~Change Your Direction ~Change your Career
~Change your
2014
Job Hunt Jungle
Capture the Winds of Change
Active Job Searching
o Networking
• Hidden Market, How & Where
o Present Yourself
• Elevator speech, Professional Dress
o Employment Documents
• Effective employment application
ACTIVE Job Searching
• Planning, organizing, researching, and
courageously engaging in job search
activities such as networking and the
employment application process, while
demonstrating your skills, which will solve a
problem or meet a need for a potential
employer, and result in landing of a job.
What’s the worse thing that can happen to you?
Traditional VS Active
The TRADITIONAL JOB SEARCH METHOD involves such
strategies as looking in the want ads, searching
through help wanted notices on bulletin boards,
going to employment agencies, applying for jobs in
the personnel office of companies, and even
searching online job boards. All these traditional
methods involve a person reacting to a job that has
already been publicly offered.
20-30% of jobs are found in this “Open Market”
80% of job seekers use this method
Traditional VS Active
The ACTIVE JOB SEARCH METHOD does not involve
waiting until the job is advertised. It involves
techniques that lead to jobs being offered before they
are publicly advertised. Instead of techniques, this job
search method is more a state of mind.
• This involves the “Hidden” job market
70-80% of jobs are found in the Hidden Market
Only 20-30% of job seekers use the hidden market
TRADITIONAL - Advantages
ACTIVE - Advantages
Provide a familiar structure.
Allows one to find about unadvertised jobs.
Applicants who look very good on paper have
an edge.
De-emphasizes comparison with others-emphasizes skills and abilities of individual.
People with interest and skills that fit standard
positions have an edge.
Allows potential employees to find out about
potential employers.
Allows applicants to create jobs using their
unique skills.
More than 70% of job seekers who use this
method find jobs.
TRADITIONAL - Disadvantages
ACTIVE - Disadvantages
Less than 30% of job seekers find jobs using this
method.
Unfamiliar to many job seekers.
Emphasis on fitting person to job not the job to a Requires time and energy.
person.
People who want to use a unique or unusual
blending of skills rarely find positions this way.
Requires assertiveness and a take charge
attitude.
Source: Kansas City Kansas Community College – www.kckcc.edu
Networking
• Communicating who you are, what you can do,
and what you want to do with as many people as
possible.
o Networking Requires:
• Planning
• Organizing
• Research skills
• Courage
o NOT – Asking people for a job!
o When should you start networking for your future job?
Build Your Network
Instructors
/Teachers
Community
Groups or
Leaders
Customers
CoWorkers
Sports
Clubs
You
Fellow
Students
Volunteers
Family
Members
Neighbors
/Friends
Building Your Network
• Customer
o “I think I might like to work in a business like this. What do you like about
working in this field? How would you recommend that I get started in this
field?”
• Volunteer
o “I’m excited to be a part of this event! Please let me know how I might be
of the most help. Do you volunteer with this project every year? Do you
know of other community projects that need volunteers?”
• Current Job
o Do your best and keep a positive attitude. Be polite and helpful to
customers.
• School
o Maintain good attendance, show a good attitude, be a good team
player, complete projects/assignments to the best of your ability.
Online Networking
• Facebook
o Maintain a professional profile
• Linked-In – www.linkedin.com
o Professional online networking site
o Search a company’s name on Linked-In to see your connections that are
connected to that company.
More than 75% of employers use social networks
to look up potential employees!
When will you start
your Active Job
Search?
Stand and tell me when!
Now you have a
Round Tu-It….
So just do it!!!
Coming Soon!
Networking to get a Job
The Elevator
Speech/Pitch
• An elevator speech or pitch is a short
summary used to quickly and simply define a
person, product, service, or organization and
its promise of value to be delivered. The
name “elevator pitch” reflects the idea that
it should be possible to deliver the summary
in the time span of an elevator ride, or
approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.
• Who am I? What do I offer? What problem
can I solve? What are the main contributions
I can make to the company?
• What should the listener do as a result of
hearing this?
Developing your Elevator Speech
• Know your audience and know yourself -- including
your key strengths, adjectives that describe you, a
description of what you are trying to let others know
about you, and a statement of your interest in the
company or industry the person represents.
• Include the 3 P’s
o Previous Experience – from education or previous job experience
o Portable (transferrable) Skills – customer focus, leadership,
organization, communication, time management, budgeting
o Personal traits/passions – quick learner, results-oriented, positive
attitude, creative, analytical
Sources:
http://careerservices.wvu.edu/students/build-it/interviewing/developing-your-elevator-speech
http://www.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/assets/departments/cws/files/elevatorspeech.pdf
Think Like the Employer
What does the employer need/want
from a new employee?
Loyalty
Trustworthiness
Create your Speech/Pitch
• Clarify your job target -- Until you know your job
target, nobody can help you find it.
• Put it on paper -- Write down everything you’d want
a prospective employer to know about your skills,
accomplishments and work experiences that are
relevant to your target position. Edit it down to the
most important points.
• Format it -- A good pitch should answer three
questions: Who are you? What do you do? What do
you want?
Create your Speech/Pitch
• Tailor the speech/pitch to them, not you -- It’s important
to remember that the people listening to your speech
will have their antennas tuned to WIFM (What’s in It for
Me?) So be sure to focus your message on their needs.
• Eliminate industry jargon -- make your pitch easy for
anyone to understand, so avoid using acronyms and
tech-speak that the average person or job interviewer
might not understand.
• Practice reading your speech/pitch out loud -- writing is
more formal and structured than speaking. If you’re not
careful, your elevator pitch can come off sounding more
like an infomercial than a conversation.
Source:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/02/04/the-perfect-elevatorpitch-to-land-a-job/
• Hello, my name is Andrew Parker. My work
experience is in the food service industry where I
learned the importance of high-quality customer
service. I will soon graduate from Kiamichi
Technology Center’s Automotive Service
Technology program. I am eager to begin a career
where I can use my analytical skills, my passion for
cars, and my automotive training to keep my
customers’ cars running at optimal performance
levels. I have a positive attitude and strive to do my
best every day. Do I sound like someone you would
want on your team?
• Hi, my name is Michelle James and I will soon be a
graduate of Kiamichi Technology Center’s Health
Careers Program. I have a passion for working with
elderly people, and have recently completed the
requirements for my Home Health Aide certification.
I am looking forward to starting a career providing
excellent care for senior citizens in our community.
While completing my nurse aide clinical work, my
clients commented that I provided excellent care
and that I brightened their day with my visits. Could
I schedule a time to discuss any opportunities that
your company might have for a person with my
qualifications?
Critically-Important
Smile
Eye Contact
Hand shake
So tell me…
• When is the Choctaw
Career Expo?
Please stand if you know the answer!
February 26, 2014
Coming Soon!
Halliburton
Verizon Communications
Tyson Foods
Kelworth Trucking
OU Medical System
Fedex
Trinity Industries
Mercy Hospital
Lowe’s
Providence of Oklahoma
Mays Home Care
Tulsa Life Flight
Symbiotic Aquaponics
OK Dept. of Transportation
BancFirst
Choctaw Nation HR
McAlester Regional Health
OSU-IT
Grayson College
OSU
Oklahoma City University
OU
Paris Jr. College
St. Gregory’s University
Veterans Resource
Center
Present Yourself
• Dress like a Professional in your career
field.
o 4 Words of Wisdom




Clean
Neat
Conservative
Well-fitting
o Ladies – not too short, not too low-cut, not too tight
o Gentlemen – not too baggy, they don’t want to see
your underwear
(Avoid)
Sunglasses
Flip-flops
Hats
T-Shirts
Flashy jewelry
Strong perfume/cologne
Bright colors/designs
Stilettos
Dramatic Makeup
Over-worn clothing
Shorts
Spaghetti Straps
Chew gum
Drinking soda/coffee
Taking cell phone
Show tattoos
Jeans**
Sandals (open toes)
**Jeans? – Only in career fields where jeans are acceptable or
required (i.e. welding, construction, warehouses, etc.)
o ALWAYS:
• Clothing that makes you look & feel
confident
• Conservative clothing & shoes that are
appropriate for your industry
What’s right in my field?
• Research the company
o What does a professional person in my field wear to work
every day?
Company website
Your network
Be a customer
Chamber of Commerce
Current employee of the
company
• Research your industry
•
•
•
•
•
Appropriate?
Details
• Personal Hygiene
o
o
o
o
o
Soap/Shampoo
Deodorant
Brush teeth
Neat hair style
Clean/neat finger nails
• Other
o Wrinkle-free clothing
o Clean shoes
o Organization
• Folder, Briefcase, Purse
• Ink Pen, Resume, Business Cards, Portfolio
• Time management
Clothing Sources
• Job search clothing may be obtained at a
variety of resources
o There’s no $ amount required
• Wal-Mart
• Stage
• Thrift store
• Borrowed, Etc.
Visit the Dress For Success Exhibit at the Career Expo for
additional information!
So tell me…
• What will YOU wear
to the Career Expo
to meet with a
potential
employer?
Please stand and share!
10 Lucky KTC Students will win $25 gift cards!
VIP Career Success Passport
• Lapel Pin
• Dress for Success in your Professional field
• Resume
o www.okjobmatch.com (excellent Resume builder)
o Resume Resources: www.choctawcareers.com, Employment Services
10 Lucky KTC Students will win $25 gift cards
Completing the “Killer App”
• The Employment Application
o Organizations typically use the application
form as the initial screening device for
applicants. What makes them "killer" is they
too often ask for superficial information. Yet
employers use this information to make deep
cuts in the applicant pool, using applications
to eliminate as much as 90 percent of the
applicants.
Source: Dr. Robert Gatewood: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voicescareers/2013/04/25/how-to-complete-a-killer-job-application
What Does Your Application
Tell About You?
• Attention to detail
o Did you fill in the blanks correctly?
• Problem solving skills
o Did you read and analyze questions on application?
• Ability to follow instructions
o Can/did you take the time to read and follow instructions?
• Organizational skills and neat work habits
o Can you write legibly ? Can you organize & communicate
information?
Filling out the Application
•
•
•
•
Dress professionally (you never know who you will meet!)
Don’t take your cell phone in with you!
Take 2 identical black ink pens (fine point)
Take your resume &/or portfolio (it has information that
•
•
•
•
Take identification – at least 2 types
Take applicable certificates/licenses
Take a dictionary (and use it!)
Tell the TRUTH, don’t try to hide anything & don’t
exaggerate!
will help you)
Use Caution
• READ the entire application (including
instructions) before you write anything!
• Never leave blanks – if the question doesn’t
apply, write NA or N/A or -------• Write within spaces allowed.
• ALWAYS PRINT!.......NEATLY!!! If they can’t read
it, it goes in the trash.
• Errors? Draw a single line through it. White-out
may be used very conservatively.
NEATNESS COUNTS!
A neat application tells the employer that you
take pride in your work.
The Questions
• Position –
o Never write “Anything”. It gives the employer no clues about
your skills; be specific & tell the employer exactly which
position you want
• Start Date –
o 2 week notice, reliable transportation, child care,
appointments; Never write ASAP… give them a date
• Salary Desired –
o Entry Level, Negotiable, Open
• Education –
o Correct dates & hours/years completed, school names &
addresses, certificates, degrees
• Work History –
o Be honest, never write “Quit”, be Positive, COMPLETE work
history
The Big Blank Space
Many applications have a space that says something like…
“Please list additional skills or training applicable to the
position for which you have applied”.
This is a chance to sell yourself!
• Know the “minimum requirements” & “desired qualities” for
the job you want.
• List ALL of your technical skills, qualifications, certifications,
soft skills, computer skills, etc. that might be useful in
meeting the requirements of this job.
• Give examples!
• Make a bullet list OR write in sentence format.
• FILL the space!
• Watch your spelling!
• Prepare your statement/list ahead of time!
References
• Individuals who can Honestly Say Good Things
About You! – supervisors, teachers, coaches, coworkers, customers, community leaders, prominent
people who know you
• References should be 18 or older
• Never use relatives as references
• ASK BEFORE YOU LIST
o Spell names correctly
o Get correct mailing addresses & phone numbers
Hiring managers WILL contact your references!
Background Checks
If the manager wants to hire you,
he/she can check…
These may be National checks!
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Past Employment
Education
References
Professional Licenses
Criminal Convictions
Sex Offender Registry
Credit Report
Social Security Number
Marriage/Divorce Records
Motor Vehicle Reports
Worker’s Compensation
Claims
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Terrorist Search
Address History
Lawsuits
Judgments & Liens
Bankruptcy Records
News & Media Reports
They may also…
• Check your MySpace or
FaceBook or Twitter!!!
• Google your name…??!!
Complete the
Application
Sign it! – write in cursive!
Date it! Be sure you know the date!
Read it over!
If you completed it at home… Don’t fold it, keep it
neat & clean!
• Ask if you may attach your resume.
• Politely turn it in!
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•
•
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On-Line Applications
• Locate the application and the job description on
the company’s website
• Identify key terms in order to match your skills to the
position
• Download and print appl. for review
• Fill out a written rough draft
• Review written copy for accuracy
• Type the correction information into the online form
• Proof and submit
Just as with a paper application, include “Key”
words that match the job description.
• Neatness Counts!... Watch for typos
Summary
• How is Active Job Searching different from
traditional job searching?
• How/where can you build your Network?
• Should you ask a person in your network for a
job?
• What should I wear as a “Professional” in my field?
• What skills can I communicate through my
employment application?
So tell me…
• How might a KTC student be
qualified to get a VIP Career
Success Passport at the Expo?
• Wear Winds of Change Lapel Pin
• Dress Professionally
• Bring your Resume
Need help with your Resume, Applications, Interviews?
Find webinars and tons of helpful job search information at:
www.choctawcareers.com/jobs
Workshop hand-outs and Job Search Webinars are
available at:
www.choctawcareers.com Click on Employment Services then
Find A Job
We hope that you will capture the
Winds of Change – Active Job Search
strategies to reach your job search goals!
Bryan Martin– Leflore, Latimer, & Haskell counties
Jane Buffington -Atoka, Coal, Pittsburg, Hughes counties **
Deidre Inselman – Bryan county and Texas **
Stacy Hallmark – Choctaw, Pushmataha, & McCurtain counties
Rhonda Mize – Oklahoma, Logan, Payne, Pawnee, Creek, Tulsa, Rogers,
& Lincoln counties **
** These specialists also work with clients in OK counties outside
of Choctaw Nation boundaries.
Choctaw Nation Career Development
580-920-2260 | 866-933-2260
www.choctawcareers.com