Job Search Strategies
Tri-Valley Career Center is a full-service resource for job seekers, offering access to resources that help you identify where to focus your efforts, and opportunities to fine tune or adopt new strategies for finding your next job. Here is a range of resources, including Tip Sheets to help you start your search today. (Click on each for them to expand and explain.)
Likely, the first place you will start your search is the internet, specifically online job boards like Indeed, Zip Recruiter, corporate websites or the TVCC board. These are good places to start your research and checking them regularly and signing up for alerts are important steps. Take a look at our Job Search Resources tip sheet where we list well-respected sites. (We caution you, however, to not rely too heavily on these job boards as they are famously the least effective way to find work.)
Wondering where you and your skillset fit in today’s market? Unclear about your next career direction? Taking a quick career or skills assessment test can provide the answers. There are many to choose from and we offer assessments online and in person. The results can be enlightening and help identify a career direction that is meaningful to you. Take a look at our Career Assessment tip sheet for some more information.
Also, try out Career Coach on Las Positas College’s website. There are different assessments to take to help determine an industry and occupation that fits you, information about them, and labor market information, including how many jobs are open in the field right now and how much you can expect to earn in our region. Career Coach then connects you to the College’s programs so you can explore starting right now.
Potential employers “meet” your resume before they meet you in person, so you want it to represent you well. It outlines your knowledge, skills, proficiencies and education and identifies where you match the job for which you are applying. TVCC offers several “Dynamic Resumes & Cover Letters” workshops every month at the Career Center. To begin, download one of our series of resume-related tip sheets, including action verbs, accomplishment statements and Word templates.
Other third-party online resume builders are also an option. Here are a few:
Your technical skills may be current, but how about your soft skills? More and more, hiring managers look for job applicants with a set of personal attributes that mirror their values and know how to work as effective employees. These are personal characteristics and work habits that can’t be measured, but enable you to interact effectively and harmoniously with others. Every person at every level in every industry needs to demonstrate these skills every day. Find out more about soft skills on our Common Soft Skills tip sheet, or sign up at the Prologis Learning Academy to take online modules and receive certificates in Soft Skills.
Earning a certificate indicating recent training in a technical skill or field helps level the playing field in today’s competitive market. Certificates are especially helpful for those who are changing careers. There are many short-term training programs available locally at community colleges and adult schools, and many can be completed online. TVCC has a limited budget to help pay for some trainings. Attend one of our Orientations or our “Career Pivoting and WIOA-Funded Training” workshop to learn more.
Also, Chabot and Las Positas colleges offer a number of certificates that can be earned in a year or less. The district’s Year to Career initiative highlights those programs, along with our own OSHA Training Center’s to provide easy information on how to upskill and/or change careers completely through continued education. Find out more here: Year to Career
Apprenticeships are an “Earn & Learn” opportunity in a variety of industries and no longer limited to traditional trades. Optometry, cyber security, civil services and many other fields offer opportunities to earn money while learning a skill. There are union and nonunion opportunities, and special programs designed for women entering the trades. Apprentices earn regular raises and have the potential to earn college credit and a six- figure salary. Find out more information at our affiliate Apprenticeship website or the California Department of Industrial Relations website.
Job Clubs are formal and informal groups of people who wish to network and share experiences with other job seekers. Participation in a Job Club can shorten your job search by making invaluable contacts and gaining perspective on a person’s job search. Members of a job club meet regularly to network with each other, share job leads and connections, and to learn from each other and the facilitator.
TVCC’s Job Club meets weekly, on Thursdays from 10:00-11:30am. See our calendar for more information.
Beyond the resources at the TVCC that offer job search trends and proven strategies, it is always good to get advice from a variety of sources. Fortunately, there are many trusted blogs and websites written by experts with advice on career-related subjects. Ask the Career Center staff for their suggestions.
A service of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and a partner of EastBay Works
