Helping a Library User Look for Work

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Helping a Library User Look for Work

• Instructor
• Dana Lee
• leed_at_earthlink.net
• An Infopeople Workshop
• Fall 2003

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This Workshop Is Brought To You By The Infopeople
Project
Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project
supported by the California State Library. It
provides a wide variety of training to California
libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered
around the state and are open registration on a
first-come, first-served basis. For a complete
list of workshops, and for other information
about the Project, go to the Infopeople Web site
at infopeople.org.
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Introductions

• Tell us your name and the branch where you work
• Please share with the group what you consider to
  be the most humorous or bizarre incident you
  experienced using the Internet to help a job
  seeking patron or what you would like to learn
  most.

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Workshop Overview

• Determining a patrons readiness
• Benefits of job searching on the Internet
• The job search process
• Resources to prepare
• Assessments
• Careers
• Salaries
• Resumes and Letters (cover, thank you etc.)
• Networking online
• Finding job openings using the Internet

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Installing Bookmarks

• Put your disk in the A\ drive
• Double-click on My Computer on your desktop
• Double-click on 3½ Floppy A\
• Double-click on the class bookmark file
• The file should open in Internet Explorer
• If it does not, please open IE and use the
  File/Open sequence to get to the file on the
  floppy disk
• With the class bookmark file showing in Internet
  Explorer, click the Favorites menu, choose Add to
  Favorites
• Notice the name in the Name box so that you can
  use the Favorites list to get back to the class
  bookmarks.

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What Are Some of the Issues Feelings Job
Seekers Bring With Them?

• Emotional

• Identity

• Financial

• Fear of technology

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What Are the Benefits of Using the Internet to
Find a Job?

• Internet is continually expanding
• Information is available 24/7
• Free access to information and valuable resources
• Broad geographic outreach
• Networking tool
• Keyword searches allow faster searchesof
  numerous resources
• Allows for free resume posting

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What questions would you ask a job seeker to
determine how prepared the patron is for the job
search process?
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The Job Search Process

• Stage 1Looking for clarity --self assessment

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Stage 1 Looking For Clarity
A job seeker is asking for clarity

• Who am I?
• What do I want to do?
• What are my skills, values qualifications?
• What type of work do I want to do that makes
  me happy?
• Which companies would hire a person with my
  skills and interests?

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Exploring Personality, Skills Interest
Assessments (Stage 1)

• WHAT - skills, knowledge, values and abilities
• WHERE - ideal working conditions/ situations
• WHO - define who you want to work for and with
• WHY - defining purpose and rewards of the type of
  work sought

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• "There is more in us than we know. If we can be
  made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our
  lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less."
•   Kurt Hahn

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Stage 2 Matching Skills

• A job seeker wants to understand how their
  interests, skills and personality match the
  workplace
• How do I narrow my search?
• What types of jobs exist in the workplace?
• Do the jobs match my skills and interests?
• Who can I talk to in order to confirm my
  findings?

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Exploring Career Fields and Vocational Areas
(Stage 2)

• How do a job seekers skills values fit with
  the expressed field of interest?
• Is it a good match?
• Is there a need for additional education or
  training?

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Exploring Salary Resources (Stage 2)

• How do you determine what a job is really worth?
• How do you explore a patron's financial needs?
• What is your approach vis-à-vis "skills and
  salary" and "cost-of-living adjustments"?

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Stage 3 Getting the Job

• A job seeker wants to find their dream job
• Which specific companies and organizations
  match my values and work ethic?
• Which job openings match my skills and
  interests?
• What specific resources are available to help
  me complete a job application?
• Interviewing Tips

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Resume Formats (Stage 2/3)

• Chronological resume
• Organized by job title with most recent job first
• Solid experience with logical job history
• Functional resume
• Organized by areas of skill and accomplishment
• Mixed bag of work history or career change(s)
• Plain text/ASCII/scannable resume
• Can be chronological or functional resume
• Formatted to be read well by an optical scanner

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Why Is It Important to Use Keywords in Your
Resume?

• Keywords are
• The "buzzwords" used by insiders in a profession
  or industry.
• The terms used to write job descriptions.
• The "scan" words head hunters use when going
  through online resumes.
• TIP Be sure to include the word "resume" in
  your resume.

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What Are the Risks of Not Protecting Your Privacy?
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Stay Cyber-Safe

• Placement Where should you post your resume?
• Privacy How public do you want your
  information to be?

• Refer to this web site for information on "How
  To Make Your Resume Cyber-Safe"
• http//www.job-hunt.org/resumecybersafe.shtml

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Job Search Correspondence (Stage 2/3)

• Cover letters
• Letter of Application
• Response to an Advertisement or a personal
  referral letter
• Other types of job search letters
• Letter of Inquiry
• Thank you letters
• Acceptance and rejection letter
• Withdrawal letter
• Resignation letter 

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Job Search Letter Writing Tips (Stage 2/3)

• Always include a cover letter with a resume or
  application
• Follow proper elements and letter format
• Convey a positive and professional image
• Tailor your correspondence specifically to the
  individual, organization and/or position you are
  seeking

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• "64 of the almost 7,500 people surveyed said
  they found their new jobs through networking."
• 1999 Career Transition Study by Drake Beam
  Morin

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Networking Online (Stage 2/3)

• Advantages and disadvantages to networking online
• How to network on the Internet
• Newsgroups and message boards
• Mailing lists
• Posting a resume

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Finding Job Openings (Stage 3)

• Remember to go from the general to the specific
• Review sites that reflect interests identified in
  assessments
• Refine the target by reviewing career fields and
  vocations
• Check job boards by job titles
• Check professional trade associations and
  journals for job listings
• Review company web sites

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Summary

• Discussed the benefits of using the Internet to
  find work
• Identified ways to assist patrons in preparing
  for the job search process prior to starting the
  Internet job search process
• Identified and practiced
• using online resources to help patrons assess
  their skills, identify careers, determine
  salaries, write resumes (chronological,
  functional and plain text) and cover letters
• using Internet resources to search and locate
  jobs online
• Internet resources to network online