Careers Unit

“Steps To Getting the Job”

Careers Unit

“Steps To Getting the Job”

Employee expenses - A cost paid by employees and NOT reimbursed by employers.

Examples of job benefits:

sick pay, profit-sharing plans, vacation time

Job Analysis - a procedure of listing positive and negative job attributes.

Salary - monthly or annual pay earned by an employee

Entrepreneur - one who assumes ownership risks of a company/business

Experience - knowledge and skills acquired from working in a career field

Aptitude - a natural mental or physical ability.

Self-Analysis - answering questions about yourself and the results tell you what careers will be good for you. (1st step in career planning)

Goal - an end toward which efforts are made

Short-term goals - goals that are accomplished in the next few days or weeks

Long-term goals - goals that are accomplished 5 to 10 years down the road.

Contact - someone that has inside information about a job.

Reference - persons 18 or older who have known you for at least a year and can attest to your character.

Values - things in life that are important to you.

Work History - a record of how long you stayed with jobs you have held.

Resume - a summary of information about you, including your education, skills, and experiences.

Letter of ApplicationAlso Known As: job application letter, cover letter, application letter

Definition: A letter of application, also known as a cover letter, is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience.

A letter of application typically provides detailed information on why are you are qualified for the job you are applying for.

When writing an application letter you should include:

• First Paragraph: Why you are writing - mention the job you are applying for and where you found the listing.

• Middle Paragraph(s): What you have to offer the employer - mention why your skills and experience are a good fit for the job.• Last Paragraph: Say thank you to the hiring manager for considering you and note how you will follow up.

The letter of application should be specific, interesting, and direct.

The first paragraph should identify the purpose of the letter - why you are writing. Be specific - tell the reader why you are writing or how you learned about the job opening.

The middle paragraph ( there can be one or two middle paragraphs) should give reasons why you should be considered for the job. Explain your qualifications and interest in the job.

The closing paragraph should wrap up the letter in a friendly yet assertive manner. Be direct - ask for an interview.

Monday - Bell Ringer

Why is it important to have a professional looking resume?

Dressing For Success

Dressing For Success

How to Dress for an InterviewHow to Dress for an Interview

Job Interview - formal discussion about your qualifications for a job

Job Interview Tips:

Arrive 5 minutes early

Go alone

Dress appropriately

Be prepared (have resume copies, etc.)

Employment Application - a form you fill out when applying for a job. (Be sure to fill in all the blanks)

Men's Interview Attire

• Solid (dark) color, conservative suit • White long sleeve shirt• Conservative tie• Dark socks, professional shoes• Very limited jewelry• Neat, professional hairstyle• Go easy on the aftershaveNeatly trimmed nails• Portfolio or briefcase

Women's Interview Attire

• Solid (dark) color, conservative suit• Coordinated blouse• Moderate shoes• Limited jewelry• Neat, professional hairstyle• Tan or light hosiery• Sparse make-up & perfumeManicured nails• Portfolio or briefcase

Thank-you Letter - a written tool used to thank an employer for his or her time.

Interview Follow-Up

Following up after the interview separates the amateurs from the pros. The amateurs don't do it the pros do.

First, you want to get the business card from the person you interviewed with. The best way to get it is ask the interviewer before you leave. On most cards will be the three things you want.

1) The correctly spelled name and title. 2) The street address. 3) The interviewer's email address.

Second, you send a thank you email for the interview that very evening so it's waiting for him/her when he/she gets to work the next morning.

Third, you make a follow-up phone call to the interviewer on the fifth day after the interview. Let them know of your continued interest in the job and ask if there is any further information they need from you. If he/she is not available when you call, leave that basic message on their voice mail.

Fourth, you send a snail mail letter to her ASAP. I call this the "reverse cover letter." It basically expresses your interest in the job and summarizes some of your strongest points as they relate to the job. About now many interviewers are thinking, "Wow, if this is the professional manner this applicant works this is the kind of person we want."

The Big Misunderstanding

Average applicants misunderstand this follow-up approach. They think, "I don't want to bother the interviewer they must be too busy." WRONG thinking! Some companies purposely wait one to three weeks to make job offers. They observe who follows up and how many times and who does not (especially in sales jobs). That is actually the real interviewing part. Average applicants don't do this. Top paid sales pros know the big sales (and jobs) are achieved in the follow-up.