Getting Ready To Work

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• Getting Ready To Work
• Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
• Director James P. Sledge

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Introduction IDES Re-Entry Employment Service
Program

• What is RESP?
• 4 Steps Towards a Job
• Getting Ready to Work

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What is the Re-Entry Employment Service Program
(RESP)?

• RESP is a program dedicated to the employment of
  the formerly incarcerated

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4-Step Process

• Visit your local IDES office request the
  Re-entry Liaison
• Complete Job-Ready Checklist
• Search for work Re-entry Liaison will assist
• The Rest is Up to You

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1. Visit Your Local IDES Office

• Ask for the Re-Entry Liaison
• He/She will assist you in identifying and
  overcoming employment hurdles

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2. The Re-entry Liaison Will

• Determine your job readiness
• Register you in Illinois Skills Match (ISM)
• Refer you to an agency (agencies) to overcome job
  readiness hurdles (housing, education, etc.)
• When you are ready for work, will assist you in
  making a job match

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3. The Job Search

• Re-entry Liaison will
• Help you develop a job search strategy
• Assist in matching you to prospective employers
• Maintain contact with you about your job search

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4. The Rest Is Up To YOU!!!!!!!

• Your responsibilities
• Make sure you have a good attitude
• Work with us to become ready for work
• Be a good employee

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Getting Ready To Work

• Get to Know Yourself
• Cover Letters / Resume Writing
• Job Search
• Completing an Application
• Telephone Etiquette
• Getting Ready for an Interview
• Interviewing Dos and Donts
• Whats Expected on the Job

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Get To Know Yourself

• Do you know what type of job you want?
• Do you know what you have to offer an employer?

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Cover Letter

• Guidelines
• Always provide a cover letter with your resume
• Always type your cover letter
• Begin your cover letter with an opening paragraph
  that tells what position you are applying for and
  where you saw or how you heard about the position

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Cover Letter Guidelines continued

• Include in your cover letter a paragraph or two
  summarizing the skills you have
• how do your skills relate to the position for
  which you are applying?
• why do you want to work for the company?
• why should they hire you?
• End with a statement of appreciation and, if
  desired, when you will call to follow up

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Preparing A Resume

• List all jobs, job titles and start/leave dates
  for the jobs you have held.
• Did you work while incarcerated?
• Have you done volunteer work?
• For all jobs listed, write down your job duties

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Preparing A Resume continued

• Write down your educational history starting with
  highest grade completed
• List any special skills you have or any licenses
  or certificates you may have

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The Job Search

• Illinois Skills Match
• Newspaper Ads
• Internet
• Personal Networking
• Other strategies?

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Completing A Job Application

• Use your resume as a guideline when filling out
  an application
• Remember Tell the TRUTH
• Review and Clean up your Illinois Rap Sheet
• Know what you should disclose about your
  convictions
• How do you list your convictions
• Never write / Instead write
• Take references with you

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Answering Application Questions

• Have you ever been arrested? If so, explain.
• Have you ever been charged with a crime? If so,
  explain
• Have you ever been convicted of a crime? If so,
  explain.
• Have you been convicted of a crime in the last 7
  years? If so, explain.

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Answering The Tough Questions

• Be honest
• Be brief
• Only answer the questions asked
• Turn your negatives into positives

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How Do I List My Convictions?

• Arrest Date Disposition Date
  Conviction Sentence
• 1/19/94 5/19/94 10 Ill. Comp Sentence
• Stat. 305/10-12 not indicated
  in case

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Telephone Etiquette

• Its more than being polite
• Phone etiquette can get you to the next step in
  the hiring process

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Preparing For An Interview

• Interview Checklist
• Identify and Overcome Employment Hurdles
• Dressing for a Job Interview
• Answering the Tough Questions
• Questions to Ask in an Interview

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Interviewing

• Using the SAR Communication Method
• Interview Assessment Form

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Situation, Action, Results (SAR)

• Describe a SITUATION you were in at work
• Tell what ACTION you took to resolve the issue
• Explain the RESULTS of those actions

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Interviewing Reasons People Dont Get Hired

• Poor appearance / Grooming
• Poor communication skills
• Lack of confidence, enthusiasm
• Lack of maturity / Negative attitude
• Incomplete or sloppy application, mistakes on
  resume
• Hides past mistakes
• Not curious about job and company, does not ask
  questions

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Interviewing Avoid Common Interviewing
Mistakes

• Prepare for your interviews
• Present skills that match the job
• Use two-way communication
• Focus on what you can do for the company
• Dont place blame on or be negative about past
  employers / experiences
• When / If asked about convictions be honest and
  positive (rehabilitated)
• Follow up after each interview
• Remember to send Thank you letter

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Types Of Interviews

• Layered-Questions Interview
• Performance Interview
• Assessment Instruments (Tests)

• Telephone Interview
• Panel Interview
• Informal Interview

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Whats Expected On The Job

• Your Attitude and YOU
• Ask yourself Am I a good employee? How can I
  keep this job?
• The rest is up to you!