Twenty QuestionsSuccessful Strategies

for Job Searchers

Using this Software

• Microphone• Raising your

hand• Green / Red X• Laughing /

Clapping • Stepping out

• Text chat• Feedback• Audio• Full Screen• Exiting

Job Searchers

National Unemployment Rate, Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ Photo (CC) Richard Miles: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmountmaniac/2994014966/Photo (CC) NJLA: http://www.flickr.com/photos/njla/3306453159/

Job Searchers

• 69% of all Americans have used the Internet in the past year for help coping with the recession– 41% have sought information about jobs– 27% explored prospects for a second job

or ways to earn more money– 22% sought information about

unemployment and other government benefits

Pew Internet & American Life Project: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/11-The-Internet-and-the-Recession.aspx?r=1

Key job search activities

1. Self-assessment2. Research potential employers3. Identify job leads4. Network with others5. Prepare/submit resume6. Interview/negotiate

Evaluating online resources

• Type/source of information• Currency/update frequency• Focus (geography, industry, etc.)• Registration requirements or fees• User feedback/success rate

Self-assessment

Photo (CC) Bilal Mirza: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bilalmirza/3317723139/

Question 1Question: Now that my kids are older, I am

ready to go back to school - but I have no idea what kind of career to pursue. How can I figure out what kind of work would be the best fit for me?

Resource: Quintessential CareersKeirsey Temperament Sorter IICareer Link Self Assessment InventoryTestingroom.com

Link: http://www.quintcareers.com/online_assessment_review.html http://www.keirsey.com/sorter/register.aspxhttp://www.mpcfaculty.net/CL/default.htm http://quintcareers.testingroom.com

Potential employers

Photo (CC) House of Sims: http://www.flickr.com/photos/houseofsims/2887794002/

Question 2Question: After so many layoffs in the

automotive industry, I want to pursue a more promising career. How can I find out the job prospects and potential earnings in the biotechnology field?

Resource: Career Guide to Industries (US Dept. of Labor)

Link: http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/

Question 3Question: I can’t afford to go back to school,

but I heard that floral designer jobs don’t require formal post-secondary training. How can I find out more about floral design as a career?

Resource: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Link: http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/

Question 4Question: My family is relocating to Charlotte,

NC. I currently work in advertising and I would like to locate some Charlotte companies in this field.

Resource: US Chambers of Commerce Directory

Link: http://www.uschamber.com/chambers/directory/

Question 5Question: I’m about to complete a degree in

nursing and I ‘m planning a career in long term care. Where can I find a list of long term care facilities to consider as potential employers?

Resource: Hoovers.com

Link: http://www.hoovers.com/free/

Job Leads

Photo (CC) Richard Miles: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmountmaniac/2994014966/

Question 6Question: I’m desperate! What’s the fastest

way to apply for as many jobs as I can?

Resource: Supersite job boards:MonsterCareerBuilderHotJobs

Link: http://www.careerbuilder.comhttp://www.monster.com http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/careertools

- or -http://www.quintcareers.com/career_centers/

Question 7Question: My band has a gig in Key West for the

next few months, but there’s no way I can live off of what I’ll be making as a performer. How can I find part time work to help supplement my income?

Resource: Job search engines:IndeedSimplyHiredUSA JobsCraigslist/Florida

Link: http://www.indeed.com http://www.usajobs.gov http://www.simplyhired.com http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/fl

Question 8Question: I’m required to show tangible

evidence of my job search efforts in order to extend my unemployment benefits. How can I limit my search to jobs available in Florida that require only a high school education?

Resource: Employ Florida MarketplaceFlorida Job NetworkTeach in FloridaPeopleFirst! Florida Florida Ready to Work program

Link: https://www.employflorida.com http://www.fljobnetwork.com http://www.teachinflorida.com https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com http://www.floridareadytowork.com

Question 9Question: I recently lost my engineering job.

How can I focus my job search on just positions available in my specific field?

Resource: EngineerJobs.com Other niche job boards Dice.com (IT) SchoolSpring.com (Education)

Link: http://www.engineerjobs.com/ http://www.internetinc.com/top-100-job-board-nicheshttp://www.dice.com/ http://www.schoolspring.com/

Question 10Question: It seems like I’ve sent out a million

resumes – but I can’t keep track of who I’ve contacted or where I’ve applied. How can I manage my job search more effectively?

Resource: Jibber Jobber

Link: http://www.jibberjobber.com/

10 minute break

Go to http://delicious.com/jthomasjlt/20QuestionsJobSearch to review links for this class.

New to Delicious? Set up your own account at: https://secure.delicious.com/register

Photo: (CC) Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/

Adults and Social Networking

Networking

Question 11Question: Several friends in Austin, TX tell me

they can get me hired at Whole Foods headquarters. While I trust my friends, I’d like to find a more reliable contact at Whole Foods before I start packing my bags.

Resource: Linked InRyze

Link: http://www.linkedin.comhttp://www.ryze.com/

Question 12Question: All of the job search manuals

recommend networking through professional organizations, but I don’t know where to begin. How can I make contacts in the human resources industry to help with my job search?

Resource: Association Job Boards

Link: http://www.associationjobboards.com/

Question 13Question: Should I worry about my “online

reputation” as I begin my job search? I don’t want my Facebook profile to keep me from getting a job.

Resource: Google AlertsBrandsEyeBrand-Yourself.comFacebook Advertising

Link: http://www.google.com/alertshttp://www.brandseye.com/http://brand-yourself.com/ http://www.facebook.com/advertising

Resumes

Photo (CC) Remi Otacon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/otacon/3364532046/

Question 14Question: My son is trying to find a job for the

first time. Where can he get help with the basics of writing a resume?

Resource: The OWL at Purdue Resume WorkshopJobStar Central Resume Guide

Link: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/719/01/ http://jobstar.org/tools/resume

Question 15Question: Now that I’m out of work, I find that

my resume is hopelessly outdated – in both content and style! Where can I get help with writing a 21st Century resume?

Resource: Emurse.comPongo ResumeGoogle Apps (for e-portfolios)VisualCV

Link: http://www.emurse.comhttp://www.pongoresume.com/ http://sites.google.com/site/eportfolioapps/http://www.visualcv.com/

Interviews & negotiations

Photo (CC) A. www.viajar24h.com: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soschilds/344188960/

Question 16Question: I’m an out-of-work programmer, and

it’s been quite a few years since I’ve had to interview for a job. How can I get help preparing for the questions I’ll be asked?

Resource: Ace the InterviewInterview Up

Link: http://www.acetheinterview.com/ http://www.interviewup.com/

Question 17Question: I finally got a job offer, but I’m not

sure if the salary is fair considering my experience. Where can I find information on salaries in my field?

Resource: Salary.comPayscale.comBureau of Labor Statistics Wage Estimates

Link: http://www.salary.com http://www.payscale.com http://stats.bls.gov/oes/oes_data.htm

In the meantime…

Photo: (CC) woodleywonderworks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/3358011563/

Question 18Question: I’ve just been laid off from my job.

How do I find information about filing for unemployment benefits?

Resource: CareerOneStop Service Locator

Link: http://www.servicelocator.org/OWSLinks.asp

Question 19Question: I haven’t given up on finding paid

employment, but I want to be sure to use my time off to gain additional experience in my field. Where can I find volunteer opportunities related to working with animals?

Resource: Volunteer MatchIdealistAll for Good

Link: http://www.volunteermatch.org/http://www.idealist.org/ http://www.allforgood.org/

Question 20Question: I am a volunteer counselor at a local

career center. We offer a small library of print job search resources, but I’d like to direct our clients to something they can access from their home computers. What would you recommend?

Resource: The Riley GuideLyrasis News Special Issue: Serving Job Seekers

Link: http://www.rileyguide.com http://www.lyrasis.org/News/LYRASIS-News/2009/09_15.aspx

Post-Class Assignment• Find an additional online job search resource that

would be useful to the group.• By Oct. 15, email a brief description of the

resource, along with the web link, to jthomasjlt@gmail.com.

The instructor will add suggested links to the 20 Questions Job Search list on Delicious after October 16th.

http://delicious.com/jthomasjlt/20QuestionsJobSearch

Thank You for Attending!

Questions?Questions?• Lyrasis

Educational Services• 1.800.999.8558• http://

www.lyrasis.org

•Email: russell.palmer@lyrasis.org