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Finding the Right Job
A job search actually starts long before you make the
first appointment or send the first resume. It is important
to decide what areas of the industry or world you want
to focus on so that you can concentrate on companies
and opportunities in those areas. How do you make that
first, critical decision? With research.
Research
Get to know the industry—the trends and
current events—and get to know more about the
key players and firms in the field as well. Which company
has recently brought out a significantly redesigned
product? Which company is opening new plants or relocating
existing ones?
The automotive industry serves as a major indicator
of consumer confidence and economic health. It is a
rare day indeed that the business section doesn't have
a story or two about it. Few industries receive as much
media coverage. Begin by scanning your local newspaper’s
business section, as well as the Wall Street Journal
and the web sites of other major dailies.
The publications you should review regularly are the
car and automotive trade magazines, such as AutoWeek,
Automotive Engineering, Automotive News, Motor Trend,
and Ward's AutoWorld. Publications like this report
on all aspects of the industry and can help focus your
search and help you target specific companies. More
industry news sources can be found in the Additional
Reading section below.
Once you have your industry sources established, you
can start researching the companies you intend to target.
Don't forget that one of the best sources of information
about a company is the company itself. Most companies
now have Web sites that include not only information
on product lines, but also company history and links
to employment opportunities. For a list of leading companies
in the industry, check out the Companies
section of this module.
For more information on researching companies and identifying
targets for your search, review our Career
Planning module.
On-Campus Recruiting
Many companies visit campus for recruiting
purposes. Your university Career Services Office should
be able to tell you what companies are coming and when.
They might also be able to provide information and contacts
related to internships. For more information on using
these on-campus options, review our Career
Planning module.
Networking
Many people dismiss networking as simply "asking
around" but it's much more than that—it can
be the key to getting in the door and standing out from
the crowd. You might hear of job openings not yet advertised
or about people who plan to leave a job in the near
future. Another advantage is that being able to associate
yourself with someone known to the hiring manager means
you will have an edge in your first interview over an
applicant who is just one of many names on a list. For
tips and suggestions on effective networking, review
our Career
Planning module.
On-Line Job Listing Sites
You can certainly find industry jobs on the
large, general job-listing sites like Monster.com or
careerbuilder.com, but winnowing down the list to the
jobs in areas you want to focus on can be time consuming.
Still, these resources are very comprehensive and it's
worth looking at them—if only to get a sense of
the range of engineering positions available at any
given time.
If you want to give your search more focus, you can
check out these sites specifically aimed at those looking
for positions in the automotive industry:
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Automotive Industry
