Career Exploration Workshop Day Four

Career Exploration WorkshopDay Four Questions? “If you don’t know where you’re going, you will wind up somewhere else…..” Yogi Berra Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 1

Day Four Agenda • Review of Meetings with VRC’s • Achievement Story #2 • What Do Employers Expect? • Resume – the C.R.I.S.P. technique • Life-Work Balance – Part 2 • Prep for Achievement Story #3 • Day Four Thoughts Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 2

Review of Meetings with VRC • What Issues were discussed? • What needs were discussed? • Any problems that need resolution? • Did any of you discuss a possible job goal? • Do you think you’re closer to developing a goal at this point? Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 3

Achievement Story # 2 • Was it easier to write Achievement Story #2? • Did you enjoy learning more about your skills? • What did it feel like to get such positive feedback from the group? Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 4

Achievement Story #2 • Did you learn anything new from the group process? • Was the process easier this time? • Were your stories any different, based on your previous experience with the process? • Additional feedback, issues, reactions, questions? Decision-Making Grid (Pg. 2, #20): Record new/different skills in appropriate section for Story # 2 . Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 5

Morning Break • Back by ________________ ? Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 6

What Do Employers Expect?A Reality Check Now it is time to: • get an introduction to the job market, • the application process and • specifically, what employers are looking for in a new employee • Place any handouts in your folder . Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 7

What Not to Doat a Job Interview! • Video….starring Jeff Hooke, job counselor at KFI in Bangor and Lincoln…. • Captioned Version • Audio Described and Captioned Version

C.R.I.S.P • Contemporary p. 32-37 Activities • Resume and • Interviewing • Strategies and • Preparation Developed by the Bureau of Employment Services Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Resumes • We do not create a resume during the workshop. • However, it is important to know what the current research is saying about writing a resume. Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Contemporary Résumé and Interviewing Strategies and Preparation Part 1: Creating Winning Résumés Created by: Gaetane Johnson Melissa Suey Joanne Hollands Jean Whalen Raymond Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

What has Changed? • Recruitment and hiring have changed • Share what employers are telling us • Identify what you control • Give you tools to do something about it Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Recruitment and Hiring Have Changed • Technology • Employers use online résumé databases • HR systems more sophisticated • Résumés are being scanned by computers FIRST • Job Seekers need technical skills • Quantity of applicants • Quality of applicants means greater competition for positions Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

What Employers Are Telling Us… • “Résumés and applications need to help me see you in the specific job you’re applying for” • “Sometimes I scan a résumé in 15-20 seconds…” • “I’ll know right away whether you follow directions based on how you apply for the job.” • “I want to see work history/career progression.” • And more… Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Here’s What You Can Control… • Quality vs. quantity • Help the employer “connect the dots” • The “message you are sending” with your résumé • Set yourself apart from the rest Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Definition Purpose Strategy Types of Résumés Content Formatting Spelling e Résumés Here’s What You Can Do… Create Winning Résumés Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Definition Résumé \ noun: a short account of one’s career and qualifications usually prepared by a job applicant. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Purpose To get aninterview Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Marketing Tool Help the employer “see” you in the position. No longer an all-inclusive autobiography. Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Types • Chronological • Functional • Combination What you’ve heard for years… Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Today’s Recommendation Chronological (detail) + Functional (with targeted approach) = Combination résumé Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Combination Résumé • Enables job seeker to control how they present themselves to employer • Highlights and customizes strengths and accomplishments that best match the job • Combines focus and work history/experience • Ensures readers ability to “see you in the job” Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Strategy Targeted - Customized - Relevant Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Targeted For a specific field/industry/position • What are you presenting to the employer? • What needs are you meeting for the employer? • What do you “bring-to-the-table”? Help the employer “see” you in the position. Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Customized For each position you’re applying for • Leveraging the top portion of the résumé • Employers scan VERY quickly • Grab and keep the attention of the reader • Stay in the “yes” pile Help the employer “see” you in the position. Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Relevant To the position you’re applying for • Keep the focus on meeting the employers’ needs • Help the reader “see-you-in-the-job” • Avoid distracting the reader with extra “cool” accomplishments that are irrelevant to position Help the employer “see” you in the position. Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Content…Top Section • Contact info • Branding statement • Introductory paragraph • “Highlights of Accomplishments” • Key Words throughout Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Content…Bottom Section • “Professional Experience” • “Education and Training” • “Professional Affiliations” • “Community Involvement” • “Interests” • Key Words throughout Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Know and CommunicateYour Value Focus on the Facts to Uncover Your Success Stories Situation Task Action Result Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Keywords • Your application and résumé might be read first by a computer • Think like a computer, and write what it wants to read • Use keywords and phrases from the posting to ‘tweak’ your résumé and application It works Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Clear bulleted statements Begin with action words List results of contributions Focus on accomplishments Consistent verb tense Formatting Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Visual clarity Use white space Consistent formatting Easy-to-read Easy-to-find facts Correct spelling Formatting…continued Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Spelling Has to be spelling error-free!!! Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Omit • Date of birth • Social security number • Photograph • Family details • Hobbies • Negativity • “References available upon request” Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

e Résumés • Often read by a computer FIRST • Cleared of formatting • Easy to copy and paste into web sites or emails Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Sample Resumes • Refer to page 32,33,34,35,and 36 in the Activity Workbook to review sample resumes.

e Résumés…continued • Create a Text résumé for online applications • Take Word Processing résumé • “Save As” .txt or .rtf file with appropriate file name (John Smith Sales Executive Résumé) • Replace any special characters • Use *, -, ~ for bullets • CAPITALS to create headings • Use spaces rather than tabs to indent text Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

e Résumés…continued • Send the message to yourself first! • Check for any bad line breaks or special characters BEFORE you upload to online application or send to a potential employer • “Save As” .txt or .rtf again, appropriate name (John Smith Sales Executive Résumé) • Store “virtually” in email account Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Cover Letters • Position applying for • Mention how you found the job opening • Make a brief connection • Invite an interview • Thank them for time and consideration Bea Positive 87 Brooks Street Skowhegan, ME 04976  (207) 525-1234 b.positive@email.com August 12, 2010 Name Company Address City, ST Zip Dear Sir or Madam: Please accept the attached résumé as my application for the Human Resources Coordinator position that was recently listed on the JobsInME.com. As you will see in my résumé, my background includes supporting different aspects of the human resources function. My strong attention-to-detail, proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office together with my organizational skills enables me to help achieve the department productivity goals. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with you how my skills and experience can best fit your needs. The best way to reach me is by calling 207-525-1234. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of my application. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Bea Positive Attachment Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Applications • Utilize these same techniques when filling out applications! Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Past Supervisor vs Reference? • Ask permission • Give them info about job you are applying for • Check contact information • Offer at interview Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Exercise #3 Creating Branding Statement Maine Vocational Rehabilitation

Noon Dinner Break • Back by ____________ Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 43

Life/Work Balance – Part 2 The Future! • P.9 Activity again • Given that there are no “ideal” proportions, cut up your FUTURE pie into those three pieces, based on how you would like to allocate your time in the future! • Be realistic, but don’t be afraid to dream ! • If you don’t designate it, who will? Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 44

Time for SELF • What happens if we neglect time for SELF? • Will it impact on work? • Will it impact on others? • Remember, allocating time to SELF is not (self)ish, it’s a critically important part of your future plan! Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 45

Afternoon Break • Back at ______________________ Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 46

Your Future Pie! • What does your FUTURE pie look like - what is the allocation for each piece? • Why would you choose to allocate your time this way? • What is the biggest change you will have to make? • What will you have to do in order for this pie to become a reality? Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 47

Your Future Life/Work Balance • What’s your Pie look like? • Different than your NOW pie? • Why is it broken up this way? • What changes will be necessary? • What will you have to do to make those changes? Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 48

What are you cooking in your Future Pie? Career Decision-Making Grid (Pg. 3, # 29): Write in your “recipe” for moving toward a new Life/Work Balance in the Life/Work Balance:Future section. Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 49

Prep for Achievement Story #3 • Is it becoming easier to recognize your skills in your achievements? • Any questions/concerns about writing your last achievement story? Maine Vocational Rehabilitation Maine Vocational Rehabilitation 50

Career Exploration Workshop Day Four