Unit Standard 4253 Obtain Job Search Skills Version 5 Level 2 3 Credits Image created at the Wordle.net Student Workbook Student Name _____________________________________ 1 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Instructions This is an open book assessment. The work you do in this book and the notes that you make can be used in the assessment. The quality of your assessment will reflect how well you complete the exercises in this book. 2 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Identifying and describing potential job opportunities. To pass the assessment you must identify and describe two job opportunities which are consistent with own work preferences and/or skill set. To do this you must first of all work out what your work preferences are and what skills you have. Your Work Preferences Your work preferences will be based upon your values strengths interests personality personal life and aspirations. Values You will need to ask yourself two questions. What are you prepared to do? not prepared to do? What are you Answering these questions will help you; What do you think? Earning a lot of money is important to me Being happy at work is more important than money It’s important to do a job you love Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I want to make a difference Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Working a regular 9 to 5 is important Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I don’t mind working shifts Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I am prepared to put in extra hours to get the job done If the job isn’t finished by the end of the day so be it. I love work Work is a necessity not my whole life A person gains esteem through the job they do. 3 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Interests You will need to ask yourself two questions. What are your Interests? Which of these need to be taken into account when choosing a career pathway? What do you think? Animal Care Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O Arts, Design & Humanities Business – Finance & Accounting Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Business – General Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Conservation& Environmental Strongly Disagree Counselling& Psychology Strongly Disagree Criminal Justice & Legal Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree Computers & IT O O O O O Education, Teaching & Childcare Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Healthcare & Nursing Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Science & Engineering Strongly Disagree Trade Strongly Disagree Travel, Entertainment & Culinary Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree Massage, Beauty & Wellness O O O O O 4 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Personality What kind of Personality do you have? What will need to be taken into account when choosing a career pathway? What do you think? I work best in groups Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O O O O O O O I like to work alone Strongly Disagree I work best in the evening Strongly Disagree I work best early in the day Strongly Disagree I like to be part of a team Strongly Disagree I like to work indoors Strongly Disagree I like to work outdoors Strongly Disagree I like to be in charge Strongly Disagree I like to do practical tasks Strongly Disagree I like to be challenged mentally Strongly Disagree I like to be active at work Strongly Disagree I prefer to work in an office Strongly Disagree I like technical work Strongly Disagree I like to be in charge Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I like to travel overseas Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree I like meeting people Strongly Disagree I like to play sport at weekends Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree I like it perfectly well where I am O O O O Going out at the weekend is important to me Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I prefer to be told what to do and just get on with it I like to travel around the country 5 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Personal Life What kind of Personal Life do you have? What will need to be taken into account when choosing a job? What do you think? Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I want to work part time Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree I need to work full time O O Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I have no means of transport Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree I have my own transport O O I am very close to my family Living near my family is important to me I am prepared to work as a volunteer to gain experience I don’t want to work in the evenings I will move town to further my career. Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Aspirations You will need to ask yourself two questions. Where do you want to end up? want to get out of work?” What do you What do you think? I want to work for myself Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I want to work for a small company Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I want to work locally Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I want to work for a large multinational company Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree I would like to be the boss Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree I want to work in an office Strongly Disagree I want to work outdoors Strongly Disagree O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O Strongly Agree I want to earn a high salary O O O O I want to work in a different place each day Strongly Disagree O O O O O Strongly Agree 6 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree Summarise your Work Preferences in the space below In my job I really would like to; Do this kind of work Work these kinds of hours Earn this sort of money Work with my hands, brain or both 7 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Writing about Skills Look at the skills in the chart below. They are divided into sections. In each section put a tick nearest to the one that fits you best at the moment. I rank myself 1st 2nd 3rd or 4th Communication skills 1 2 3 4 Organization, Management and Leadership skills Speaking effectively Initiating new ideas Writing concisely Handling details Listening attentively Coordinating tasks Expressing ideas Managing groups Editing Delegating responsibility Facilitating group discussion Making decisions with others Negotiating Coaching Describing feelings Counselling Persuading Promoting change Reporting information Selling ideas Interviewing Selling products Providing appropriate feedback Understanding nonverbal messages Teaching Managing conflict 8 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz 1 2 3 4 Human Relations skills 1 2 3 4 Day-to-day Work skills Developing rapport Implementing decisions Being Sensitive Cooperating with others Listening Being punctual Conveying feelings Managing time Asserting Attending to detail Motivating Meeting goals Sharing credit Enlisting others help Perceiving feelings Accepting responsibility Representing others Meeting deadlines Delegating with respect Organizing Providing support for others Making decisions Research & Planning skills 1 2 3 4 Forecasting, predicting Creating ideas Identifying problems Imagining alternatives Identifying resources Gathering information Solving problems Setting goals Extracting important information Defining needs Analyzing 9 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz 1 2 3 4 Look at the skills that you ranked yourself in 1st place. Choose the four that you think are most applicable to the job you wish to apply for and write a description of each of them in the table below. Try if possible to choose one from each of the five sections. Communication skills Human Relations skills Organization, Management and Leadership skills Day-to-day Work skills Research & Planning skills About Your Skills Skill Description Skill Description Skill Description 10 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Skill Description Your experience, qualifications, transportation and personal circumstances These will all affect the kinds of jobs that you can apply for. If you have worked before in either paid or unpaid work this experience could be vital in applying for the right sort of job. There’s no point applying for a job that you are either over or under qualified in. On the next few pages we will look at your experience and qualifications. In preparation think back to all the jobs you may have had. Then think about what you did when at those jobs. Remember you do not necessarily have to have been paid for the work you did as valuable experience can be gained by being a volunteer. Likewise start thinking about all the exams you have ever sat. Think of exams outside of school - you may have been on STAR or gateway courses. Sometimes your hobby may have lead you to take a first aid or lifesaving certificate. These are all valid skills and qualifications. 11 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz About Your Experience Experience Description Experience Description Experience Description Experience Description 12 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Employment History It is important to consider your previous employment history when looking for a new job. Having a job of any kind will have given you experience.Experience is a valuable tool when trying to persuade an employer to take you on. Completing a form like the one below for every job you have done will help you remember your experience. About Your First Job Checked as accurate Tick Company Name Street Suburb Town or City Post Code Date Started Date Left Job title Tasks performed Areas of responsibility Awards Gained Qualifications gained Training undertaken Your teacher has copies of this form. 13 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Your Qualifications If you know your NSI you can download your record of learning from the NZQA to give you your academic history. Don’t forget to add any other certificates you gained on gateway or STAR courses. You should list any complete certificates you obtained at your school or during tertiary studies in the tables below: NCEA NCEA Level One Achieved Merit Excellence NCEA Level Two Achieved Merit Excellence NCEA Level Three Achieved Merit Excellence National Certificates awarded by the NZQA For example National Certificate in Business National Certificate in Business Administration and Computing National Certificate in Computing National Certificate in Hospitality National Certificate in Retail National Certificate in Tourism and Travel Achieved Achieved Achieved Achieved Achieved Achieved OtherCertificates For example International Computer Driving Licence 14 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Transportation It’s fairly obvious but you will have to get to work somehow. There is no point getting a wonder job that you cannot get to in a reasonable amount of time. Therefore you need to work out which means of transport you can use and the areas in which you are able to work. How will you get to work? Unlike school there will not necessarily be a bus laid on especially for you to take you to work. Likewise it may be too far to walk and as you are growing up now maybe you should become a bit more independent and stop relying on mum and dad for lifts everywhere. Finally transport is expensive in time and money. You don’t want to spend too much of your valuable time or money just getting to work. You need to explore a range of transport options. Walking. I could travel kms by this method Advantages Disadvantages Bus I could travel kms by this method Advantages Disadvantages 15 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Bike I could travel kms by this method Advantages Disadvantages Train I could travel kms by this method Advantages Disadvantages Scooter or Motorbike I could travel kms by this method Advantages Disadvantages 16 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Car I could travel kms by this method Advantages Disadvantages Getting a lift I could travel kms by this method Advantages Disadvantages I have access to these means of transport Walking. Bus Bike Train Scooter or Motorbike Car Getting a lift I am prepared to travel kms to work I am prepared to travel minutes to work 17 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz For each option you need to work out the routes you could take, their reliability as well as time it takes to get to work and the cost of transport. In order to find out how long this takes you could look it up. For car, bus and walking journeys Google Maps will allow you to find directions and travelling times. For bus and train journeys look at the timetable - just remember to add on the time it takes to walk from home to the bus stop or train station and to work at the other end. In Auckland the MAXX website has a journey planner that will work this out for you. It will also tell you the cost of the bus or train that you could catch. 18 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Your personal circumstances You will need to decide how much you need to earn to suit your needs, outgoings and expenses. There is no point in taking a job that does not pay enough to meet your financial needs. This could be expressed as an hourly or weekly rate or if you are really lucky an annual salary. How much do you need to earn ________________________________________________ My Perfect Career in Summary I want to work I need to earn I can get there by I want to work these hours 19 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz I can use this experience I can use these skills I can use these qualifications I need to fit work around these personal circumstances I can use these resources 20 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz In the assessment you need to select three job opportunities based upon your work preferences and your own personal qualities. We are now going to look at just two. See if you can already think of some answers to the questions below. Job opportunity 1 Work Preference 1 This job opportunity is consistent with this work preference and/or skill set because; Work Preference 2 This job opportunity is consistent with this work preference and/or skill set because; Work Preference 3 This job opportunity is consistent with this work preference and/or skill set because; 21 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Job opportunity 2 Work Preference 1 This job opportunity is consistent with this work preference and/or skill set because; Work Preference 2 This job opportunity is consistent with this work preference and/or skill set because; Work Preference 3 This job opportunity is consistent with this work preference and/or skill set because; 22 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz The match of each job opportunity to own personal qualities is described in terms of needs and constraints. Look back at the two job opportunities you have identified and described above. You now need to show how the job opportunity is matched to your own personal qualities. To do this use the two potential job opportunities above and then describe how they are consistent with your own needs or constraints. For each job opportunity you must describe three needs or constraints. Job opportunity 1 Need or Constraint 1 This job opportunity is consistent with my personal needs or constraintsbecause; Need or Constraint 2 This job opportunity is consistent with my personal needs or constraints because; Need or Constraint 3 This job opportunity is consistent with my personal needs or constraints because; 23 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Now do the same for the second job opportunity. The needs or constraints do not have to be the same as the first job opportunity. Job opportunity 2 Need or Constraint 1 This job opportunity is consistent with my personal needs or constraints because; Need or Constraint 2 This job opportunity is consistent with my personal needs or constraints because; Need or Constraint 3 This job opportunity is consistent with my personal needs or constraints because; 24 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Demonstrate skills for locating suitable vacancies. This is all about looking for and finding the job you are after. There are lots of different ways of finding a job. You should consider all of them. Personal contacts It is an old saying - it’s not what you know it’s who you know. This is certainly true of those people seeking a job. You should ask your family and friends whether they know of jobs going where they work. Early notification and a good introduction could be just what you need to secure the first step towards a great career. Think to ask your parents’ family friends whether they know of any vacancies and the entry requirements for these positions. The Yellow Pages is the telephone directory for businesses. You find the contact details for thousands of companies that could potentially employ you. You will also find the contact details for organisations such as employment agencies and careers support services to help you get a job. Cold-calling Yellow Pages This can be a hard way but sometimes really rewarding way to find a job. It involves contacting a prospective employer without prior notification either by telephone or face-to-face. It does take a certain amount of nerve and you need to be prepared to have the door shut in your face or the phone put down on you. However if you are well prepared and look and sound the part you could talk yourself into the job of your dreams. This involves contacting a prospective employer without prior notification either by sending them a letter. Although companies receive thousands of these letters every year a well written letter could gain you the job of your dreams. Even if there is not a job immediately available a well written letter with an interesting attached CV may well be kept for future reference. A stamp and an envelope will cost you less than a dollar so investing in pack of envelopes and stamps could be money well spent. Speculative letters 25 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz The Internet If you have access to the internet there is a great deal of information that you can obtain about careers, training and how to support yourself. Visit the links below to see what they are about; http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/studying-in-new-zealand/tertiaryeducation/choosing-a-tertiary-qualification/ http://www.careers.govt.nz/ http://www.studylink.govt.nz http://www.ird.govt.nz/studentloans/ http://www.seek.co.nz/ http://www.trademe.co.nz/jobs Wouldn’t it be nice to get some help in finding a job? An employment agency will do this for you - at a price. The agency will find you a job but every hour or day you work will earn them commission - so you will earn slightly less than if you hadn’t used the agency. Often jobs you gain via an agency will be temporary or for a short fixed term contract. There are advantages to working for an agency - you can gain experience of a wide variety of jobs in a variety of organisations and if the company likes you they may arrange with the agency to take you on permanently. Print media Employment agency Looking in your local newspaper can give you a good idea of what jobs are currently available in your area. Local training establishments also advertise their courses in local and national papers. Often papers create a jobs section or a training supplement at regular intervals. Training organisations produce a wide range of brochures outlining the courses that they offer. These are useful because you can read through them and highlight important or interesting sections to go back through on another occasion either alone or with someone else 26 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Job Hunting You need to demonstrate and practice your job searching skills. Try all of the methods listed above and write down some of your successes. Suitable Vacancy 1 I found this job by; Suitable Vacancy 2 I found this job by; Suitable Vacancy 3 I found this job by; 27 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Job opportunity 2 Suitable Vacancy 1 I found this job by; Suitable Vacancy 2 I found this job by; Suitable Vacancy 3 I found this job by; Attach copies of these job adverts to the back of this booklet as evidence. 28 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Demonstrate knowledge of a job search process. Outcome 3 The next thing that you need to do is to check that the jobs you have found are suitable for you. You need to compare the job vacancies to your own needs and preferences. Each job you find must be suitable when compared to at least four of your own needs and preferences. Suitable Vacancy 1 This matches my own needs and preferences. 1 2 3 4 Suitable Vacancy 2 This matches my own needs and preferences. 1 2 3 4 29 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz The steps in a job search process. The more organized you are the better chance you have of finding a job. It is important that you follow a well worked out process and know exactly which stage you are for each job you apply for. You will probably apply for many jobs before you are successful. If you are disorganized you will lose track of which jobs you have applied for and what they involve. This could lead you to making a fool of yourself either on the phone or at an interview by not knowing what you are talking about or by talking about a different job to the one on offer. Objectives First of all have a clear idea of what kind of job you are applying for. If you have properly researched your work preferences and your own personal qualities you should know what you are applying for. Remember that the job will need to fit in with your constraints and need to meet the majority of your needs. Contact Lists It is really important that you know who to speak to and who to contact when searching for a job. If you write to a potential employer it is vital to send the letter to the correct person. Likewise any follow up phone calls will be much easier if you know exactly who you need to speak to. When dealing with an employment agency you will usually have one person who looks after your applications. It is important that you know who this person is and how to contact them direct. The easiest way to do this is to make a list with two columns. The first column will have the name of the organisation and the second will have the contacts details. Remember to include both the phone number and email addresses if you have them Organisation Contact Quick Staff Employment Agency Jennie Watts 023-5689-1234 jennie@quickstaff.com QuickSave Supamarkets Dave Edmunds HR Manger 01 568 5896 30 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Log of Positions and/or Vacancies Applied For and/or Investigated You will inevitably apply for many jobs and so it important to keep up to date with which jobs you have applied for or investigated. Knowing this will stop you making unnecessary multiple applications or enquiries for the same position. It will also stop you overlooking applying for a job because you are unsure whether you have already applied for it. The easy way to do this would be to add another column to the table above. Organisation Job Applied for or investigated Contact Quick Staff Employment Jennie Watts 023-5689-1234 Agency jennie@quickstaff.com QuickSave Dave Edmunds HR Manger Supamarkets 01 568 5896 Retail manager Retail manager Actions Planned (Including Follow-Up) You need to actively work upon applying for jobs. You are unlikely to be successful if you just post off your CV and hope. Regularly following up your applications will greatly improve your chances of getting the job applied for. If you send in a CV for a job follow it up a few days alter to make sure that it has been received. When you register with an employment agency it is necessary to ring them at least twice a week to check if they have any new vacancies and to keep you in the front of their thoughts. If you go for an appointment always email the person back and thank them to confirm your interest. The easy way to do this would be to add another column to the table above. Organisation Contact Job Applied for or investigated Follow Up Quick Staff Jennie Watts 023-5689-1234 Retail Ring Employment Agency jennie@quickstaff.com manager twice a week QuickSave Dave Edmunds HR Manger Retail Thank Supamarkets 01 568 5896 manager you email after visit. Actions Completed You need to make sure that you have done all the things that you need to do secure the job and put yourself in the best position. You will always need to send potential employers an application letter and an up to date CV. You should then follow up that these have been received. As you will need the help of referees you should ask them to be your referee and alert them to your job application. If possible arrange to visit the workplace for a pre interview familiarisation. If this occurs you should thank who ever showed you around. 31 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Thank you sent after visit Visit arranged Application received Referees contacted CV up to date sent Letter Sent A simple tick list added to you table above will help this A complete version of the table we have created is produced on the next page. You should use it when planning your job applications. If necessary add more columns to customise it according to you own personal needs. Your teacher has copies of this form. 32 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz 33 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Thank you sent after visit Visit arranged Application received Follow Up Referees contacted Job Applied for or investigated CV up to date sent Contact Letter Sent Organisation Summarise the steps in the job search process in the spaces below; Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 34 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Preparation for an initial meeting with a prospective employer in relation to an identified vacancy. In this next section you need to imagine that you have been called in for an interview for one of the jobs you have found. Now is the time to prepare yourself for the interview. There are a number of things that you need to do to make sure that you are ready. Readiness to Respond Promptly to Job Opportunities If the right job comes along how ready are you to apply for it and get along for the interview? It is important that you always have your CV up-to-date so you can send it off. Try to keep a diary of appointments you have. This way if an employer or an agency calls you in for an interview you will know when you are available. If you are actively seeking a job make sure that you allow time in your week for such things. If the job is a really good one - drop other commitments and go to the interview. Access to Telephone and/or Transportation Make sure that your car has a warrant that you have petrol in the tank and a street map so you can find out where you are going. If you are using public transport get timetables and routes for the areas you wish to work. There is no point having a mobile phone if you do not have it with you or if it has no credit on it. If you switch it off make sure that you turn it back on and check for missed calls and messages. If you don’t have a phone a basic pay as you go is a cheap and necessary accessory for the active job seeker. Clothing and Personal Presentation Don’t leave things to the last minute. Make sure that you keep your personal presentation up to scratch the whole time. It is too late to find out at 5pm that your hair looks a mess if you have an interview the next day. Likewise sort out your interview clothes and keep them ready and laundered in your wardrobe. Having your shoes shined in advance will prevent the risk of getting shoe polish on your shirt. If you are lady having a spare pair of tights in your handbag could also save you embarrassment. Knowledge of Job Requirements and Employer Expectations You need to do your homework about the job you are applying for. Make sure that before you write your covering letter you have enough information to tailor your letter to demonstrate to the reader that you have the skills, experience and personal qualities to meet the requirements of the job. Look at the employer's website to learn about their organisation. You can refer to this knowledge in your interview. If you know any ask current employees about where they work. Current Curriculum Vitae Make sure that this is up to date and if appropriate get an English speaker to check your CV. They can check that the wording and style is right. Begin by making a list of your skills and then give examples of how and when you used these skills. Download your NZQA record of learning and find copies of any awards and certificates you have received. A good CV should be short and relevant to the job you are applying for - two to three pages of A4 at 35 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz most. Remember to write about your work experience, this is often more valued than qualifications. Try and avoid fancy fonts, colours and staples as these don’t photocopy well. Questions in Preparation for Interview It really does pay to think about what kind of questions an employer might ask you. You should practise answer to possible questions and write them down so you can remember them. It is also a good idea to practise answering interview questions with friends. Nearly every interview will allow the applicant to ask questions. Think about what questions you could ask and employer. Write down these questions and take them with you to your interview. When given the opportunity make sure you have something worthwhile to say. A well prepared question will not only give you answers but will also show that you have bothered to find out about the organisation in advance and that you are well prepared and genuine in your application. 36 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Get ready 1. How are you going to make sure that you are ready to respond promptly to job opportunities? 2. How are you going to make sure that you have access to telephone and/or transportation? 37 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz 3. How are you going to make sure that you have the appropriate clothing and personal presentation for the interview? 4. How are you going to make sure that you have sufficient knowledge of job requirements and employer expectations for the interview? 5. Show how are you going to make sure that your current curriculum vitae is suitable for the interview? Attach a copy to this booklet. 38 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz 6. Thinking of the job opportunities you have chosen. Write down some appropriate questions you have prepared ready for use at the interview Write down some appropriate answer to questions that you may be asked at the interview 39 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz Space for you to make Notes. 40 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz 41 of 41 4253v5Student Workbook 2012 © Education Resource Services, Box 55103, Eastridge, Auckland. www.ers.ac.nz