BUSINESS OFFICE TECHNOLOGY

Career Development

Information Unit: Career Development

LAP Title: Employment Procedures-Research Opportunities

LAP Number: CD-1

Prerequisite LAPs: KB-12

Performance Standards: 80%

Competencies: Identify sources for locating employment opportunities

Identify the guidelines for seeking employment

Evaluate personal characteristics as they relate to

success in the job market

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Name:____________________________________ Date Started:_______________ Date Completed:_______________

Canadian Valley Technology * 1401 Michigan Avenue * Chickasha, OK 73018

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

LAP CD-1Learning Steps

Instructions: Complete the steps below in order. Check off each step as you complete it.

_____ 1. READ: The Competencies on the cover of this LAP.

_____ 2. READ: Information Sheet #1, How to Conduct AnEffective Job Search, on pages 2-12.

_____ 3. STUDY: Want Ad Vocabulary, on page 13.

_____ 4. REQUEST: Permission, from your instructor, to do research in the Career Center.

_____ 5. READ: Information Sheet #2, Hidden Job Leads, But I Still Can't Find A Job!, on pages 14-16.

_____ 6. COMPLETE: Job Sheet # 1 and #2, on pages 17-20.

_____ 7. READ: Guidelines For Seeking Employment, on pages 21-22.

_____ 8. SUBMIT: Both Job Sheets to the instructor for evaluation. If both were evaluated acceptable, proceed to LAP 2.

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INFORMATION SHEET #1How To Conduct an Effective Job Search

How prepared are you for planning and conducting an effective job search? Successful job seekers must have both good information and well-developed job-hunting skills. Three important factors for a successful job search are an awareness of your goals and skills, an understanding of the labor market, and a well planned job search campaign.Experts recommend that you begin an active job search six to nine months in advance of your target employment date. You can begin the process by visiting the Career Center early (for students, nine months to a year before graduation).

The following six steps are used to conduct an effective job search.

STEP ONE

Begin with Self-Assessment

The job search process begins with an identification of your values, interests, skills, accomplishments, experience, and goals. How can you seek a position if you don't know what you want from a job and what you have to offer a prospective employer? Self-assessment, though a time-consuming process, provides invaluable information to facilitate career decisions and to prepare you to market your background effectively.

Values

An awareness of what you value in a career will aid you in exploring career goals and attaining greater satisfaction in your work.Review the following list of values and check those most important to you. Then rank your top five values in order of priority.

Job SecurityWorking as part of a teamChallenging, stimulating co-workersMaking a contributionProfessional statusMental challengePleasant surroundings

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Working independently with little supervisionDifferent task to accomplish dailyFinancial rewardsCreating somethingAbility to advance

Interests

Interests (areas that arouse your attention or enthusiasm) are closely related to values and frequently trigger skill development. You can identify interests by looking at enduring themes in your life-activities that persist over time, consistent choices, recurring dreams, or the way you spend your time. Try keeping a time-log or examining your most enjoyable times in-depth. If after doing so, you are still not clear about your interests or cannot rank them, consider meeting with a Career Center consultant or use the vocational guidance and testing services of the University Counseling Center.

Skills

A skill refers to something you do well, including handling problems or tasks. The key to your successful job search is recognizing these skills and communicating their usefulness verbally and in writing to a prospective employer. Use accomplishment statements to do so. They should:

Describe your skills in concise, unambiguous terms. Refer to actual experiences to demonstrate your skill level. Connect your skills concisely to the needs of a prospective employer.

Some of the most remarkable skills are those, which are useful in a wide variety of work environments. These are known as transferable skills. For example, the ability to write effectively, communicate verbally, and use word processing or database software are valued skills in the private as well as public sectors.

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STEP TWO

Research and Explore Career Options

The next step in the job search process is to explore the "matches" between your identified skills, interests, values, and the demands of career fields and organizations. Resource materials on occupations and employers, and informational interviews are two excellent tools for this search.

The best way to explore career options is to try out intended jobs through internships, cooperative education positions, part-time or summer jobs, or volunteer opportunities.

STEP THREE

Choose a Career Field, then Target Employers

After thoroughly researching possible careers/jobs, several field options will emerge as most realistic and attractive. These options should become your potential to utilize all your skills, allow you to develop all your interests, and incorporate a value system completely compatible with yours. Therefore, try to target a career field that will satisfy some of your high-priority needs. Other needs of less importance can perhaps be satisfied in your leisure time activities.

At this point, it is useful to get realistic feedback from experts in the field or career consultants to determine if your assessment is realistic. A meeting or two with a Career Center consultant is strongly encouraged to discuss your analysis and decisions. During this or any other part of your job search, expect to use the resources of the Career Center frequently. Good research on employers will not only give you the competitive edge, but also help you decide which strategies you will use to contact them.

STEP FOUR

Prepare Job Search Materials and Develop Job Search Skills

Once your job goals have been targeted, resumes and application letters can be tailored to reflect your qualifications as they relate to the interests of prospective employers.

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While most job applicants are well aware of the need for well-prepared resumes and cover letters, many do not realize the need to spend an equal amount of time mastering job search skills necessary to be effective in today's market. Learning which job search strategies are productive, how to interview effectively, how to market yourself well, and how to handle salary issues once an offer is made may be the subjects of regularly scheduled workshops offered by your Career Center. See your Career Center for more information.

STEP FIVE

Plan and Conduct Job Search Campaign

Establish a target date for getting a job and decide how much time you can devote to your search. Some individuals believe they cannot afford to take time from their studies or a demanding job. Others procrastinate. Whatever the reasons, the results are the same--your search will languish and you may miss out on industry hiring cycles and job opportunities. So get organized early by setting aside a certain amount of time each week to work on your search. Use a calendar and weekly planner and work backward from your target date.

The greater number of contacts and interviews a job seeker has, the greater the number of job offers. Therefore, it makes sense to use multiple strategies.

A. Pursue Advertised Vacancies

The most commonly used job search technique is to respond to advertised vacancies, both in print and electronically. Sources of vacancies include:

JOBTRAK/Career Center job listings. Campus interviews. Newsletters from trade or professional associations. Personnel department postings and phone lines. Employment services and agencies run by government and for-profit

business (see A Guide for Working with Employment Agencies.)

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Finding Job Leads--The Visible Job Market

The visible job market includes only the jobs that are advertised, posted, or otherwise made available to the general public. These jobs makeup just 15 percent of all the actual job openings.

When you are ready to look for an office position, how will you find one? Possibly, you will visit an employment agency. A friend may tell you of a possible job vacancy. You may even take a civil service test. In all probability, however, you will begin your search for employment by reading the classified newspaper advertisements.

Want Ads

1. Position title: Classified advertisements are usually listed alphabetically by job title. To save space, the title may be abbreviated. Some of the titles of officepositions, which may interest you, are:

Recpt. ReceptionistSecy. SecretaryW.P. Word Processor

2. Qualifications: Skills or experience, which you must have in order to apply for the job.

Skls. 90/60 This means that you must have the skills to record shorthand at 90 words per minute and to typewrite at 60 words per minute.

Dict. Exp. This indicates that you should have experience in operating a transcription machine.

3. Salary Offered: This dollar amount usually represents weekly earnings or yearly salary before deductions.

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4. Instructions: Every advertisement will tell you how to obtain more information about the position. Examples of an advertisement are:

Send resume to: Personnel, Emony King Advertising @ 300 Madison Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202-1866.

Call: 555-1430 or visit B. Rush @ Careers Inc., 229 Main Street, Chicago, IL 62521-2209.

Call: Mrs. Morley @ 555-1430.

Unfortunately, the most popular method for locating positions, responding to advertised vacancies, is not the most effective. According to an article in the Harvard Business Review, nearly 80 percent of the openings available at any one time are never advertised. Job seekers should respond to employment ads, but the main thrust of your efforts should be toward establishing networks and identifying the hidden job market. (See How to Develop Opportunities Through Networking.)

To increase the odds of your success in responding to advertised vacancies, by telephone or letter, keep these tips in mind:

Do not waste time responding to long shots. Use your cover letter to answer every requirement in the

advertisement. Personalize your response as much as possible. Direct your materials

to specific individuals, not "To Whom It May Concern", or "Dear Madam/Sir," unless the advertisements are blind newspaper ads (names of organization withheld). A quick phone call can provide appropriate names. In a blind ad, address your letter to a specific position title, (e.g., Dear "Marketing Manager").

Try to contact or write to the manager who will make the final hiring decision as well as the personnel representative named in the advertisements. For more information, see the section on Cover Letters and Related Job Search Correspondence.

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B. Develop a Contact Network

Once you have targeted a career or specific position, you should acquaint yourself with professionals in that field or organization. These professionals offer you an insider's view and can constitute your contact network, which can open doors that might otherwise remain closed. Your network can also consist of family members, friends, classmates, professors, and electronic discussion groups.

C. Contact Employers Directly

There are several methods and combinations of methods that can be utilized to contact employers directly.

1. Send a letter of application and your resume to the Human Resources department or specific managers. This direct contact method is most successful for candidates in high-demand fields (e.g., engineering and computer science). The success of this method is greatly increased when letters are followed up by phone calls, which may result in an invitation to visit the employer.

2. Contact managers in organizations by phone or letter to request an appointment to discuss the information you have obtained by reading annual reports, trade literature, etc. For example: "I understand XYZ is planning to expand its foreign market. I am completing an international business degree and am very interested in this expansion. It seems a very progressive move. May I have 20 minutes of your time to discuss it?" Indicate your desire to meet with them even if they have no positions currently available in their department. Some job seekers find it useful to state that they will be looking for jobs in the near future, but are now just gathering information about organizations. Do not expect to be interviewed for a job at this juncture.

3. During your appointments with department managers, emphasize your knowledge and interest in their organization.

4. Always follow up all interviews with thank-you letters, phone calls, and when appropriate, resumes that have been revised based on information and suggestions provided by managers.

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5. Even if managers have no positions available, once they have had a personal interaction with you, they may think of you the next time they have, or hear of, an appropriate opening. It is critical to stay in touch with these managers, at least on a bi-monthly basis.

6. Many job seekers have used informational interviewing to create new positions by identifying organizational needs (through the interview, research, etc.) and proposing these needs to be filled with their own skills.

D. Follow-up and Record Keeping

No matter what job search strategies you choose, follow-up and record keeping are important for success. Maintain a careful record of all interviews, thank-you notes sent, referrals made, and follow-up actions. Job seekers who fail to maintain this information often lose valuable contacts as well as credibility with prospective employers. There are models for keeping such records in the various job search manuals in the Resource Room.

E. Be Persistent

Job searching is hard work and there are times when you will get discouraged. But if you keep up with it, you can avoid feeling anxious and will actually have more energy. If your search is not producing the results that you would like, avoid blaming yourself and try a new strategy. Do not be reluctant to submit your credentials on more than one occasion to an organization for which you would like to work. This attitude demonstrates your enthusiasm and interest.

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What Will It cost to Work at This Job?

Often people overlook the costs that are associated with being employed. It may help you to estimate your weekly expenses before you make a decision about a job.

Estimated weekly expenses for:

Transportation $__________

Lunches $__________

Clothing $__________

Child Care $__________

What is Important to You in a Job?

Take home pay and benefits may be only part of what you want from a job. Think through other things you consider important in a job.What were the most rewarding things you have felt about any job you have ever done?

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Do you see job security as important?Do you need recognition for your work?How important to you is an opportunity to advance?Are you more interested in good wages, friendly co-workers, pleasant working conditions or interesting work?

Employment Agencies and Placement Programs

Over two-thirds of all job seekers use an employment agency or a placement program in their job search. But only 15 percent actually find a job with this method. (Actually, friends and relatives are more helpful than employment agencies. Twenty-five percent of all jobs are obtained through friends and relatives.)

There are times when using an employment agency makes sense. But it is important that you understand what they can and cannot do.

1. Only six percent of all job seekers obtain jobs through private agencies.

2. Rapid turnover is important to these agencies, so they rarely spend too much time with any one job seeker.

3. An agency's business comes from employers. This means the emphasis is on helping the employer rather than the job seeker.

4. Many agencies specialize in filling entry-level job openings, others specialize in professional and technical openings.

5. Agencies charge fees ranging from 7 to 15 percent of the job seekers first year pay.

State Employment Services

The best reason to use a state employment service is that it's free! State employment offices do not charge fees. The offices have different names in different states.

A common name is Employment Security and Job Services. For an address, look in the Yellow Pages of your phone book under the name of your state. Go to the closest state office and register for work. However, don't make this your only source of job leads.

1. Only about 5 percent of job seekers get their jobs through state services.

2. In most cases, the offices know of only 5 percent of the available jobs.3. Since over one-third of all job seekers register, competition is fierce.

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4. Many of the placements made by state services are not successful. Nearly 60 percent of the job seekers leave these jobs within thirty days.

If you use the state agency, visit the office regularly. Try to see the same counselor each time. Seeing the same person shows your patience and persistence.

School Placement Centers

School placement centers represent about 3 percent of all jobs obtained. These centers are used by about 10 percent of all job seekers. If you have been or are now a student of a school with a placement service, you should be eligible for the service. These placement centers operate much the same way as your local state employment service.

Government Employment

Other sources of job leads are the federal, state, and local government. Many people are employed by these agencies. To find leads for government jobs, you must first find the personnel or employment office for the various levels of government. Then visit these offices. Usually these offices will have job descriptions for the jobs currently available. You may be asked to take a test, such as a civil-service exam or merit test. Sign up for and take all the tests that apply to you. You will probably be put on a list of job seekers in your category. When your name reaches the top of the list, you will be called for an interview. If you apply for a government job, don't expect an offer right away. Be prepared to wait. Don't overlook this source, but spend only a small part of your time on it.

Don't expect ANY agency to GIVE you a job! An agency may provide you with job leads but it will be YOU who finds the job!

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WANT AD VOCABULARY

advt. advertising incl. includingaft. afternoon ind. industriala.m. morning jr. juniorans. answer lic. licenseappt. appointment lt. lightasst. assistant ` mach. machineattr. attractive maint. maintenancebet. between manuf. manufacturingbgn. begin/beginning mech. mechanic/mechanicalbldg. building med. medicalbus. business mgr. managerclk. clerk mo. monthco. company nec. necessarycol. college op. operate/operatorcomm. commission ofc. officeconsrt. construction oppty. opportunitycorp. corporation pd. paiddept. department p.m. afternoon/eveningdir. director p.t. part timediv. division perm. permanentdriv. lic. driver's license ph. phoneelec. electric pref. preferempl. employment rel. reliableequip. equipment refs. referencesetc. and so on req. require& and sal., sals. salary/salariesevg. evenings secy. secretaryexc. excellent sh., shhd. shorthandexp., expd. experience/experienced sr. seniorext. extension st. streetfut. future temp. temporarygd. good trans. transportationgenl. general trnee. traineehosp. hospital typ. typing/typisthq. headquarters UW underwriterhr., hrly. hour/hourly wk. week/workH.S. high school wkr. workerhskpr. houskeeper wkly. weeklyhvy. heavy wpm. words per minute

yr. yearly

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INFORMATION SHEET #2Hidden Job Leads But I Still Can't Find A Job!!!!

Too many people look only at the visible job leads. Newspaper advertisements, employment agencies, and others make these jobs known to the general public. Relying on these visible job leads alone can sometimes be less than rewarding. Many of these jobs offer little pay. Others demand special skills, which you may be unlikely to have. Visible jobs also create lots of competition because so many job seekers know about the. The belief that there are few job openings persists because just 15 percent of all available jobs are ever made visible. This means that if you rely just on visible job leads you will only be aware of 1 out of every 6.6 jobs! The hidden job market refers to unadvertised jobs. For various reasons, many employers may not wish to spend money on advertising; others do not want to interview countless applicants who may answer the Help Wanted sections of the newspaper. Jobs do exist. Even in very bad times, there are at least one million job openings each month in the United States. You should concentrate on the "hidden" jobs rather than the visible ones.

1. There are far more hidden jobs than visible jobs from which to choose.

2. There is less competition for the hidden jobs.3. You are more likely to find the job you want and can do the best in the

"hidden job market."

Source of Hidden Jobs

1. The yellow pages2. The Chamber of Commerce3. The public library4. Friends, relatives, and acquaintances5. Temporary Help Agencies

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Finding Hidden Jobs

1. Yellow Pages

The Yellow Pages can provide thousands of job leads. How much they will help you will depend on the job you want. Where you want to work and your dedication in researching the Yellow Pages are also factors.

2. The Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce is an association whose purpose is to improve business in a community. Your local Chamber of Commerce can be a good source of information on companies in your community that might need someone with your skills.

3. The Public Library

The library is a valuable source for job leads that many job seekers often overlook. Some materials at a public library that may help you in your job search are:

a. Telephone directories for your own state as well as other states throughout the United States.

b. Local, state, and national newspapers.c. Professional and trade magazines and journals.

4. Friends, Relatives, and Acquaintances

Friends, relatives, and acquaintances need not locate actual job openings for you, but they can inform you of employers who need people with your special skills. Your friends and relatives may know other people who do your kind of work. These other people may know employers who could hire you. More than one out of every four jobs is obtained by this method!

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5. Temporary Help Agencies

Temporary Help Agencies hire people to do temporary jobs that can last from one day to one year. This sort of work can be a good source of useful information and job leads. Because of positions you are looking for, you will be able to learn from employers and employees about possible job opportunities in your field.

Finding Jobs on the Hidden Market

Most people think they should start their job search in a personnel office. However, if you just walk into a personnel office, you are not likely to talk with the person who can hire your. The personnel staff usually does not hire anyone. These people just screen and refer people for interviews. People on the personnel staff do not know of jobs about to open. This means that unless a job opening is already known, the personnel office is not the place to look for a "hidden" job. Use the telephone--call companies in which you are interested and ask to speak to the person in charge of the job you want. Explain why you are calling and ask for an interview.

Job Leads--Putting the Methods to Use

To search effectively for jobs, you can see by now that you will have to use more than one method in your job search. You also need to use your time wisely. This means spending more time with those methods that have worked well for other job seekers. The following lists shows how effective the different methods are:

Applying directly to the employer 35% Asking friends and relatives for help 26% Responding to want ads 14% State Employment Service 5% School Placement Services 6% All other methods 13%

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JOB SHEET #1

Instructions: Choose at least 4 of the following places in your local area and research the job opportunities available. Record this information on the lines provided.

1. Teachers and counselors at your school2. A school placement office3. State employment agency4. Private employment agency5. Newspaper advertisement6. Friends and relatives7. Internet

1. Source_____________________________________________________

Information____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

2. Source_____________________________________________________

Information____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

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3. Source______________________________________________________________

Information____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

4. Source_____________________________________________________

Information____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Instructions: From the information you have obtained, choose one business where you would like to apply and research the following information. Write this information on the lines provided.

Name of Business_______________________________________________

Address of Business____________________________________________

Telephone Number______________________________________________

Kind of Business_______________________________________________

Type of Service or Product Sold___________________________________

New or Established Business______________________________________

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Owned (locally or chain)_________________________________________

Progressive or Expanding_________________________________________

Individual to Contact for interview_________________________________

Other_________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

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Job Sheet #2

Instructions: Clip 2-3 advertisements from the "Help Wanted" section of your local newspaper. You can use the Internet to access our local newspaper, cut and paste these clippings in the space provided. Choose the one that interests you most and state your reason on the lines provided.

Reason for choice_______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

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Guidelines for Seeking Employment

1. Be persistent--avoid unrealistically high expectations which, when unfulfilled, lead to disappointment and discouragement.

2. Spread the word among friends, relatives, previous employers and others, that you are seeking work. Don't be ashamed of being unemployed.

3. Be willing to accept employment that is less than ideal (pays less than needed, part-time rather than full-time, etc.) These jobs can lead to more acceptable employment.

4. Become aware of openings for state, federal, city, and county employment and keep updated applications on file. Also, take Merit System exams for jobs for which you are qualified. Most Oklahoma Merit System exams are given at Employment Security Commission Offices throughout the state.

5. Consider the task of seeking employment to be a "job" which you are working on--either on a full-time or part-time basis. Schedule and plan your job search activities and set concrete goals to be accomplished at the end of the day.

6. Utilize libraries as employment resources (newspapers, "how-to" books, etc.).

7. Review newspapers on a regular basis. (Be cautious of ads which require payment for job information, or which offer glamour jobs, work-at-home jobs, telephone solicitations, etc.)

8. Utilize private employment agencies with caution. Be aware of exact financial obligations--don't take undesirable jobs.

9. Take advantage of job search classes and seminars being offered by local educational institutions.

10.If personal financial problems are present, contact creditors to explain your circumstances and set up alternative payment plans.

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11.File applications with temporary employment services. (Manpower, Kelly Girls, etc.).

12.Keep potential employers up-to-date on your current address, phone number, and availability. If you have no telephone, contact potential employers periodically to check on employment possibilities and let them know you are still interested.

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