Making the Most of the Job Search

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Making the Most of the Job Search

• Karen Powell, MA
• Coordinator--Job Search Services
• Old Main 280 [phone]

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Tonights Subjects

• S.C.O.R.E.
• Skills
• Placement Files
• Resumes
• Cover Letters
• Additional Info

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S.C.O.R.E. 5 Easy Steps

• Simple groundwork to ease the job searching
  process
• Discover develop skills and traits in demand
• Set yourself up for easy resume interview prep

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1st Step

• KILL Cards
• Identify your skillsTeaching transferable
• Label 3 x 5 index cards with individual skills
• Note examples on card of demonstrated skill
  usage

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Secret to a good resume.

• Skills
• are
• the
• BUILDING
• BLOCKS

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Identify Your Skill Set

• Content skills
• Specific skills acquired on the job or in major
• Self-management skills
• How you perform your work
• Transferable skills
• Can be a combination of above other skills

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What are transferable skills?

• Skills from the variety of life
• Gained through work experience, education,
  volunteer activities, internships, hobbies and
  home life

• Transferable because they travel with you from
  job to job
• May be soft skills people/interpersonal,
• cognitive, practical

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Do I have them?Yes!

• Begin to think about them
• Build a list
• Backtrack over the past

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Do they count?Yes!

• Employers will teach you the specific content
  skills, but dont have the time or energy to
  teach the intangible skills

• Employers hire people
• who have people skills
• who can think analytically and creatively
• who will contribute to the team

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Skills Employers Want

• Communication
• Motivation/Initiative
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Academic Achievement
• Interpersonal
• Management

• Flexibility/Adaptability
• Technical
• Honesty/Integrity
• Work Ethic
• Analytical/Problem-solving
• Foreign Language Exposure to diversity

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How to articulate themorganize them into sets

• Communication
• coaching/mentoring
• teaching/training
• Research/planning
• identify problems
• analyze/synthesize data
• collect/compile data
• Organization
• apply time management
• coordinate work groups
• pay attention to details

• Management/leadership
• establishing priorities
• creating safe environment
• encouraging participation
• effective decision maker
• facilitate teamwork

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Teaching Skills

• What are some skills specific to teaching?

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2nd Step

• Onnect with Others
• Potential references
• Invite to room for observations
• Request feedback
• Other teachers interns
• Network with others to learn information about
  district(s)

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3rd Step

• Pen Placement file
• A packet of information that supports the Job
  Search
• Enables reference writers to write one letter for
  all districts
• Keeps records in one location from which they can
  be sent
• Log onto www.careers.wwu.edu to download forms

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4th Step

• Esume Development
• Pick format of resume
• Familiarize with proper certification
  endorsement language
• Write Basic Resume

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What you need to know about RESUMES

• What is a resume?
• Targeting your resume
• Researching school districts
• How do you write a resume?
• Relevant information
• Resume tips

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Resume Structure

• Heading
• Format
• Categories

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Resume Content

• Education
• Certification
• Employment History
• Skills
• Abilities
• Traits
• Job Description?

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Lead With Your Strong Suit and Market yourself

• Target your resume research the district
  positions network or substitute
• Place important, relevant information that you
  want to be noticed near the top of the page or
  category
• Start each bulleted item with a powerful action
  verb
• Avoid jargon, acronyms and abbreviations unless
  universally understood

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RESUME TIPS

• Proofread, edit, have someone else proofread,
  edit, proofread, edit...
• Brief, easy to read, plenty of white space
  style and appearance DO count
• Be consistent in style and punctuation
• Use good quality paper and printer
• Dont include personal information
• Dont include references on resume
• Job objectives are optional
• Do include a cover letter

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Elements of the Cover Letter---

• Business letter format flush left
• 12 point type, clean and easy to read
• 24 or 60 pound nice paper in neutral tone
• Address to specific person
• Generally 3 paragraphs on 1 page
• Always relate to the job description

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5th Step

• valuate Districts
• Prioritize preferences
• Familiarize with websites
• Research S.D. Report Cards
• http//www.k12.wa.us/
• Seek compatible philosophies familiar
  curricula
• Remain open to new possibilities

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More interesting facts

• Highest of teachers in contracted positions in
  4 years 59.6
• Lowest of teachers substituting in 4 years
  26.8
• Highest of teachers teaching out of state in
  over 15 years 9.65
• Data compiled from yearly employment survey by
  Career Services Center. See www.careers_at_wwu.edu
  for more.

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Upcoming EventsComplete list on back of program

• Workshops www.careers.wwu.edu
• See Flyer Register on-line to ensure materials
• CSD Career Fair www.careers.wwu.edu
• Link to special events
• February 26, 2008WWU, Multi-purpose Room
• Specialized career fair for SLP, SPED teachers
  and
• other special services support professionals
• WECF www.wspa.net
• Washington Educator Career Fair
• March 18, 2008Spokane, Convention Center
• April 03, 2008Tacoma, Tacoma Dome
• Oregon Professional Educator Fair
  www.oregoncc.org
• April 3, 2007Oregon Convention Center, Portland,
  OR
•  
•  

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Register On-line at www.careers.wwu.edu for
On-Campus Interviews
Candidate Referral Services
Also
Job Opportunity Bulletin Board Weekly E-Mails

• Call to arrange
• Individual Appointments
• Mock Interviews
• Phone Consultations
• CSC [phone]

Placement Files
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Questions