Job Search and Job Search and PreparationPreparation

Tips to land a desirable careerTips to land a desirable career

Keeping Your Options OpenKeeping Your Options Open

Review: How did an adult in your life end up working in their career Review: How did an adult in your life end up working in their career field?field?

ItIt’’s interesting to think about the job we may set out to attain in life s interesting to think about the job we may set out to attain in life and how different the job can be that we end up with eventually.and how different the job can be that we end up with eventually.

The job market is tough right now…so being well rounded and The job market is tough right now…so being well rounded and flexible can provide us with more job opportunities. For example, flexible can provide us with more job opportunities. For example, dual majoring in college can provide more options when in the job dual majoring in college can provide more options when in the job search.search.

Did you know? Did you know? ““As the economy moves away from goods-producing As the economy moves away from goods-producing industries , the number of unskilled jobs( requiring no more than a industries , the number of unskilled jobs( requiring no more than a high school education) will decrease dramaticallyhigh school education) will decrease dramatically””. (PA Workforce . (PA Workforce 2007) 2007)

In 2008, the median of the earnings of young adults with a In 2008, the median of the earnings of young adults with a bachelor's degree was $46,000, while the median was $36,000 for bachelor's degree was $46,000, while the median was $36,000 for those with an associate's degree, $30,000 for those with a high those with an associate's degree, $30,000 for those with a high school diploma or its equivalent, and $23,500 for those who did not school diploma or its equivalent, and $23,500 for those who did not earn a high school diploma or its equivalent. (National Center for earn a high school diploma or its equivalent. (National Center for Education Statistics)Education Statistics)

The Classified SectionThe Classified Section

When beginning the job search, it is important to know When beginning the job search, it is important to know where to look for job postings and to be prepared to where to look for job postings and to be prepared to apply by having all the required materials complete apply by having all the required materials complete and ready to send into human resources.and ready to send into human resources.

An application packet may include: Cover letter, An application packet may include: Cover letter, resume, copy of diploma, certificates or proof of resume, copy of diploma, certificates or proof of licensure, letters of recommendation, clearances, test licensure, letters of recommendation, clearances, test scores, portfolio, etc.scores, portfolio, etc.

Where can you find job postings?Where can you find job postings? Remember to have realistic expectations when Remember to have realistic expectations when looking for your first job.looking for your first job.

Cover letter and Cover letter and ResumeResume

What are they and why do you need them to What are they and why do you need them to apply for a position?apply for a position?

Cover letter: This letter specifies the position you Cover letter: This letter specifies the position you are applying for and provides more information are applying for and provides more information about yourself that proves you are a strong about yourself that proves you are a strong candidate for the job. A well written letter can candidate for the job. A well written letter can capture the employercapture the employer’’s attention.s attention.

Resume: This document lists your education, jobs, Resume: This document lists your education, jobs, skills, and valuable experiences that you have skills, and valuable experiences that you have acquired.acquired.

Taking time to create a strong resume and cover Taking time to create a strong resume and cover letter and updating with each new valuable letter and updating with each new valuable experience can set you apart in the applicant pool experience can set you apart in the applicant pool and land you an interview!and land you an interview!

Sample Cover LetterSample Cover LetterNameTitleOrganizationAddressCity, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./ Ms. Last Name:

First Paragraph: Why you are writing. Remember to include the name of a mutual contact if you have one. Be clear and concise regarding your request.

Middle Paragraphs: What you have to offer. Convince the readers that they should grant you the interview you requested in the first paragraph. Make connections between your abilities and their needs. Remember, you are interpreting your resume. Try to support each statement you make with a piece of evidence. Use several shorter paragraphs rather than one large block of text.

Final Paragraph: How will you follow up. Remember, it is your responsibility to follow up. State that you will do so and provide the professional courtesy of indicating when (one week’s time is typical).

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Your Typed Name

Enclosures: Resume, Transcript, etc.

Creating a Creating a Resume Resume

Lets Create a ResumeLets Create a Resume

Many of you may be thinking that it is too soon Many of you may be thinking that it is too soon to begin working on a resume but getting to begin working on a resume but getting experience creating one now will prove more experience creating one now will prove more helpful in the future than you can imagine! For helpful in the future than you can imagine! For example, when applying to college, an activities example, when applying to college, an activities resume may be requested or if your interested resume may be requested or if your interested in taking part in an internship, a resume may be in taking part in an internship, a resume may be required before interviewing for the position. required before interviewing for the position.

Use the template on career cruising to guide Use the template on career cruising to guide you through creating a resume. Remember to you through creating a resume. Remember to emphasis your skills such as personal qualities emphasis your skills such as personal qualities or training.or training.

The Four Key The Four Key ElementsElements

VolunteerismVolunteerism

Association Memberships – e.g. Association Memberships – e.g. National National Honor Society (N.H.S.)Honor Society (N.H.S.)

Computer Proficiency - Computer Proficiency - (Microsoft Word, (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Photoshop).Excel, PowerPoint, and Photoshop).

Other LanguagesOther Languages

Putting It All Putting It All TogetherTogether

Organization - Organization - You can organize your resume in many You can organize your resume in many different ways, but the following order is one of the most different ways, but the following order is one of the most common. Use it to help you get started.common. Use it to help you get started.

Objective:Objective:  state what kind of job or internship you're   state what kind of job or internship you're looking for.looking for.

Experience:Experience:    describe your describe your job history.job history.

Education:Education:  just list your high school, unless you've taken   just list your high school, unless you've taken college courses on the side.college courses on the side.

Other Skills/Information: Other Skills/Information:  list your computer or language list your computer or language skills and any associations or memberships to which you've skills and any associations or memberships to which you've belonged.belonged.

Action WordsAction Words

Be sure to describe your roles and Be sure to describe your roles and accomplishments with strong action words accomplishments with strong action words and key terms that will pop out at employers, and key terms that will pop out at employers, usually ones that signify leadership and team usually ones that signify leadership and team roles you've had. These include words such roles you've had. These include words such as: team work, team player, multi-tasking, as: team work, team player, multi-tasking, executed, organized, performed, maintained, executed, organized, performed, maintained, supervised, managed, directed, developed, supervised, managed, directed, developed, implemented.implemented.

Resume LayoutResume Layout

1.1. Your contact information (Name, Street, City, Your contact information (Name, Street, City, State, Zip)State, Zip)

2.2. ObjectiveObjective

3.3. Education (Most recent first)Education (Most recent first)

4.4. Job Experience (Most recent first)Job Experience (Most recent first)

5.5. References (in alphabetical order by last name)References (in alphabetical order by last name)