CAREER DECISIONS
PLANNING YOUR CAREER
JOB VS. CAREER
• JOB:
• Set of tasks you accomplish as you work.
• One does not intend to stay employed in this
field.
• CAREER:
• This is an occupation to which you made a
long term commitment
WHY DO PEOPLE WORK?
• To meet their needs, wants, and goals.
• To gain a sense of identity--who they are.
• Often, a career becomes someone’s life
FACTORS AFFECTING CAREER CHOICE
• Values and Lifestyle
• May be against guns—wouldn’t be a police officer
• Want to be close to family-wouldn’t be a pilot
• Aptitudes and Interests
• May have natural athletic ability/what do you like
• Personal Qualities and Traits
• Do you like to work alone or with others
CAREER PLANNING
• Steps in Career Planning
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Self-Analysis
Research
Plan of Action
Reevaluation
• The Importance of Goals
• Short term-few days or weeks
• Long-5-10 years or longer
• Making the Right Choices
JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES
• Get Organized
• Make a Plan
• Follow Through
• Don’t Give Up!!
SOURCES OF JOB OPPORTUNITY INFO.
• School Counseling and
Placement Services
• Periodicals, Books, and other
Publications
• Public and Private Employment
Agencies
• Newspaper, Yellow Pages, and
Private Job Listings
• Internet
RESUME/INTERVIEW
GETTING THE JOB
KNOWING WHAT TO DO TO GET THE JOB OVER THE COMPETITION!
WHAT IS A RÉSUMÉ?
• A written summary of
a job seeker’s work
experience,
education, skills, and
interests
• Organized list
GENERAL GUIDELINES
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Keep your résumé to 1 (single sided) page
Use good Quality 8 ½ x 11 inch paper
Résumé should be attractive and easy to read
Proofread carefully!
Résumé should be typed
SECTIONS OF A RÉSUMÉ
SEE PAGE 111 FOR AN EXAMPLE
CONTACT INFORMATION
• Name
• Address
• Phone Number (voicemail appropriate?)
• E-mail (appropriate?)
OBJECTIVE
• Your employment goal
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
• List most recent school first
• Name, city, state, dates of attendance or
graduation
• Include GPA if it is 3.0/4.0 or above
• List beneficial education experiences if
appropriate
WORK EXPERIENCE
• List most recent job 1st-Include company name,
location and employment dates
• Include relevant accomplishments for each job
• Ex: Customer service, increased sales by 30%, developed
new course in the FACS department, supervised a sales
team of 10 people, money management
• Start with a key action word (do not use the same
word twice!)
RÉSUMÉ WORDS
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Assist
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Able
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Action
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Analysis
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Achievement •
Accomplished•
Advanced
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Conduct
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Consult
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Committed
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Conducted •
Contributed •
Coordinated •
Develop
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Deliver
Design
Defined
Diversified
Devoted
Distinguished
Encourage
Earned
Enhance
Evaluate
Examined
Extended
Facilitate
Formulate
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Fulfilled
Forecasted •
Generated •
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Gained
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Gathered
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Gave
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Headed
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Hosted
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Identified
Implemented •
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Improved
Improvised •
Influenced •
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Launched
Lobbied
Maintained
Managed
Marketed
Mediated
Motivated
Negotiated
Observed
Obtained
Operated
Organized
Originated
Oversaw
Participated
RÉSUMÉ’ WORDS
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Prepared
Presented
Promoted
Provided
Published
Pursued
Quantified
Ranked
Received
Recommended
Redesigned
Reengineered
Reorganized
Represented
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Restructured
Revised
Safeguarded
Secured
Selected
Specified
Spearheaded
Standardized
Strengthened
Structured
Suggested
Superseded
Supervised
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Targeted
Taught
Tested
Trained
Transformed
Transcended
Unified
Upgraded
Utilized
Validated
Valued
Wrote
SKILLS, VOLUNTEER WORK,
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT,
ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS, ETC.
• Include at least one other appropriate section
• Relate section to the job you are seeking
REFERENCE SECTION
• What is a reference?
• Who should write it for you?
REFERENCE SECTION
• What is a reference?
• Who should write it for you?
• Someone to provide info about your character or
skills
• Someone you’ve known for at least 1 year
• Over age 18
• Available upon request can force a
communication
REFERENCE SECTION
• References should be typed on a separate piece of
paper and ready to be handed over/emailed
• On résumé, under reference section write “references
available upon request”
• Inform references (ask them first!) a head of time so they
are prepared and can do their best for you
• One reference should be a work reference, one can be
a school reference, one can be a personal reference
(most companies don’t want the personal reference)
DO NOT LIE ON YOUR RÉSUMÉ!!!
COVER LETTER
• What’s in the letter?
• Explanation of interest in the job
• Your most relevant skills/experiences
• Your interest in the job
• What is its purpose?
• Interpret the data in your resume
• Add a personal touch
COVER LETTER
• When do you send it?
• It should accompany the resume
• Whom do you send it to?
• Potential employers
• Managers
• Director of Human Resources
• Contact info in job posting
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
• Do Your Homework
• Know the name and position of the person you will be
interviewing with
• Do research about the company
• Review the job description
How can you learn about the
company?
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
• Dress for Success
• Outfit should be neat, clean,
ironed, appropriate and
professional
• Always overdress for the position
• Avoid wearing too much
perfume/cologne
• Avoid wearing too much jewelry
(especially items that you may
play with during the interview)
THE JOB INTERVIEW
• Make a good first impression
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Arrive on time
Dress appropriately
Go alone
Be prepared
Appear poised and self-confident
Be courteous
DURING THE INTERVIEW
• Things to do:
• Address the interviewer as Mr. or Mrs. and shake
their hand firmly
• Wait until you are told to be seated
• Maintain good eye contact
• Smile
• Relax
• Be positive (especially about your old company
and your work ethic)
• Put thought into each answer before you answer
DURING THE INTERVIEW
• Things NOT to do:
• Ask about salary, benefits, work hours, or vacation/sick
days
• Complain about anything!
• Provide information that is not factual
• Discuss personal problems
• Ask if you got the job
• Linger after the interviewer indicates the interview is
over
THE THANK-YOU LETTER
• Follow-up is essential!
• What is it?
• Why write a thank-you letter?
• Other ways to follow up?
EMPLOYMENT
LEGISLATION
KEEPING YOUR JOB
EMPLOYMENT LAWS
• Social Security Act of 1935
• Disability
• Survivor
• Retirement
• Hospital
• Medical
• Unemployment Insurance (Max. 26 weeks)
• What is going on today with our
Social Security system?
OTHER LEGISLATION
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Minimum Wage - National $7.25/hr. (Jan. 2013)
States can also make their own – Illinois - $8.25
• Overtime over 40 hours
• Workers’ Compensation
• injury as a result of the job
OTHER LEGISLATION
• Family & Medical Leave Act-1993 - Up to 12 weeks of
unpaid leave for medical or family reasons
• Equal Pay Act - Men and women doing same work get
same pay
• Civil Rights Act of 1964 - No discrimination based on color,
religion, sex, race, or nationality
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act - No discrimination of
people 40 or older
• Americans with Disabilities Act - No discrimination based on
physical or mental disabilities
UNDERSTANDING AND PREPARING
WORK FORMS.
• W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
• How much will be deducted for income tax
• Social Security Forms
• Withhold money for your “retirement”-get it back later
• Work Permit Application
• People under 16 need ok from parents to work-child
labor laws
• Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement
• January 31 must have from employer-reporting all
earnings, taxes, etc…
MONEY
MANAGEMENT/BENEFITS
EMPLOYEE PAY AND BENEFITS
GROSS PAY, DEDUCTIONS, AND
NET PAY
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Hourly Wages
Overtime
Monthly Salary
Annual Salary
Deductions
Federal
Income Tax
Important Forms
•W-4
State and Local
Tax
Retirement Fund Health Insurance
• Net Pay
Social Security
Union Dues
Other Terms
•Commission
•Minimum Wage
Medicare
LABOR UNIONS/
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
• History – AFL (American Federation of Labor)
• One of the First Major Unions organized
• Composed of craft unions
• Functions
• Collective Bargaining
• Support Employee Rights
• Types
• Craft – Construction, brick layers, pipefitters, plumbers
• Industrial – Auto workers, machinists
• Public Employee – Govt., State, county (teachers, police
officers, firefighters, any govt. employee)
BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES
• Profit Sharing
• incentive pay; employer will share profits with employees
• Paid Vacations and Holidays
• Employee Services
• Counseling, taxes, etc…
• Sick Pay
• Can tie into FMLA
• Leaves of Absence/Sabbatical
• Still maintain employee status (Paid vs. Unpaid)
• Insurance: Health, Life, Dental, Vision
• Disability Insurance (Work or Individual), FLEX spending
MORE BENEFITS
• Bonuses
• When certain goals are met; around holidays
• Stock Options
• Will give you stock in your company
• Pension
• Govt. employees retirement plan, have to be in company a
certain number of years
• Savings Plans – 401K/403B
• Travel Expenses
• Discounts
• Store, facilities, etc…
• Many times benefits kick in related to how long an
employee has been working for the company
TRENDS IN THE WORKPLACE
• Altered Workweeks
• Flextime/Compressed Workweek – Work four 10
hour days, instead of five 8 hour days
• Job Rotation – all employees work at all stations
• Job Sharing – 20/20, 30/10, MWF vs T/Th, am vs. pm
• Permanent Part-Time
• Work at Home/Telecommuting – Skype
• Child Care – in house
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Equal Pay Act
Craft Union
AFL
Flex-Time
disability
resume
W-4
gross pay
application letter
Worker’s Compensation
net pay
objective
Social Security Act of 1935
telecommuter
FMLA
promotions
self-analysis
job sharing
get organized
short-term goal
long-term goal
references
current trend in workforce
Industrial Union
thank you letter
overtime pay
total gross pay
deductions
Americans with Disabilities Act
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Equal Pay Act
culminating goal
Medicare
benefits
federal Taxes
state taxes
local taxes
retirement plan
consumer
resources
interview
minimum wage
work ethic
human resources
job rotation
Fair Labor Standards Act