Finding and Applying for a Job

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Finding and Applying for a Job

• The Wheres and Hows

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Beginnings

• Finding the right job usually begins with a job
  lead. A job lead is information about a job
  opening.
• Sources of job leads include
• - friends, neighbors, teachers, signs in
  windows, newspaper advertisements, an employment
  agency, etc.
• These job leads can be developed!

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Networking

• One way of developing job leads is by networking.
  Networking is communicating with people you know
  or can get to know in order to share information
  and advice.
• It is effective because your contacts may be
  insiders. Meaning that they work for the
  company that is hiring. They can tell you what
  the company is looking for and give you
  recommendations on what really counts.

4
Networking- Continued

• Developing your network is not as difficult as
  you might think.
• Make a contact list. (A list of people you know
  who might be helpful in your job search.
• Personal Contacts
• a. Friends with jobs or friends who just started
  a job
• b. Family friends who might own their own
  business

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Networking- Continued

• c. Friends who work for companies
• where you would like to work
• d. List friends who speak well of their
• company- these are normally valued
• employees and therefore a good
• resource

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Networking- Continued

• A referral is a recommendation from a contact,
  who is a part of your network, to someone who
  isnt
• e. Former employers- believe it or not, if you
  are considered by former employers as a good
  worker, they will help you find a job out of
  respect for you as a worker

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Networking- Continued

• 2. Professional
• a. People you know because of the business you
  are in
• b. People who belong to professional
  organizations you belong to
• c. Employment Agencies
• 3. Organizational
• a. People you know because of organizations or
  clubs to which you belong, i.e. Sierra Club,
  softball team, etc.

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Networking- Continued

• 4. Opportunistic
• a. People you bump into by chance i.e.
  person sitting next to you on the plane, person
  in the Dr. office waiting room, etc.
• 5. Technological
• a. People you communicate with on the Internet
  i.e. chat rooms, IM, e-mail, etc.

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Ways People Get Jobs
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Methods for Finding a Job

• 1. Network leads- These are the best leads
  because they give you, in most cases, an inside
  edge
• 2. School Resources- Usually, at the college
  level- Utilize the placement services, ask your
  teachers, guidance counselors- they can often
  suggest leads, set up interviews, or give you
  aptitude tests to help you look in the right
  career area

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• 3. Printed Ads- Newspaper ads can be a part of
  your job search, but not the only one- in fact,
  a small percentage of jobs are secured through
  this methods
• Other printed ads can be found in
• - Trade magazines
• - Publications geared to specific ethnic groups
• - Employment magazines

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• 4. Telephone- Use this valuable tool to follow up
  on leads or create leads
• a. Hot Calls- When you follow up on a lead you
  are making what is termed as a hot call, its hot
  because you know whom youre calling, or the type
  of job that is open
• b. Cold Calls- These are calls to prospective
  employers with whom you have had no previous
  contact, you are calling to gather information or
  establish a contact

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• Cold Calls cont.- Cold calls require more
  preparation- before making a cold call you
  should
• 1. Ask to speak with a specific person- Human
  Resource Manager, Personnel Dept., Manager
• 2. Write out an introductory script- so you
  dont stumble and mumble as you try to present
  your case for hiring- Tell who you are, why
  youre calling, what you want

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• Cold Calls cont.-
• 3. Write out questions that will get you
  information about job openings
• 4. Be sure to asks for referrals
• Remember- The telephone may be your first contact
  with an employer. Make it effective. Practice
  the skills of speaking- not too fast or with
  hesitations or ums Practice the skills of
  listening- dont interrupt the other party

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• 5. Employment Agencies- An employment agency is a
  matchmaker between job seekers and companies with
  openings- Job seekers fill out applications at
  the agency and business call in openings and ask
  the agency to match them with suitable
  candidate(s)
• - There are 2 kinds of Employment Agencies
• a. Public
• b. Private

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• 6. Internet Sites- Using the first 5 methods can
  put you in contact with hundreds of potential
  employers- usually in a limited local area,
  however the Internet offers you the ability to
  contact an unlimited number of employers
  worldwide
• How do you find the right Web Sites? Some sites
  are created for the purpose of connecting job
  seekers with employers.

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• Internet cont.- Such sites include Monster.com
  and CareerBuilder.com- 2 of the most popular
  sites- these allow seekers to search by job
  titles, locality, earnings, other important
  criteria.
• Once you find interesting opportunities, you can
  e-mail your resume directly to the person in
  charge of hiring- the Internet allows you to send
  out hundreds of copies in a day

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Methods for Finding a Job- cont.

• Internet cont.- Career Web sites often provide
  more then job listing- they allow you to post
  your resume so recruiters an access it while
  searching for qualified candidates- some sites
  also provide other services such as job search
  agents, career counseling, career networks, chat
  message boards, and free newsletters
• Another way would be to visit a Companys Website
  for openings

Created by Loren E. Taber- CBI Coordinator,
KCCC/Clear Fork High School