Getting the Job

Learning Goal:

ADD 4 SKILLS VIDEO

ADD RESIGNING FROM A JOB AND REASONS FOR QUITTING

Job Search

Landing your dream job doesn't have to be frustrating. The first step is the job search. We'll explore (company sites, job boards, associations) this link about job searching resources. Here are some job search sites to consider:

Collaborative Page

Find a job description for your career. What are the highlights (qualifications, salary, description, etc.)? Is this a job you would want? Why or why not? Add this info to the collaborative page. Be ready to share.

Job Applications

upset girl

The job application is usually the first step in the hiring process, and it can be used to 'weed out' unqualified applicants. We will look at these resources on completing job applications. I recommend creating a 'master' job application that you keep updated and can use for future jobs. 

The Challenge - Job Application 10 Pts

Use this link or another source to find a job application that looks interesting. Complete the job application as neatly and accurately as possible (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.). Turn these in to the homework folder when finished. COVID FALL 2021 - Submit a digital version as a PDF

Resumes & References

CHANGE USE ACTIVITY PACKET

CHANGE SECTION - EXPLORE RESOURCES TOGETHER FIRST, THEN GOOD/BAD RESUME EXAMPLES, ALL SKILLS??? POSITIVE SPIN

Collaboration

resume

In many cases, your resume (and cover letter) will be the key to landing an interview. We will focus on creating custom resumes, as opposed to using a resume builder or template (which are both a Google away). In my experience, resume builders or templates tend to be too generic and I recommend using them as a fail safe. Help is available. We'll look at how MN Job Service can assist

When you have no idea where to start, a handbook can be a helpful guide. These tools will walk you through creating a resume step by step. We'll use this handbook as an example. Answer questions two and three or four from page one and use that answer to write an accomplishment statement shown on page four. Add your accomplishment statement to the collaborative page above. 

We will check out some suggestions from this resume lesson. What can we do to write an effective resume? This video will help answer that question. We'll also check out the videos (stop second vid at 8:25) below about how to create a resume with no work experience and resume mistakes.

If you can't create an effective resume, it's your fault. There are a plethora of great resume resources online, here are just a few: CHANGE

Using the links above and the collaborative page, we will break up into groups (Jigsaw & monster picker with larger classes, 2019 4 groups of 5) and find the following information. CHANGE??

Add your chunk of information to the collaborative page. Visuals are always good. Be ready to share and explain what you found with the class. CHANGE ADD KAHOOT??

We'll look at my own resume as another example. I recommend that you find an example to use as a guide to build your own resume. Also, try searching for 'cashier resume' or 'babysitting resume' or 'insert your experience here resume' to find examples of accomplishment and experience statements. Use the examples as a starting place and tweak to fit your resume.

A resume builder or this **HS Resume Handbook might be a resource if you have little to no experience. These tend to be too generic and I recommend them only if you are having trouble writing a custom resume. Here are a few more resume resources:

FALL 2019

References

We will look at the following links about references and reference checks. Have them ready, but don't add this as a line to your resume. 

Who to select?

Requesting a reference

References guide

Legal issues

We will use Google Docs to look at formatting options including alignment, text, bold, italics, and tabs and tab stops.

The Challenge - Resume & References 40 pts

CHANGE/UPDATE

CHANGE TO DOC

FALL 2019 - We are going to take a step by step approach to building our resume. Use the HS Resume Handbook linked (above) to help build your resume. Write your answers to questions/prompts from the Handbook in a Google Doc. Using the page numbers at the bottom of each page, complete pages 3 - 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, and 19. You will turn this in as part of the resume project (10 pts). CHANGE TOO MUCH

Find a resume example to use as a guide. You will write a one page functional or chronological or mixed resume for a position within the career you have chosen. Your resume will need to include at the sections below (not necessarily in this order):

Find an entry-level position related to your career you could apply for. Your resume should be tailored to the position you are applying for. You are creating an original resume, in Google Docs or Word, not a template or resume builder. We will use a continuous feedback/improvement model for this project. You will submit a version, get feedback, make needed changes, and resubmit. Use the questions below to self-assess your work:

You will also create a reference sheet (5 pts). You need to have at least three references and evidence that you asked them for permission. Your reference sheet should include:

Send both your resume and reference sheet to me on Classroom.

Cover Letters

A cover letter gives you an opportunity to further explain or describe the experiences and skills mentioned in the resume. It is also the employer's first impression of your writing abilities and communication skills. We will check out the video from this link about writing effective cover letters. We'll break into groups and look at the cover letter strategies, tips, and examples/templates from the links below.

The Assignment - Cover Letter 25 pts

SKIP FALL 2019

Write an invited or application cover letter for a position within the career you have chosen. You cover letter needs to have the following sections:

Include a link to the job posting you are applying to.

Guiding Questions:

Have another classmate proofread and provide feedback on your cover letter. Send your revised cover letter to me on Classroom.

DISCUSS TATTOO POSTER & ADD INFO

Interviews

letter

CHANGE TO PRESENTATION

All the work you've done so far (job searching, resumes, cover letters) will hopefully lead to an interview. This is your chance to showcase your personality and sell your qualifications. It is also a chance for you to evaluate whether this company will be a good fit. 

With your group (three or less), use this collaborative page to research strategies, tips, and best practices for interviews. Include the items below in a Google Slide presentation and be ready to share

We will look at these two links on interview strategies together (you can't use these links above). We may also watch these videos on how to have a successful interview (or unsuccessful). We will also do some interview skits in class to practice. Just as in your resume, look for ways in an interview to positively spin questions and the discussion in your favor. Don't underestimate the importance of non-verbal communication, we will talk about some things to consider. 

The Challenge - Interview Questions & Interview 23 pts (assessment)

SKIP FALL 2018

Prepare for your interview (23 pts). Create a list with at least five interview questions (5 pts) and send these to me. You will be asked up to five interview questions during a 'mock interview' in front of the class. You will be graded on your dress/appearance (3 pts), etiquette (5 pts), preparedness (10 pts) (answers that use examples, your own questions, knowledge of the company, etc.). You will be interviewing for a position within ________. We will choose a company using this link.

2017 - 2018 - Teller at Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union

The Challenge - InterviewStream Mock Interview 30 Pts (Assessment)

You will be interviewing for a position within ________. We will choose a company using this link (top 100). It needs to be an entry-level position. If a decision can't be made, we will use a Customer Service Representative at 3M. In class, we need to run the test and make sure you can record on your Chromebook. 

2018 - 2019 - Sales Person Best Buy

2019 - 2020 - Teller at US Bank

Use this rubric to perfect your skills and gain confidence for your next job interview. CHANGE RUBRIC FEEDBACK ON COLLABORATIVE PAGE??

CHANGE TO FLIPGRID VERSION

ADD PHONE INTERVIEW ALTERNATE VERSION

linkedin

Social Media

CHANGE TO DOCUMENT

What does your online presence look like? If I look at your online profiles, what would that tell me about you as a person? Does that matter?

This section could be before Resumes & References (above) because it is important to consider early on in the process. 

We'll look at the infographic on this page that covers why social media is important in the job searching process. 

Form groups of two or three. Make a copy of this presentation and share it with your group. Use these two links, or other sites, to find five reasons why people should use social media in their job search. Make sure to compare and combine your results. Be ready to share what you found. 

How do we get our social media profiles ready for job searching? Use these two links, or others, to learn about best practices for social media content. Notice that not having a social media presence is just as bad as poor content. You can work with one other person. Use Adobe Spark Post (create an account, sign up with email NOT Google) to create a funny example of what not to do. You will decide on the type and content of the post, make sure to keep it school appropriate. Share your social media post on this collaborative page. Be ready to share. 

The Challenge - Social Media Reflection 10 pts

Apply what you learned. Working solo or with a partner, pull up one of your social media profiles. Based on the information we learned, what improvements or changes could you make? Write at least a paragraph reflecting (thoughts, feelings, reactions, highlights, etc.) on the social media information we talked about and how you might apply this to your life (changes you might make). Let me know when you've finished and we will discuss it together. 

Thank You Note

Some hiring managers would argue that sending a thank you note is not only polite, but a necessary part of job searching (percentage examples). We'll look at the links below for advice on writing quality thank you notes. 

Use Scrible Toolbar to annotate or highlight the first article. After you read and annotate, talk with a partner to decide on the three most important facts and add them to this collaborative page

We'll use the video to practice folding our letters into envelopes (FYI don't try to mail).

The Assignment - Thank You Note 15 pts

SKIP FALL 2019

Use the guides above to write a thank you note to a potential employer. Make sure to use a legible handwritten font. Fold your letter into an envelope, address it, and turn it in. 

negotiation

Job Offer & Negotiation

First, we'll look at this link about accepting job offers. Use this collaborative page to pick out the three most important tips from these two links. We will also do some role play using the negotiating techniques we learned. 

Digital Presence 

Some companies today will want to see more than a standard resume & cover letter, they will also want evidence of your work. This would be especially true in any career related to design. It may be smart to create a digital presence like an online resume or portfolio. 

The Challenge

SKIP FALL 2019

Use the rubric below to create a digital resume that could also serve as a portfolio. 

Digital Resume