The Missing Link
The Discovery Link
The Connecting Link

The Missing Link: The Internal Process

Exploring Careers that Match your Skills and Interests

Some people like lazy days on the beach; others prefer days filled with fast-paced sight-seeing. Similarly, people have different types of work personalities. Some thrive on deadlines and crisis situations while others prefer a work environment that's calm and orderly. Researching the best job for yourself can be like finding the vacation destination that bests suits you. Knowing yourself, your skills, abilities, and work values is key in your journey toward job search success.

Managing Your Career Search in Changing Times

Managing a job hunt today differs from job searches conducted just three years ago. Many job seekers are facing the prospect of long-term unemployment. They are confused and uncertain about the future. Job Link offers workshops that can help you manage the transition and find suitable employment.

Before you begin your journey toward job hunt success, you should take an inventory of yourself, your values and your skills. It doesn't matter whether you're a first-time traveler (a new graduate entering the workforce), someone who travels infrequently (reentering the workforce), a seasoned traveler (someone interested in switching career fields), or a confused and uncertain traveler (someone laid off). All travelers are in a state of transition. One lifestyle is ending and another will soon be beginning. Managing your transition well in these changing times lays a solid foundation for your job search.

What is transition? Transition is a person's internal reaction to a major life event, how one copes with the death of a loved one, a divorce, or the loss of a job. Even when the event is a happy one, such as a marriage, the birth of a child, or the offer of a great job, a person must internally come to terms with a major change in his or her life. How one copes with this change affects one's attitude and ATTITUDE often determines job hunt success. Remember . . .58 percent of applicants don't get beyond the first interview because of their attitude.

Knowing the three phases of transition can help you deal with the turmoil of emotions you experience in each phase. For someone who has been laid off this means moving from shock and denial to anger, self-blame, acceptance, and finally, healing. Once you understand the process toward healing you will be able to emulate a job-winning attitude.

The three phases of transition are 1) Ending, 2) In-between, and 3) Beginning.

Phase 1. All successful transitions begin with an ending. If you have been laid off, your first task is acknowledging the ending of your job and allowing yourself time to grieve. Typical feelings during this phase include a loss of belonging, a loss of purpose, a loss of self-worth, a loss of personal power, a loss of a vehicle/avenue for socialization. Gradually you will move from shock and denial to anger, self-blame, then acceptance/reentry and finally, healing. Identifying and acknowledging your feelings is the first step in healing loss.

Phase 2. In this next phase, the in-between phase, a laid-off job seeker may feel confused and perhaps empty. Because our jobs often provide us with a sense of purpose and identity, you may feel a lack of meaning in your life during this phase. People often say they feel like they are "in limbo." During this phase watch out for low self-esteem caused by rejections in the job hunt. Statistically speaking, for every 20 phone calls you make you will receive one positive response. (See tips below.)

Phase 3. If you've been laid off, the "fog" has now lifted and you start to realize that there really are many opportunities out there for you. But, you're not sure where to begin. The first thing you must do is focus on what you want out of life, what is important to you, and what your work values are. This is the beginning phase, the final phase of transition.

Helpful Hints for the In-Between Phase of Transition

• See yourself as self-employed in a demanding new job. You're the sales and marketing representative for yourself.
• Develop a job hunt strategy and set up daily manageable goals for yourself, e.g. compose three cover letters a day or make four phone calls. You will feel successful at the day's end when you have been able to accomplish these small but valuable steps toward obtaining a job. Beware of the dangers of procrastination. Never let a day go by without accomplishing something related to the job search.
• Say to yourself daily, "I believe in myself" and "I am a valuable person with great skills and talents." Maintain a positive attitude. It will make others more willing to help you.
• Take this opportunity to think creatively about your future and about different options for yourself.
• Measure yourself by your actions. Note your daily completion of tasks rather than by results (which will involve rejection).
• Avoid isolation. Keep your social life active, surrounding yourself with a support system of friends and loved ones.
• Don't overburden those closest to you. Spare your family occasionally by discussing your turbulent feelings with a friend or more distant relative.
• Get one-on one guidance from Job Link counselors and representatives from partner agencies on-site.
• Exercise daily to increase your energy, combat depression, and raise your self-esteem.
• Get involved in volunteer work. You can feel proud to tell prospective employers how you've spent your spare time plus you can expand your network with your fellow volunteers and let it be known that you're looking for a job.

• Contributes to society
• Offers good pay
• Supplies an interesting variety of things to do
• Is secure and steady
• Affords the chance to learn new things, to broaden experience
• Provides a chance to offer input into work methods
• Gives a feeling of pride and accomplishment
• Has interaction with coworkers
• Makes good use of my skills and abilities
• Helps others
• Furnishes good working conditions
• Grants social status
• Yields opportunity for advancement
• Offers good fringe benefits (vacation, pension, insurance, sick leave)
• Provides physical exercise
• Presents a busy, active work day
• Involves the responsibility of supervising others
• Allows me the opportunity to try my own ideas
• Has a short commute
• Offers opportunity for overtime
• Requires only 40 hours a week
• Supervisors expect steady work without pressuring employees
• Supervisors give clear, complete instructions
• Supervisors recognize work well done

The Discovery Link: Determining Your Direction

Researching Your Chosen Job Market:

Just as important as knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, is knowing which direction will take you to your destination entering the job market you've chosen. You'll need to know everything about it: what types of companies are in the market you've chosen, what skills are needed, what personality types do well in that environment, what a typical day is like, how the salary compares to other industries, how to advance on the job, and so forth.

In addition, local industries and training opportunities are detailed in our comprehensive annual guide, Northbay Counties Occupational Outlook (see link to this directory in the Labor Market Information section of this site). Hard copies of this directory can also be reviewed in the Job Link Resource Room. The directory lists salary ranges, skills and education required. In addition, it covers in-depth analyses of job trends and profiles and future projections for local industries as well as information on local training providers.

The Visible Job Market

The visible job market provides listings of job openings that are advertised or published openly. Various avenues to access the visible job market include:

On-line Job Listings

The Internet can be an effective recruitment tool for many companies. For some jobs, listings are posted on-line and nowhere else. Don't miss out on this potential source of job openings.

Classified Ads

• Because this is the most obvious place to find job leads, and the majority of job seekers look here, competition for these jobs can be extreme.
• These ads are often "overwritten," so if you meet 70% of the requirements it may be worth pursuing the position.
• Set yourself above the competition by doing more (such as finding out who the manager is and getting your resume directly to her or him). However, this is not always possible, as many of the classified are "blind ads" without reference to the employer's identity, only a P.O. Box or FAX number.
• Use the ads for information (for example, if a company is hiring engineers this week, they will probably need technicians to support them next week).
• Ads can sometimes be a source of vocabulary for building your resume and skills statement, helping to ensure that you are using current industry terminology.

• Job fairs occur at various times throughout the year, typically having a number of employers gathered at one location for several hours. Expect them to be fast-paced and crowded.
• Use the program to figure out which companies you want to target. Before you start making the rounds, chart a map or make notes that you can follow.
• Be prepared for a mini-interview. Don't try to tell each company all about yourself (there won't be time), but do state your qualifications for the job. This type of venue often allows only enough time to very briefly interact with the employer (or representative).
• Get the name of the individual you meet from the companies that interest you, or they may give you the name of another individual working at the company who you may contact. Always ask for peoples' business cards.
• Follow up after the fair with each person you met. Wait a few days, then phone your contact to determine the next step.

• Sign up for EDD Unemployment Benefits. This is not charity. The fund was established for situations like yours to help you through your job search.
• Go online and take advantage of the EDD's California Job Openings System, CalJOBS. It is a statewide electronic job bank of job listings and a resume system that provides an instant computer link between employers and job seekers.

• Sometimes referred to as "headhunters," these agencies focus on managers and high-level technical specialists.
• Utilize firms or agencies that receive a fee from the employer when you are hired, not those which charge you a fee or take a percentage of your first year's salary.
• Follow up regularly, reiterating your desired type of position, and your continued interest and enthusiasm.
• Remember that these firms find candidates for companies, not jobs for clients. That is, if you happen to match a profile that their client, the company, is seeking, they will call you. Keep in mind that the majority of your job search remains yours.

• Signing up with an agency often leads fairly quickly to a job which gives both you and the company a chance to test each other, get recent work experience, and incoming funds.
• It is not recommended that you pay an agency to work for you. The agency is paid by the employer.
• Temporary jobs generally do not offer benefits (although the wage may be higher).
• Signing up with a few agencies is excellent practice, especially in order to experience the interview.
Find out if your target companies use agencies and sign up with them. Once you have signed up with an agency, find out from each of them how they prefer you to follow-up (i.e. calling in daily, bi-weekly, weekly, etc.), as they may differ in their policies.

• Before contacting anyone, practice your skills statement. Make each person aware of your skills so that she or he can inform you of appropriate leads.
• Whenever you make a contact, be positive. Explain your situation but focus always on the future, not on the past.
• Ask for information that might lead you to a potential job opportunity (such as names of supervisors, personnel managers, companies that are hiring).
• Set goals for the number of people to contact each day and fulfill these goals.

• Simply informing people that you are looking for work isn't enough. You must continually re-activate your circle of contacts; keep them working on your behalf. Chances are that you will have to contact a person more than once to keep him or her thinking about you.
• Provide a contact person with 3 copies of your resume to distribute. This will not only enlarge your circle of contacts, but also provide a good excuse to call the contact back in order to ask if she or he needs additional copies of the resume. *If you have more than one, with each tailored to a different type of position, make sure you give the contact the appropriate resume(s).
• Ask your contacts for any job search advice. Be open to new ideas.
• While a person may not know of any job openings, he or she might know someone else who does. This is the key to the networking process. Your network grows and remains active thanks to these new contacts.

• Call everyone in your personal network, looking for an inside contact. This insider might be willing to act as your ally, providing you with the key contact's name and other vital information about the company.
• Call the company and ask for the correct spelling of the name of the Manufacturing Manager (or whatever the job title of your key contact is).
• If this direct approach doesn't succeed, call different departments in the company and request the desired name.
• Arrive at the company, introduce yourself to employees as they come out after work or at lunch and ask them for the necessary information.
• Go to the local deli or restaurant where people from the targeted company may congregate and initiate a conversation with them.
• Take advantage of the resources at Sonoma County Job Link and Sonoma County Library for local employer, business and industry information and to obtain articles from newspapers and magazines dealing with various local companies. These articles may have valuable information including the names of key contacts.
• Scan the directories of any professional organizations to which you might belong as well as university alumni associations or union groups.
• Utilize the library, Job Link and other career centers to obtain articles from the local newspapers, the Business Journal, Sonoma Business Magazine and other publications in print and on-line that address local companies and industry information. These articles may have valuable information including the names of key contacts, new locations being construction, increases in services or products, and other key information.

• Keep a daily record of activities (phone calls made, letters sent, people contacted, advertisements responded to, jobs applied for) and results (future leads, appointments made, interviews arranged). We recommend you establish a Daily Action Plan, follow it, and log the results.
• Record each contact with potential employers on a Job Search Record Sheet.
• You may want to cut out the ads that you responded to and tape them into a notebook noting the date that you applied for the position and any employee names or information which you learned about the company.
• You might develop a 5 x 7 card for each potential job, which includes the business name and address and the name of your contact person, alphabetized by company. Writing your notes directly onto this card, you can keep a running account of each contact, the results of that contact and any future action to be taken.
• At the end of each day's job search, after organizing the outcome of your day's activities, outline a set of achievable, clearly organized goals for tomorrow. Remember to record this in the job search daily records system you created.

The Connecting Link

Presenting Yourself as the Best-Prepared Applicant

The Skills Statement

Skills Statement = Values + Skills. Your skills statement (introductory speech) is a compilation of your values (the things which are important to you) and your skills (the things you do well). This is the "package" you are presenting to a prospective employer.

You'll use this 30-second statement at job fairs, in conversation with friends, relatives, and neighbors, and perhaps as a summary statement at the top of your resume. The skills statement says who you are, what skills you have, how you'd like to use them, and where you'd like to use them.

Before you can prepare a succinct skills statement you must be clear on what you want in your next job. You should note only those skills that pertain to your desired career goal. Clarify your career goal by defining both your overall goal and your specific job objective. For example: "I seek a position as a Technician (specific job objective) in the Computer Field at a company which can offer me the opportunity to make use of well developed skills in the computer industry.

Three Types of Skills

All of us have three types of skills: special knowledge skills that are particular to a specific position (e.g. UNIX programming or typing 65 wpm), personal qualities (e.g. enthusiasm, flexibility, dependability), and transferable skills (e.g. skills that can easily be used in various industries, skills like planning, organizing, negotiating, attention to detail).

In your skills statement describe your most marketable skills in three concise sentences which provide a clear overview of your strongest qualifications for the targeted job.

Resumes

Do you have writer's block and don't know where to begin? Before you can create a powerhouse resume you must understand yourself and your potential market. You may want to revisit the first part of this article: The Missing Link (review taking an inventory of your values and skills; Managing Transition) and the second part: The Discovery Link, (how to research your chosen job market). Also, prepare a succinct skills or accomplishment statement before you begin your resume.

Three Styles Of Resumes. Chronological, Functional, and Combination. All are acceptable and the one you choose should be the one that presents your particular set of qualifications in the best possible way for your specific job objective.

CHRONOLOGICAL STYLE. This style stresses one's recent work experience and clearly indicates one's progression in an employment field. Don't use this style if you have held many different jobs in a relatively brief period of time, if you have substantial or frequent gaps in your employment record, are making a career change, or if you cannot relate your recent employment to the targeted job.

FUNCTIONAL STYLE. In this format, skills and accomplishments are listed under broad skill areas or functions. These areas are based upon their relevance to the targeted job without relating to a specific former job. Use this format if you are able to show career progression, continuity, and employment stability. Some employers tend to be wary of this format, as it is harder for them to read, and can be more work for job seekers to write. However, it can best represent many job seekers, being particularly valuable for those who wish to downplay gaps in their work history or who lack necessary experience in the desired field. This type of resume format needs to be changed or tailored for each different job target.

COMBINATION STYLE. The combination style combines the best of the chronological and functional styles of resumes. At the top of the resume you present a summary of your key qualities, skills, and accomplishments that directly support your job objective. Your skills statement serves as the basis for your summary. This is followed by a brief outline of your work experience, in chronological order. Don't use this style if you have employment gaps or frequent job changes that you'd like to de-emphasize. Use the functional style instead. Or, if your accomplishments at your most recent job are identical or good experience in preparing you for your targeted job, then it's best to stick to the more traditional chronological style.

Electronic Resumes.

You may also want to consider electronic resumes which are resumes submitted to employers via electronic mail (e-mail) and/or submitted to online resume banks that employers may access. Online resumes require a specific structure and style that differs from print resumes. Job Link has information and guidelines for preparing scannable and electronic resumes.

Cover Letters

Every resume should include a cover letter. A cover letter has three basic parts: an introduction, the body of the letter, and the conclusion.

• Introduction: Tell what job you're interested in, who referred you (if applicable), and why you are interested in this particular company (if you can state a specific interest).
• Body: Using your skills statement, explain how your abilities meet the employer's needs.
• Conclusion: Note again your interest in the company/position and say what your next step will be, e.g. you will call in a few days after the employer has had a chance to review your resume.

• Address your cover letter to a specific person, rather than writing "Dear Sir" or "To Whom It May Concern." Do the extra legwork to discover this person's name.
• Use a personal, unique approach to make your cover letter stand out from the hundreds of others the employer will be reading.
• Present yourself as enthusiastic and positive. Avoid language which might be viewed as arrogant, insincere or flippant.
• A cover letter is most effective when followed up with a personal phone call.

• Leave nothing blank. If you don't want to respond to a question, either write N/A (not applicable) or use a dash. Do not write on the application: -see resume". Complete the requested information directly on the page, even if it is contained on your resume. The application is designed for the employer to serve as their roadmap, using it to extract and compare with all applicants.
• Use blue or black ink; type if possible.
• Proofread it and then proofread it again.

• fired for tardiness
• too slow / could not do the job
• did not get along with co-workers
• hurt on job
• marital problems
• left town
• Too long a commute
• insufficient salary
• arrested
• disagreement / personality conflict
• failure to receive promised salary
• no baby-sitter
• forced out
• no potential
• hours too long

• laid off due to lack of work
• returned to school
• plant closure
• better opportunity
• contract ended
• corporate merger
• promotional opportunity
• relocated
• job misrepresented
• career change or growth
• broadening education
• personal reasons
• temporary assignment
• resigned
• prefer to discuss in interview
• travel
• reduction in force
• new job

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to work here?
• How are you qualified for this job?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• How did you come to choose this field?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What did you like the most about your last job?
• What did you like least about your last job?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• Why should I hire you?
• What are your salary requirements?
• Do you have any questions for me?

• Keeping your name fresh in the interviewer's mind while demonstrating your enthusiasm for the job.
• Affording you the opportunity to reiterate your key qualifications for the position.
• Adding any pertinent information which you might have forgotten to mention in the interview.

• Geographical Location(s)
• Type of industry/organization
• Basic organizational philosophy/"corporate culture"
• Products or services rendered
• Company size
• Major divisions
• Number of years in business
• Financial history/Net earnings
• Mergers/Acquisitions
• Competitors

• Calling the company directly with your inquiries or dropping by to pick up any available marketing and sales literature.
• Going to the Sonoma County Library and using the guides which provide such statistics on businesses. (Reference Librarians can be a great help.)
• Researching the company's web site, and reviewing its competitors web sites.
• Finding an inside contact --- someone who is now, or has been, employed at the prospective work place --- and asking her or him about it.

• You can conduct your research on employers, industries and a great deal of other relevant data by going to the Labor Market Information section of this website.
• Know your bottom line --- It is to your advantage to work out your household needs before accepting a job offer. This is not a figure you should discuss with a potential employer but it is important information that will lead you to getting what you need. Base your bottom line on a salary analysis of your profession and on the lifestyle costs of the area in which you live or wish to live. On-line salary calculators can aid you in this process.
• Know what your skills are worth in the current market (salary range in the industry and for that size company or when possible for that particular company) --- good resources include headhunters, professional journals that publish annual salary surveys, and The National Business Employment Weekly (magazine published by the Wall Street Journal).
• Negotiating power depends greatly on your knowledge of the situation - awareness of the employer's needs, company policies, and attitudes. Listen carefully for clues during your interviews.
• Be aware of factors that may affect your negotiating power - bargaining power is greater when a position is newly created; when it's an upper level executive position; when your skills are unique and ideally suited to the employer's needs; when you have multiple offers; when there are no other candidates; and when time is of the essence.

• Once an offer is made, set the stage for negotiation --- a give and take process. Silently consider the offer allowing seconds to pass. This may feel uncomfortable to you but be sure that the interviewer is also uncomfortable, placing slight pressure on the interviewer to reevaluate the offer.
• Before discussing the offer or the salary range be sure to confirm the responsibilities you would be taking on and how you will be able to contribute.
• Do not commit too soon. Allow yourself time to consider the offer "overnight." This also gives the employer time to consider other areas of benefit to you.

• If bonuses are a part of your package you need to explore how they will be determined and the range of magnitude based on history and current profit trends. Also, if based on your own performance know what opportunity, resources and limitations you will have.
• Explore how and when all compensation matters are reviewed and decided --- both salary and bonuses.

• profit-sharing
• company-paid pension
• stock options
• life insurance
• moving expenses
• club memberships
• company car
• financial & legal counsel
• accelerated reviews
• increased vacation time
• deferred compensation
• severance guarantee

• Willingness To Endure: Impatience could lead to reaching a conclusion too quickly not allowing time to discuss, ponder and adjust viewpoints.
• Reading for information: Be sensitive to others' reactions and feelings, this can be valuable.
• Speak With Conviction: Reiterate how your strengths and background relate directly to the job responsibilities.
• Composure: Your ability to stay calm and unruffled. Be sure your "cool" will be tested.
• Perseverance: Especially if your target company is moving slowly, find ways to express your continuing interest. If other offers are materializing, gently let that employer know. Express your interest; it is not a sign of weakness.

Salary Analysis
Negotiate your way to a super salary! Put yourself in a position of strength by arming yourself with the latest statistics on salary ranges in your field. Good Luck !!!

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