Transcript Helping a Library User Look for Work Instructor: Dana Lee [email protected] An Infopeople Workshop Fall 2003

Helping a Library User
Look for Work
Instructor:
Dana Lee
[email protected]
An Infopeople Workshop
Fall 2003
This Workshop Is Brought To You
By The Infopeople Project
Infopeople is a federally-funded grant
project supported by the California State
Library. It provides a wide variety of
training to California libraries. Infopeople
workshops are offered around the state
and are open registration on a first-come,
first-served basis.
For a complete list of workshops, and for
other information about the Project, go to
the Infopeople Web site at infopeople.org.
Introductions
• Tell us your name and the branch where
you work
• Please share with the group what you
consider to be the most humorous or
bizarre incident you experienced using
the Internet to help a job seeking patron
or what you would like to learn most.
Workshop Overview
• Determining a patron’s readiness
• Benefits of job searching on the Internet
• The job search process
• Resources to prepare
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Assessments
Careers
Salaries
Resumes and Letters (cover, thank you etc.)
Networking online
• Finding job openings using the Internet
Installing Bookmarks
• Put your disk in the A:\ drive
• Double-click on My Computer on your desktop
• Double-click on 3½ Floppy A:\
• Double-click on the class bookmark file
– The file should open in Internet Explorer
• If it does not, please open IE and use the File/Open
sequence to get to the file on the floppy disk
• With the class bookmark file showing in Internet
Explorer, click the Favorites menu, choose Add
to Favorites…
• Notice the name in the Name: box so that you
can use the Favorites list to get back to the class
bookmarks.
What Are Some of the Issues &
Feelings Job Seekers Bring
With Them?
• Emotional
• Identity
• Financial
• Fear of technology
What Are the Benefits of Using
the Internet to Find a Job?
• Internet is continually expanding
• Information is available 24/7
• Free access to information and valuable
resources
• Broad geographic outreach
• Networking tool
• Keyword searches allow faster searches
of numerous resources
• Allows for free resume posting
What questions would you
ask a job seeker to
determine how prepared
the patron is for the job
search process?
The Job Search Process
• Stage 1:
Looking for clarity -self assessment
Getting
the job
• Stage 2:
Matching interests, skills,
and personality to the
workplace
• Stage 3:
Getting the job
Stage 1: Looking For Clarity
A job seeker is asking
for clarity:
• Who am I?
• What do I want to do?
• What are my skills, values &
qualifications?
• What type of work do I want
to do that makes me happy?
• Which companies would hire
a person with my skills and
interests?
Exploring: Personality, Skills &
Interest Assessments (Stage 1)
1.
WHAT - skills, knowledge, values and
abilities
2.
WHERE - ideal working conditions/
situations
3.
WHO - define who you want to work for
and with
4.
WHY - defining purpose and rewards of
the type of work sought
"There is more in us than we
know. If we can be made to
see it, perhaps for the rest
of our lives, we will be
unwilling to settle for less."
~ Kurt Hahn
Stage 2: Matching Skills
A job seeker wants to
understand how their
interests, skills and
personality match the
workplace:
• How do I narrow my search?
• What types of jobs exist in
the workplace?
• Do the jobs match my skills
and interests?
• Who can I talk to in order
to confirm my findings?
Exploring Career Fields and
Vocational Areas (Stage 2)
• How do a job seeker’s skills & values fit
with the expressed field of interest?
• Is it a good match?
• Is there a need for additional education or
training?
Exploring Salary Resources
(Stage 2)
• How do you determine what a job is
really worth?
• How do you explore a patron's
financial needs?
• What is your approach vis-à-vis
"skills and salary" and "cost-of-living
adjustments"?
Stage 3: Getting the Job
A job seeker wants to
find their dream job:
• Which specific companies
and organizations match
my values and work ethic?
Getting
the job
• Which job openings match
my skills and interests?
• What specific resources
are available to help me
complete a job application?
• Interviewing Tips
Resume Formats
(Stage 2/3)
• Chronological resume
– Organized by job title with most recent job first
– Solid experience with logical job history
• Functional resume
– Organized by areas of skill and accomplishment
– Mixed bag of work history or career change(s)
• Plain text/ASCII/scannable resume
– Can be chronological or functional resume
– Formatted to be read well by an optical scanner
Why Is It Important to Use
Keywords in Your Resume?
Keywords are:
• The "buzzwords" used by insiders in a
profession or industry.
• The terms used to write job descriptions.
• The "scan" words head hunters use when
going through online resumes.
TIP: Be sure to include the word "resume"
in your resume.
What Are the Risks of Not
Protecting Your Privacy?
Stay Cyber-Safe
1. Placement: Where should you post
your resume?
2. Privacy: How public do you want your
information to be?
 Refer to this web site for information on
"How To Make Your Resume Cyber-Safe":
http://www.job-hunt.org/resumecybersafe.shtml
Job Search
Correspondence
(Stage 2/3)
• Cover letters
– Letter of Application
– Response to an Advertisement or a personal
referral letter
• Other types of job search letters
– Letter of Inquiry
– Thank you letters
– Acceptance and rejection letter
– Withdrawal letter
– Resignation letter
Job Search
Letter Writing Tips
(Stage 2/3)
• Always include a cover letter with a
resume or application
• Follow proper elements and letter format
• Convey a positive and professional image
• Tailor your correspondence specifically to
the individual, organization and/or position
you are seeking
"64% of the almost 7,500
people surveyed said they
found their new jobs through
networking."
~ 1999 Career Transition Study
by Drake Beam Morin
Networking Online
(Stage 2/3)
• Advantages and disadvantages to
networking online
• How to network on the Internet
– Newsgroups and message boards
– Mailing lists
– Posting a resume
Finding Job Openings
(Stage 3)
• Remember to go from the
general to the specific
• Review sites that reflect
interests identified in
assessments
Getting
the job
• Refine the target by
reviewing career fields and
vocations
• Check job boards by job titles
• Check professional & trade
associations and journals for
job listings
• Review company web sites
Summary
• Discussed the benefits of using the Internet to find
work
• Identified ways to assist patrons in preparing for the
job search process prior to starting the Internet job
search process
• Identified and practiced:
– using online resources to help patrons assess their
skills, identify careers, determine salaries, write
resumes (chronological, functional and plain text) and
cover letters
– using Internet resources to search and locate jobs
online
– Internet resources to network online