Create a Professional Portfolio

Consider bringing the following things to your job interview: A map and detailed directions so you will not get lost The phone number of your contact person at the company in case you need to notify them of a delay Several copies of your resume for those who will interview you Several copies of the contact information for your references, if not in your resume

A pen and a small notebook with the questions you have prepared A clean (new) folder or briefcase to hold all of the above items Any personal items you might need such as reading glasses, comb, or medications Finally, be sure to bring any suitable work samples that are relevant to the job for which you are applying.

Creating and Maintaining a Career Portfolio

A well-organized, well-maintained career portfolio can save time when you prepare to apply for a job. Paper folders, digital folders, or a three-ring binder with labeled dividers can help you collect and easily find information when you need it. Consider using label categories such as education, employment, skills and accomplishments, and include creative samples. Keep the information current and always be on the lookout for new items to add. Excellent websites exist to help you maintain a career social network. A good example is LinkedIn.com

Choose all items that represent characteristics of the job application process.

Drug screens and background checks are sometimes requested. Federal anti-discrimination laws govern aspects of the process. You can apply by sending paper documents or apply online. States have laws governing the process.

Choose all items that are essential to prepare for a job interview.

Make a list of questions you want to ask. Learn about the company. Prepare to answer common interview questions.

Choose all items that represent characteristics of a cover letter:

asks for a job interview introduces a resume

Choose all items that represent characteristics of work samples.

can be printed or placed on the web are samples of creative work should be appropriate to the job for which you are applying

Choose all items that represent important things to bring to an interview.

copies of your resume pen and notebook with questions list of personal references phone number of contact person

Choose the items that represent data you might add to your career portfolio. Check all of the boxes that apply.

employer letters of recommendation school transcripts national test scores photos you exhibited at a gallery or show chronological list of jobs held

Choose all items that represent characteristics of a resume:

is a summary career portfolio data is typically organized by jobs or skills is ideally one or two pages in length

Which should be your first choice for the most efficient and successful job search method?

networking person-to-person

Choose all items that represent appropriate interview behaviors.

smiling making eye contact using people's names showing confidence

Common parts of a resume include: your name, job goal, education completed, skills mastered, and prior positions held with a brief summary of the tasks performed at each. Resumes can be organized in different ways to suit different types of job applications. A reverse chronological resume highlights your employment history by listing each job held, starting with your current one. A potential employer can easily see which positions you have held that may qualify you for the job you are seeking.

A functional resume lists the job roles held and the skills demonstrated in each role. Here the focus is on the skills that make you a qualified applicant. For a paper resume, most employers prefer no more than one or two pages. Word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word, have predesigned templates you can use to create a resume with correct grammar and spelling, as well as an attractive layout. Many online job search sites, such as Monster.com, enable you to create and store electronic resumes and submit them to employers.

A portfolio is literally a small case for carrying loose papers. A career portfolio is a comprehensive collection of information, either in paper or electronic form, about your education, work experience, skills, and accomplishments. Examples of the kinds of information included are: Education records such as transcripts, certificates, and national exam test scores Chronological work history and letters of recommendation from employers Skills summary - for example technical, artistic, or language skills

Accomplishments such as volunteer work, extracurricular activities, or awards not included in the other categories Samples of creative work such as publications, art, photography, or films Career social network - list of people you know in your career area The career portfolio can be thought of as a database you will maintain throughout your life. You will use it to obtain the data to create your resume and work samples, and to prepare for a job interview - things you will learn about later in this lesson.

There are many ways to search for appealing job openings. Person-to-person networking is often the most efficient and successful approach and should be your first choice. Additionally, you should incorporate these ideas:

Ask your friends, family, and online social network for leads. Visit the career center at your school, or drop by the career center at a local college or trade school. Attend local job fairs to talk to recruiters.

Word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word, have predesigned templates you can use to create a cover letter. A printed cover letter should use the same paper and styling as your resume.

Be sure to have a friend proofread your letter and resume to check for errors. Even small errors can result in a negative impression. A cover letter is not usually required at a job fair or for websites that host resumes.

The job interview is your final chance to sell yourself as the right person for the job. Even with the best resume, work samples, and personal appearance, sending the wrong signals with your body language or behavior during the interview can spoil your chances. Your interviewers will be concerned with two main issues: if you have the skills for the job and if you will fit well with the people on the team. Subtle behaviors can influence their opinions. Here are some things to remember:

Do smile and make eye contact. Do remember and use people's names - write them down if you need to. It is best to use formal address (Mr. Jones, Ms. Smith) unless invited to do otherwise. Do express interest in the people you meet. Do show your confidence and enthusiasm, but without being boastful. Avoid yawning, fidgeting, shrugging your shoulders, frowning, slouching, and overly casual behaviors like chewing gum or texting

One of the last questions you should ask during an interview is what the next steps are. The hiring manager will tell you what the company timetable is and when you can expect to hear from them. You can also agree on the best way to communicate - either by email or phone. It is important to send a follow-up email to your interviewer promptly (within 24 hours). This email should accomplish the following: Express your thanks for the opportunity to interview.

Express your enthusiasm for the position. Communicate that you listened during the interview and understand what the company is looking for. Highlight the reasons you are a good fit for the job. Ask if there is anything more you can do to help the company decide; for example, provide more work samples or submit additional personal references.

The word resume (pronounced REH-zoo-may) comes from the French word for summary (résumé). A resume is a brief summary of education, skills, and work history prepared by using career portfolio data. It is an important part of a job application. To create a resume, you will select only the most important information relevant to the job for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for a job as a nurse, you will not need to include the list of programming languages you used in a prior job as a computer programmer.

In the United States and Canada, applicants for academic and medical careers use a more comprehensive form of a resume called a curriculum vitae (CV, from the Latin for "the course of my life"). A CV is usually much longer than a resume and contains detailed information about one's education, a complete list of every position held, all research completed, a list of any papers published, and any other significant contributions made.

Beyond person-to-person networking, job seekers should consider these options: Create an account at one or more online job sites such as Monster, SimplyHired, and Mediabistro. Look for job listings in local newspapers, magazines, and industry publications. Search individual company websites for job postings. Large companies often have dozens of openings posted. For example, visit apple.com/jobs or careers.microsoft.com.

Online job sites and large company websites often enable you to search for jobs using categories, keywords, or job site location. Once you have a found an opening, you are ready to submit an application together with your resume and a cover letter, which you will learn about soon.

Examples of creative work such as publications, art, photography, or video can be an important part of a job application. Carefully prepared samples of prior work can be printed, stored on a CD/DVD or flash drive, or collected in a Web gallery. Popular websites you can use for work samples include: For photos: Flickr, Google Picasa, Apple MobileMe, Snapfish For video: YouTube, Vimeo, Openfilm For written work: WordPress, Blogger

Work samples can be referenced in your resume and taken to job interviews. They should be well organized and easy for a potential employer to find and digest. They should also demonstrate skills appropriate to the job for which you are applying. Even if you do not refer a potential employer to a work sample on the Web, be aware that most employers will use an Internet search engine to see what is published about you. You should make an effort to lock sensitive accounts from public access and remove any information you wish to keep private.

A cover letter is a one-page letter that introduces your resume and asks for a job interview. Typical parts of a cover letter are: Heading with your contact information and date Name and address of the person or company to whom you are writing Salutation (for example: Dear Mr. Smith: or, if you do not know the name of the contact person, To whom it may concern:)

Paragraph stating your purpose: to obtain an interview for a specific job Paragraph briefly highlighting your qualifications for the job and introducing your resume Paragraph showing your enthusiasm and knowledge of the company, its products, and the job role you will fill Complimentary closing: Sincerely, your signed name your printed name

Different employers have different procedures for candidates to apply for a job. Most have some kind of application form, either paper or electronic, that requests your contact information and the specific job being applied for. Other data from your career portfolio may also be requested, such as your educational history, a list of past employers, and personal references. You may also be asked to consent to various forms of screening, such as: Drug testing Background investigation (i.e., a check for criminal records, traffic violations)

Since 1964, applicants have enjoyed the protection of several federal laws that govern the hiring process. These include the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The intention of these laws is to protect applicants from discrimination based on age, disability, race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. Different states also have their own laws protecting applicants. Visit your state's employment law website to find out more

After finding an interesting job opening and submitting your application, together with your customized resume and cover letter, you may be asked to attend one or more interviews. This is an opportunity for you and your prospective employer to find out if you are a good match for each other. To prepare for your interview, you should spend time learning about the company. The Internet, as well as people in your social network who know about or work at the company, can be valuable sources. Make a list of questions you have about the company and the position being offered.

You should also spend time preparing for what you may be asked at the interview. Some likely questions include: Why are you applying for this job? What do you know about our company? What would your last employer say about you? What are your strengths and weaknesses? To help you prepare, search the Internet for information about possible job interview questions.

Shown here is the basic chronological resume template from Microsoft Word. This template includes five parts:

Your name and contact information Your objective (career goal or ideal job) Chronological list of jobs and responsibilities Educational history and degrees held List of two or three personal references an employer can contact concerning your past performance. If there is no room, add a note that references are available on request.

It is important to make a good impression at the interview. Besides being well prepared, consider also your: Dress Grooming Behavior Different workplaces have different expectations for appropriate dress. You may want to check with the company, or make a quick visit on your own to see what people wear. A good rule of thumb is to dress better than those who will interview you. If you wear

a suit and everyone else is wearing jeans, no problem. The other way around is not good. Grooming is also important. Avoid things that others may find unpleasant. For example, many people are very sensitive to odors like perfume or cigarette smoke. Piercings and tattoos may also be controversial and, depending on the workplace, should be covered.