Job Search Tips

No matter what your level of experience or age, the anything goes days are gone! Getting a job today is hard work. In addition to being competent and qualified, your ability to project a professional image and connect with decision-makers can open doors that money and power cannot.

Here are some essential tips to help you shine and succeed:

• Believe in yourself and ask for help along the way.
  
  
• Research the company and position ahead of time.
  
  
• Don't rely on the Internet; the personal touch matters.
  
  
• Dress appropriately, and pay attention to grooming.
  
  
• Be on time, and bring extra resumes and a good pen.
  
  
• Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact and smile.
  
  
• Don't be shy about marketing your skills and strengths.
  
  
• Come across as the best person to do the job.
  
  
• Be positive, honest and well-mannered.
  
  
• Let them know you can adapt to change.
  
  
• Wait until they raise the issue of salary and benefits.
  
  
• Follow-up with a thank-you note in 48-hours.

Your attitude determines your altitude... how high you fly in life!

Why Attitude Works: Two Viewpoints
Glenda Williams is an African American woman who was born with one hand. She is also a single mother and a full-time employee. Here is her compelling story about reaching for the moon. As a child I was fortunate to have a father who said there was no such thing as the word can't. He said that all you had to do was drop the "t" to see the word can. I was raised to believe that if you think you can, you can. Overcoming obstacles is never easy. It is never easy going to school and working. It is never easy being a single mother. It is never easy competing for a new job. Everybody fears failure. So, how can we succeed? First, getting and keeping a job is not an option. Employment is the ticket to self-esteem, supporting ourselves and our family and experiencing the American dream. And the secret to getting and keeping a job is having a positive attitude.	Everyday I make it a point to share with others one positive thing about my day ... a job well done or a kind act. And I ask them to share something they, too, are proud of doing. Because if you focus on the positive, then good things usually happen. My favorite saying is to "Reach for the moon and even if you miss, you will be among the stars." Stephen R. Young has hired more than 200 employees at the university where he manages a 25-member operations team. Confident and skilled in the art of interviewing, he has this to say about getting a job in today's dog-eat-dog world! Enthusiasm, flexibility and dependability are the qualities I look for in successful candidates. We can teach someone to operate machinery, use a computer and properly clean a rest-room. But we cannot teach someone to have a good attitude: that is something	only they can change or improve. When I ask an interviewee, "Why should I hire you?." I'm looking for specific information to help make a very important decision. For example, I want to know if they are enthusiastic and committed to giving 110%; if they can work effectively with an increasingly diverse workforce; and if they are dependable. . . if they can be counted on to perform their job well each workday. Years ago, I read a story about three construction workers who were asked about what they did for a living. The first worker shrugged his shoulder and said he "made $10 bucks an hour." The second mumbled that he was "only an apprentice bricklayer." The third worker smiled and proudly stated that he was "building a great cathedral." I know which one I'd be interested in interviewing for a job or a promotion. What about you?

YES YOU CAN

The Get A Job Workbook is designed to help you organize a successful job search, feel more self-confident and get ahead in today's competitive job market. Keep these tips in mind as you begin planning your future now: Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude. . . (or how high you're going to go in your career) So, here's how to start with a positive, can-do attitude: Set realistic goals and have a plan. Remember, most job seekers don't plan to fail, they fail to plan. Project a positive attitude at all times. Create a winning resume . . . it's your ticket to an interview. Let others know that you are looking for a job. Networking works! Polish your interviewing skills to increase your self-confidence. Begin keeping a journal (see pages 32-33) and record your progress. Don't be discouraged by temporary setbacks, they happen to everyone. Believe in your success and others will too! Documents you'll need copies of. . .* Check the ones that apply to your job search: Birth certificate Social Security card Work permit (if under 16) Diploma or G.E.D. College transcripts Chemical dependency program certificate Letters of recommendation Copies of Awards Job performance reviews Vocational training certificates Federal bonding Photographs of your work Career prep class certificates

* Time-Saving Tips For information on obtaining these documents, visit your local library, career center or non¬profit employment agency. Begin contacting federal, state and local agencies (i.e. Social Security Administration) now because some documents may take up to eight weeks to obtain. Always make more copies than you think you’ll need!