Pre-Release and Reentry Services Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 10 Steps to a Successful Job Search

1
Pre-Release and Reentry ServicesMontgomery
County Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation10 Steps to a Successful Job
Search
2
Objectives

• Get into a Marketing Mindset
• Identify what you have to offer
• Identify who can use it
• Present what youve got in a persuasive manner

3
1 Understand that Job Search is Marketing.

• Informed
• Planned
• Active
• Offering a good product or service
• Targeted toward the customers needs and
  interests
• Positively and persuasively presented

Of YOU!
4
Marketing Laundry Soap

• What characteristics make you choose a laundry
  soap?
• Packaging
• Smell
• Cost
• How well it does the job
• Biodegradable
• Doesnt fade colors
• Whitens whites
• Does every customer want identical features?

5
2 Know what you have to offer!

• Name one skill, ability, quality or qualification
  YOU have that your target employer could use.

6
Name as many of your Product Features as you
can

• Now try to identify at
• least 15 to 20
• skills,
• qualifications,
• credentials,
• experience or
• Abilities
• you have to
• offer an employer.

• 1st - Occupation Specific Skills_________________
  ________
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________
• 2nd Transferrable Skills Abilities
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________
• 3rd People or Interpersonal Skills
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________
• 4th Good Work Habits
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________

7
3 Prove It!

• Through your
• Applications
• Resumes
• Interviews

• Work experience
• Training
• Education
• References
• Examples
• Achievements
• Certificates
• Knowing the lingo

8
Applications

• Often underestimated, the application is a signed
  contract stating that what you say is true!
• Used to weed people out as well as in.
• Has information not on your resume.
• Employers use it to verify what youve claimed
• Helps you job search more efficiently.
• Serves as the foundation for your resume (they
  need to be matching profiles)
• Will be required, as well as a resume.

9
Application Tips

• Employers use KEY WORDS to select applicants
• Be specific about what you can do, your skills
  and abilities. Say it often!

• Look over first.
• Use only space provided. Use scrap paper to get
  right size.
• Fill in all sections and blanks. Use NA if not
  applicable.
• Have checked for spelling grammar
• Dont forget to sign it.

10
4 Prepare to Answer Tough Questions

• About your criminal record
• Usually can say Will discuss in interview.
• If must specify, also talk about rehabilitation
  constructive activities.

• Why did you leave?
• Must be honest, but can use less negative
  explanation
• Quit Sought better opportunity.
• Fired Personal, Poor job match, transportation
  issues.
• Arrested/Jailed Legal issues. Our of
  workforce.
• Line up your references

11
5 Find and Who Needs What You Have - Target
Employers

• Classifieds - on-line, in print
• Search engines
• Directories
• Networking, Job Fairs
• On employer website
• Anything unique?
• Needs On-line reviews

12
6 Prepare Your Marketing Tools Your Resume

• Its your advertisement, the bait that hooks an
  interview.
• Its to connect what the employer needs with what
  youve got to offer.
• Honest, but biased in your favor.
• Whats in it? What order are they in?

You need ME!
13
Whats in a Resume?

• Contact information
• Intro Your story in a nutshell
• An Objective, Summary, or Highlights of
  Qualifications
• Key Skills
• Work Experience
• Education

14
Order depends on type of resume

• Chronological
• Features work history.
• Good if you have a career, steady work history,
  progression upward.
• Employers prefer it.

• Functional
• Features relevant skills.
• Good for career changers
• Gaps in work history
• Varied jobs.

15
Starts with Objective, Summary, Qualification
Highlights

• Objective Individual with _________ years
  experience in ________ seeking position as a
  _____________ with a company needing individuals
  who are __________, ___________, and __________.
  Also known for my __________, _________ , and
  ____________.
• It summarizes why they should hire you.

16
Body of the Resume

• Functional or Skills Based
• Intro
• Key skill categories and specifics.
• Work Experience with Job Title, Company,
  Location, and Dates only
• Education Training

• Chronological
• Intro
• (May also feature skills)
• Work Experience
• Education

17
Body of the Resume

• Work Experience
• Job Title (Dates)
• Business, Location
• Duties xxxxxx, xxxx,
• Xxxx, xxxxxx, xxxxx.
• Accomplishments
• xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
• (w/s if possible)

• Education
• Credential, School, Location, Date
• GED, State of MD, 2001
• BS, Columbia Union College, Takoma Park, MD
• Business (30 credits), University of MD
• GED (currently enrolled)

18
Body of the Resume

• Use KEY words from the job and occupational
  description
• Use past tense of vivid action verbs for duties
  and accomplishments

• Installed
• Built
• Led
• Trained
• Marketed
• Sold
• Constructed
• Estimated
• Expanded
• Increased

19
Appearance

• Leave white space (you dont need to throw in the
  kitchen sink!)
• Use formatting features
• Bold you Name, Components, Job Titles
• Bullets to make Skills, Duties and
  Accomplishments stand out.
• Lines to set off sections
• Spell check yourself and have someone else read
  over it.
• Be cautious with Templates (fill in the blanks
  auto-formatting resumes)

20
7 - Target Your Resume Letters

• To your target customers
• Tweak for different occupations
• Tweak for different employers

21
8 Sell Over Over

• Thank You Letters
• Shows you are seriously
• interested and registered
• what they said.
• Email or snail mail within 24 hours.
• Thank them for taking the time to speak with you.
• Mention things that impressed you.
• Reiterate ways you can meet their needs.

• Cover Letters
• Shows youve considered their
• needs and are the best choice
• to meet them.
• Inside Address
• Dear Employer(Name if possible
• P1 - Position applied to and where found.
• P2 Your attributes related to the job.
• P3 - Thank them for reviewing the app. Request
  for an interview. Reiterate contact information.

22
Letter of Explanation

• Helps prepare you for verbal explanation in
  interview
• Useful if application has to go to a higher
  authority
• Tells your story, your way.

• Briefly state instant offense. If necessary
  summarize others.
• Express regret.
• Mention positive growth
• State new goals

23
9 - Dont forget planning
24
10 - Go Get em Tigers!