1. Introduction to Job Searching
Setting the Foundation
Record Keeping .
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2. A Strategic Job Search
A proper job-search utilizes an organized, systematic approach, using effective methods. It entails multiple activities such as: 
A plan of action … Weekly, daily, and hourly
A willingness to commit the necessary time … How much time?
The resolve to follow through …
What about all the rejection and family needs?
A specific job goal … Why not multiple job goals?
A clear understanding of your skills and abilities … Why?
Understand effective job search methods …
What are they, and how do I implement them?
Networking … Who, why, how?
Resumes and cover letters … What kind should I use?
STORIES … Yes, you need them!
Interviews … Informational interviews & Job interviews
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3. How to Find Jobs Network.
Go directly to company websites of companies that do what you want to do.
 Go directly to company websites who offer positions doing what you want to do.
 Go in person, with resume in hand, to companies that do what you want to do.
 Go in person, with resume in hand, to companies who offer positions doing what you want to do.
 Schedule informational interviews.
 Contact professional organizations associated with your area of interest.
 Join and participate in professional organizations associated with your area of interest.
 Join a job search group – offered by government agencies, churches, Career One Stop Centers.
 Use online job boards.
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4. Components of Your Job Search
Organization
Planning
Commitment
Record-Keeping
Research
Preparation
Stories
Practice
Resumes
Cover Letters
Interviews
Follow-Up
Support
Strategic Job Search Methods
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5. Why Start Now?
Option Number One - the traditional method:
Go to school, study hard, master the material, graduate, THEN start looking for a job. Find an employer, submit an application, hope to get an interview, hope to do well in the interview. Maybe the interview doesn’t go as well as you’d hoped. Wait a few weeks to hear back. Find another employer and keep repeating the same steps and mistakes. Get discouraged, depressed, hanging out at home, too much. Maybe have to take any old job.
Option Number Two - start job searching immediately, master all aspects of your job search, have employers lined up before you graduate, employers you have met and who know you, and were impressed by you when they met you because you are well prepared. They will be eager to speak with you when you are ready to apply for a position. That is what you will learn here, and why we start now.
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6. Commit hour each (work) day to your job search …
1st Things 1st
Commit hour each (work) day to your job search …
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7. STORIES & EXAMPLES Stories & Examples are:
the things you have to tell that help others get to know you
&
show examples that support what you have to tell about yourself.
… a necessity in interviewing – they are the “verbal” pictures you paint that helps an interviewer realize you in action.
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8. P.A.R. P-A-R The next step is to rewrite the accomplishment
in the appropriate story & example format.
P-A-R
PROBLEM: It could be a SITUATION or CHALLENGE.
ACTION: What step/action did you take, list them all. Start with “So, what I did was, and then I”… etc.
RESULT: The result was …., and I was proud of it!
Revise and perfect each story & example.
Keep your final version in your job search/interview folder/binder/file.
Review your stories & examples regularly so that the revised versions become the stories & examples that you will recall and tell when the opportunity presents itself.
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9. Create an Attention-Getting Response
1. Opening Statement
2. Education
3. Experience
4. Your Current Situation
5. Your Current Objective
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10. 400 employers identified valued & needed SOFT SKILLS (in addition to your hard skills). They are:
The ability to effectively communicate orally
The ability to work effectively with others in teams
The ability to effectively communicate in writing
Ethical judgment and decision-making
Critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills
The ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings
The ability to analyze and solve complex problems
The ability to locate, organize, and evaluate information from multiple sources
The ability to innovate and be creative
Staying current on changing technologies and their applications to the workplace
The ability to analyze and solve problems with people from different backgrounds and cultures
** These skills and abilities are also noted to be
valuable for employment advancement.
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11. Structure of a well-written P-A-R accomplishment
P Summarize the background of your problem, challenge, or situation.
A Describe the action that you took, tell what you did, and the personal strengths that enabled you to take this action. Be specific and use strong action words.
R Tell about the result of your actions. Show the business impact of your actions from your employer’s point of view. P A R
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12. MASTER JOB APPLICATION
Write in pencil
Add onto as you move on to new jobs
Keep this copy forever!
Don’t Be This Guy !
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13. O*NET Online www.onetonline.org
A great website to gather information related to your (past and) future
career work
Alternative job titles
Typical tasks& job duties
Specific California information
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14. Occupation Exploration
Job Profile for:
__________________________________________________
Sample
Job Titles
Tasks
Knowledge
Skills
Abilities
Work
Activities
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15. OSC Computer Training Detailed Work Activities Work Styles Values
Detailed
Work Activities
Work
Styles
Values
Related
Occupations
Wages & Employment Trends
Professional Associations
&
Other Valuable Resources
Notes
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16. Time Management In a full time job, you:
A. Have responsibilities (work duties and procedures).
B. "Punch a clock" or have to be at work "on time".
C. Work hard all day, 40 hours each week.
D. Report to a boss, who makes sure you carry out your responsibilities.
To find a job that you really want, you must:
A. Set your own responsibilities (things you must do daily to get a job).
B. Wake up early, at a set time, to start looking for work.
C. Look hard for a job, all day, 40 hours a week.
D. Be your own boss (or appoint a friend to be your "boss") to ensure that you carry out your job search responsibilities.
If you are currently working, plan to:
A. Take lunch breaks earlier or later than the noon hour so that you can make phone calls.
B. Go home for lunch, if possible, to make your calls or have your notes for phone calls with you and find a quiet, private place from which to make calls from your cell phone, perhaps from your car.
C. If you work skewed hours and can make a phone call or two in the morning
or late afternoon, plan the night before to get up early to do this without feeling rushed or being late for work!
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17. 10 Tips for Planning an Effective Job Search
Set up a place, in your home, in which you can have all materials needed right at hand.  
Set up a record-keeping system at the beginning of your search. 
Determine your weekly job search goals.
Go to company websites and job boards to set up accounts/profiles and review their online process.
If you go out to apply to companies, in person, plan to target several companies in the same area, when possible.
Network.
Write down the names of all networking contacts you speak with, the date of your contacts, and specific notes about your conversations.
Be prepared. Have a "Master Application" filled out with all pertinent job information on it.  
Follow up on leads immediately.
Spend daytime hours searching & evening hours doing paperwork, research, & planning.
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18. RECORDKEEPING
The following is a list of the forms you will need for your job search and are included in this section:
Daily Calendar
Monthly calendar
Weekly Job Search Goals Form
Company Contact Form
Resume Distribution Sheet
Network Tracking Form
Application Information Sheet
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19. JOB SEARCH WEEKLY ROADMAP – Begin Week of _______________
Attend CSW
Complete CSW assignment
Prepare job search binder w/ A-Z tabs
Review O*NET Online / Complete handout
Fill out Master Application
WEEK 2
Work on transferable skills / Features & Benefits
Work on strengths
Develop Stories using transferable skills, strengths
WEEK 3
Begin working on resume
Begin working on cover letter
Begin gathering professional references
WEEK 4
Continue resume/cover letter/E-resume/references
Prep “Tell Me” & “Why “Hire” Answers
Begin reviewing interview questions w/ answers
WEEK 5
Make appt. w/ Career Services re: final resume
Contacts to get 3 letters of recommendation
Complete networking speech
WEEK 6
Create LinkedIn profile
Review Job Boards & create accounts, profiles
Have completed resume/cover letter/references
WEEK 7
Fill out state application (if applicable)
Wrap up CSW assignments
WEEK 8
Research companies
Review company websites for open jobs
Keep up with recordkeeping process
Network
Set up informational interview
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WEEK 11
Set job search goals for the week
Check in w/ Career Services w/ ? or for planning
Apply for jobs
Keep recordkeeping going for follow-up
WEEK 12
WEEK 13
Congratulations on your graduation !
Meet with Career Services, anytime, for planning and assistance.
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20. Online Job Search Usernames & Passwords
Site ________________________________________________________
Username ________________________________________________
Password _________________________________________________
Username __________________________________________________
Password __________________________________________________
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21. To access handouts: Go to …
Password: JobHelp!
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