Workforce Solutions Panhandle offices have services available to assist you with your job hunting:

• Job Matching and Job Referrals
• Job Readiness Classes
• Use of Computers, Copier, Fax and Telephone
• Use of Resume Building Software
• Career Exploration & Planning
• Youth Services
• Veteran Services
• Older Worker Services
• Community Resource Information
  
  

JOB HUNTING TOOLKIT

Making the Most of Your Job Search Resume Writing Tips Interviewing Tips Know Your Labor Market

 

Making the Most of Your Job Search (back to top)

• Investigate and consider new types of work that utilize the same skills that you developed on previous jobs. A few questions you should ask yourself:
  Is there currently a market for your skills?
  Do you need to seriously consider training for a new job?
  What type of work do you enjoy the most?
  What type of work do you never want to do again?
  
  
• Take charge of your job search. The more work you put into it, the greater the chances you will find the job you really want. We recommend making a minimum of 8 to 10 ?solid? contacts per week.
  
  
• Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a new job. Studies have found that the majority of jobs are found through word-of-mouth networking with friends, family, former co-workers, and other people you know. Increase your chances for finding a job by utilizing all resources: pay attention to the media—they often report about new companies or existing companies that are expanding; investigate employment agencies and local workforce centers; use phone directories and business organization membership directories to generate new contacts; and visit local companies’ websites—they often post job information.
  
  
• When you find a job that you are interested in, CAREFULLY follow the employer’s job application instructions. No employer wants to hire someone who can’t (or won’t) follow instructions.
  
  
• Customize your resume for each position you are applying for. Explain how your knowledge, skills, and experience match what the employer is looking for.
  
  
• Fill out a ?master application? (pdf version or word version) and use it to transfer information to an employer’s application form. This will save you time and ensure that all of your information is accurate and complete.
  
  
• Stay organized! Track your job hunting activities using a Work Search Log. Follow-up is very important. Your work search log should have all of the information concerning who you contacted, when, how, what information was provided, and what is the next step.
  
  
• Keep a positive attitude. Most likely, finding the right job for you will take some time, and no doubt you’ll encounter occasional disappointments. Your positive and optimistic attitude will come across to employers—once you give up, then it’s really over.

Resume Writing Tips (back to top)

• A good resume will effectively summarize your knowledge, skills, and work experience and help set you apart from other applicants. Be creative and truthful. It is definitely O.K. to ?brag? on yourself a little. How else is the employer supposed to know how wonderful you are? If you need help with this, ask a close friend to help you write your resume. They can often see positive characteristics in you that you don’t see.
  
  
• Whenever possible, customize your resume for each position you are applying for. This is your best chance to explain how your knowledge, skills, and experience match what the employer is looking for. Read the job description carefully and include information about yourself that directly addresses the qualifications mentioned.
  
  
• Choose the type of resume that presents your qualifications in the ?best light.?

A Chronological Resume provides a ?time-line? history of your past employment and work experience. This format is widely used and works well if you haven’t changed jobs often or had any gaps in your employment. We recommend this type of resume if you have a steady work record and experience that directly relates to the position.
(sample resume)

• A Functional Resume provides a collective summary of your education, skills, and work experience and emphasizes skills rather than employment or direct experience. This format is preferred when you have an extensive work history or no work history, you are changing careers, if you had a period of time when you held several short term jobs, or if you had a substantial gap in your employment. (sample resume)
  
  
• DO include information about: your education level; special trainings you have completed; a list of your abilities in the use of equipment, tools, software applications, etc.; previous work duties, experience, and special projects you have worked on; special recognitions and awards that you have received; community / volunteer service; and your contact information.
  
  
• DO NOT include any information that indicates: age; race; marital or familial status; religion; medical condition; or disability status. ONLY include information that relates to your qualifications for the position.
  
  
• When describing your work experience, give details of your duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Instead of ?Customer Service Specialist? (which does not tell the employer anything about what you have done or can do) try: As a Customer Service Specialist, my duties included: greeting customers at the reception desk; providing information and directions; taking payment for admission fees; closing out the cash register daily; and generating daily attendance reports. I was awarded the ?Best Smile? award for the month of May.
  
  
• ALWAYS get permission before using someone’s name as a reference. It is also helpful to have some idea of what they will say about you.
  
  
• Proofread – Proofread – Proofread! Small mistakes on your resume can cost you the chance to interview. Look at it from the employer’s perspective—would you want to hire someone that did not care enough to check their work even when they are trying hard to make a good impression?

Top Ten Tips for a Successful Interview (back to top)

1. Plan for the interview several days ahead of time. Make sure you know where the company is located and where to park. Make any necessary arrangements such as time off from work, child care, or transportation.
   
   
2. Put together your interview “toolkit”: have copies of all information that you have submitted to the employer; a master application if you have not previously filled out an application for the employer; copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation, your reference list; and a note pad and pen. Organize everything in a light briefcase or portfolio.
   
   
3. Carefully select the clothes that you will wear and make sure they are ready to go (clean and pressed). The best advice we have heard (from an employer) is, ?Dress like you already work at the company (in the position that you have applied for), only better.? Don’t blow your careful planning by failing to pay attention to the details! Shoes, hair, make-up, jewelry—all need to be well groomed, and CONSERVATIVE. It’s not fair, but people do make snap judgments about you from your appearance. Even if you are overdressed—employers will appreciate your effort.
   
   
4. Do your homework. Find out as much as you can about the company and the position before the interview. This will give you an edge when answering their questions and in forming questions of your own.
   
   
5. Get a good night’s sleep before the interview. Yawning during an interview can’t be good! (Yikes!)
   
   
6. Arrive 10 minutes early and be friendly to everyone you meet. Co-workers will often share their impressions with the person conducting the interview.
   
   
7. Greet the interviewer with a warm smile and firm handshake, and call them by their name.
   
   
8. Answer the interviewer’s questions truthfully. It is O.K. to pause to think before answering and to ask for clarification if you do not understand the question. NEVER talk bad about a former employer, supervisor, or co-worker. If you do not know the answer to a question, don’t try to bluff your way through—the interviewer will know.
   
   
9. If something negative in your work history comes up, use it as an opportunity to demonstrate that you have learned from the experience. Explain what you have done or will do to make sure you don’t repeat your mistakes.
   
   
10. Above all else, keep a positive, up-beat attitude throughout the interview (even if you think it’s not going well). Employers often hire for attitude and train for skills. Be sure to thank the interviewer for the opportunity and shake hands before leaving.

Know Your Labor Market (back to top)

Find out what area employers are paying for the occupations you are interested in. Compare wages for different areas of the state. For complete wage information for Amarillo and the Panhandle go to WIN – Wage Information Network

 

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