Employer ExpectationsAPSE Conference

June 27, 2012

Kristi Lockhart, Transition Services Coordinator Nora Tucker, Transition CounselorCarrie Gilbert, Rehabilitation Counselor

Today’s Objectives

Be able to answer these questions:What does an employer want?What do I need to know?How do I present myself?What resources are available to

me?

Employer ExpectationsBe on time.Follow supervisor’s directions.Don’t talk on your cell phone when you’re

working.Maintain a positive attitude at all times.Treat supervisor and co-workers with

respect.Take responsibilities seriously. Don’t have a “That’s not my job!” mentality.

The Right Workforce Hands-On Capability Comfortable In Team

Environments Able to Follow and Lead Continuing Education / Lifelong

Learning Culturally Diverse and Gender-

Neutral Personal Career Awareness

Employers’ Wish List Hygiene and Appearance Integrity Comportment and

Behavior Punctuality Ambition Leadership Teamwork Think Outside the Box Collaboration and

Teamwork Computer Skills Telephone Skills

Active Listening and Questioning

Diversity Awareness Time and Asset

Management Problem-Recognition and

Solving Message-Taking and

Transmittal Skills Personal and Electronic

Ethics (internet/phone use)

Customer Service Skills Soft Skills

Soft Skills vs. Hard SkillsSoft Skills

◦ Sometimes known as "people skills," ◦ Personal attributes that enhance an individual's

interactions, job performance and career prospects. ◦ Broadly applicable.

Examples: optimism, responsibility, sense humor, integrity, motivation

Hard Skills◦ Specific, teachable abilities that may be required in a

given context,◦ Tend to be specific to a certain type of task or activity.

Examples: Typing, operating machinery, software development, speaking a foreign language

Soft SkillsSoft Skills relate to how you workJust as important as your education or

experiencePaying attention to them will take you a

long wayCan determine if you get hiredCan be a main reason for being firedRelate to how you interact with othersOverall attitude on the job

Soft Skills Employers Look For…MotivationDedicationTime-Management SkillsPositive AttitudeCommunication SkillsCreative Problem-Solving SkillsAbility to be a Team-PlayerConfidenceFlexibilityWorking Well Under PressureAbility to Take Criticism and ImprovePOSITIVE ATTITUDE!!

Top 10 Tips To a Positive Attitude

 1. Take ownership of your attitude. We control our attitude. It is not something that is genetically or environmentally

determined. Each of us can decide what our attitude is going to be. We can choose to have a positive attitude about life. A ready smile is a gift to all those around you.

2. Take action to eliminate what bothers you. You may be putting up with more things than you have realized. Think about what you are tolerating. You may be tolerating things that you don’t like. Just paying attention to what you are tolerating will be the first

step towards eliminating it. Tolerations infect your attitude.

Top 10 Tips To a Positive Attitude

3. Live in the present. Let go of living in the past or in the future and enjoy the

present.

4. Let go of things that don’t matter Don’t’ waste energy on being irritated and annoyed

5. Be non-judgmental

Don’t be critical of others Try to listen and understand Accept yourself and others more

10 Tips To a Positive Attitude

6. Listen to yourself and trust what you hear Take responsibility for what you can and want to do

7. Live your values

Develop an attitude of true acceptance of yourself Realize that you are fine the way you are You may choose to make some changes in your life

simply because you realize that you have greater potential than you have utilized

10 Tips To a Positive Attitude8. Have fun and enjoy humor.

Take delight in life and create fun experiences for yourself.

Don’t make life be too heavy. 9. Invest energy in the people you love and care about.

Meaningful relationships are developed and sustained by positive attitudes and commitment.

10. Develop an attitude of love and appreciation.

By developing a loving attitude towards yourself you will in turn interact with others from a basis of love.

Role as an Employee

You are hired to fill a need the employer has

Example: Sometimes you notice that your coworker arrives at the office at 11AM, instead of his usual 9AM start time. You get irritated because you came in at 9AM, and you wonder why he didn’t. What you don’t know is that he worked late last night until 7PM, while you got off at 5PM! Thus, your coworker is working a flex schedule. That means that his job requirements are different than yours, and he adjusts his schedule to the company’s needs.

Role as an EmployeeIt’s important to understand your role

in the companyTrust and respect that others play a

role◦Just as important as yours◦Work just as hard as you

Understanding this promotes positivity and leads to a more satisfying workplace for everyone

Know the Employer Before You ApplyVisit the employer's web site

◦ Go to these pages in their site to learn important information: "About us" section Information about products and/or

services Customer policies Human resources

Search the Internet for:◦ Articles/Blogs or other comments about the

company ◦ FaceBook page

Importance of Having a Resume

An advertisement of you!There are different formats:

◦Chronological◦Functional*◦Hybrid

Functional résumésUsed when you have:Little or no related work

experienceMostly temporary work in the

pastHad a variety of jobs in the pastNo work experience at allWant to emphasize talents and

skills not dates or places

Parts of a ResumeContact information (voicemail,

email)Educational background

◦Coursework relevant to your desired profession

Work history ◦Skills and experience gained during

internships or summer jobs ◦include unpaid work if it relates to the

jobTechnical and computer skills

Additional Parts of a Resume…Key words relevant to position being

sought Skills or personal traits

◦Positive personal characteristics Honors and awards Membership in clubs or community

organizationsLeadership positions held Community service

Functional Resume

Functional Resume

Look for typos!

Resources on the Internet Virginia Career VIEW (Vital Information for Education and Work) is for all students in

grades K-8 in Virginia.  A career exploration and educational planning resource in one place! Provides extensive resources for researching careers, training, and employment. ◦ http://www.vaview.vt.edu/

Virginia Education Wizard: Let the Wizard help you choose a career, get the information you need to pursue your career, find the college that is right for you, pay for college, transfer from a community college to a university, and get answers to your questions about your future. ◦ https://www.vawizard.org/vccs/Main.action

The Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth is divided into three sections: Personal Qualities and People Skills (soft skills); Professional Knowledge and Skills (academic and knowledge); and Technology Knowledge and Skills.◦ http://www.jmu.edu/ttac/WorkplaceReadiness.shtml

YouthWorks: Ann Arundel Workforce Development Corporation, Maryland. Provides job postings, career exploration, GED preparation, and job search tips. ◦ http://aawdc.org/youth-works/index.php/Job-Search-Tools/Youth-Job-Search-Tips.html

Resources in Your AreaWorkforce CentersVocational Rehabilitation AgencyCareer & Technical Education

CentersOthers?

They all have websites!

Thank You!Contact us at DRS with any

questions:

Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services

{Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Division of Rehabilitative Services as of July 1, 2012}

(800) 552-5019Kristi.Lockhart@drs.virginia.gov