Job Search Tips for Unique Populations:

1. Job Search Tips for Unique Populations: Unemployed Over 40 Over Qualified Veterans Disabled & Not So Hot Past By: Kathleen E. High, M.Ed. Adjunct Counselor, Career Planning Center Cypress College

2. Job Search InformationFor ALL: • The World Is Changing -- Fast • The “Rules” Have Changed • Know Yourself and What You Have to Offer • Know How to Market Yourself • Develop Your “Personal Brand” • Monitor Your “Online Presence” (social network, email, etc.) • Tailor Your Resume and Interview Questions to the Job • Utilize Campus Resources Available (Career Center, etc.) • Check this link to see if you are weak in any specific area of job search skills: Contrasting God Job-Search to Weak Job-Search: • http://www.quintcareers.com/printable/job-search_comparison.html • http://www.cypresscollege.edu/services/cpc/resources.aspx

3. Resources on Campus to Help • CAREER PLANNING CENTER • One-On-One Career Counseling • Career Assessments (Personality, Interests, Values, Skills, etc.) • Workshops (Resumes, Interviewing, Studying, etc.) • Handouts (Labor Market Trends, Goal Setting, Choosing Majors, Job Search, Resume and Interviewing Tips, etc.) • Career Research Resources (Online programs, books, etc.) • Computer Lab • COUNSELING DEPARTMENT: • One-On-One Counseling • Counseling Classes (for academic/career success) • Disabled Student Programs & Services • Vocational Counseling, Accommodations, Resources, Support • TRANSFER CENTER: • Help/Information for Transfer Planning • SEE “UNEMPLOYED RESOURCES” FOR MORE

4. Unemployed • What kind of unemployed person are you? • Diligently doing everything you know how to do • Given up in the face of adversity • Somewhere in between the two extremes • Find productive ways to fill your time: • Doing anything productive looks better • Work any kind of “Survival Job” you can get • Keeps you “in touch” with the working world • makes your UI benefits last longer • School/Training • Volunteering • Attending to Personal / Family Needs • May want to use a “Functional” resume to downplay: • Gaps of employment • Currently working “Survival Jobs” • Highlight relevant experiences gained outside of employment • Use Handouts and Resources Available

5. Resources for Unemployed • Handouts: • Workshop handout: “Unemployed and Looking for Answers” (What they need: Information, Resources, Support) • “Managing Finances” • “Unemployed Resources” • “Tell Me About Yourself” • Resume Writing and Interviewing handouts • Life-Long Learning Options • Visit: Career Planning Center: • Career Counseling • Research New Careers • Resume & Interview help • Books on job transitions, job search, resumes, layoffs, etc. • Workshops: • Planning for an Unpredictable Future • Career Assessment & Interpretation • Identifying Your Transferrable Skills • Maintaining a Positive Online Presence

6. Over 40 Years Old • Notice the “New Rules” • Avoid “reminiscing” over the ‘good old days’ • Ask: Do I appear “Out of touch?” • Check your attitude towards younger colleagues/supervisors • Check your “adaptability” factor (Do you tend to resist change?) • Physical Appearance: Be sure it’s updated • (glasses, hair style & color, clothing, etc.) • Resume – don’t list more than 10 years • Keep an “Employment History – Working Document” • Double check for recent experiences only • Confirm your reference information is current • Avoid listing obsolete technologies, processes, philosophies, etc. • Avoid listing dates for degrees • Make your life experience work for you • Emphasize the benefits of maturity (wisdom, manners, work ethic, etc.)

7. Resources for Over 40 • Handouts: • Workshop handout: “Unemployed and Looking for Answers” • Myths of Maturity • Generational Values • Life-long Learning Options • Visit: Career Planning Center: • Adult Re-entry Services • Career Counseling • Resume & Interview Help • Books On Career Transitions, Career Crises, Encore Careers, Etc. • “Resources” Links On CPC Website has Additional Resources

8. Over Qualified • Know why you would want that job and what are your priorities • Keep an “Employment History – Working Document” • Tailor your resume to job description: • Emphasize their needs, not your “laundry list of qualifications” • Identify why employers feel you are over qualified • Let employers know that you understand their concerns • Use a little humor when addressing the situation • Ask the interviewer to define any concerns he or she might have so you can address them and • Tell them why you want the job even if you are overqualified • Emphasize the benefits of over qualification (wisdom, maturity, complex problem solving, minimal supervision and training, etc.)

9. Resources for Over Qualified • Handouts: • Interviewing & Older Workers: How To Address The Over Qualification Issue! • Workshop handout: “How to Manage Conflicting Priorities” • Visit: Career Planning Center: • Career Counseling • Resume & Interview help • Resume Critique

10. Veterans • Attend to Any ‘Life Transition Issues’ • Learn to Ask for Help • Use Your Resources • Use ‘Translator’ Web Databases To Identify Potential • Civilian Occupations • Transferrable Skills

11. Resources for Veterans • Translator Databases: • Occupations: http://www.careerinfonet.org/moc/ • Skills: http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/skills-translator/ • Local Career OneStop Center: • Veterans Re-employment Services • Veteran’s Resources: • Local Campus – Veteran’s Resource Center • VA / CalVET • VFW • Workshops: • Managing Life’s Transitions • Identifying Your Transferrable Skills

12. Disabled • Utilize CPC & DSPS services: • Help you identify appropriate career and job search goals • Help you identify resources available to help • Identify your transferrable skills • Focus on what you cando • Consider emerging career fields: Tend to offer flexibility • Know the employment laws that affect you • Get full job description with the required skills spelled out • Know what accommodations you need; have them verified by a doctor • Be prepared to answer questions regarding your accommodations if you get the job • Keep statements positive (I can do… by using an adjustable table). Don't get too technical

13. Resources for the Disabled • Handouts: • Workshop handout: “Identifying Your Transferrable Skills” • True Self • Labor Market Trends • CPC Newsline: “Job Search Strategies and Information for People with Disabilities” (Fall 2008) - available online • Visit: • Disabled Students Programs & Services • Career Planning Center • Employment Development Department's One Stop Centers, www.servicelocator.org • Department of Rehabilitation, www.dor.ca.gov • Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled (714) 621-3300 • Resources: • CPC has books and other resources for the disabled job seeker.

14. No So Hot Past • Create a positive image and environment • Identify your skills • Identify your targets • Get your documents in order • Use the most effective job search methods • Improve your interviewing skills • Follow up on all job leads • Check your online presence • If you are an ex-offender, know which types of jobs and employers are appropriate and which are not • No secret answer; but how you market yourself is crucial

15. Resources for Not So Hot Past • Handouts: • Job Search Tips for Those with a Not So Hot Past • CPC Newsline: People with Less‐than‐Ideal Backgrounds (Spring, 2010) - available online • Visit: • Career Planning Center for help with resume preparation and interview skills • Local Employment One Stop Centers • Resources: • Booklet: Quick Job Search for Ex-Offenders • Book: “No One is Unemployable”

16. Conclusion • Remember: • The World Is Changing • The Rules Have Changed • Know How To Market Yourself • Seek Help When Needed: • Career Planning Center/Adult Re-Entry • Disabled Student Services & Programs • Veterans Resource Center • Financial Aid • Counseling • Local Employment One-Stop Centers • They often have programs to support our “unique populations”

17. Special Thanks: • Debra Michelle, DSPS Counselor, Cypress College