Leslie is majoring in legal office technology. She has spent some time assessing her job target, and she

Question

wants to work in a firm that specializes in real estate law. Leslie wants to begin applying for jobs and is
ready to take the step of setting up career information surveys.
Because her job target is so specific, she is concerned about finding firms that fit her goals. She knows
firms specializing in this area exist, but she is not sure how to find them. Leslie also wants to make sure
she does her best in setting up her career information surveys because she wants to make a good
impression on the firms.

What preparatory steps do you recommend Leslie take prior to setting up her career information survey? What tips can help Leslie in requesting and scheduling her survey meetings?

What specific strategies can Leslie use to contact employers who are hard to reach?

Answer 1

Leslie should prepare sample questions for her career information surveys focusing on job
scope; career development; and application, interview, and hiring procedures. She should
study the work environment and make a list of questions about this environment.
Some tips Leslie can use when requesting an appointment: She should be clean, neat, and
properly dressed if she makes her request in person. Whether asking by phone or in person,
she should introduce herself, state the purpose of the meeting, request an appointment to
ask a few questions about the person’s job and the occupational field, and confirm the date
and time. Leslie should remember to thank the person for his or her time and assistance.

Some organizations are not as accessible for career survey meetings. Since Leslie’s job
target is specific, she should follow the guidelines below to identify people she can meet
with for the survey.
Leslie should turn to her network and ask everyone in her job search network (friends,
family, school counselors, and so on) to help her identify people working in real estate
law—people she can meet with to gather career information. Her network can provide
opportunities that would not be available to her otherwise.
Leslie can search the Internet. Many companies have computerized hiring processes and
provide application and hiring information through their web sites or through third-party
job bank/job-posting web sites. If her target employer uses this process, she should obtain
the company or third-party Internet address, search for the application and hiring
information, and print her findings or prepare a written summary.
Leslie can also choose a closely related employer target. If she can’t schedule an
appointment with her preferred employer, she should schedule a meeting with a closely
related organization. Face-to-face meetings give her the valuable meeting and business
communication practice necessary to outdistance her competition. Leslie needs to
remember to follow up with her contacts after her meetings.