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Student Handbook

Students Seeking Full-Time

Employment

BAHS Graduation Project

Revised 2016

Name______________________

Advisor_____________________

Homeroom___________

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Student Responsibilities BAHS Graduation Project

1. Become familiar with the requirements of the project.

2. Keep a copy of everything.

3. Meet with your homeroom teacher/advisor at designated times.

4. Do your very best work.

5. Seek the help if needed.

6. Fulfill requirements completely and on time.

Introduction: BAHS Graduation Project

The BAHS Graduation Project is an independent study project designed to help you transition from high

school to life after high school. Based on your life and career goals, you will be completing several

activities that will help you to move from here into the “real” world.

Your first decision is to determine what you will be doing on Friday Morning, June 2nd, 2016. Will you be

entering the workforce full-time; will you be enlisting in the military; or will you be going to a college,

technical school, or other training program? You need to make that decision now and then begin to

fulfill the requirements of this project.

Are you going to be seeking full-time employment (and this includes “taking a

year off after high school”) or joining the military? The following pages will lead

you through the things you need to do by April 21st, 2017:

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Table of Contents

Graduation Project Completion Checklist p. 4

Working Full-time (Steps in the Process) p. 5

Apprenticeships p. 6

Joining the Military p. 6

Your Cell Phone, Email, and Your Social Media p. 7

Dressing for Success p. 8

Telephone Tips to Help You in a Productive Job Search p. 8-12

Arranging a Job Shadowing Experience p. 13

Job Shadowing Worksheet (Pre-Job Shadow & Reflection) p. 14-16

Full-Time Employment Interview Reflection Worksheet p. 17

Mock Interview Reflection Worksheet p. 17

Sample Thank You Letter/Emails p. 18

Employer Interview Sign Off (Take This to Employment Interviews) p. 19

CareerLink Sign Off (Take This to Career Link) p. 20

Military Enlistment Sign Off (Your Recruiter Will Sign This) p. 21

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Seniors Seeking Full-Time Employment: Graduation Project 2015-16

Steps: Due Date Done

1. Decide Post-Secondary or Full-Time Employment Option Oct 14

2. Complete your Resume, Cover Letter, and Sample Applications see English Teacher 3. Complete your Personal Essay see English Teacher 4. Complete the On Your Own Project see Soc St Teacher 5. Do one of the following and complete the reflection activity:

Complete a Job Shadowing Experience April 21 Complete a Mock Interview March 23 Apply & Interview for Full-Time Employment May 13 Sign-up at Career Link April 21 Enlist in the Military April 21

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After High School, What Next?

Do you want to go to work full time or “take a year off”… i.e. work full time before going on to postsecondary ed?

You have several options to consider when deciding what to do next after graduating from high school. Here are some options:

Work full time Join the military Become an apprentice

Work Full Time

You may decide that you want to find full-time employment and start bringing home a regular paycheck. Certain things should be done before beginning the job hunt.

1. Discover your interests. Reflect on past part-time jobs, volunteer work, and everyday tasks that were enjoyable.

2. Explore job options. Find out what types of jobs are available to high school graduates who have little or no further training.

3. Job shadow. You can also informally talk to people who are currently working in jobs that might be of interest.

4. Network. Ask friends, family, and neighbors if they have any connections to help find a job. This may be the best way to find employment, because the majority of jobs are not advertised.

5. Write a resume. Be sure to stress education, part-time and summer jobs, clubs, and awards.

6. Locate job openings. Use a combination of the following resources:

Networking- family, friends, and neighbors employed in a career area of interest Pennsylvania CareerLink (Davis Street, Bradford 363-9100) www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us Local newspapers – Bradford Era, Olean Times Herald Internet (Probably more useful if seeking out of the area full time employment)

7. Apply for a job: This usually means submitting a cover letter, resume, and job application.

8. Prepare for the interview. Dress professionally, all tattoos covered, no hats, no jeans, no sneakers, get a haircut. Research the company and job before going on the interview. Also, rehearse some answers to possible interview questions.

9. Follow-up. Write a thank you note or email. This helps remind employers who you are and lets them know that you are still interested in the job.

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Apprentice

If you are applying for an apprenticeship instead of seeking other full time employment or attending another type of post secondary training, see a Career and Tech Teacher or your Guidance Counselor for more information on fulfilling the graduation project requirements.

An apprenticeship is a great option if you are interested in receiving supervised work experience, a classroom education, and a paycheck. An apprentice works with an experienced worker to learn a skilled trade in areas like carpentry, electrical, welding, or plumbing. The apprentice receives training both on the job and in the classroom.

Joint employer and labor groups, individual employers, and employer associations sponsor apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships generally last about four years, but range from one to six years. The pay that an apprentice receives increases progressively over time.

For more information, talk to one of our Career and Tech Teachers or contact:

- Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council or the apprenticeship coordinators listed on this page: http://www.pabuildingtrades.org/apprenticeship_coordinators.aspx

- The Labors’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania http://www.laborpa.org/apprenticeship.html

Join the Military The U.S. military has five separate services: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard,

Marine Corps, and Navy. The military trains people in many occupations. Each of the military services actively recruits for both enlisted and officer positions.

After basic training, enlistees will receive technical or job training. This training prepares the enlistee for a job in the military. Many military occupations involve skills that can be useful in civilian jobs. Service members receive basic pay, allowances, and benefits for serving in the military. Tuition assistance at colleges and universities is also available.

Each of the military services recruits independently and sets its own enlistment standards. However, the following general enlistment qualifications are the minimum standards set by the Department of Defense. Each service may choose to have higher standards than are listed here. Sometimes services make exceptions to these qualifications.

U.S. citizen or an immigrant legally admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence

18 years old or older (or age 17 with consent of parent or legal guardian) High school diploma Achieve minimum scores on the ASVAB test Good health and pass medical exam (minimum height, weight, and vision requirements

also exist) Good moral standards

For more information about joining the military, contact:

Air Force www.airforce.com

Army www.goarmy.com

Coast Guard www.uscg.mil

Marines

www.marines.com Navy

www.navy.com

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Your Cell Phone, Email, and Your Social Media

You should be aware that potential employers will be calling your cell phone and emailing you. You should

also realize that they may search for and view your social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

As part of the interview process they may even request that you grant them access to or show them the private

areas of your social media sites. You don’t have to grant it to them but failure to do so would probably have an

unfavorable interpretation by the employer.

As far as your cell phone:

If you have an unprofessional voicemail message or music on your cell phone or home phone, take it

off now!

Put a professional, friendly message on your answering machine. Expect that employers will be calling

you! Do not have a message that says “Hey you know what to do.”…beep or Heavy Metal, Hip Hop,

or Country music…beep

Instead, put something that says “Hello. This is John Smith. I’m not available. Please leave your

name and number and I will return your call.” Boring? Yes. Professional? Yes.

As far as your email:

- If your email is something like hotdudster/chick16701@yahoo.com, create another professional email.

For example, johnsmith@gmail.com Boring? Yes. Professional? Yes.

As far as your social media sites:

You may need to clean up your social media sites. If you have unprofessional postings, photos, or

other materials on your social media sites, take them off now!

A good rule of thumb to follow is the “grandmother rule.” If you wouldn’t want your grandmother to

see it, don’t post it on social media.

If you are seeking a more professional employment type situation such as an office assistant,

secretary, or salesperson, now is a good time to create a professional profile on Linkedin

http://www.linkedin.com/ or other similar sites. These are excellent tools to build connections and

present you abilities in the best professional fashion to potential employers.

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Dressing for Success

Anytime you present yourself to a potential employer, you should be dressed appropriately. One of the

biggest complaints we hear from local employers is that applicants drop off applications or come to

interviews and are not dressed professionally. This does not mean you need to dress in a business suit.

It does means you should be dressed in manner that shows that you are serious about obtaining

employment. It means the following:

- Clothing should be professional. Do not wear t-shirts, revealing blouses, short skirts, torn, ripped

jeans, or muddy, torn sneakers or boots to interviews or to drop off applications. Tie your shoes

or boots.

- All tattoos must be covered. All piercings must be removed.

Unprofessional dress, tattoos and piercings are major issues for many local employers. Remember, they

don’t have to accept you the way you are. You have to dress in a way that they and their customers find

acceptable. This isn’t how you express yourself to the world. It’s about finding employment.

Telephone Tips to Help You in a Productive Job Search

If you are like many job hunters, you may feel intimidated when faced with using the telephone. "Telephone

terror" can strike even the most outgoing person.

Learning to use the telephone to your advantage can help you conduct an efficient, productive and inexpensive

job search.

You can use your phone to:

Respond to newspaper ads

Call friends, relatives, acquaintances and any contacts who may have useful information for you about

finding a job

Gather information about companies and employers for whom you may want to work

Set up informational or research interviews

Make appointments for meetings and interviews

Follow up after sending a cover letter and resume or after an interview

General tips for using your phone

If you have an unprofessional voicemail message or music on your cell phone or home phone, take it

off now!

Know what you are going to say before you make the call. Be prepared for different responses and

plan your answers. Write out some sample scripts and practice them with a friend.

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Set a daily and weekly goal for the number of calls to make. The more calls you make, the more job

opportunities you will make for yourself.

Be prepared to take notes. Have a pen and paper handy.

Keep a copy of your resume by the phone when you make your calls. It will help you think of your skills

and positive attributes.

Sound confident and professional. Use language that demonstrates your enthusiasm and abilities.

Keep background noise to a minimum. Radios, televisions, barking dogs and crying children are

distracting to the person you are speaking to and yourself.

Practice before you make your calls. This may sound silly, but keep a mirror in front of you when you

talk on the phone. You will pay more attention to your image, smile more and this will carry into your

voice.

Again, put a professional, friendly message on your answering machine. Expect that employers will be

calling you! Not “Hey you know what to do.”…beep or Heavy Metal, Hip Hop, or Country music…beep

Instead “Hello. This is John Smith. I’m not available. Please leave your name and number and I will

return your call.”

Be prepared for "no’s" and don’t take them personally. You will meet them along the way in your job

search — your objective is to turn a "no" into a "yes.”

How to Respond to a Newspaper Ad

State your purpose directly when you are calling in response to a newspaper ad. Because you are replying to

an announced opening, you don’t need to skirt around the fact that you are looking for a job.

Call as quickly as you can in response to a want ad. Have a calendar handy and be ready to set a time and

date for meeting the employer, either to fill out an application or for an interview.

Employers may use the telephone to prescreen applicants. Be prepared to answer briefly any questions that

will get you the interview, but don’t let your conversation be the interview. Set up a face-to-face meeting time

and keep that appointment.

What you should say / What you should do:

"Hello. My name is Andy Applicant. I’m calling in response to your ad in today’s Bradford Era for a sales

associate opening."

Pause now. The person on the other end will probably make a statement, ask a question or transfer

the call. If you are transferred, restate your name and the purpose of your call to the person who

answers.

Then go on:

"I would like to arrange an interview for this position."

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Set a date to meet with the employer. Know where to go, who you will see and the exact time you

need to be there.

End your conversation with something like this:

"Thank you. I look forward to meeting you."

How to Make a Job Networking Phone Call

Most job openings are never advertised in the paper. As a job seeker, you have to discover these positions by

asking a lot of questions. Friends, relatives and acquaintances are valuable "networking" resources for career

information, job leads, and help in your employment search. Finding the right job also takes research to locate

companies/employers in your targeted career field and identify who you need to speak with.

What better way to track down information and job leads than using your phone? You can make dozens of calls

in a short period of time to find out who might be hiring and which companies in your community need

employees with your skills; to gather background information about employers; or to set a meeting time with a

friend to critique your resume and practice interviewing.

What you should say / What you should do:

The more calls you make, the more job opportunities you will learn about!

"Let me know if you hear about any job openings."

"Could you arrange for me to talk to your employer?"

Make a list of people that may be able to help you in your job search. Add to your list as you talk to

friends and relatives and get names of other possible contacts.

"Would you take a few copies of my resume and give them to people who might be interested?"

"Do you know anyone who works at ... ?"

"What is his/her name?"

"May I say you recommended that I talk with him/her?"

"Who makes the hiring decision for ... positions?"

"I need to sharpen my interviewing skills. Would you be willing to do a practice interview with me?"

"Have you heard of any companies that are hiring in this area?"

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"Who is the head of your personnel department?"

Using the Phone to Obtain a Job Interview

Your telephone can be a useful tool in generating job interviews, especially when you are trying to get

interviews for unadvertised positions. Most positions aren’t advertised.

This method of getting job interviews requires that you do research before you begin your calling. When you

have a job target in mind, identify which companies employ people with your skills. Compile a list of prospects

you can call. The more calls you make, the more interviews you will get!

Your next step is to find out who makes the hiring decisions. You can do this by placing a call to a company’s

main telephone number. Ask for the person you need to speak to by job title and department (i.e. manager of

purchasing, supervisor of the machine shop, or vice president of engineering). Write down the correct spelling

of the individual’s name, title, and direct telephone number. If you are uncertain with whom you need to speak,

ask for the full name, title and direct telephone of the person who makes hiring decisions for the department or

position you are interested in. Then make a second call to the person with hiring authority.

Call until you reach the person who makes hiring decisions. Do not leave a message, or you will be left waiting

for the phone to ring. When you get through to the employer, communicate that you have something of value to

offer him/her. State that you want to meet to discuss what you can specifically do to benefit the company.

Within the first minute of the conversation, say something about yourself you think is directly related to the

needs of that particular employer. To establish your credibility, use the name of a person, organization, product,

etc., that will be familiar to the employer.

If the employer agrees to meet with you, set a date, time and place.

Bring a copy of your resume, a list of references, letters of recommendation, samples of your work and a list of

questions to ask employers at this meeting. Emphasize how your skills, abilities and accomplishments would

make you an excellent employee.

Example: Getting a Job Interview

Wendy Wantajob is looking for a position as a customer service or claims representative. She has done

research and talked to friends and acquaintances in her community to identify which companies may have

interesting career opportunities for her.

Although none of the companies Wendy has researched have openings listed in the newspaper, Wendy has

started a calling campaign to set up interviews for employment possibilities. Wendy dials the main line of a

company she wants to obtain an interview with.

What you should say / What you should do:

Main line: "Thank you for calling ABC Insurance Company. How may I help you?"

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Wendy: "Hello. My name is Wenndy Wantajob. Could I please have the name, title and direct number of

the person responsible for hiring claims representatives?"

Main line: "Yes, that would be Paula Premium, claims processing supervisor, at 555-4567, extension

890."

Wendy: "Thank you."

Hang up and redial the direct number.

Wendy: "Hello, Ms. Premium. My name is Wendy Wantajob. I’m very interested in your company. At

Bradford Area High School, I took classes in data entry and word processing. I have two Microsoft

Office Specialist Certifications. In my part time job, I handled telephone inquiries. I’m very dependable

and organized. When would be a good time to meet to further discuss my qualifications?"

If the employer agrees to meet with you, set a date, time and place.

Ms. Premium: "Well, Wendy, our company is looking for a claims processor. Could you come in next

Wednesday at 11 to discuss the position and your qualifications?"

Wendy: "Yes, I’d be pleased to meet with you next Wednesday."

Ms. Premium: "Just check in with the receptionist at the front desk. She’ll let me know you’re here. I

look forward to meeting you."

Listen carefully Write down the details of what to do, where, when.

Wendy: "Thank you for your time, Ms. Premium. I’ll see you next week."

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Arranging a Job Shadowing Experience Telephone Etiquette

You must be professional when setting up a job shadowing experience. Remember, this is not only a job

shadowing experience, but also potentially an interview for a permanent job. Your phone etiquette will

go a long way in determining whether you are invited to job shadow. Your professionalism during the

job shadow may lead to employment with the company.

Telephone Etiquette

1. Say “hello” and note the name of the person you are speaking with.

2. Introduce yourself and explain why you are calling and with whom you wish to speak.

3. Request an appointment for a job shadow. If the person with whom you are speaking cannot

schedule one, request suggestions for other people in the company or other individuals in

similar jobs in other companies who might be able to help you.

4. Thank the person with whom you are speaking. Confirm spelling of all names, company

address, telephone numbers, and date/time of the job shadow.

5. Be polite, patient, and professional.

Example

“Hello, my name is……. I am calling about arranging a job shadowing experience with your company. I

am interested in working in (your career interest area). This job shadow would be part of my graduation

project at Bradford Area High School. Is there a specific person I could speak to about this?”

“Thank you. May I have the person’s name and telephone number, please? Do they have an email

address?”

“Thank you. You have been very helpful. I appreciate your time.”

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Bradford Area High School Job Shadowing Worksheet

Prepare

Name of Job Shadow Mentor: ____________________________________________________

Employer: _____________________________________________________________________

Describe what the organization does:_______________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Career: __________________________________ Career Cluster:_______________________

Date of Job Shadow: ___________________

Prepare at least six questions to ask your job shadow mentor about tasks, skills, education,

training, and career paths that will help you learn more about this career. Have your

graduation project advisor pre-approve these questions before you go to the job shadow.

1. ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

6. ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Graduation Project Advisor’s Pre-approval signature: ____________________ Date: _________

****Continued on the Back ***Continued on the back

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Observe

1. Describe the work environment:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. Describe the technologies, tools, and machines that are part of the work:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Describe the academic skills needed to perform this work:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

4. Describe the job-specific skills needed to perform this work:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

5. Ask your job shadow mentor the questions you prepared ahead of time. Record these

answers on a separate sheet of paper and attach it here:

Job Shadow Mentor Feedback

Ask the job shadow mentor to assess whether you displayed these skills/qualities:

Preparation yes/no Professional Demeanor/Appearance yes/no

Communications Skills yes/no Interest/Enthusiasm yes/no

Job Shadow Mentor Signature: ______________________________________ Date: ________

Contact Information: ____________________________________________________________

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Assess

1. What parts of this career were most interesting, new, and/or exciting to you?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. Based on what you saw today, would you seek employment in this career? Why or why not?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Send a thank you note to your job shadow mentor thanking them for their help and

explaining what you learned. Attach a copy here:

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Full-Time Employment Interview/Mock Interview Reflection:

Write a two page reflection on your full-time employment interview or mock interview. Discuss the

following:

1A. If you interviewed for full time employment, why did you choose this company? What research did

you do before you applied? What are three things you learned about the company prior to your

interview?

1B. If you attended a mock interview, what is your career goal? Is this job a high priority occupation?

What companies locally employ workers in this area? If there are no local employers, what companies

regionally/nationally employ workers in this area? If you could apply to work at one of these

companies, which one? Why?

2. Which questions were surprises to you? Which questions were difficult to answer? Why?

3. Which questions were you comfortable answering? Which questions were not difficult to answer?

Why?

4. If you had to rate yourself on a scale from 1 to 5, how do you think you performed in this interview?

Why?

5. What are three things you learned from this interview?

6. What are three things you will work to improve before you interview again? (If you have been offered

a full time job, congratulations! However, you still have to answer this question.)

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Sample Thank You Letter

<today’s date> Ms. Jane Smith Operations Manager XYZ Machining 10099 Interstate Parkway Bradford, PA 16701 Dear Ms. Smith: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to shadow you at XYZ Machining. You’ve provided me with valuable experience toward my goal of becoming a machinist. I found it interesting to learn more about <Discuss two or three things you learned about the company or the job.> I found your company to be an interesting place to work. Please consider me if you have a need for full, part-time, or summer employees. Again, thank you for taking the time to allow me to shadow you. I appreciate this. If you need to contact me for any reason; I can be reached at 814-598-5555 or at my email address myprofessionalemail@gmail.com Sincerely, Sign here in black or blue ink Ms. Abigal Doe 999 Interstate Parkway Bradford, PA 16701

Sample Thank You Email

Dear Ms. Smith: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to shadow you at XYZ Machining. You’ve provided me with valuable experience toward my goal of becoming a machinist. I found it interesting to learn more about <Discuss two or three things you learned about the company or the job.> I found your company to be an interesting place to work. Please consider me if you have a need for full, part-time, or summer employees. Again, thank you for taking the time to allow me to shadow you. I appreciate this. If you need to contact me for any reason; I can be reached at 814-598-5555 or at my email address myprofessionalemail@gmail.com Sincerely, Ms. Abigal Doe

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B

radford Area School District

Bradford Area High School • 81 Interstate Parkway • Bradford, PA 16701 Telephone: 814-362-3845 Fax: 814-362-1765

“No member of our team is more important than the students we serve” David Ray – Principal

All Bradford Area High School students must complete a graduation project in order to receive a

diploma. One optional component of this project is a search for full-time employment immediately after

high school. As part of this requirement the student must complete the application and interview

process with an employer.

Would you please verify that you have received an application and interviewed our student for full-time

employment? The student is not expected to obtain full-time employment, only apply and interview.

We do not need to know if our student was hired.

I have received an employment application and interviewed your student for a full-time position with

our company:

Name ________________________________________________________________

Company/Employer _____________________________________________________

Contact Address, phone, email _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Signature _______________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact me at

dray@bradfordareaschools.org or 814-362-3845 extension 5023.

Sincerely,

David Ray Principal, Bradford Area High School

Employment Interview Sign Off Page

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B

radford Area School District

Bradford Area High School • 81 Interstate Parkway • Bradford, PA 16701 Telephone: 814-362-3845 Fax: 814-362-1765

“No member of our team is more important than the students we serve” David Ray – Principal

All Bradford Area High School students must complete a graduation project in order to receive a

diploma. One optional component of this project is a search for full-time employment immediately after

high school by seeking the assistance of Career Link and the Commonwealth Workforce Development

System. Would you please verify that our student has initiated this contact and is currently using the

CWDS, as well as other Career Link Services in a search for employment?

Name ________________________________________________________________

Signature _______________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact me at

dray@bradfordareaschools.org or 814-362-3845 extension 5023.

Sincerely,

David Ray Principal, Bradford Area High School

Career Link Sign Off Page

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B

radford Area School District

Bradford Area High School • 81 Interstate Parkway • Bradford, PA 16701 Telephone: 814-362-3845 Fax: 814-362-1765

“No member of our team is more important than the students we serve” David Ray – Principal

All Bradford Area High School students must complete a graduation project in order to receive a

diploma. One optional component of this project is enlistment in the Armed Forces immediately after

high school. Would you please verify that our student has completed the enlistment process?

Name ________________________________________________________________

Branch of Service________________________________________________________

Contact Address, phone, email _____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Signature _______________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact me at

dray@bradfordareaschools.org or 814-362-3845 extension 5023.

Sincerely,

David Ray Principal, Bradford Area High School

Military Enlistment Sign Off Page

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Good Luck! Remember, obtaining a job is not an easy process. The more persistent you are the better chance you have of success. Remember to:

- Network. - Get your life in professional order.

(i.e. Your Cell Phone, Email, and Social Media Sites) - Dress for success. - Research potential employers. - Be professional on the phone, with your

emails, and in-person. - Practice before you interview. - And again, be persistent!