CSL and your Work Search

Transcription

1 CSL and your Work Search A four-part webinar brought to you by the Canadian Alliance for Community Service Learning, in partnership with Carleton University, Memorial University, the University of Victoria, and the HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector Presented by: Geri Briggs, B.Ed, MCE, CHRP

2 We are now broadcasting audio. Please ensure that your computer speakers are on and not on mute. You may also choose to dial into the audio conference over the phone. The dial in number and participant code can be found in the bottom left window of your screen. CSL and your Work Search A four-part webinar brought to you by the Canadian Alliance for Community Service Learning, in partnership with Carleton University, Memorial University, the University of Victoria, and the HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector Presented by: Geri Briggs, B.Ed, MCE, CHRP

3 Our Journey Graphics source:

4 CSL and Finding Work In this session we will explore how your CSL experiences can help you to: Focus your work search Identify work opportunities and make connections Tailor job search tools: cover letter, resume, employment proposal Prepare for job interviews Prosper on the job

5 Please share a bit about you What s your job search interest? Full time permanent? Summer work? Self-employment? Specific sector? Specific occupation? What was the most important thing you learned about yourself through CSL or other service or work activity? What did you learn about the unmet needs in that particular sector?

6 CSL Actions Create Use Actions Create Observe Question/Reflect Connect Demonstrate Core, work, and, lifestyle values Descriptions: skills, attributes, contributions, preferred environments Concrete examples of accomplishments/ contributions Connections Use To Focus the work search Identify opportunities Cover letter, resume, Linked In Profile Prepare for Interviews Do well on the job

7 Poll: What do you want from work? Fulfill most of my core values Fulfill some of my core values Provide a good income Provide a high income Provide a flexible work place Provide career development opportunities Provide chance to use and build my understanding, skills, and competencies Provide opportunities to make friends/socialize My work is a means to an end- I do not invest myself emotionally Other- please share

8 Why It s Important to Focus Your Work Search I ll take anything - maximum effort minimal impact Only this occupation, this company, this job - limits your options Focus search on core, work, and lifestyle values within the context of labour market opportunities - Work search efficiency

9 Focusing Your Work Search Inward Look What do I need from my work? How mobile am I? What do I offer? How do I like to work? What s my preferred work environment? Work culture? Outward Look Who s hiring? Who hires? What needs do organizations have? What can I learn about the sector? Individual employers? What are the upstream downstream aspects to be aware of?

10 Strategies for identifying work opportunities - Which ones have you been using? Big job boards: job bank.gc.ca, Workopolis, Monster Niche job boards: Sector Councils, Professional Associations, Industry sites, discipline sites, Aggregator sites: Eluta.ca, wowjobs.ca Government sites: jobs.gc.ca, provincial sites, municipal sites Nonprofit boards, including CharityVillage.com Campus job board Follow organizations on Linked In Follow organizations on Twitter Follow organizations on Facebook Engage personal network- friends family Engage professional network Engage school network- fellow students, professors Create employment proposals Start your own business Read news sites, professional journals, sector journals Information interviews Other - please tell us about it.

11 To Find Work Opportunities Canadians are most likely to rely on: Websites (48%) Print media (30%) Word of-mouth/networking (19%) Employment agencies(12%) Among those Canadians who turn to websites for information on employment opportunities, no single site stands out as a go-to site for information about potential jobs. Source: Environics On-line survey on public perceptions about career development and the workplace 2011

12 How Important Were These Methods Advertised job sources Networking Submitting unsolicited resumé Unadvertised job sources How Important Were These Methods Very How Important Were These Methods Somewhat Cold calls (in-person) Cold calls (telephone) Source: Environics On-line survey on public perceptions about career development and the workplace

13 Three Why s Source: Globe and Mail: Three steps to that dream job Why do I want to work in this industry? The fact that it is a challenging industry that presents strong growth opportunities is not good enough, so push your thinking harder. You want to focus on the value you offer, not only on what you will get out of working in the industry. Why do I want to work for this company? Every firm is different, even if they operate in the same space, so you need to figure out what makes each one unique. The best source for this information are alumni working at your target company. (Also organization s website) Why should this firm hire me? Come up with the three key reasons why you are the right candidate. Hint: hard worker, persistent and dedicated are not qualities that will differentiate you in today s job market. Leadership, analytics, creativity, communication these are skills that employers are seeking. (keep in mind this is targeted to a business grad audience. Would the qualities be different in other sectors?)

14 Method Effectiveness for every 100 job seekers who try the method Researching employers/approach through contacts 86% Applying in person to an employer without doing homework 47% Asking friends for job leads 34% Asking family for job leads 27% Using placement office at school/college once attended 21% Responding to ads in newspapers 5-24% Answering ads in trade journals in your field 7% Employment Agencies 5-24% Mass mailings of resumes 8% Computer matching services 4%

15 Research - Labour Market, Sector, and Organization Network (Personal, Professional, Electronic) Electronic Job Boards, Job Fairs, Professional, Industry, Issue Associations, Unions, Government Telephone and business directories Sector Councils Journals, media stories, public library Conferences Professors Temp Agencies Organization websites List serves Other? Please share

16 Connecting with your network It isn t who you know, it s who knows you, and what they know about what you can do, what you know, and how you do it.

17 Thinking about Your Current Network What do they know about you? Classmates: Group work, In class CSL connections Work colleagues Social groups Clubs Associations Professors Friends Family Your reputation is your brand You create it each day with what you do Would your contacts think of you if asked to recommend someone for the kind of work you want? Look for Mavens and Connectors - Rob Straby

18 Create a Calling Card Resumes are bulky, expensive, and you don t always have one handy Calling cards with highlights of your achievements, skills and interests - used at networking events, on your , chance encounters Geri Briggs, B. Ed, MCE, CHRP International trainer and consultant Creative consultative practice Delivers target outcomes on time, on budget My @serviceprovider.com

19 Social Media: Facebook and Linked In Employers check Facebook profiles- what does yours say about you? 1 May have employee mention the job opening May have their own career page 7-8% of their hires from are from job boards Employer recruit through LinkedIn Search Profiles, Use Employees network Campus recruiters are cutting back...turning to social recruiting 2 1 Sphere of Influence, HR Professional Feb Hiring Trends on Campus, The Bulletin, Winter 2011 contactpoint.ca

20 LinkedIn Social Media Set up your profile - remember: skills, attributes accomplishments, contributions Solicit recommendations Build your connections Follow organizations Ask informational interview type questions of the network Find a job ad - search for connections who work at the organization.

21 Social Media Facebook Set up your personal job search page Take a look at the content of your personal page - review privacy settings Invite friends to let you know about opportunities Ask connections about organizations you re applying to Join pages of causes and organizations that interest you Other ideas?

22 Job Boards Jobbank.gc.ca Government Jobs Nonprofit Job Boards (HR Council) Niche Sites Temp and Placement Agencies Sector Council Career Sites Apparel Electricity Biotalent ICT Agriculture Mining Grocery Police Plastics Wood Manufacturing Supply Chain Tourism Culture Environment

23 Work Options Full time/part time Employee Contract Work Temp Agencies Telework Self Employment When you are working with your agency - observe the different ways of working involved - ask about how it works.

24 Self Employment or Employment Proposal What unmet needs did you notice in the organizations you worked with? What skills, knowledge, attributes could you offer to help them address those needs? Create a business to offer your services to multiple organizations, or create an employment proposal to offer yourself as a solution to an organization s problem

25 Tailor your Cover Letter Research the employer - culture, values, vision, mandate, sector issues, specific job requirements, names and positions to address cover letter to Identity your attributes most applicable to the organization/job Think about how you can contribute to the organization meeting its goals

26 Cover Letter - Business Letter First Paragraph Position applying for, name of individual contact- if any. The nature of your interest in their organization/job. Second Demonstrate an understanding of their needs, goals, and culture. Show you ve done your homework. Indicate specifically how you can help them to meet their goals- a place to include your CSL achievements/experience. Third Highlight elements of your education or experience especially useful to the employer. Final Thank you. How will follow up, availability for an interview, reiterate your interest in working for the organization.

27 Resumes Make your resume stand out by: Providing concrete outcomes achieved in your work and CSL projects Use action words to describe your involvement Revise resume and cover letter for each application. For government or large organizations - make sure your resume and cover letter specifically address the requirements listed in the posting

28 Interview Preparation The purpose of the interview is to determine: Can you do the work? Will you do the work? Will you fit in the organization/team? Reflect on your CSL experience - What did you do? How did you do it? With what outcomes? What skills, attitudes, do your experiences demonstrate about you?

29 Behaviour Based Interviews Based on the assumptions that: that past behaviour is a good indictor of future behaviour People self disclose a great deal about themselves in describing past events Questions are usually designed to address specific competencies. Be clear in your mind what competencies they re assessing. Practice: Tell me about a time Use your CSL experience to prepare What questions would this employer ask? %20MH %20PFT%20SW%20MHC.pdf

30 A Bit about References Ask permission Prepare your reference Give them a copy of your resume Highlight your achievements Ask them for their feedback on your skills, attributes, and contributions References are frequently asked about interpersonal attributes: E.g. reliability, communication, teamwork, initiative, creativity, judgement - provide your reference with specific examples

31 Thriving on the Job Be a reflective practitioner - At the end of each day take time to reflect. A suggestion: In what way did I contribute to: The learning or well-being of others My own learning or well-being The organization s goals or my personal goals What did others do to contribute to learning or wellbeing, or the organization s or my personal goals? What can I do tomorrow to make it a better day?

32 Next Steps: This is the last in the series of four webinars. We hope you ve learned as much as we have. Join each other on Facebook or LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Contact us: Thanks for your engagement in our webinars - you made it a great experience for us. Canadian Alliance for Community Service Learning

33 You never know when someone May catch a dream from you. You never know when a little word Or something you may do May open up the windows Of a mind that seeks the light The way you lived may not matter at all, But you never know, it might. Author Unknown