| Life may have changed for you recently. You | | | | have a broader knowledge of yourself and abilities |
| may have found yourself caring for your aging | | | | and of what jobs are available. You will have a |
| parents and your current job doesn't offer the | | | | better knowledge of types of jobs you want to |
| flexibility or income you need to make it all work. | | | | consider and what skills/abilities are needed and |
| Perhaps you even need to move to a whole new | | | | you want to do. Do you have a timeframe that |
| area, State or Country in order to care for your | | | | you are working within? Such as, I will have a |
| parents and will need to find work in the new | | | | new job within 3 months - and if you don't what |
| location. So what do you do in today's economy | | | | happens. If you are unemployed, what is your |
| of layoffs, high unemployment and lack of | | | | plan? Will you take any job in the meantime and |
| employment options? | | | | then still look for what you really want, or will you |
| I have worked with hundreds of people all looking | | | | set a date that you can hold out until while trying |
| for employment or a change of employment and | | | | to find the job you want. Can you do temp work |
| here are my Three Successful Steps to Career | | | | (through an agency) that at least gives you some |
| Change. | | | | income in the mean time and, yet, may also give |
| 1. Know Thyself: | | | | you additional skills and a reference. Are you willing |
| You will need to take an inventory of what your | | | | to move to where there are more jobs? Do you |
| employment skills are, your personal skills, hobbies, | | | | need to get additional training or education to |
| education, preferences in a work place, any | | | | qualify for the types of jobs your want and if so, |
| physical or emotional obstacles, transferable skills, | | | | how are you going to make that happen. |
| what you want, what you need, what you need | | | | If you need more skills but can't afford traditional |
| in order to be able to care for your aging parents, | | | | educational options such as college, seriously think |
| what will you 'settle' for and your timeframe for | | | | about volunteering or apprenticing at a place |
| completion.a. Employment skills are actually any | | | | where you would gain the skills you need, plus |
| skills you have that could be used in some type | | | | you'll end up with a reference source or possibly |
| of job. These include the type of skills you have | | | | even a job. Start putting together your resume |
| gained in a job, such as a job in production you | | | | and narrow down what jobs you want to apply |
| may have gained skills in quality assurance, | | | | for. Utilize the staff at the Career Center in fine |
| machinery operation, order filling, ability to keep | | | | tuning your resume, keep it brief and focus on |
| paperwork, ability to work with a variety of | | | | your skills and how they apply to the job you are |
| people effectively, describe any mathematics you | | | | applying for. Don't assume that because the title |
| do, machinery repair, responsibilities, time or labor | | | | of your job at one employer will mean the same |
| saving activities you instigated, etc. | | | | duties or skills to the new prospective employer.b. |
| You also need to look at the skills you have | | | | Once you have your target group of employers |
| gained over the entire course of your work | | | | and your resumes done, then you hit the job trail |
| history. For instance, I had waitressed and | | | | hard. Actually, if you are unemployed, since the |
| hostessed for 2 years - skills gained were handling | | | | day after you lost your job, you should be |
| money, able to process credit payments, cashing | | | | spending the 40 hrs a week that you had been |
| in/out of cash drawer, customer service, able to | | | | working on finding a new job... no less, it will just |
| work with a variety of people effectively, quality | | | | delay getting that next job. Remember to explore |
| assurance, had training in dining etiquette and food | | | | with friends and family if their employers are |
| wine pairing, knowledge of running a commercial | | | | hiring or if they hear of any jobs you might be |
| kitchen, supervise a variety of staff, responsible | | | | interested in, to let you know. It will help if you |
| for closing of establishment, employee | | | | give your friends and family a summary of your |
| management, etc. This was when I was 19-21 | | | | skills/education/preferences, as they will unlikely |
| years old, but those skills learned way back then, | | | | already know the full extent of what you can do. |
| can definitely be added to what I do now, even | | | | Ask them to spread the word and you just may |
| though my last 20+ years of work have been | | | | work sooner than you think. Hand delivering |
| vastly different. Make a complete list of all of | | | | resumes and getting to know the Human |
| your skills and then group them into categories | | | | Resource Manager at a prospective employer's |
| and put some idea of how long you did them | | | | company is great but the next best thing is the |
| (you'll be surprised at how quickly you will have a | | | | clerical staff. The clerical staff can tell you when |
| large list, the variety yet how well they will fit into | | | | and which openings might be coming up and |
| groups and when you tally up the time - you look | | | | when, they can tell you who you should 'really' |
| impressive). Have someone else go over your list | | | | talk to, they can answer questions about how |
| or work with you on it...it helps to get different | | | | great (or not) an employer is and they have the |
| perspectives and wordings. Often we forget the | | | | capacity of often getting you an appointment. |
| duties and actual skills we used in a job and having | | | | Personality counts as well as persistence. When it |
| someone else there often helps bring those out.b. | | | | seems all you are getting are refusal letters or |
| Don't forget skills you have from hobbies and any | | | | not hearing back at all...remember, the more 'no's' |
| volunteer work you have done. You already know | | | | you get, the closer to 'yes' you are.c. While you |
| to add ALL of your education in as well. | | | | are implementing your plan, one area to focus on |
| Remember my waitress/hostess example, I not | | | | is your interviewing skills. Apply for some jobs |
| only had high school (Business, Accounting, College | | | | that you are not qualified for and some that you |
| Prep.) but also got some training at work that | | | | don't want and go through the interviews. These |
| counts.c. What used to be called the Job Service | | | | are real and will help improve your skills in a real |
| is usually called Career Center now and these | | | | situation vs. role playing. You only have to worry |
| have a great variety of tools that you have | | | | if you are offered a job, then you decide |
| access to for free. They include: use of | | | | whether to say 'yes' or 'no', otherwise...bone up on |
| computers to find jobs, write resumes and cover | | | | your interviewing skills because often that is what |
| letters, limited number of free stationary sheets | | | | determines who gets the job. Never be afraid to |
| and envelopes for resumes, free phone calls to | | | | say that you really want a particular job either |
| employers and the use of a copier. Some of the | | | | and describe why but don't sound desperate. |
| most valuable tools you should use are: take all | | | | Impress with your organizational skills by having 5 |
| the testing (almost all of them are done on the | | | | copies of your resume, references and other |
| computer and you do not have to be computer | | | | material with you at interviews, show and say |
| literate to do them, staff will help you get set-up) | | | | your motivation and why you really want to work |
| they have available on skills, career interests, etc. | | | | for that company, be willing to commit to them, |
| and staff will help you go over the results. You go | | | | attend the interview prepared mentally, verbally |
| at your own pace and some parts may be timed | | | | (well thought out and delivered) and your attire. |
| - it's actually fun). | | | | Never be late, show your personality, creativity, |
| By really getting a good idea of wording, what | | | | and how valuable you are (you are supposed to |
| skills you have and are lacking for different types | | | | 'toot' your own horn!). Provide a follow-up letter |
| of jobs, getting a better idea of what your | | | | thanking for the interview and hoping to hear |
| interests may be and a broader view of what | | | | back. If you don't get the job, try to get |
| types of jobs are out there (and what the | | | | feedback on why you didn't so you can use this |
| requirements are and what the demand for them | | | | to improve on your job search. |
| are) is crucial for a quality successful career | | | | 3. Success: |
| change. Look for pamphlets put out regularly that | | | | If you closely followed #1-2, you are very likely |
| cover what jobs are 'hot' and what employment | | | | working or getting very close to it. Some key |
| trends are in your area and nationally. The Career | | | | points to remember. If you are already working |
| Center even offers training for some and | | | | and looking for a new job...do not quit your job |
| employers often utilize the Career Center for | | | | until you have the new job. Another common |
| posting jobs (this is an inexpensive way for the | | | | mistake is that people change jobs without really |
| company vs. ads in the paper and often a lot of | | | | looking at the long-term view. How will I benefit in |
| 'weeding' of applicants has occurred just by the | | | | the long-term from changing the job? Your |
| fact that the people knowing about the opening is | | | | answers should reflect that the new job will offer |
| occurring in a place motivated people are already | | | | gaining new or expanding existing skills, or that the |
| at that want to work).d. You need to assess | | | | new job puts you in a more secure position, that |
| yourself, so that a job will fit you and allow you | | | | the new job allows for advancement that the old |
| to be happy and good at what you do. Think | | | | one didn't, that the new job may pay for |
| about jobs: do you prefer to work with a few | | | | additional training (in-house or college) that the old |
| other people or by-yourself? Do you have any | | | | job didn't and that you can use the new job as a |
| problems or preferences with loud noises, sounds, | | | | stepping stone. Just changing jobs because it may |
| smells, lighting, confined areas, open areas, | | | | pay better is not often the best move. A lateral |
| working around dangerous equipment, doing | | | | change is never a wise idea unless you can't find |
| dangerous tasks, getting dirty, shift work, do you | | | | a stepping stone job, or you will gain health |
| want to work with customers, work requiring | | | | insurance benefits, or you just couldn't work for |
| travel, multi-task or only a few tasks, supervising | | | | the old employer for some serious reason. |
| others, being supervised, quality assurance, fast | | | | If you follow all three steps through your working |
| paced or slower, a lot of walking or standing still, | | | | life, you will get ahead professionally but usually |
| use of hands and arms - rapid use, repetitive, | | | | end up excelling at what you do because you are |
| using force/strength, reaching, grabbing, dexterity, | | | | doing what you are good at and you are more |
| sensitivity, working inside or out, etc. By knowing | | | | likely to be happy. I'd rather make less money |
| yourself in relation to these, it will help you steer | | | | and love my job than earn more but can't stand |
| away from jobs that would require you to do | | | | going to work every day. |
| things that either you are not good at or do not | | | | There is a wealth of information available for |
| want to do and thus you will be more successful | | | | purchase to help with job searches and career |
| and happy. | | | | changes, but all that you need may be found for |
| 2. Devising the Plan:a. You will have a great deal of | | | | free at places like the Career Center or searching |
| information from completing step #1 and that is | | | | on the web. |
| very important. You will have groups of skills; | | | | |