Quick Job Quick Job Search for Ex-Search for Ex-

OffendersOffendersSeven Steps to Seven Steps to

Finding a Job FastFinding a Job Fast

The Seven StepsThe Seven Steps

Create a positive image and Create a positive image and environmentenvironment

Identify your skillsIdentify your skills Identify job targetsIdentify job targets Get your documents in orderGet your documents in order Use the most effective job search Use the most effective job search

methodsmethods Improve your interviewing skillsImprove your interviewing skills Follow up on all job leadsFollow up on all job leads

Meet Your Basic NeedsMeet Your Basic Needs

Take advantage of government and Take advantage of government and community programs and resources.community programs and resources.

Make sure you have proper Make sure you have proper interview attire.interview attire.

Learn to manage your money.Learn to manage your money. Live with friends or family or Live with friends or family or

consider low-income or subsidized consider low-income or subsidized housing.housing.

Establish a Support Establish a Support NetworkNetwork

Surround yourself with positive, Surround yourself with positive, successful people.successful people.

Reestablish relationships with Reestablish relationships with family and friends.family and friends.

Earn back trust by taking Earn back trust by taking positive action.positive action.

Take advantage of community Take advantage of community and government assistance and government assistance programs.programs.

A Positive Self-ImageA Positive Self-Image

Earn back trust by taking Earn back trust by taking positive action.positive action.

A positive attitude is key to A positive attitude is key to convincing an employer to hire convincing an employer to hire you.you.

A positive attitude helps you A positive attitude helps you make a good first impression.make a good first impression.

A positive attitude helps you to A positive attitude helps you to work even harder to meet your work even harder to meet your goals.goals.

The Three Types of SkillsThe Three Types of Skills

Self-Self-ManagementManagement

TransferableTransferable Job-RelatedJob-Related

Self-Management SkillsSelf-Management Skills

Self-managementSelf-management skillsskills are the are the skills you use every day to skills you use every day to survive and function. Some of survive and function. Some of them could even be considered them could even be considered part of your personality. Such part of your personality. Such skills include getting to work skills include getting to work on time, honesty, enthusiasm, on time, honesty, enthusiasm, and getting along with others. and getting along with others.

Transferable SkillsTransferable Skills

Transferable skillsTransferable skills are are general skills that can be general skills that can be useful in a wide variety of useful in a wide variety of jobs, like the ability to write jobs, like the ability to write clearly or to stay organized.clearly or to stay organized.

Job-Related SkillsJob-Related Skills

Most Most job-related skillsjob-related skills are specific are specific to an occupation, such as knowing to an occupation, such as knowing how to fly an airplane. Job-related how to fly an airplane. Job-related skills are most often gained skills are most often gained through work experience, through work experience, education and training, and education and training, and hobbies.hobbies.

The Skills Employers The Skills Employers WantWant

1.1. Learning to learnLearning to learn2.2. Basic skills in reading, writing, and Basic skills in reading, writing, and

computationcomputation3.3. Good communication skillsGood communication skills4.4. Creative thinking and problem Creative thinking and problem

solvingsolving5.5. Self-esteem, motivation, and goal Self-esteem, motivation, and goal

settingsetting6.6. Personal and career development Personal and career development

skillsskills7.7. Teamwork skillsTeamwork skills8.8. Leadership skillsLeadership skills

Factors to Consider in Factors to Consider in Identifying Job TargetsIdentifying Job Targets

What skills do you want to use?What skills do you want to use? What type of special knowledge do What type of special knowledge do

you have?you have? What industries or employers are What industries or employers are

more likely to hire a person with more likely to hire a person with your record?your record?

Where do you want your next job Where do you want your next job to be located?to be located?

What benefits or income do you What benefits or income do you hope to have?hope to have?

The Six Interest CategoriesThe Six Interest Categories

RealisticRealistic InvestigativeInvestigative ArtisticArtistic SocialSocial EnterprisingEnterprising ConventionalConventional

Research the Jobs that Research the Jobs that Interest YouInterest You

1.1. What skills does the job require? What skills does the job require? Do I have those skills?Do I have those skills?

2.2. What education and training do I What education and training do I need to have or get?need to have or get?

3.3. Are employers for this kind of job Are employers for this kind of job willing to hire ex-offenders?willing to hire ex-offenders?

4.4. Are there jobs of this kind Are there jobs of this kind available?available?

5.5. How much does this job pay?How much does this job pay?

Application TipsApplication Tips

Be honest.Be honest. Prepare a Summary Statement.Prepare a Summary Statement. Include work experience while Include work experience while

incarcerated.incarcerated. Include all relevant education.Include all relevant education. Read the application over carefully.Read the application over carefully. Make it neat and error-free.Make it neat and error-free. Make personal contact with the Make personal contact with the

person in charge of hiring.person in charge of hiring.

Resume TipsResume Tips Write it yourselfWrite it yourself Include your Include your

formal name, formal name, address, phone address, phone number, and e-number, and e-mailmail

Make it error-Make it error-freefree

Make it look Make it look professionalprofessional

Keep it briefKeep it brief

Make it relevantMake it relevant Be honestBe honest Be specificBe specific Be positiveBe positive Consider using a Consider using a

skills resumeskills resume Use entire years Use entire years

to avoid showing to avoid showing gapsgaps

Cover Letter TipsCover Letter Tips

Always write to someone Always write to someone in particular.in particular.

Personalize your content.Personalize your content. Mention the name of any Mention the name of any

mutual contacts.mutual contacts. Make it professional.Make it professional. Proofread carefully.Proofread carefully.

Seven Tips for Thank-Seven Tips for Thank-You NotesYou Notes

Decide whether to use e-mail or Decide whether to use e-mail or regular mail. regular mail.

Use quality paper and envelopes.Use quality paper and envelopes. Decide whether to handwrite it or Decide whether to handwrite it or

computer-print it.computer-print it. Use a formal salutation.Use a formal salutation. Keep the note short and friendly.Keep the note short and friendly. Be sure to sign it.Be sure to sign it. Send it within 24 hours after the Send it within 24 hours after the

interview.interview.

Sample JIST CardSample JIST Card

The Two Most Effective Job The Two Most Effective Job Search MethodsSearch Methods

Networking with people Networking with people you knowyou know

Directly contacting Directly contacting employersemployers

Using the InternetUsing the Internet

Be specific in the job you seek.Be specific in the job you seek. Limit where you want to live and Limit where you want to live and

work.work. Get your resume into databases.Get your resume into databases. Make direct contacts using the Web.Make direct contacts using the Web. Check out career-specific Web sites Check out career-specific Web sites

first.first. Use more than one job search Use more than one job search

method.method.

The New Definition of an The New Definition of an InterviewInterview

Any face-to-face contact Any face-to-face contact with someone who has the with someone who has the authority to hire or authority to hire or supervise a person with supervise a person with your skills—even if no your skills—even if no opening exists at the time opening exists at the time you talk with them.you talk with them.

Improve Your Improve Your Interviewing SkillsInterviewing Skills Make a good first impression.Make a good first impression.

Research the organization beforehand.Research the organization beforehand. Dress and groom for success.Dress and groom for success. Arrive early.Arrive early. Be friendly with the receptionist.Be friendly with the receptionist. Follow the interviewer’s lead.Follow the interviewer’s lead. Be prepared to answer tough interview Be prepared to answer tough interview

questions.questions. Be prepared to address your Be prepared to address your

incarceration.incarceration.

The Most Important The Most Important Question of AllQuestion of All

““Why should I hire Why should I hire you?”you?”

Make sure you have an answerMake sure you have an answer

The Three-Step Process for The Three-Step Process for Answering Interview Answering Interview

QuestionsQuestions

1.1. Understand what is really Understand what is really being asked. being asked.

2.2. Answer the question briefly in Answer the question briefly in a non-damaging way.a non-damaging way.

3.3. Answer the real question by Answer the real question by presenting your related skills.presenting your related skills.

Thank-You Note TipsThank-You Note Tips

Send one to anyone who helps you in Send one to anyone who helps you in your job search.your job search.

Send one within 24 hours after an Send one within 24 hours after an interview.interview.

Handwrite or type on quality paper.Handwrite or type on quality paper. Enclose JIST Cards with thank-you Enclose JIST Cards with thank-you

notes.notes. Keep the notes neat and error-free.Keep the notes neat and error-free.

Closing TipsClosing Tips

Make getting a job your full Make getting a job your full time job.time job.

Plan ahead.Plan ahead. Be honest with yourself and Be honest with yourself and

with others.with others. Surround yourself with Surround yourself with

successful people.successful people. Act professional.Act professional. Don’t get discouraged.Don’t get discouraged.