Unit 3. Employment

Reading

1. Discuss the following questions:

• What is a good job for you?

• How to get a good education? Is a degree necessary to get a good job?

• What is the right resume?

• How to bear a job interview successfully?

• What is the contract of employment? How can it help you to prove your legal position?

• Can you give a definition of a job?

• Do you feel the differences between the words employee and employer?

• Have you ever applied for a job?

• What is the difference between salary and wage?

2. Study the tips on successful employment and test yourself:

Clarify Your Options. The first part of any job-hunt is figuring out where you're going. As Dick Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute? says, «The more time you spend in preparation, the less time you spend on the pavement».

The following exercise could help you clarify your direction:

• Take a sheet of paper for each job title you've had.

• On the left side of the page, write all the things you liked about the job. On the right side, list the things you disliked. Nothing is too silly to mention. If you disliked the army-green color of the carpet, say so. If you disliked reporting to two bosses at the same time, list that.

• Once finished, look for patterns. Design your «likes» into the new job, and design your «dislikes» out.

Then make a four-column shopping list:

1. things I want in the new assignment;

2. things I don't want;

3. things I must have;

4. things that would be fun, but frivolous, like a car phone or window view of the ocean.

Once that's complete, write an essay about your ideal first month on the new job. Describe each day in depth. On your first day of work, the boss hands you six file folders with problems to solve. What's in the folders?

Your friends and acquaintances know you well, perhaps better than you know yourself. They can give you valuable information about the business world and about your skills and abilities. If you're feeling uncertain about your career path, seek their advice and ideas. You might be pleasantly surprised by their creative suggestions.

Break Into New Companies. Even if you have an extensive personal network, you may eventually need to introduce yourself to strangers. If you write a good letter — and all these qualify — most businesspeople will be courteous enough to talk to you on the phone, even if only briefly. Usually, a short conversation is enough.

The trick is to write a good letter. It must appeal to the audience. You'll notice that the letters in this section are full of benefits for the reader. Some sell past accomplishments. Others appeal to the reader's ego with compliments. Still others trade on industry knowledge. The last in the series is a blitz: three different letters to the same company. Not a bad idea, since most job hunters get discouraged and quit after one try.

Three things usually don't work: force, arrogance, and humor. Force and arrogance put people off. Employers laugh at humor; they may even pass your funny letter around at staff meetings. Everyone may be howling, but that usually won't get you interviewed — unless the field is PR, advertising, or marketing. In those fields where creativity reigns, almost anything goes.

Try several different approaches. Don't get stuck doing one thing. Repetition can kill you. You'll be bored with your campaign, and so will your readers!

But if you find one letter that always makes the phone ring, don't change a word of it. Send it out by the bushel.

Increase Response To Your Letters.

Problem: you mail job search letters and no one answers. You feel frustrated, hot under the collar, maybe even depressed. You wonder if anyone actually received your mail, or if it went into a black hole.

Solution: the response form — a nifty little trick that makes it easy, almost mandatory, for readers to answer.

Here's how it works. You enclose a response card or letter and a self-addressed return envelope with your mailing. It helps to pre-stamp the return envelope. The recipient answers you by checking a few boxes or by answering one or two questions. It's quick and easy for them; that's why it works.

The trick is to keep it simple. Design something the reader can handle in 10-15 seconds. If it's lengthy or hard to understand, they're likely to ignore it.

You can use response forms with virtually any letter to any audience: friends, recruiters, employers, venture capitalists — you name it. Experiment. Be creative. Watch your mailbox!

Promote Yourself In The Media. Job-seeking is much like running for political office. It's important to be seen in public. Employers can't hire you if they don't know you exist. Recruiters can't find you, either.

Use every avenue at your disposal to gain public visibility. Contribute time to volunteer organizations. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper or to Forbes, Business Week, or any appropriate technical or professional publication. Some of your letters won't be published, but many will. This tactic generally won't bring calls from strangers, but someone who knows you may suddenly be reminded to call you.

If you enjoy writing, contribute articles to newspapers, magazines, and professional journals. Some of these publications will actually pay you to write!

If you're a speaker, give talks. Teach at the local community college; you'll create an instant network. If you're asked to appear on radio or television, say yes. Too many job hunters work desperately to be noticed, but turn down free opportunities to be seen. Several contributors to this book didn't want their real names published. While I respect their privacy, I also wonder, «Why not? It's free publicity!» The next time you're in the job market—which could be any time—more people will know you.

Do whatever it takes to gain public visibility: write, speak, appear, volunteer. Make certain you are seen and noticed, and that will help you get hired.

Build Good Business Relationship. One of the most successful job hunting clients explained his success this way: «I create relationships...the relationships create the jobs».

The hardest job search is the one that begins with no network or no personal good will. Job hunters who've neglected or damaged their personal relationships tend to stay unemployed longer.

How can you develop a strong support network? Congratulate friends in writing when they accomplish something noteworthy, take new jobs, or appear in the media. They'll appreciate and remember you for it.

When you see an article by or about someone you know, clip the item and send it to them along with a note of congratulations. Even if they've saved it themselves, they'll appreciate the extra copy to share.

From time to time, send small gifts to friends, recruiters, and business acquaintances to remind them you're still around. Inexpensive books work nicely. A newspaper, magazine, or journal article counts as a gift, and unexpected gifts are especially welcome. A warm letter sets the tone.

If you write or publish something, if you're featured in a news article, if you present a professional program or appear in the media, copy the articles and programs and mail them to your network, along with a note, «Thinking of you».

In marketing personal services (job-hunting), relationships are everything. Seek opportunities to build good will for yourself in the community. You'll never be sorry.

We have informed all members of staff that the meeting will take place in the conference room.

Preparing for the Interview. Success largely depends on what you do before the interviewer even asks the first question. Preparation is a big part of the interview process. It includes both getting to know more about the company and the position, and preparing yourself to explain how your assets make you the best person for the position. And of course there's the time it takes to make yourself presentable!

Start with some general steps to consider as you prepare for the interview.

General Tips:

Going to a job interview can be a stressful situation for many. The best way to help relieve this stress is to maintain a positive attitude and be prepared. Here are 10 things you can do to make your job interview a successful one and as stress-free as possible:

1. Be positive.

2. Be ready for the questions you will likely be asked. Think of the answers you want to give.

3. Know why you want to work for the firm. Do your best to obtain information about the company before the interview.

4. Know about the job. What likely duties and responsibilities will go with the position?

5. Know what you have to offer - what training you have had and what you have done that make you ideal for this position.

6. Be prepared to give names, addresses and phone numbers of references.

7. Have your résumé up to date and take it with you.

8. Make sure you can get there on time. Know where you are going and how long it will take you to get there. Go there once before your interview if possible so you are sure of the route.

9. Allow at least one hour for the interview. Don't make any appointments for right after the interview.

10. Get enough sleep. Be clean and neat. Prepare your clothes the night before.

Knowing the job and the company you are applying to will help you impress your interviewers.

Know the Job.

One of the most important things you can do before your job interview is to find out some information about the company and the particular position for which you are applying.

If you can show the interviewers that you have «done your homework», they will assume that you would show the same kind of dedication and initiative if you were to work for them.

What kind of information should you try to find? Here are some suggestions:

• What is the business of the employer?

• What is the nature of the job you are applying for? (possible duties and responsibilities).

• What are the qualifications for the position? What skills might the employer be looking for?

• Who are the customers of the business?

• What is the reputation of the employer?

• What are the physical requirements for the job?

• Who will be interviewing you? How many?

What you wear to the interview can be as important as what you say.

Dressing for the Interview.

Clothes may not make the man or woman, but they do say a lot about who you are and how well you will fit into the company. Showing up in a kilt may help relieve your tension, but it's unlikely the interviewer will share your sense of humour.

Tips for all interviewees:

• Always wear clean and neat clothing; make sure it is pressed. Nothing will turn an interviewer off more than an outfit that looks like it's been sitting in your laundry hamper since your last job interview.

• Wear deodorant or antiperspirant.

• Use little or no perfume or cologne. You want to smell good, but not overpowering. Also, more and more people find they are allergic to perfumes and colognes. You don't want to make the interviewer break out in a rash!

• Have fresh breath and clean teeth.

• Have clean, recently cut, and neatly brushed hair.

• If possible, before your interview find out how people dress at the place of employment. Dress as well or a little better («one up»). But be careful, as overdressing may also turn the interviewer off.

Tips for men:

• For business, public contact and customer service positions, wear a suit jacket, dress pants, shirt and tie, socks and polished shoes. Avoid loud colours.

• For positions with less public contact, wear a sports jacket or a sweater, a shirt with a collar, dress pants (skip the jeans or sweat pants), and polished shoes.

• Facial hair should be clean-shaven or neatly-trimmed.

Tips for women:

• Go easy on makeup and fingernail polish - avoid unusual colours, too heavy an application and extremely long nails.

• Simple clothes and quiet colours are most suitable.

• Very tight clothes, see-through tops and short skirts should be avoided.

• Nylons and low-heeled shoes are best for professional, office, sales, public contact and customer service jobs.

• Clothing and accessories do not have to be expensive to make a good impression, but they should always be in good taste and clean. They should also be toned down rather than wild or extravagant. You want the interviewer's attention to be focused on you, not on your clothes.

Don't go to the interview empty-handed.

What to Take to the Interview

There are some essential things you will want to take along with you when you go for a job interview. For example, it's just common sense to take a pen and paper with you in case you have to write something down.

But you don't want to take too much along either. The interviewer won't be impressed if you have to rummage through a backpack full of junk for 10 minutes to find that pen and paper. The fewer things you have to set down or move around, the better.

The best advice is to carry with you a small folder that contains:

• Copies of your résumé, to give to the interviewer at the start of the interview and for your own reference during the interview;

• Copies of letters of recommendation, and a typed reference sheet to be given to the interviewer;

• Other material relevant to the interview;

• Pen and paper, so that you can note the name of the interviewer, times for future interviews and other pertinent information.

The interview starts when you walk in the door. Be sure to make a good first impression.