Assess your work values, interests,abilities & skills, personality,long-termcareer goals.

Create an career SWOT analysis

Explore occupations businesses, and industries found in the San Diego.

Learn about the local labor market.

Evaluate options, make decisions, develop a strategy for achieving your short and long term career goals.

Create a Plan A.

Take action!

Acquire skills, education, training and/or conduct a job search campaign .

Career Change Career Change StepsSteps

Career Change Career Change StepsSteps

Your reputation that you Your reputation that you develop develop in writing, in person, online and in writing, in person, online and word-of-mouthword-of-mouth

It’s not just about ability…it’s It’s not just about ability…it’s about about likeability likeability

It’s also about employabilityIt’s also about employability

1.1.Is a marketing toolIs a marketing tool2.2.Is about the job hunter/not work Is about the job hunter/not work historyhistory

3.3.Focuses on the future/not the pastFocuses on the future/not the past4.4.Focuses on achievement/not job Focuses on achievement/not job descriptionsdescriptions

5.5.Documents and prioritizes skills that Documents and prioritizes skills that job hunter enjoys using/not abilitiesjob hunter enjoys using/not abilities

*Yana Parker, Resume Pro

Customize it for each and every Customize it for each and every jobjob

It must be concise and preciseIt must be concise and precise Include recent and relevant Include recent and relevant experiencesexperiences

Prioritize skills in order of valuePrioritize skills in order of value Choose the appropriate format for Choose the appropriate format for your situationyour situation

Can you do the job: Hard Skills Soft SkillsTransferability of Skills

Do you fit in: PersonalityAttitudeInterest

Can you be counted on: ReliabilityGoal OrientedCommitted

Do you want to be there: MotivationEnergy LevelWork Ethic

What Employers WantWhat Employers WantWhat Employers WantWhat Employers Want

Conduct a skills-scan of employer’s Conduct a skills-scan of employer’s needs…needs…

Job Job Specific Specific HARD HARD SkillsSkills

Applied LifeApplied LifeSOFT SkillsSOFT Skills

Portable & Portable & RelevantRelevantTRANSFERABLE TRANSFERABLE SkillsSkills

==&&

Understanding skills…Understanding skills…Understanding skills…Understanding skills…

SOFTSOFT

SKILLSKILL

SSLife / s

elf-management sk

ills

Life / self-m

anagement skills

Commitment to life-long learning Commitment to life-long learning Problem solving skills Problem solving skills Customer service skillsCustomer service skills Ability to think creatively Ability to think creatively Ability to keep current with changing Ability to keep current with changing technologies technologies Ability to work as a member of the a Ability to work as a member of the a teamteam Ability to work across teams Ability to work across teams Motivational skills Motivational skills Knowledge of various cultural Knowledge of various cultural backgrounds backgrounds Ability to perform detailed and Ability to perform detailed and accurate work accurate work

Local employers want…Local employers want…Local employers want…Local employers want…

Verbal and written communication skills Verbal and written communication skills Interpersonal skills Interpersonal skills Ability to work independently Ability to work independently Multi-tasking skills Multi-tasking skills Ability to prioritize multiple projects Ability to prioritize multiple projects Organizational/project management skills Organizational/project management skills Analytical skills Analytical skills Ability to follow verbal and written directionsAbility to follow verbal and written directions Knowledge of business writing proceduresKnowledge of business writing procedures Ability to keep accurate records Ability to keep accurate records Ability to meet deadlines and work under Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure pressure Ability to manage diverse workforce including Ability to manage diverse workforce including youth youth

……and they want more…and they want more………and they want more…and they want more…

1.1. Creativity and InnovationCreativity and Innovation2.2. Valuing DiversityValuing Diversity3.3. Navigating TechnologyNavigating Technology4.4. Effective ListeningEffective Listening5.5. Verbal CommunicationVerbal Communication6.6. Employability: time management, Employability: time management,

organizational skills, attitudes, conflict organizational skills, attitudes, conflict resolution.resolution.

7.7. Service OrientationService Orientation8.8. Interpersonal Skills for Building TeamInterpersonal Skills for Building Teamworkwork

What CA Employers Want...What CA Employers Want...

1.1. Deal making and meeting skillsDeal making and meeting skills2.2. Great communication skillsGreat communication skills3.3. A sixth sense about projectsA sixth sense about projects4.4. Ergonomic sensitivityErgonomic sensitivity5.5. Great team playerGreat team player6.6. Political smartsPolitical smarts7.7. Teaching, mentoring and knowledge Teaching, mentoring and knowledge

sharingsharing8.8. Resolving “gray” issuesResolving “gray” issues9.9. Vendor managementVendor management10.10.Contract negotiationContract negotiation

10 highly valued soft skills for I.T. pro’s...10 highly valued soft skills for I.T. pro’s...By Mary Shacklett, www.techrepublic.com

HARDHARD

SKILLSKILL

SSJob-sp

ecific skills

Job-specific sk

ills

Job specific…work Job specific…work related…related…Skills unique to that job…specialized skills…unique Skills unique to that job…specialized skills…unique to the job…and skills that require knowledge of to the job…and skills that require knowledge of specific…specific…

JargonJargon Equipment and toolsEquipment and toolsSystems/processesSystems/processes

They also may require a certificate, license, or They also may require a certificate, license, or credentialcredential

Hard Skills are…Hard Skills are…Hard Skills are…Hard Skills are…

Assess your skills honestlyAssess your skills honestly

Compare resume with job Compare resume with job announcementannouncement

Calculate the degree of Calculate the degree of transferability…30%? 50%? 75%?transferability…30%? 50%? 75%?

Analyze Transferable SkillsAnalyze Transferable SkillsAnalyze Transferable SkillsAnalyze Transferable Skills

Informal or formal life/work experiencesInformal or formal life/work experiences

Natural-born talent / self-taught / Natural-born talent / self-taught / learnedlearned

School work across all School work across all disciplines/subjectsdisciplines/subjects

All of your past experiencesAll of your past experiences

Where do they come from?Where do they come from?Where do they come from?Where do they come from?

......a brief summary of a brief summary of your background, your background,

qualifications, and qualifications, and employment record” &employment record” &

is a is a marketingmarketing tool to tool to get you an interviewget you an interview

A few reasons resumes fail:A few reasons resumes fail:

Lack of alignment with labor market needsLack of alignment with labor market needsUnconventional formatUnconventional formatWrong format Wrong format Lack of persuasive skill statements Lack of persuasive skill statements Lack of examples to prove your skill levelLack of examples to prove your skill levelIrrelevant/distracting informationIrrelevant/distracting informationErors, mispelllings, etcc., (619) 22-4030Erors, mispelllings, etcc., (619) 22-4030Lack of cover letter to introduce yourself and Lack of cover letter to introduce yourself and

youryour motivation for wanting the jobmotivation for wanting the job

ChronologicalChronological FunctionalFunctionalHybridHybridInfographicInfographic

Chronological is the most traditionalChronological is the most traditionalFunctional combines skills and chronologyFunctional combines skills and chronologyHybrid combines features of othersHybrid combines features of othersInfographic is the newest trend, but not for Infographic is the newest trend, but not for

everyoneeveryone

Includes 10-15 years of experienceIncludes 10-15 years of experience Include position title, name of Include position title, name of

organization, location and dates of organization, location and dates of employmentemployment

Best for anyone on a career path Best for anyone on a career path that has been building over time that has been building over time and shows a logical progression and shows a logical progression

CHRONOLOGICHRONOLOGICALCAL

Functional format is best if you . . .Functional format is best if you . . .

Are making a significant career Are making a significant career changechange

Have gaps of employmentHave gaps of employment Have many different jobs in a short Have many different jobs in a short

timetime Are a recent graduate with no Are a recent graduate with no

experienceexperience

FUNCTIONAFUNCTIONALL

AKAAKA

COMBINATICOMBINATIONON

Hybrid format is best if you . . .Hybrid format is best if you . . .

• Need flexibility in describing your Need flexibility in describing your skills skills AND time on the jobAND time on the job

HybridHybrid

The infographic format is best if The infographic format is best if you . . .you . . .

Best for positions in graphic design, Best for positions in graphic design, public relations, marketing, etc.public relations, marketing, etc.

Use with caution because Use with caution because conservative employers will not conservative employers will not appreciate your creativityappreciate your creativity

InfographicInfographic

InfographicInfographic

Core vs. Core vs. TargetedTargetedCore vs. Core vs.

TargetedTargetedNo more generic one-size-fits-all No more generic one-size-fits-all

resumésresumésNo more resumés with clichés!No more resumés with clichés!

1.1. Have one CORE resumé that no one Have one CORE resumé that no one will ever see. Ever! will ever see. Ever!

2.2. Use the CORE resumé as a starter Use the CORE resumé as a starter resumé that is then customized for resumé that is then customized for each application.each application.

3.3. That customized resumé is the That customized resumé is the TARGETED resumé and used for that TARGETED resumé and used for that “one” job.“one” job.

Expanded help desk staff to strengthen end-Expanded help desk staff to strengthen end-user support programs.user support programs.

Created platform for real time data Created platform for real time data collection, analysis and world wide collection, analysis and world wide dissemination.dissemination.

Introduced leading-edge systems security Introduced leading-edge systems security and intellectual property protection and intellectual property protection technologies.technologies.

Accomplishments are best described using Accomplishments are best described using the P.A.R. formula:the P.A.R. formula:

PP = Problem = Problem (a problem you (a problem you encountered)encountered)

AA = Action = Action (the action you (the action you took)took)

RR = = ResultsResults (%$#+-) (%$#+-)

Another way to look at it…S.T.A.R.Another way to look at it…S.T.A.R.

S/TS/T = Situation or Task = Situation or Task

AA = Action = Action (the action you (the action you took)took)

RR = = ResultsResults (%$#+-) (%$#+-)

Vague . . .Vague . . . “ “Responsible for maintaining Responsible for maintaining website.”website.”

Precise . . .Precise . . . “ “Created and maintained firm’s first Created and maintained firm’s first website using customizable site-website using customizable site-builder which increased foot traffic by builder which increased foot traffic by 30% and online inquiries to 500 daily.30% and online inquiries to 500 daily.

Illustrate with examples of what you Illustrate with examples of what you did…did…

……Designed and implemented…Designed and implemented………Researched and developed… Researched and developed… ……Established and maintained…Established and maintained………Developed and put into operation…Developed and put into operation………Successfully organized…Successfully organized………Hired and supervised, trainedHired and supervised, trained

Action WordsAction Words

Show the results of your actions…Show the results of your actions…

……increased productivity by…increased productivity by………decreased operating costs by…decreased operating costs by………resulted in a savings of…resulted in a savings of………resulted in reduction of…resulted in reduction of………increased sales by… increased sales by…

ResultsResults

Responsible for…Responsible for… Assisted with…Assisted with…Worked closely with…Worked closely with… Duties were…Duties were…Handled…Handled… Supported…Supported…

Vague and delays learning about yourVague and delays learning about yourspecific duties, actions, specific duties, actions, accomplishments.accomplishments.

Start each phrase with a “verb”.Start each phrase with a “verb”.

An objectiveAn objectiveA summary/profileA summary/profileKey words and phrases similar to Key words and phrases similar to thosethose

found on a job announcementfound on a job announcementDuties WITH results!Duties WITH results!

Quantify your work…be specific…Quantify your work…be specific…

……use use $, %, and #$, %, and #

i.e.,i.e., Streamlined operations and saved Streamlined operations and saved

thethecompany $25,000 annually.company $25,000 annually.

Increased sales from $100k to Increased sales from $100k to $500k with$500k with

revamped online spreadsheets.revamped online spreadsheets.

Personally write your own Personally write your own resume…resume…

don’t copy anything from a job don’t copy anything from a job posting,posting,

job description or online job description or online occupationaloccupational

database.database.

Write your resume with this in Write your resume with this in mind…mind…

Are RECENT skills featuredAre RECENT skills featured Are listed skills RELEVANTAre listed skills RELEVANT Is the format CONCISE Is the format CONCISE If your target in focus and If your target in focus and PRECISEPRECISE

Think “stories” not “answers”Think “stories” not “answers” Think “results” not “duties”Think “results” not “duties”

Thoroughly study…Thoroughly study…The job announcementThe job announcementThe duties of the occupationThe duties of the occupationThe organizationThe organizationThe industry and recent trendsThe industry and recent trendsThe local labor marketThe local labor market

Use the templates onUse the templates oncds.sdce.educds.sdce.edu

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