work search strategies

Getting OrientedDirection for the Unemployed

The experiences you have had and the choices you made have

brought you to this point. Getting somewhere else will require you to

make difference choices.

Finding Direction

“If you don’t know where you want to go, then it doesn’t

matter which path you take.”-Alice in Wonderland

Maintaining Your Focus

➔ When You are Unemployed Finding a Job IS Your Job◆ Maintain a Routine

● Wake Up When You Would Go to Work● Dress Professionally● Set Daily Task Goals● Set Weekly Employer Contact Goals

Taking Stock of Where You Are

➔ What Do You Do?◆ Is Your Field Stable?◆ Are Your Skills Adequate◆ Do You Need To Change?

➔ What Environment Do You Want to Work In?

➔ When Are You Available for Work?➔ What Salary Do You Expect?

Adjusting Your Map

➔ How Have Career Patterns Changed?➔ How Has the Labor Market in Western

NC Changed?➔ What Skills Do You Think Are Needed in

Today’s Job Market?

Planning Your Journey

➔ Where Do You Want to Work?

➔ What Will It Take To Get There?

Planning Your Journey: Marketing

➔ Resume◆ Your Sales Brochure-What Separates You From

Your Competition? ◆ Concise/Consistent◆ Relevant to the Job You Are Applying For◆ Specific- Stories Tell, Numbers Sell◆ Be Conservative

Planning Your Journey: Marketing

➔ Components of a Resume◆ Contact Information

● Address, Phone, Email◆ Employment History

● Reverse Chronological Order● Employer Name, Job Title and Duties

◆ Education History● Senior Degree/Diploma First● Name, Location and Course of Study

Developing Your Plan

➔ Make A List of Prospects➔ Work Your Network➔ Volunteer

Making Your Journey: Applications

➔ Make A Written List of Prospects➔ Maintain A Written Record

◆ Name/Date of Contact◆ Contact Information◆ Follow Up Actions

➔ Be Sure to Follow Application Directions

Making Your Journey: Interviews

➔ Research the Company➔ Know Where You’re Going➔ Arrive 10-15 Minutes Early➔ Dress Professionally ➔ Use the Restroom and Check

Appearance➔ Leave Cell Phone in Vehicle

Making Your Journey: Interviews

➔ Maintain Eye Contact and Upright Posture

➔ Speak Clearly with a Moderate Volume➔ Keep Notes ➔ Write Down Names and Contact

information for each Interviewer

Making Your Journey: Interviews

➔ Sell Your Skills and Abilities◆ Practice Interview Questions◆ Think Before Answering◆ It’s Okay not to Know

➔ Ask Questions◆ You Are Interviewing Them as Much as They

Are Interviewing You

Making Your Journey: Interviews

➔ Sample Questions◆ What is the Most Challenging Part of Working

Here?◆ What Have Past Employees Done to Succeed

In This Position?◆ What Skill Would Be Most Useful In This

Position?◆ What Do You Enjoy Most About Working Here?◆ What Does the Rest of the Interview Process

Look Like?◆ When Do You Expect to Make A Hiring

Decision?

Making Your Journey: Interviews

➔ What Not to Ask:◆ Salary ◆ Benefits◆ Vacation◆ Time Off

Making Your Journey: Follow Up

➔ Send a Handwritten Thank You Card◆ Send a Different Card to Each Interviewer◆ Mention Interview Specifically◆ Reiterate Interest◆ Mail Same Day As Possible

Next Steps

➔ Consider Meeting with a Career Coach➔ Attend a Workshop➔ Create a Professional Network➔ Have Your Resume Reviewed By a

Professional➔ Participate in a Mock Interview➔ What Is YOUR Next Step?

Questions?

NCWorks Career Center(828)265-5385