Employment and Job Search Skills for Career Practitioner

1. Employment and
Job Search Skills
TECK L. TAN

2. What is a Good Resume?
Marketing tool
About Job
hunter
Prioritizes skills
the job hunter
enjoys using
Focuses on
future
Focuses on
achievements

3. A Positive Accomplishments
Statements
Improvement
performance
Increase
efficiency
Provide better
controls
Improve
working
conditions
Solve
problems
Expand
customer
base
Streamline
operations
Improve
reliability
Boost sales
Reduce costs
Reduce time
Cut waste

4. Cover Letters Guidelines

Address someone in authority

Show that you’ve done your homework

Convey your enthusiasm and commitment

Balance warmth and professionalism

Present something unique about you

Be appropriate, yet stand OUT

Be specific about why you’re writing

Take the initiative on the next step

Remain brief and focused

5. Cover Letter Paragraphs
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 4
• Why you want
to work with
them?
• Introduction
Why you are
writing
Paragraph 3
• What you offer
them?
• What happens
next?
The cover letter is the one opportunity they have to talk to me
clear
clean
concise
customized

6. Interview Methods
Situational
approach
•Provides a set of
circumstances and
ask you to describe
how you would
handle the situation
Open-ended
questions
•To determine how
well you think on your
feet and how quickly
you can focus on the
topic at hand
•Why are you
interested in this
position?
• Why should we hire
you?
•What would your
previous employer
say about you?
•Take this opportunity
to take more control
over the interview
and relate your
strengths
Behaviourdescription
interview
•To predict your future
behaviour
•How did you…?
•What was…?
•What did you say…?
Stress approach
•Intentionally tries to
upset you to see how
well you will react
under pressure
•Some techniques
include constant
interruptions, criticism,
and long silences
•Do not fall into the
trap of getting angry
or upset
•Keep your cool at all
times knowing the
purpose

7. Interview Evaluation Checklist
Firm handshake
Dressed &
groomed
properly
Well prepared
Pass resume
copy
Polite and
courteous at all
times
Appeared
relaxed
Good attending
behaviors, eye
contact, gesture
Paying attention
to questions and
statements
Answer
questions well
Ask questions to
get information
Make positive
statement about
qualifications
Answer
questions with
complete
statements
Speak clearly
Avoid using
slang
expressions
Do not interrupt
Understand the
nature of the
position applied
Know that the
interview was
over
Say thank you
for taking the
time for
interview
On time
Introduce first
and last name
Make good first
impression
Talk too much,
too little, just
enough

8. Job Hunting Steps
1.
Conducting an occupational self-assessment
2.
Setting employment goals (targets)
3.
Building a personal support team
4.
Building a professional support team
5.
Researching targets – identifying your employment value
6.
Communicating your value – shining your light
7.
Following up – setting the hook
8.
Interviewing – closing the deal
9.
Accepting/rejecting an offer
10.
Evaluating your job search strategy

9. Job Sources
Newspapers
Yellow
Pages
Bulletin
Boards
Company
websites
Association
Websites
Government
Websites
(Job Bank)
Electronic
Job Boards
(Job Shark)
Cold Calls
Networking
Information
Interviews

10. 3 Steps for Effective Research
Step 1
Step 2
Deconstruct the job
description
Contemplate the
company
•Make a list of the
employer’s desired skills
and qualifications
•Who is the targeted
candidate
•Get the inside scoop
about the firm’s search
•Look for resumes of other
professionals in the field
•Standard info to include
or formatting preferences
•Ares of strength of the
company
•Stated goals and mission
•Corporate culture
•How stable is the
company
•Who are its competitors
Step 3
Investigate the industry
•Latest developments in
the field or industry
•How current economy
affecting the field
•What trends are being
forecast?

11. 9 Traits of Successful Job Seekers

Recognized the changes in the job market

Don’t rely much on friends, headhunters, or people who promise to
call back

Have strong motivations

Focus on their efforts

Recognize a dead end when they see one

Persistent but charming

Communicate well

12. Evaluating Your Job Search
Strategy

Fully understand personality style –
occupational interests, skills/aptitudes,
values/needs, and behavioural traits

Clearly identified what my employment
value is at the locations where I like to
work

Able to interview effectively and
convince interviewers that the
employment values is appropriate for
their needs

Identified an occupational direction
that is in line with personality style

Researched the geographical area to
identify all possible target employers

Assembled a personal support team to
help conduct a job search
Professionally followed up all applications
for employment and interviews

Strong, positive, consistent and ongoing in
dedication to job search

Used all electronic resources to help
identify more employment opportunities


Registered with several executive
recruiters as a means of expanding
job search effort

13. Checklists on Job Search Strategies
Understand
Personality Styles
Identify
Occupational
Directions
Research
geographical
target employers
Assemble
personal support
team
Register with
recruiters
Identify own
employment
values
Interview
effective to
convince
Follow up
professionally
Positive,
consistent,
ongoing effort
Use all electronic
resources to
identify
opportunities

14. Tips for Effective Networking

Networking starts at home

All contacts are important

Try to have your contact
introduce to the person you
want to meet

Prepare for each meeting

Join a professional or
community organization
Volunteering can help you acquire
both experience and job-related skills

Leave a resume only if you’re asked

Collect business cards

Don’t automatically accept
everything you hear

Show your appreciation

There is no script to follow
Keep careful notes



Got to social and business
events and mingle