PLANNING YOUR CAREER

CAREER DECISIONS

JOB VS. CAREER• JOB: • Set of tasks you accomplish as you work.• One does not intend to stay employed in this

field.

•CAREER: • This is an occupation to which you made a

long term commitment

WHY DO PEOPLE WORK?

• To meet their needs, wants, and goals.

• To gain a sense of identity--who they are.

• Often, a career becomes someone’s life

FACTORS AFFECTING CAREER CHOICE

• Values and Lifestyle• May be against guns—wouldn’t be a police officer• Want to be close to family-wouldn’t be a pilot

• Aptitudes and Interests• May have natural athletic ability/what do you like

• Personal Qualities and Traits• Do you like to work alone or with others

CAREER PLANNING

• Steps in Career Planning• Self-Analysis• Research• Plan of Action• Reevaluation

• The Importance of Goals• Short term-few days or weeks• Long-5-10 years or longer

• Making the Right Choices

JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES

• Get Organized

• Make a Plan

• Follow Through

• Don’t Give Up!!

SOURCES OF JOB OPPORTUNITY INFO.

• School Counseling and Placement Services• Periodicals, Books, and other

Publications• Public and Private Employment

Agencies• Newspaper, Yellow Pages, and

Private Job Listings• Internet

GETTING THE JOBKNOWING WHAT TO DO TO GET THE JOB OVER THE COMPETITION!

RESUME/INTERVIEW

WHAT IS A RÉSUMÉ?

• A written summary of a job seeker’s work experience, education, skills, and interests

• Organized list

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Keep your résumé to 1 (single sided) page• Use good Quality 8 ½ x 11 inch paper• Résumé should be attractive and easy to read• Proofread carefully!• Résumé should be typed

SECTIONS OF A RÉSUMÉ SEE PAGE 111 FOR AN EXAMPLE

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Name

• Address

• Phone Number (voicemail appropriate?)

• E-mail (appropriate?)

OBJECTIVE

• Your employment goal

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• List most recent school first• Name, city, state, dates of attendance

or graduation• Include GPA if it is 3.0/4.0 or above• List beneficial education experiences if

appropriate

WORK EXPERIENCE

• List most recent job 1st-Include company name, location and employment dates• Include relevant accomplishments for each job• Ex: Customer service, increased sales by 30%, developed

new course in the FACS department, supervised a sales team of 10 people, money management

• Start with a key action word (do not use the same word twice!)

RÉSUMÉ WORDS• Assist• Able• Action• Analysis• Achievement• Accomplished• Advanced• Conduct• Consult• Committed• Conducted• Contributed• Coordinated• Develop

•

• Deliver• Design• Defined• Diversified• Devoted• Distinguished• Encourage• Earned• Enhance• Evaluate• Examined• Extended• Facilitate• Formulate

• Fulfilled• Forecasted• Generated• Gained• Gathered• Gave• Headed• Hosted• Identified • Implemented• Improved• Improvised• Influenced• Launched

• Lobbied• Maintained• Managed• Marketed• Mediated• Motivated• Negotiated• Observed• Obtained• Operated• Organized• Originated• Oversaw• Participated• Performed• Planned

RÉSUMÉ’ WORDS

• Prepared• Presented• Promoted• Provided• Published• Pursued• Quantified• Ranked• Received• Recommended• Redesigned• Reengineered• Reorganized• Represented•

• Restructured• Revised• Safeguarded• Secured• Selected• Specified• Spearheaded• Standardized• Strengthened• Structured• Suggested• Superseded• Supervised

• Targeted• Taught• Tested• Trained• Transformed• Transcended• Unified• Upgraded• Utilized• Validated• Valued• Wrote

SKILLS, VOLUNTEER WORK, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT,

ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS, ETC.

• Include at least one other appropriate section• Relate section to the job you are seeking

REFERENCE SECTION

• What is a reference?

• Who should write it for you?

REFERENCE SECTION

• What is a reference?

• Who should write it for you?• Someone to provide info about your character or

skills• Someone you’ve known for at least 1 year• Over age 18• Available upon request can force a

communication

REFERENCE SECTION

• References should be typed on a separate piece of paper and ready to be handed over/emailed

• On résumé, under reference section write “references available upon request”

• Inform references (ask them first!) a head of time so they are prepared and can do their best for you

• One reference should be a work reference, one can be a school reference, one can be a personal reference (most companies don’t want the personal reference)

DO NOT LIE ON YOUR RÉSUMÉ!!!

COVER LETTER

•What’s in the letter? • Explanation of interest in the job• Your most relevant skills/experiences• Your interest in the job

•What is its purpose?• Interpret the data in your resume• Add a personal touch

COVER LETTER

•When do you send it?• It should accompany the resume

•Whom do you send it to?• Potential employers•Managers• Director of Human Resources• Contact info in job posting

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• Do Your Homework• Know the name and position of the person you will be

interviewing with

• Do research about the company

• Review the job description

How can you learn about the company?

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• Dress for Success• Outfit should be neat, clean,

ironed, appropriate and professional

• Always overdress for the position

• Avoid wearing too much perfume/cologne

• Avoid wearing too much jewelry (especially items that you may play with during the interview)

THE JOB INTERVIEW

• Make a good first impression• Arrive on time• Dress appropriately• Go alone• Be prepared• Appear poised and self-confident• Be courteous

DURING THE INTERVIEW

• Things to do:• Address the interviewer as Mr. or Mrs. and

shake their hand firmly• Wait until you are told to be seated• Maintain good eye contact• Smile• Relax• Be positive (especially about your old company

and your work ethic) • Put thought into each answer before you answer

DURING THE INTERVIEW

• Things NOT to do:• Ask about salary, benefits, work hours, or

vacation/sick days

• Complain about anything!

• Provide information that is not factual

• Discuss personal problems

• Ask if you got the job

• Linger after the interviewer indicates the interview is over

THE THANK-YOU LETTER

•Follow-up is essential!•What is it?•Why write a thank-you letter?•Other ways to follow up?

KEEPING YOUR JOB

EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION

EMPLOYMENT LAWS

•Social Security Act of 1935•Disability• Survivor• Retirement•Hospital•Medical•Unemployment Insurance (Max. 26 weeks)

•What is going on today with our Social Security system?

OTHER LEGISLATION

• Fair Labor Standards Act• Minimum Wage - National $7.25/hr. (Jan. 2013)

States can also make their own – Illinois - $8.25• Overtime over 40 hours

• Workers’ Compensation• injury as a result of the job

OTHER LEGISLATION

• Family & Medical Leave Act-1993 - Up to 12 weeks of unpaid

leave for medical or family reasons

• Equal Pay Act - Men and women doing same work get same

pay

• Civil Rights Act of 1964 - No discrimination based on color,

religion, sex, race, or nationality

• Age Discrimination in Employment Act - No discrimination of

people 40 or older

• Americans with Disabilities Act - No discrimination based on

physical or mental disabilities

UNDERSTANDING AND PREPARING WORK FORMS.

• W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate• How much will be deducted for income tax

• Social Security Forms• Withhold money for your “retirement”-get it back later

• Work Permit Application• People under 16 need ok from parents to work-child

labor laws

• Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement• January 31 must have from employer-reporting all

earnings, taxes, etc…

EMPLOYEE PAY AND BENEFITS

MONEY MANAGEMENT/BENEFITS

• Hourly Wages• Overtime• Monthly Salary• Annual Salary• Deductions

• Net Pay

GROSS PAY, DEDUCTIONS, AND NET PAY

Federal State and Local Social Security Medicare Income Tax Tax

Retirement Fund Health Insurance Union Dues

Important Forms•W-4

Other Terms•Commission•Minimum Wage

LABOR UNIONS/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• History – AFL (American Federation of Labor)• One of the First Major Unions organized• Composed of craft unions

• Functions• Collective Bargaining• Support Employee Rights

• Types• Craft – Construction, brick layers, pipefitters, plumbers• Industrial – Auto workers, machinists• Public Employee – Govt., State, county (teachers, police

officers, firefighters, any govt. employee)

BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES

• Profit Sharing• incentive pay; employer will share profits with employees

• Paid Vacations and Holidays• Employee Services• Counseling, taxes, etc…

• Sick Pay• Can tie into FMLA

• Leaves of Absence/Sabbatical • Still maintain employee status (Paid vs. Unpaid)

• Insurance: Health, Life, Dental, Vision• Disability Insurance (Work or Individual), FLEX spending

MORE BENEFITS

• Bonuses • When certain goals are met; around holidays

• Stock Options• Will give you stock in your company

• Pension • Govt. employees retirement plan, have to be in company a certain

number of years

• Savings Plans – 401K/403B• Travel Expenses• Discounts• Store, facilities, etc…

• Many times benefits kick in related to how long an employee has been working for the company

TRENDS IN THE WORKPLACE

• Altered Workweeks• Flextime/Compressed Workweek – Work four 10 hour

days, instead of five 8 hour days

• Job Rotation – all employees work at all stations

• Job Sharing – 20/20, 30/10, MWF vs T/Th, am vs. pm

• Permanent Part-Time

• Work at Home/Telecommuting – Skype

• Child Care – in house

• Equal Pay Act Craft Union• AFL Flex-Time disability• resume W-4 gross pay• application letter Worker’s Compensation net pay• objective Social Security Act of 1935 telecommuter• FMLA promotions• self-analysis job sharing get

organized• short-term goal long-term goal references• current trend in workforce Industrial Union• thank you letter overtime pay total gross pay• deductions Americans with Disabilities Act• Civil Rights Act of 1964 Equal Pay Act culminating goal• Medicare benefits federal Taxes• state taxes local taxes retirement

plan • consumer resources interview• minimum wage work ethic human

resources• job rotation Fair Labor Standards Act