8 Steps to find Employment

1. Set your goals2. Determine the type of job you want3. Prepare documentation4. Search and Apply for job openings5. Prepare for interview6. Interview7. Follow up after interview8. Accepting a job offer

Set Your Goals

It’s good to think about what you want from your future career – both in the short and long term. Ask yourself:

1. What do I enjoy doing? 2. What am I good at?3. Where do my skills and knowledge lie?4. What characteristics of a job are important to

me?

Determine the type of job you want• Decide what kind of work you are interested in and

how far you will travel for work. Decide on the types of work that interest you most and keep your options open but be realistic.

• Find out more about jobs that interest you by going online or talking to people in the industry. You will find this will either add to your interest or you may decide ‘it’s not for you after all’.

• Consider what work pattern you are open to; full time, part time, casual, contract, or self employed.

• Stay open to new opportunities and possibilities.

Prepare Documentation*

• Application• Resume• Cover Letter• References• Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, Student ID)

• Social Security or Work Permit

(*We will go into more detail on these topics in the next lesson.)

Search and Apply for job openings

• Most job-hunters think there are basically only three ways to go about their job-hunt: resumes, ads, and agencies.

• Actually, there are twelve:

Search and Apply for job openings (cont.)

1. Using the Internet to look for job-postings or to post one's own resume.

2. Mailing out resumes to employers at random.3. Answering ads in professional or trade journals

appropriate to your field.4. Answering local newspaper ads.5. Going to private employment agencies or search

firms. 6. Going to places where employers come to pick out

workers, such as job fairs and union hiring halls.

Search and Apply for job openings (cont.)

7. Taking a Civil Service exam.8. Asking a former teacher or professor for job-leads.9. Going to the state/Federal employment service office. 10. Asking family members, friends, or professionals you know

for job-leads.11. Knocking on the door of any employer, factory, or office that

interests you, whether they are known to have a vacancy or not.

12. By yourself, using the phone book's Yellow Pages to identify fields that interest you, then calling employers in those fields to see if they're hiring for the kind of work you can do.

Prepare for Interview

• Research the company, if you haven’t already done this as part of your job search. There is nothing less impressive than sitting there chatting away with zero knowledge about the company. If possible, also look for info about the person or people interviewing you – but use this sparingly or it can feel a little creepy.

• Carefully review the job description, looking up anything you don’t understand. This will help you match your answers to their needs.

Prepare for Interview (cont.)

• Know your Resume. Make notes for yourself using your resume and the job description, and then think of work-related stories … or ones from elsewhere if you think they will help you make your point. Use these to show how you’ve risen above and beyond to solve a problem or brought about a successful outcome or helped during a crisis or overcame a weakness or created new methods, etc. You may or may not use every story, but smart to have them ready in case.

Prepare for Interview (cont.)

• Take time to practice answering some of the most popular questions, with the help of your mirror or a recording device. You may also ask friends or family to do some mock interviews with you.

• Get comfortable talking about yourself and all the good things you have to offer, without sounding too full of yourself – or conversely, too aw shucks and self-conscious. Just be yourself and think “conversation” rather than the far scarier word “interview”.

The Day of the Interview

• Dress professionally. It helps to think about the kind of company and try to match that (check them out online or in person if possible), but even if they wear jeans and tees, you shouldn’t. A jacket and nice slacks (or skirt) is a good choice if you think a formal suit is too much.

• Best not to be too much – too flashy (tone it way down), too elegant, too casual. Less is more here.

The Day of the Interview(cont.)

• Turn your cell phone off. Easy to forget. Not necessarily a deal-breaker (although for some it is), but definitely annoying. So just remember to turn it off.

• If you feel nervous before you leave for the interview, some exercise may help. Or singing. Or jumping jacks. Nerves are actually ok (and very normal) since nerves can be channeled into energy. Solid preparation – and believing in yourself – is often the best medicine of all.

The Day of the Interview(cont.)

• Bring extra copies of your resume, just in case.

• Remember that the receptionist can be a great ally, or at least not do you in. You may wonder why I mention this, but it’s to remind you of something important: words are only part of it, overall impressions make a huge difference in your interview. You only get to make a first impression once. The interview doesn’t just start the second the interviewer walks into the room and shakes your hand, nor end when you leave the interview room. People – anyone – at any step of the process share information about the candidates. Be nice to all!

The Day of the Interview(cont.)

• While in the designated waiting area, no parents (really – this happens), no gum, no cell phone, no tablet, no humming to yourself, no putting on make-up, no slumping or feet up on a chair while slurping your coffee (this holds for the interview too).

• Be prepared to wait patiently – no matter how long it takes. Look as pleasant and energized as possible. Use the time to think about your stories and all the ways you and your experience fit the company. Also use the time to observe whatever you can, since you’re deciding if you want them, too. Stay positive while waiting.

During the Interview

• Meet the interviewer’s eyes and smile warmly as you walk in. Shake hands firmly (no death grip match), and say something pleasant.

• Be natural. Be real. And don’t use canned answers. When you’re in the actual interview, trust that you’ve done all you can up to that moment. Answer in your own words, making sure you heard exactly what they asked you. Job seekers sometimes prepare so much that they try to fit a canned answer into a question that wasn’t even asked. Not a good idea. Shows you don’t listen. So feel free to turn to your success stories, but also be conversational. Memorized words will lose you the human connection you want to build.

During the Interview(cont.)

• Be honest if you don’t know an answer. But also, if applicable, express your interest in learning or tell how you’ve already begun looking into it (if you have) or even add a good question related to what they just asked. No good employer expects you to know absolutely everything.

• Use your real-life stories. You’ve researched the company. You’ve read the job description. Match your stories and experiences to what they are looking for. How you solved problems. How you overcame obstacles. How you improved processes.

• But once again, make sure you’re listening to them and answering their real questions, and not just trying to run the interview yourself.

During the Interview(cont.)

• Still feeling nervous? It’s ok to mention nerves a little if you think it would help to diffuse your discomfort. Nerves are expected. You can add a few words about how excited you are about this opportunity. But keep it brief, and then move on to answering the question that was asked.

• If there is more than one interviewer in the room, direct your answer mostly to the person who asked the question. But make sure to have eye contact with each person at some point.

• Speak clearly, at a normal conversational pace. And remember to breathe – both in and out.

During the Interview(cont.)

• Avoid jokes. They can fall flat. A little humor can be fine if it feels right; and if the interviewer is being funny on purpose, feel free to laugh along. Just not one of those weird sitcom laughs – he he HEEEE he he.

• Maintain eye contact and energy – and listen. If you feel yourself starting to think ahead about an answer or what else you might want to bring up later, stop yourself. You will lose more than you gain by trying to jump ahead. Just be in the moment and trust yourself. Again, the connection and a feeling that you would be a great person to have on their team is key.

During the Interview(cont.)

• Have some questions prepared should they ask you if you have any. They usually do. BUT … also feel free to take brief notes and use things you learned during the interview to come up with questions. A big plus.

• Ask your last question, if it feels right, let them know you’re very interested and ask when you might expect to hear from them.

• Remember to shake hands and smile warmly as you thank each interviewer for the interview.

Follow up after interview

• Following up with an employer after an interview or even after submitting your application is something many job seekers are reluctant to do because they think it could be viewed as pestering. However, if done professionally, following up can demonstrate your enthusiasm and interest. If the organization has requested “no calls” or “no emails,” follow their instructions.

• Be patient. For most employers, jobs take months to fill; what may feel like a very long time to wait for you, may be lightning speed for an organization.

Accepting a job offer

• You don’t have to accept the job offer. You may want to create a list of pros and cons to help you determine if the job is a good fit for what you want to be doing.

• Make sure you know the start date and appropriate work attire. Is there a uniform?

• Verify the schedule, pay rate, and benefits you will receive prior to officially accepting the offer.