Organizing Your Job Search
Preparation is critical to a successful job search. Taking time to self-assess the skills, knowledge and abilities you have is truly the first step.
First, ask?
What accomplishments have your achieved and what have you been involved with? List your education, sports teams you have been involved with, school or outside club activities, church involvement, and volunteer opportunities you have participated in. Write down anything you have been involved with including school and classroom projects. What goals short and long term do you have.
After you have compiled your list of accomplishments and goals? Start defining your skills, knowledge and abilities.
Skills are documented by coursework, training or equivalent work or volunteer experience
What are you skilled in? Here are a few examples:
Typing, Use of a copier, First Aid/CPR, Public Speaking, Microsoft PowerPoint, etc.
Abilities are the capacity to perform an activity or task (Due to work or volunteer experience). Here are a few examples:
Follow directions, calculate fractions, write news releases, stand for long periods of time, work alone on tasks, work within tight timeframes, resolve complaints and read instruction manuals.
Knowledge is documented by coursework, training or equivalent work or volunteer experience but not necessarily SKILLED. Here are a few examples: Warehouse operations, operating a cash register, opening and closing procedures, working with a person with disabilities, knowledge of food preparation and presentation methods and general budgeting principles
Review your final list, what employers could use these skills, knowledge and abilities?
As part of organizing your job search, begin to think about who you know. What type of job or position do you want and who do you know that can assist you? You may not realize that you have a built in network and who you interact with today can lead you to your next job.