1. Real Skills – Real Jobs
Real Careers!
Choctawcareers.com

2. Real Careers – Job Search Workshop
What do employers want?
How do I make my resume stand out?
Job Search Networking – why & how.
Why can’t I get an interview?
Our Goal: To help you acquire the skills needed to land your first JOB, and advance into a fulfilling & self-sustaining CAREER.

3. Employers Want Soft skills (work ethic) Come to work every day on time
Follow directions
Apply good listening skills
Concentrate on work
Recognize problems & find solutions
Manage time effectively
Maintain a safe work environment
Be honest and dependable
Dress properly & practice good grooming
Be cooperative
Have a positive attitude
Be a courteous & considerate team member
Be a continuous learner
Employers want the same things that instructors/teachers want!
OK Employment Security Commission & Workforce OK

4. Employer’s Wish List Communication Teamwork
Problem solving/Decision making
Plan/Organize/ Prioritize
Critical thinking (#5-6)
Technical skills
Computer literacy
Writing
Leadership
Nov Forbes article & NACE survey
(**Write these down!)
Nov Forbes article & NACE Survey

5. Google Search: “Employer Wish List”
US News & World Report Article, Sept. 2013
Empathy. Employers not only want you to do the job, but to care about it and the people with whom you will interact.
Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to help someone at work.
Mentoring inclination and ability. Interviewers want to predict your interest in reaching out to mentor others, and how you will go about elevating their knowledge and skills.
Tell me about an experience you had with a mentor or coach who helped you. What did he or she do that you found to be most helpful, and how did you respond?
Interpersonal skills. Employers want to hire people who can play well with others in the "corporate sandbox." Interviewers will be interested to learn how you deal with personality conflicts and your own role in them.
Tell about a time when you have worked with people who have had difficulty getting along with each other. How did you handle the situation?
These questions have no single "right" answer, but they do allow an interviewer to see the way your mind works. Moreover, your answers reveal your ability to be introspective, maintain self-control and deal with difficult situations.

6. “Wish List” Continued
Self-direction and initiative. Employers seek people who will take upon themselves more than what is actually expected or required. To find out if you have that kind of drive they might ask:
Tell about a time when you proposed a new and better way of doing things to your manager. What prompted you to think about the problem to begin with?
Flexibility and adaptability. In many companies, change is often the only constant. Policies, priorities and procedures need to anticipate and respond to internal and external conditions. Employers seek people who can adjust quickly. To find out your ability to adapt, you might be asked:
Tell me about a time when you were required to change the way you have been doing something for several years, when you know that what you've been doing "works" for you. How did you respond? What were the results?
Take the time to understand the human qualities employers seek and which are intrinsic to your character. Then you will be able to draw stories from the well of your experience that demonstrate these qualities in your interview, and advance your chances of being hired.

7. Most needed: Soft Skills -- Work Ethic -- Employer Expectations
Inter-changeable terms -

8. Texting Poll Join the polling session – Text CHOCTAWCD2015 to 37607
All texting charges do apply per your text messaging plan.
You may text only ONE answer to each question.

10. The Trick!
No matter what you have studied in school, you will have had to an opportunity to learn these valued skills sets. The trick is to demonstrate that you have those skills through your cover letter, résumé and interview. -- Think about class projects where you have been a team member or leader and jobs where you have had to plan and prioritize. Describe those skills specifically in your résumé and cover letter and in your job interview.
The survey makes clear that employers want universal skills you can learn across academic disciplines and in any job where you are working with others. The trick is to communicate clearly that you have those skills.

11. The Stats
On average 144 people apply for each entry- level position posted.
It costs a company $3479 to hire a new employee.
An ATS is able to screen-out approximately 75% of applicants, making the hiring process more efficient for employers.

12. The Resumé
The Resume is a marketing document that appropriately positions a person for the job he/she is seeking.
The resume highlights and summarizes the skills, achievements, education, training, experiences, etc. that qualify a person for a particular job.
The resume contains key words that are directly related to the requirements of the desired job.
The resume is a continually-changing document that must be edited to show a candidate’s best qualifications for each particular job.

13. Resume Essentials Relevance Professional format
Skills, qualifications, and accomplishments that match target job
Key words (terminology) that tie individual to target job or profession
Accomplishment-based; performance & achievements from past jobs or projects
Education, certifications, & training
Professional experience
Professional format
Organized and focused on target job
Neat and easy to read/skim (standard fonts)
Correct grammar, punctuation, & capitalization (no abbreviations)
Robot friendly (Applicant Tracking System)

14. Effective Resume Development
Contact Information
Professional addresses
Cell phone service with fully paid account
Professional voice mail greeting
(Hello this is John Smith. I am sorry that I can’t take your call at this time. Please leave your name and number and a brief message and I will return your call as soon as possible.)

15. Effective Resume Development
Job description or list of requirements for career field
Knowledge of company/organization listing job opening
Listing of education, training, & certifications/licenses earned with dates & locations
Listing of work experience (not more than 10 years) with titles, dates, accomplishments/responsibilities, & locations
May be paid or volunteer experience
Resume Content
Contact Information Education
Skills Summary Work or Professional Experience
Achievements Certifications / Licensures
Leadership Experiences Memberships / Activities
Other Relevant Info

16. Effective Resume Development
A resume MAY include the following if it is relevant to the target job and adds value to the resume.
Educational courses
GPA (if 3.6 or above)
Equipment operated
Memberships in professional or community organizations
Military service
Extra-curricular school/community activities (leadership, event organization)
Personal – foreign languages, special talents
Be truthful!

17. Key Words & Phrases
Come from a Job Description and/or Job Requirements
Words/phrases that occur multiple times
Words/phrases that are similar or relay a common theme
Dedicated, professional, motivated, team player, relationship builder, organized, etc.
Other words that describe a particular skill set that is essential within a particular job (i.e. sales, relationship builder, strong presentation skills, meet or exceed monthly sales quotas)
Industry jargon may also be included in the skills section
May be copied directly from job description if they are exact fit for applicant’s skill sets
May be found by searching job titles & descriptions at O*NET --

18. Effective Resume Formatting
Include a Qualifications Summary section
Objectives – not recommended
Dates – use the year only in the employment history and education sections
Length – generally 1 page, more pages may be used if you have extensive relevant experience
Font – use fonts that commonly available on most computers and that have high readability (Arial, Lucida, Verdana, Times New Roman, Tahoma, Garamond)
References – separate reference page; 3-5 professional references, accurate contact information
Always get a person’s approval before using as a reference

19. Free Job Search webinar Feb. 18 – 11:30-12:30
Resume Resources
Resume builders: | |
Choctaw Career Development website: (resume check-list, sample resumes, uploading resumes, resume development webinars)
Other helpful sites: | help.org/free_resume_examples.htm |
WRITE This Down: –
TIP-- Don’t pay for online job search resources – There are Tons of FREE resources!
Free Job Search webinar Feb. 18 – 11:30-12:30

21. Everyone is welcome! Employers: AEP / PSO Duit Construction
PGT Trucking
McAlester Army Ammunition Plant
SE OK State University
Trinity Industries
Tyson Foods
Dept. of Corrections
International Paper
CLEET
Choctaw Nation HR
Hiring Partners
Muscogee Creek Nation HR
And Many More!

22. “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” –Benjamin Franklin
Job Search Plan
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” –Benjamin Franklin
Commitment (time, emotions, resources)
Determine what you want (type of job/company)
Explore options & research companies
Develop a self-enhancement action plan (education, additional experience, new skills, new contacts, etc)
Prepare a written job search strategy & stick to it (include written documentation of each step completed)
Never stop job hunting & following-up (do all the little things)
Adjust the plan as needed
Like many things in life, the more time, effort, and energy you put into planning and executing your job-search, the faster and better your results should be. By developing a comprehensive job-search plan, you should have a strong foundation for a successful job-search.

23. Networking
Communicating who you are, what you can do, and what you want to do with as many people as possible.
Networking Requires:
Planning
Organizing
Research skills
Courage
NOT – Asking people for a job!
Someone name a place where you can network today – throw dice to participants who answer.

24. Networking to Enhance your Career
In-Person Networking
Formal – Community/school organizations, job fairs, volunteer jobs, internships
Informal – Social or sports events, through friends or acquaintances
Online Networking / Social Media
Employers want to interview candidates where there is some previous connection; through another employee of the company, or now more than ever, via social media and your online identity.
Linked In – Twitter – Facebook – etc.
Job Boards
Blogs

25. Side Doors & the Hidden Job Market
Side Door – A short cut to the people with the power to hire.
Side doors are more like a “recipe” for success than a “prescription” – Elisabeth Sanders-Park
Spontaneous Contact: paper, online, phone, in-person, credible reference
Introduction by Acquaintance: social setting, workplace
Show Then Tell: volunteer, internship, or temp work
Samples of Your Work
Customer Contact
Side Doors – 80%+ of good employment opportunities are never advertised
Use the glacier visual concept that Elisabeth used in her presentation… with the boats full of job seekers floating at the small part that is above the water line and the few scubba-diving job seekers hacking away at the larger space below the water. Use page 9 of Elisabeth’s hand-out from OACEP for talking points.

26. 80% of job opportunities never get advertised
Front Door
Side Door
80% of job opportunities never get advertised

27. Attitude for Success Don’t Say: Say:
I’m unemployed | I’m looking for work | I could start immediately | Can I send my resume or fill out an application
Say:
I’m looking for a company where I can invest skills, I am exploring a career in…, I’d like to discuss how my skills can make you money.
Think like the employer and use phrases with compelling reasons to request your resume or talk with you further:
Attitude: Resource Person vs. Job Beggar
Job Beggar attitudes imply the want of a pay check more than the want to contribute to a company.
Be sure to show this attitude in both your personal and online job searches.

28. IDEA – you may print this info on your networking/business card
S – Smile
E – Eye Contact
N – Name
T – Touch
Elevator Speech/Pitch
I am _______________________________
I want to _________________________­­­­_____________________
Ican ______________________________________________________
IDEA – you may print this info on your networking/business card

29. Online Networking
Of 100 employers surveyed, 77% use search engines to learn more about candidates, 35% have screened-out based on online information.
News reports predict that a growing number of employers prefer using Social Media over Resumes in their hiring process.
Social Media
Linked In: The “professional” social media site
Learn to use Linked In for your Job Search --
Twitter: Connect with many people based on common interests
FaceBook: Primarily for social networking with friends or family, but can be used effectively in job searching

31. Why Can’t I Get An Interview?
What does the Employer want or need?
Soft Skills – dependability, attitude, personality, customer service, appearance, etc.
Technical Skills
How & where do they find it?
Advertising
Word-of-mouth (80%)
How can you help?
Investigate – learn all you can about the company
Meet the Need or reduce the Concern!
# of applicants – Expense of hiring

32. “Reduce the Concern & Meet the Need”
#1 Goal of the Job Seeker
Reduce the Employer’s concern and meet their needs.
“Reduce the Concern & Meet the Need”
Think like the Employer – Look at the situation from the Employer’s perspective
Why should an employer hire you?
What do you bring to the company that can benefit the company and increase their profits?
---It takes about 9 months for an employer to make up the money spent for hiring an employee.

33. Get to know the Employer
Know a person who works at the company
Company website
Be a customer
Chamber of Commerce
Better Business Bureau
Analyze job description (s)
Personal visit

34. Am I doing it right?
Am I effectively communicating the skills and abilities that I offer the employer?
Am I treating my job search like a job?
Am I demonstrating my skills, abilities, and strengths within my job search?
Am I considering the employer’s needs and concerns?
Do my goals and values align with the company’s? Is this company right for me?

35. Six Reasons People Do & Don’t Get the Job
Presentation & Image
Does the way you look, sound, & act positively represent the company?
Attitude & Personality
Do I want to work with you and do you fit into my company culture?
Dependability & Trust
Can I depend on you to work in my company’s best interest?
Motivation & Loyalty
Do your actions and goals promote my company and its goals?
Ability & Aptitude
Can you do the job, or learn it quickly?
Network & Contacts
Do the people you know and attract benefit my company? P A D M N
A crash-course in Thinking Like an Employer!
Credit: Elisabeth Sanders-Park –

36. Do I Fit in? Employers hire for ABILITY – They fire for FIT!
Avoid being screened-out
Get into the Employers head:
“Think Like the Employer”
Evaluate your skills, abilities, and challenges
Compare your assets to the needs of the employer
Learn to communicate how you meet the employer’s needs – why you are the right candidate
Show that you FIT the company’s culture and personality;
Demonstrate how your values align with the company’s values and goals

37. Demonstrate Your Soft Skills
Many of your soft-skills can be demonstrated within your job search!
Use your customer service skills while networking
Show your attention to detail on your job application and your resume
Display your initiative by sharing a helpful article on Linked-In
Show your caring/positive attitude by working at a community event
Use your technical skills to help with a church or community project
TIP -- Companies report that fewer than 10% of interviewees send thank-you notes.
This presents a great opportunity for candidates to position themselves positively versus the competition.

38. Get Ready! LIFE Career Exploration Veterans Resource Center
Continuing Education Opportunities:
OSU-IT
Southeastern OK State Univ.
Eastern OK State College
Murray State College
Grayson College
4C Welding School
Central Tech Truck Driving
And many more…
Veterans Resource Center
Employment Resource Center
Motivational Speaker
MFG Careers Exhibit

40. Professional Appearance
Clean, neat, well-fitting
(correct size, no holes, not wrinkled, conservative)
Attention to details
(hair, nails, shoes, etc.)
Appropriate for your career field
(no flip-flops, ball caps, t-shirts, holey jeans)
Organized, resumes & documents prepared
Positive attitude

41. Pre-Register Today! Simple and quick
Save time – don’t stand in line at the Expo!

42. Additional Information
Need help with your Resume, your Job Search, or Networking?
Find webinars and tons of helpful job search information at:
Workshop hand-outs and Job Search Webinars are available at:
Click on Employment Services then Find A Job

43. Workshop Sources:
Elisabeth Sanders-Park, WorkNet Solutions –
Reviving Work Ethic –
CareerOneStop.org – US Dept. of Labor, Employment & Training --
Also, see Personal Effectiveness Competency (What Employers Want) at:
Forbes / NACE: most-want-in-2015-graduates/
CareerOneStop.org – Competency Model: see the document at: search-resource

44. We hope these strategies will help you reach your career goals!
Thank you / Questions
We hope these strategies will help you reach your career goals!
Bryan Martin– Leflore, Latimer, & Haskell counties
Jane Buffington -Atoka, Coal, Pittsburg, Hughes counties **
Deidre Inselman – Bryan county and Texas **
Stacy Hallmark – Choctaw, Pushmataha, & McCurtain counties
Rhonda Mize – Oklahoma, Logan, Payne, Pawnee, Creek, Tulsa, Rogers, & Lincoln counties **
** These specialists also work with clients in OK counties outside
of Choctaw Nation boundaries.
Choctaw Nation Career Development |