These tools will help you in your search for the perfect career and job. (You’ll need to download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
Job Search Checklist
One of the keys to a successful job-hunt is to focus your efforts in the right direction. Therefore, it is important to prepare a well-thought strategy that will enable you to accomplish your goals within a reasonable time. Use this checklist to develop an action plan or to prioritize your tasks.
And don’t forget to reward yourself after you have accomplished a specific goal. Good luck!
Download the Job Search Checklist. (See Job Search Checklist worksheet)
Career Exploration
The career exploration aspect of the job search is the initial step to a rewarding life in the work world. It begins with exploring both your skills and the skills required to do the work that interests you.
But it doesn’t end there. In order to prepare yourself for the hard work required to find the right job, you should also research the companies in the your preferred career field and perform informational interviews, which will provide you with first-hand knowledge about the career you want to pursue.
For this purpose, use the following downloadable files:
-Career Exploration Summary (See Career Exploration Summary worksheet)- This worksheet will help you gather information about different careers and make a decision.
-Company Research Data (See Company Research Data worksheet)- Take time to research the companies in your career field, and target them with a clear plan of action.
-Informational Interview Guidelines (with sample questionnaire) (See the Informational Interview Guidelines)- Review the dos and don’ts of informational interviews, and outline the specific questions you want to ask using the sample questionnare.
Professional Qualifications File
One of your first steps to a professional resume will be to locate information about your education, background, accomplishments, training, professional certifications, memberships, awards, and references and put it in one place.
Use the following worksheets to start assembling your professional qualifications file today.
-Resume Worksheet: Work Experience – Your work experience is the most important element of your resume. (See Resume Worksheet: Work Experience)
-Resume Worksheet: Education – Capture your educational degrees and certificates. (See Resume Worksheet: Education)
-Resume Worksheet: Activities – Note here your involvement in social organizations, clubs, or community service organizations. (See Resume Worksheet: Activities)
-Resume Worksheet: Honors and Awards – Identify all the awards and recognitions received for your accomplishments. (See Resume Worksheet: Honors and Awards)
-Resume Worksheet: Certificates and Licenses – Summarize the certificates and licenses obtained throughout your career. (See Resume Worksheet: Certificates and Licenses)
-Resume Worksheet: Professional Memberships – Record your involvement in professional organizations. (See Resume Worksheet: Professional Memberships)
-Resume Worksheet: References – Identify your references, but don’t list them in your resume. Save it instead for when you need it. (See Resume Worksheet: References)
Once you have completed your resume and made sufficient copies, it’s a good idea to keep a record of those you mail or give to employers during informational interviews or job fairs. Use the Resume/Cover Letter Record for this purpose.
Networking Helper
Networking is the process of informing everyone you know that you’re looking for a job in a particular field. To pay off, your networking efforts must, by definition, define the type of job you are qualified for, seeking, or interested in finding.
The following downloadable files will help you learn the dos and don’ts of networking as well as keep you organized in your efforts.
-Networking Guidelines – To network effectively, follow these basic steps. (See the Networking Guidelines)
-How to Prepare a Networking Statement – Develop your own marketing blurb. Practice it until you know it by heart. (See How to Prepare a Networking Statement worksheet)
-Networking Organizer – Keep track of your efforts with this organizer. (See the Networking Organizer)
Job Interview How-To
There are some questions employers need to ask you to assess your personality and working habits. And it’s a good idea that you know them beforehand so that you can prepare yourself to become the best candidate for the job.
Use the following downloadable files to prepare for this important stage of the job search:
-Typical Questions Employers Ask – Draft your answers to common questions asked during a job interview. Also, included are some sample questions you might want to ask during the interview. (See Typical Questions Employers Ask worksheet)
-Job Interview Record – Keep track of your all your interviews. (See Job Interview Record worksheet)
Sample cover letters
Look at this sample cover letter and examine its strengths and weaknesses. Then, study the rewritten letter and note the differences. You will notice that the first letter is strong, but the second version is even stronger and more persuasive.
Use this sample cover letter to help you write and revise your own cover letter until it’s as strong as the second example.
For more information on how to create a successful cover letter, refer to the section titled Writing cover letters.
Sample resumes
There are three widely accepted resume patterns: the chronological, the functional and the combination resume. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages for presenting your unique experience and background information in the most effective manner.
The chronological resume is a recap of your experience based on time and sequence of events. This type of resume is most effective when your education and experience is closely related, and your goal is to advance within the same career field.
View a chronological resume.
The functional resume highlights specific activities in which you have education and experience, while it de-emphasizes your linear educational and work experience.
View a functional resume.
The combination resume includes elements of both the functional and chronological resume. Its purpose is to respond in a very results-oriented way to the requirements of a specific job advertisement or a particular type of career opportunity.
View a combination resume.
For more information on how to create a successful resume, refer to the section titled Creating resumes.
Relocation Calculator
(Note: This is a multimedia feature that cannot be reproduced in text format.)
If you were recently hired and are planning on relocating to a new city, you’ll certainly need to find out how much is the cost-of-living in your new place of residence and how it will affect your real earning power.
Use our interactive Relocation Calculator to learn how your current earnings translate in other cities.
To take full advantage of the Relocation Calculator’s interactive features you may want to download and install Shockwave.
Go to the Relocation Calculator.
