Hire

Home

PUFS

This program is group of related workshops that are designed to address resume writing, role playing for interviews and job seeking techniques.

Objective: One stop shopping employment services was designed to support individuals on how to cope with the lost of employment.

In addition to providing a support system, we discovered how imperative it became that we recognize the mental state of the individual. We as employment service centers must do more than the resume review and mock interviews. Our new challenge will be to assess talents and create support systems for the unskilled workforce.

Please note: Exploring the mental state is our first challenge. The lost of employment is similar to experiencing a death. There is a period grieving, mourning and burial. This period must be recognized and allowed to take place and discussed before the individual can address future employment or goal setting. As with most losses, everyone has their own period of grieving, it is very important that this process take place for betterment of a healthy individual.

This workshop has been divided into three parts: 1) Mental State, 2) Resume Review and 3) Goal Setting.

MENTAL STATE

Quantify your job skills by determining ”who am I and how am I seen.“

Stop saying what you believe people want to hear. If you had an opportunity

to describe your perfect position within the company, do so. Once this has been completed, ask yourself, is this reality? You possess skills both, personal and job related, that are unique to you, what are they?

Next question, should I re-enter the same job environment as well as the same position. Here’s an opportunity to reinvent myself, have a different work environment as well as a different position. Can I financially afford to change position at a lesser salary? Am I willing to take a lesser salary for the same position?

Has there been pervious personal conflicts such as my values, strong political environment, nepotism, profanity, etc. which has prevented me from being successful.

Provide a history of lost jobs. Were you fired? Is this a reoccurring event.

What is the number of jobs where I have been fired? Re-exam the events

that leads to this point.

There may be personal circumstances, i.e. ex-con, limited education, etc.,

that may have contributed to the termination of employment. If we as employment services conduct ”a less than“ interview for ”a less than

candidate,“ this equals ”a less than“ job performer.

For those individuals with limited education where the existing positions

were re-assessed and newly established qualifications were put in place

for that position, ask the question. Did I see this change coming? Did I

have enough time to prepare myself? In both cases where there is a ”less

than performer“ or a change in the qualifications, were there clear indications

that a change was coming? Being an ex-con brings on a whole new dimension. There are only a select group of employers that may agree to employ the ”unemployable.“

Learning Disabilities: There may be a history of a learning disability. Do they

know how to read or are they lazy. This must be assessed so that they apply for the right job. The learning disability could have been a historical problem that may have led to their termination. They may have been fostering a problem that inhibited their learning the job, i.e. instructions weren’t thoroughly understood, needed additional tutelage or step- by –step instructions

Personal Appearance: I need to be clean, personal hygiene is important. As a blue collar worker, a suit is not required and jeans are inappropriate. If I only

have jeans, my first check would be used to purchase the appropriate attire. I must conform to the dress code because I am trying to fit in not stand out.

Office Politics: It exists and you have to accept it. As a new employee, you must remain under the radar. Appear as a hard worker, do what you are told and remember, even if you do nothing, you will be talked about in the rumor mill.

You are being watched, get over it.

Stereotypes: Whatever your race, age or gender, there are stereotypes that will come with it. You must accept it, realizing that the stereotypes are half the battle. It may be unfair, but it’s real. How many times have you have said ”I didn’t like

a person“ and you didn’t know why.

Communications: Resumes should be faxed or mailed rather using the ever popular ”monstor.com.“ network. Your resume is an extension of you. Don’t

get caught up in the cumbersome resume factory. It’s convenient, but is it efficient?

RESUME REVIEW

This is your first impression and it must be your best impression. You only have

one opportunity to make a first impression. Should I mail my resume everywhere

or to a select company for a specific job? Don’t saturate the job market and employment agencies with your resume.

Quantity vs Quality: My resume should explain who I am and the duties that I have performed. I must be specific with my accomplishments so that the reader will have an appreciation of what I have done. Stay away from the generic terms. You only have a short period of time to grab the reader’s attention. You should personalize your cover letter and resume so that the employer knows you took the time to apply.

Take the time to personalize the cover letter; don’t use ”dear sir“. Use cover letters that target the company contact instead of ”to whom it may concern“. Be prepared to use multiple resumes. Have resumes that specifically address the job you are applying for. Whether you receive a reject letter or not, follow up with a ”thank you…keeps me in mind for future considerations“ type note.

Job Interest vs. Money (Job vs. Career): Do I want the career or the money. If

I need a job, it becomes a no brainer, that I will take the job. If I‘ve been out

of work for a short period of time, can be selective on what job I will accept.

If I have been out of work for quite some time, will I accept the lowest level position that I could accept to get my foot in the door and back in the job market.

Be prepared for the long haul. Let’s set-up them for success and if we believe that they are the unemployable, then they will be.

Identify Skill Sets (transferable job skills): What are my job skills? Am I a great salesman? Do I follow instructions? Do I need to be supervised closely? Am I a self starter? Am I detailed-oriented? Do I like numbers? Do I write well?

Networking: This may be a challenge for entry level or lower paid positions.

A formal networking link is not in place at this time. You will have to become creative. Write personalized letters to the Human Resource Department at companies where there is an interest. You may receive copies of job descriptions that might allow you to direct your outside or formal training for that position. Write personalized letters to successful key individuals that may appear in articles in major newspapers or special interest magazines.

Setting Realistic Goals: The question has always been asked. ”where I will be in for five years.“ The answer might be, I may be in the same position longer than expected, can I handle this? I have taken a job with lesser responsibility, can I handle sitting in this position longer that anticipated. I’m qualified do the next level position, but it was given to a person with lesser responsibility.

Acceptance of Opportunities (limited): Opportunities are not always

upward. I know you have heard that before, you may not see the

opportunity as growth. Designed moves are usually decided by someone

with greater responsibility. Where there is limited growth potential, ask

if you could stay late to cover peak periods or train on other positions to

provide back-up during vacations or illnesses.

What Will It Take To Keep This Job: Do I start to work on time? Am I

regularly absent, i.e. Mondays, Fridays paydays? Can I be counted on to

work overtime so that deadlines are met? Before I leave for the day, do I

ask, ”do you need anything before I leave for the day“? Do I make a

lasting impression? Can I deal with being known as a ”suck up“?

Be Successful Within The Organization: Will I do whatever it takes when

asked? I know the line of positions (food chain). I am aware of the critical positions within the group as well as within the company. Managers can

count on me, other employees can count on me and even the customer can

count on me. I know the product line and I know where I fit in within the company. Ensure that areas of improvement that are reviewed with me are not repeated over an over again. I am receptive to constructive criticism and managers can approach me easily. This doesn’t mean that I am easy going; it means that I am respected for what I do. Always seem like you are doing something. If there is downtime, always ask for something to do.

GOAL SETTING

Creating Opportunities: You should volunteer to provide back-up for all positions within the company. Try to be known as the jack-of-all-trades.

Make sure that you are being discussed in a positive way when you are not

in the room. When there is problem who are you going to call?

Non-Traditional Networking: Volunteer at the YMCA, at your church or similar organizations that would allow you the opportunity to meet others. Put a plan in place that would afford you to meet people continually.

Job Sharing: If there has been no movement in the company, introduce job sharing which would allow you an opportunity to learn other positions as well as provide additional support during vacations and extended illnesses. Historically, individuals providing back-up have been a problem with companies over the years. You would be recognized as an innovator. Introduce mentoring within the company. Non-traditional mentoring would be redesigned as information exchange. It allows you to be introduced to jobs throughout the company without movement of staff.

Write to Company Human Resources Explaining Your Plight: During the

Non-employment period, inquire concerning tours of the companies that you are seeking employment. Inquire about intern programs or minority organizations that may exist. Asked if there is someone you should meet with that could review the current expectations of the position, preferably someone who is in that position that you are seeking to fill.

Waiting Game (can I endure): You must have confidence in your approach.

You must do all of the items for improvement, not some of them. Always re-exam your approach. Review with your manager, how am I doing? Are there areas of improvement? How am I seen? How long can I really wait? Do my five year plan become a ten years? Review your road map to success!

Church Networking: Become an active member in your church or religious institution. There are employers in the church that will give you an advantage over a complete stranger. You have a common ground to build on and they have had an opportunity to view you in a setting that should give.