Check out the Creative Job Search guide, which has helped tens of thousands of people prepare for and launch a successful job search. Updated in 2024, the guide includes the latest tips for online and in-person networking, guidance on how to develop resume content that will get you through applicant tracking software screening, ways to prepare for tough interview questions and much, much more.
2024 Edition
CREATIVE job search
CREATIVE JOB SEARCH
CONTENTS
4
CAREER PLANNING
12
PREPARING FOR THE JOB SEARCH
24
IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS
42
JOB SEARCH TOOLS
88
APPLICATIONS, REFERENCES & PORTFOLIOS
106
HOW PEOPLE FIND WORK
130
USING THE INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA
142
FINDING EMPLOYMENT AFTER 55
152
THE JOB INTERVIEW
180
FINISHING TOUCHES
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1 CAREER
PLANNING
4
1: CAREER PLANNING
What are you going to do with the rest of your life? That’s a good question to ponder at any age. It’s probably on your mind if you are reading Creative Job Search, attending a job search class or in a job that you don’t like but cannot afford to leave — just yet. If you are unemployed you have some decisions to make, especially if you work in a career field where the employment opportunities are diminishing. This is also a relevant question if you’re a recent college graduate or just aren’t sure your career is headed in the right direction. Planning should even be embraced by job seekers who like their careers but may need to consider where they want to go for their next job. After all, with the rapid advances in technology and many other changes, the employment you have today could end and you might have to shift to a new profession. Career planning requires thoughtful consideration. Should you consider a new career or continue to look for opportunities in your field? We’ll try to address some of these questions in this chapter to help you decide what comes next.
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DEALING WITH JOB LOSS People who have lost their jobs potentially face significant emotional, psychological, financial and physical challenges. It is an unpleasant and difficult situation to be in. Job loss can impact nearly every aspect of a person’s life, from spending habits to self-esteem. It can spark ambition or extinguish it. It can turn job seekers into small-business owners or consultants. How anyone will handle a job loss cannot always be predicted. Most people will need some time to bounce back.
FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF UNEMPLOYMENT Minnesotans can find out how to apply for unemployment benefits by logging on to www.uimn.org . Residents of other states can visit www. careeronestop.org/reemployment for information about unemployment insurance. If applicable, try to get health coverage through your spouse’s employer or your parents. If that is not an option, sign up for COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), which gives workers who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue individual or family group health benefits provided by their former employer’s group health plan for a limited period of time under certain circumstances. Be prepared for added expenses because you will be paying the full cost of the insurance without any funding from your former employer. If your COBRA ends or if you do not have the option for COBRA coverage and you are a Minnesota resident, then another option is Minnesota’s online health care insurance exchange, www.mnsure.org .
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1: CAREER PLANNING
Using MNsure, you can search for health insurance options according to ZIP code and other criteria. If you are not a Minnesota resident, visit the federal government health care insurance exchange website, www.healthcare.gov . Should you receive a severance package, use it carefully. You have no idea how long you will remain unemployed. The key is to budget your money. How much do your mortgage, rent, food, insurance, entertainment and transportation cost? What can you live without? Being unemployed may force some hard choices about getting rid of certain expenses and may also limit your entertainment options.
A strategy going forward is to cut unnecessary costs early on just in case unemployment lasts longer than you expected.
PHYSICAL CHALLENGES Unemployment can cause health issues due to the stress and uncertainty of being without a job. How can you avoid that? Start an exercise routine to keep your body in shape. Now might not be the time to pay for a gym membership. Check into what is available for free in your community, from the local rec center to walking and biking trails near you. Job seekers tend to spend all day looking for work, making networking calls, attending job search workshops - and then fit in exercise if there is any time left. Dedicating some time every day to care for yourself physically will pay off by keeping you healthy and energized during your job search.
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CAREER PLANNING STRATEGIES
Making your next move demands self-examination and research before setting a career goal. Now is the time to look at what you’ve done and where you’d like to go, as well as what you need to do to get there, before starting the next chapter of your career.
A disorganized approach to job seeking could lead to frustration and disappointment rather than a focus on a new career.
One simple step you can take in this direction is conducting a self- assessment. You can do this at one of the many CareerForce locations throughout the state, or online through assessments available on www.careerforcemn.com/online-tools , www.mynextmove.org and other websites. Taking an assessment can show you which occupations match the skills categories you score strongest in. A good self-assessment helps you identify your interests, skills, preferred environments, motivations, work experience, training needs, and your current work and financial status. These areas give definition to your career search. Do you want a job with great regularity and little change, one with or without travel, with a large company, or a small one? Do you like working in an environment where creativity is rewarded or where duties are strictly defined? Also, you may want to decide if you can afford a new career as that may require an investment in training or education. These are just some questions you will want to answer prior to thinking about heading in a new direction. Taking self-assessments can help to guide you in which way to go.
8
TIME FOR HOMEWORK
FILLING SKILL GAPS
MAKING A MOVE, OR NOT In many cases staying in your current career field will be a wise choice. Not everyone can, or should, start a new career. If you make the decision to start on a new career path, make sure you have a game plan to overcome the obstacles that may come your way. Before you dive in to all that would be required to start a new career, make sure to do your research. Many jobseekers use a tactic called “Informational Interviewing” to ask questions of people in industries of interest to see if they are the right fit.
Equipped with a greater sense of yourself through your self-assessment, you now should start thoughtful research into your career options. We’ll share some ideas for a successful search in Chapter 2 . You will also be able to identify what additional training may be needed to switch careers. Determine the demand for occupations you find interesting. You can find demand information via the searchable Explore Careers tool on Careerforce MN.com . Be aware that what interests you most isn’t always a viable option. Understand that a new career may sometimes entail considerable financial investment due to retraining costs.
Once you have determined what career path you want to pursue, you may find that you lack the knowledge or skills needed for you to find employment. Let’s say you sold medical products to hospitals for several years and want to transition into a role where you’re a care provider, such as Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse. You will need additional schooling in order to make that transition. Perhaps you seek to advance within your current career path. Someone who has worked within the Maintenance Custodial industry may find additional opportunities once they invest in obtaining a specialized license (boiler engineer or pool operator, as examples). Determine what combination of education, license or certifications might be needed to advance in your current field or to change careers. With the increasing availability of online training and certification options for some of these courses and degrees, many careers can be enhanced without ever leaving your home. Make sure to check with your local CareerForce location to determine if you are eligible for dislocated worker services. If you qualify, you may be able to obtain funding for certain training opportunities in high-demand career fields.
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NOTES
10
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2 PREPARING FOR THE JOB SEARCH
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2: PREPARING FOR THE JOB SEARCH
GETTING ORGANIZED Managing your schedule and establishing measurable goals are important parts to a successful job search. For example, commit a block of time every day to identifying job opportunities you would like to apply for. The toughest thing about staying motivated while unemployed can be the lack of accountability to anyone but yourself. That’s why joining a job club, networking group or reporting progress to a friend, spouse or partner makes sense. It’s relatively easy to get sidetracked during a job search by spending valuable hours surfing the internet. Filling an eight-hour workday without a job can be remarkably easy. Of course, all work and no play can be counterproductive. If you have reached out to 20 employers during a week and had a few networking events and interviews, offer yourself a reward that involves something you enjoy doing. You will then be able to get back to your job search schedule with renewed energy. Keeping Records During times of low unemployment or if you are applying for a position for which many employers are hiring, you may get hired by the first employer you contact. Still, if you want to explore your options, you’ll want to at least keep track of the pros and cons of all your potential employment opportunities before you make a selection.
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However, during times of higher unemployment, or if you are interested in a very particular type of work that is in lower demand or has higher educational and experience requirements, your job search can take weeks or even months. If you are engaged in the second type of job search described above, you may make hundreds of contacts and generate dozens of leads for part- time and full-time work. You need to maintain a system to track the status of your job leads, whom you’ve contacted and next steps. There are many ways you can organize your job search information, from a spreadsheet on your computer or in the cloud, on a phone app, or in a good old-fashioned alphabetized three-ring binder or notebook. Choose the system that makes the most sense to you. Keep records of when you make contacts, whom you called or emailed and their contact info. Just because a company turned you down for one position doesn’t mean it won’t become a prospect in the future – and your previous contacts could be helpful. The networking and informational calls you make to potential employers will create the need to send out resumes. The resumes you send out will require follow-up calls. If you don’t keep good records, it would be very easy to inadvertently let important opportunities fall through the cracks. RESEARCHING EMPLOYERS Now that you have a plan for organizing your job search you can begin research to find openings and employers that interest you. Through this process, you will gain a better understanding of job availability, company culture, and potential growth opportunities within an organization.
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When beginning your research, start gathering information on specific occupations, industries, individual companies and job availability in your area that interest you and align with your career goals. Your research will naturally become more specific as you gain momentum. Company websites, career information resources like CareerForceMN.com or CareerOneStop.org , and job search websites, also known as online job boards, are all good resources for discovering what experience, training and knowledge are required by employers. What should you look for? Study a company’s products or services, size, history, locations (especially in relationship to where you live or want to live), mission statement or philosophy and financial situation, as well as the potential for growth. Find out what changes the employer has undergone in the last five years. You can also try to find out about the company’s human resources policies and whether they align with what you are seeking. From flex time to the ability to work remotely, there are many variables outside of wage considerations that will affect your decisions. Finally, read local media stories about new or expanding businesses. Search for stories about plant expansions, new product rollouts and open house events in your area. A company’s plans to expand its workforce may show up in a press release or news story but not on an online job search website. Bringing up researched information during an interview can prove that you’re interested in more than just the salary offered. Companies not only appreciate that you found them through your research, but they are equally impressed when you display knowledge about their recent actions and important current topics within their industries.
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RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH
LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF THE MANY RESOURCES THAT HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT EMPLOYERS. » Minnesota CareerForce Locations » People working with the employer » Clients/ Customers » Vendors » Employees » Newspapers, trade journals and business magazines
» Employer websites - Pay special attention to the “About Us” content » Articles on the internet containing information that relates to industries, occupations or employers » Social networking platforms, blogs and internal company websites (for employees seeking advancement with their current employer) » Libraries, which may have special sections on occupations, careers and job search information, article databases, business publications, business directories and other resources » College placement offices and alumni associations » Chamber of Commerce or Jaycees » Press releases and company’s annual reports » Employer newsletters and brochures available from the employer’s public relations office or human resources department
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2: PREPARING FOR THE JOB SEARCH
If you want to contact a company representative directly as part of your research, try to make a connection through someone you already know when contacting that representative: “Jim Schmidt told me to give you a call. I’m interested in working at 3M and want to learn more about the company’s culture”. Better yet, ask your contact to reach out to a company representative on your behalf and make an introduction so that person is expecting your call. When sending an email or leaving a voicemail, be clear, precise and tell the individual you will not take up more than a few minutes of their time. Ask for their availability so you can set a phone call or virtual meeting that works with their schedule. Keep in mind not everyone will tell the truth about their employer to a total stranger, even one recommended by a friend. At the very least, if you are able to talk with someone, you will be able to introduce yourself and give a little background about why you are interested in learning about their company. Data Specific Resources If you know the specific occupation or line of work that interests you, you can find Minnesota-specific information on CareerForceMN.com ( www. careerforcemn.com/explore/careers ) or visit the DEED Data for Job Seekers page ( www.mn.gov/deed/data/lmi-job-seekers ) For nationwide information visit www.careeronestop.org . If you are looking for information about companies that interest you, visit their websites, do an internet search on news or other information about companies of interest, or consult the Business Source Premiere database on the Minitex Library Information Network ( elibrarymn.org/business ) for more information.
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Don’t have access to the internet or need reference materials? Then visit a CareerForce location near you, a public library, or a nearby public technical school, college or university. You will want to call first to find what materials are available and if there is public computer access. If you plan to visit a local public library, ask if a CareerForce Corner is located there and if so, what hours a CareerForce staff person is available there.
LABOR MARKET INFORMATION SOURCES » Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development , Research and Statistics Labor Market Information (Data for Job Seekers) mn.gov/deed/data/lmi-job-seekers » CareerOneStop ( www.careeronestop.org ) CareerOneStop is a career, training, and job search website from the U.S. Department of Labor » Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov » Occupational Information Network (O*Net) www.onetonline.org
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Small Market Research If you live in a small or medium-sized city and want to work nearby, the kind of extensive research described in this chapter may not be necessary. You probably already know a lot about the local employers – and you may know someone who works where you want to work. The best basic research you can do is to get the names of small employers, study their websites and see if they post their open positions. If the management team is listed, take a look and see if you recognize any names. In a small town they may live down the street, be members of your house of worship or have children at your school. Even if you don’t know
them, use your networking contacts for an introduction. Small town employers may be more open to a chat with a job seeker than their larger corporate counterparts. As a last result, cold calling, emailing or just stopping by can sometimes lead to an opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer. Another research source is the website of your local newspaper and the closest regional newspaper. On those sites you can usually do searches of companies and see what stories have been written about them. Finally, the best research for job seekers in smaller communities comes in networking with friends, family, neighbors and other acquaintances. Smaller markets have the same advantage and disadvantage: a limited number of employers that you will have to research and contact, yet a smaller number of available jobs.
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Minnesota’s Online Labor Exchange MinnesotaWorks.net is an internet-based self-service system where employers and job seekers can find each other. This site is supported by employer tax dollars and there is no fee for job seekers to use this service. With a free online account, job seekers can post up to five resumes to be searched by employers. They can also search for job openings and be contacted by e-mail when new job postings meeting their search criteria are found by the system. Employers can post job openings, after they create an account. They can also search for job candidates, recruit job seekers online, and elect to receive emails when new resumes are found that match their requirements.
Minnesota’s current online labor exchange will be replaced soon with a new mobile-friendly and fully accessible platform.
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JOB SEARCH SCHEDULE
WEEK OF _________________________
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY
8:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M.
11:00 A.M.
12:00 P.M.
1:00 P.M.
2:00 P.M.
3:00 P.M.
4:00 P.M.
5:00 P.M.
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2: PREPARING FOR THE JOB SEARCH
JOB LEAD
No matter where you get your job leads, it is important to keep track of them. Follow up on each lead. They may provide you with other job leads. Ask for other contacts or leads.
EMPLOYER:
CONTACT PERSON:
POSTAL ADDRESS:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
PHONE/FAX:
COMPANY WEBSITE:
POSITION:
SOURCE OF JOB LEAD:
RESPONSE:
DATE RESUME SENT:
FOLLOW-UP DATE:
RESULTS AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION:
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NOTES
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3 IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS
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3: IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS
Highlighting your skills in resumes, cover letters and interviews is the foundation of a successful job search.
Employers want to know more information than just your past job titles. They want to know your talents and what you have done with them. Think of it this way: if you were to purchase a product that would cost thousands of dollars annually, you would want to know how its features could benefit you. Employers want to do the same before they hire a person. Many people have a hard time identifying their skills. Don’t think of a skill as solely something that requires years of formal education and experience to develop. A skill is something you are doing right now in your life. Studies have shown that average person has between 500 and 800 identifiable skills. While this is an impressive figure, no employer will want to hear every one of them. Instead, you need to identify at least 10 to 20 employer- attracting skills you possess that are worthy of mention. The next step is to offer proof of those skills by creating impactful accomplishment statements on your resume. (Learn how to create these statements in chapter 4) . There’s a method for identifying, describing, and effectively communicating your skills to your employers. In this chapter we’ll focus on the first two steps in that method: identifying and describing your skills.
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IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS: WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT?
One way to think about skills is to consider yourself a product and employers as consumers. What skills are going to be of use in a particular job or company? What product attributes do you bring to the table? What problems can you solve for an employer?
Think hard about your career, life and interests and then examine the lists on the following pages to guide you in your skill-identifying process.
Take a good look at yourself. Consider your personality. Are you punctual, dependable, creative, independent, flexible and ambitious? Congratulations, you just identified six skills.
How about working in an office on a computer? That’s not just one skill, it’s many: keyboarding, data entry, writing, editing and meeting deadlines.
A computer programmer troubleshooting a network failure uses proofreading skills to find errors in computer codes. A cook uses cleaning and slicing skills to prepare vegetables.
To complete tasks during our daily lives, we balance checking accounts, manage budgets, shop and drive.
Those are all skills. » Many skills learned through work and daily activities can be noted on resumes and during interviews. Not all skills are relevant for all positions but knowing what skills you have to offer allows you to determine what to market to specific employers.
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Hard Skills Hard skills are skills specific to a job or occupation. An administrative assistant is skilled in data entry, word processing, filing, answering telephones and composing emails. An accountant’s skills include calculating accounts receivable and payable, preparing taxes and using accounting software. A marketer’s skills revolve around working with creative teams, developing plans for product rollouts, presenting work in front of clients, working with various vendors and meeting deadlines. Job skills are important to employers because they are often looking for individuals with specific talents. For example, an employer may require a successful job candidate to have knowledge of certain software programs, a license to drive a class of vehicle or certification to operate a particular piece of machinery. Marketing those specific job skills to the right employer will increase your chances of employment.
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Soft Skills There are many skills that aren’t tied to a specific certification or skillset for a particular position. These are soft skills or emotional intelligence skills. For example, most employers seek out a candidate who is a team player, learns quickly, requires minimal supervision, enjoys challenges, pursues goals, and has an agreeable personality.
There are four key areas of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self- management, social awareness and relationship management. Are you able to manage your own emotions and instinctively understand or detect those of colleagues, friends and acquaintances? If so, you may possess emotional intelligence, which is another skillset that is important to effectively communicate with co-workers and customers. Emotional intelligence isn’t just essential in the workplace, it’s also an important trait to possess during the job hunt, especially when setbacks occur. Being able to find the energy to send out one more resume, make one more call, or attend one more networking event, speaks not only to persistence but to the ability to manage your own emotions. Job hunting can be stressful and staying positive and engaged in the process can be difficult. This requires emotional intelligence and it can be the key to your success. Examples include sincerity, reliability, tactfulness, patience, flexibility, timeliness, tolerance, motivation, persistence, drive and cooperation. Make sure to include some of these skills on your resume, especially if they show motivation and a good work attitude.
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Transferable Skills Many talents can be applied to a variety of activities. Many hard and soft skills are transferable from one type of position to another. If you can operate a drill press, you likely have skills to operate other types of machinery. If you can balance a personal bank account, you have some of the math skills required to balance a business account. If you coordinate events, lead meetings, participate on teams or get involved in community activities, you have several leadership qualities that could transfer to a job. Transferable skills are talents developed within your previous employment, volunteer work or hobbies. For job seekers who want to try a different career, transferable skills will play a large part on their resumes. This is because their work histories alone might not convince employers they can perform in a new environment. The transferable skills they describe on their resumes will have to offer a compelling argument for their consideration. That makes transferable skills important for many reasons. Many job seekers are unlikely to find a job identical to their previous employment; therefore, carefully evaluating how your skills transfer into other opportunities is critical. People seeking their first job, making a major career change, or returning to employment after a long absence will most likely use transferable skills in their job search.
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES: Data entry, word processing, tactfulness, timeliness, responsible, creative, dependable, detail-oriented, sincere, meeting deadlines, communicating, helping others, problem solving, checking for accuracy, researching, writing clearly and concisely. CALL CENTER CUSTOMER SERVICE: Listening, mediating, communicating, resolving conflict, developing rapport, assertiveness, dependable, outgoing, pleasant, sensitive, tolerant, detail-oriented, enthusiastic, friendly, kind, patient, sincere, tactful, understanding. YARD WORK/LAWN CARE: Physical endurance/ coordination, equipment maintenance, safety operations, chemical applications, goal setting. IDENTIFYING HARD & SOFT SKILLS USED IN DAILY ACTIVITIES
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FOUR STEPS TOWARD IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS
STEP 1
STEP 2
Write the title of an employment- related activity. Focus on those activities that potentially demonstrate skill and experience relative to employment. These activities don’t need to be limited to paid employment, you can also use examples from volunteer opportunities or other unpaid work. Example: Book Keeping
List the tasks involved in performing this activity. Tasks are the basic functions of an activity. Example: Balance Checkbook
STEP 3
STEP 4
List the skills involved in accomplishing each task. Be sure to include job, self-management, and transferable skills. Example: Math, Reading, Computer Literacy.
Network with friends, associates, and family. Ask them what skills they see that you have. Others may find value in skills that you just take for granted.
Developing Skills While Looking for a Job There are many reasons to volunteer, but when you are job searching, it is a great opportunity to develop new skills and to network. There are potentially many community organizations in your area that could benefit from your experience. Volunteer opportunities can also help to fill the gap in employment history you experience while unemployed. Most communities have an organization that helps people find volunteer opportunities. A localized internet search will usually display dozens of options for organizations in need. You can also check your community newspaper for volunteer opportunities.
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PERSONAL BRAND Use the skills you have identified to develop what is called a “personal brand.” When you have a personal brand; you are an individual with unique experiences and abilities.
Savvy job seekers will work to develop their personal brand by asking: “What makes me unique? How can I convince employers I am the best candidate for this job?”
Personal branding is valuable to a job search because it helps you define who you are – and set you apart from other candidates. Simply, it is the process by which individuals identify and communicate their unique skills to others. How do you want people to identify you? Are you the Realtor who is the most up to date with online strategies? Are you the go-to customer service rep when your organization has to deal with a challenging customer? Once you define your brand, how do you market it? One option is creating a LinkedIn profile that concentrates on the information you want people to know about you. Another option is to have a standard response when introductions are being made and you are asked “What do you do?” This is an opportunity to introduce your brand, so be prepared for it. When appropriate, hand out business cards that state your brand and include contact information. If you wish, list the social networking sites you use so that contacts can “friend” you or become your follower. Ensure that the information you share on social media is consistent with your personal brand and professional. Many people’s social media accounts include personal content that can blur their personal brand message and diminish the impact they are trying to create.
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Developing and maintaining your personal brand isn’t just something you do at one moment in time, but a career-long responsibility. While a personal brand is helpful during your job search, you need to continue to refresh it even after you have won a new job. Make sure your social media accounts, business cards and other personal brand tools are always honest and updated. Your personal brand will evolve as you gain new skills. But take care not to spend company time updating your LinkedIn profile or otherwise promoting your personal brand, this is not appropriate on the job and can be cause for disciplinary action. A Final Note on Personal Branding Many people have become web-savvy and are self-promoters of their personal brand on the internet. But before you start posting videos on YouTube promoting yourself or attempt to become an Instagram influencer, ask yourself: Are others in your field engaged in such highly public personal branding? If not, and if you’re not going into self-employed consulting, it may be better to skip the videos and other public self-promotion and focus on promoting your personal brand in other more traditional spaces such as at networking events, on LinkedIn and through individual communications.
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DESCRIBING YOUR SKILLS View the listing of skills below and identify the skills you possess. Skills listed below are broken out into common hard skills and soft skills. Do you have any additional hard or soft skills that you should share with employers that aren’t on these lists? Highlight your pertinent skills in your resumes, cover letters, job interviews and other communication with employers.
General Traits What kind of person are you? General traits describe you, not just as an employee, but as a human being. The descriptive words offered below will give you an idea of the many positive things you can say about yourself.
Able Accepting Active
Dependable Determined Dignified Frank Friendly Thrifty Gentle Giving Helpful Honorable Idealistic Imaginative Independent Innovative Inquisitive Intelligent
Introverted Intuitive Kind Knowledgeable Liberal Lively
Persuasive Playful Pleasant Poised Powerful Precise Principled Progressive Protective Questioning Quiet
Reflective Relaxed Reliable Reserved Resolute Respectful Responsible Responsive
Adaptable Ambitious Assertive Bold Bright Calm Caring Certain Cheerful Clever Confident Courageous Creative
Logical Loving Mature Modest
Scientific Sensitive Spiritual
Observant Organized Original Passive Patient Perceptive
Rational Realistic
Useful Warm Wise
Reasonable Reassuring
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Hard Skills Hard skills are abilities that allow a candidate for employment to excel in a particular job. Some job skills are attained by attending school or training programs. Others can be acquired through on the job experience. The skills that are needed for a specific job are also known as a skill set.
Accounting Auditing Automotive Repair Building Maintenance Carpet Laying Cleaning CNC Machine Operation Composite Engineering Computer Programming Cooking Counseling Customer Service Data Entry Design Software Desktop Publishing Driving Electronic Repair Filing Framing Graphic Software
Management Mechanical Drafting Metal Fabrication Order Picking Payroll Accounting Presentation Software Proof Reading Public Speaking Publishing Software Scheduling Soldering Spreadsheet Software System Administration Teaching Technical Writing Telemarketing Web Design Software Welding Word Processing Writing
Interviewing Keyboarding
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Soft Skills These are characteristics that help an employee be more productive in the workplace and communicate effectively with co-workers and customers.
Assertive Assumes Responsibility Competitive Completes Tasks Creative Decisive Dependable Detail-Oriented Diplomatic Enthusiastic Flexible Follow Instructions Friendly Get Along Well with Others Highly Motivated Honest Integrity
Outgoing Patient Persistent Pleasant Problem Solving
Punctual Resilient Responsible Results-Oriented Self-Motivated Sense of Direction (Purpose) Sense of Humor Sensitive Sincere Sociable Tactful Takes Pride in Work Tolerant Trusting Understanding Willing to Learn New Things
Intelligent Inventive Kind Learns Quickly Mature Open-Minded
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Transferable Skills Transferable skills are a core set of skills and abilities earned in a past position or positions, or in volunteer or other unpaid work, which can be applied to a wide range of jobs and industries. Emphasize them in an interview as well as on your resume.
Critical Transferable Skills Accept Responsibility
Public Speaking Sales Supervise Others Customer Service Organization
Budgeting Efficiency Customer Service Meet Deadlines Project Planning Mechanical Skills Assembling Balancing Counting Drawing, Painting Driving Finishing, Refinishing
Keyboarding Drilling Manual Dexterity Operating Machines Physical Agility, Strength Measuring Remodeling Restoring Sandblasting Sorting
Framing Grinding Hand Crafts Industrial Sewing Inspecting
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People Skills Caring Comforting Communicating Conflict Resolution
Instructing Interviewing
Listening Mediating Mentoring Motivating Negotiating Problem Solving Respect Responsive Sensitive
Counseling Consulting
Developing Rapport Diplomacy Diversity Empathy Encouraging Group Facilitation
Helping Others Inspiring Trust
Sympathy Tolerance
Using Words and Ideas Advertising Articulate Brainstorming Correspondence Design Edit Imaginative Inventive Logical
Promotional Writing Public Speaking Publicity
Quick Thinking Sign Language Speech Writing Telephone Skills
Write Clearly, Concisely Verbal Communication
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Leadership Competitive Coordinating Decision Making
Multitasking Negotiate Agreements Organization Planning Results-Oriented
Decisive Delegate Direct Others Evaluation Goal Setting
Compromising Run Meetings Self-Confident Self-Directed Self-Motivated Sets an Example, Sets Pace Solve Problems Strategic Planning Supervison Work Schedules Model-Making Creative Arts Photography Playing a Musical Instrument Poetic Images Present Artistic Ideas Rendering Signing
Influence Others Initiate New Tasks Integrity Judgment Mange, Direct Others Mediate Problems Motivate People Creative Artistic Dance, Body Movement Designing Drawing, Painting Expressive Handicrafts Illustrating, Sketching Mechanical Drawing
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3: IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS
Occupational Titles Use the following list of job titles as a brainstorming tool when considering job goals.
Accountant Administrative Assistant Architect Assembler Cabinet Maker Carpenter Cashier Chef
Graphic Designer Inspector Lab Technician Librarian Machine Operator
Machinist Manager
Mason Nurse Painter
Clerk Cook Counselor
Programmer Salesperson Scientist Teacher Veterinarian Welder
Dentist Doctor Drafter Editor Engineer Financial Analyst
For a more complete list of occupational titles, visit www.careerforcemn.com/explore/careers or visit O*Net at www.onetonline.org .
39 Creative Job Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch
Employment-Related Titles Community involvement and volunteer experience may be a valuable resource for your job search. Describing your volunteer roles is sometimes challenging, but here’s an example of common titles. Just attach the name of the activity or community organization. Example — YMCA Volunteer or School Fundraiser
Campaigner Consultant Coordinator Director
Fundraiser Leader Mentor Organizer
Promoter Secretary Solicitor Sponsor
Teacher Treasurer Volunteer Worker
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3: IDENTIFYING YOUR SKILLS
HARD SKILLS IDENTIFICATION
Describe four major tasks you have performed in previous employment that you would like to continue using in your next job. List the skills that were required to perform each task well.
JOB TITLE: ____________________________________________
SKILLS Example: Desktop Publishing, Creating Surveys, Social Media Content Creation, Email Distribution Groups
TASK Example: Marketing
TASK: _________________________________
SKILLS: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
TASK: _________________________________
SKILLS: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
TASK: _________________________________
SKILLS: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
TASK: _________________________________
SKILLS: _________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
41 Creative Job Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch
4 JOB SEARCH TOOLS
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4: JOB SEARCH TOOLS
Before attending a networking group, cold calling a company, or applying for a job, you should have a toolkit of marketing materials that tell people who you are and describe your skills, experience and career goals. Yes, that’s right: marketing materials to “sell” yourself. Marketing tools such as resumes, cover letters and business cards for networking need to be accurate, error-free and attractive to potential employers. Submitting a resume can be a key element of your job search. The popular belief is that resumes land jobs. This is not true. The resume’s sole purpose is to land you an interview. Many, but not all job applications will require you to submit a cover letter with your resume. In this chapter, we’ll show you how to write a resume and cover letter that will match your qualifications and experience to a specific job opening. We’ll give you tips on how to submit your cover letter and resume in digital formats plus share resume and cover letter templates that have been effective for others. The business card is a great tool for networking. Not everyone will want a copy of your resume when you meet them, especially if it’s at a professional networking mixer or a social function. That’s where the business card comes in — a quick way to share your personal brand and contact information.
43 Creative Job Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch
RESUMES
Do not approach the task of developing your resume lightly. By now you should have taken the time to identify your hard and soft skills and determine which of them are transferrable to the current opportunity. If you cannot identify at least 20 job-related hard and soft skills at this point, your first task is to revisit Chapter 3 on skills and create your list. Be aware that your resume is never really done. You must customize it to match the qualifications and skills sought by employers for each position for which you apply. Job seekers start out at different points when preparing their resumes. Some will have a resume a few months or a few years old. Others may have been employed for several years or decades and don’t have a current resume. RESUME FORMATS There are three standard resume formats: chronological; functional or skills-based; and combination. The format you should choose depends on the type of job you are applying for and your level of experience.
1. Chronological – This resume format is ideal for people with current work experience that is relevant to the position they are interested in. 1
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2. Functional/Skills-Based – If you lack relevant work experience, or you are looking to make a career change, the skills-based format is a good choice. This format doesn’t typically list dates of employment, so be aware that may cause it to be filtered out of consideration by some employers’ automated application tracking systems.
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4: JOB SEARCH TOOLS
3
1. Combination – The combination resume is a great choice for job seekers whose most recent work isn’t the most relevant to the job they are currently seeking. You list the skills that are most important under their own headings first, then back that up with an employment history section that list dates of employment. Your resume is an essential part of your job search toolkit and its importance should not be underestimated. You will need one for whatever kind of job you are looking for. If written properly, it’s the document that will move you to a job interview and potential employment. Employment History Gather all of your position titles and dates of employment for the past 10-15 years. Be as specific as you can, as some employers require more information than others. If needed, call former employers for dates. For a fee you can also obtain this information from the Social Security Administration. Skills Review the list of the 20 job-related hard and soft skills you identified using the information in Chapter 3 and match them with past positions you’ve held. Future employers want to know what skills you displayed in your work and how those skills saved money, improved efficiency, or benefited their customers in some way. Ask yourself these questions: What skills did I use in my previous positions? Are they important to the employers or jobs that I am considering? Four Steps to Get Started Regardless of where you’re starting in developing your resume you first have to gather and organize lots of different types of job-related information.
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45 Creative Job Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch
FOUR STEPS TO GET STARTED
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Accomplishments Rather than simply listing a task you were given, you should attempt to define or quantify how you utilized your skills to complete that assignment. A task would be “kept inventory”, while an accomplishment statement would be “Managed daily inventory of over 1,000 classifications of medical supplies.” Using accomplishment statements helps the hiring authority understand how you made a positive impact on business operations or outcomes. In the sample resumes at the end of this chapter you will find many examples of accomplishment statements. Job Search Goals Establish clear objectives for your search. What kind of company do you want to work for? What size? In what field? What sorts of jobs are you seeking?
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After you complete these steps, you’ll have a list of your previous job titles, dates of employment, employers’ name and address, a list of at least 20 of your job-related hard and soft skills, accomplishment statements that include most of those skills, and a set of job search goals that you can use in your objective statement, cover letter, interview and in other ways. Writing the Resume A good resume has critical content elements that must be complete and compelling. There are a few general guidelines for showcasing your experience and skills on just one or two pages. Resumes are fairly predictable in features and information, but some choices have to be made. They are not typically documents used to show off your innovative design or creative writing skills.
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4: JOB SEARCH TOOLS
The one exception to this rule might be if you’re pursuing work in a creative field. Yet even then these resumes must remain cautiously creative. Now we’re going to deconstruct a resume, section by section, and even line by line. We’ll start at the top, end at the bottom. Don’t worry about the final look or format of your resume just yet. Start with the core content. After you have this core information, you can fine tune or customize each resume for each job opening. This is called “targeting” your resume. Font Selection and Size There are two types of fonts: serif and sans serif. Serif fonts have tails or feet and sans serif fonts do not. Sans serif fonts are generally considered easier to read. Some font types are recognized by almost all applicant tracking systems (view the list in the box below). Whichever font you decide on, make sure to be consistent throughout your resume with the possible exception of using a different font type for your name to make it stand out. Font size is measured in points and anywhere from 10-12 is best, but again, you can make your name stand out by increasing its size and applying a bold format. F ont type examples that are readable by applicant tracking systems Serif Fonts Garamond Georgia Times New Roman Sans Serif Fonts Arial Calibri Tahoma
47 Creative Job Search | CareerForceMN.com/CreativeJobSearch
RESUME SECTIONS Name Block
» Put your full first and last names on their own line at the top of the page. Your name can be in a different font type than the body of the resume. Type your name in bold or CAPITAL LETTERS to make it stand out, and make it larger point type than the body of the resume. » If you include your address , do not use any abbreviations other than the two letter state abbreviation. » Include all 10 digits of the phone number you use most. Make sure to record a professional voicemail greeting on that line and check for messages often. When listing a single line, there is no need to list it as a home or mobile number. » Use a professional personal email address . Creating an account with some version of your name is best. Avoid using numbers or nicknames. Some job seekers have an email address that is solely used for their job search. Gmail and Outlook are considered more up to date than AOL or Yahoo. » If your LinkedIn profile is complete and relates to the job you are creating the resume for, then your LinkedIn page address can also be added. You may hyperlink to your email address and LinkedIn page to make it easy for an employer to contact you.
Elizabeth Applicant 1443 HireMe Lane Somewhere, MN 55555 555-555-5555
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