Real World Unit: Part II

The Interview

Update our Resumes Create a Cover Letter Learn the “To Do and “Not to Do” of

Interviews Practice Interview Questions Participate in a real-life interview (in

conjunction with Single Living) on May 4th Write a Thank You letter

In this unit we will:

SIZE OF U.S. WORKFORCE    Age 16 and older, in millions

1988 -121.7 1998 -137.7 2008 -154.3 2018 -166.9

EMPLOYMENT BY AGE, 1988-2018: Age 16 and older

1988-2008: Increased 27% 1988-2018: Projected increase 37%       Age 65 and older 1988-2008: Increased 90% 2008-2018: Projected increase 78% 1988-2018: Projected increase 238%

Why?

(Overman 75)

“If you've been pinning your job-search hopes on the conventional wisdom that employment gains follow an economic recovery, you have a problem right now. The so-called Great Recession has been over for almost two years, but unemployment remains about where it was before the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) declared that the recovery had begun” (Cavanaugh 70).

“The economy would need to be creating about 150,000 jobs a month just to keep up with population growth. Instead, nonfarm payroll job creation averaged 94,000 per month from January 2010 to January 2011. At the beginning of this year, the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, analyzing Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers, calculated how people are leaving unemployment. It found that more (22 percent and rising) are going from "unemployed to not in labor force" than are going from "unemployed to employed" (17 percent and falling)” (Cavanaugh 70).

March 2011 – 9.2% (All of US)◦ PA - 8%◦ NY – 8%

Current Unemployment Rate:

Requirements: To show up to school. Skipping does NOT get you out of the

interview. I will find someone to interview you. This is a grade. But it is more importantly a rare opportunity to practice a life-skill that WILL impact your life sometime in the future.

* Be dressed to impress, with all that we will talk about. At LEAST khaki’s and a nice shirt. You may change before your scheduled interview, or bring clothes to change into afterwards. If you are not dressed appropriately, you will not be allowed to interview and you will have to make it up on your own time.

*A Cover Letter (specific for this job) and a Resume printed on decent quality paper for the interviewer.

*A Cover letter, information about the company attached to the cover letter, and a Resume for me to grade, with the Rubric attached. (-5 points for turning in without a rubric.) Due 5/4

Resume - Refresh the resume we wrote at the beginning of the year

Be Sure to double check the following:

Address changes

Do you know which college you will be attending? You can add that under Education starting with Fall 2011

Have you added any jobs or volunteer experiences this year?

Are your contacts still viable?

Step 1: Resumes and Cover Letters

Cover Letter Basics Your cover letter is a potential employer’s first impression

of you and can be the most vital part of the application packet. A well written letter entices the employer to read your resume. A poorly constructed cover letter may doom your resume to the “No Need to Read” pile.

It is important to highlight your skills, knowledge, and experience.

Researching the employer and/or job position prior to writing the cover letter will give you the opportunity to effectively personalize your letter.

Open Microsoft Word Under ‘home’ icon, click on “new” Scroll down left hand side – click on Letters Choose Cover Letters Pick a template (something “Entry-Level” would be good) Download SAVE Add your information and modify as necessary to fit your needs. Some things to consider: *Avoid Graphics *ONLY Black type * You will need to know the name, company, and position you are interviewing

for to complete this. We will get that information on_____________. Once you do, I would like you to do some research about that company before you finish your cover letter. Print off some information from their website and attach to the cover letter to turn into me on Wednesday 5/4.

Creating the Cover Letter

Some things to consider:

*Avoid Graphics

*ONLY Black type

Use Good Paper/Printer

* You will need to know the name, company, and position you are interviewing for to complete this. We will get that information soon. Once you do, I would like you to do some research about that company before you finish your cover letter. Print off some information from their website and attach to the cover letter to turn into me on Wednesday 5/4.

Cavanaugh, Tim. "The All-New Failure of the New Economics." Reason 43.1 (2011): 70-1. OmniFile Full Text Select. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

Overman, Stephenie. "Workforce Trends." HRMagazine 55.12 (2010): 75. OmniFile Full Text Select. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

“Unemployment rate.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 20 Apr 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2011.

Works Cited