How To Get a JobWritten For

Santa Ana ValleyHigh School

Students By

Rett LeMoult

© Copyright 08/11/2015

Introduction

This book has three parts:

1) You + What employers want from you.

2) How to find a job

3) How to ace the interview

About the AuthorThe most rewarding work I’ve done in my life is volunteering at Valley for 4 years,

working with Culinary, Health and Automotive academies, coaching competition

teams and helping many outstanding students prepare speeches that wrung tears

out of hard-bit business people like me. I’ve also worked with the Automotive and

Culinary academy students on how to get a job. Valley calls these “soft skills.” I call

them the building blocks for being successful.

In addition to volunteering at Valley, I’m writing a book on how to be a successful

entrepreneur. I was Director of Training, Director of Business Development,

Regional Sales Manager, Branch Manager and Associate National Sales Manager for

two of the world’s largest financial service companies. I’ve interviewed thousands of

people and hired hundreds. I have trained people making over $1 million a year,

showing them how to double their earnings. I say this not to brag, but to tell you that

I an expert in how to be successful.

How to Use This BookRead about You. See yourself in the stories of your fellow students at Valley. Believe

in yourself. The rest of the book is very action oriented. Use the ideas to develop

your plan for getting a job. When you go for the interview, follow the steps outlined.

Most people think getting a job is an armchair sport. It’s not. It’s a contact sport. It’s

feet on the ground. It’s being prepared and getting in front of people.

At the end is a summary that lists all you will want to do to get a job and suggests

when you should do them.

1. You + What Employers Want From You

Many of you are going to college. I suggest you get a part-time job while in college. It

gives you valuable experience in your field so that by the time you graduate, you can

get a job that calls for hands-on experience. Most importantly, it teaches you to

stretch yourself, to be persistent, to focus on being successful.

For most of you, that’s not a problem. You already are better than any other kids

your age. I’m not just saying that. I mean it. Here’s a story that demonstrates. (By-

the-way, all student names are kept private.)

I met E in Ms. Aguilar’s class 4 years ago. I asked students to pick three reasons why

an employer should hire them.

E was a big guy. Tall, heavy, powerful. I asked him “Why should I hire you?”

He said, loud and clear, “I’m reliable, accountable. You can count on me 100% of the

time!”

“Wow!” I said, “That’s powerful. You gotta prove that to me. How do you know you

are so reliable?”

E leaned in on me and looked me square in the eye. He said, “When I was 14, my

parents couldn’t take care of me anymore. I moved out, lived on the street for a

while. I sometimes lived in a car or a garage. I thought about joining a gang. I didn’t

do that. I decided one day that I was going to take care of myself, I promised myself I

would graduate from high school. Today, I’m graduating from high school. I have a

job, I have my own place to live, I have my own car and I’m going to college. You can

count of me 100% of the time!”

I jumped up and shouted, “You’re hired!”

I never heard a story like that. When I tell my friends E’s story, they cry. I cry, I’m so

moved by him and what he accomplished.

The truth is you are better than other kids. You are stronger, more mature, and

more responsible than they are. You have faced responsibilities they have not. And I

know many of you don’t see it. You think your life is just like anybody else’s.

Here’s a story that demonstrates that: J was one of the winners of last year’s Cooking

Up Change National Championship. He told me “My life is very normal. It’s not

special. Just like everyone else’s.”

Then he told me every day he picks up his little sister from school, brings her home

and takes care of her. He cooks dinner for her and his Mom every night because she

doesn’t get home from work until around 8 and by then she’s tired. Also, he has a

job, gets good grades and is going into the Marines.

“Are you kidding me!!?” I said. “You think you’re just like everyone else?” You think

the kids at Mater Dei are like you?” I guarantee you they are not. Outside of this

school, no teenager is that responsible!”

Many of you help your parents. Some of you translate for them. Many of you take

care of your siblings. Most of you have overcome enormous obstacles in your life.

And you’re here. You may be in an Academy. You may be going to college. You are

graduating and getting a job.

P graduated last year. She was in Automotive. She’s going to be a cop. When she was

12, her Dad left. Her Mom was sick so P took over the family. “My brother and sisters

needed a father figure so I became the Dad and Mom for them.” She manages her

older brothers and younger sisters. She takes care of her nieces and nephews. Word

got out she was responsible so she looks after kids in the neighborhood, keeps them

in line. Younger and older they respect her. They listen to her.

When I asked her why they listen, she said, “I don’t know. I’m the most adult person

around most of the time.”

I also asked her, “When do you have time to be a teenager?” She said, “I don’t but

that’s OK. I don’t like to just hang out. I like to be doing something all the time.”

Amazing! Incredible!

Trust me. There is nobody outside of Valley like these three kids. You are not like

kids outside of Santa Ana. You are better, stronger, more mature, more responsible.

You are a better job candidate than any other teenager. I would hire you in a

heartbeat. I would hire every one of you before hiring the first teenager from

another school.

What do Employers Want From You?Bottom line, they want you to help them make money. That’s why businessmen and

women are in business. Everyone is there to help the business make money. Getting

and serving customers is the way a business does that but the bottom line is money.

So how can you help a business make money? Here’s a few things you can do. Think

about them when you start to build your own profile or your brand.

Show up and Keep your word:

This is the foundation for success. Your boss must know that you are going to be

there when you say you will be and that you will do what you say you are going to

do. There is nothing more important than showing up and keeping your word. If you

say you will be at work at 9, be there at 8:45, latest. Never after 9. If you tell

someone you will finish a job by Friday, only two things can happen.1) you finish it

by Friday or 2) you tell your boss you are running late and negotiate a new deadline.

Seems basic but most people do not live their lives with that level of integrity. Nor

do they understand the importance of it.

A long time ago, a broker in my office asked me to help a friend of his with an

Interview. He was a cop in San Diego and had tried for 3 years to get into an elite

force in the department. When I sat down with him, I noticed he had the most

amazing level of integrity I’d ever seen. I told him that and this is what he said.

“Of course. That goes with the job. If I tell my buddy I will be in an alley at 7:30 and I

show up at 7:45, he could die.”

He could die!

I said to him, “Nobody lives their lives at the level of integrity that someone might

die if they don’t keep their word! You gotta talk about that in the interview!”

He did. He got the job. Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone

lived their life at a level of integrity that if they did not keep their word, someone

might die? Adopt that level of integrity in your life. Like, I just attended a meeting

today that was to start at 7:45. Most of the people showed up after 8. What if our

lives were at risk if they were late? Would they have been on time?

This is really the foundation for being successful in life. If people know you can be

trusted 100% of the time, they will do anything to work with you. Businessmen and

women desperately need good, loyal, trustworthy employees. They need you.

Attitude:

A good businessperson is trying to create an environment where people are trusted

and they bring positive energy to the job. This makes money for the business

because if you are happy with customers, they will like you. They will come back

and refer their friends to the business. A great attitude separates the best employees

from everyone else. It guarantees job security and raises.

A good attitude means you must be positive. Don’t be critical. Don’t blame others for

bad things that happened to you. It’s your life; take responsibility for it.

Coachable:

Don’t tell an employer you want a job so you can learn the business. They hire you

to contribute. But you must be willing and able to learn all the time. My three kids

are all very successful. (OK now I’m bragging.) One reason they excel is they are

willing to take coaching and improve.

Show up and keep your word, attitude and coachable. There are other things an

employer will look for and we’ll cover those later but those are the three most

important. They are the foundation for being successful in life.

Experience/ Accomplishments:

If you are in an academy, you will probably be applying to a business that you just

spent three years learning. For example, if you are in Culinary, you may be applying

to a restaurant. You have lots of experience working with Ms. Aquilar and many

chefs. You have learned sanitation, safety, how to prep and cook. You have served

large numbers of people. You have a three-year experience advantage over a college

graduate who majored in Psychology.

If you are applying to something else, think about life experiences you’ve had. For

example, P is going to be a police officer. Her experience is keeping her brothers and

sisters and the neighborhood kids safe and in line with the law. She is like a

community police officer already.

Accomplishments are more powerful than experience. The reason is that

accomplishments are the results you create with your experience. For example,

experience is working as a cashier in a restaurant. Accomplishment is increasing

business because you are such a friendly cashier that people like you.

In the 2012 Olympics, Oribe Peralta scored two goals in the final soccer game and

Mexico won the gold medal. He could say, “I played for Mexico in the 2012 Olympics

and scored two goals” (Experience.) But he should say, “I won the 2012 Olympic

Gold Medal for Mexico by scoring two goals in the final soccer match”

(Accomplishment.)

I interviewd O, who graduated from Automotive in 2014 and is at SAC studying

mechanical engineering and auto tech. He told me he experienced a lot of things at

Valley: worked at a restaurant, got good grades, attended classes at SAC while in

high school, was the only person in his class to be AYES certified, first person in his

family to graduate from high school. All that is impressive. What he accomplished

was, “I overcame all obstacles and excelled in everything.”

Build Your BrandA good chef will make a restaurant successful. But so can everyone else in that

restaurant. Recently my wife and I had dinner in New York at a place called The

Gotham Bar and Grill. Amazing experience. The food was great but the Maitre d” and

the wait staff were so incredible that we had one of the best experiences ever. The

waiter had been there 31 years! It was an honor for us to be served by him. Here I

am referring the restaurant to you and you can bet we’ll be back. The wait staff

makes money for that restaurant.

How do you build a brand? It’s simple. Not easy.

Start like this. Pick three reasons why somebody should hire you. For example, for E

it was 1) Reliable, 2) Accountable, 3) Count on him 100% of the time. For J it was 1)

responsible, 2) caring, 3) experienced (since he took care of his Mom and sister and

he had 3 years in Culinary.) For P, it was 1) a leader, 2) mature and 3) responsible.

(Since she took care of her entire family and kids in the neighborhood and was more

adult than any other teenager.)

Let’s go to another Valley student and you think of three reasons they should be

hired:

C graduated and is now at Cal State Fullerton studying computer science. His

parents moved back to Mexico when he was 12 or 13. He now lives with an aunt and

pays rent. I asked him, “Are you in touch with your parents?”

He said, “I was for the first few years but not since then.”

C got As and Bs at Valley. Worked as a cashier over on Bristol after school. He

showed up 1 hour early for work every day to help out until his shift began. He

dresses well and looks you in the eye when speaking. He said, “I have found that it’s

amazing what I can do when I dedicate myself.”

So what are three things you just learned about C? There are many more but pick

three.

_______________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

I would say C is smart, resourceful, persistent, responsible, a good communicator,

confident and a positive attitude.

Now pick three reasons why you should be hired:

________________________________ _______________________________ ___________________________.

Can’t think of three reasons people should hire you? Ask your Mom. Ask a teacher, a

good friend. They will know.

Those 3 reasons why someone should hire you are your brand.

Elevator SpeechThose three reasons are who you are. Next let’s put them into something called an

elevator speech. An elevator speech is what you say in one minute or less when

asked, “Why should I hire you?”

It starts out with what you will do. Not what you want to do, but will do. Example E

would say, “I will be a chef.” He would not say, “I want to be a chef.” What’s the

difference? Saying what you will do is positive and confident. Saying what you want

to do is just a wish.

After saying what you will do, add the 3 reasons why someone should hire you.

Let’s use E as an example again. Start with what he will do and add his three

reasons: reliable, accountable, count on him 100% of the time. E’s elevator speech

is: “I will be a chef. I’m reliable, accountable. You can count on me 100% of the time.”

C’s elevator speech: I will be a computer scientist. I am responsible, resourceful and

smart.”

Now outline your elevator speech. (What you will do, like: chef, medical assistant,

doctor, automotive technician, etc.) ___________________________________. And the three

reasons why someone should hire you:

___________________________ _________________________________ ____________________________.

Your StoriesYou know you are smart, responsible and a team player. But nobody will just go,

“Oh, OK. I believe you.” You have to prove it to them.

Your story is the proof. Write out a story (short – 1 or 2 minutes) for each reason

you list. Example, if you are responsible, tell a story about how you take care of your

brothers and sisters; how you help your Mom around the house; how you are never

late for class or work. If you are a team player, tell a story about how you worked on

a team project. If you are a leader, tell abut how you were selected the Captain of

your team. Whatever you say about yourself, tell a story that proves it.

To summarize, we built your brand naming three reasons someone should hire

you. And we’ve put it into an elevator speech. And we have a story for each reason

that proves it. If you’ve gone that far, you know yourself and how you want other

people to think about you. Congratulations. That’s more than 95% of kids your age.

Your Cover Letter and ResumeYou have your brand, your stories and an elevator speech that demonstrate who you

are. Now it’s time to put them into a cover letter and resume that you will send to

the lucky person who is about to hire you.

Most resumes are boring and they wind up in the trash. Resumes are not just a list of

things you have done. They are sales documents. You are selling yourself to an

employer. Your objective is to have someone want to meet you.

There are two things that make a great resume:

1. The resume addresses the needs of the employer.

2. You have just 3 seconds to make a good first impression.

That means you start with the employer in mind and put your most powerful

information right up front.

I suggest your resume has two parts. (There is an example in a few pages.)

1. A left margin with your name and contact information then quotes about you

from teachers, employers, business partners.

2. A main section on the right that lists the following:

Objective: Which has three parts: 1. The job you want, 2. an

accomplishment that shows you will add value, and 3. a promise that you

will help them achieve what they want. (Employers want to serve their

customers, success, money, reputation.)

Accomplishments/ Skills: (Results you have achieved from things you have

done. Example, awards, prizes, competitions, recognitions, good things a boss

or teacher has said about you. These are followed by the skills you used to

accomplish what you did.) Example, “I was named student of the week

because I am always on time to class.”

Employment history: (if you have one.) It’s OK if you don’t have one. If you

don’t, just leave it out. This is simply a list of jobs you’ve had with dates. It’s

much less important than Accomplishments/ Skills.

Education: (This may be the least important if you have only high school to

report. OK to leave it out unless you have attended classes or received

training outside school. Those are a big plus.) Example, “Extra classes at

SAC,” or, “Leadership training classes after work in the summer.”

Languages: (The fact that you are bilingual is very important.)

Additional skills: (Anything you feel adds to your value. Computer skills,

social media networking, a large number of followers on twitter, good at

math, people like you, energetic, athletic, volunteer experience, hobbies,

school clubs and activities, public speaking, etc.)

Your resume looks something like this:

Your Name

714-xxx-xxxx

e-mail address

ReferencesRett is xxxxxxxxx Objective: (The job you want, accomplishment, Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx promise.) Example: “I am seeking a position as cookXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in a fine restaurant to use my experience helping to Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx make Valley High School the best culinary high school

Pat Person, in California. I am dedicated to making your restaurantPrincipal, successful.”Valley High

I have worked Accomplishments/ Skills: (Include awards, prizes,With Rett for the recognitions, a nice thing the boss at work said to you.)Last three years and, Examples: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Winner National Championship in Washington,Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx D.C. for “Cooking Up Change.” I used a combination of Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx cooking skills, speaking skills, safety and sanitary

Monica Aguilar, skills, menu selection and organization skills to winCulinary Arts the Southern California regionals and National finals.Teacher, Valley My team mates and I cooked for and presented toHigh School Congress and spike with First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Rett has been a - Named outstanding employee by my currentValuable employee employer, Mrs. XXX XXXXX. The reason is I helpedAt my business. He make the restaurant more popular with customers.XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Named outstanding cook by the Culinary Arts teacher, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Ms. Monica Aguilar for accomplishing xxxxxxx xxxxxx

Joy BusinessSanta Ana Employment History:

- August 2013 – present: Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx- December 2013 – August 2013: Xxxxxxxxx

Education:

2010 – 2014 Valley High School2013, 2014 classes at SAC

Languages:Fluent in English and Spanish

Additional Skills:Computer, math, people like me, etc.

You may not have a National Championship to list as an accomplishment but you

may have received some recognition. You can always ask your teacher or boss if you

could say that you have been an outstanding cook, technician, student or employee.

Note: Under “Objective,” tell them you are dedicated to helping them be even more

successful. Then, after each accomplishment, list the skills you used to do it.

Cover LetterThe purpose of the cover letter is to get you an appointment. The employer should

want to meet you as soon as they read it. You could use one cover letter for all job

applications if the employers are very similar, like many different fine dining

restaurants or small business automotive or Dermatologist offices. But if the

businesses are different (like an auto tech position at a dealership vs. a small auto

shop,) write a different cover letter for each job application. First find out what the

employer wants. Then show that you have it for them.

How do you find out what they want?

Look at the business’ website before writing the cover letter. That will tell you what

they want. Your cover letter shows that you have what they want and need.

For example, as I write this, Fletcher Jones Motorcars, the nations #1 Mercedes-

Benz retailer, is offering a $2000 signing bonus to hire an automotive service

technician! In the job posting they tell you exactly what they want:

“Full-time experienced automotive technician…..busy…..vehicle repair and

maintenance work….commitment to providing excellent guest service.”

So your cover letter starts out like this:

“Experienced auto technician is committed to excellent guest service. I want to work

in a busy shop where I can demonstrate my ability to work hard and add to the

already extraordinary reputation of Fletcher Jones, the #1 Mercedes-Benz dealer in

the United States.”

Looks too easy, doesn’t it? You simply feed back to them what they told you they

were looking for. It is easy. And it works.

(I would apply for this job. OK so you may be looking for part-time while you go to

college. Your experience is limited to the school auto shop. But you’re accredited

and you have three years experience! The ad says, “Please apply in person, online or

fax.” In person is always best. I would take a bus, walk into the shop, ask for the

service manager with your cover letter and resume in hand. What are you going to

lose? This is the top of the food chain! Even if you don’t get the job this time, if you

keep in touch, you may eventually work at Fletcher Jones.)

Here’s another example. A café in Santa Ana is looking for a line cook. They tell you

exactly what they want:

“available weekends…have own transportation…1 year experience…ability to follow

recipes/ cooking guidelines, prepping, maintain clean work space and overall

cleanliness of kitchen…. Wash dishes…bussing tables….running food.”

Too easy! Your cover letter starts like this:

“I am an experienced cook available weekends. I would like the opportunity to help

a small restaurant be even more successful using my skills. My experience includes,

following recipes and cooking guidelines, prepping, washing dishes and running

food. I maintain a clean workspace and contribute to the safety of the kitchen. I am

used to hard work and will do whatever is necessary to add value to your café.”

You think it’s unusual for employers to be that clear about what they want? No. It’s

common. Large companies have a corporate culture. They will tell you what that

culture is and from that, you will write your cover letter and prepare for your

interview. Here’s an example from Tenet Healthcare. They have a large number of

job openings all over the US. Read the outline and then decide what you would say

in your cover letter.

“At Tenet …our mission is to improve the quality of life of every patient who enters

our doors. Our approach …defines our future….we are a national, diversified,

healthcare services company…help people live happier, healthier lives….patient

communications…our caregivers provide greater value to the communities that we

serve…improve the quality of patients lives and serve our communities and provide

an exceptional environment for our employees and affiliated physicians….guided by

five core values: quality, integrity, service, innovation, and transparency. We seek

relationships with those who share them…we take pride in recruiting and retaining

the best professionals in the industry… making a difference in the lives of those we

serve.”

Extraordinary! There is so much to learn from this one sample. First, now you know

what to put in your cover letter. Second, here is a framework for a service life. You

could become exactly what they are and if you did, you would be in demand all your

life. Third, this is what a great business does. It sets strong values, communicates

them clearly and attracts people who share them.

Let’s go back to your cover letter.

Your cover letter has three parts:

1. It starts out by feeding back just what the company wants from you.

2. It includes your elevator speech with the three reasons you should be hired.

3. It covers just a few accomplishments/ experiences. Not all. Your resume

includes them all.

It ends with a promise to call them for an appointment. That’s important. You do

not want to be like everyone else who send letters or e-mails and wait. You want to

take control over your job search. It shows innovation and persistence.

So here’s the cover letter I would write to Tenet:

Sample Cover Letter

Dear Mrs. ________________ (Try to get the name of the hiring manager.)

Your job posting for EMT made a big impact on me.

I would love to devote my career to a company with your values of making a

difference in the lives of all my patients and my fellow colleagues. I share your

values of quality, integrity, service, innovation and transparency. By demonstrating

those shared values in my first job with you, I feel strongly I could move within

Tenet and take more responsibility as I earn it.

I am proud that people recognize me for my core values, which are that I am

dedicated to service; I am honest; I am reliable and accountable 100% of the time.

(The three reasons in your elevator speech.)

My experience further demonstrates that I would be a good fit for Tenet.

I have been an outstanding student in Valley High School’s Medical Academy for the

last three years and I will graduate with a certification as Medical Assistant.

I have been rewarded with statewide recognitions in the XXXXXXXX and XXXXXX.

I have been named XXXXXX by my current employer, Doctor XXXXXXX.

I know it sounds like I am over qualified for a starting job with you as EMT.

However, I will do whatever it takes to earn a career with a company as outstanding

as Tenet.

I will call you at 9:00 am on next Thursday May 19 to make an appointment to visit

with you.

Looking forward to speaking with you on Thursday,

Thank you, Rett LeMoult

How could they turn you down?

As you can see, the cover letter is the most important document you send. It’s

customized to the business you want to join. It includes your elevator speech. It

shows passion and a great desire for the job. It sets up an appointment.

Next we will cover two major ways to get a job, Passive and active job searching.

2. How to Find A JobIt’s hard for most people to get a job. It will not be hard for you. Most people look for

a job by checking job postings, e-mailing a resume and waiting for something to

happen. Most of the time, nothing happens. That’s passive job searching.

You are going to search both passively and actively. Active job searchers get jobs

fast. Passive job searchers wait. For you to find a job, you must be different than

everyone else. If everyone else is e-mailing resumes, do something unique. I will ask

you to pick 1 passive and 2 active methods from the job searching ideas below.

Passive Job SearchingLet’s start here. It’s easy, takes very little time and effort, so you may as well do it. I

will organize all job search methods as Action Steps.

Action Step 1: Job Sites. Look on Craig’s List, Monster, Simplyhired.com, or other

job posting sites for the job you want. Simple. Want a job as a Medical Assistant?

Criagslist.com has 200 listings in Orange County. Pick the ones you want, hit reply

and attach your cover letter and resume. Monster has 23 Food Service positions

listed. Pick some and click “Apply.” simplyhired.com says they have 2,476

Automotive Technician jobs within 10 miles of Santa Ana. I’m sure there are related

jobs and repeats in that but there surely a lot of jobs. See how simple that is?

Now, post a job. All those job sites and many more allow you to post your cover

letter and resume so recruiters and employers can find you.

Action Step 2: Join Linked-In and build an employment profile of yourself. Linked-

In has many advantages over job sites. It is more exclusive; therefore there is less

competition. You build a profile and use it like your own web site. It’s better than

Facebook. Your Facebook page may not be something you want employers to see.

Your Linked-In profile will be your professional web site for many years, growing as

your experience grows. Recruiters and future employers will find you here.

You can also look at the many job postings on Linked-In. They usually have

company and personnel profiles so you can read about the company and its

management. For example, want to apply as a technician at Evasive Motorsports in

Santa Fe Springs? Linked-In has the company profile, exactly what they want from

you, and all you want to know about Tony Kwan, the President. That will be gold

when we get to researching businesses for an interview.

Use at least one of these passive job searches. They take very little time and you may

get a few interviews. But, don’t count on them 100% for a job. Remember everybody

else is using the same passive job search method. So far, you don’t stand out.

This is where we take job searching to the next level.

Active Job Searching

The more active you are, the shorter will be your job search. One recruiter advises

companies to compete for active job searchers because they will be employed

quickly. Here are some active job search ideas:

Action Step 3: Follow the 1. 2. 3. Approach. Find a job on simplyhired.com or

indeed.com or other job posting site and follow these steps:

1) With your resume, send a cover letter customized to that business. To do that,

you have to research the business. (We’ll talk about that later.) At the end of the

letter, write, “I am very interested in working for your business. I will call you at

8:30 am on October 22 to make an appointment to meet with you.”

2) Call the company at that time and date. Make the appointment or leave a message

and call again. Keep calling until you get the appointment.

3) Go for an interview.

Does that sound assertive? It is. That’s why only a few people do it. If it were as easy

as posting a resume and waiting for an e-mail, everyone would do it.

Here’s the math. It takes 400 e-mailed resumes to get 40 responses. Out of those 40

responses, you may get 10 interviews. It will take 10 interviews to get 1 job.

You may also think being that assertive may turn off the employer. No! It will not. I

called a number of doctor’s offices and restaurants. They all said they want someone

who takes initiative and is persistent. They liked the idea of you pushing for an

interview.

Action Step 4: Walk in. Save the time spent sending e-mails and calling. Find the

job posting you like. Take a copy of your resume and cover letter. Go visit the

business. Ask for the owner. If he or she is not there, ask who does the hiring. If you

don’t speak to the person who hires, talk to an employee. Ask what it’s like working

there. Be friendly. Get their name. If possible, get their e-mail. Ask if they will

mention that you stopped by. Ask them to tell the owner you are really excited.

Leave your number and e-mail. Send them a thank-you if you have their e-mail. Or

call later and thank them. This is important. Secretaries, receptionists, current

employers can be either your partners or your obstacles. Treat them really well. Go

out of your way to thank them. They will like you and recommend the boss see you.

The owner will almost always follow their recommendation.

Another advantage of walking in is you can stop by other businesses nearby. Ask if

they are hiring, who is the hiring manager? Get their e-mail and telephone number.

Action Step 5: Ask for advice. This is the method I used to get a very high paying

job. I got three offers in 2 months when a job at that level of pay normally takes a

year or more. My son used it. He recommends it to everyone. Here’s how it works:

1) Call someone you know in your field, like a nurse, doctor, auto technician, graphic

artist, computer programmer, business owner. Or a “center of influence” (somebody

who knows a lot of people.) Like a teacher, local chamber of commerce, lawyer,

accountant, a mentor, visitor to your class, business partner, the Principle. When

you call them say this:

“ Hi. My name is________ I need your advice. Do you have a minute?”

If they say no, ask, “Can I call you at a better time?”

If they say yes, give your elevator speech like, “I just graduated from Valley High

School and I will be a chef. I’m reliable, experienced and very responsible.”

Then ask his or her advice. “I need your advice. Who do you know that I could talk to

about opportunities in the restaurant business?”

Most people will give you at least one name to call. If you do not get a name, call

someone else until you get at least one name. Ask if you can use their name when

you call their recommended person. Thank them. Ask if you can keep in touch.

2) Call the person recommended. Start the conversation with: “Mr./Mrs.______________

suggested you may be able to help me. My name is ______ and I need your advice.

Then simply repeat what you said above: elevator speech, ask for advice, who do

you know… They may say, “You can talk to me.” But usually they will give you at

least one name. Thank them. Ask if you can keep in touch.

3) Keep calling the recommended people and get back to your original contacts

every week. After awhile you will have a list of 20 or 30 people you are calling,

texting or e-mailing. When I used the advice method I had a contact list of over 80

people in two months. I was making 20 calls a day.

What kind of responses do you get and how do you answer them? Often they will

ask if you are looking for a job. You say, “Yes and I’m also looking for advice.

Mr./Mrs. _____ said you were the person to ask.” They may say, “You can talk to me.”

If so, make an appointment. Bring your cover letter and resume. They may say they

cannot think of anyone. Thank them for their time and ask if you can keep in touch.

The only hard part is the beginning. That’s why it’s good to start with people you

know. After the first recommendation, you will use that person’s name so the next

call will go very easily. I doubt you will run out of people to call but if you do, simply

find someone else you know and start again.

Will you annoy anyone? No. Successful people like to help others become successful,

especially you. And, they love to give advice.

Is this scary? Of course it is. That’s why very few people do it. I promise you. If you

use this action step, I guarantee you’ll have a job very quickly.

Action Step 6: A variation on the advice theme above is cold walking. You want to

work in a restaurant? Walk into every nice place you can find. Walk down the block

and visit 6 or 7 of them. Go through the same process. Ask for advice. Ask for a

recommendation. Bring your cover letter and resume.

Follow up as before. The first contact is going to be harder since they don’t know

you but you will have access to many more places you can walk into. And they will

be impressed that you stopped in.

What makes these last two action steps work, is that not every successful

businessperson has a job for you but they all love to give you advice.

Pick 3 methods from the 6 above. One passive, two active. Have all three working all

the time.

Now let’s get ready for the interview.

3. How to Ace The InterviewSo far, you have learned what employers want from you. You have built your brand

by picking three reasons an employer should hire you. You have prepared an

elevator speech, written a cover letter and a resume.

You have also picked three methods of finding a job, one passive and two active.

All that has gotten you an interview. You are going to use your knowledge of the

employer and your understanding of yourself to ace the interview.

How to ace the interview has three parts:

1. Prepare for the interview,

2. Dress, attitude and introduction,

3. What to say and how you respond.

I use a doctor in Irvine, Dr. Alan Sosin. His wife, Susan does the hiring and manages

the very large medical staff. I called Susan to ask how she would feel if a candidate

just walked in without an appointment. She said she would like it. It shows initiative,

confidence and persistence. Then I asked what she looks for during the interview.

She said, “Let me think about that and get back to you.”

She got back with a treasure of information. Here’s an overview of what she said:

First thing she looks for is appearance. Conservative dress. No tats (showing.) no

jeans, no cleavage. Look professional.

communication important. Look her in the eye. Speak up. Be able to explain what

you learned in school….never, ever, gossip…be able to talk to her.

Understand what they do. Check their website and understand their business

before you go in. make sure your interests are in line with their interests.

Attitude. Be positive. Don’t criticize anyone or anything. If something did not go

well with you, take personal responsibility for it. Don’t blame someone else.

Grades. She will ask about them. She’s not looking for a great scholar, just someone

who did well. Shows ability to work hard.

Participate. She likes it when people have been in dance, music, clubs, sports. If not

why not? If you were busy taking care of siblings or helping at home, that’s a good

reason. It shows responsibility. She’s looking for a well-rounded person.

Passion. What are you passionate about. Anything – it doesn’t matter. Do you have a

purpose in life? She said, “I want someone to get exterior to themselves.” She means

to see the world from someone else’s point of view. Be a good listener.

Team Player. They are a team. They work together, back each other up. Don’t

worry about whose job something is, just do what is needed to help. Communicate

with each other. She said, “I’ve cleaned bathrooms.” If you see something that needs

to be done, just do it, like a paper on the floor or a file out of place.

Love life. She said, “If you love life, people will love you.”

Coachable. It’s ok to make mistakes but learn from them. Correct your mistakes.

“Be willing not to know.” Which means you are open to learning.

“Complete a Cycle.” What she means is take full responsibility for something you

start until it is finished, even if you delegate it to someone else. Example, you get a

phone call and you pass it on to another person to handle. You own it until the other

person finishes it. Check with them to make sure the patient is satisfied.

I sincerely thank Susan for spending so much time thinking about and sharing this

information with us. All those clear values and skills she looks for shows up in her

staff. They are some of the best in the medical business. Susan’s staff takes full

responsibility every time I call and makes sure I get served even if they are not the

one answering the question. That’s what makes a business successful.

Prepare For The InterviewOne of the most extraordinary students I’ve met at Valley was M. she had an

amazingly difficult life which I will not go into here. I will just say she had been in 9

different high schools over four years. She had also almost all A’s with just a few B’s

over those years. She received a scholarship to a four-year university.

Mr. Patrick, a past Principle, and I met her at the job interview practice sessions. We

were overwhelmed over how M could have achieved those grades in 9 different

schools. I asked her, “How did you do that?”

“It was really easy,” M said. “Every time I go to a new school, I introduce myself to

each teacher. I tell them I want to get an A in their class. Then I ask them what I need

to do to get an A. They tell me. I do the work. I get the A.”

If only life were as simple as M made it. But acing an interview starts with the same

idea she used. Find out what the employer wants from you. You had to do this to

customize your cover letter. Now do it before you go for the interview.

Read the job posting again: The examples I used to write the cover letter show you

that the job posting tells you what to say during the interview.

Go to the business’ website. I’m looking at the website of my dermatologist, Dr.

Glenn Goldberg. I see exactly what they do and the products they either recommend

or sell. Clicking on his name, I see he grew up in Philadelphia. He’s been in Laguna

Beach since 1989. It says he is caring, approachable, confident. He has 20 years

experience yet keeps up with cutting edge treatments.

What does that tell you? Well, you’re caring, confident and approachable, right? You

have that in common so mention those things about yourself in the interview.

Next I click on the Team tab. Dr Awadalla is from UCLA. It says quality care is

important to him. He is caring and personable. Sounds like Dr. Goldberg, doesn’t it?

Another professional, Lisa, “finds the greatest joy and fulfillment when working one

on one with patients.” Charity’s profile says she is passionate about skin. She has a

vibrant personality, and she loves to learn.

These are the professionals Dr. Goldberg ahs already hired. You can see they are

very similar. If you are like them and talk like that during the interview, you have a

good chance of getting a job.

You can also find out more information by Googling the name of the doctor, chef or

business owner. A treasure of information may be found.

Other Ways to Prepare: The website may have the name of the hiring manager.

Check them out. Call or walk into the business. Ask the receptionist about the

business and what they want. Thank them. Get their name and send a thank you e-

mail or note. Remember their name when you come in for the interview.

The T exercise: (this is an optional exercise but may help organize your ideas.)

Once you’ve figured out online what this business looks for the people they hire,

write a big T on a piece of paper. In the left column write what they want. In the

right, list your character traits or experience that most closely matches their needs.

(Example)

They Want You Have

Passion for the job Passion for your work

Highest quality customer service dedication to customer service

At least one year experience 3 years experience in your

academy

Then, practice, practice, practice. Think of yourself as the person they want. Practice

your elevator speech. Practice telling your stories that prove who you are.

Now, you are ready for the interview.

Dress, Attitude and Introducing YourselfDress: Reread what Susan Sosin said above. She wants you to dress conservatively,

no tats (showing) no jeans, no cleavage. I would add, no t-shirts, no messy hair, no

dirty fingernails, no running shoes, no shorts. You are going for a job, not to a party.

(Going for a real job is the first step in the rest of your life. Buy or borrow

appropriate clothes if you don’t have one set already. )

Guys, Here are the basics: A nice pair of dark pants, worn above your hips. Belt.

White or blue shirt. Tuck it in tightly. A tie. Jacket or suit only if you are going to a

large company or the website shows employees wearing one. Black shoes. Black

socks. No jewelry. Clean and trimmed nails. Neat haircut. Notebook and pen.

Girls: Dark pants or suit, or conservative skirt. Tailored blouse buttoned up leaving

one button open. Or high cut sweater or no-button blouse in a conservative color. A

cami under a jacket is good. Conservative shoes: heels or flats. Limited jewelry. Neat

hair. No or little perfume. Easy on the makeup. Manicured nails. Notebook and pen.

Notebook and pen may be replaced with a phone or tablet to take notes. Always take

notes. If you bring a phone, and not use it to take notes, turn it off! If you do use it to

take notes, put the phone on airplane mode.

The business website may show everyone dressing casually. I would not if I were

you. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. The only exception may be

New Media if you are going to a very creative place. Then you must follow your own

vision but never further out than the pictures on the website.

Attitude: 62% of the fastest growing small businesses said they would not hire you

if you did not look them in the eye during the interview.

You want to act like those three reasons why someone should hire you. If you say

you are reliable, accountable, confident, act like it. Show up early. Sit up straight.

Look the interviewer in the eye. Speak clearly. Be positive. Be energetic. Be friendly.

Smile a lot. Lean forward when you are speaking. Sit on the edge of the chair, don’t

slouch or sit back. Keep them in mind. You are there to help them be more

successful. You can do it! You can make a difference in this company!!

Most of all, act like you are: friendly, energetic, positive, confident, determined!

Practice acting that way. It is sometimes good to start with an interview that is not

very important, just for the practice.

Introducing Yourself: You may have been in my communications and

introductions workshop. Introductions are easier to see than to explain. A good

introduction goes like this:

Eye contact, firm handshake, lean in, smile, say your name loud and clear.

They will probably say, Hi, xxxxx, I’m yyyyyy. You then look them in the eye and say,

Hi, yyyy. I’m so glad to meet you!(!)(!!!) Say it with enthusiasm!

You want them to feel like you are REALLY happy to meet them!!

After your introduction they will remember who you are, not what you say. So you

want to come across energetic, friendly, confident and REALLY happy to meet them.

What to Say and How to Respond to QuestionsTurn off your cell phone or put it on airplane mode. I actually had someone answer

his cell phone during the interview. I waited till he hung up then asked him to leave.

During the interview you want to get these 3 ideas across, loud and clear: 1) the

three reasons someone should hire you, i.e. your brand. 2) Your experience. 3) As

many of the things they are looking for that you can honestly present.

Be ready to back up your three reasons with at least one story each. Be ready to

explain what you did in your academy, what you learned, what you accomplished,

what skills you gained. Work these into the conversation when you can.

The first question most interviewers will start with is: “Tell me about yourself.” If

they are aggressive, like I was, they may say, “Why should we hire you?” That’s

perfect because this is when you give them your elevator speech.

You can stop at the end of the elevator speech or you can move into why you want to

work for them and why you are a good fit. A good fit means having the same

qualities that they told you they were looking for in the job posting or on their

website. You can work in your experience either in a job or at Valley.

Start strong. Be loud and clear. Look them in the eye during your elevator speech.

You are sitting on the edge of your seat, leaning forward. You are strong, confident

and determined. And you are just the person they are looking for. Believe that.

After just a few minutes, the interviewer has probably made up their mind to hire

you or not. The rest of the interview serves to either reinforce that decision or

change their mind. If they keep talking to you, they probably like you. Stay strong.

Questions and how to answer them:

The main thing is keep going back to those three reasons someone should hire you.

Work in your experience and be positive. For this example, I’m going to assume I’m

E. I am reliable, accountable and you can count on my 100% of the time. I have three

years experience in the Culinary Academy. Here are some sample questions and

how I would answer them:

Tell me about yourself. I give them the elevator speech. Also, I have three years

experience in Culinary where I created menus, cooked, obsessed on sanitary and

safety in the kitchen, did dishes, prepped, served large groups of people, catered to

important visitors.

Whey should we hire you? I repeat the elevator speech. Then I get into what a

great place this would be to work, how much I appreciate their vision, what they are

accomplishing as a business, their values. I tell them my values and point out how

my values and theirs are the same. (If this is true, of course.)

What is your greatest strength? I’m going to repeat at least one of my three

reasons then tell a story about it that proves my reason. For example as E, I would

say, “I am so reliable that you can count on my 100% of the time. Let me tell you a

story about my life that will demonstrate that………”

What is your greatest weakness? Be careful here. Remember they have already

made up their mind about you. This question is designed to trip you up. You would

not believe the brutal, sad, horrible stories I’ve heard from this question.

You must say something safe, like “I worry too much about my performance” or, “I

tend to work too late at night.” Then, always, say something about how you are

correcting that. Like if you said, “I think too much before I act.” Then say, “I’m

working on that. I make quicker choices now and take action faster.”

Why do you want to work here? This is where you talk about all the information

you got from their web site and from the owners and team members’ personal

profile. Be REALLY enthusiastic. Show how your qualities fit with theirs.

What do you know about my company? Same as above.

What was your greatest accomplishment at school? Pick one that would relate to

the job, if possible. Or, pick one that reinforces one of those three reasons why you

should be hired. Then tell one of your three stories to back it up.

Where did you fail? Or, what did you do that you wish you could have done

better? Again, a trick question, just like your greatest weakness. Tell a story about

something you would have done better. But always tell how you overcame that and

triumphed! Example, you could talk about how as a freshman you were not very

responsible and you got bad grades. Then you realized you wanted to excel and you

worked hard. You stopped partying. You got great grades for the next three years.

Tell me about your experience at Valley. Keep it professional. They don’t care

about the prom. Tell stories that reinforce your three reasons to be hired, talk very

positively about teachers, how much you learned, how hard you worked; about

extra activities like sports, clubs, dance, cheer, student government, anything you

did outside of class other than social stuff. (That’s personal. Do not talk about your

social life.)

Describe a problem you had at work and how you handled it. Tell a story about

a tough situation and how you made it turn out OK.

Have you ever had to earn your own spending money? Tell stories that show

how you have taken care of yourself. Show responsibility.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I would always ask this. I want someone

with a plan for life. I don’t care if the plan changes. I just want you to have thought

about it. Be clear. Picture yourself 5 years from now doing something that really

adds value to their company. It may be that this is just a temporary job for you like

joining the wait staff at a restaurant while you go to college to study Criminal

Justice. Be honest. Tell them that’s your 5 year plan but tell them being the best

waiter or waitress will give you the confidence and attitude to help you become a

police officer. You believe that being the best is important in everything you do.

(Work that magic phrase in somewhere.)

There may be other questions. Bottom line is: keep your energy up. Keep reinforcing

your three reasons. Stay positive. Smile. If you like them, they will probably like you.

Follow upAfter the interview, no matter how it went, e-mail them a thank you. Repeat your

elevator speech and how enthusiastic you are to work with them. Ask them to get

back to you for a follow-up interview or offer. If you feel really assertive, tell them

you will call them tomorrow to set another appointment. . Or you could practice the

lost art of a thank you note. I have every thank you note anyone has ever given me.

They make me feel like my life is worthwhile.

Summary – How To Get A Job

(You can break all the tasks into three time frames.

Section 1. Do as soon as possible.)

1. You:

1. Think about your life, what you’ve done, what you’ve overcome

2. Think about what employers want from you

3. Build a brand: Pick three reasons why someone should hire you

4. Turn that + your experience into an elevator speech

5. Write a resume that combines your information + quotes from teachers,

employers

6. Write a cover letter that answers the needs of the business, how you can fill

those needs + your elevator speech

(Section 2. Do just before you start actively looking.)

2. How To Find A Job. Pick 3 actions:

1. Passive job searches: job sites and Linked-In

2. Active job searches: the 1.2.3. approach, walk in, ask for advice, cold walking

(Section 3. Do just before you get the interview.)

3. How To Ace The Interview:

1. Prepare for the interview, research the company, do a T exercise (optional,)

practice

2. Dress, attitude and introducing yourself

3. What to say and how to respond to questions, sample questions and answers

Most important: Remember, you are better than any other kids your age. You are

more responsible, stronger, more mature than anyone else going for that job you

want. Knowledge and skill can be learned. You can’t learn responsibility. You learn it

from life, just like you do now at home, at work and in school. I would hire you

before hiring any other graduate from any other school. Believe that.

Good Luck.

___________________________________________________________

I want to thank and dedicate this booklet to:

Carol, my wife, for your intelligence, passion, determination and strength. You are a

force of nature.

My three amazing children, Chris, Lisa, Joelle. You inspire me. Everything that is

important in life, I’ve learned from you.

My grandchildren, Logan Bryce, Chase, Sydney and Dylan. You are amazing!!!

The dedicated teachers and administrators at Valley High School who are making a

better future for their students and our country. Especially Monica Aguilar, Helen

Fe, Carlos Mejia. To Susan Dixon who got me started at Valley and is a whirlwind of

goodness. And to former friends at school, Chioma Ndubuisi and Mr. Patrick.

Most of all, to you, the amazing students I’ve worked with at Valley High. You inspire

me with the love you have for each other, your courage, strength and responsibility.

You have given me far more than I could ever give to you. You have given me the

most rewarding years of my life.