Getting Started. Job search Activity. Go for interviews. Gaining qualifications and training

Transcription

1 Name:

2 Getting Started Everyone wants to have that dream job, working 35 hours a week with 6 weeks holiday, a company car, an excellent non-contributory pension and a salary that would make. jealous! The reality is that we must all plan and work towards our dreams to make them come true. To improve your chances of getting your dream job, you must put in some work on your job search skills. A clear and realistic job goal is important, so the more time you spend now, the more you will be rewarded later. Think of it in the same way as saving money; the pennies soon mount up into pounds! So now you are prepared to spend that little extra time, look through the list of the following activities and order them from 1 to 9 in the order they should be completed. Job search Activity Order Go for interviews Gaining qualifications and training Deciding what you want to do? What you can offer? What skills do you have? Looking at job adverts Sending application forms and letters Writing a curriculum Vitae (CV) Finding out about a specific job Asking for references Finding out what a particular job area involves

3 What can you offer? What skills do you have? DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO is obviously very important. However, before exploring your career options, it is just as important to know your own skills and qualities, strengths and weaknesses to ensure that you are making decisions that suit you and your personality. The school careers website will help you identify what you are good at, what you need to improve and also suggest career options that best suit you. Self Assessment Quiz Know Yourself Please answer all the questions in the following self assessment by ticking the value which you feel is most appropriate to you Disagree strongly 1 Tend to disagree 2 Tend to agree 3 Strongly agree 4 Add up all your scores for each section and then add your section scores together. Read the summary applicable to your final score and then list the two sections in which you scored the lowest marks and the two in which you scored the highest marks (ie your two main weaknesses and strengths) COMMUNICATION READING I feel confident about my reading especially for study purposes 2. I research information from lots of sources (books, journals, internet) 3. I find it easy to select the information I need from different sources 4. I read in different ways ie I can skim, scan as well as read in depth 5. I make useful notes when researching for an essay or assignment 6. I find it easy to summarise the main points from sections of text SECTION TOTAL COMMUNICATION WRITING I can write down my ideas very well in good English 2. I am confident when writing reports, essays as well as formal letters 3. I plan essays and assignments properly before writing anything 4. I always check my work very carefully for spelling/grammar mistakes 5. I check that I present my work exactly as I have been asked 6. I can take good notes from a lesson, lecture or demonstration SECTION TOTAL

4 COMMUNICATION ORAL I am confident when explaining new ideas to other people 2. I would find it easy to give a presentation on a new subject 3. I use visual aids (eg photos) when illustrating points in a presentation 4. I listen carefully to other people s points of view in a discussion 5. I can move discussions forward by making new points 6. I can change my presentation style depending on the audience SECTION TOTAL TEAMWORK I have often worked with others as part of a team 2. I always understand the end goal that my team is working toward 3. I offer to take on my own roles and responsibilities within the team 4. I do not tread on other people s toes or try and take over the team 5. I know how to monitor a team s progress and report difficulties 6. I am very happy to lead a team if I am allowed to do so SECTION TOTAL PROBLEM SOLVING When I am faced with a new task, I break it down into smaller parts 2. If at first I do not understand a problem, I always know where to find help 3. I enjoy the challenge of solving new problems 4. When starting a new challenge, I always brainstorm ideas first 5. I consider all possible solutions to problems before I start 6. I consider the consequences of what I am about to undertake SECTION TOTAL

5 PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS I organise tasks well so that I am able to meet deadlines 2. I constantly review how I m getting on with work/job/tasks 3. I know my own strengths and weaknesses when setting myself targets 4. I can always find support when necessary in order to complete a task 5. I have future long term targets in mind regarding my career & education 6. I discuss my future targets with others SECTION TOTAL NUMERACY I am confident when I have to make simple calculations 2. I use a calculator efficiently and effectively in my work 3. I am confident with fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios 4. I can interpret graphs, charts, tables and diagrams 5. I can create graphs and diagrams if I need to show information this way 6. I am confident when dealing with statistics and sets of data SECTION TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY I use a Word package to produce my assignments 2. I can use Excel spreadsheet to record and manage data 3. I can use a database to set up and manage records 4. I am confident and efficient when I use the Internet for research 5. I can produce an effective slide show using Powerpoint 6. I am aware of health and safety issues connected to computers SECTION TOTAL GRAND TOTAL

6 Now check your grand score against the boxes below. Remember, this is just a general indication of your skills and some tips for the future. If your grand total is between: You are not yet feeling confident about your skills and your abilities. Perhaps you have not given yourself credit for what you can do. Maybe, you are not yet ready to take on full time employment and need some more training and/or education to boost your skills as well as your confidence. You might find it useful to talk to your tutor about some of the areas in this self-assessment. They may be able to highlight your strengths in a more positive way. Consider your caring skills, how you manage money or maybe your reliability these are excellent skills which can be developed You consider that you are average at most things. This means you have a good foundation on which to build your skills, especially those relating to your personal effectiveness and your team player skills. When you have identified below your two main strengths and weaknesses, you can begin to plan your improvement and prioritise those areas which need particular attention. Focus on activities which can develop these areas and if you are uncertain as to the action to take, speak to your tutor Well done, you have rated yourself very well. There may be one or two areas which you could develop still further, but you have demonstrated that you are confidence and competent in a wide range of skills. If you are particularly strong in one specific area such as oral communication, now is the right time to focus on something else such as written communication or numeracy. You are a good organiser and team player and demonstrate a level of enthusiasm which can be directed into any career. Congratulations, you are highly confident in all these skill areas. You find it very easy to apply your skills in many different situations. You are a good team player with good communication and IT skills and you have the potential to undertake supervisory or managerial roles. To reach these goals, think about the next stages of your academic and professional life and ask yourself the following question. Would you know how to demonstrate your skills to an employer? From your self assessment, list the two sections in which you scored the lowest marks and the two in which you scored the highest marks (ie your two main weaknesses and strengths). TWO MAIN WEAKNESS TWO MAIN STRENGTHS

7 USING ICT: All jobs now need basic IT skills but many require you to work with IT for most of the day eg. Administration MONEY Some jobs are poorly paid but give a lot of job satisfaction eg. care worker HIGH PROFILE: eg. politician FAME: Very few jobs give this eg. professional footballer STUDY IN YOUR OWN TIME: This may be necessary to progress in your career eg. accountancy HOURS OF WORK: Some jobs have shifts eg. chef, unsociable hours eg. junior doctor, flexible working where you can choose your hours, working in the evening eg. driving instructor WORKING WITH PEOPLE FACE TO FACE: In all jobs you have to work with other people at some stage but in some jobs this occurs all the time eg. hairdressers NEW CHALLENGES: Some jobs are fairly repetitive eg. stacking shelves but others are more varied eg. town planner What do you want from a job? ACTIVITY Circle or tick the things you want from your job. RESPONSIBILITY: All jobs have some responsibility attached to them LEADERSHIP: Do you like to tell people what to do? Do you have good ideas? Can you organise other people? PRACTICAL JOBS: Where paperwork takes up less of your day eg. mechanic MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE: eg. social work WORKING UNDER PRESSURE: All jobs have some pressure eg. to finish a car in a day but other jobs are far more so eg. working in a call centre where you have to take so many calls a day WORKING LARGELY ON YOUR OWN: Many people work from home now using IT WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Do you want to work in an office, outside, at home, in a factory, in a shop etc

8 Generating Job Ideas General Before applying for a particular job, it is usual to use one or more of the computer programs available in schools and colleges to get a general idea of the job/careers that might be suitable for you. The programs usually hep to make you aware of your interests and your views on jobs before giving a list of job/career suggestions and possible courses/places suggestions. These programs can also be used for more detailed matching when you are deciding on a specific job to apply for. Cascaid Use website 1. Kudos is a unique careers matching program to help students (13-20 year olds) develop career choices. The program contains detailed information on 1700 career titles supported by over 3000 photographs and videos. Free access is given to individuals from participating schools to an online matching service which can be accessed from home. Use website /careerscape 2. Careerscape Multimedia gives access to education, training and work including information on over 50,000 UCAS Higher Education courses. The program is supported with videos, photographs and case studies. Careersworld Use website This website shows jobs as career families but gives a great deal of information relating to different aspects and jobs within each career industry. It tells you what qualifications you need and whether apprenticeship opportunities are available. It gives you some idea about what salary you can expect to receive should you follow this career path. College Course A college course can also be a great route into the industry sector. The apprenticeship route into a career will involve some day release from your workplace to study at a college where you will learn some further technical knowledge.

9 Factors to consider before deciding on a job ACTIVITY: Tick the important factors you want to investigate further Does it offer me prospects and opportunities for the future? Do I need transport for this job? Is the wage or salary for this type of work acceptable to me? How long is the typical working day/week? Do I have the necessary skills to do the job? Do I need more qualifications or training before I can take up the job? How many weeks holiday will I receive? Will I receive a pension? Will I be able to progress within the company? Will I still be doing the same job in 10 years time? Do I need to buy equipment or tools? Are there other benefits available? Will I be able to work towards a qualification? Will I need special clothing?

10 DIRECT APPROACH (Call into companies and leave your details with them) ADVERTISE YOURSELF (in local newspaper) CAREERS CENTRES (mainly for year olds) INTERNET (mainly professional positions) PEOPLE YOU KNOW friends and family who work for a company TV & RADIO (eg. Central Job Finder) JOB CENTREPLUS (Mainly for the over 18 s). Phone Jobseekers direct on for details of current vacancies Where to look for jobs THE LIBRARY (Careers Library Classification Index) WRITING ON THE OFF CHANCE (Speculative letter to companies) EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (often temporary & unskilled work) Shop window or newsagents adverts NEWSPAPERS Very varied eg. unskilled to post-grad positions JOURNALS (eg. The Lady has adverts for nanny jobs, The Caterer for chef jobs)

11 Applying for a Job a) Matching yourself to the job b) Writing a CV c) Application by letter d) Your guide to completing application forms e) Tips on completing an application form f) Hard to fill vacancies

12 Application by Letter You may write letters to employers for different reasons as a reply to an advert a letter to check if they have any vacancies (speculative letter) Whatever the reason for your letter it should always: highlight your good points ie. what you can do and not what you cannot be presentable ie. type it unless the advert asks you to hand write it remember to check your spelling print/write on good quality paper post in an A4 envelope so it does not have to be folded use black ink get your information across clearly by using short paragraphs or bullet points write in plain English and do not use slang/text language sell yourself to the employer by emphasising your skills and qualities keep a copy as you could be asked questions about it if you get an interview Replying to an advert Your letter should: highlight important points from your CV underline the skills and experience you have which are relevant to the job (if you are applying straight from school talk about work experience, give examples of your ability as a team player eg. member of a sports team/band/scouts/youth club. Your ability to meet deadlines could be covered by talking about completing coursework on time. Give examples of your leadership qualities eg. have you been a member of the school council, a prefect or form captain, taken part in Duke of Edinburgh scheme/jlsa/youth club out of school/church club. not be a photocopy should persuade the employer to interview you Speculative Letters research the companies you are interested in be aware of any new developments in the area/company you are interested in always send to a named individual open with a brief paragraph giving the reason why you are writing to the company a middle paragraph of how you could contribute to the company, what sort of position you are interested in, your experience and achievements a closing paragraph emphasising your interest in the company attach a CV

13 Writing a CV Do s Don ts A CV should be typed and no longer than two pages A CV should be direct and to the point A CV and covering letter should be typed on the computer The candidate should check with the employer as to what they would like to see in a young person s CV Personal information should mainly go in a covering letter and keep personal experience to a minimum There should be no spelling mistakes on a CV and always check the grammar before you send off your CV! A CV should be easy to the eye Past experience is vital to most roles and therefore very important that the candidates most current or most recent positions are the biggest sections discussed. Past positions that are not so relevant should be smaller in comparison A candidate should use a CV to tempt the interviewer to ask follow up questions and therefore invite the candidate to an interview If the candidate can drive and owns a car, this is a key skill The candidate should demonstrate that they are flexible and committed to the job If the candidate has a good attendance record they should mention this A candidate should always give a reason for why they left each of their previous jobs A candidate should put on a CV any out of school qualification, such as; Duke of Edinburgh, Swimming badges, Sports certificates or medals, or any NVQ s obtained at a youth club. Hobbies can be an area that will let the candidate down. Hobbies such as I like to go out with friends or I like to watch horror films should be avoided as hobbies should be eye catching, interesting and show some relevance to the job the candidate is applying for! Paper rounds are a good thing to put on a CV as they show commitment and hard work. Hobbies should be kept short and should be what the young person goes out to do (Not I like to watch television) Candidates should leave off irrelevant personal details such as whether the candidate is married or how many children the candidate has CV s should not be too lengthy A candidate should never put anything negative about their last employer on their CV Candidates should not necessarily do qualification break downs for example stating each module taken, especially when these modules are not relevant to the position A candidate should state how computer literate they are and what packages they can competently use A CV should show effort and professionalism A CV should not be rushed If a candidate is unsure how to layout a CV they could use one of the templates on the next page If a candidate has a presentation folder that they could bring to an interview, this should be mentioned, for example a folder used to contain exam work and certificates

14 Tips on how to prepare a Covering Letter/CV The Covering Letter When sending a CV or application form it should always be accompanied by a covering letter. Important points: Don t forget to date your letter Address to the person due to receive it State clearly what vacancy you are applying for an how you heard about it Show enthusiasm Explain why you are interested in the job Indicate availability for interview Check for spelling mistakes! Compiling a CV A CV is a personal marketing tool presenting your qualifications, skills and attributes to the employer. It also shows the employer your previous qualifications and experience. Your CV should show how your skills and qualities match the employer s requirements. A CV should be accurate and up to date. Your CV should be no longer than 2 A4 sheets. To compile a CV you need to remember the following: Employers prefer typed CV s Your name, address and telephone number Details of qualifications and grades Further Education Your skills and past work experience Personal qualities Background info on yourself ie. hobbies, interests etc. What do employers look for? Employers seek a range of skills and qualities. Those that are most often looked for are: Communication skills ability to communicate orally/writing Team work working well with others Initiative ability to see opportunities Problem solving thinking things through logically Commitment having energy to pursue projects/targets Interpersonal skills be able to relate to other members of staff Things to do before writing your letter and CV What does the job involve? What skills will I need to perform? What skills do I have for this job? What examples can I give? Research the organisation When writing your letter most employers like to see your handwriting Practice first if your handwriting is not the best! Always use plain paper; you can always put a lined sheet of paper behind so that your letter looks neat and tidy

15 Here is an example of how a CV could look PERSONAL DETAILS: CURRICULUM VITAE JOANNE ANYBODY ADDRESS: 4 Devon Close DATE OF BIRTH: 10 January 1997 Amington AGE: 16 years old Tamworth NATIONALITY: British B77 4DF TEL NO: ja@btinternet.com EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS: Tamworth Enterprise College, Birds Bush Road, Belgrave, Tamworth English GCSE Awaiting Results Summer 2013 Science (Double) GCSE Awaiting Results Summer 2013 Maths GCSE Awaiting Results Summer 2013 History GCSE Awaiting Results Summer 2013 Art GCSE Awaiting Results Summer 2013 Computer Studies GCSE Awaiting Results Summer 2013 Graphics GCSE Awaiting Results Summer 2013 EMPLOYMENT/WORK EXPERIENCE: Part-time Work Sumer 2012: Works Experience May 2012 McDonalds Restaurant, Elton Street, Tamworth Waitress: Help in the kitchens to prepare fast food, general kitchen work, serving customers, handling cash, taking orders, customer service. Primrose Café, Malton Rise, Tamworth For two weeks in May 2012, I worked at Primrose Café where I helped staff to take orders from customers and serve teas and coffee. I was willing to help wherever I was needed and was given the responsibility of taking the cash to the Bank on a Friday at the end of my second week. I really enjoyed my placement and learned a lot about customer service and how to work under pressure as it was very busy at times. INTERESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: I enjoy using computers and recently started a word processing course in my spare time as I believe it will be useful in my future career. I studied computers at school and was awarded a certificate of achievement for my project on the use of computers in supermarkets. I was a member of my school rounders team during my final year at school and helped to organise matches and fund raising for the new school mini bus so that the team could go to away matches. Fund raising events included baking for the Spring Fair. In REFERENCES: my spare time I have worked voluntarily at a local charity shop. I have found this, Mr Jenkinson, Manager Mr Turney, Headteacher Primrose In my spare Café time I have worked voluntarily at a local Tamworth charity Enterprise shop. I have College found this experience to be very Malton useful Rise Birds Bush Road Tamworth, In my spare B77 time 7JS I have worked voluntarily at a local Tamworth, charity shop. B77 I 2NE have found this experience to be very Tel: (Work Experience) Tel: (Academic & Character)

16 An example of a speculative letter 20 Beech Road Tamworth Staffordshire B77 5TA s.smith@hotmail.com 15/5/201 Company address Dear Mr Jones I am hoping to pursue a career in the motor trade and am writing to enquire whether you have any vacancies for a trainee mechanic either now or in the near future. As you can see from my CV I will be leaving school this summer and expect to achieve at least 5 GCSEs at grade C or above. For my two weeks work experience I went to a local garage and have attached their reference. I have good practical skills and am very willing to work hard. I have always been very punctual and hardworking and have been awarded certificates for both effort and achievement throughout my school career. In my part time job at the local supermarket I have demonstrated good communication skills with customers and have worked well as part of the team in the grocery section. I have been a member of a local drama group and have produced a play which was shown to local primary schools. My fellow students elected me to represent them on the student council and I play football for two local clubs. I would appreciate the opportunity of a short meeting to discuss any possible vacancies which you may have. Yours sincerely S Smith Encl.

17 A sample letter replying to an advert Mr Jones ABC Building 20 Croft Street Birmingham B4 6AW 12 Apple Way Tamworth Staffordshire B77 1QT /5/2013 Dear Mr Jones I am writing to apply for the position of trainee hairdresser as advertised in the Birmingham Evening Mail on May 13 th. As you can see from my CV I will be leaving school this summer and expect to achieve at least 3 GCSEs at grade C or above. I am also expected to achieve a merit in my NVQ at college in beauty. For my two weeks work experience I went to a local hairdresser and have attached their reference. I have good practical skills and am very willing to work hard. I have always been very punctual and hardworking and have been awarded certificates for both effort and achievement throughout my school career. In my part time job at the local supermarket I have demonstrated good communication skills with customers and have worked well as part of the team in the grocery section. I have been a member of a local drama group and have produced a play which was shown to local primary schools. My fellow students elected me to represent them on the student council and I play netball for a local club. I greatly enjoyed my work experience placement and college course and feel that your position offers just the opportunity I am looking for. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. Yours sincerely T Martin Encl.

18 Your Guide to completing Application Forms Standing out from the Crowd: What are employers looking for? Employers often receive tens or even hundreds of application forms for just once vacancy. In lots of cases the applicants (the people applying for the job(s) all have similar qualifications. This is why employers look for other things which make you stand out from the rest. Employers are particularly looking for what are commonly referred to as transferable skills. What are transferable skills? Communication being able to communicate effectively with a range of different people (ie your friends/peers, teachers, employers etc) Teamwork being a strong team player who is able to work as part of a team to achieve a common goal Problem solving the ability to identify and solve a problem (weighing up the pros and cons of different solutions) Initiative getting on with a task without needing to be told. The ability to make your own decisions Organisational skills being able to prioritise your work so that the most important tasks get done first, making sure that things are done on time and being able to do more than one task at a time Adaptability being able to learn new things/skills. Being open to new ideas/ways of doing things List the skills and qualities the employer asks for two year s experience, outgoing, computer programming, etc. Find connections between what you can do and the skills and qualities they ask for. This way you can give examples that prove you re a good fit with the job demonstrate you re outgoing by talking about when you worked in a bar, or led a school team for instance What is the point of an application form? An application form should be used to show your potential new boss that you are perfect for the job (ie you have the skills/experience/qualifications they are looking for). You must tailor an application form to the specific job you are applying for this is particularly important in the section often referred to as Additional or supporting information. Before you start Make sure you: find a quiet place to work have any certificates and information on referees to hand have a photocopy of the application form to practise on have researched the company/job search for websites (most organisations have websites these days, particularly the larger companies!) look at information about the organisation which they may have sent you with the application form read the job ad thoroughly and make sure you understand what they re looking for (if you do not have a clear understanding of the job the employer will notice either on your application form or during the interview stage)

19 Tips on completing an Application Form Some employers require applicants to complete an application form in preference to reviewing a CV, so it is important to consider the reasons for this before filling out your form. Requesting an application form reduces the number of applicants. Selection can be very time consuming so it is more beneficial to the employer to have a smaller quantity of forms to read. They are fairer as all applicants are asked for the same information to be presented in exactly the same way. This also satisfies Equal Opportunities. Screening and comparing becomes far easier for the employer as all the information is presented in the same order. Application forms are legally binding. Applicants are required to sign their form to say that the information contained is correct. This gives the employer the right of disciplinary action if information is later found to be false. Before you start completing the form, it is a good idea to take at least one photocopy of it to use in case you make a mistake. If you are not able to get a photocopy of the form, complete it in pencil first. Unless requested otherwise, complete the form in black ink as this will make it easier for the employer to make photocopies when it is received. Read through the form first before writing anything to make sure you know which information goes where. Write clearly and neatly and check the whole form very carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes. Try to fill in all the sections and check that you have written the correct information in the correct section. Put down all your skills, interests and qualifications even if they are from voluntary or non-paid work or from work experience. However, leave the employment history blank if you do not have one. When completing this section, it is normal to list your most recent job first. Don t forget to sign and date the application. Keep a copy of the form and read through it just before your interview so you can see what you have said, as you will be questioned on it at an interview. Never lie or exaggerate you ll get found out! This is especially important when talking about your interests, as you may be questioned about them during an interview. The application form will probably also ask for medical details and possibly nationality/ethnic background, so be prepared to list this information. You will normally be asked to list the names and addresses of two referees on your form. Inform these people that you are using them for this purpose as they will probably be contacted by letter or phone and it would be very rude not to advise them beforehand to expect this request.

20 Completing the application Give a glimpse of your personality rather than copy phrases that sound impressive. Use words you d be comfortable saying if you were talking about yourself but no slang. Let your enthusiasm for the job shine through Do justice to yourself but don t exaggerate. Make sure the good things about you are made clear and easy to follow Use the correct ink colour (usual black or blue) and use block capitals where instructed. Complete it in the correct order it s easier than you think to put information in the wrong place. Finally Check the application form for any mistakes. Take a photocopy of the application form in case you are invited for an interview this will help you to remember what you wrote and to prepare! Put the application form in a suitable envelope and take care when handwriting the company s address. Make sure you post/deliver the completed application form on time there will normally be a closing date given in the information you were sent. What is a closing date? A closing date is the deadline (the last day) for application forms to be received by the company. What next? Sit back and WAIT! Due to the number of application forms an employer receives it is not always possible for them to tell you if you have been unsuccessful. Check the information you were sent to see what the employer s procedure is. Sometimes the information you were sent will state that if you have not heard from them within one month of the closing date (for example) please assume that you have been unsuccessful. If you have been successful you will hear from the organisation, usually in the form of a letter inviting you for an interview, shortly after the closing date. If this is the case WELL DONE. However your work is not over you now need to prepare for your interview.