Finding the Right Job

Looking for a job?  If you're like most people you reach for the local
newspaper.  But did you know you might be limiting your opportunities by
limiting  your search techniques?

You've spent a lot of time, effort and money educating yourself and
preparing for your career.

And, your options are not limited to your local paper.  Below you will find
some helpful hints to guide you in your search for the perfect job.

               BigPicture

Look at the Big Picture  -- Then Narrow the Field

Relationships -- Don't Forget About the Interrelationships
Where Do I Go From Here?
What Type of Information Should I Look For at the Company Level?

1) Look at the Big Picture:

Look at all areas of employment, or disciplines, such as accounting,
finance, marketing, sales, etc. to see where most of the jobs are offered.
It may help to visualize the job market as a pie chart showing all areas
of employment as a percentage of the entire pie.  Get a sense for the
type of jobs that make up the bulk of the marketplace.  For example, you
won't find as many openings in the forestry industry as you will in
accounting.  Also, look at total employment figures to get a sense of the
size of the market seeking employment.  The decrease in the number of jobs
available in the United States, for example (four million to be exact),
may influence the type of job you seek.

2) Narrow the Field:  Look at the growth within three basic areas:
Industry, Geography, and Interrelationships.

First, look at industries in general.  You might know the type of job
you want, but are unsure which industry you would like to work in.  Which
industries are growing, stagnant or on the decline?  Stagnate or declining
industries will not offer the same level of opportunity as growing
industries.

Next, look at geography.   If you like warm weather, Florida may look
attractive, however your experience may not match the opportunities
available there. Some parts of the country tend to grow faster or tend to
be in better economic shape than other parts of the country, based on
macro economic factors.  Keep that in mind when thinking about where you
might want to work.

Then, look at the growth of the disciplines themselves.
Is accounting a growing field?  Is statistics the way to go?  Social work?
Public relations?  Look  for a field that shows growth potential, and that
will lead to enhanced opportunities in the future.

3). Don't Forget About the Interrelationships:
If you've been specially trained for a certain discipline, selecting
another may not be so easy.  Take a look at each of the three basic areas,
industry, geography and discipline, and decide how important each one is
to you.  This will help you establish guidelines that will determine the
breadth of your opportunities.

4) Where Do I Go From Here?
Once you have chosen the industries, geographies, and disciplines,
it's time to find the companies that meet your criteria.  Use these
three selectors to create a list of companies that meet all of your
criteria.  Also, think about other selectors that might help narrow
the field.  For example, what size company are you looking for?
Some may prefer larger companies because of the enhanced benefits
and broader growth opportunites, and some may prefer smaller companies
because they seek diverse responsibilities in a more intimate work
environment. The relative size of a business can be determined by the
number of employees or sales/revenue figures.

5)  What Type of Information Should I Look For at the Company Level?
Once you have narrowed your search and have a list of companies that meet
your criteria, research additional details about these companies.
     *  How long has the company been in business?
     *  Are the financial trends moving in the right direction?
     *  Is management experienced?
     *  Are they financially sound?
     *  Are there affiliates, subsidiaries, parent companies, branches
        or divisions?
If so, you may have an opportunity to move around within the organization.


               webmaster@dbisna.com
               June 7, 1995