Job Searching Tips & Tools for VISTA Members

Presented by: Alexandra Lee

10.20.2010

Agenda

• What do I want to do with my life?• Job searching tips & tools• Set yourself up for success• Goal setting & planning

To get things started…

Q: When you were in 4th Grade, what did you want to be when you grew up?

The BIG Question

What do I want to do with my life?What do I want to do with my life?

How to Play to Your Strengths

Step 1. Observe yourself.Step 2. Gather feedback from others.Step 3. Recognize patterns. Step 4. Compose your self portrait. Step 5. Redesign (or design from start)

your job.

#1: Observation

“Our strengths… clamor for attention in the most basic way: Using them makes you feel strong. Take note of the times when you feel invigorated, inquisitive, successful… These moments are clues to what your strengths are.”

-Marcus Buckingham

• Think about a typical day. • What are three things you look forward to

doing? • What are three things you don’t love to

do?

Observation Activity

#2: Gather Feedback

• Collect feedback from in & out of work: –Fill in the blank: ‘One of the

greatest ways you add value is…’–Information on greatest strengths

accompanied by examples

#3: Recognize Patterns

#4: Self Portrait

When I am at mybest…

#5: (Re-)Design Your Job

• The way you work

• Who you work with

• The way you spend your time

Job Searching Tools & Tips

• Packaging yourself– Resumes/Cover letters– Social media

• Interviewing• Planning/Time management• Staying positive

Packaging Yourself: Resume & Cover Letter

The typical resume & cover letter says: "Here are my qualifications. Look at them. See if they meet your needs."

That's not enough.

The Resume & Cover Letter

Research. Research. Research.

1. Outcomes trump skills.

2. Attributes may trump skills.

The Resume & Cover Letter

• Practice simplicity and functionality in all documents.

• Be specific.• What experience is relevant to this

position?

The Resume & Cover Letter

The Cover Letter Formula

• By email: Email message is your cover letter.

• Cover letter is two paragraphs that allow you to show why you are the person for the job.

• Give it some personality!

Interviewing

• Prepare: – Read about company– Read about employees/board members– Review Job Description – how do your skills

apply to job– Read about industry/trends– Answer: How will you be an asset to this

company?

Ask questions. Is this the job for me?

Interviewing

Planning/Time management

• What industry, function, level and geography define what you want your next job to be?

• Be specific. You can’t apply to everything.

• Be realistic.

Planning/Time management

• 25 hours/week job schedule• 1 hour/day: job searching (5 target)• 1 hour/day: research• 1 hour/day: cover letter writing• 1 hour/day: resume tweaking• 1 hour/day: networking

Online Resources

- Careers @ Alltop - http://career.alltop.com- Indeed.com Job Trends- Andrew Hudson Jobs List- Colorado Nonprofit Association- SimplyHired.com & Indeed.com

Staying Positive

“I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

Thomas Jefferson

• Find healthy ways to vent• Get dressed• Surround yourself with upbeat people• Take time ‘off’ and do what makes you

happy• Do things that have tangible results• Believe that you will get a job• Keep things in perspective

Staying Positive

Set Yourself Up for Success

• Networking• Identify transferable skills• Get experience

Why? To get important information. And… make

some new friends.

Networking

• Step 1: Get in the mindset• Step 2: Prepare your elevator speech• Step 3: Provide value• Step 4: Follow-up• Step 5: Leverage your connectors

Networking

(Social) Networking

Transferable skills

Q: What skills do you use/can you use as a VISTA that are applicable to what you want to do?

• Opportunities at host site• Opportunities at other host sites• Volunteering• Training opportunities

Get experience.

Let’s learn from each other!

3 groups: 2. New VISTAs

• What will you do during service?

3. End of Term VISTAs• What worked well during your service?

• 2nd Termers • What will you do differently in term 2?

Goal Setting

SMART GoalsSpecific

MeasurableAchievable

RealisticTimely

Goal Setting

• Long-term (what is your BHAG? what is on your bucket list?)

• Short-term (what can be done this year?)• Really short-term (what is on your 30-day

bucket list?)• Really, really short-term (what can you do

tonight? tomorrow?)

Get Support

• Top 20 List

• Find a mentor(s)

• Write your goals down and share

Career Planning Continuum

I know what I want to be when I

grow up.

I have no idea what I want to do

next.

Sources

• “How to Play to Your Strengths”, Harvard Business Review

• Causeplanet.org • US News and World Report• andrewhudsonsjobsblog.com• personalbrandingblog.com• mashable.com• Forbes• Caffeinated Careers Club

For more information…

BooksWhat Should I Do with My Life? P. Bronson

Quaterlife Crisis Alexandra Robbins

Let Your Life Speak Parker Palmer

StrengthsFinder 2.0 Tom Rath

For more information…Blogs

New Grad Lifenewgradlife.blogspot.com

Career Advice Blogswww.careeradviceblogs.com

Rosetta Thurman

www.rosettathurman.com Next Generation Career Expertwww.lindsaypollack.com/blog

The Idealist Guides to Nonprofit Careersidealist.org/en/career/guide/index.html

For more information…

Contact Alexandra

Email: alexandlee@gmail.com

Twitter: al_microblogs

Blog: workandbehappy.wordpress.com