - Complete or update your resume
    - Write cover letters for each individual job opening
    - Practice interviewing

Checklist:
    1. View our resource handouts to get started with resumes, cover letters, interviewing, and more
    2. Meet with a career counselor for feedback on resumes, cover letters, and interviewing
    3. Attend CAC presentations on job search preparation
    4. Attend Mock Interview Days to polish your interviewing skills
    5. Talk to 3-5 references and create a reference page

4. Networking
Let everyone know you're job hunting! Networking is one of the most effective ways of job searching.

Checklist:
    1. Attend career and job fairs
    2. Talk to friends, coaches, neighbors, faculty, employers, and other students about your plans
    3. Visit the CAC to access the Alumni Career Network
    4. Conduct information interviews to generate information about careers and to build your network
    5. Join the Mentor Program

5. Identify Openings
Now that you know yourself and the fields you want to pursue, it's time to find openings.

Checklist:
    1. Draw from your network
    2. Search our On-line Career Center 
    3. Utilize job search sites (see our Links section for examples)
    4. Identify companies in your field of interest through Chambers of Commerce, professional organizations and web searches
    5. Attend job fairs like CareerFest, TeacherFest, and Employer Visit Days
    6. Do on-campus interviews or participate in ISCPA Interview Day

6. Start the Application Process
Send resumes and cover letters as well as references and application forms, whatever is required by the employer. You will also want to establish a record-keeping system.

Checklist:
    1. Create a system for tracking what positions you applied to, when you applied, and next steps
    2. Create a checklist to ensure you are getting applications out accurately and in a timely manner

7. Interview and Follow-up

Checklist:
    1. Prepare extensively for each interview by researching the company and going through practice questions
    2. Take detailed notes after an interview and send thank you notes within 24 hours
    3. Use your tracking system to document your progress

International Students

The CAC can help with the job search process and we work closely with the Office of Intercultural Relations, who will assist with documentation and paperwork if you choose to stay in the US. Use our special job search handout created especially for you- see our Resource Handout section.

Corporate Relationships

Building relationships is key to any job search.  Below are companies where students have created relationships.  Please let us know if you are interested in joining our list by calling the Career Advancement Center’s main line at 847.735.5235.

Accenture
Allstate Insurance
American Express Financial Advisors
Armstrong & Marchiori
Bankers Life and Casualty Co.
Betty Shabazz International Charter School
Cambridge Educational Services
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Chicago Bears
Chicago Blackhawks
Clear Channel Radio
CNA Insurance
Consulate General of Belgium
CVS Pharmacy
Defense Security Services - DOD
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
Embers Elementary School
ESPN
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
Fibres, Inc.
The Field Museum
Hewitt Associates
Illinois Institute of Technology
LaSalle Bank
Lutheran General Hospital
Medline Industries
Merrill Lynch
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
New England Financial
Newberry Library
Newspaper Services of America
Northern Trust
Pfizer
Walgreens