Career skills. Учебное пособие

After the Interview

If you learn during the interview that you can start the job, or you have to return for tests or another interview, write down the date, time, and place. Show you are a businesslike person. You will also have a reminder about what you need to do next.

Remember - even if you don't get the job, each interview you have is a good learning experience. After the interview is over, ask yourself some questions about how the interview went.

What kind of person did the interviewer seem to be looking for?

How well did you sell yourself?

Did you talk too little or too much?

How can you improve your interview skills?

Answering these questions can help you increase your chances of succeeding on your next interview. For example, if you didn't seem to have the skills needed, next time stress that you learn quickly and that you want to develop new skills. It would also help to look back at your past experiences again to see how they could help you. You may have overlooked some skills or qualities you have that are important for the job you want.

If people spent a lot of time talking to you and showing you around the company, it's a good idea to write them a follow-up note. Thank them for their time and interest in you. Say you hope they will give you a chance to show what a good worker you are.

If you want a particular job and do not get it, of course you will be disappointed. Did you know that most people are turned down several times before they get a job?

If you are turned down for a job, ask the person whether he or she knows of another company that needs people. You may get a good lead on another job.

You could also ask why you did not get the job. It may be that you did not have the experience or skills needed. On the other hand, you may have lacked some of the

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qualities they want in their employees. If they are willing to tell you the reasons, it will help you do better at the next interview.

The interviewer may have told you that he or she would contact you within a certain time. If you don't receive a call by the end of that time, you may telephone to see whether or not a decision has been made. If the decision still hasn't been made, your call will serve as a reminder. If someone else got the job, you will at least know you need to keep looking. Thank the person for having taken the time to talk to you.

How Employers Make a Choice

Naturally, an employer will not hire you unless you already have or can learn the skills for the job. However, other things can make a difference as to whether or not you are chosen.

Why People are Hired

It is probably safe to say that a person having the following three qualities will be seriously considered for the job. If more than one applicant has them, other things become equally important. But if you are lacking in even one of them, your chances for getting the job decrease.

Pleasing Personality. All employers want to hire friendly, happy people. They don't want to hire people who seem to be bored and unhappy most of the time. This is especially true when employers are hiring workers who will come in contact with customers. During the interview the employer will pay close attention to your personality. He or she will be looking for someone who will get along with coworkers and the company's customers. Do you have a "winning" personality? If you think you could improve, Chapter Eleven has some suggestions for developing a more positive attitude.

Good Appearance. First impressions are very important, and the employer's first impression of you often depends on your appearance. You've already read about the importance of being well-groomed and well-dressed. Do not underestimate the

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importance of this quality. If the applicants are equal in every way, the employer will probably hire the best-dressed, best groomed person.

Ability to Communicate. During the interview the employer will pay close attention to the way you speak. The ability to communicate is very important in the working world. Employers know their businesses will operate more smoothly and more efficiently if their workers can speak and write clear, correct English. Chapter Eleven has suggestions for improving your communication skills.

Why People Aren't Hired

According to recent studies, these are the five top reasons why people aren't

hired:

Personal appearance is unclean or sloppy, or clothing is not right for the job.

Thinks he or she knows it all.

Can't communicate clearly - hard to understand.

Seems to have no direction or plan for life or work.

Doesn't care—lacks enthusiasm.

Compare this list to the one giving reasons why people are hired. How are they alike? Do you sound more like the people who are hired, or those who aren't?

Before You Accept

You have already spent a lot of time planning your career. The jobs you applied for should have been those that fit into your career plan.

What will you do, however, if you receive two offers for jobs that you think you would like? Or what if you are offered a job close to what you want, but you think maybe you should look a little further? Below are some factors to consider before you accept a position.

Responsibility. You know how much responsibility you want. But what if the job offers more, and you're not sure whether or not you can handle it? Don't be afraid to give it a try. The employers would not offer you the job unless they thought you could do it. And you will be given time to learn.

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Hours. Some jobs demand more time than other jobs. How many hours a day do you want to work? Will this job provide you with enough hours to earn the amount of money you need? Or will you be called upon to work more hours than you feel you should?

Health. Any health problems you might have should have been considered in your career plan. But the job itself may raise health questions. For example, do other workers smoke a lot? Are computer terminals checked regularly for radiation leaks? Will you be expected to lift heavy objects?

Location. How will you get to and from work? If you have your own car, will heavy traffic be a problem? How long will the drive take? How much will gas and car upkeep cost? Is parking provided by the company? If so, is the parking free, or do you have to pay? What other ways could you get to work? Is there a car pool you can join?

Larger towns have bus, subway, or train systems. You need to know the schedules and where to catch a ride. How much does it cost? How long will it take?

To be realistic, you should subtract your travel costs from your salary. You should add travel time to the hours spent on the job. If time and money are important to you, a job close to home may be better than one far away.

Co-workers. The people you work with can make a job pleasant or unpleasant. You will be happiest if you work with people with whom you're comfortable. Did you like the people you met during your interview? Did you seem

to “fit in?”

Pay. When comparing pay, consider such points as how often you will receive raises; whether or not benefits, such as a longer vacation, help make up for lower pay; and whether or not you will have to buy uniforms. Will a low starting pay grow quickly if your work is good?

Help with education. Companies may help pay education expenses if the courses will help you on the job. You may even be given time off during working hours to go to class.

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Insurance benefits. Types of insurance plans include hospitalization, life, and dental. Each company offers different insurance benefits. Some companies pay part of the costs; others pay all.

Company rules. Some people work better in a more relaxed place. They like to put their feet up while they fill out a report. They don't like to wear suits of "good" clothes, and they work better in jeans. Other people prefer to work where things are done "by the book."

Before you take a job, you should learn what the company expects of you and whether or not it has any rules about dress and other matters. Are you willing to work in a place with lots of rules? Would you be happy in a place with no rules? Think about it before you accept a job.

Relocating. What is the chance you will be transferred? You might want to move to a new area. Or you may want to stay where you are now living. If you refuse to move, the company may not want to keep you.

REVIEW

What Have You Read?

In this chapter you learned how to successfully apply for the job you want. You learned about the three ways to contact employers —by phone, by mail, and by personal visit without prior notice. You were then given some tips on how to fill out an application form. You also learned the basic facts about filling out resumes. The biggest part of your reading was devoted to helping you develop your interviewing skills. You learned that you must prepare for the interview by practicing what you will say and by making sure you are well groomed and well dressed. You also learned how to conduct yourself during the interview, what to say and what not to say, and a variety of other guidelines for success during the interview. Finally, you learned what you should do after the interview and how employers make their decisions.

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What will you do?

Read the chapter summary above. Now think about the things you can do to learn more about the important ideas in this chapter. What new skills should you develop? Below are some suggestions.

Write

1.A letter applying for a job.

2.Your responses to the questions on job application forms.

3.Your own personal resume.

What Do You Think?

Think about your feelings and attitude toward the key ideas in this chapter. Then answer the questions below.

1.What experiences, skills, and accomplishments do you think would be most helpful to you in getting a job? Explain.

2.If you were an employer, what qualities would you look for in an employee?

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CHAPTER 4

ON THE JOB: WHAT YOU EXPECT

KEY TERMS

overtime

downtime

wages

piecework

salary

commission

probationary period

cost-of-living increase

merit increase

initiative

OBJECTIVES

In this chapter you will learn about

the qualities and kinds of performance employers expect from their employees

the considerations you can expect from your employer

the different categories of work hours

the different methods of paying employees

Congratulations! You have just accepted an offer for a job that you really wanted. All your hard work and effort have paid off. You are now ready to start to work.

During your first days and weeks on the job, you will learn a great deal about the working world. If your new job is not your first job, you probably already know something about the basic routines and procedures.

If you are not sure what to expect when you start work, this chapter will prepare you. You will read about the standard methods used to calculate your pay. You will learn about the basic levels of performance that most employers expect from

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all their employees. You will also find out how employers evaluate their workers. After completing this chapter, you will know what you need to do to be successful on the job.

Making the Change

If you don't already know, you will soon learn that the working world is very different from school life. If you go to school and work part-time, you will need to adjust to the differences almost every day. The following hints will help you make the change from student to worker more easily.

Work faster. One of the biggest differences between school and work is the pace. There's an old saying: "Time is money." Most employers want to get as much work as possible done each day. They will usually expect you to work faster than your teachers have at school.

Don't expect a lot of praise. In school your teachers make a special effort to tell you when you are doing good work. They do this to build your confidence and to encourage you to learn even more. Most bosses, however, do not have time to praise all their workers. Even when they notice that you've done outstanding work, they may not say anything. So don't be disappointed if you fail to get the pat on the back that you think you deserve.

Be prepared to work without interruption. Work days are longer than school days and there aren't as many breaks. In fact, you may not get any vacation at all. Part-time workers and beginning workers usually must work several months before earning a vacation.

Learn to tell the difference between what "ought" to be and what is. In almost all schools everyone is treated fairly. The schools are governed by public laws that all teachers, principals, and students must obey. But in the working world, each employer makes many of his or her own rules. You will not always agree with these rules. You must learn, however, to do things the way your employer wants them done. Or you must find another job.

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Be responsible for yourself. In school, teachers remind you when your work is due. If you have a hard time, they may give you a chance to do the work over. If you are absent, they will let you make up your assignments. On the job, however, if you are absent, you will not always get reminders. You may not get a second chance. You must be responsible for yourself and your work.

Try to make life easier for your boss. In school your teachers try to help you. They try to help you learn as much as possible in the easiest and fastest ways they know. But in the working world, you are the helper rather than the person being helped. Your job is to help your employer's business succeed. The more you can do to help, the more valuable you become to your employer.

Your Work Hours and Pay

Just as you must use schedules to get through the school day, you will need to learn how time is kept in the working world. This section will make you familiar with the common terms and procedures involved in keeping track of work time. This will be extremely important to you since your pay will usually be determined by your work time.

Work Time

The average work week is eight hours per day, five days per week, Monday through Friday. Not all employees work a normal calendar week, however. Many employees work part-time. Some full-time employees must work weekends or during hours other than eight to five o'clock.

There are different kinds of time in the working world. Employers and workers need to keep track of what they do with their time, as well as the number of hours they work. Following are explanations of some common ways of identifying work time:

Downtime. Workers can't do their jobs when their machinery breaks down or there is a power failure. Any time during which workers can't work, for whatever reason, is called downtime. Workers are expected to find out if there is other work

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they can do to keep busy. Downtime is considered work time by some companies, and workers are paid even if they can't work.

Break Times. Is a rest break or lunch break considered work time? Some companies think so. They think that workers work harder when they have breaks, so they pay the workers for the time they are on breaks. Other companies, however, do not consider the breaks as work time and do not pay for them. Make sure you know your employer's policy regarding breaks.

Sick Time. Most companies pay employees even when they are sick and can't work. Many companies do not, however, provide sick pay until employees have worked for the company for a certain period of time. Most companies pay for only a limited number of sick days.

Learning Time. Some jobs allow workers to attend classes during regular working hours. Your boss may want you to take such a class. If so, you will be paid while taking the class. If you decide to take a class on your own after working hours, you will not be paid. But the company may be willing to pay for books and the cost of taking the class.

How You Are Paid

The money you earn is called wages, salary, or commission. Wages usually refer to pay figured by the hour or by the piece. If your wages are $5 per hour and you work two hours, you earn $10. Obviously the more hours you work, the higher your wages. If you are paid by the piece, your payment method is called piecework. Piecework means that you receive an amount of money for each piece completed. Piecework is common in factories.

If you are making bottlecaps at 2c apiece, and you make 200 in an hour, your wages for those caps will be $4 an hour. If you are tired or lazy the next hour, and make only 50 bottlecaps, your wage for that hour would be $1.

A salary is a set amount of money for a certain period of time. Salaries are usually figured by the year. The payments are then divided evenly and paid to you each month, or every two weeks. For example, a worker earning a salary of $12,000 a

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