Job Search Tools

1. LaWanda Woods, M.Ed., B.A. On-Ramp Program Coordinator Job Search Tools On-Ramp Program 2010

2. Workshop Objective To provide students with Ten Time Saving Tips to Speed Up Your Job Search On-Ramp Program 2010

3. #1: The “Be Prepared” Toolkit Email Address Instant Message Acronyms Answering Machine or Voicemail Resume Paper Resume Content Contact Organizer Keeping Track Appropriate Attire On-Ramp Program 2010

4. Email Address & IM Screen Names Make sure your email address is appropriate for Business use. Appropriate Email Address lwoods@jtcc.edu Inappropriate Email Address hotbabe@somewhere.com On-Ramp Program 2010

5. Acronyms Don’t use acronyms like “u” for you or “TTYL” for talk to you later, when communicating by email. It’s not professional. On-Ramp Program 2010

6. Answering Machine or Voicemail If you have a bizarre voicemail message the caller might decide not to leave a message. On-Ramp Program 2010

7. Resume Paper When sending paper resumes and cover letters, use good quality paper in a traditional color. White or beige is best! On-Ramp Program 2010

8. Resume Content Your resume needs to include contact information as well as work history and skills. PROOF your resume to verify the phone number, email address and other information is accurate. On-Ramp Program 2010

9. Contact Organizer • Set up a directory on your hard drive for job searching. Include copies of all the cover letters you send. • Set up a folder for job searching in your email client. • Use appointment book, notebook, or online organizer to keep track of interviews & follow-up emails. On-Ramp Program 2010

10. Keeping Track Maybe “Old Fashion” but, if writing everything down in a notebook works for you – DO IT! On-Ramp Program 2010

11. Appropriate Attire Add a conservative business suit, traditional shirt or blouse and moderate shoes to your toolkit. On-Ramp Program 2010

12. #2: Be More Than Prepared Always have an up-to-date resume ready to send – even if you’re not currently looking for work. You never know when an opportunity that is too good to pass up might come along! On-Ramp Program 2010

13. #3: Don’t Wait If you are laid-off, file for unemployment benefits right away. On-Ramp Program 2010

14. #4: Get Help Virginia Education Wizard On-Ramp Program 2010

15. #5: Create Your Own Template Have copies of your resume and cover letter ready to edit. That way you can change the content to match the requirements of the job you’re applying for, but, the contact information and your opening and closing paragraphs won’t need to be changed. On-Ramp Program 2010

16. #6: Use Job Search Engines Use Job Search Engine sites to search the major job banks, company sites, associations, and other site with job postings for you. On-Ramp Program 2010

17. #7: Jobs By Email Let the jobs come to you! Use job search agents to sign up and receive job listings by email. Job Alert! CareerBuilder Monster.com On-Ramp Program 2010

18. #8 Applying For A Job By Email • You don’t always get to apply for a job in person. Job postings often ask you for an email application. On-Ramp Program 2010

19. Type the name of the job posting in the subject line. For instance, if you are applying for a chemical engineering job, type "chemical engineer" in the subject line. Your email will stand out as the employer scans his inbox. Chemical Engineer On-Ramp Program 2010

20. Begin with a professional salutation. If you know the name of the person you are emailing, use that; or begin with "Dear Sir or Madam." On-Ramp Program 2010

21. Place your cover letter in the body of the e-mail. Make it short and to the point--two or three sentences that highlight your accomplishments and strengths. On-Ramp Program 2010

22. Sign the email with a signature that includes all of your contact information: your home and mobile phone numbers, home address and email address. Cynthia Smith 639 Finmore Road Chester, VA 23831 804-244-5813 Csmith@yahoo.com On-Ramp Program 2010

23. Read through the entire email to look for errors. Do not trust spell checking to make sure that your grammar and spelling are correct. Be sure you've used the professional tone a job application requires. Attach your resume to the email. Note that the resume is attached in the body of the email so the prospective employer doesn't miss it. A simple line such as "Please see resume, attached." will suffice. On-Ramp Program 2010

24. New Military Job Search Site www.EmployerPartnership.org On-Ramp Program 2010

25. Widgets, Gadgets & Tools On-Ramp Program 2010

26. #9: Time Savers Resume posting services will post your resume to multiple job sites at once which can save you a lot of time. On-Ramp Program 2010

27. Video Networking Sites LinkedIn is the top site for professional networking. Everyone who is job searching or building their career should have a presence on Linked in. Here are tips on how to get started on LinkedIn and to use it to network your way to a new job. Facebook is not only great for connecting with family and friends; it can also be used for job searching and networking. See how it's done. On-Ramp Program 2010

28. #10: Reference Ready Have a list of three reference including the name, job title, company, phone number and email address ready to give to interviewers. REFERENCES Ms. Jill Scott, Bookkeeper ReDial Corporation (804) 999-4522 jscott@redail.com Mr. Clyde Jones, VP Audit Bank of Tyler (540) 222-5687 ClJones@BOT.com Mrs. Ethel Past, Account Manager JobSearch.com (804) 452-8922 PastE@JobSearch.com On-Ramp Program 2010

29. #11: Use Your Network A lot of jobs are NOT advertised. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Ask if they can help. On-Ramp Program 2010