You’ve identified your target market(s), developed your one-sentence headline, and created a target list. Now you’re ready to decide on methods and tools to begin your search.

Two specific tasks associated with using your search plan to decide methods and tools include:

• • Identify Websites and Other Sources of Information
    Identify the websites and sources of information you are going to trust for your search. Some sources serve a variety of target markets (think LinkedIn, Indeed.com) where others may be specifically tailored to one target market (think CyberCoders or Engineering Job Boards).

    Actions:

    • Use the Valuable Search Sites to identify websites and other information sources for your search.
    • Talk to people (including fellow students and alumni) to learn websites and information sources that are highly credible in your target market.
  • Set Up Online Accounts and Notifications
    Make your search more productive by setting up online accounts and email notifications. While it initially takes time to set up, it means you’re less likely to miss opportunities of interest.

    Actions:

    • Review our list of Valuable Search Sites for sites/platforms that may be helpful to have online accounts and notifications. This is not an exhaustive list so let us know what new ones you find that we should add!
    • Review Job Alerts on LinkedIn (LinkedIn) and 6 Ways Google Alerts Can Help You Land a Job (Forbes) to create alerts that will help you learn when new jobs post so that you can be among the first to apply!
    • Ask 2nd year students and alumni about online accounts and notifications they find helpful
  • Dig Deeper with the Following Steps

    🧠 Know

    • Learn about methods and techniques from two notable Duke professionals

    1. Steve Dalton, a former engineer, Duke employee, and best-selling author, teaches the core components of “The 2-Hour Job Search” and shares tools you can use immediately in your search.
    2. In her Targeting Your Search for Best Success presentation, Dr. Dina Requena, MEMP instructor and successful engineer teaches how to customize your approach to align with critical business needs and challenges.

    📈 Prepare

    • Create a tracking sheet for your search
    • Plan a customized search, experiment with how much time to commit each week, and put that in your calendar
    • Figure out how many roles to apply for/people to talk with per week or month, keeping in mind a customized search process
    • Set up online accounts and email notifications to know right away when new roles appear
    • Consider following recruiters in departments you’re excited to work in and follow up with them within a week about any job postings they share on LinkedIn

    🖐 Practice

    • Revisit your search approach and tweak your system based on what is working for you

    Find support from a peer or EMP Master’s career coach to optimize and maximize your strategy.