Helping your Student Find A JOB

LOOKING FOR A JOB - IS A FULL-TIME JOB

It truly is a skill. Many don't possess the ability to be tenacious about how to search for and find a new job.

We should put this in our HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM bag as a must do before our kids graduate.

Here are some steps in the process. We can use this as a learn as you go journey.

JOB SEARCH WEBSITES

This is the best place for many job seekers to start. My personal favorite is INDEED.COM and CAREERBUILDER.com

Have your student or new job seeker create the following:

(1) A resume that highlights EACH AREA of their specialty. For instance, if your student has background in baking and book-keeping. They should have TWO SEPARATE resumes that highlight each Career Area
(2) A form cover letter that highlights EACH area of their specialty.
(3) List of references with phone numbers, email address, physical address that can confirm past jobs, college experiences, projects, or volunteerism
(4) Create a professional named email account like Jane.Doe@gmail.com
(5) Create a 'Thank You' letter for use after the interview. Send about 4 to 7 days after the interview to use to 'jog' the employers memory about you and the interview.
(6) A profile on ALL job boards. And leave application opened so employers will find you.

*If the student is in College they can utilize their COLLEGE CAREER DEPARTMENT*
*Otherwise they can also contact the LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE for classes and mentorship as well as 'employment' programs*

INTERVIEW PRACTICE

Set up 'mock' interviews that replicate the
(1) Telephone Pre-Screen Interview and the
(2) In person Interview.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS INTERVIEW ATTIRE

Have your student put together various outfits they would wear to an interview
(1) Formal Interview
(2) Business Casual Interview

APPLYING FOR JOBS

Let the Job or Company decide if they want you before you talk yourself out of applying.

This is where I tell my kids to consider the following.

(1) APPLY FOR ANY JOB that you

(a) Are Qualified for
(b) Would like to do and think that you can learn to do fairly quickly
(c) You have AT LEAST 70% of the skills necessary

(2) Apply for at least 25 jobs a week, on separate job boards

(3) When you are applying through a company website, find ALL jobs you are interested in or capable of doing and apply for ALL OF THEM.

KNOW THAT IT IS A NUMBERS GAME

When you apply for 100 jobs, the likelyhood is that you will only be contacted for 20 of them, only make it to the Pre-Screen of 10 of them, and only make it to the actual interview of 5 of them.

That is likely to happen in a competitive job/career category.

CONSIDER GETTING HELP FINDING A JOB

TEMP Agencies will help you by
(1) Screening you for a company
(2) Assessing your skills
(3) Finding a 'Temp' job or 'try before you commit to permanent employment' job to help you gain work experience or entry into hard to get jobs.
 See List of some here.


EMPLOYMENT Agencies are a bit different as they offer CAREER specific opportunities

 (1) Contract to Permanent placement
 (2) Permanent Placement. They do the screening and skills assessment for employers.

FINDING A PART-TIME Job, OR non-professional OPPORTUNITY

When my kids were looking for jobs at local restaurants, childcare centers, retail stores the job search was different.

To inquire about those types of local jobs I had them
(1) Dress Business Casual
(2) Go to the prospective place of employment
(3) Ask for the manager
(3) Ask the manager if they had any job openings and
(4) Ask how to apply
(5) Get the manager's name and phone number
(6) After filling out the application, return it and
(7) Follow up by phone or in person with the manager you spoke to