Unemployment or Underemployment Strategies to Get Ahead—and STAY Ahead!

1. Unemployment or Underemployment Strategies to Get Ahead—and STAY Ahead! Tracie Lowe Career Consultant, IUPUI University College Academic and Career Development www.uc.iupui.edu/students/career

2. Coming Up in Job Search 2010 • Changing nature of job seeking • Variety of ways to hunt for jobs • Generic no longer works; TAILOR your information • Networking • WHY Networking is essential • Contacts you didn’t know you had • Informational interviewing • Interviewing • Preparation is KEY • Behavioral interviewing • Why candidates AREN’T hired

3. Today we will cover… • Past, present and future of your career journey • What does it take to move forward? Direction! • Knowing yourself • Know your market • Know how to strategize your job search • Know how to sell yourself – especially on a resume! • Common mistakes made by job seekers • Career Goal-setting • Questions?

4. Why are YOU here? • Career change • Downsized or laid off from job • Bored in current career • Looking for job advancement • Unsure where to start for a job search • “My resume is ten years old . . .” • Networking scares me • Want to know “in demand” skills • Other reasons??

5. Unemployment feels much like a pothole on your career journey • Feel like you’re stuck on an unfamiliar highway? • Not sure where you even want to go? • Feel like you’re going in circles (or someone took the map!) • Wish you had a GPS instead of a compass? NOW… • Can you assess where you’ve been, your current situation, and where you’re headed in your career? • Do you have a plan and a strategy? • Create your own Career GPS!!

6. I need a job… who cares about a career journey? • YOU should. Changing your career situation requires living in the present, but also… • Can you determine your destination? If you don’t know where you’d like to go, how can you get there? • Successful job searching requires an honest assessment of where you are NOW. What skills do you have? What are your past accomplishments? Do you need/want to acquire further education or training? • To GET what you want, instead of just hoping to get it, you need to have a plan!

7. Why should you care NOW? • 65-70% of college students change their majors at least once before graduating. As we graduate, many of us don’t know what we can do with our degrees. • Majority of jobs are not ‘degree specific’– but we do a poor job of ‘selling’ our degrees… and worse, ourselves • Changes in the market greatly impact what is available. • Planning a path before heading off on your journey will save time and dissatisfaction down the road • Work-related stress greatly affects your quality of life • So where should you start?

8. Career journey = ongoing process • S elf focus (who am I) • T arget(what do I want) • E xplore(what’s out there, how does it fit) • P lan(what are my next steps)

9. SELF FOCUSWho am I? Values = your personal principles or standards, your priorities. (Values impact the choices you make about the other three areas) • Interests = • Things that you enjoy doing or that grab your attention • Personality = • attitudes, behavior patterns, other individual traits that endure over long periods of time Skills = the ability to do something well, usually gained through experience and training How? See resource page; also Work One centers, career services

10. What if I don’t know what I want? • If you’re unsure, look for self-assessments or inventories online. Refer to the resource page for many online resources, as well as GREAT books. Career counseling is also an option. Visit your local WorkOne office. • Learn more by doing research. Start with information that is readily available to you online, in books, journals, and many other locations. • Talk to people in your field of choice. It’s one of the best ways to learn about career paths. Try informational interviewing, job shadowing, etc.

11. TARGET / EXPLOREWhat’s out there, and what is it all about? Make a short list of careers, then research them • Our website • http://uc.iupui.edu/students/career • Visit https://www.indianacareerconnect.com/ for trends specific to our state and region. • Talk to someone in the field • (Informational interviews, job shadowing) • Publications in the field • Volunteering/Professional Organizations

12. Learn more about occupations O*Net Online http://online.onetcenter.org/ Find descriptions of many occupations on the Occupational Information Network Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/oco/ The OOH tells you the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, working conditions, and more for hundreds of jobs

13. Create a Personal Action Plan • Assess what you have to offer: your VIPS • Target occupations/industries who need what you have to offer • Explore what you need to be successful • Do you need to build skills? If so, how? Education? • Computer training (esp. word processing) • Set goals – and commit to paper • Long-range plan • Where do I want to be in 1 year, 5 years, etc. • Break larger goals down into smaller pieces • Consider volunteering, community service, etc.

14. Writing an Effective Resume- It Has to Sell YOU For the Position You Want!

15. What does your resume say? • Your resume is your marketing brochure; a picture of you as an employee. • It’s NOT a job application with details about past employers • It’s about accomplishments and achievements • It’s NOT a list of tasks, like a job description • Your resume gets you the interview • Your ability to articulate your skills gets you the job! • In a competitive job market, you must have a strong, tailored resume AND excellent interviewing skills!

16. How do I start writing a resume? • Know yourself! • Values, Interests, Personality, Strengths, and Skills… • Be aware of weaknesses, failures. What have you done to improve upon these? Play to your strengths and not your weaknesses! • What have others mentioned as your greatest strengths? • What are your past experiences and accomplishments? • How do those experiences relate to the work you’ll do for your NEXT employer? Ask, “So what?”

17. Starting a resume… • Write down groups you’ve belonged to (Teams, clubs, volunteer positions, employers, etc.) • Write down the roles you filled for those groups (Treasurer, member, captain, job title, etc.) • Write down every task you did in the role (include the method used, why it was worth doing, & the result) • Turn tasks into accomplishment statements: • begin with an action verb • Ask yourself “what, how, why, with what result, and how much or how often”

18. Writing your resume- Think SKILLS! Position- Administrative Assistant Duties Skills Arranged meetings Drafted correspondence Answered phones Developed strong planning skills to ensure meetings ran smoothly Utilized excellent communication skills to accurately convey information from executives to staff Interacted with diverse group of internal and external clients, providing prompt and positive customer service

19. Writing your resume- Think SKILLS! Position- President, Homeowner’s Association Skills Re-energized ABC Homeowner’s Association to improve neighborhood communication and raise home values Together with executive board, created policy whereby association members received feedback on new building plans within one week’s time, resulting in increased homeowner satisfaction Negotiated bids for repair/refurbishment of neighborhood pool facility Persuaded homeowners to take on additional annual fee for pool area

20. Accomplishments vs. Tasks (skills vs. duties) Bad Example: Clerk Old Navy • Ran cash register • Stocked shelves • Worked in fitting room Good Example: Customer Service Representative Old Navy • Met weekly with managers and team members to discuss store policies and promotions • Greeted customers and assisted in purchase decisions • Assisted in training 30 new employees • Won district challenge by securing most store credit card applications in a week

21. What Do Employers Want? • 2008 Job Outlook Report: www.naceweb.org • National Association of Colleges & Employers • Communication Skills • Teamwork skills • Problem-solving skills • Analytical Skills • Flexibility/adaptability • Interpersonal skills Motivation/Initiative Computer /Technical Skills Detail-orientation Organizational Skills Leadership Skills Self-Confidence

22. Know What is Available • Know your market! • What are the needs of your potential employer? • Research the business. Be able to communicate your knowledge about the company to your potential employer. • Know the field, and understand trends. If you haven’t done your homework, someone ELSE will. • Use job descriptions to tailor your resume to each specific position.

23. Resume Essentials… • Use sample resumes to find good formats, wording • http://www.uc.iupui.edu/students/career/resume_step5.asp • Use O*Net to focus on skills/knowledge employers want • Show how your abilities match the position • Use bulleted statements, not complete sentences • Start with action verbs • Avoid the pronoun “I” and articles “a, an, the” • NO Typos, misspellings or grammar mistakes (from vs. form) • Must be professional, as with your whole image • Resume must be up to date, accurate and honest • Note your achievements/accomplishments, not just tasks • Proofread, proofread… did I mention proofread?!?!?!

24. Organizing your resume… • Resume Formats • Chronological: Information in each section is organized in reverse-chronological order • Skills-Based: Experience, accomplishments, and skills are organized separately from your work history. • Your BEST information must be in the top half or third of the resume. (will change over time) • Initially, employers spend 15-30 seconds looking at a resume! Will you make the cut?

25. Chronological Sample

26. Skills-Based Sample • Related Skills and Experience: • Office Administration •  Proficient computer use of Microsoft Office and MacWrite II •  Verified accuracy and completion of customer sales orders and invoices •  Maintained petty cash accounts totaling $5,000 • Customer Service •  Received recognition for highest sales 3 consecutive months in Men’s Apparel • department at J.C. Penney •  Provided prompt and courteous customer service at all times •  Responsible for serving up to 100 customers during rush periods • Leadership •  Trained co-workers on frontline service techniques •  Wrote shift schedules, ensuring proper staff coverage for rush periods •  Maintained accurate inventory log, completing order log for manager •  Supervised up to 4 co-workers in manager’s absence • Work History: • Administrative Assistant, Boss Business, Inc., Indianapolis, IN January 2007 – Present • Sales Associate, J.C. Penney, Greenwood, IN August 2005 – September 2006 • Crew Member, McDonalds, Indianapolis, IN December 2004 – August 2005

27. Work History and/or Experience Jennifer Student jstudent@iupui.edu 123 IUPUI Lane  Indianapolis, IN 46202  317-555-1212 Work History: Intern Indiana Sports Corporation, Indianapolis, IN Summer 2009  Assisted with media relations for Indiana Sports Corporation  Wrote press releases and conducted follow-up with media  Edited Indiana Sports Corporation publications and event materials  Served as primary media contact for Youthlinks Indiana Charity Golf Tournament  Recognized by supervisors for strong on-camera presence Server O’Charley’s, Indianapolis, IN January 2008-May 2009  Successfully managed a 20-hour work week while attending IUPUI full time  Used effective communication skills to take and serve food orders promptly and accurately  Demonstrated expertise in handling multiple tasks in a fast- paced environment  Selected by manager to train new staff members

28. Header Jennifer Student jstudent@iupui.edu 123 IUPUI Lane  Indianapolis, IN 46202  317-555-1212

29. Objective, Education Jennifer Student jstudent@iupui.edu 123 IUPUI Lane  Indianapolis, IN 46202  317-555-1212 Objective: Seeking an event planning/PR position that will capitalize on my education, experience and excellent communication skills. Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies Expected December 2010 Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Major GPA: 3.5 -Worked part-time and earned scholarship to cover educational expenses. When creating a career objective, consider: “Seeking a position within the field of ____ utilizing my ____, ____, and ____ skills.” **Focus your objective on what you can do for the employer rather than what they can do for you!**

30. Other Resume Sections • Depending on your experience, some of the following sections might also be included in your resume: • Activities • Honors • Certifications • Computer Skills • Community Service • Publications • Related Coursework • Summary of Qualifications

31. Common Resume Sections • Experience • This section can include more than just paid experiences • Internships • Volunteer work • Student organization involvement • Campus jobs • Any paid/unpaid experiences that demonstrate the skills and experiences the employer seeks in a candidate

32. Review Current Resume One experience at a time: • What does each one say about you? • How does it fit the position/company/organization? • If it doesn’t fit, rewrite or eliminate it • What’s missing from the resume? • Go back to job posting- is there more you can add? • Emphasize your accomplishments • What makes yours a better product than others? • Proofread, proofread, proofread!

33. Critical points in your job search… • Be able to articulate skills, interests, etc • Job correspondence has to be GREAT • Networking opens up many more positions • Doing research shows your level of interest • Superb interviewing sets you apart • Then the cycle continues; more self-focus, refining job correspondence, new and further developed contacts, deeper research…

34. Set Goals for YOUR Career Journey Take Action! What will you do ___________ ? • Today • Next week • In a month • By summer • 1 year from now “When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” -Seneca