Welcome to the sixteenth in a series of webinars for peer supporters.

Transcription

1 Welcome to the sixteenth in a series of webinars for peer supporters. This webinar series is presented by members of the International Association of Peer Supporters (inaps) with generous assistance from Optum, without whom this series would not be possible. inaps is solely responsible for the content of the webinars. The webinar will begin at noon, Eastern. Thank you for your participation! Audio When signing into the webinar website, please be certain you enter a telephone number (without an extension) for an immediate call back. The audio portion of the webinar will be on your telephone. 2 Presenter 1

2 PLEASE NOTE: These webinars will be recorded and be made available on our website for future viewing. As a participant in the webinar, your name, if you choose to provide it in the chat function, and any interactions you have in the Q and A session maybe included in the recording Thank you for your participation! Presenter 2

3 Peter Ashenden Director of Consumer Affairs OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions Contact Information T F Peter.ashenden@optum.com Build Your Resume and Get that Job! Steve Harrington Executive Director, International Association of Peer Supporters (inaps) Presenter 3

4 Purpose of Presentation Explore strategies for identifying and building on strengths to obtain a job Discover ways to deal with sensitive issues Explore strategies for keeping and advancing employment Why? For our own benefit but also to help those we support! Presenter 4

5 Setting an Employment Goal What is it, long-term, you believe you might want to do? Take stock of yourself. What are your strengths? Can you build up weaknesses? Does the job you want require special skills or experiences? Develop a plan (with objectives and a timeline) for achieving your goal. Resume Building Goal is to make yourself as marketable as possible Really think about what education, skills, knowledge or experience you have that will help you reach your ultimate employment goal. Put yourself in employer s shoes what would you want in an employee? Presenter 5

6 Activities that can help you build your resume Volunteering Education (formal or informal) Experiences related to job sought Writing articles, public speaking, presenting webinars What else??? Mentoring A mentor provides advice, guidance and, hopefully, connections A mentor can be a friend, family member or someone from the community Don t be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor! Presenter 6

7 Has anyone had experience with a mentor? How did you find your mentor? What did the mentor do for you? What were the results? The New World of Job Applications Electronic applications increasingly common Hard copy applications becoming less common but offer an opportunity to explain yourself Presenter 7

8 Regardless of the medium, the goal is the same: Make yourself the best candidate! Watch that Social Media!!! Don t let facebook, twitter or other social media come back to bite you!!! Presenter 8

9 Spelling Counts! Have the facts, i.e. names, addresses, dates Use simple, plain English Use action words whenever possible, i.e. explored, discovered, managed Spell correctly Use proper grammar Make Yourself Human Use opportunities to describe what makes you, YOU Identify hobbies, special interests Identify awards received only if they are likely to be known to the employer, i.e. industry award, Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize Presenter 9

10 Keep it Short and Simple Whether it be on an application or resume, keep the number of words to a minimum. This means choosing your words carefully! Keep resumes to two pages maximum What about that job gap? Here are some possible explanations: I took time off for personal growth opportunities. I took time off to volunteer and gain new skills. I needed time to ensure stability in my life. Presenter 10

11 Does anyone have other suggestions? Interview Tips Dress appropriately Arrive a few minutes early Smile Be pleasant Be yourself Don t brag or exaggerate Presenter 11

12 Note: Employers are not allowed to ask questions relating to mental health histories. BUT, a smart employer looking for a peer supporter may as: What do you know about mental illnesses and how do you know it? This gives you an opportunity to self-disclose in a positive way and shows the employer you aren t afraid to use your personal history to support others. I ve had several psychiatric diagnoses but I m well along on my recovery journey and am ready to give back by helping others on theirs. Presenter 12

13 Presentation Just as you would dress sharply for an interview, your resume, cover letter and application should be a positive reflection of you. Presentation Considerations Print neatly Print cover letter and resume on quality paper (i.e. light-colored linen stock) Mail as a flat, such as in a 9 X 12-inch envelope Find the name of the person to receive the materials and send it to that person whenever possible. Presenter 13

14 Keeping that job! Everyday, prove you are a good worker Arrive a few minutes early Don t be in a rush to leave (even if you are) Ask questions when necessary to perform work effectively To keep or advance, consider Learning as many tasks as possible Cultivate and display a positive attitude at work Be a team player Work at socializing with co-workers Presenter 14

15 Promotions are often given to People who are happy Demonstrate competency Care about the work they do Remember, you can be a valuable employee WITHOUT compromising recovery or peer supporter values. Don t roll over but how you handle workplace conflicts is important! Presenter 15

16 Questions? Comments? Please use the chat box. Next Webinar: December 12, Friday, Noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Presenter: Dan O brien-mazza, National Director of Peer Support for the Veterans Administration Topic: Peer Support in the VA Presenter 16

17 Special thanks to Optum for their ongoing support of this series and their dedication to quality in the practice of peer support Presenter 17

18 To receive a certificate of participation for this webinar, please go to our website: and take the brief quiz. Certificates will be issued in about three weeks. 35 Presenter 18