Are you ready? You are going to need an updated resume, a compelling cover letter, and in some situations a portfolio of samples of work. You will also need to know how to use your contacts to tap into that hidden job market. This section will provide you with information and activities to really make you stand out as well as be organized in your job search.
You’ll learn:
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to set up a “work area” in your home. The most basic necessities are a phone with voice mail and a filing system. Set aside a space where you can keep all your records, research projects, and job search materials. This is your new “‘office.” Dress for work each day and maintain a structured daily schedule such as modeling a 9-5 workday.
Examples of Weekly Job Search Activity Goals
Keep in mind that finding and getting a job is based on your ability to capture an employer’s attention. Employers expect you to know job search strategies and how to present yourself. To be successful you need to be clear about what you want to do, know and be able to articulate what your skills are, and be an expert on your own job search target.
Job Search Target
If you don’t know what you are looking for, how can you find it? You may have several job targets. Flexibility is the key to finding work. If you know who you are, what you have to offer and are clear about your priorities, it is easier to see the possibilities that have a good chance of working for you.
You can use the Job Search Target (pdf) to write down the occupations you are interested and qualified to do, the industries you would like to explore, and any employers that you would like to work for.
Use the Job Search Checklist (pdf) to keep track of each step.
Each employer has a unique hiring process. Below are four steps that most employers use. It is important for every job seeker to do well at each step.
The employer looks for the "right" people for their job opening. |
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The employer screens the applications. |
Oftentimes, there are many people who apply for one job. The employer takes out the ones who aren't a good match. People may not have the right skills or experience. Or they don't do a good job describing how they are a good fit for the job. Sometimes employers use computer programs that electronically screen applicants’ resumes for keywords associated with vacant positions to determine which applicants are good candidates for interviews. Then the employer may call a candidate on the phone to ask them questions—or they have people come in for an interview. |
The employer sets up interviews with people who seem to fit their needs. |
At the interview, the employer asks people about their skills and background. They are also looking to see if people will “fit” with their company. They look for things like a "can do" attitude. They look for people who can get along with others. They also want people who like to learn and work hard. This also gives the job seeker an opportunity to interview the employer. The job seeker wants to make sure that this job is a good “fit” as well. |
The employer makes an offer to a selected applicant. |
The employer chooses the person they want to hire and offers them the job. If they accept the job then it is time to discuss the salary and benefits. This is called "negotiation." This agreement has to benefit both parties. Sometimes the salary and benefits are not negotiable, but other things like the probation period and the work schedule are negotiable. A job seeker can walk away from an offer if it is not good for him or her. |
"Market yourself" means to show yourself in the best light to potential employers. It is very important that you can show that you are a good fit for a job. Sometimes the person who gets the job may not be the most skilled candidate for that position, but they may have been good at promoting themselves. Here are some tips to help you market yourself.
Create your "elevator speech."
Think about being in an elevator with a potential employer. You have 30 seconds to market yourself. You want this person to know your job target and why you’re a good fit. Practice your speech with people who can give you feedback. Do they understand what kind of job you’re looking for? Do they understand why you would be good at it?
Example of an elevator speech:
“My name is Jane Doe. I have two years of experience as an office assistant. I also took classes in project management at Whatever College. I have worked in customer service most of my life. I was part of the team that completed the public initiative charter. I'm looking for an administrative support position or any position that can use my administrative and project management skills. Please let me know if I can help you or any of your colleagues on any special projects.”
Use the Your Elevator Speech (pdf) to create your own.
Did you know that most job openings are not advertised? It's true — most employers have enough applicants without advertising. They often prefer to find employees from people they trust. This network of referrals is the "hidden” job market. 80-90% of jobs are now found using the “hidden” job market! You can tap into this network by getting to know people who can help you. The most effective use of job searching time is through networking and direct employer contact.
Use the Find Your Five (pdf) to organize everyone that is in your network.
Tips for Building Your Network |
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Ask for information.
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Be prepared to talk about yourself.
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Follow good networking habits.
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Find people in your job target.
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Send thank-you notes when people are helpful to you.
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Find a mentor.
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Look into professional groups.
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Keep your key contacts informed about your efforts in the job search.
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One way to meet contacts using the Internet is through “social networking.” If you use them, be sure to think about your goals. Make sure what you write on these sites is well written by typing your text into a word processor (such as Microsoft Word) first. Get feedback about what you have posted. Use your Elevator Speech. People sometimes even post their resume on these sites.
Be careful.
Common Social Networking Websites |
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LinkedIn
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Twitter
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Facebook
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Connect with People In-Person: Networking Resources
Following is a list of resources for finding networking events.
“You can get everything you want in life, by helping enough other people to get what they want!” –Zig Ziglar
Build Relationships First |
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Caring Attracts/Neediness Repels |
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Listen |
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The Law of Reciprocity |
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Grow Contact Base |
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Resources:
Fearlessly Networking For Jobs. (e-book) Ken Marsh www.fearlessnetworkers.com
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. Robert B. Cialdini Ph.D
Networking Cards
Networking cards are similar to business cards and are used in much the same way. Networking cards contain information including: your contact information, and your unique selling proposition or personal brand.
Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
A USP is used to differentiate one product from another. Usually, it is the one reason consumers will buy a product even though it may seem no different from many others just like it. It may be that the product has a lower price, more convenient packaging, or it may taste or smell better, or even last longer.
Consider:
Pertinent Contact Information
This is the information necessary to contact you. This should include: your name, phone number, email address, postal mail address, and cell phone number.
Networking cards can be created using MS Word and printed at home, at a print shop, or you can create them using a website like Vistaprint.com.
On your Computer in MS Word:
Award-winning, buzz-producing publicist with 5+ years PR experience. Can take your product to the next level. |
Qualifications Summary
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Employers prefer to hire employees that already know about their industry and their company. This exercise will help you organize the information you find about your target employers.
Use Research occupations, industries, and companies (pdf)
to target your job search.
Contact Employers
Once you know a bit about your target employers, you can contact them. Before doing so, you should know what you are going to say. Review the tips and questions provided in the section covering Informational Interviewing. If you feel like you have a good connection, offer to send a cover letter and resume.
Tips for Calling Employers |
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Write down what you want to say. This is important if you are not used to calling employers. Don't read your script; your conversation should be natural. |
Smile while you are talking on the phone. It makes your voice sound cheerful and relaxed. |
Your out-going voicemail message should not have music or jokes on it. Just say your name and ask the caller to leave a message. |
Tell your roommates and family that employers will be calling. Ask them to take clear messages and give them to you right away. |
Call back all employers who call you, even if you no longer want the job. |
Return all phone calls within 24 hours. |
How to E-Mail Employers |
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Use a simple e-mail address with your name or initials for your job search. Don't use inappropriate nicknames or jokes like "cutiepie@email.com." |
Start the e-mail with something of interest to the reader. Let them know right away why you are writing and how you can help their business. |
Write the email the same way you would a formal letter. Don't use online acronyms such as IMHO, LOL, etc. |
Have a subject line that is clear and interesting. |
At the end of your message, tell the employer you plan to follow-up. Give them another way contact you such as your phone number. If you sent the e-mail without them knowing, ask if they want you to keep in touch with them in another way. |
Check for the correct spelling, grammar, word use, and punctuation. |
If the employer does not contact you, and you really want an interview, call them. |
How do I reach the right person?
Research the company, or person; try to find a contact name…..somebody who knows somebody in the company. LinkedIn.com can be a useful tool for this.
If you were told it was your job to screen your employer’s calls for importance, what would you do? YOU WOULD SCREEN YOUR EMPLOYER’S CALLS. These annoying people that prevent you from reaching the right person are sometimes referred to as gatekeepers. How do you get past them?
Caller: “Hi, this is Joe Confidence. I’m trying to contact the person in charge of marketing. Who would that be?
Gatekeeper: “That’s Mr. Know-it-all. He is the director.”
Caller: “I need to contact him about some marketing concerns. Does he have a direct number or an extension #?
Gatekeeper: His direct number is…….. Would you like me to transfer you?
Employers look favorably upon job seekers who know about their company. They also like job seekers who know why they would be a good fit for their company. Think about the type of job you really want and prepare yourself to go after it. You have already spent time researching employers, now it is time to find job openings. There are two ways to do this. The first is by finding advertised job leads on job search websites and employer’s websites. The other is by searching the “hidden” job market and utilizing the contacts in your network.
Employers ask about job seekers in several ways. Pay close attention to what the employer wants from job seekers. Make sure you send them the documents they request, which may include: a list of references, a writing sample, or a portfolio of work. The most common documents requested are applications, resumes, and cover letters.
What to Put in Your Work Sample Portfolio
A portfolio of your work can show employers your accomplishments. You may include samples of work and school projects. You can put these samples in a binder. Some people like to put their samples online. You can bring your portfolio to job interviews.
What to Put in Your Portfolio | |
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If you are a/an: | You could include: |
Artist |
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Chef or Baker |
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Computer programmer or multimedia specialist |
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Dancer, actor, or musician |
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Fashion designer or tailor |
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Office support staff |
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Writer or journalist |
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Resumes vs. Applications
Each potential employer will ask for different documents to apply for a job opening. Many times the employer will ask for both an application and a resume. Here is a description of the purpose of each document.
Resume | Application |
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Your personal advertisement | Your personal job history |
Selective inclusion of information | Factually accurate |
OK to omit jobs or degrees | Not OK to omit jobs or degrees |
General or specific details | Very specific |
Serves your purpose | Serves purpose of the employer |
Job Applications
Employers often use a form to learn about each job seeker. This form is called an application. They compare the job seekers to determine who would be the best fit for the job opening. Use words from the job description to show that you are the candidate they have been searching for.
Job Application Tips |
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Make a rough draft. Get your references now. |
Follow the directions. Be honest. |
Fill out applications neatly and completely, and use correct spelling and grammar. |
Always list your "position desired." |
Give a range for your salary. |
Give positive reasons for leaving jobs. |
A resume is a communication tool. Job seekers use it to list their skills and experience. Employers use resumes to choose who to bring in for an interview.
Resumes are not a list of what you did. They list what you can do. When describing work experience, start with an action verb. The worksheets below are adapted from resources provided by Ometz Agency in Montreal, Canada.
Action Verbs for Resumes (pdf)
300 Action Verbs to Add impact (pdf)
Key Words that Employers Value (pdf)
Good resumes use skill language. List the common skills and experience that employer’s want. Again, use your occupational research to know what employers want.
Resume Formats |
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A chronological resume (pdf) lists your work history starting with the most recent. This is the most common type. It is used by people who are staying in an occupation. |
A functional resume (pdf) groups your skills and experience by skill areas. These skill areas are called “functions.” It is used mostly by people with little to no work history. |
A hybrid/combination resume (pdf) combines the other two formats. It groups your skills by function, and it lists a short work history. It is used by people who are changing occupations. |
New to the workforce? Here is a Sample Resume (pdf) that can help you develop your first resume.
What to Include on Your Resume |
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Contact information tells the employer how to reach you. It is very important for setting up interviews. Most people list their phone number and email. |
A summary statement shows why you are a good fit for your target. You can highlight your skills and traits that make you successful. |
Education lists your degrees earned and relevant coursework if applicable. Remember to include licenses or certifications. |
Your work experience describes where you worked, your skills, and accomplishments. |
Your accomplishments and awards on the job or in school. Also include quotas that you met or money that you saved past companies, number of customers you helped, or other outcomes that help a business run well. |
JFS Resume Writing Workshop |
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JFS has regularly scheduled Resume Writing Workshops. Contact CES to reserve your space in the next workshop.
From this workshop, candidates will:
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What is the Purpose of a Resume?
The main goal of your resume is to obtain an interview. It must answer the questions:
Your resume should:
Identify your achievements and skills.
What makes you unique?
Because past performance is the best predictor of future performance, the more achievements you can identify, the easier it will be to impress a potential employer. Achievements illustrate your abilities and skills, and are indicative of your potential for taking initiative and solving problems; in short, delivering value to an employer.
The following questions can be used to trigger your memory of past achievements and skills:
Transferable Skills
Using the Transferable Skills (pdf) identify tasks you have performed well in previous jobs and think how that experience could be applied to situations in the future.
Other resume considerations:
Transferable Skills
Identify tasks that you have performed well in previous jobs and think how that experience could be applied to situations in the future.
Scannable Resumes
These are documents that use technology which enables employers to scan your resume for keywords. You need to research your industry and/or the requirements of the jobs you are seeking to make sure you’ve included relevant information.
Changing Careers
Remember that if you are looking at jobs in a different field your resume must be revamped to make it relevant to the new requirements and particulars of the current posting.
Choosing the Right Resume Format
There are 3 types of resumes: chronological, functional, and combination. They differ only in the way the job history is presented. Select the format that showcases your knowledge, skills, and accomplishments to your best advantage.
Chronological | Functional | Combination | |
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Pros |
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Cons |
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Creating a Polished Accomplishment Statement (pdf)
Remember, your goal is to identify special skills or abilities that set you apart from the competition. Your added value shows that you bring much more to the role than what is merely expected. It shows employers how you rise above the competition.
Examples of strengthening the language in your resume.
Sector | Skill statement- basic | Skill statement- stronger |
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Secretarial/Writing | Writes reports and letters |
Writes letters, memos and reports that command attention and achieve maximum impact with clarity and consistency
Writes documents that achieve results |
Computer Skills | Handles computer problems |
Excels in diagnosing and solving computer malfunctions
Was instrumental in skillfully transferring manual functions to computerized systems |
Construction | Completed all projects |
Budgeted, planned, designed, and oversaw construction of commercial building projects of $54 million from site search to occupancy
Designed and managed Class 100 clean room for semiconductor manufacturer which increased product yield by 10-15% |
Sales | Managed existing accounts |
Consistently increased sales objectives by 40%
Provided exceptional customer service and developed strong client relationships |
A Summary of Resume Do’s and Don’ts
Remember: Your resume is your marketing tool – You are the product!
DO: Ensure your resume is focused and matches the targeted position
DO: Make certain your resume is clean, lean, concise, and specific
DO: Maintain consistency with font titles and style
DO: Create a professional image with visual appeal on good quality paper
DO: Modify your resume to match each position
DO: Always accompany your resume with a unique cover letter
DO: Limit employment history to between ten and fifteen years
DO NOT: Include any information relative to salary on your resume or cover letter
DO NOT: Use your current work email address: create one for professional use and one for personal use
DO NOT: Use I in the resume
DO NOT: Include information that reveals your age, health, marital status, dependents, religion, height, weight, race,
DO NOT: Include a picture
DO NOT: Include reasons for leaving last employer
DO NOT: Use abbreviations, &, or Etc.
DO NOT: Put a title on your resume i.e. Professional Resume
DO NOT: Have an overly long resume; it should not usually be over 2 pages
DO NOT: Send out a poor resume because you believe that it is better than no resume at all
Three Phrases to Ban from Your Resume
If you've been working with an older resume, take a closer look at your language, and ask: how many clichés do you have in there? Find ways to be detailed about your achievements and quantify how you’ve added to the company’s bottom line. Show who you are and what you’ve done to make you stand out. Here are 3 phrases you should ban from your résumé, and new, fresh ways to showcase your skills.
Show, don’t tell: Find ways to be detailed about your achievements, to make you stand out as the memorable candidate you are. Fleur Bradley, Investopedia.com
Ten Phrases that Employers Value
A cover letter is a letter that you send with a resume. The cover letter makes your resume more personal, and is targeted to a job lead and employer. It shows the employer that you read and understood the job description and gives the employer key points about why you are the right person for that job. You can view sample cover letter templates (pdf) here.
Parts of a Cover Letter |
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Heading and greeting |
Opening and introduction |
Body |
Assertive closing |
Your resume and cover letter grabbed the attention of the employer and you have been asked to come in for an interview. Are you prepared to turn those interviews into job offers?
Interview Preparation Activities
Do these activities before every interview – if possible, go over the questions and answers with a friend (at the very least in the mirror!), and practice your answers until they sound polished and confident (but not rehearsed!).
Practice Activities |
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Ten reasons why you’re the perfect person for the job |
Ten questions they will ask you during the interview, and your answers |
Questions to ask them about the job or company |
Ten things to avoid doing/saying during the interview |
Sample Questions to Ask the Employer During the Interview
Below is a list of questions you may consider asking during your interview. If you already know the answer to the question; either from the job description, information provided during the interview, or from your research of the company online; do NOT ask the question. If you still need clarification about anything that can be found while researching the company, be clear about where you found the information and follow it up with the question.
The employer will want to know….
To answer those questions, you must know what the job requires.
What are the main tasks of the job? What outcomes does the employer expect?
You should list the tasks and duties of the position. Be as specific as possible. To find out more about the job, you can read typical job descriptions using the National Classification of Occupations and other career information.
BE PREPARED! BE SPECIFIC! BE POSITIVE!
You WILL be creating a first impression, what do YOU choose it to be?????
7 % Words
38% Tone of voice
55% Facial expression, body language
Storytelling Propels Careers
Concrete examples from your own experiences (work and/or life) demonstrate that you can do the things you say you can do. By revisiting a Situation, Task, And Result, you can develop stories illustrating your skills.
How STAR stories help you do well at interviews:
Use the STAR (pdf) worksheet to develop your own stories.
A job interview is a two-way conversation with a purpose. The employer wants to find out whether you can do the job and what kind of a person you are. You want to tell the employer what you can do and how you can benefit the company. The more you know about the company and the job, the better you can explain why you should be hired.
Do not expect the interviewer to ask you all the questions that would uncover your best qualities. Be prepared to use their questions to weave in your strengths.
Apply your transferable skills: What qualities have you demonstrated at work, school, recreation or volunteer situations that would be relevant to skills needed at a job?
Employers are trying to assess your attitude, level of confidence, maturity, and get a feel for your values and work ethic. Your past behavior is an excellent predictor of future behavior so the interviewer will ask you for examples of where you had to use specific skills in the past.
Employers use a variety of interview formats to elicit information:
Situational |
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Goal: Employers want examples of how you handled situations. Example: Tell me how you handled the situation in school when you did most of the work on a team project, but had to share the grade? |
Behavioral |
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Goal: What can the employer learn about you from your actions? Example: How do you handle stress? |
Conversational/Psychological |
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Goal: To see what your values and attitudes are and how you might handle yourself in the workplace. Example: By providing examples, convince me that you can adapt to a wide variety of people, situations and environments. OR A co-worker tells you in confidence that she plans to call in sick while actually taking a week's vacation. What would you do and why? |
Forward-Thinking |
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Goal: Can you think out-of-the-box and apply general principles to the employer’s company? Example: If you had an unlimited budget to apply to our company, what would you do with it? |
Off the wall |
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Goal: How well do you think on the spot? Employers may ask you a question that seems completely bizarre to see who you are underneath your mask. Example: If a music video were made of you, who would star in it? |
What are they really asking? (pdf) Some questions behind the questions.
Preparing for Behavioral Interview Questions
(adapted from www.quintcareers.com)
Behavioral questions try to get at how you responded to negative situations, for example: ‘Tell me about a time where you had to resolve a customer complaint.’ The best way to prepare for behavioral questions is to have examples of negative experiences ready, but try to choose negative experiences that you made the best of or -- better yet, those that had positive outcomes.
Here's a good way to prepare for behavior-based interviews:
Situation or Task |
Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish. You must describe a specific event or situation, not a generalized description of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event. |
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Action you took | Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you. Even if you are discussing a group project or effort, describe what you did -- not the efforts of the team. Don't tell what you might do, tell what you did. |
Results you achieved |
What happened? How did the event end? What did you accomplish? What did you learn? |
Use the STAR Interview Worksheet (pdf) to write down your scenarios.
Follow-up after the interview.
The job interview is not over when you leave the meeting. You have one more chance to impress the employer. Follow up the interview with a thank-you letter.
Send a thank-you letter or note (pdf) to each person who interviewed you. Your letter should cover these main points:
If you told the interviewers that you would give them added information, make sure that you do. Keep track of when you said you would contact this employer to find out if you were hired. Don't forget to make that contact.
Be sure to check the grammar, spelling, word use and punctuation before sending the thank-you note or letter. If you choose to write your letter by hand, check with a friend to verify that your handwriting is legible.
Follow-up
It shows interest, organization, and that you are on top of things.
The person who lands the job is not necessarily the only who is the best qualified, but rather the one who knows the most about how to get hired!
It is not what you know, but who you know!
There are jobs out there. If you can’t find one:
Cut Yourself Some Slack
Negotiating your salary is a key part of the job search. Wait until after you get a job offer to talk about pay and benefits. Negotiating is a two-way street. People make these deals differently. Use the tips below that work for you.
Negotiating Tips |
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Think about the offer
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Use good communication skills
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Understand the rules of the game
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Below is a list of online resources that provide information for specific populations.
Individuals with Disabilities |
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Office of Vocational Rehabilitation |
Coalitions for Independent Living Options |
Your Ticket to Work |
Mature Workers |
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AARP Job Hunting |
Department of Labor: Information for Seniors |
Youth |
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CareerSource Palm Beach County |
Florida Choices |
Resources for Human Development: Youth Development |
Refugees & Immigrants |
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MyFL Families: Refugee Services |
US Citizenship and Immigration |
ESL Go |
Free Resources for Learning ESL |
Refugee Works |
You've found a good job. Now, how do you live up to your employer's expectations? What can you do to show you deserve a raise or a promotion? Here are some tips to help you keep and succeed in your new job:
Succeed in the Workplace |
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Stick to your work schedule
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Follow the rules at work
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Dress appropriately
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Act professionally
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Get along with others
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