AMRAN
Mastering Job Search Techniques, CV writing and
Interview Skills
Facilitator’s Guide
AMRAN
Job Search Techniques, CV Writing and Interview Skills
TOTAL TIME: 4 hours 5 minutes
AUDIENCE: 20-25 participants
OVERVIEW & PURPOSE OF TRAINING: This training will give participants the opportunity to explore
ways to search for jobs, write professional CVs and conduct effective interviews so that the participants
are able to maximize their chances for securing employment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Objective 1: Participants able to locate job openings using different job search techniques.
2. Objective 2: Participants can develop professional cover letters and CVs
3. Objective 3: Participants can confidently conduct effective interview by applying the
acquired skills.
MATERIALS:
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Equipment
1. Flip Charts
2. Markers
3. Tape
4. Projector
5. Laptop
Participant Workbook: One Per Each Participant
Trainer Materials: Facilitator’s Guide
TRAINER PREPARATION CHECKLIST:
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INVITE participants one week before training
REVIEW and PRACTICE the facilitator guide
MAKE copies of participant workbook for learners
PREPARE flipcharts and other materials
ARRANGE the room and ORGANIZE table and chairs into a U shape
AMRAN
25 min
OPENING ACTIVITY
25 min
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
10 min WELCOME participants to the training.
PRESENT yourself and your role at AMRAN.
INVITE participants to present themselves.
EXPLANATION AND FRAMING
In this training on Job Search techniques, CV Writing and interviewing skills, you will
have the opportunity to increase your chances for securing employment in the job
market.
In today’s session, you will explore & practice learning the techniques for job search,
write professional CVs and conduct effective interview.
You will have many opportunities during the workshop through group work, roles
plays and simulations to practice and get feedback on the techniques and skills you
will learn.
5 min ACTIVITY: GOAL SETTING
[Materials: Post it notes, pen]
Give participants a pad of post-it-notes.
EXPLAIN participants to write their goals of today’s training on pad of post-it-notes.
GIVE 2 minutes
ASK participants to post their pads on the flip chart.
Invite participant to see the goals set by other during the training session.
Notes to facilitator: Facilitator gives supportive feedback and then calls the goals for
the training.
5 min SHOW… mind map on pre – employment training skills on Slide 2 and Explain today’s
agenda.
AMRAN
SAY SOMETHING LIKE: To start the day, you will review and explore in more detail the
techniques for Job Search, organize job search and Manage stress. Next, you will
review the contents of cover letter and CVs and develop a professional Cover letter &
CV to get the maximum benefit from the training. Lastly, you will learn how to act
before, during and after interview.
ASK: What are your questions or comments on our time together?
5 min
SAY: In order for us to accomplish our goals for the training, it is important for us to
follow the overall steps for looking for jobs. What are the steps for job searching?
SHOW PowerPoint Slide 4: “Steps to look for jobs” and add participant ideas for steps
to follow while looking for job. i.e. 1. Locating job openings, sending CVs, Recording
the job search, Follow up, Patience)
50 min
20 min
OBJECTIVE 1:
Locate job openings using different job search techniques.
1.1 REVIEW JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES
2 min SAY SOMETHING LIKE… SAY…Before this session, you completed the readings for
locating job opening using different job search techniques. For review, you will have
the chance to test your knowledge on the topics and win a prize through a game called
Jeopardy.
15 min ACTIVITY: JEOPARDY
[Materials: jeopardy game powerpoint, candy]
DIVIDE into groups of 4 people.
ASK participants to create a team name.
EXPLAIN that there are 3 main categories to choose questions from – Job Search
Techniques, Organizing Job Search, Manage unemployment stress.
AMRAN
INVITE one of the teams to choose a category and ASK the question.
GIVE team 30 seconds to guess the answer. If the team answers correctly, GIVE them
the allocated number of points. If the team answers incorrectly, the first team that
raises their hand can guess the answer and win the points.
ASK questions to each team until all categories and its questions have been answered
or the time has reached 15 minutes.
COUNT the final points for each team, ANNOUNCE the winning team, and GIVE them
candy.
3 min DEBRIEF:
1. What is one new thing on Job Search techniques that you will apply to find job
as a job seeker?
30 min
1.2 APPLYING JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES FOR LOCATING JOBS
5 min EXPLANATION AND FRAMING
Now that you have reviewed Job search techniques, you will have the chance to apply
your skills to locate job opening. This will help you to be continuously improve your
skills to locate job openings and organize your job search well.
20 min ACTIVITY: APPLICATION – LOCATING JOBS USING JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES
[Materials: participant workbook]
DIVIDE participants in groups of 3-4 persons.
EXPLAIN each group will turn to page XXX in your workbook, read the two scenarios,
and come up with a few job search techniques and best practices for locating jobs in
current Afghanistan Job market.
GIVE 10 minutes for the activity.
WALK AROUND the room and answer any questions as necessary.
ASK each group to share their scenario and recommendations to another group.
GIVE 5 minutes for the sharing and feedback.
5 min DEBRIEF:
AMRAN
1. What new job search techniques did you learn to apply in your trainings?
2. How will you organize your job searches?
1 hr 15 mins
30 min
OBJECTIVE 2:
Developing Cover letters and CVs
2.1 Designing the Cover Letter
5 min INTRODUCE: Cover letter is a letter that highlights your key accomplishments and fit
for job opening. Sending cover letter along with a resume help job seekers to build
their brand, the same way a company promotes a product’s brand.
A well define brand wins interview, maximizes salary potential and puts job seekers
into top 2 percent of candidates consider for position.
ASK participants to spend 3 minutes with a neighbor to discuss:
 How do they design a cover letter?
 What should be the content of a cover letter?
INVITE a few volunteers to share their responses
EXPLAIN: During the designing of cover letter, the person shall divide structure of
cover letter into 3 paragraph, the first opening paragraph shall contain information
related to yourself and why you are writing. In the 2nd paragraph it should be written
why you want the job and why should the employer consider you and in the final
closing paragraph, state your interest, convey your enthusiasm & motivation, and on
optimistic polite note. You can find sample cover letters on page XXX in your
workbook.
15 min ACTIVITY: PRACTICE DESIGNING A COVER LETTER
[Materials: Participant Workbook]
SAY SOMETHING LIKE…You will now have the opportunity to put into practice
designing a cover letter for a vacancy announced on internet. This activity will help you
to better make a cover letter relevant to the announced vacancy.
DIVIDE participants in groups of 3-4 persons.
EXPLAIN each group will read about designing and structuring cover letter on pages
XXX, discuss the topics, and then design a cover letter.
GIVE 15 minutes for the activity.
WALK AROUND the room and answer any questions as necessary.
ASK each group to share their opinions and recommendations to another group.
AMRAN
GIVE 5 minutes for the sharing and feedback.
5 min
DEBRIEF:
5 min
1. What helped you to better design a cover letter?
INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION:
SAY SOMETHING LIKE…Now, take a few minutes to think about your own Cover letter
and think about what you can do to incorporate learn things into your own cover
letter.
INSTRUCT participants to use their own laptop and edit their cover letter.
GIVE 5 minutes for the exercise.
45 min
2.2. Writing Professional CVs
10 min INTRODUCE: Curriculum Vitae is a chance to show and employer the best of what you
have got. It’s about selling your skills and experiences, and showing them that you are
right for the job. There are basically 5 components of CVs which most people relate
to. In this activity, you will have the chance to explore each component of CVs in depth
and determine how to incorporate all of them into your CV.
ASK: What are the basic component of CVs?
SHOW Basic CV component PPT on slide 5 and briefly introduce the five components.
SAY: Now take an assessment on your own CV. You will now have the chance to
analyze your CV contents with other participants to identify the mistakes.
15 min ACTIVITY: PRACTICE DESIGNING CURRICULUM VITAE
[Materials: Participant Workbook]
AMRAN
SAY SOMETHING LIKE…You will now have the opportunity to put into practice
designing a Curriculum Vitae for a vacancy announced on internet. This activity will
help you to better make a cover letter relevant to the announced vacancy.
DIVIDE participants in groups of 3-4 persons.
EXPLAIN each group will read about difference b/w CV & Resume, objectives of CV
writing, Rules for CV/Resume writing, components of CV writing on pages……, discuss
the topics, and then develop a CV.
GIVE 15 minutes for the activity.
WALK AROUND the room and answer any questions as necessary.
ASK each group to share their opinions and recommendations to another group.
GIVE 5 minutes for the sharing and feedback.
5 min DEBRIEF:
1. How Experience Sectioin to list jobs within?
2. How to give Reference in a CV?
10 min INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION:
SAY SOMETHING LIKE…Now, take a few minutes to think about your own CV and think
about what you can do to incorporate learn things into your own CV.
INSTRUCT participants to use their own laptop and edit their CVs.
GIVE 5 minutes for the exercise.
1 hr 20 min
10 min
OBJECTIVE 3:
Conducting effective Interview
INTRODUCE: Now that you have mapped your way for locating jobs, write effective
CVs, the last step in this process is to master interview skills. It’s extremely important
to know dos & don’ts of after, how to act before, during and after an interview to
make sure you that you conduct a winning interview.
ASK participants to spend 10 minutes with a neighbor to discuss:
 How to act before interview?
 How to act during interview?
 How to act after interview?
AMRAN
Show the acts before, during and after interview on the PPT slide XXX and briefly
explain the 3 acts.
SAY SOMETHING LIKE…. SAY… To complete this session, please read though pages
XXX on you workbook.
10 min ACTIVITY: TEAM QUIZ
[Materials: post-its, cup and pens]
DIVIDE into groups of 4 people.
ASK participants to create a team name.
EXPLAIN that each group will write three or four questions on the materials they read
about conducting an effective interview.
GIVE an example. “How to observe etiquette during an interview?
HANDOUT 4-5 post-its to each group.
GIVE 3 minutes to write questions. GATHER questions and PLACE questions in a
cup/glass.
EXPLAIN each question will be read aloud and the first team that raises their hand,
answers the question first. If the team answers correctly, GIVE them a point. If the
team answers incorrectly, the first team that raises their hand can guess the answer
and win the points.
INVITE one volunteer to pick the question.
ASK questions to each team until all of them have been answered.
AMRAN
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COUNT the final points for each team, ANNOUNCE the winning team, and
GIVE them candy.
55 min ACTIVITY: SIMULATIONS
[Materials: Participant workbook]
ASK participants to be divided into groups of 4 people.
INTRODUCE that in each group one person will be an interviewee while the other
three persons will be interviewer. Give them a scenario and participants will conduct
interview among themselves. Then the next participant (interviewer) will become the
interviewee and the former interviewee will become interviewer.
ROUNDS: Each group will go through being an interviewee and interviewer.
REMIND participants to apply the interview skills during this activity; Listen carefully,
observe etiquette, Maintain eye contact, Take care to use correct expressions, Be
honest, Ask questions and be confident.
GIVE 5 minutes to groups discuss the problem observed while conducting the
interview in round first.
ASK everyone to start 2nd round of interview considering the comments given in
previous activities.
[Facilitator’s Notes]: During the interview session give supportive feedback, then tell
the group what to concentrate in the next round. Encourage participants to give each
other feedback as well. If a lot of people are not doing things correctly, repeat the
round.
5 min DEBRIEF:
1. What employers look for in an interviewee?
2. How to conduct telephone interview?
15 min
CLOSING
By completing the today’s session on Pre – employment related training skills, you have
completed the Mastery of Job Search Technique, Professional CV writing and effective
Interview skills. To help you reflect on all that you’ve learned over the past sessions,
you will have the chance to participate in a fun game called Taboo.
AMRAN
10 min
ACTIVITY: Taboo Review
[Materials: Taboo Cards, candy]
FORM groups of 5-6 participants.
EXPLAIN that each group will select a Taboo card when it is their turn. Each Taboo
card has one “secret” word and four or five “taboo” words. Only one person on the
team will see the taboo card, and he/she has to describe the secret word without
using any of the taboo words to his/her team. If the team guesses the secret word,
they get one point. The team with the most points at the end gets a piece of candy.
SHOW an example.
DO activity for 10-15 min.
KEEP track of the points for each team.
GIVE the winning team candy as their prize.
Thank you for your Participation