Overcoming Barriers to Employment Success

1. Overcoming Barriers to Employment Success Part 1 Personal and Financial Barriers © JIST Works

2. Personal Barriers • Personal barriers are those that keep you from fulfilling your basic needs. • Personal barriers can prevent you from even starting a job search, let alone landing and keeping a job. • Overcoming personal barriers often requires help from those around you. © JIST Works

3. Examples of Personal Barriers • Having enough food to feed my family • A lack of transportation • Health problems • No place to live • Lack of childcare • Family members with special needs • Immigrant status • No clothes suitable for interviewing © JIST Works

4. Food and Clothing Consider the following resources to help you provide food and clothing for you and your family: • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) • Food stamps • Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) • Food Banks • Goodwill Industries

5. Housing Options Your living situation should not only be clean and safe, it should also be a good place to conduct a job search from. Consider these housing options: • Renting a house or apartment • Buying a house • Habitat for Humanity • Living with Family and Friends • Section 8 Housing • Shelters (emergency solution only)

6. Transportation You will need reliable transportation, not only to find a job, but to get to work everyday once you do. Consider these options: • Owning your own car • Public transportation • Carpooling • Friends and family

7. Family Concerns • Taking care of children and other family members is a top priority. Be sure to consider all of your child care options and create a family care plan. • Also be sure to take care of yourself. That includes taking time to relax or engage in your own interests. • Don’t be afraid to ask for the help of others. Friends and family can help with childcare needs, and programs are often available in your community to help as well.

8. Criminal Record A criminal record can be overcome, but ex offenders should be aware of special barriers they might face in finding and keeping a job. • Be aware of the limitations you might face in choosing a job. • Don’t lie on applications or in interviews. • Use cold calling to find job openings. • Prepare yourself to answer questions about your past during an interview. • Be confident. Dress for success. Show respect.

9. Financial Barriers • It is important to manage your money carefully while you are looking for work. • Often that means making—and sticking to—a budget. • Take care of your basic needs first, but try to plan for the future as well.

10. Money Management To manage your money, you should consider doing the following: • Open a savings and checking account. • Ask your employer about direct deposit. • Learn about other savings options such as CDs and bonds. • Create a monthly budget.

11. Needs Housing Transportation Food Utilities Child care Interviewing attire Wants Cable television New stereo Eating out Movies Vacations Needs vs. Wants Overcoming financial barriers to employment often involves separating your “needs” from your “wants.”

12. Working While You Look for Work Part time or temporary work provides several advantages. It… • Provides a source of income. • Allows you to network with other people. • Gives you skills and experience. • Puts you inside an organization that might hire you for a full-time position. • Provides a much-needed source of self-confidence and self-worth.

13. Plan for Your Future It’s never too early to start planning your financial future. • Look into the retirement plans offered by companies you’d like to work for. • Learn about more about saving and investing. • Pledge to save a certain percentage of your paycheck each month (start with 3-5% and try to work up to 10%).

14. Overcoming Barriers to Employment Success Part 2 Emotional and Physical Barriers

15. Emotional Barriers • Being able to understand or control your emotions. • Staying positive while searching for a job. • Coping with the stress associated with looking for employment. • Managing your anger. • Dealing with depression.

16. Support System • Use the support of others to stay motivated. • Share your employment goals with your family and friends. • Support system consists of friends, family members, role models, mentors, and professionals who are trained to help you.

17. Taking Responsibility • Take control of your life and your career. • Take appropriate actions until you get the results you desire. • Stop blaming other people. • Stop complaining about bad luck and making excuses.

18. Low Self-Esteem • Self-esteem is your perception of your worth. • Positive self-esteem is essential for career and life success. • Negative self-esteem can lead to feelings of helplessness. • Learn to turn your negatives into positives.

19. Managing Stress Unemployment can be very stressful. Consider the following stress management techniques: • Deep breathing • Exercise • Listening to music • Meditation • Proper nutrition

20. Dealing with Depression • Depression is a combination of feelings and destructive thinking. • Depression includes pessimism, lack of energy, powerlessness, and self-doubt. • Set positive goals and work towards them. • See a physician if you need medical assistance.

21. Managing Anger • Anger can interfere with your search for a job and can impact your job performance. • Learn what triggers your anger. • Express your anger to other positively. • Be aware of the consequences of your anger.

22. Physical Barriers • Barriers that results from physical limitations. • Physical barriers can lead to low self-esteem. • Be prepared to deal with prejudice, stereotypes, and other social barriers.

23. Dealing With a Physical Barrier • Know your employment rights. • Be realistic about your job options. • Use support services. • Practice interviewing. • Craft your resume positively. • Focus on what you do well, not your disability.

24. Dealing With Addictions • Understand the effects of your addiction on your job search and career success. • Identify community resources that can help you. • Create a recovery plan.

25. Overcoming Barriers to Employment Success Part 3 Career Decision-Making and Planning Barriers

26. Career Decision-Making and Planning Barriers • Don’t know what kind of job you are looking for • Don’t know your interest, skills, and abilities • Don’t know how to make an effective career decision • Don’t know how to develop a career plan

27. Know What You Want • What do you dream of doing? • What would you do even if you did not get paid for it? • What do you value most? • What have you always wanted to do?

28. Career Interests • Agriculture and Natural Resources • Architecture and Construction • Arts and Communication • Business and Administration • Education and Training • Finance and Insurance • Government and Public Administration • Health Science • Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation • Human Services • Information Technology • Law and Public Safety • Manufacturing • Retail and Wholesale Sales and Service • Scientific Research, Engineering, and Mathematics • Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

29. Know Your Skills • Identify both your transferable and job-specific skills. • Know your skills in working with people, data, and things. • Identify possible jobs and employers that can make use of your best skills.

30. What Job Are Out There? • There are over 20,000 different jobs available! • Learn about the latest trends in the world of work (new technology, local employment trends, outsourcing). • Use Web sites and online sources of occupational information to learn more.

31. Resources for Career Exploration • Occupational Outlook Handbook • O*NET Dictionary of Occupational Titles • New Guide for Occupational Exploration • Career counselors and job placement specialists • Informational interviewing and job shadowing

32. Career Decision-Making • You make hundreds of decisions each day. • Effective decisions bring you closer to your career goals and dreams. • Effective decisions allow you to control your own destiny. • Effective decisions empower you.

33. Steps in the Decision-Making Process • Step 1: Identify the decision to be made • Step 2: Gather information • Step 3: Identify alternatives • Step 4: Weigh alternatives • Step 5: Choose best alternative • Step 6: Take action • Step 7: Evaluate decision

34. Setting Goals • Goals are your motivation to act on the career decisions you make. • Short-term goals are things you would like to accomplish within the next few months. • Long-term goals are things you would like to accomplish within the next year or more.

35. Career Goals Must…. • Be yours, not someone else’s. • Be stated in specific, measurable terms. • Have observable outcomes. • Be realistic and attainable. • Be stated positively. • Have specific completion deadlines.

36. Taking Action • Make things happen rather than waiting for something to happen. • Be persistent in achieving your goals. • Think long but act short. • Write down what you will do. Then do it.

37. Overcoming Barriers to Employment Success Part 4 Job Search Knowledge Barriers

38. Job Search Knowledge Barriers • Not knowing the best way to find a job. • Not knowing how to build a network. • Not knowing how to write a resume or cover letter. • Not knowing how to interview for employment. • Not knowing how to follow up.

39. Understanding the Job Market • There are two basic types of jobs you can look for: • Visible jobs: Those jobs that have been formally announced and advertised. • Hidden jobs: Those jobs that have not yet been announced or may not even be available yet.

40. The Visible Job Market Sources of visible job leads: • Newspaper want ads • Employment agencies • Chambers of Commerce • Libraries • State employment/job service offices

41. The Hidden Job Market Sources of hidden job leads: • Making direct contact with organizations • Networking • Informational interviewing

42. The Resume • A resume is an overview of the skills, experience, and education you have to offer. • A resume sets the stage for other aspects of your job search. • A resume should convince an employer to interview you.

43. Barriers in Writing Your Resume • Lack of experience • Problems with writing • Problems with the English language • Lack of computer skills • Lack of resources

44. Resumes Include • Identifying information • Job objective • Your education • Your work experience • Interests, Activities, and Honors • Accomplishments

45. Resume Checklist • Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. • Leave adequate margins on all sides. • Single space text. • Use bold, upper case, and underlining. • Use bullet points to highlight information. • Leave empty space for ease of reading. • Print on high quality paper.

46. The Cover Letter • A cover letter should be included with each resume you send. • A cover letter introduces your resume and emphasizes key points. • A cover letter entices employers to read your resume. • A cover letter should be customized to the job you are applying for.

47. Parts of a Cover Letter • Your address and date • Name and address of hiring authority • Salutation • Introductory paragraph • Summary of qualifications paragraph • Closing paragraph • Closing and signature

48. Filling out Employment Applications • Think before you write. • Attach a resume. • Read instructions carefully. • Always print neatly. • Watch your spelling. • Be honest.

49. Before the Interview • Review your strengths and accomplishments. • Research the organization. • Review common questions. • Prepare questions for the interviewer. • Prepare what you will wear. • Practice, practice, practice.

50. Tips for an Effective Interview • Maintain eye contact. • Be early. • Sell your skills and accomplishments. • Dress appropriately. • Provide examples of your experience. • Be positive and enthusiastic. • Remain clam. • Close the interview well.