Preparing for the transition from college to career is an important step. The skills needed in this transition are skills that can be applied to many different types of transitions you may face in your life. Understanding your goals, proper preparation, determination, and purposeful action can help you achieve your dreams! The information provided below represent the best steps to take in the process to job searching. You can find more Career Resources provided by FHTC through the library.
Before you begin, be sure to gather some important information you will need to create a great resume:
Once you have gathered all the information needed. Now you need to craft and create the document.
REMEMBER: The goal of the "Resume" is not to get you a job- but to get you an interview. The average resume is read in 10-30 seconds- really just skimmed. For this reason, NO MORE THAN 2 PAGES! If the employer sees the right keywords, then they will take a closer look. Google Docs, Microsoft Word, etc. all have free templates you can use. Just remember- pick a template that fits your field and the company you are applying to.
Watch the videos below for tips, tricks, and easy layouts that work!
It is absolutely essential that you take a break after creating your resume before sending it out to potential employers! There are certain mistakes that spell checks will not catch. For example- what if you wrote as a skill "Public Speaking" but forgot the 'L' in public. This is still a word so spell check won't catch it- but it will make you look foolish to potential employers. Tips for Good Editing:
Facebook:
Yes, the social networking site was actually intended for networking. Use the site to get the word out when you are job searching. There are often openings in companies that are not advertised, but you might be connected to someone who knows about one.
Previous Co-Workers, Instructors, Classmates:
Be sure to reach out to people you know. Often they have connections also that could be helpful in finding good opportunities.
Kansas is an employment at will state which means your employer can fire you for any non-discriminatory and/or non-retaliatory reason. However, there are some exceptions to this doctrine.
Kansas law makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, disability, ancestry, national origin and age. Genetic screening and testing in the area of employment are also prohibited.
There exists a very fine line between the Right to Free Speech and the Right to Employ. While it is your right to say and post whatever you want on your personal accounts; It is also the right of an employer to decide if they will continue to employ someone who they feel reflects badly on their business or corporation. Below are some examples and cautionary tales.
Actually call- use good phone voice/ etiquette
Avoid Texting, use e-mail: NO Abbreviations
If there is a need- specifically ask the interviewer if you can "check my phone" "add your contact information to my phone" "put the meeting in my phone calendar"- It may seem ridiculous, but a simple question can save you a major interview ding with some people.
Work on only checking before/ after work hours or lunch breaks. Some companies have written policies about cell use. Be sure you know the employer expectations before hopping on a phone while at work.
During a job search (personal phone): "Hello this is __________(your name)"
At a job: "Hello and thank you for calling _______________ (name of company) this is _____________ (your name) how may I help you?"
Getting ready for an interview is an important step in landing a job. Be sure that you are ready to present your best self to the person you will be meeting with. Below are some tools to help you get ready- but remember:
"Networking does not mean using Facebook or Linked In. It means going to events, getting your face in front of people and setting up informational interviews."—A human resources professional in New York City
"It doesn't take 40 hours a week to look for a job. So if you're unemployed, do something: take classes, meet people, go to industry meetings, start a blog, read a book a week. Just don't sit on the couch and eat Doritos." —Ben Eubanks, HR professional in Alabama
"In interviews, everyone works well with others, and everyone learns quickly. Please tell me something else." —HR manager in St. Cloud, Minn.
Crouch, M. (2017). 13 Things HR won't tell you about keeping your job. Reader's Digest Online. Retrieved from: http://www.rd.com/advice/work-career/