On-the-Job Training Valuable tips on:

Oh My GUIDE!

THE WINNING RESUME

POWER DRESSING FOR A CORPORATE LOOK

SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES

ACING THE INTERVIEW

2 S E R I E S VALUABLE TIPS FOR PRACTICUMERS

On-the-job TrainingIt’s not just earning valuable

experience, making contacts andseeing what’s involved in what

could be your future job. It’spreparation for the world out

there. OJT sessions can be someof the most enjoyable yet tryingtimes to look forward to in your

college life. You may push papers,you may have to work hard, but it

all works out for the best!

This module is designed to helpthe Benildean prepare for his/her

training and work outside theacademe through information on

job hunting and preparing for thatfirst job interview. Enjoy!

The Oh My Guide! series is aset of modules designed tohelp the Benildean studentdeal with various landmarkmoments in his/her College

life.

“OJT” is a digital publication ofthe De La Salle-College of SaintBenilde Career and Placement

Office (CPO).

Successful job search strategies

Looking for that perfect job? Job hunting isn't just about applying for

jobs and hoping to get called for aninterview. The most successful job

seekers utilize a variety of job searchstrategies to help them stand out from

the crowd. Here are strategies you can use to

expedite your job search, findconnections who can help, get your

resume noticed, have companies findyou, ace an interview, and get a job offer.

Job Advertisements: Online resources

The internet is an essential employmentresource for many of today’s jobseekers. Job search engines have

several listings, and even offers jobmatching with candidate’s

qualifications for their members. A widearray of techniques that streamlines theprocess of job hunting can be exploredthrough LinkedIn, Jobstreet, Kalibrr andeven the Benilde's Career Portal. Hereare some information that highlights

the best features of online employment-oriented social networks and online job

search portals to guide you inmaximizing the benefits of their

services.

Jobstreet.com

One of the most commonlyaccessed job sites, Jobstreet has

expanded its services to offercomplete job and companyinformation for online job-

seekers. Its best features include:

Salary Matching - allows you tosee and apply for jobs matching

your salary expectations.

Location Map - allows you to seehow near the work location isfrom you and if there are any

convenient transportation facilitynearby.

you can’t waitfor inspiration,you have to go

after it JACK LONDON

Online Ads Company websites/ portalsGovernment employment agenciesAlumni AssociationRecruitment agenciesCareer and Placement servicesProfessional associations and organizationsNetworking

Company Website / Portals

Many employers today use online applications to recruit candidates quickly and cost-effectively. They

usually ask applicants to submit resumes via their websites.

Government Employment Agencies

Government agencies, like the Department of Labor andEmployment and Philippine Overseas Employment

Administration, have lists of specific job openings. You mightwant to phone or make a personal visit to these offices for job

leads in your area of interests.

Professional Associations and Organizations

Many professional organizations provide placement servicesto their members who might be searching for career

opportunities. Contact the organization of which you are alegitimate member and it could facilitate your placement to

the job.

Recruitment Agencies

These employment agencies can be of help to you but youmust be specific about the kind of help that you want. Certain

agencies have a reputation for placing people in certainfields. In choosing an agency, study first their ads and the

terms and conditions offered. Select the most resourceful inplacing people according to their credentials.

Try to visit your school’s alumnioffice; for all you know, thereare fellow graduates who are

interested in giving you a freshstart on your career.

Alumni Association

Jobstreet.com

Company Insights - This feature highlights vitalinformation such as the company’s culture,

working hours, benefits and much more at theworkplace to ensure you understand more about

the company before applying.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is best fornetworking and networkingis the most effective way toland an interview. It shows

job-seekers networkingpathways to help score

introductions -- the first stepto getting an internal

referral. Also, your networkcan recommend you andyour skills to boost your

profile..

DLS-CSB Career Portal

This is a web-based systemthat allows only Benildeanregistered students and

alumni to search forinternships, volunteer

opportunities, part-time andfull-time job positions. Morethan a job resource website,the career portal serves as acareer information resource

providing links to usefulcareer articles and tips.

Kalibrr

With their tagline: "Where Jobs Find You", it makes jobhunting easier and simpler through their skills assessment

platform. Kalibrr features the smarter job-matching processwhere you can be recommended to jobs that are compatible

with your skill set allowing you to land your best fit job.

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NetworkingTry to increase your contacts. Meeting people

in professional conferences, seminars, andworkshops can provide you with a lot of

career information. Professionals who areattending these kinds of professional

activities, sometimes, can be your passport toa future career. Networking through social

sites can also be useful.

Career and Placement Services

Contact the Career and Placement Office of the Collegeto determine your eligibility for its placement services. The

job placement services provided by the office include:

• Career Fairs. The College normally organizes a two-daycareer fair twice a year, during the first and second terms

of the school year. This is in line with the career weekcelebration where company talks and other career relatedsymposiums are held, aside from the recruitment booths.

• Information about Job Openings. Bulletin boards are

placed strategically bearing various job vacancies incompanies/corporations.

• Company Directory. A list of companies with their

respective addresses, telephone numbers and contactpersons is available for the students and graduates

through the Career Portal.

The following are the best advice for new graduates to get ahead in their careers:

1. Think of your career as a series of experiences. You need to collect experiences throughout your career. Theidea is that you need to be a lifelong learner if you want to

make an impact, succeed and feel accomplished.

2. Don’t settle for a job you’re not passionate about. Whenyou’re passionate about your job, you’re excited, you work

longer hours and end up accomplishing much more.

3. Focus on making a big impact immediately. The quicker youmake an impact in a company the more attention and support

you will get. By doing this, you will boost your career andbecome more valuable in your company.

4. Take risks early and often in your career. Not taking risks isrisky. By taking a risk, you are putting yourself in a position to

learn. As we become an ever more entrepreneurial society,those that take risks will become more successful.

5. Spend more time with people than with your laptop.

6. Start your own website to centralize your work profile.

7. Locate mentors who live your desired lifestyle. You need tochoose the right mentor, who you can support and who hastime to support you. That person should be someone in your

industry who is living the lifestyle that you dream of. This way,they can tell you exactly what you need to do each day to get

to their level.

-- DAN SCHAWBEL

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Dress and Accessories Keep the following in mind:

1. Clothes should be freshly washed, well-fitted, and appropriate.

2. Standard business attire for males in formal organizations in the

Philippines include: • dark formal pants, long-sleeved

polo shirt, and tie • dark formal pants and longsleeved or short-

sleeved barong • a three-piece suit in lightweight fabric with dark socks and dark leather shoes

3. Suggested colors for trousers include dark blue, dark gray, black,

and brown.

4. Long-sleeved polo shirts are best in white. Light blues, beige and

other light pastels are also appropriate for polos or barongs.

Reminder:It is important to research on the

dress code and culture of the company so you can adjust your

attire accordingly.

Dress and Accessories Slacks or formal pants are

acceptable businesswear in somecompanies, but it’s always a safe ideato stick to a business dress or blouse

and skirt.

1. Clothes should be freshly-washed,well-fitted and appropriate.

2. Standard female business outfits in

formal organizations in thePhilippines include:

• three-piece suits (skirt, blouse and blazer), in lightweight fabric

•simple, tailored dress •long-sleevedblouse and tailored skirt

•tailored, short-sleeved, well coordinated blouse and skirt

ensemble

3. Do not wear the following: • sleeveless blouses • all-black

outfits • stained or spotted outfits • pieces with missing buttons

• ruffles or ribbons • halternecklines • miniskirts or skirts withslits which open to more than two

inches above the knee.

F O R M E N A N D W O M E N

wardrobe 101wardrobe 101 for men wardrobe 101 for women

make-up and hairstyle

MAKE-UP MAKES ONE LOOK HEALTHY,

PRESENTABLE AND CREDIBLE. A LADY

SHOULDN’T WEAR AS OFFICE MAKE-UP WHAT IS USUALLY WORN TO A PARTY OR NIGHT-OUT.

LESS IS MORE. THE FLASHIER, THE MORE

DANGEROUS.

KEEP YOUR HAIR CLEAN, SHINING AND STYLED

SIMPLY. GEL, MOUSSE AND SPRAY-NET-TYPE

AEROSOLS, WHEN USED IN EXCESS, ARE YOUR

ENEMIES.

Posture 2000Good posture is vitally important.It communicates confidence and

discipline. ALIGNMENT. The earlobe, tip ofthe shoulder, middle of the hips,

back of the knees and front of theankle bone should align whenviewed from the side. The hips

should rest squarely upon the legswithout tilting either forward or

backward. SEATING. Sit tall and far back in

your chair; don’t perch at the edgeof the seat. Plant your feet flatlyon the floor. Chest up and out.

Align the back of your neck withthe upper back. Lean forward

from the hips if you must, but keepyour head in line with the

shoulders. WALKING. Keep your knees andankles limber, with toes pointedstraight ahead. Keep your chest

and head high.

Self-confidence is the best outfit, rock it and

own it.

What is a Resume?A resume is a personally designed,

written summary of your education,experiences, and interests. It sketches

the skills, training and services youhave to offer a potential employer.

Keep things simple but elegant. Havethe following things in mind and you’ll

be fine: CONTENT. Base your work on self,

career and job analysis, and presentyour qualifications truthfully. Don’t

boast, or claim you’re good atsomething you’re not. Include

qualifications compatible with the jobrequirements and include relevant

ideas only. ORGANIZATION. Arrange your

headings in sequence, according totime or importance.

STYLE. Don’t use personal pronounslike “I” or “me.” Keep it formal yet

neat. Use past tense when describingprevious jobs and present tense for

current jobs. Use parallelism in listingmultiple items. Bullets might be a good

idea. Use positive language andsimple words. Use correct grammar.The last thing you want to do is haveinconsistent subject-verb agreement

or tenses.

Top 10 Effective Resume Checklist

1. Keep it short. 2. It must be easy to read.

3. It must avoid overly specificprofessional jargon.

4. Curb your design enthusiasm. 5. The effective résumé is tailored

for a specific position. 6. Portray yourself as a problem

solver. 7. Quantify your accomplishments

with hard numbers wheneverpossible.

8. Don’t mention your current, orexpected salary on the résumé.

9. Don’t mention personalinformation such as hobbies and

stuff. 10. Check, check, check for

misspellings.

Tips in Designing yourResume

Use white or off-white paper. Print on one side of the paper.

Use 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper. Use a font size of 10 to 14.

Do not use decorative font; avoid graphics and shading.

Choose one font and stick to it. Do not fold your résumé.

Avoid italics, script, and underlinedwords.

Your name should be the firstreadable item on each page.

.

Resume 101CREATING A

WINNING RESUME

Use keywords, buzzwords and industry terms. Employers usually

have an automated screening system to weed out unqualified candidates

and save time. Be sure to put relevant key words to pass these filters.

Make your resume acceptable online.

Apply a simple resume format as fancy bullets, texts, and fonts may not

convert well in an electronic application. You may send your

resume (in plain text format) as part of the message body.

Try to always include a cover letter

with your online application. Because employers are not meeting you face

to face, a cover letter gives some additional insight into your skills and

personality.

Consistency counts. The information you provided in the online application

may be used when conducting background checks. Be honest when

filling out an online application.

Reread your completed application before hitting “send”. Be sure to

proofread your online application to ensure it is completed accurately

before submitting.

Submitting an online application is not just about your resume. Same as

in the traditional recruitment process, an employer receives many applications and yours might get lost in the shuffle. Here are a few tips to

make your application stand out:

Complete all fields even those that are not required. Without the

information he needs, an employer is less likely to take your application

seriously.

Do not put “any” where you are asked what position you are applying for. Employers do not have the time

to find a place for you and your application might be rejected right

away.

Answer any application question with care. This creates a good impression and demonstrates genuine interest in the position. Target your job hunting.

Don’t submit resumes for different positions with one employer. Worse,

don’t blast copies of a general resume to many firms.

K E E P I N G U P W I T H T H E

T E C H N O L O G Y

O N L I N E A P P L I C A T I O N

Persistence guarantees that

results are inevitable.

Online Application Online Application

2. Verify the legitimacy of a company or recruiter before

completing an online application.

3. Protect your privacy at all times. Never, never, never give

any personal information, including passwords, no matter

how trivial the data is.

4. Report any scams or abuse you encounter to the site

administrator at once.

Before applying for a job...

read the job description andcompany profile carefully. Applyonly if the job interests you andmatches your abilities and work

location preferences!

1. Be careful of job advertisements that:

*Ask you to pay money, or to make a purchase, before

processing your application or training you.

*Invite you to interviews that turn out to be multi-level marketing or

pyramid selling schemes

*Misuse your resume information to sell you products or make offers

not connected to the job advertised

*Are generally untrue, dubious or

misleading

K E E P I N G U P W I T H T H E

T E C H N O L O G Y

O N L I N E A P P L I C A T I O N

Guidelines on Safe Online Job Searches

GOOD COMMUNICATIONSKILLS.

Ease with speech and expressionis key. Direct eye contact andslow but steady and confident

speaking skills are definitebonuses.

ALERTNESS

Pay attention to the interviewer’squestions. Don’t look so terrified

or high-strung, either. Becomfortable and relax, but focus

on your interviewer and notwhat surrounds him or her.

APPEARANCE

Pay attention to your looks. Itmatters. Big-time.

RESPONSIVENESS

Reply immediately to theinterviewer’s questions, but don’t

rattle off the first thing thatcomes to your head. Focus, focus.

SELF-CONFIDENCE.

You are as good as you think youare. Keep a realistic outlook, and

answer with common senseinstead of trying to use big

words or concepts.

MOTIVATION

If you’ve got a desire to succeed, good working knowledge of the

company and its field, future plans, long-range goals, and

pertinent questions, you’ve got excellent chances of hitting pay

dirt.

What is a job interview?

A job interview is a mutualexploration between a companyand an applicant. Both partiestry to see whether there is a

good match between what one’sneeds are and what the other

can offer.

I N T E R V I E W : B A S I C F A C T S

What do Interviewers Look For?

Before your big day:

Learn about the company and theposition. • Confirm the date, time

and place of interview. • Be familiarwith the location and general

vicinity of the company. • Practiceyour answers, but don’t memorize ascript. • Prepare questions that you

would like to ask the interviewer.

On your big day:

Be on time. • Be physically preparedfor the interview. • Check yourappearance before entering the

office. • Always bring the necessarydocuments. • Bring your confidence

and SMILE!. • RELAX

In closing the interview:

Thank the interviewer for givingyou his time and mention that you

will look forward to hearing from thecompany at the soonest time

possible. • Be sure not to leave yourthings in the interview room.

• Thank the receptionist for theassistance given to you.

Interviewers can ask a variety of questions from general information to specifics that are designed to tell what kind of worker you are. Being

prepared for any questions that might pop up is one way to prevent mistakes at your interview. Here are

some questions your interviewer might ask:

• How would you describe yourself? • What skills do you have?

• What led you to choose your major field of study?

• Why should I hire you? • What is your greatest strength?

Weaknesses? • What are your immediate career

goals? Long-term goals? • Of what two or three

accomplishments are you most proud of?

• In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

• What are the three most important things to you in your job?

• How do you handle pressure?

I N T E R V I E W : B A S I C F A C T S

I N T E R V I E W 1 0 1

Planning ahead forquestions

I N T E R V I E W 1 0 1

Job Interview Tips

Maintain a good posture.

• Shake hands firmly.

• Maintain eye contact.

• Avoid crossing your arms or waving your hands.

• Be respectful and polite towards

your interviewer.

• Use familiar words.

• Be honest and direct to the point.

...interviews can be quite deadly if you commit these familiar mistakes most people make.

• Arriving late or arriving too early.

• Dressing wrong / dressing in a rush.

• Taking a drink, especially alcoholic.

• Chewing gum or candy. • Smoking

• Showing signs of irritation while waiting.

• Constantly glancing at the watch / clock.

• Being overly familiar with the interviewer.

• Constantly interrupts the interviewer.

• Drawing attention to your weak points.

• Losing your cool. • Not showing up at all!

I N T E R V I E W : B A S I C F A C T S

I N T E R V I E W 1 0 1

Keep in mind that... I N T E R V I E W 1 0 1

What not to forgetduring the interview

proper:

"Be the best version of

YOU.."

DOING THE RIGHT THING

work ethics

Work ethics include not only how one feels about their job, career or vocation, but also how one does his/her job or responsibilities. This involves attitude, behavior, r e s p e c t , communication, and interaction; how one gets along with others. Work ethics demonstrate many things about whom and how a person is.  (Source: http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org)

Work Ethics In A Nutshell

 Honesty and accountability are crucial characteristics of a person with proper work

ethics. He/she will always strive to discern what is right and acceptable in a given

situation and will not in any way sacrifice his/her integrity and character. It is

reflected in what he/she does or would do in a particular situation.

 Whenever you scout for work, check the reputation of the company you intend to join.

 “Ethical companies have an advantage over their competitors.

  A values-led company earns the kind of customer loyalty most corporations only

dream of–because it appeals to its customers on the basis of its values more than its

products”   (source: http://www.answers.com)

Top 10 Work Values Employers Look For

3. POSSESSING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

Employers value enthusiastic employees

who create an environment of good will

and serve as positive role models for

others.

4. ADAPTABILITY. Being open to change

and improvements provides an

opportunity to complete tasks in a more

efficient manner while offering

additional benefits to the company.

5. HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. These

values are essential above all since they

strengthen trust that help build good

relationship with clients and

colleagues. 

6. SELF-MOTIVATED. Employers look for

those who require little supervision and

direction to get the work done in a

timely and professional manner.

7. MOTIVATED TO GROW & LEARN. 

Employers seek employees who are

interested in keeping up with new

developments and knowledge in the

field.

8. STRONG SELF-CONFIDENCE. This has

been recognized as the key ingredient

to success. A confident person can

inspire and lead others.

9. PROFESSIONALISM. Employers admire

those who exhibit professional behavior

at all times. Professionalism means

respecting the work values of others

and the company.

10. LOYALTY. Employees offer their

loyalty by their commitment to make an

important contribution during their time

with the company.                                     

                     www.technosmarts.com 

                    By Penny Loretto        

1. STRONG WORK ETHIC

Employers value those who are

able to work hard and work smart by

learning the most efficient way to

complete tasks in less time while

maintaining a positive attitude.

2. DEPENDABILITY AND

RESPONSIBILITY. Employers value

employees who come to work on time, are

there when they are supposed to be, and

are responsible for their actions and

behavior.

don't wait for the opportunity...

create it!

References:

Covey, S., Merrill, A.R., and Merrill R.R. First Things First.   Simon and

Schuster Ltd., London, 1994.

Lehman, Carol et. al. Business Communications. 1996.

The Office of Career Services. Orient3 Program

(Career Planning Manual). De La Salle University, 1997.

Santamaria, J. Career Planning Workbook. 1991.

John Clements Consultants Inc.

Polishing Your Resume. DLS-CSB, 2007

  

http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org

http://careerplanning.about.com

http://www.answers.com

http://www.jobstreet.com

http://www.spherion.co

https://www.thebalance.com

https://www.reviews.com/job-sites/

http://danschawbel.com

http://www.businessinsider.com/

https://www.forbes.com/

http://www.technosmarts.com/

Never look back in regret,

move on to the next thing -- Richard Branson

There is no straight path to where you are going -- Sheryl Sandberg

Exercise humility and restraint -- Warren Buffett

Make your own path -- Maya Angelou

Embrace failure -- J.K. Rowling

Remember that you won't end up

where you start  -- Marla Malcolm Beck

Pick something and make it great

-- Marissa Mayer

Don't just follow your passion,

but something larger than yourself -- Steve Jobs

With success comes unhelpful criticism. Ignore it

--Suze Orman

When you make a commitment, keep it -- Chelsea Handler