Job Search Skills & Career Planning

1. Job Search Skills & Career Planning Presented by: Service Canada Centre for Youth Edmonton

2. Why do students look for a job? • Gain career building experience • References • To meet new people • Learning • Freedom • Fun • Money

3. What will this Job do for you? • Good networking opportunity • Training/ Work experience • Purely financial

4. Job Characteristics • Imagine yourself working and then describe your surroundings • These are the characteristics you would like your job to have • Day time, evenings or shift work? • Repetitive or varied assignment? • Flexible or set schedule? • BIG or small company? • Alone or in a team? • Inside or outside? • Supervised or not? • Commission or wage based? • Full-time or part-time • Opportunity for advancement?

5. The Job Market Pie 20 % Advertised 80 % Not Advertised!

6. Advertised Jobs • Community bulletin boards • “Help Wanted” signs • Newspapers, classifieds • Employment Agencies • Service Canada Centre for Youth

7. Unadvertised Jobs • Yellow/Blue pages • Media (new companies opening) • Self-employment • People you know • Volunteer work • Current employers • Networking • Contact employers directly • Information interviews or job shadowing

8. I want to be a Doctorbut what can I do now? • You may have career goals that require certain training or many years of school. There are things you can do now to prepare for that career or area of study • Interview or job shadow someone in the field; • Present information to students through a program such as Peer Health Educator (at U of A) • Volunteer at a business or with a related organization; • Work at a summer camp as the medical leader, hospital or clinic or doctor’s office;

9. Networking • Letting the people you know help you get to the people they know. • They can provide you with: • Information • Referrals • Advice

10. Presenting Yourself You can present yourself through the following: • Résumé or Cover Letter • Application Forms • Interviews

11. How to Apply: Apply in the manner specified in the job ad: • Phone • Email • In Person • Fax If you have a choice, apply in the manner that maximizes your strengths!

12. Skills • Technical • Transferable • Personal

13. Technical Skills • Anything that you can learn in a class, course or other type of training program; • These can be specific to a particular job; • Needed to perform specific duties. • Examples: Playing a piano, Operating a vehicle, Speaking French, Using a computer, Working with cash, Building a house, Repairing a VCR

14. Transferable Skills • Skills you can learn in one situation and then apply to another situation; • These skills can be learned at school, hockey practice, piano lesson, as a volunteer or at a first job. • coaching • selling • training • following instructions • creating • developing • promoting • planning • reading • organizing • writing • speaking • teaching

15. Personal Skills • Qualities and characteristics that you have as an individual; • Words that complete the sentence “I am…”; • Attitudes, values and work habits. • neat • creative • friendly • sociable • honest • persistent • hard working • flexible

16. Resume & Cover Letter Writing

17. Why is a resume important? • It clearly highlights your skills and abilities. • It is a personal item that should reflect your capabilities, achievements and experience. • A good resume will separate you from the rest of the crowd.

18. Keep in mind… • A good resume shows the employer that you have the experience necessary for the position • Makes you seem unique compared to other candidates • The difference from being hired and forgotten can be as simple as how you word your experience.

19. You will NEED on your resume: Name Contact information Work/ volunteer Experience Education Skills (technical, transferable, personal) You may also include: Awards Memberships (try to not to mention religious and political affiliations unless they are applicable to volunteer and work experience) Interests Objective What do I put into my resume?

20. Never Include: • A title, like “Resume of…” • S.I.N. • Gender/ Marital Status • Ethnicity/ Physical Description • Birth date • Photos and graphics such as clip art • Religious beliefs

21. Chronological Organizes your past work experience into a concise, ordered list, emphasizing your work history. Combination Organizes your skills and abilities placing emphasis on your experience rather than work history. THERE ARE TWO RESUME TYPES

22. Pros Widely used Easy to read and to follow Shows continuous periods work Easy to make Highlights development and progression, if any Cons Makes gaps between jobs more obvious Highlights lack of progress and frequent job changes Makes a lack of experience more noticeable Shows most recent jobs, not most relevant skills Chronological Resume

23. Pros Puts most relevant skills for the job at the beginning Helps to conceal gaps in work periods, as well as a lack of experience Cons Much more difficult and time-consuming to create Can be confusing and disorganized-looking if done poorly Downplays experience and any promotions received Combination

24. Tips to start your Resume • Type your resume and use high quality paper • Ensure accurate grammar, spelling and consistent formatting • No need to sign or date your resume • Avoid using the pronoun “I” • Be honest, concise, positive and clear • Keep it to 2 pages or less!

25. Reference do’s • Make sure your references will say good and useful things about your abilities! • You can have an honest discussion with them about your strengths and weaknesses to find out • Try to target references according to job and skills required • Keep them informed; tell them they may or may not be contacted

26. Reference do’s… • Do not use relatives or family friends as references • Coaches, teachers, previous employers, volunteer supervisors are best • State “References Available Upon Request” on your resume. Find out if they need specific types of references • Bring a typed-out list of references and their contact info to the interview (several copies would be useful)

27. WHY DO I NEED A COVER LETTER? • A cover letter is your chance to persuade the employer to read your resume • You can emphasize points that are specific to the job that you are applying for with more detail than in your resume • Shows off your writing skills • Provide relevant experience that may look out of date on a resume

28. SOME TIPS FOR WRITINGA COVER LETTER • Be brief and to the point • Tailor to each job and employer, and address the letter properly • Be available at employer’s convenience • Proofread carefully • Link yourself and your skills to the employer • Stress how the employer will benefit

29. Read instructions carefully Include a copy of your cover letter and resume Get 2 copies of the application form in case you make a mistake Don’t put an expected salary Use the additional comments section to sell yourself Filling out Application Forms

30. Interview Skills

31. For the Employer: to find out if you are suited to the position and the company’s needs. For You:to see if the position or employer will fulfill your needs. The Purpose of an Interview

32. Steps in the interview process 1. Interview Preparation 2. The Interview 3. After the Interview

33. Increase confidence Smoother answers Describe skills better Decrease stress Why Prepare?

34. How Do I Prepare? 1. Know yourself • Skills inventory 2. Research the job • Know the company • Know what skills are required for the job 3. Practice questions • Mock interviews with us 4. Contact your references

35. Types of Interviews • Written Tests • Samples of work • Phone Interviews • Panel Interviews • Group Interviews • Scenario Questions • Screening Interviews

36. Directive: Do you have experience working... Non-Directive: Tell me about yourself. Hypothetical: What would you do if... Behavior Descriptive: Give me an example of a time... Stress Questions: Convince me to buy... Types of Interview Questions

37. Tell me about yourself Why did you apply for this job? What are your interests? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why should I hire you? Do you have previous experience? How would others describe you? Do you have any questions? Common Interview Questions

38. How toAnswer an Interview Question • Provide an accurate and detailed answer; • Explain what skills you have and provide examples • Always turn a negative into a positive • Demonstrate how your expertise can help the employer to reach his goals • Show the employer that you are different, and better, than the other candidates.

39. Answering Interview Questions View each question as an opportunity to say something positive about yourself !

40. So, Tell Me About Yourself... Answer with a description of your skills • Emphasize how these skills would benefit the employer • Include interests or hobbies if they relate to the position • Explain where you acquired the skills and give examples • Speak clearly and confidently.

41. Mannerisms: Don’t fidget Posture: Sit up straight Tone of Voice: Clear & Calm Eye Contact: Confident & Assured Expression: Interested & Energetic Body Language

42. Interview Do’s • Listen closely to the interviewer • Answer all questions honestly • Observe how the interviewer reacts to your answers • Arrange to call back in a few days • Be on time • Bring a copy of your resume & references • Introduce yourself • Be ready to shake hands • Be well groomed and well dressed

43. Interview Don’ts • Be late • Act either too aggressive or too shy • Answer by only “yes” or “no” • Give up! • Take a friend or relative • Smoke, chew gum or eat • Say anything negative about others

44. After The Interview • Self Evaluation • Send a Thank-You Letter • Job Offer/No Job Offer

45. Out going interviews • An interview with your supervisor to asses your performance at a position you are currently leaving • Can clear up any problems • Makes the difference between a bad reference and a good one • Good networking for other positions

46. SCCY Services

47. Come to our office! • Job postings online @ www.jobbank.gc.ca • Computers to access our web site or write your resume • Printer • Resource Centre • Help Desk • Fax Machines • Telephones to call employers

48. Our Services • Individual or group consultations • Enhanced Services Program (for individuals with barriers to employment • Casual Labour (casual work program) • Volunteer Information (in office) • Student Business Registry (for students interested in starting their own business)

49. Career related Domestics/Childcare Summer camps Restaurant/Hotels Labour Landscaping Office/clerical Sales/Service Temporary (less than 2 weeks) Recreation Painting What kinds of student jobs can you expect to find on our Job Bank?

50. Resource Centre • Has a variety of pamphlets and booklets on your job search, student businesses, career planning, and more! • Many free publications as well as reference books. • University/College calendars for academic planning