Creating a Plan
A job search plan can save you time and lay the foundation for a more successful search. To start:
- Know what you’re searching for. Consider the type of work you’re looking for, how far you can commute, the range of pay you need, and the skills and training you already possess.
- Make a schedule. A daily or weekly checklist can keep you on track and prevent you from repeating action steps and reviewing job announcements you’ve already seen.
- Look ahead. Make note of upcoming job fairs and hiring events. Have your resumes and letters of introduction ready!
For more tips on job search planning, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop
"Finding Your Next Job"
Learning Express offers a short, insightful tutorial for effective job searching in the digital age. Learn about networking, using social media, and navigating online job sites.
Go to "Finding Your Next Job" in the Learning Express library. Create a free account and login.
Job Search Websites
The best internet job sites allow you to freely search and apply for openings, post your resume for prospective employers, and gather basic information about company benefits and culture.
Browse several to see which sites best meet your needs:
Specialty Searches
Are you looking for work in a specialized field or with specialized arrangements?
Niche job sites may help you focus your search:
- CoolWorks (seasonal employment)
- Dice (tech and engineering jobs)
- Idealist (non-profit jobs and internships)
- JournalismJobs (print, broadcast, and digital media jobs)
- K12JobSpot (education jobs)
- Net-Temps (temporary and part-time)
- SnagAJob (hourly employment)
- USAjobs (government jobs)
- We Work Remotely (remote and flex-work)
Gathering Facts
Company research can help you determine which employers you’d most like to work for. It can identify employment trends within a company and reveal where current growth may spur future hiring. Knowledge of a company’s history, culture, priorities, and projects can also help you develop a targeted resume and ask insightful questions during an interview.
Indeed offers this Complete Guide to Researching a Company, with tips on what to research and why that information is useful.
Locating Business Profiles
TCCL offers two business databases where you can find critical information about specific companies or about major employers within specific industries.
DataAxle allows you to search more than 60 million U.S. and Canadian businesses to find information on size, revenue, growth, ownership, and competitors. Through an ongoing partnership with Indeed.com, company profiles also list current job openings.
Plunkett Research allows you to explore industry trends and study detailed business profiles of nearly 30,000 public and private employers worldwide. This database recently added a search filter for companies noted as “hotspots for advancement for women/minorities”.
Finding Business News
TCCL offers several databases where you can find the latest news and developments for companies you are interested in working for.
Business Source Elite provides full-text articles from more than 400 key business journals and magazines.
Regional Business News provides supplemental content from print and broadcast business news sources.
The Tulsa World covers state and local business news.
The Oklahoman provides news coverage of major employers statewide.
Enroll with Green Country Workforce (formerly Workforce Tulsa)
Green Country Workforce offers direct assistance to enrolled job seekers. The agency's Facebook site also posts hot jobs and notices for local hiring events and career fairs.
Visit Goodwill Industries of Tulsa
In addition to in-person assistance and training, Goodwill’s online job board posts local employment opportunities.
Attend a Job Fair
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission regularly posts job fair information to connect employees and employers throughout the state.
Search Social Media
Follow your favorite businesses on social media. Many companies announce new openings via Facebook and Twitter.
Browse Trade Journals
Find the names of trade journals relevant to your preferred career field. Many of these print and digital publications include classified sections with employment and training opportunities.
Go to the library’s Index of Newspapers, Magazines, and Journals and search by keyword or subject.
Send a Letter of Inquiry
If the company you are interested in does not have current job openings, inquire about jobs that may become available soon.
Indeed offers valuable tips in “How to Write and Send a Job Inquiry“
Books to Check Out
The Big Book of Job Hunting Hacks (2020) by Brenda Bernstein
The 2 Hour Job Search (2020) by Steve Dalton
When Can You Start? The Insider’s Guide to Job Search and Career Success (2020) by Bud Whitehouse
50 Ways to Get a Job (2018) by Dev Aujla
Ultimate Job Search (2018) by Lynn Williams
Ultimate Job Hunting Book (2018) by David McWhir
Success After Service (2021) by Lida Citroen
Getting Your First Job- for Dummies (2018) by Roberto Angelo
Books to Access Online
The Motivated Job Search by Brian Howard
100 Conversations for Career Success by Laura Labovich
The Job Search Navigator by Matt Durfee
Rip the Resume: Job Search and Interview Power Prep by Torin Ellis
Shortcut Your Job Search by Kate Wendelton
Targeting a Great Career by Kate Wendelton
Visit the library’s Digital Collections and use keywords “job searching” to find more ebooks and audio books!