UNIT 3

The Job Search Process

CAREER & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

 Sources of Job Opportunities
1. Help Wanted Signs
• Posted sign in a business (window) Indicates that a position of employment is open.
2. Internships
• the position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a
qualification.
3. Job Fairs
• referred commonly as a job expo or career fair or career expo, is an event in which employers, recruiters, and schools give information to potential employees.
4. Job Websites
• a website that deals specifically with employment or careers. Many employment websites are designed to allow employers to post job requirements for a
position to be filled and are commonly known as job boards.
5. Networking
• the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
6. Print Media
• a form of advertising that uses physically printed media, such as magazines and newspapers, to reach consumers, business customers and prospects.
Advertisers also use digital media, such as banner ads, mobile advertising, and advertising in social media, to reach the same target audiences.
7. Public and Private Employment Agencies
• an organization which matches employers to employees.
8. Work-Based Learning Opportunities
• an educational strategy that provides students with real-life work experiences where they can apply academic and technical skills and develop their
employability…can spark career interest and foster professional networking.
 Qualities-are about who one is as a person/born with
Skills-are acquired or learned

RESUMES-a document created and used by a person to present their background, skills, and accomplishments.
1. Personal Information 7. References (3-5 people…at least 2 professional and 1 personal)
• Name, Address (City, State only), Telephone number, E-mail address • Professional: Teacher/Professor, Work supervisor (current or past)
Objective • Personal: Character reference (Pastor, Headmaster, youth group leader or someone who
• In one short sentence summarize your goal for your job search. The goal statement should
knows you well)
be related to the specific position for which you are applying. It is also effective to
Include the name, relationship to you, organization, contact phone numbers.
highlight your skills in the goal statement.
2. Education 8. Other Considerations
• High school name, City and State, Date of graduation (expected) • Limit your resume to one page.
• Course Highlights (courses directly related to the job or your career field and special • Do not include birth date, health status or social security number.
abilities, or advanced placement/college level) • Limit the use of personal pronouns such as "I”. Begin sentences with action verbs.
• Certificates
• Be honest but avoid writing anything negative in your resume.
3. Work and Related Experience
• Make your resume error free. Have someone proofread it for you.
• Summer jobs, Internships, Volunteer work (Include position title, company/organization,
city/state, dates and a brief list of the job duties) • Use a simple, easy to read font style, 10-14 point.

4. Awards and Honors • Use high quality paper.

• Academic, musical, athletic and or other recognition. (Include name of the award/honor,
who awarded it, and when it was awarded.)
5. Activities/Hobbies
• Include your role in the position, the organization and dates.
6. Skills
• Soft skills: (being responsible, loyal, hardworking, energetic, outgoing.)
Hard skills: (research and writing, Microsoft word 98, Microsoft Publisher 2000, Public
speaking.)
COVER LETTER:
Paper and Printing
•Use white or ivory (20-25 lb.), 8 ½ x 11 bond paper printed on one side only. Use the same
paper for resume, cover letter, and envelopes if possible. Make sure that there is no
shadowing or dirty marks from your printer on the papers.
a letter of motivation is a letter of introduction attached to or Error Prevention
accompanying another document such as a résumé •Proofread! Look for spelling and formatting errors. Make sure recipient's name, company
name, and title are correctly spelled in the letter and on the envelope. Proofread again!
Information about you Have another person proofread. Be sure there are no errors of fact.
•Begin your cover letter with your contact information. name, address, telephone number •Sign in blue or black ink.
Date •Keep a copy of the cover letter and resume for your records.
•Include a date as you would do with any business letter. •Follow up with a phone call, about five days after expected delivery.
Contact Person's Name, Title, Employer, and Address
Layout and Design
•Including a specific name can get your letter and resume to the hiring manager more quickly
and can be an effective personal touch. If you are applying for an advertised position that •Follow standard format and keep the cover letter to one page.
does not give a name to contact, call the company and ask for the department manager's •Use a simple, easy to read font style, 10-14 point. (Times, Courier, or Helvetica). Use
name. boldface, italics, all-caps and underlining, but don't overdo it.
Salutation Planning and Tone
•Choose the appropriate way to address the contact person.
•Tailor each cover letter to one specific position.
Opening Paragraph
•Use industry jargon specific to your career field. Identify the employer's key words and use
•In the opening paragraph tell how you learned about the position. You may, for example,
them. Use action verbs and phrases. Make all statements positive. Check the tone by asking
know of a job through: a classified advertisement, an unsolicited mailing, the Internet,
yourself if each sentence leaves a positive impression. Show originality but not cuteness.
personal referrals
Sound determined and confident not desperate.
Middle Paragraph
Style
•This paragraph gives a summary of your background and critical skills (hard skills) that make
•Organize context in a reasonable and logical order. Use correct grammar. Keep sentences
you qualified for the position.
short. Keep paragraphs short. Use short words and simple language. Make every word
•This paragraph can be used to demonstrate your persuasive skills (soft skills).
count. Punctuate using commas, dashes, and periods.
Contact Information and Closing
Content
•At the end of the letter talk about your availability for the job, where you can be contacted,
•Focus on the employer's need for a worker, rather than your need for a job.
and when you are going to contact the hiring person for an appointment to discuss your
•Tell how your skills and personal qualities match the employer's needs.
application. If you have no contact name, you may simply want to indicate your anticipation
•Focus on what you can do for the employer and how you contribute to the organization.
for a response in this part of the letter. Thank the person to whom you are writing for his/her
•Show you have researched the company double check those facts.
time and consideration of your application.
•Be specific avoid general statements
RESUME

COVER
LETTER
 JOB APPLICATIONS
--form containing details of your qualifications, skills, experience, etc. that you
send to an organization when you are applying for a job with them.

Information Required to Complete a Job Application:

• Personal Information: name; address, city, state, zip code; phone number; email address; social
security number; eligibility to work in the U.S.; if under 18 employment certificate (working papers); have
you been convicted of a felony; proof of eligibility to work in U.S (I-9 Form)
• Education and Experience: school(s) attended, degrees, graduation date; certifications; skills and
qualifications
• Employment History: employer; address, phone, email; supervisor; job title and responsibilities; salary,
start and ending dates of employment; reason for leaving; permission to contact your previous employer
• Resume and Cover Letter
• References: name; job title; company; address, phone, email
• Availability: days available; hours available; date you are able to start work
• Certification: At the end of a job application, there is usually a certification that you must sign and date.
By signing the certification, you are attesting to the truth of the information you have included on the job
application.
 INTERVIEWING STRATEGIES TO BEST SHOWCASE QUALIFICATIONS
SKILLS TO CREATE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
(Telephone, Internet or Face-to-Face) Prepare for the Interview
• Show up on time. You’ve heard it a million times: “If you’re early, you’re • Review job description and what the role entails.
on time; if you’re on time, you’re late.”
Offer Insights into Your Work Experience
• Dress the part. You want to come across as professional and well put-
together. • Provide samples of your work whenever possible.
• Bring only the essentials. Leave drinks, food, etc. in the car…and Promote Your References
NEVER chew gum or candy during an interview.
• Encourage an interviewer to contact your professional
• Be nice to the receptionist. The person at the front desk may not be references for additional information about your skills.
the hiring manager—but that doesn’t mean his or her impression of you doesn’t
matter.
Use Industry Terminology
• Put your phone away and turned off. It’s a natural tendency to • Incorporate industry terms and phrases into your interview
pull out your smartphone any time you have to wait; But if you’re waiting in the
lobby, don’t automatically default to your phone. Instead, take that time to look responses but, only do so when a response applies to an
over your resume and think through what you want to convey during your interviewer’s question.
interview. Then, when your interviewer makes his or her appearance, you won’t be
caught off guard.

• Have everything neat, organized, and accessible. To make

the best first impression, everything you need should be neatly organized and
readily accessible: You should be able to pull out your resume, references, and
even a pen (one that’s not completely mangled) on command. The less you have to
rifle through your bag, the better.

• Make the first move. When you’re a guest at your potential employer’s
office, you probably expect that they’ll make the first move when it comes to
introductions. Don’t be afraid to extend your hand first for that introductory
handshake.
WHAT TO WEAR
AFTER INTERVIEWING
FOLLOW-UP COMMUNICATION (Letter, Phone Call, Email)
• It shows good manners and professionalism. It also allows you to
mention anything you forgot to say during your interview and
reiterate why you believe you are the ideal fit for the job. Sending
a follow-up letter reconfirms your interest in the position and
allows you to check on the status of your application. A follow-up
letter could even help your resume get a second look if it was
initially passed over.
• always send it within 24 hours of the contact

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A FOLLOW-LETTER

There are four things you should always include in a follow-up letter.
They are:
1. Appreciation: The most important thing to include in your
follow-up letter is an appreciation for the interviewer's time and
consideration.
2. Reminder of who you are: Include details to help the hiring
manager remember which candidate you were, as it's possible
they spoke with dozens of candidates interested in the position.
3. Why you are a strong candidate: Include a brief summary of
the benefits you could offer the company and what you would
specifically bring to the position.
4. Details you forgot in the interview: If there were any
important details you forgot to include in your application or
failed to mention during your phone screening or interview, you
should include them in your follow-up letter.
 CAREER PORTFOLIOS
Portfolios are a great way to demonstrate the competencies you would list on a resume or talk about in an
interview — they allow you to show and not just tell. During a job search, the portfolio showcases your work to
potential employers. It presents evidence of your relevant skills and abilities.

• Career Summary
• Philosophy Statement →Components of portfolios vary across careers
• Short Biography →Develop ways to edit portfolio contents to
match requirements for advertised positions
• Resume
• Marketable Skills and Abilities
• Professional Accomplishment
• Samples of Your Work
• Awards and Honors
• Transcripts, Degrees, Licenses, and Certifications
• Professional Development Activities
• Military Records, Awards, and Badges
• Volunteering/Community Service
• References/Testimonials

[Link]
JOB SELECTION
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING/ACCEPTING/DECLINING JOB OFFERS • Savings and Expenses-one of the biggest expenses to consider when
evaluating a job offer is your commute, will your travel costs increase or
• Research your perspective employer- investigate whether the organization is the decrease?
right fit for you
• Time-the amount of time that your new job will take up (beyond core hours)
• Salary-the salary of a job offer might be suitable for now but, without guaranteed can be difficult to judge. Hourly vs. salary positions, required extra hours or
annual cost-of-living increases, your income could diminish in real terms over time overtime.
• Career Path-think carefully about how this job will impact your long-term
• Benefits and perks
career prospects.
• Leave – What's the vacation and sickness allowance? • Research the Role/Job Description-Read the job description and person
• Health Saving Account contributions – What are the premiums? Is dental specification again. You need to feel confident that the work itself is something
and ophthalmic cover included? When will you be eligible? that you want to do, and that it will give you satisfaction.
• Stock – What stock options are available? Are stock units given as part of a • Values-Take some time to think about your personal values and those of the
bonus or do you have to be working at the organization for a certain length of organization. What qualities are important to you in a prospective employer?
time before you are eligible? Do your values align with the company's? Perhaps you believe passionately in
• Tuition reimbursement – Will the employer cover your tuition fees if you working for a company that has a good environmental record or that works
decide to enroll on relevant paid educational courses? closely with certain charities. Is your prospective employer active in supporting
• Incentives – Is the incentive scheme based on personal achievements or the the causes that matter most to you?
company's wider performance?
• Insurance – What insurance plans are offered? How much will they cost?
STRATEGIES FOR HANDLING EMPLOYMENT REJECTION
• Pension – What contributions will the company make?
• Profit sharing – Is there a plan to give employees a share of the company's • Ask for detailed feedback. The key thing to do after a rejection is to think about
what happened, and how you can learn from it.
profits?
• Use of a company car, cellphone or computer – Are these provided? If so, • Review and reflect.
will these expenses be tax refundable? • Identify learnings and build a personal development plan.
• Other perks – Are any additional benefits offered, for example gym • Be philosophical.
membership, daycare, travel costs, sabbaticals, etc?
• Refine your search.
• Build resilience.