Moneythink Financial Capability Curriculum
Lesson 12 – Handout Y
Name:
Date:
Your First Job
Some celebrities and their first jobs:
• Jim Carrey: Janitor and security guard at a local school
• Chris Rock: Busboy at Red Lobster
• Megan Fox: Wore a banana suit outside a local smoothie shop
• Brad Pitt: Dressed up in a chicken suit and passed out flyers while working
for El Pollo Loco
• Dwayne Wade: Worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken
• Gwen Stefani: Worked at Dairy Queen
• Tom Cruise: A bellhop at a local hotel
Why are first jobs important?
1) Experience! You need it!
2) Connections – references for future careers and opportunities!
Finding a Job
1) Use your network: Ask friends, family, and other people you know about
openings in your neighborhood! You should also check your Moneythink
app to see which job opportunities were shared in JobHunt.
2) Use the Internet: There are millions of resources, like www.monster.com,
where you can look for jobs in your area.
3) Everyone starts somewhere—no job is too small. Get your foot in the door!
Job Applications
• Many companies now accept applications online, so check their websites.
• Always include a cover letter explaining why you would like the job and—
most importantly—why you are a good fit for the position.
• Include letters of recommendation (past employers, teachers, adults who
you work with—even a mentor!) to describe your strengths and why you
would be a positive asset to the company. Ask your mentors for tips on how
to ask someone to write a letter of recommendation for you.
Moneythink Financial Capability Curriculum
Lesson 12 – Handout Y
Interview 101: Tips
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Bring your resume.
Shake hands firmly.
Make sure you’ve done your homework on the company: you should know
what they do and what the position entails.
Turn your cellphone off and do not bring it out.
Dress for success. (Remember our professional dress tips!)
Make eye contact and smile.
Be humble.
Speak clearly and slowly.
Come prepared with questions about the position.
Moneythink Financial Capability Curriculum
Lesson 12 – Handout Y
Letter of Recommendation Samples
Steve Smith
123 A Street
City Center, NY 12345
September 21, 2012
Bill Jones
345 B Street
City Center, NY 12345
Dear Mr. Jones,
I am writing on behalf of Sally Somers regarding the position of Museum Curator
Assistant at City Center Museum. Sally and I are both majoring in Art History at
State College, and we have taken several classes together and worked on many
projects. During that time, I have gotten to know Sally quite well and can thoroughly
vouch for her character and abilities.
Sally is a pleasure to work with because her pleasant and positive attitude can
make nearly any work seem fun and interesting. She usually became the leader of
our group projects and always handled the position fairly by making sure everyone
had equal amounts of work that they enjoyed. If we had someone in our group who
would continuously complain, rather than getting upset, Sally would continue to
point out the positives until the person began to enjoy themselves.
For classes, Sally always took the initiative to make sure her work was done
exceptionally well. She also made sure she was thoroughly prepared to participate
at length in class discussions. Due to her love of art and determination to spread
her passion, Sally organized a group that volunteers at nearby schools to teach
children the importance of understanding and appreciating art. Although Sally is
graduating this year, the excitement she put into this group has given the younger
members the passion to want to continue volunteering.
Sally is also willing to work on areas she feels she could improve upon. She realized
quickly during our freshman year that her fear of public speaking was holding her
Moneythink Financial Capability Curriculum
Lesson 12 – Handout Y
back in class, so she worked diligently to improve her speaking abilities. She even
took a speech class to gain confidence. She improved so much that the teacher
decided to use her as an example for future classes, and she is now able to
communicate effectively with everyone she encounters.
With her relentless motivation and her knowledge of art, Sally would bring a wealth
of knowledge and skills to the Citycenter Museum. I know she would be an
excellent fit for your organization. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me
at the above address.
Best,
Steve Smith
Cover Letter Sample
Dear Mr. Adams,
I’m submitting an application for the editorial position you advertised on SuperJobs
on September 10.
I've spent the last year and a half working full-time as a writer and editor for a
publishing company that specializes in educational content. During that time, I've
logged thousands of hours doing everything related to the editorial process,
including copy editing, proofreading, content entry, and quality assurance. I
currently manage a team of over 40 freelance writers who work on a variety of
different subjects, and I ensure that the quality of every submission meets our high
editorial standards. I'm also very familiar with English grammar and usage and have
no trouble adapting to various style guides.
What I like most about my current job is that it gives me the opportunity to learn
and be creative, and it looks like this position would do the same. I feel that I could
be a valuable asset to your team, and I bring to the table all of the skills that you
require in an editor.
Moneythink Financial Capability Curriculum
Lesson 12 – Handout Y
I look forward to discussing my qualifications further and can be reached by email
at npeterson@email.com or by phone at 460.555.0198.
Thank you so much for your time.
Best,
Nicole Peterson
Sources:
http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/PersonalRecommendationhttp://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Personal-Recommendation
http://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Cover-LetterEmailhttp://www.wikihow.com/Sample/Cover-Letter-Email