Job Assistance Ministry - Job Search Process

Searching for a job is a full time job in itself. The job search is also a process, containing many steps that need to be understood to make the search more effective. This package is an attempt to help you with that understanding. First, however, let’s talk about the toughest part of the job search: how to deal with feelings of rejection, frustration and discouragement.

STEP 1: GOAL SETTING
STEP 2: THE RESUME
STEP 3: BE PROACTIVE
STEP 4: DETERMINE WHICH COMPANIES ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS
STEP 5: SUBMIT APPLICATIONS
STEP 6: NETWORKING
STEP 7: THE INTERVIEW

THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS
Searching for a job is a full time job in itself. The job search is also a process, containing many steps that need to be understood to make the search more effective. This package is an attempt to help you with that understanding. First, however, let’s talk about the toughest part of the job search: how to deal with feelings of rejection, frustration and discouragement.

The very nature of a job search appears to be full of rejection, which causes frustration and discouragement. These feelings make it difficult to stay positive, and even tempting to quit. Many times, however, what appears to be rejection isn’t rejection at all. It’s simply part of the hiring process.

Companies go through cycles of hiring and not hiring. They will take applications one month and not the next. They will be hiring people today but not tomorrow. These fluctuations are usually caused by the company’s budgeting process. Plus, managers never know when someone is going to leave unexpectedly, opening up a position today that didn’t exist yesterday.

What does this information mean to you? It means the hiring process can be very unpredictable. It also means being told by a company that they aren’t hiring isn’t necessarily a lie. In fact, the odds are great that it’s the truth. So don’t start beating yourself up, or believing that something is wrong with you, or becoming angry with the person. Just understand how unpredictable the hiring process is, stay positive and continue to pursue other opportunities, which includes checking back with this company in 30 days. Sometimes, we are simply in the right place at the right time, and sometimes we’re not. Your turn will come as long as you don’t quit trying.

To decrease the frustration caused by the unpredictability of the hiring process, it is wise to do some research by telephone before going to the company to fill out an application. Call the companies ahead of time to determine which ones are taking applications and which ones aren’t. This way you won’t waste your valuable time and money traveling to companies unnecessarily. And it’s less frustrating to hear the company isn’t taking applications while still in the comfort of your own home. Plus some companies will mail you the application.

For some people, the hiring process can be frustrating if the company requires several interviews and/or tests before making a final decision. More and more companies, however, are using these techniques. Large companies, in particular, have numerous steps in their hiring process, which can take 3 to 4 months, counting the time from filling out the application to actually being placed in a job. It requires you to be more patient with the hiring process so you can find the job that is right for you. Too often, we start looking for a job in the middle of a crisis, forcing us to accept anything that comes along, even if it’s a poor match with our interests, skills and knowledge.

Of course, the most difficult time for most people occurs when they don’t get the job after being interviewed. They feel rejected as a person, convinced they did something wrong or aren’t worthy in some way. Keep in mind, however, you aren’t the only person being interviewed for the same job. Many companies, especially large corporations, interview numerous applicants, who are equally qualified, even though there is only one opening. Not getting the job doesn’t necessarily mean you did something wrong, it simply means only one person can get the job. And you don’t want to burn any bridges with this company because they could have another opening tomorrow.

In conclusion, the right job is out there for you. You must know that and believe it. The only thing between you and that job is you finding it. And you will find it as long as you don’t quit looking for it. Now, let’s review the steps of the job search process and see how you can maximize your efforts.
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STEP 1: GOAL SETTING
How can you get there if you don’t know where you’re going? It’s important to set goals in your life. Goals help us to focus our attention and energy on achieving something that we desire. However, there are two kinds of goals, short and long-term goals and we must understand how each of them applies to our plans in life.

Both short and long-term goals have a purpose and are important. Long term goals are your ultimate dreams, many times based on where you want to be in the next five years or what kind of life you want to be living by then. Short-term goals are the many small steps that need to be accomplished in order to achieve the long-term goals. Without setting short-term goals, it is unlikely that you will achieve your long-term goals.

When setting short and long-term career goals, we must also think about the kind of work we want to do. Most people spend more waking hours at work than they do at home, and research proves that we are more successful at work that we enjoy. Plus, each of us comes into this world with a gift and we should use it. Therefore, your long and short-term career goals should focus on work that matches your interests, natural abilities and talents. Once your goals are set, your job search will focus on companies and job opportunities that match those skills, knowledge and interests.

To help you determine your career interests, natural talents and abilities, think about your past work experiences. Which jobs did you enjoy the most? Why did you enjoy them? What parts of the job came easily for you? What kind of work were you doing when time seemed to fly by? What are your personal interests or hobbies? Is there some kind of work that includes your personal interests? Spending some time thinking about the kind of work you want to do, or even attending a job skills assessment program, can go a long way in helping you to find and keep a fulfilling and successful long-term career.

Let’s look at an example that will illustrate setting long and short-term career goals that include personal interests, talents and abilities. Let’s say, while in high school, you worked as a part-time sales clerk at a department store. You are very fashion conscious and you enjoyed helping customers with their selections. Plus, you enjoyed talking with the people, answering their questions and solving their problems. And your friends have always told you that you’re a caring person. Also, during high school, you took some basic computer courses. You found interacting with the computer fun and meant to take more classes but never got around it. Now, you’re a single mother with two children in need of a job that pays a living wage.

With this information, you decide to pursue a career in customer service work. Customer service work will allow you to interact with people and work with computers, as well as pay you a decent wage. Plus, the service industry is one of the fastest growing career fields, which means the job opportunities will be plentiful. To achieve this long-term goal, however, you first have to accomplish the following short-term goals:

1. Find work to support you while attending customer service and computer classes
2. Also find work that provides the kind of hours necessary to attend class
3. Research and find the most effective training program with the lowest cost
4. Study hard and complete the program with the highest grades possible
5. Search for your ideal job while still employed at your current job
6. Achieve your long term goal

In other words, you achieve long-term goals by setting and accomplishing a series of short-term goals, each one moving you one step closer to your dream. When setting goals you should determine what you want to achieve, why you want to achieve it and who will benefit from the achievement (i.e. you, your children, other family members, etc.). Knowing this information will help you to stay motivated.

Write your goals down and review them frequently. This will help you to stay focused on the future rather than the past. Explain the benefits to your family and ask for their support. It’s always easier to achieve something together, rather than alone.

Long Term Goals: Ask yourself: Where do I want to be in five years? What kind of work do I want to be doing? What kind of life do I want in five years for my family and myself? Where do I want to be living? What kind of income do I want to be making? If the perfect job opportunity were in another city, would I move?

Short Term Goals: Ask yourself: What do I need to do to achieve my long-term goals? What will it take for me to achieve my dreams? Do I need job training? Do I need to get a GED? Do I need a job with hours that allow me to go to school? Do I need to work for a company that’s located on the Marta line? Do I need to work for a large company that pays tuition aid? What kind of work would I enjoy doing? What individual steps do I need to accomplish, and in what sequence do I need to do them, for me to achieve my long-term goals? What can I do today that will move me one step closer to achieving my dreams for tomorrow?
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STEP 2: THE RESUME
Key: Keep it short – one page is ideal, two, good

If possible, prepare a resume. More and more employers are requesting one, even for entry-level positions. A resume provides the employer, at a glance, with a record of your past work experiences, job skills and education, which they use to determine a potential job match. It also tells the employer that you are serious about getting a job and a professional.

You also benefit from preparing a resume. It forces you to review your past work history, skills and accomplishments. And it provides you with a written record of this information, which you can use to refresh your memory prior to an interview. Plus, many classified ads are “blind ads.” This means the company name, address and telephone number are not provided. The ad only shows a fax number for you to respond to with a resume. Without a resume, you’re unable to apply for these job opportunities.

The main purpose of the resume is to get you an interview. Experts estimate that employers spend an average of 30 seconds on each resume. Within that time, they must find something of interest or they will discard it. This means what information is shown, and how it is displayed, is critical.

Your goal is to show the employer why you are a match for their job. What natural talents and abilities, work experiences, job skills, education or training programs do you possess? Is the information well displayed? Is it well written? Have you been specific? Does the resume look professional? Remember, the employer forms his first opinion of you based on your resume. So do all that you can to look your best.
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STEP 3: BE PROACTIVE
By now, you have set your long and short-term goals, determined the kind of work you are seeking, reviewed your past work experiences and prepared a resume. Now, it’s time to start putting your plan of action in motion.

The best way of finding a job is to be pro-active in your search. In other words, decide what kind of work you desire and create a list of companies that do that kind of work. One of the best tools used to accomplish this task is the yellow pages. Your local telephone company yellow page directory lists companies based on specific categories, which frequently equate to what kind of workers they hire.

For example, let’s say, you are a carpenter looking for work. Use the yellow pages to create a list of potential employers such as general contractors, construction companies, construction union offices, specialty contractors, lumber yards, home builders, commercial builders, etc. In other words, all of these categories in the yellow pages contain businesses that use carpenters at some point in time or know people who do. And you are creating a list of business names, addresses and telephone numbers to call about work.

You also want to add to your list any appropriate job postings and job fairs found in the classified ads of your local newspaper (Sunday edition) and postings at the Department of Labor. The reason for utilizing all three resources, the yellow pages, the classified ads and the Department of Labor, to create your list is because many jobs are never posted anywhere. Other job seekers are being pro-active in their search, finding the job opportunity before it is posted. And you must do the same.

Large companies take applications, interview and test applicants on a pretty regular basis. Once the applicant has qualified in all these areas, their name sits on a list until a job opening occurs. When it does, these applicants are contacted to see if they are still interested in the position. Consequently, if one of the qualified applicants on that list accepts the position, the job opening will never post anywhere. These activities aren’t meant to exclude anyone, but you must understand them in order to compete.
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STEP 4: DETERMINE WHICH COMPANIES ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS
Now that you have a complete list of companies that do the kind of work you are interested in and qualified for, it’s time to find out which ones are taking applications. And you save valuable time, energy and money by calling the company before going to apply.

The purpose of the call is to ask how to apply for work at their company. One of two things will happen: they will either tell you how to apply or they will tell you they aren’t hiring. If they tell you how to apply, follow their instructions. Be sure and ask what days and times are appropriate as well as directions to their location. If they tell you they aren’t hiring, ask if you can still put in an application for future consideration. In other words, you want to get your application on file at as many companies as possible.

If the company isn’t taking applications for future consideration, thank them for their assistance and make a note to call them again in 30 days. Remember the unpredictability of the hiring process. The same company not hiring this month may do so next month. And, if you haven’t found what you’re looking for by then, give them another call. Who knows, they may be hiring and have the ideal job for you.

It may take you two or three days to call all the companies on your list, but it will save you time and money in the long run. Now that you know which companies are taking applications, and which ones aren’t, you’re ready to organize your trips to the companies.
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STEP 5: SUBMIT APPLICATIONS
You will save even more time and money by organizing your trips to the companies that are accepting applications. By grouping the companies together according to their attitude, staying focused on your goals, conquering your fears, learning from your mistakes and believing in yourself, you will continue to improve your life.

Believing in ourselves can sometimes turn a negative situation into a positive one. For example, let's take the situation of not being hired after an interview. Many times in this situation, the employer doesn’t call you back, leaving you with the assumption that you didn’t get the job. However, never assume anything; call him for the results. Who knows, he may have the wrong number for you. If you didn’t get the job, accept the information graciously. It’s natural to be disappointed, but getting angry with the interviewer, or yourself, serves no purpose. Let him know that you understand and accept his decision. Remain polite and respectful. Then, tell him that you still hope to work for his company some day and ask him to keep you in mind for future openings. Many people who are strong enough to handle the situation in this manner find themselves in the running for future jobs.

Remember, you’ll never get anywhere in life by hiding from the truth. You’re the one who wants the job, not the interviewer. It’s your responsibility to pick up the telephone, ask for the results, face any bad news and move through it positively. Today’s loss could turn out to be tomorrow’s gain, if you don’t burn any bridges.

During the interview, try to relax and be yourself. It’s natural to be nervous, but don’t try to be someone you’re not because you will appear phony. Simply be the person that you are and do your best; that’s all you can ever ask of yourself. Besides, most interviewers make allowances for nervousness, and preparing ahead of time will give you more confidence.

Plan ahead. Create a job search package containing the following information and take it with you to fill out an application and to an interview:

• Write down past employment information (resume or information discussed earlier); gather past employment addresses, telephone numbers, supervisors’ names and references; document all training and educational programs you have attended and locate the appropriate diplomas and certificates; take picture identification, military records and Social Security card.
• Determine what questions you have for the employer and write them down.
• Take a pen and paper with you so you can make notes during the interview.
• It’s important to be on time, or early, and to be well rested.

Practice the interview:
Ideally, in an interview, you should be talking 80% of the time. The employer is asking you open-ended questions, usually starting with: "How do you feel” or “What do you think” or “Tell me about,” in order to determine three important issues. Those issues are: can you do the job; if hired, will you do the job; and if hired, will you get along with all the people in the department. He makes those determinations by asking questions.

Always be polite, even when asking for information or directions. The person you’re talking to on the telephone may be the one taking your application. So don’t burn any bridges. Dress neatly and conservatively. Most managers prefer dark clothing with few frills. A simple dress, skirt and blouse, pants and shirt, or suit are appropriate. Jeans, gym shoes, sandals, shorts, tank tops and T-shirts are inappropriate at any office building.

Make some notes ahead of time. If you don’t have a resume, write the following information down and take it with you: the dates you started and left each job; your job title and responsibilities; the company name, address telephone number and supervisor’s name; and your educational background such as where and when you finished high school or obtained your GED, any job training programs or college you have attended and any training certificates or awards you have received. Writing the information down ahead of time makes you more efficient, accurate and complete when filling out the application. Plus, it means you’re prepared for an unexpected interview.
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STEP 6: NETWORKING
Networking with your friends and family is an effective job search technique. Sometimes, our first instinct is to hide the fact that we’re unemployed or under employed. But you are sacrificing your chances for success due to false pride. Looking for work is nothing to be ashamed of; in fact, it is admirable.

Telling your friends, neighbors, acquaintances and family the truth allows them to keep you informed of additional job opportunities, as well as provide you with encouragement and support. Let them know that you aren’t asking them to get, or give, you a job; you’re only asking them to keep you informed of available opportunities. You’re responsible for landing the job based on your own merits. Also, give them the authority to pass your name, telephone number and qualifications on to potential employers. And don’t forget to thank them for their assistance.
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STEP 7: THE INTERVIEW
The interview is the ultimate goal of the job search. It is your opportunity to sell your skills, knowledge and natural abilities to the employer and convince him that you are the right person for the job. You do that by showing him your sincerity, determination and professionalism……. and by believing in yourself.

Regardless of your past experiences, you must believe in yourself. All of us make mistakes, but mistakes give us the opportunity to learn and grow. Do not let your fears of the unknown, or change, stop you from achieving your goals. Maintain a positive attitude and respond with more than a simple yes or no answer. You want to be prepared to answer the questions completely and accurately.

Below, you will find the most common questions asked in an interview. Write out how you would answer these questions. Take time to practice reading your answers out loud. Add something new to your answers each time you read them. Ask family and friends for their ideas and opinions. Talk about the specific activities that you performed at previous jobs. Repeat the information in your mind over and over again. This learning technique is storing the information in your mind through repetition. By recording the information in your mind ahead of time, you are able to respond more spontaneously during the interview, even if you’re nervous. It’s when a question catches us off guard that our minds go blank. This learning technique and preparation will help you to overcome that reaction.

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why should I hire you for the job?
• Why do you want the job?
• What are your goals?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• How do you think your previous boss and co-workers would describe you?
• Why do you want to work for the company?
• What skills do you bring to the job?
• What salary would you expect? (Try asking what he plans to pay before committing yourself to a figure. If he insists, give a salary range, such as mid 20’s rather than a specific figure. A salary range gives you more room for negotiation. Be realistic, but start a little high. You can always negotiate downward.)

Be polite, pleasant and sincere, even when it’s not returned. If the job requires
dealing with the public, the interviewer may be testing you to see how you react to stress. Also, everybody has a bad day so try not to judge him. Answer questions honestly. If caught in a lie, it’s unlikely you will recover from it. Also avoid criticizing your former employer. It could appear that you’re a complainer or blame others for your problems, rather than accepting responsibility for your actions.

If not provided, ask when you may call for an answer. Thank the employer for the interview and, if possible, send a thank you note.
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