How will you find that dream job if you never know it exists? Many sources, on campus and off, can help you find potential employers.

On-campus sources | Off-campus sources | Using the Internet | Informational interviews

The J-School's annual Career Fair is a great place to learn about potential employers.

Start in the Stauffer-Flint Reading Room. Many industry magazines and a wide variety of newspapers are available. Business directories in the Reading Room include:

• Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook
• Gale's Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media
• Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations
• Directory of Advertisers and Agencies
• Bacon's Directories: separate volumes on newspapers, magazines, radio, television/cable

Try these other KU sources.

Business Career Services Center
125 Summerfield Hall, 864-5591
Hours: Mon - Fri, 8 - 5
The BCSC has files on businesses that can be used in your information search. The center also has publications, pamphlets and annual reports distributed by various companies.

KU Career and Employment Services
Room 110 Burge Union, 864-3624
Hours: Mon - Fri, 8 - 5
Brochures, pamphlets, magazines and handbooks from this office will boost your job search. Many of the handouts are excellent tools.

Career Counseling & Planning Service
Watkins Health Center, 2nd floor, 864-3624
Hours: Mon - Fri, 9 - 4
The staff can steer you in the right direction with career counseling and job assessments.

Don't miss these off-campus sources.

Lawrence Public Library
707 Vermont St., 843-1178
Hours: Mon - Fri, 9 - 9; Sat, 9 - 5; Sun, 1 - 5

Public libraries are good sources of career information. The Lawrence Public Library offers a small career reference section that includes:

• Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Vocational Biographies
• Yellow Pages for cities around the country.

Johnson County Public Library
Central Resource Library
9875 W. 87th St.
Overland Park, KS
(913) 495-2400

This library system consists of 12 convenient branches in Johnson County. Each branch has a career/business section. The main library, the Central Resource Library, has up-to-date business information. A few of the system's more than 60,000 reference materials include:

• Hoover's Top 2,500 Employers
• Almanac of American Employers
• Summer Jobs for Students

Using the Internet. The Internet can be one of your most useful job-hunting tools. Web access is available in various labs all over campus. Take advantage of this convenient resource to improve your business information search.

• View company websites to learn as much as you can about a company and find out if the company fits you. Don't forget to explore industry trade association sites.
• Post your resume. (Determine if there is a fee for posting.) Leave your e-mail address for information referral
• Check onlin magazines and newspapers. Search classified sections and read business and industry news.
• Use search engines to find industry information, to look for employee-hunting sites established by companies, and read profiles on specific companies.

The informational interview requires perseverance, smart preparation and hard work - but talking with someone who is in the business you are interested is the best way to find out what the work is really like.

Call to set up an appointment to speak with someone at the business. Be sure to say you're looking for information, not for a job.

Dress professionally. Be punctual - arrive early. Be brief but clear about what you want to know. Take a resume and a list of questions. Get inside information - be remembered - get referrals - say thank you.