The Office Procedures and Technology
Chapter 13
Planning and Advancing
Your Career
Copyright 2003 by South-Western, a division of Thomson Learning
Thinking Ahead About Careers
and Jobs
Planning with a career goal established
Planning without a career goal
Career goals: desired achievements
related to work such as jobs,
education, or work experience
Key Term
Topic 13-1 An Effective Job Search Slide 2
Planning a Job Search
Exploring job opportunities
School placement and counseling services
The World Wide Web
Newspapers
Employment agencies
Government announcements
Personal inquiry
Topic 13-1 An Effective Job Search Slide 3
Job board: Web site that provides
job listings and allows persons
seeking employment to post resumes
Key Term
This job board
provides
information
about U.S.
government
jobs
Preparing a resume
Personal information
Job interest
Education
Work experience
References
A resume
presents an
applicant’s job
qualifications
Planning a Job Search
Writing a letter of application
Address the letter to a person (not a department
or a position)
State the position you are applying for in the
first paragraph
Describe your qualifications for the job
Request an interview
Limit the letter to one printed page
Topic 13-1 An Effective Job Search Slide 4
A letter of
application
introduces
you to an
employer and
requests an
interview
The Interview
Prepare for an interview
Make a good first impression
Anticipate questions you will be asked
Prepare questions to ask about the company
or the job
Topic 13-1 An Effective Job Search Slide 5
During an
interview,
make eye
contact with
the interviewer
frequently
Arrive on time
Complete an application form
Participate attentively
Follow up with a thank-you letter
Documenting Your Job Search
A job search may require considerable time
A job search diary will be helpful in completing
your job search
A job search
diary lists
activities and
contacts
related to a
job search
Topic 13-1 An Effective Job Search Slide 6
Focus On …
Online Job Search and Resume An online job search may involve many job
boards and company Web sites
Intelligent agents can aid in the search process
Applicants may apply online for many jobs
A job seeker’s resume can be posted and
scanned or searched by many employers
For an electronic resume, use a format that can
be easily transmitted and searched
Use default fonts and sizes
Save in PDF format
Send as an attachment when using e-mail
Keep the resume fairly short
Include contact information
Use concise, specific terms to describe skills,
education, and work experience
Topic 13-1 An Effective Job Search Slide 7
Introduction to a New Job
Orientation
Goals of the organization
Organization chart and key personnel
Employment forms
Benefits
Company policies
Topic 13-2 The First Job and Beyond Slide 8
A W-4 form
provides
information
needed by an
employer to
withhold the
correct federal
tax from an
employee’s
pay
Learning on the job
References and resources
Employee handbook: printed or
online manual containing company
policies and procedures
Key Term
Evaluation of Employee
Performance
Performance review
Evaluation of an employee’s work
Conducted periodically, usually at least once a
year
May affect promotions, raises, or disciplinary
actions
Factors commonly considered
Job knowledge and skills
Quality and quantity of work
Adherence to deadlines
Accomplishment of goals
Teamwork, judgment, and flexibility
Ways of evaluating employees
Checklist
Ranking
Forced distribution
Other
Evaluating your own performance
Topic 13-2 The First Job and Beyond Slide 9
Continuous Improvement
Simplify or eliminate steps in doing tasks
Follow an organized approach
Consider the overall scope of the project
Keep only information that has future value
Document procedures for later reference
Prioritize tasks and complete them in order of
importance
Topic 13-2 The First Job and Beyond Slide 10
Promotional Possibilities
At your current organization
In other organizations
Topic 13-2 The First Job and Beyond Slide 11
Promotion: advancement in rank,
grade, or position
Key Term
Review your
company’s job
openings
periodically to
learn about
promotional
opportunities
Professional and trade associations
Provide information and training related to various
careers
Publish magazines or newsletters with helpful
information
Many organizations
provide programs to
promote professional
growth
Educational resources
Continuing education programs
Colleges or universities
Courses available on the Internet
Changing Jobs
Job termination
Reasons for job termination
Termination meeting
Severance pay
Resignation letter
Continuing benefits
Topic 13-2 The First Job and Beyond Slide 12
Downsize: reduce, as in decreasing
the number of workers in a company
Key Term
Job portfolio
Resume
Letters of application and thank-you letters
Job search diary
Copies of awards and honors
Diplomas, certificates, and transcripts
Work history