Chapter 7

1. Chapter 7 Applying for a Job

2. What You’ll Learn • You will find out what is involved in applying for a job. • You will discover ways to present and market yourself to an employer. • You will learn what to do before, during, and after an interview.

3. Discover How to organize information about yourself in a resume What a cover letter is and why it is important Tips for filling out job applications Why it’s important One day, you’ll apply for a job. Whether or not you get the job may depend on how you present yourself to your employer. Lesson 7.1Presenting Yourself

4. Employers, as a rule, aren’t looking for surprises. They don’t have time. In the world of work, FIRST impressions count!!!You never get a second chance to make a FIRST impression!

5. Putting a Résumé Together • Employers want the BEST person to fill a job. • Most job openings attract many applicants. • Employers have to pick and choose—they don’t have time to get to know you; they can’t take time to talk to everyone.

6. Employers look at personal summaries and choose people who make good impressions in their summaries. • In the world of work, a summary of personal information is a résumé. A résumé describes your education, skills, work experience, activities, and interests.

7. Your résumé introduces you to potential employers.Your résumé is the FIRST impression you make on an employer.A résumé MUST be perfect!!! There should not be one single, tiny, error!!! NONE! ONE error can cost you the job!!!

8. Resume Formats There are two basic kinds of résumés – a chronological résumé and a skills résumé. The format (or arrangement) you use depends on many factors, such as: • The job you are looking for • What you want to emphasize: work experience or skills

9. Chronological Résumé A Chronological Resume emphasizes work experience. People who have had a series of jobs in one career field often use a chronological résumé. Chronological Resumes present information in order of time—reverse time order, to be exact (most recent is listed first). Time order is an excellent way to show growth from job to job.

10. SAMPLE: Chronological Resume

11. Skills Résumé A Skills Resume emphasizes skills and accomplishments. Each heading identifies a skill or strength. After each heading is a description of the skill and the experience related to it. A skills résumé is often a good choice for first-timers in the job market because it focuses on strengths instead of work experience.

12. SAMPLE: Skills Resume

13. TIPS TO REMEMBER Your resume should shine a positive light on your experience, skills, and interests. When creating your résumé, keep the following suggestions in mind: • Keep your résumé short. One page is usually plenty. • Make sure your résumé is neat and easy to read. • Check for typing, spelling, and grammar errors.

14. Electronic Résumés:A résumé that is created on a computer and formatted so it can be sent electronically. • Many companies now accept electronic résumés via Internet (or scan paper résumés and store them electronically). • When they need to hire someone, they do a computerized search of the résumés in their database, using keywords (ex. creative thinker, computer skills, team worker) to quickly locate applicants who might be right for a job. • It is a good idea to have an electronic résumé ready.

15. Creating an Electronic Résumé? Keep it simple! • Use black ink on white paper • Avoid boldface, italics, and other formatting • Type headings in capital letters • Include keywords that describe your skills and experience so a computer search will find your résumé.

16. Personal Fact Sheet • A personal fact sheet contains basic information about you and your education, experience, qualifications, and skills. This information is the information you will need to create a résumé. • List your education and experience in chronological order. Include all work experience (whether paid or unpaid). • List other qualifications for employment, including your skills and how you have used them. • Include both transferable skills and job-specific skills. You should always have your personal fact sheet with you when you go to apply for a job—you may be asked to fill out an application right then! If so, you would need the information listed on your personal fact sheet.

17. Personal Career Portfolio A personal career portfolio is a collection of information about you. It includes projects and work samples that show your skills and qualifications to employers. It also includes information about your interests, goals, and accomplishments, as well as documents and correspondence you will need to start your job search. • Use a personal career portfolio throughout your career to showcase your accomplishments and personal growth. • Use it to market yourself and set yourself apart from other applicants. • Use it to help you get a promotion. • Continue to refine and improve your personal career portfolio over the course of your career.

18. Individual Learning Plan • Your ILP (Individual Learning Plan) is also an excellent resource to use to record data necessary for a résumé. • The ILP program even has a résumé builder. If you will use the ILP to record your information during the next several years, you will find it a very useful tool when it is time to create your first résumé. • It is extremely important to use correct punctuation, capitalization, and spelling when entering information in your ILP—that information will eventually be on your resume—exactly how you keyed it!!!

19. Cover Letters A cover letter is a one-page letter telling who you are and why you’re sending a resume. No resume should go anywhere without a cover letter! Think of a cover letter as an introduction: a piece of paper that conveys a smile, a confident hello, and a nice, firm handshake.

20. Why Send a Cover Letter? • It introduces you to the employer and tells them why you are sending a resume. (A cover letter is the first thing a potential employer sees, and it can make a powerful impact.) • It is an opportunity to make a good impression and let your personality come through. • It is a good way to catch the employer’s interest. A cover letter is a good place to highlight interesting details about yourself that do not appear in your résumé.

21. SAMPLE: Cover Letter

22. Tips for Cover Letters • The cover letter is where you can mention that someone in the company referred you to the job. • Do not include personal information that is not related to the job (you may be a good cookie baker, but unless you are applying for a job in a bakery, this information doesn’t belong in your cover letter).

23. REMEMBER… The goal of the cover letter is to persuade the reader to turn to your résumé—you want the cover letter to make a good impression. A WELL-WRITTEN COVER LETTER MAY EVEN GET YOU THE JOB!!!

24. JOB APPLICATIONS A job application is a form that asks questions about your skills, work experience, education, and interests. • When you visit a business to apply for a position, be prepared to fill out an application. • ALWAYS have your personal fact sheet with you when you go to apply for a job (so you will have all the information you need to fill out the application in case you are asked to fill out the application there). • Remember: A job application deserves just as much attention as a résumé.

25. Tips to remember… • When filling out a job application, read the entire application before you begin filling it out. • Follow directions!!! • Be truthful, neat, and complete. • If a question doesn’t apply to you, write NA for Not Applicable. • Double-check all of your answers.

26. References References are people who will recommend you to an employer. • Always be prepared to supply references on a job application. • Choose references carefully—ask people who know you well and who think highly of you to be your reference (teachers, neighbors, anyone you’ve worked for). • ALWAYS ask permission to use someone as a reference. • You usually need to supply names, addresses, and phone numbers for all your references.

27. Letter of Recommendation • A letter in support of you from a reference. • Provides insight into your background, skills, work ethic, and character. • Keep in mind that your behavior and work habits now are what people will remember when they write letters of recommendation. Are you exhibiting work ethics and behaviors that make good impressions?

28. Discover How to prepare for an interview What happens in an interview How to follow up after an interview Why it’s important Interviews are an important part of applying for a job. The more practice you get, the more confident you’ll be in future interviews. Lesson 7.2Putting Your Best Foot Forward

29. Interviews • The goal of a résumé or application is to get an interview! • An interview is a formal meeting about a possible job between a job seeker and an employer. • An interview is the employer’s chance to meet you and decide if you are right for the job. (And it is your chance to convince an employer that you are the right person for the job and to decide if the job is right for you.)

30. Getting Ready for an Interview What you do before an interview is as important as what you do during an interview. Some tips for getting ready for an interview: • Be prepared. • Know the Job and the Company. • Practice Makes a Difference. • Role Play.

31. Before the interview, be sure to prepare to answer questions about your interests, skills, work experience, education and career goals. You may also need to prepare for any pre-employment tests (tests given to a job seeker by an employer to find out if the job seeker fits the job). Learn as much about the job you want and the company as you can. This will help you be better prepared to ask questions about the job and the employer and may help you sell yourself as the best possible candidate for the job. Practice interviewing. You can do so by asking a friend or family member to role-play an interview with you. The more practice you have, the more comfortable you’ll feel during a real interview. Research what types of interview questions might be typically asked in an interview for the job. Write out answers to the questions. Practice answering the questions. Keep practicing until you get it right!

32. Dress the Part Put some thought into what you will wear to the interview. Remember: First impressions count! The first thing an employer will notice when you meet is your appearance. Some tips to follow: • Dress as others in the same job would dress (it is a good idea to dress a bit better than you would on a normal day on the job). • Make sure you’re neat, clean, and well-groomed from head to toe. • Let your skills and personality stand out—not your clothes, jewelry, perfume, or makeup.

33. The Interview Itself • Introduce yourself. • Have a winning attitude. It is important to project a positive attitude. • Maintain good posture. • Listen carefully and pay attention. • When asking questions, focus on the business and job, not yourself. • Show enthusiasm and interest for the job. • Watch your body language. • Leave a positive impression.

34. Be ready to answer questions When answering questions, be honest and specific. Be prepared to answer questions such as: • What can you tell me about yourself? • What are your greatest strengths? • What are your greatest weaknesses? • Do you prefer working with others or on your own? • Why do you want this job? • What are your career goals?

35. Body Language What you do and how you act can say a lot. Sometimes your actions can speak louder than your words. Your body language is the gestures, posture, and eye contact you use to express yourself. • Making eye contact shows you are paying attention. • Be sure to smile and introduce yourself. • Extend your hand, and shake hands firmly. A firm handshake signals self-confidence. • Check your posture. Don’t slouch. Sit up straight and lean forward slightly in your chair to show you are interested. • Nodding your head shows that you are thinking. • Don’t clench your fists, bite your nails, or play with your hair or clothing. These are all signs that you’re nervous or unsure of yourself. • When speaking, use your hands in a relaxed, confident way.

36. After You Say Good-Bye You may be offered the job at the end of the interview—or you may have to wait. Following the interview, you should follow up and say thanks and then reflect on and learn from the experience.

37. Take Time to Say Thanks • Send a short thank-you letter to the person who interviewed you no later than the day after the interview, no matter how the interview went. • Thank the interviewer for his or her time. • Express your enthusiasm for the job. • Stress the experience and skills you have that match the job. • The thank you letter is a good place to mention things discussed in the interview or to tell the interviewer something you forgot (or ask questions you forgot during the interview).

38. Take Stock • Make notes for yourself while the interview is still fresh in your mind. • Write a summary of the interview. • List ideas for improvement and jot down anything you would do differently next time. • Make note of questions you had trouble answering.

39. Take It in Stride • If you don’t get the job, don’t give up. Rejection is part of life and part of the learning process. • If you don’t get the job, contact the employer and ask why (if it is convenient for the employer). Use that information to prepare for your next application and interview.