w wilson job search skills-1

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES

“NETWORKING” INTRODUCTIONS

SHARE the following1. Your Name

2. Something about your work that you’re excited about – a goal, a project, or an element of your work you find especially satisfying

3. An objective for this workshop – what do you hope to learn or gain?

LISTEN for ways to assist your colleagues1. In meeting objectives for the workshop

2. In achieving their work goals

Steps to a Successful Job Search

•Interests•Personality Characteristics•Skills & Strengths•Values 1. Information

about Self1. Information

about Self

•Research Jobs Occupations Career Fields•Education Required•Making Connections

2. Information about Options2. Information about Options

•Weigh Pros/Cons•Evaluate Match•Choose•Review

3. Decision Making

3. Decision Making

•Resources•Apply•Interview•Follow Up

4. Taking Action4. Taking Action

Adapted from UW Professional Organizational Development, Susan Templeton

STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH

1. Realistic Career/Vocational Choice

2. Define Competencies (Skills/Strengths)

3. Determine Target Market

4. Position Statement

5. Identify Targeted Companies

6. Develop Marketing Tools

7. Project Activity Plan

8. Implement Plan

Dick Gaither, Wizards of Work

SKILLS IDENTIFICATION

Or

You’re a nice person, now what can you do?

SKILLS TRIANGLE

SKILLS TRIANGLE

Transferable SkillsTransferable Skills are common to a number of jobs and can be adapted to a particular employer's need.

Job Content SkillsJob Content Skills are related to job-specific tools and tasks. They usually have a vocabulary of their own.

SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLSSelf-Management Skills are personality traits which help an employer decide if your temperament suits a particular job. They are clues to how well you may adapt to situations and solve problems. These are most important because very few employers offer training in these areas. Development of these skills is an individual initiative.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Write Clearly Listen Organize Tasks Train File Records Handle Money Gather Information Teach Others

JOB CONTENT SKILLS

Data relates to numbers of any kind (percentages, frequency, and money)

People include what kind of people you work with (co-workers, customers, vendors, etc.) and what you do with, for, or to each of them.

Things refer to tools, machines, or pieces of equipment you know how to use.

Ideas are suggestions you came up with to make the job easier, more efficient, or more profitable.

SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Honest Enthusiastic Responsible Dependable Dedicated

oAdaptiveoCreativeoEnergeticoSincereoConscientious

DETERMINING SKILLS & STRENGTHS

Formal Assessments

Skills Checklists

Informal Assessments / Activities

PERSONAL BRANDING WITH SKILLS AND STRENGTHS

Dependable Strengths

Dynamic Natural Abilities

Core Genius

Reflected Best Self

Unique Gifts

DEPENDABLE STRENGTHS®There is Excellence in Everyone

No one is good at everything….

But everyone is good at something.

9 DOTS

Copyright, Bernard Haldane, Dependable Strengths Institute

WHAT ARE YOUR 9 DOTS?

Things we tell ourselves or others tell us. Assumptions Expectations Cover Words

What are the implications?

DEPENDABLE STRENGTHS® PHILOSOPHY

There is excellence in everyone. Excellence is demonstrated through

achievement (Good Experiences). By studying a number of Good

Experiences, recurring themes or patterns can be identified.

Everyone has their own unique combination of Dependable Strengths.

More is accomplished by building on strengths than trying to improve weaknesses.


DSAP ASSUMES

People are active participants in determining what happens in their lives

Healthy individuals participate in communities; therefore, they engage others in the process of self-discovery


HOW DO WE DISCOVER STRENGTHS?

By Remembering and Talking About Good Experiences

“GOOD EXPERIENCE”

Something you DID:

You feel you did well You enjoyed doing You are proud of

Demonstration

•Listen•Record•Share

Your Job


INSTRUCTIONS1. Appoint a timekeeper so everyone will have enough

time and select someone to go first.2. That person will share 2-3 good experiences (5-6

minutes) and tell what they did to make it happen. Remaining group members:

Listen Write down skills/talents you think the person

used. You can ask questions about how and what

they did to make it happen – but no WHY questions.

3. Feedback: After the first person has shared, everyone in the group should give feedback. Make eye contact. Say, ‘You demonstrated…” (1-2 min)

4. Give the completed strength sheets to the person.5. Repeat the process until everyone has a turn.


PROOF BY EXAMPLE

1. Identify the SkillsHandle Money (cashier, retail sales, bank teller)

2. Present a Concrete ExampleDescribe where and for how long you used this skill: “One year of experience at XYZ Department Store.”

3. Qualify Example: Describe Circumstanceswho, what when, whey, how

“Assisted approximately 100 customers per day – calculated costs – processed credit card and cash payments.”

PROOF BY EXAMPLE

4. Reinforce with Measurable Datanumbers, dollars, percentages, volume per month, year, etc.

“Handled approximately $3,000 per day - $750,000 per year.”

5. Give Results…What Happened?How did the company benefit from your skill?

“Accomplished monetary transactions with the lowest error rate of any employee. Received only two complaints that year. After six months was promoted to Senior Cashier.”

PROOF BY EXAMPLE

Using your top three skills from previous lists, imagine yourself as the employer. How will you determine if hiring the person with that skill would….

increase profits?decrease turnover?

improve productivity?

COMMONLY SOUGHT SKILLS – THE BIG 5

1. Communication Skills2. Interpersonal Skills3. Teamwork Skills4. Leadership Skills5. Computer/info technology Skills

ADDITIONAL IN-DEMAND SKILLS

Adaptability/flexibility Skills Problem-Solving Skills Organizational Skills Analytical Skills Quantitative Skills

WHAT SKILLS DO EMPLOYERS WANT?

Communication Skills Computer Skills Customer Service Skills Team-Working, Flexibility Practical and Technical Skills Motivation Quality Control / Attention to Detail Learning Skills Problem-Solving Skills

OKAY, I KNOW MY SKILLS – HOW AND WHERE DO I PUT THEM TO WORK?

WHAT IS YOUR TARGET MARKET?

Geographic Area

Specific Industry and / or Specific Type / Size Business

Specific Job Title Or field / area

Ultimately Determine Target Companies

LEARNING ABOUT POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS

Business Model Why are they in business? How do they do what they do? What do they offer?

Vision / Goals

Values / Corporate Culture

Competition

FINDING EMPLOYER INFORMATION

General Labor Market State LMI Sites Databases available through Career Centers

Specific Employer Information Glassdoor.com Careerleak.com Google Alerts Hoovers – www.hoovers.com $$ Chamber Lists

JOB SEARCH METHODS

What are ways to look for jobs?

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES & ELEMENTS

Networking Responding to Ads / Postings

Newspaper, other print materials Online job boards

Job Fairs Direct Mail Campaigns Job Placement / Career Centers Staffing Agencies / Search Consultants / Recruiters

OTHER JOB SEARCH ELEMENTS

Researching Companies, Industries, Job Opportunities

Preparing Representational Materials Resumes, Cover Letters, Portfolio, Skills Cards/Bio

Sheet Interviewing Goal Setting and Tracking Job Search Efforts Follow-Up

Writing Thank-You notes Following up with network members

But it’s a tough economy!

FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS ABOUT JOB SEARCH

COURTESY OF RICHARD BOLLES

There are always jobs to be filled (vacancies)

Finding jobs depends on your search methods

If you’re “coming up empty,” try a new method

NETWORKING

Six Degrees of Separation

Just how far are you from Kevin Bacon?

YOU 20

people

Friend D20

people

Friend 1 – 20 peopl

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Fully Mapped – 400 People; Next Level – 8,000 People!!!

Your LinkedIn Network33 Connections link you to 263,483+ professionals4,307 New people in your Network since January 12

POSSIBLE NETWORKS

Personal Relationships

Professional Relationships

Organizational & Community Connections

Opportunistic Networks

PURPOSES OF NETWORKING (RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING)

Learn about career fields / options Get feedback on job search efforts / materials Form contacts in industry / companies of interest Discover job opportunities Connect with decision-makers Identify ways to assist / help others in network Ongoing professional support & development Experience support in the job search process

BLUEPRINT FOR NETWORKING

Identify potential networks Create your “elevator speech” (short pitch)

Who are you? What is your passion / effort /direction? What are you seeking in the situation?

Set goals for networking (x contacts per week, etc.)

Track your networking efforts Follow up with your network Develop your networks before you need to

look for a job

NETWORKING ACTIVITY

o Assume you have a client who wants to gain information about a specific job or in a particular field (on your laminated card)

o Network with other participants in the workshop to find contacts in your designated field

o Record contact information on an index cardo Record the name of the person who referred youo Record the contact nameo Where the contact is located

o Try to secure at least 3 contacts for your client

HOW DO I GET MY RESUME NOTICED???

RESUME TIPS

Develop a master resume, but customize / target resumes for each job sought

Point out key skills that align with the specific job

Include relevant experience; not everything you have done needs to be included

Include a professional email address Emphasize outcome, accomplishments, and

breadth of responsibility; include quantifiable results whenever possible

Aim for overall ease of reading and attractive format

FINDING KEY WORDS FOR RESUME

Review Job Description and identify key words

Compare with other similar job descriptions in your group

Note similar key words among the varied descriptions

Identify the top 5 – 10 words found most often among the job descriptions

KILLER RESUMES:

Show you have job skills for the job Show you deliver results Show you can solve problems Show you can communicate effectively Show your capacity for leadership

Remember, it’s about getting the interview!

ACHIEVEMENT OR PROBLEM-ACTION-RESULT STATEMENTS SHOW HOW YOU

HELP A COMPANY

Make money Save money Save time Improve a process Reverse an existing

problem

Be first to market Build

relationships/brand identity

Grow the business Attract new business Maintain existing

business

INTERVIEWING SKILLSSelling Yourself for the Job You Want

PURPOSE OF JOB SEARCH ACTIVITIES, NETWORKING, RESUME WRITING, ETC?

A foot in the doorSo you can get

An INTERVIEW!

INTERVIEWING IS A PERFORMANCE

STEPS FOR INTERVIEWING

1. Know Yourself2. Know Your Audience3. Tell a Great Story4. Be Inquisitive

For all of these think from employer / business owner perspective

Adapted from J.T. O’Donnell – CareerRealism.com andDavid Muir – Prepare to be Hired

SO, TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF . . . .

•Keep it short•Keep it professional•Not your life history•Not a chronology of everything you’ve ever done at work

RESPONDING TO “TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF” – CRAFTING YOUR PITCH

What key skills /strengths do you have that you love to use (show your passion)

How do these skills positively impact an employer (make or save money)

Give an example from your experience to demonstrate / prove (use strong accomplishments)

Explain your interest in using those skills for the employer

Adapted from J.T. O’Donnell, Richard Bolles, David Muir

PRACTICE FOR THE PERFORMANCE CRAFTING YOUR PITCH

Develop your opening pitch

Share in groups

Provide feedback / constructive criticism

WHAT ABOUT THE ELEVATOR SPEECH OR 15 SECOND PITCH?

Pitch Wizard My name is _______________________________ I am a(n) _________________________________ Specializing in ____________________________ What you do ______________________________ __________________________________________ Why you’re the best _______________________ __________________________________________ You’re call to action _______________________ __________________________________________

Total of less than 500 characters for entire statement

PITCH WIZARD

www.15secondpitch.com

DISCUSSION

How can we engage our customers in developing a “pitch”?

What activities / approaches would help them with this process?

BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING

Tell me about a time when you . . . .

PRACTICE FOR THE PERFORMANCE

Articulating Skills

I am _________, __________, and ___________

BASIC FORMAT WORKS AS A STARTER FOR MANY QUESTIONS

Tell me about yourself . . . Why should I hire you? Why are you interested in this job?

If you ask my co-workers about me, they will tell you I am _________, __________, and __________

If you look at my performance evaluations, you can see that I am __________, __________ , and ___________

TAKE A “CAR” TO THE INTERVIEW

Context Action Result

This was the situation This is what I did (using my skill) This was the outcome (quantify whenever

possible – how can you make or save money?)

THREE “REAL ANSWERS” EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN AN INTERVIEW

Can you do the job?Use your CAR to show your skills & experience

Will you love the job?Speak with enthusiasm and energy; be

passionate about what have done / can do

Will you fit in with the manager and team?Build rapport with interviewer; show ability to

align with corporate culture

PRACTICE FOR THE PERFORMANCE

Examine interview questions

How can we encourage customers to think through and write out answers to each of these questions?

REVIEW – PREPPING FOR THE INTERVIEW

1. Know Yourself Your Strengths, Skills, & Assets

2. Know Your Audience Do your homeworkLearn about the company & the interviewer

3. Tell a Great Story Give me a skill & tell me a story Demonstrate how your skills make a positive

impact for the employerBe enthusiastic and energetic

REVIEW - CONTINUED **4. Articulate Experience +Learn =Grow

What have you learned from your experiences that improve the workplace?

How will your experience contribute positively to the new workplace?

Enthusiasm, energy, passion

5. Be inquisitive Ask questions to connect with the interviewer, Ask questions that show you’ve done your research &

that you’re interested in the company and the process

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Remember . . . . .

Preparation Plus Practice Prevents Poor Performance!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES What Color is Your Parachute? - Richard

Bolles No One is Unemployable – Debra Angel &

Elisabeth Harney www.rileyguide.com www.quintcareers.com www.job-hunt.org www.asktheheadhunter.com www.careerealism.com www.theladders.com www.brazencareerist.com www.jobstar.org www.indeed.com

Windie WilsonAssistant Director

Workforce ConnectionsP.O. Box 51650

Knoxville, TN [email protected]

865 544-5200