~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! • • • • • • • • • • • 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 • • • • • • 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! • • • • 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