The Job Searchers Handbook

by Robbins, Carolyn R.

• ISBN13: 9780131555334
• ISBN10: 0131555332
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Comprehensive in scope and maintaining its committment to hands-on learning, the latest edition of The Job Searcher's Handbook effectively incorporates technological advances, providing job seekers with innovative ways to market themselves to prospective employers. Using her extensive experience in the career placement field, Robbins gives valuable insights regarding employer preferences, successful resume writing, and interview techniques. Visit our Student Success Supersite at www.prenhall.com/success Features include: bull; bull;Majors Exploration bull;Career Advice bull;Web Links bull;Tips from Successful Students bull;Student Bulletin Boards bull;Faculty Resources

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Taking Inventory	1	(36)
Personal Values: How They Affect Job Choices	2	(4)
Worksheet: Personal Values	4	(2)
Values Mountain	6	(4)
Worksheet: Personal Values Mountain	7	(2)
Worksheet: Personal Values Wheel	9	(1)
Attitude	10	(3)
Worksheet: How's Your Attitude?	12	(1)
Interests, Wants, and Needs	13	(8)
Worksheet: What Do I Want?	14	(1)
Worksheet: Priorities Chart	15	(1)
Worksheet: Who Am I?	16	(2)
Worksheet: Inventorying Your Strengths	18	(1)
Worksheet: Skills and Abilities Assessment	19	(1)
Worksheet: Skills and Abilities Wheel	20	(1)
Success Through Goal Setting	21	(10)
Guidelines for Setting Goals	22	(7)
Worksheet: Goal Setting	29	(2)
Benefits You Can Sell to the Employer	31	(3)
Sample Benefit Statements	31	(2)
Worksheet: Benefit Statements	33	(1)
The Bottom Line	34	(3)
Worksheet: My Marketing Appraisal	35	(2)
The Paper Trail	37	(72)
Resume Preparation	38	(1)
Gathering Information	38	(1)
Organizing Your Information	39	(1)
Resume Styles	39	(7)
Chronological Format	39	(2)
Functional Format	41	(1)
Hybrid Format	41	(3)
Targeted Format	44	(1)
Electronic Format	44	(1)
Points to Remember for All Resumes	44	(2)
Writing the First Draft	46	(10)
Job Objective	46	(1)
Education Section	47	(1)
Employment History Section	48	(1)
Related Professional Experience	49	(1)
Additional Headings	49	(1)
Personal Information	49	(1)
References	50	(2)
Worksheet: Reference Page	52	(4)
The Final Draft	56	(4)
Completing the Final Draft	56	(2)
Completing the Electronic Resume	58	(2)
Functional Skills Inventory	60	(8)
Worksheet: Resume Worksheet	65	(3)
Sample Resumes	68	(12)
Cover Letters	80	(19)
When Do You Use a Cover Letter?	80	(1)
Guidelines for Constructing the Letter	81	(3)
How to Create All Your Cover Letters from One Letter	84	(15)
Follow-Up Letters	99	(2)
The Application for Employment	101	(8)
Troublesome Areas	102	(7)
Organizing, Searching, and Planning	109	(24)
Organizing	110	(11)
Where Do You Begin?	110	(1)
The Informational Interview	111	(2)
Making Calls for Information and Job Openings	113	(3)
Worksheet: Telephone Log	116	(1)
Worksheet: Informational Interview Record	117	(2)
Worksheet: Library Search Reports	119	(2)
Searching	121	(7)
Where Are the Jobs?	121	(3)
Direct Contact---Visits or Calls to Potential Employers	124	(1)
Using the United States Postal Service	124	(1)
Networking	124	(2)
Worksheet: Networking Prospects	126	(1)
Searching for Jobs on the Internet	127	(1)
Planning	128	(5)
Worksheet: Daily Performance Planner	130	(1)
Worksheet: Performance Record and Summary	131	(2)
Interviewing Made Almost Easy	133	(38)
How Not to Interview	134	(1)
Successful Interview Preparation	135	(5)
What Does the Company Do?	135	(2)
Where Is the Company Located?	137	(1)
What Is Professional Dress?	137	(2)
Worksheet: Interview Day Checklist	139	(1)
How Interviews Are Conducted	140	(3)
Before the Interview	140	(1)
Types of Interviews	141	(1)
How Employers Evaluate You	142	(1)
What Employers Are Really Looking For	143	(2)
Interpersonal Skills	144	(1)
Personality	144	(1)
Are You a ``Match''?	144	(1)
Conduct in the Interview	145	(2)
General Guidelines	145	(1)
Body Language	146	(1)
Questions You Could Be Asked and How to Answer	147	(6)
Behavioral Screening Questions	151	(1)
Dealing with Difficult Questions	152	(1)
Additional Interview Questions	152	(1)
Your Turn to Question	153	(2)
Questions Not to Ask	154	(1)
Legal and Illegal Pre-Employment Questions	155	(1)
How to Close the Interview	156	(1)
Follow-Up After the Interview	157	(1)
What to Do Between Interviews	158	(1)
Dealing with Rejection	158	(1)
Evaluating the Job Offer and Negotiating Salary	159	(6)
Negotiating Your Salary	160	(2)
Worksheet: Determining Your Price Tag	162	(1)
Worksheet: Your Bottom Line	163	(1)
Worksheet: Your Negotiating Line	164	(1)
Negotiating Your Benefits	164	(1)
Negotiating the Offer	165	(6)
Negotiating Tips	165	(2)
Additional Considerations	167	(1)
Worksheet: Employee Benefit Checklist	168	(3)
Appendix	171	(14)
Postal Service Guidelines	172	(1)
Figuring Monthly Income and Expenses	173	(1)
Monthly Income and Expense Form	174	(2)
Post-Interview Self-Evaluation	176	(2)
Attire/Grooming Tips	178	(3)
Sample I-9 Form	181	(3)
Works Consulted	184	(1)
Index	185