ERIC ED332007: Job Hunting? It's a Jungle out There! Jungle Survival Guide II.

32 Pages·1991·1.8 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUNPITT RESUME
ED 332 007
CE 057 952
TITLE
Job Hunting? It's a Jungle out There' Jungle Survival
Guide II.
INSTITUTION
Florida State Dept. of Education, Tallahassee. Div.
of Vocational, Adult, and Community Education.
91
PUB DATE
NOTE
32p.
AVAILABLE FROM
Florida Department of Education, Florida Education
Center, Tallahassee, FL 32399 ($.40 in Florida; $.80
out of state; over 500 copies: $.35 in Florida, $.75
out of state).
PUB TYPE
Guides - Classroom Use
- Instructional Materials (For
Learner
(051)
EDRS PRICE
MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS.
DESCRIPTORS
Employer Employee Relationship; *Employment
Interviews; Employment Potential; *Job Application;
*Job Search Methods; *Job Skills; Networks; Resumes
(Personal); Secondary Education
ABSTRACT
This illustrated, jungle-theme book plans
a job
search. There are three major sections in the book: (1) plan
your
safari; (2) where to look for jobs; and (3) making
contact. Section
one includes information on resumes, references, official papers
needed for a job, and 11 ideas to help find job openings.
Section two
suggests finding jobs in state government, apprenticeship
programs,
newspaper want ads, volunteering, and part-time work. A checklist is
included to organize a job search. Part three provides suggestions
for making contacts: (1) contacting prospective employers; (2)
writing letters of application; (3) phoning about
a job;
(4) visiting
prospective employers; (5) filling out application
forms; (6)
interviewing for a job; (7) getting an offer; and (8)
once on the
job, what comes next. Thirty-four references are included. (NLA)
******************************************WWM**********************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that
*
can be made
*
*
from the original document.
*
***********************************************************************
";4-'P
A
"PErIMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
SOUCATION
MATERIAL IN MICROFICNE ONtY
Lt IlL OOPMITOMPIT OP
I
and toNsottontont
at EtWotonal Rematcit,
OP
HAS BEEN URANTtD BY
INFORMATION
AT1ONAL RESOURCES
ED
CENTER 4ERIC1
footocksted is
tut tIOCur1 NIS WW1
or orgaruteCM
wowed kom irs PriOn
omprottag It
boon mod* to opprotto
0 %boot chinos woe
,Ogr004.41101.1 Quality
RESOURCES
TO THE EDUCATIONAL
thiSOOCAr
09M.011 Stilted m
Omtil o 11111
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
mR16$414"1 '0440
mittli do not rionitmeNt,
almi"`ftiaip
OERI posttion oi Pow,
MEW_
1Trai.V
MIL
INSIO
ammagr""
Enktt:,
sime
*-..tc..1
=MEM.-
MEIN
11,11in
rr)
110o...-___
.41*
Issmi
;T4
--4111114._
--wigigisrm
EMU
. LY-
Li
111111..
EST COPY AY
2
Contents
3
Introduction
4,5
Plan Your Safari
6
Your Resume
6
Resume Hints
7
A Note About References
8
Chronological Resume
9
Functional Resume
10
Setting Up A Personal Facts Sheet
10
Hints
11
Official Papers You May Need
Try These Eleven Ideas To Help You Find Job
12,13
Openings
14
Where To Look For Jobs
14
Look A! A Career In State Government
14
Where Are Your Government Personel Offices?
Provide Jobs
Registered Apprenticeship Programs Can
15
And Training
15
Job Leads
Using Newspaper Want Ads To Get
16
Volunteer To Gain Work Experience
16
Consider Part-Time Jobs
17
Keeping Track
17
Here's A Checklist To Organize Your Job search
18
Making Contact
18
Contacting Prospective Employers
19
Sample Letter Of Application
20
Writing Letters Of Application
20
Phoning About A Job
20
Visiting Prospective Employers
21
Filling Our Application Forms
22
Interviewing For A Job
22
Tips For A Successf. I Interview
23
Your Turn
23
Hints On Open-Ended Questions
24
The Interviewer's Questions
25
After You Apply
26
Getting An Offer
26
Once You're On The Job, What Comes Next?
27
Failing To Get A Job
28,29
Resources
3
Introduction
Finding a job can be tricky. Use
this book to plan your job search
You'll learn how to write a
safari.
potential
resume, how to approach
employers, and what to think
about before you say "yes" to a job
offer. So put on your pith helmet
and start down the jungle
path...it's the Jungle Survival
Guide II!
4
Sa
Plan Your
ability and your ability to work with
Need a job? You can find one.
others as part of a team. Both
An effective job search follows a
characteristics are highly desired
of
pattern, from deciding what kind
by todays employers.
job you want to saying "yes" to a
So, take some time to think
job offer. This book can help you.
about what you might like to do.
So, decide what kind of job you
Identify what you are good at and
want. Everybody is good at
evaluate your interests, needs, and
something, and you are much
abilities. Examine some career
more likely to enjoy and be
alternatives. For example, you
successful with a job you are good
may have always dreamed of
at. Take some time before your
being a doctor, but you are not
actual job search to think about
really interested in attendihg
and set some career goals. Even
school for many years after high
if you are only looking for a part-
school graduation. Or you don't
time job while you are in school,
feel you can afford the expensive,
that
you can try to choose work
long range tuition. Think about
will relate to your lifetime career
other careers that may fulfill your
goals. For example, if you think
if you are interested in
needs.
you might want to be an
helping others, why not think of
elementary school teacher, a part-
being a nurse? This involves two
time job with a day care center will
to four years of college, and there
give you valuable experience that
is a growing dvnand for skilled
relates directly to your long-term
nurses (and the pay is excellent for
goals. Future employers will see
this level of education). Or
that you have relevant experience,
investigate being a nurse's aide or
and this can give you an
orderly. Training programs are
advantage over other competitive
widely available at community
applicants. In the same way, if
colleges and vocational/technical
in
you are interested in a career
If it is the technical side
schools.
business or hotel and restaurant
of medicine that Interests you,
management, you might want to
consider being a medical
try work in a regular or fast-food
technician or pharmacist. There
restaurant. Many fast-food
are thousuads of career choices
restaurants will rapidly promote
available. Your guidance
good workers into team or shift
counselor or occupational
lead positions, which will give you
specialist may be able to help.
some idea of the type of
After you have decided what
responsibility a manager in
kind of job you are interested in,
It will also
business may have.
you should evaluate your strengths
help develop your decision making
,1=1!.
5
and weaknesses. Why should an
other suggestions to help
your
employer hire you? You need to
employability. Ask them for help.
be able to answer this question. A
Now, you are ready to begin
big part of any job search is
your job search. Make sure all
convincing an employer that your
your friends, teachers, your own
experience, education, and
parents, and your friend's parents
personality are just what they
know of your intent to find
a job.
need. Take a few moments to jot
Most openings are filled through
down the skills or special abilities
word-of-mouth
as many as 80%.
you have:
So keep your eyes and
ears open
for job leads. And get others
to
keep theirs open for you, too.
Start with a resume. A
resume
is a written statement of
your job
objective, as well as a record of
your education and work history.
tt can be simpl
Skills can be tangible (1 can type
but it must he
neat and accurate. A good
145 correct words per minute") or
i ,tangible el am a positive,
resume can give you a competitive
advantage over another applicant,
cheerful person"). Write down
everything that you think might be even one with the same skills and
experience as yourself. Also,
important to an employer,
a
resume will have all your job
including any previous work
information pulled together in
experience, whether paid (such as
one
babysitting) or unpaid (volunteer
place, and will be a big help when
filling out employment applications.
work for a service club project.
for example).
You can attach a copy of
your
resume to a completed application
Then, think about what you
form, to provide supplemental
might need to improve. Are you
information to a prospective
often late to school? Being late is
employer.
an easy way to get fired right
it is important the information
away, even if you are excellent at
in
your job. Tardiness and
your resume is accurate and up-to-
date. You may use a "personal
absenteeism are unacceptable in
fact sheer to draft your
the business world. Can you type?
resume.
These fact sheets should contain
Most employers require at least 35
all the information that is
correct words per minute. If
to be
included in your resume and
lacking, work on your speed to
application.
bring it up. Your counselor or
occupational specialist may have
FIST COPY AVAILABLE
6
Your Resume
neighbor's pet), anything to sty, w
you have initiative and
responsiblity. Describe these
Your career goal or objective
activities just as you would a paid
Your education and training
job.
Your work experience
An optional category in a
Volunteer experience
resume are awards and hobbies. If
Your school skills and extra
you have been awarded a coil%
curricular activities, if related to
scholarship, are an Eagle Scout,
your job search
or are an officer in a service or
References
academic Nnors club, this is the
Your career goal is a general
place to note so. Also list hobbies,
statement about what kind of job
if you feel they may be of interest
this
you are looking for. Keep
to a potential employer or relate to
statement simple and not too
the kind of job you are interested
sweeping; it is important that an
in.
employer understand what you are
interested in at a glance.
Resume Hints
Education comes next. Give the
name of your school and your
People often do not read
graduation date, or your planned
resumes; they skim them. Be
graduation date. Also, give any
brief and specific.
additional training you may have
Write your resume to sell
completed: a certified baby-sitter
yourself to employers.
course is offered by some
Emphasize your strengths and
hospitals and public libraries, for
accomplishments.
example, or you may be certified
Emphasize your skills in dealing
by the Red Cross in First Aid,
with people, running specific
CPR, or lifeguarding. Then,
equipment, or other abilities that
record your work history with the
may be useful in a particular
most recent job you have had, or
job.
the one you hold now, and work
Make sure your resume is neat
backwards. Give the dates you
and error-free. Absolutely no
worked, and what you
typos or strike-overs.
accomplished. Put yourself in a
Use wide margins and spacing
positive light and be honest. A
It's a
to make it easy to read.
new employer will probably check
good idea to have your resume
with previous employers and any
professionally printed.
inaccuracy or excessive
Use action verbs, such as:
exaggeration will become evident.
developed, designed,
This will not heir jou in your job
successfully, won, etc.
search.
There are many excellent books
If you have no employment
that will help you develop a
history, list volunteer or unpaid
resume perfectly suited to your
jobs you have done (presented
education and work experience.
puppet shows to young children,
Check your school or public
grocery-shopped for a disabled
library.
person, house-sat or cared for a
to an employer if they ask for a
A Mote About
reference. They will probably want
References
your list of references as well, but
a letter of reference is a good tool
A reference is a person who
to use in your job search, so it is
knows you, and can recommend
worth asking for one or more.
you to an employer. A reference
Make sure you keep the original
should be someone who knows
copy of the letter, and make
enough about you to know the job
duplicates from this original. This
you do, or are capable of doing
will keep the reproduction quality
once you are hired. Make sure
good and add to the professional
you ask pur refererm before
appearance of your job search.
listing him or her, both as a
If you are sending your resume
courtesy and to be sure that they
to many employers, you should
feel they can give you a good
probably wait until your interview
reference. F eople are very honest
to make references available. In
when giving a recommendation to
this way, you can match your
others, so make sure your
references to the specific Job and
references like you and respect
employer.
the work you do. Teachers, former
Sometimes a resume is all that
or present employers, ministers,
an employer sees before meeting
ane friends' parents are good
you, so a well-written, neat resume
people to ask. Avoid using fellow
can improve your chances of
students, relatives, or people who
getting an inteMew. Type or aord
do not know you as a reference.
process your resume, or pay a
List references on a separate
profess>3nal to prepare it for you.
sheet of paper, giving name, title,
There are several good ways to
mailing address and telephone
write a resume. The two basic
number. You should have at least
forms of resumes are the
three references. Related to
chronological resume (job
references is a letter of reference.
information and education
A letter of reference is a dated,
arranged by date with most recent
signed letter describing what kind
first) and the functional resume
of person you are, and
(arranged by job skills from most
recommending you as an
to least important). Look over the
.
employee. A letter of reference
'sample resumes on the next few
may be attached to your
pages.
application or resume, or be given
0
.11111111111M1111111_1111
e:;
4.;
AP
chronological Resume
WILUAM H. JOHNS
1080 Oak Drive
Orlando, Florida 32805
[phone]
Seeking employment with a
CAREER OBJECTIVE
large architectural firm as a
drafting assistant, with
opportunities to advance to full
drafter.
Robinson High, Tampa,
EDUCATIONAL
1977-81, High School Degree,
EXPERIENCE
Pinellas Vo-Tech Institute,
1981-89, Architectural Design
Technology, AA
WORK-RELATED
EXPER1ENCE/SKILLS
Drafters assistant, Pinellas
1989-present
County Road Department,
Florida. Drafted basic plans,
lettered blueprints, and worked
on several major county projects
as an assistant.
Copy carrier for Raker &
1987-1989
Company, a large advertising
agency In Tampa, Florida.
Worked with many dIfferent
kinds of people in a fast-paced
environment. Learned through
observation the basics of good
layout and design.
References available on request.
IrMSEW
9
Functional Resume
WILLIAM H. JOHNS
1080 Oak Drive
Orlando, Florida 32805
[phone]
CAREER OBJECTIVE
Responsible position as a
drafting assistant, with potential
to advance to drafter.
DRAFTING
Pinellas County Road
ASSISI ANT
Department, Pinellas County,
Florida. Drafted plans, lettered
blueprints and worked on
several major county projects as
an assistant. 1989-present.
COPY CARRIER
Learned basics of good design
through obsetvation with a
large, fast-paced advertising
agency. Worked cooperalively
with many kinds of people, on a
variety of projects, while
attending school full-time.
1987-1989
EDUCATIONAL
Associate of Arts, 1989,
Architectural Design
Technology, Pinellas Vo-Tech
institute, St. Petersburg. High
School Diploma, 1987,
Robinson High School, Tampa.
References available on request.
make copies. Use glass cleaner to
Read your resume carefully,
making sure the person it
clean the glass plate of the copier
before you begin. This will
describes (youl) looks like a good
candidata for lots of jobs. Then,
eliminate any smudges and stray
either type it or have it
marks. You can use colored paper
professionally typed or typeset. A
if you like, but be conservative.
handwritten resume is not
Stick to cream, light grey or light
acceptable. A professionally
blue. No hot pink or bright green.
typeset resume can be quite
This will indeed get attention, but
artistic, with different sizes and
probably not the kind you want.
If
styles of type, but a typed resume
you have your resume printed, you
is fine. If you don't have your
may be able to buy matching
resume printed (prices begin at
envelopes and blank sheets of
about $35.00 for 25 copies) be
paper for cover letters. But this is
sure to keep your original to use to
optional. Plain white paper is fine.
0