Dr. Diane DeBacker
Deputy Commissioner
Kansas State Department of Education
“A lot of fellows nowadays have
a B.A., M.D. or Ph.D.
Unfortunately, they don’t have a
J-O-B.”
--Attributed to Fats Domino-American pianist and singer
Occupation
Registered nurses
Total Job Openings
2006-2016
1,001,000
Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants
393,000
Licensed practical and licensed vocational
nurses
309,000
Automotive service technicians and
mechanics
265,000
Computer support specialists
242,000
Preschool teachers, except special education
187,000
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists
151,000
Real estate agents
115,000
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers
107,000
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
107,000
Occupation
Total Job Openings
2006-2016
Elementary school teachers, except special
education
545,000
Accountants and auditors
450,000
Secondary school teachers, except special and
vocational education
368,000
Computer software engineers, applications
300,000
Computer systems analysts
280,000
Middle school teachers, except special and
vocational education
217,000
Network systems and data communications
analysts
193,000
Securities, commodities and financial services
sales agents
161,000
Network and computer systems administrators
154,000
Construction managers
152,000
Occupation
Total Job Openings
2006-2016
Postsecondary teachers
662,000
Lawyers
288,000
Doctors and surgeons
204,000
Clergy
130,000
Pharmacists
95,000
Educational, vocational
and school counselors
84,000
Physical therapists
68,000
Mental health and
substance abuse social
workers
62,000
Rehabilitation counselors
60,000
Mental health counselors
50,000
I demand a salary commiserate with my
extensive experience.
 I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor
and spreadsheet progroms.
 Receive a plague for Salesperson of the
Year.
 Reason for leaving last job: maturity
leave.
 Wholly responsible for two (2) failed
financial institutions.
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Marketing tool – for applicant
Screening tool – for employer
Purpose: to get you an interview
First impression of you
Professional looking
Free of errors
3-4 pages long, printed single-sided
Average time human resources personnel
review resumes – 20-30 seconds!
Dos and Don'ts of Resume Writing
DO’s
Don’t‘s
Use a professional layout style
or template.
Make up the layout as you go
along.
Include a footer with your
name, contact number and
page number.
Include a photo or graphics.
Confidently represent your
academic, employment and
extra-curricular achievements.
Make false statements about
your work history, academic
results or residency status.
Include meaningful details in
your work history, e.g.
"Commended by Management
for polite and efficient
customer service".
Write vague statements in your
work history about your duties,
e.g. "Served customers".
Tailor the content to prove how Use the same version of your
well you fulfill the job selection resume for every job
criteria.
application.
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Failed bar exam with relatively high grades.
Marital status: Single. Unmarried.
Unengaged. Uninvolved. No commitments.
I have an excellent track record, although I
am not a horse.
I am loyal to my employer at all costs…
Please feel free to respond to my resume on
my office voice mail.
I have become completely paranoid,
trusting completely no one and absolutely
nothing.
Paid work
Volunteer
positions
Extracurricular
activities
Leadership
roles
Internships
Free writing. Don't worry about the
wording of your paragraphs at this point.
Describe accomplishments as well as
duties.
For now, use whatever language you
want. You’ll clean up the language later.
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What are your greatest strengths?
How can you demonstrate those strengths?
Employers value certain qualities
◦ team player
◦ good communication skills
◦ leadership abilities
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What are the requirements and needs of this
particular industry, this particular employer,
and this particular job?
You may want to create somewhat different
resumes for different jobs.
Name & Address
Objective/Keywords/Summary
Education
Experience
Activities/Volunteer Work/Interests
Skills
References
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Leave plenty of white space on your resume.
Emphasize job titles by boldfacing them.
Place the most important information closer to
the top of your resume.
Use descriptive category headings such as
"Counseling and Tutoring Experience" or
"Leadership Experience“.
Limit to 3-4 pages if possible.
Use 8 1/2" x 11" white, off-white or very lightgray bond paper. Do not use colored paper.
Proofread carefully; have someone review it for
you.
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Personal interests: Donating blood. Fourteen
gallons so far.
Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a
Midwest chain store.
Note: Please don’t misconstrue my 14 jobs as jobhopping. I have never quit a job.
Marital status: Often. Children: Various.
Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all
employees get to work by 8:45 a.m. every morning.
Could not work under those conditions.
Highlight your qualifications
Highlight your accomplishments
Explain why there are gaps in your work history (if any)
Express interest in the position
Strong first paragraph, explaining why you’re perfect for the
position
Second paragraph – briefly describe your work experience
and how it relates to the position
Limited or no work experience? Highlight your volunteer
activities, leadership opportunities, community involvement
Be honest
Close your letter
with a strong
paragraph that
briefly
summarizes
your strengths.
Say thank you.
Sound confident.
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My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since
I possess no training in meteorology, I
suppose I should try stock brokerage.
I procrastinate, especially when the task is
unpleasant.
It’s best for employers that I not work with
people.
The company made me a scapegoat, just
like my three previous employers.
Let’s meet, so you can ooh and ahh over my
experience.
 You will want me to be Head Honcho in no
time.
 Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget
details.
 Finished eighth in my class of ten.
 References: None. I’ve left a path of
destruction behind me.
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Be early.
Bring copies of your resume.
Bring a pen, a notebook, breath mints, a comb, an umbrella and some tissues.
Dedicate one night prior to the interview to a mock Q & A.
Research the company. Take notes. Memorize important facts.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
"What are your strengths and weaknesses?“
"Why did you leave your last position?“
"Can you describe a previous work situation
in which you ... ?“
"What is your ideal work environment?“
"How do you handle mistakes?“
"What is your most notable
accomplishment?"
Asking questions shows that you're interested in the
job. It also gives you a chance to show how
knowledgeable you are about the position and the
industry. Most important, it lets you highlight why
you're the perfect candidate.
You have to choose your questions carefully, though,
depending on who's doing the interviewing.
There are certain questions you should never ask early
in the interview process. Don't ask about salary,
vacation, 401(k) or anything else that might make you
seem more interested in the compensation than the
company.
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Layoffs are happening all around me. How can I
show my boss that I’m an asset?
Stay visible
Volunteer to lead special projects
Mentor new staff
Is it suicide to ask for a well-deserved
promotion now?
No, but be realistic
If I take a lesser job to get back on my feet, will I
ever regain the career success I once had?
Having somewhere to go and something to do is
important for emotional well being
Get humble; be willing to do more for less to be a top
earner in the future
I’ve been offered a position at another
company. How can I tell if it’s a risky move?
4.
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Health care and education have traditionally been
recession-proof
My job was eliminated. Can I still ask my old
boss for a reference?
5.
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Don’t burn any bridges
What’s the best way to market myself in this
economy?
Highlight your skills instead of your previous title
or position
7.
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What are the new do’s and don’ts of
interviewing?
Research the company
Bring visuals
Make a personal connection
Don’t use the interview as therapy
Don’t appear overconfident
Should I offer up my current salary in an
interview?
No
Should I look for another job while I still have
my current one?
Experts advise good employees to sit tight & weather
the storm
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Job Content
Salary
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Benefits
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Base Salary
Commission
Bonuses
Projected Salary Increases
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Vacation Leave
Sick Leave
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
401K
Pension Plan
Stock Options
 Hours
and travel
 Work environment
 Flexibility and company culture
 Promotion and growth
opportunities
 Your personal circumstances
 What does your gut tell you?
Following is an actual job application that this 75
year-old senior citizen submitted to WalMart in
California.
Do you have any special skills?
Yes, but they’re better suited to a more intimate environment.
May we contact your current employer?
If I had one, would I be here?
Do you have any physical conditions that would prohibit you
from lifting up to 50 lbs.?
Of what?
Do you have a car?
I think the more appropriate question here would be, ‘Do you
have a car that runs?’
Have you received any special awards or recognition?
I may already be a winner of the Publishers Clearing House
Sweepstakes, so they tell me.
Do you smoke?
On the job – no! On my breaks – yes!
What would you like to be doing in five years?
Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb
sexy blond supermodel who thinks I’m the greatest thing
since sliced bread. Actually, I’d like to be doing that now.
Nearest relative?
7 miles.
Do you certify that the above is true and complete to the
best of your knowledge?
Oh yes, absolutely.
Yes, because he was funny!