pp. 332-347

1. Chapter 21 Getting a Job pp. 332-347

2. Learning Objectives After completing this chapter, you’ll be able to: • Name the employability skills. • Describe how to prepare a résumé. continued

3. Learning Objectives After completing this chapter, you’ll be able to: • List sources of information about job openings. • Explain the job application process.

4. Why It’s Important Most employers follow similar procedures when they have job openings to fill. Once you know the procedures you can move through the steps with confidence.

5. Key Words qualifications employability skills body language résumé reference employment objective continued

6. Key Words job lead referral employment agencies cover letter job interview

7. Employability Skills Different jobs require different qualifications, or education, skills, and work experience to do a particular job.

8. Employability Skills The factors that make up a person’s employability skills are: • Qualifications • Character • Personality • Ability to work with others

9. Level of Education High school dropouts have fewer job opportunities, especially if they have no previous work experience. The more skills and education you have, the wider the job market will be for you.

10. Figure 21.1 MEDIAN EARNINGS OF FULL-TIME WORKERS What is the annual difference in earnings of a high school dropout and a high school graduate?

11. Required Skills The basic skills employers expect workers to have are: • Reading • Ability to communicate with others • Math • Computers • Ability to follow instructions

12. Work Experience Many employers look for people with some work experience. Sometimes employers even require that potential employees have a certain number of years of experience.

13. Work Experience It’s important to get some kind of experience either through a school program, volunteer work, or even helping out at a family business.

14. Work Experience The more skill and experience a job requires, the better it pays.

15. Character and Personality The character and personality traits employers value are: • Honesty • Dependability • A willingness to work hard continued

16. Character and Personality • Good attitude • A desire to do the job well • The ability to get along with other workers

17. Body Language Your body language, or nonverbal communication, often says more about you than your spoken or written words. If you seem fidgety or bored during an interview, it looks like you have short attention or aren’t interested in the job.

18. School Records Employers might check school records for information about your character and personality. Good attendance and punctuality indicate that you’re reliable and will show up for work on time.

19. Extracurricular Activities Extracurricular activities are activities in which you take part outside of school. Extracurricular activities indicate extra effort on your part, as well as possible leadership ability.

20. Fast Review • What are the employability skills employers look for when considering a job applicant? continued

21. Fast Review • What are the things an employer can look at to learn about your character?

22. Preparing Your Résumé A résumé is a summary of your skills, education, and work experience. Its purpose is to persuade potential employers to grant you an interview.

23. Preparing Your Résumé The beginning of a résumé includes personal information such as your name, address, and telephone number.

24. Preparing Your Résumé Your education and work history tell an employer about your abilities and work ethic. Include volunteer work you’ve done.

25. Preparing Your Résumé The appearance of your résumé makes the first impression on an employer. Be sure the résumé is neatly formatted and that the information is presented clearly. Check spelling and grammar.

26. References A reference is a person an employer can contact to find out about your experience, education, and character.

27. References Job and school references are used to verify that you worked and went to school where you claimed. Personal references are used to testify to your character.

28. Employment Objective An employment objective is a statement of your career goals or interest in a business.

29. Figure 21.2 A SAMPLE RÉSUMÉ A résumé tells a prospective employer four things—who you are, what you want to do, what you have done, and what you can do. Why was it a good idea for Peter Cortez to list his activities?

30. Looking for Openings A job lead is information about a job opening. Job leads can come from several sources.

31. Your Network Your network consists of people you know, such as friends, relatives, neighbors, and members of groups to which you belong.

32. Your Network People in your network might be able to tell you about better job openings or openings that aren’t advertised.

33. Your Network A referral is a personal recommendation to an employer or other job lead.

34. Your School Your school might have a work placement office. Employers often post job openings at schools.

35. Want Ads Want ads help you find out quickly if any jobs are listed in which you might be interested.

36. Want Ads Want ads will give you a good idea about how much certain jobs pay and what skills or education are required.

37. Want Ads You can search local and national databases on the Internet for jobs. The databases are updated often and usually provide detailed descriptions of jobs.

38. Local Businesses Some businesses post job notices on bulletin boards in supermarkets or in shopping malls. You can also call a company’s personnel office to see if they have jobs open.

39. Local Businesses Sometimes you can find a job by walking around your local business district and asking business owners if they’re hiring new employees. You might find help-wanted signs in the windows of businesses.

40. Employment Agencies Services that help people find jobs are called employment agencies. Employment agencies can be public or private.

41. Employment Agencies Public agencies are usually run by the state or local government and might be connected with the unemployment office.

42. Employment Agencies The Federal Job Information Center has regional agencies that can give you information about government job openings.

43. Employment Agencies Private employment agencies, such as temp services, often charge for their services.

44. Graphic Organizer Graphic Organizer Sources of Job Leads ads family employment agencies friends school counselor local businesses

45. Fast Review • What is the purpose of a résumé? • What is the difference between a job or school reference and a personal reference? continued

46. Fast Review • Name four ways you can look for jobs at local businesses.

47. Contacting Potential Employers The process of applying for a job includes several steps: • Cover letter • Job application • Employment testing • Interview

48. Cover Letter A cover letter is a one-page letter that tells the employer about you and why you’re applying for the job. A cover letter should be specifically addressed to the employer.

49. Job Application Like your résumé, the job application form presents you to a potential employer so you should carefully follow the directions.

50. Job Application Don’t leave any blanks on a job application. If a question doesn’t apply to you, write “not applicable,” or N/A.