Dress for Success

1. Dress for Success Professional Image!

2. Things a Boss Looks For… • Professional Image • Firm Handshake • Eye Contact • Sophisticated Answers

3. Stay Clear From… Crispy/Spikey Hair Stubble(Guys) Overdone Makeup(Ladies) Crazy Bling/Jewelry Recreational Piercings/Gauges/Tattoos Perfumes/Body Sprays/Colognes Bellies/Armpits/Cleavage Tight Blouses/Shirts/Sweaters Baggy Pants/Shirts Lowrise Pants/Hip Huggers Open Toe Shoes and Sneakers Make the first 30 seconds count!

4. First Impressions Present yourself as a professional. Dress for the job, not a party.

5. Dress for the Job! • Do you blend in with the workplace? • Do you look like you belong there? • Have them remember you for your skills not your appearance!

6. Business Casual • Neat Appearance • Appropriate Fit

7. Business Casual • Neat Appearance • Appropriate Fit

8. What NOT to Wear!!! “Your clothes say a lot about you…Make sure they say what you want them to.”

9. What NOT to do!

10. Don’t Over-do It !! • Makeup and Hair- “The Natural Look” • Maintain neat appearance- Hair Styles/Facial Hair • Jewelry: Keep it simple! • No Colognes, Perfumes or Body Sprays! • Turn cell phones off and NO texting! Avoid Facial Piercings, Tattoo Exposure and Rope Chains. Use Fashion Sense!!!

11. Check Yourself… Don’t Wreck Yourself! • Shut the Door to Personal Troubles • Leave Your Personal Baggage At Home! • Don’t Slam on Old Bosses/CoWorkers

12. First Impressions • Arrive early: Lombardi Time (15 min. early)- know where you’re going! • Front Desk… BE POLITE… They’re Watching You! • Make an impression that counts! • Good Handshake • Maintain Eye Contact and Smile

13. It’s an Adventure! • Be Prepared For Questions and Answers • Take Time to Organize Your Thoughts • Express Confidence in Your Abilities • Make Effective Eye Contact and Smile • Be Attentive to Body Language • No gum • No Slouching- Watch Handshake

14. Common Mistakes • Coming Unprepared and Being Late • Not Smiling or Showing Enthusiasm • Negativity- Poor Attitude

15. Interview Prep • Stick to LOMBARDI TIME! • Dress appropriately • Bring your own pen • Come with a list of questions to ask • Have copies of your résumé, reference names & • phone numbers, as well as any other application • information you will need with you

16. The Interview! A Survival Guide

17. Visualize the Interview Know this: • There is no question you cannot answer • You are well suited for the position • You will be an asset to the organization

18. Behavioral- Based ?’s Think Specific and Be Concise- It’s all in how you answer! Tips: • Don’t Say: “Usually, Always, Or Never” • Be Prepared to Answer the Negative Questions Positively! • Was The Result Positive? Measurable? • Don’t Forget To Smile and say “I”

19. Interview Questions… 1. How would you describe yourself? 2. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment? 3. What personal weakness has caused you the greatest difficulty in school or on the job? What do you or can you do to improve it? 4. Please describe the ideal job for you following graduation. 5. What influenced you to choose this career?

20. After The Interview • Let them know how much you appreciate their time and efforts • Send a thank you note • Use their business card info. to address the note properly

21. Let’s Play A Game ! http://www.careerswales.com/quiz/game_job.asp

22. Finding a Job Surviving the Rat Race…

23. Topics Covered • First Impressions: Résumé • Job Search: Making the Call • Dress for Success • Internship Interview Prep

24. Starting a Résumé • Laundry List – Have a list of accomplishments and pertinent skills in front of you and know why are you a fit for the job. • Fill out the worksheet in your packet

25. Tell me about yourself… • Open a new Word document and describe your accomplishments and attributes. Why are you the right person for this job? • Use this Word document as a sales pitch. Rehearse sales pitch of yourself with a partner. Treat it like a commercial selling the best of who you are.

26. Self-Description Words Circle the Words that Describe YOU Best? resourcefulrespectiveresponsibleself-confident self-reliantsensiblesense-of-humorsinceresophisticatedstablesuccessfulsupportivesystematictactful talented teachable toleranttrustworthy versatile disciplinedeconomicalefficient energeticenterprisingenthusiasticextrovertedfriendlyhelpfulhonestimaginativeindependentindustriousinventivelogicalloyal maturemethodical objectiveoptimisticopportunisticorganizedoriginalpatientperceptivepersonablepleasantpositivepracticalpreciseproductiveprudentquickrationalrealisticreflective reliable activeadaptableaggressivealertambitiousanalyticalassertiveattentivecapablecompetentcompetitiveconfidentconscientiousconsistent constructive creativedependable determined

27. Great Action Verbs... acceleratedaccomplishedachievedadaptedadvisedadministeredanalyzedappraised approvedassessedawardedbudgetedcommunicatedcomparedcompletedcomposedconceivedconductedcontrolled convinced coordinatedcounseledcreated delegateddemonstrated designed determineddeveloped directeddramatized earned effected elected eliminated encouraged enjoyed enlargedestablishedevaluated excelled expandedexpeditedfacilitated financedformulatedfounded gatheredgenerated guidedidentified implemented improvised includedincreased influenced instructed interpreted interviewedlaunchedmaintained recognized recruitedreducedreorganized revealedreviewedrevised scheduled solvedspecifiedspokestate streamlinedstructuredsubmittedsuggestedsupervised supportedtabulatedtaught trainedtranslated transformedtraveledtutoredupdatedutilized visualized managedmotivatednegotiated observedorchestrated organizedoriginatedoversaw participated performedpersuaded pinpointed pioneeredplanned prepared processedprovided qualifiedraisedrated

28. Tips for a Great Resume... • The one who gets the job- is not always the most qualified. Master the tricks of HOW to get the job and you will! A great résumé will get help get your foot in the door. • Employers don’t readrésumés... they usually skim through them. Your résumé advertises YOU. Grab their attention! • Use your space wisely! Listing various dates or numbers makes it hard to skim through. When cluttered, they may toss it in the “No” pile. • Highlight Skills- especially those which transfer from one situation to another. The fact that you coordinated a student organization most likely implies you could coordinate other things as well.

29. Tips for a Great Resume... • Be honest.-ALWAYS! Avoid saying you can perform with certain responsibilities, or that you have experience with certain tasks when you don’t. You don’t have to exaggerate your abilities in order to get hired. Make it believable. • Gear your résumé toward the type of job you want... Your résumé should focus on each job description. • Be prepared for a phone call. Most employers will call if they are interested to schedule an interview. Area code & phone# must be on résumé.

30. Common Mistakes • Poor Layout- • Watch your use of font • size and style, and stay • within your margins. • Readability counts! • Wordiness and Poor Grammar– • Makes it hard to understand or the • resume may require too much • reader interpretation. Try to avoid • making it too long or condensed • Unexplained Time Gaps- • It will lack in credibility. Always show • a consistency in your work history. • Don’t leave time unexplained.

31. Things to Avoid… • Social Security#: Prevent identity theft –ALWAYS! • Picture: Only if necessary (i.e. modeling or acting) • Race/Religion • Personal Data: measurements, marital status, DOB • Salary Preference: If requested- in cover letter ONLY • References: Write “available upon request”. Alert all references of your job search so they can prepare what to say.

32. Making the Calls! Searching for a job? • Prepare before you call: Résumé, Contact Info. • Know who you’re calling: Do the research FIRST! • Be professional and enthusiastic- ATTITUDE! • Listen and take notes!- ACTIVE LISTENING! • Call when your contact is available- TIMING! • Stay motivated- Don’t give up! STAY POSITIVE! Answer questions in complete sentences and avoid slang. “ Ums ” and “ yup’s ” do not sound professional.

33. Describing work experience • (Sample below shows how to describe babysitting in a résumé) • Childcare Provider 2000-present • Provided childcare services for a family of three children ages ranging from 3 months to 7 years of age • Maintained quality safe home environment while engaging children in creative play activities and homework assignments • Prepared meals and assisted with hygiene needs as well as bed time routine • Trained in Babysitting Safety and Nutrition- Certification through Nashua’s 21st Century Program 2002

34. PREPARATION FIRST !Before you dial… • Research - Visit their website at length and make notes of what interests you. Go over their mission and write down what attributes you have that mesh well with their vision. • Why are you Looking? - Know the purpose and requirements for the internship program. They may show interest and have questions. • Résumé in Hand - Be sure to have your résumé in front of you so you can follow along with your background as they ask you questions.

35. Your Mission… The First Phone Call… • Get the person's attention -- use their name • Identify yourself – who are you? • Give the reason for your call -- the objective of the callis to get an appointment/interview • Make a qualifying/questioning statement – give an opportunity for the person to respond to you. • Set the appointment – When Can I Come In?

36. Networking… the call Good afternoon. My name is ___________________ I’m a student at Nashua High School. I recently spoke with ______________ about job opportunities in my career field of interest, and he/she mentioned that you would be the perfect person to contact. (Discuss your interests in the career field. Initiate conversation about your attributes… what you have to offer) I would love to arrange a time to meet with you, at your convenience, to explore possible options with your company. When are you available?

37. The Cold Call… Good afternoon. I was wondering if you could assist me. My name is ___________________ I’m a student at Nashua High School. I’m currently seeking an job opportunity focusing on my career field of interest. Who would be the ideal person to speak to regarding internship options? Is he/she available? If not I am interested in coming in to learn more. When would be an appropriate time to come in and drop off my résumé to _________________? May I leave voice mail? Thank you so much for your time, I appreciate your assistance.

38. Journey into the Boardroom Assignment: Prepare for an interview… • Complete the Job Application (due: ____) • Review the following Interview Questions • Prepare Appropriate Answers to ?’s (due: ____) • Dress Appropriately for the Interview on ___________ • Bring a copy of your Résumé to class on __________