Category Archives: Career

Decision making – Dec.12

Decision making steps
• Identify the three types of decision making styles

Activity One
• use the “Eight Steps to Decision Making” method
• Discuss your answers and how you achieved them (eight steps)

Activity Two
• Go through the process with the class

Problem solving worksheet

Handouts
1. Eight steps to decision making
2. Problem solving worksheet

Goal setting quiz – do it at home and print out your results!
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/goal-setting-quiz.htm

Goal-setting – Dec. 10

Today we are doing Goal setting

Goal setting golden rules
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_90.htm

Goal setting mistakes
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/goal-setting-mistakes.htm

Personal goal setting
http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html
• starting to set personal goals
• step 1: setting lifetime goals – choose a goal from each of the following areas: career financial, education, family, artistic attitude, physical, pleasure, public service
• Set lifetime goals in each area, then break them down into smaller segments
• Set five year goal
• Set one-year goal
• Set six-month goal
• Set one-month goal
• Set one-week goal
• step 2: setting smaller goals – prioritized to-do lists

Handouts
1. To-do lists http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_05.htm
2. Wheel of life diagram http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_93.htm

 

Co-ops and Goal Setting – Dec. 8

2014-15 Planning 10 – day 24
Careers – co-ops
http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/blog/2014/coop_benefits.shtml
Co-op programs
Co-op – SFU
http://www.sfu.ca/coop.html

Arts – UBC
http://artscoop.ubc.ca/
Arts co-op student profile:
http://artscoop.ubc.ca/2014/03/17/eva-kwan/

Engineering – UBC
http://www.coop.apsc.ubc.ca/
Co-op at CRA
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/crrs/srch/stdnt-eng.html
Student rates of pay for federal government agencies:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/lrco-rtor/collective/lru-mnc/student-etudiants-eng.asp

If you feel like you need growth or balance in a certain area, what is the best way to achieve that?
Goal setting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria
https://prezi.com/gu8xsskotd-j/smarties-goal-setting/
http://www.coachingacademyblog.com/goal-setting-with-smartties/
Today we are doing goal setting.
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/goal-setting-quiz.htm http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/goal-setting-mistakes.htm
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_93.htm

Short term Goals- Things you want to do today or this week within a couple of weeks.

Medium term Goals- Things you want to achieve inside a few months.

Long Term Goals- Things you want to achieve later in life. Next year or 10 years.

• For Dec.14 declare a short term goal and either a medium or long term goal.
• Ensure you adhere to the following ideas when arranging your goals.

SMARTIES

Specific- Make specific goals.

Measurable – Make sure you are able to measure whether you reach the goal or the steps.

As if now – Write your goals in the present as though you had already achieved them . (I am financially stable)

Realistic-stretch yourself but don’t set goals that are impossible to reach.

Time bound-Put a time frame on it.

Interesting- Things you like

Emotional- use strong language to build your goals. (go to NY. Epic journey of artistic discovery)

Success oriented- express your goals in a positive and success focused way. (not “I don’t want to be poor” but “I am wealthy)

• Remember to create time specific steps to your plans.

After interview letters, body language – Dec.4th

Body language is important:

YouTube Preview Image
• before watching, look at the person next to you and note the way they are sitting
• stand up and ask them how their day is going, notice how they are standing
• what do you notice?

 

After-interview thank-you letters

http://www.career.vt.edu/Interviewing/AfterThanksFollowUp.html

Email etiquette

http://www.career.vt.edu/JobSearchGuide/Email.html

Completed after-interview letters are due next class Dec. 8.

Worksafe BC “Alive after five” – Nov.20

Hey everyone,

Today, we will be hearing a presentation from Worksafe BC about safety in the workplace.

 

Homework for Nov.24 –

  • Prepare the questions and answers to three knowledge, skill and ability questions
  • Know the purpose of each question, and
  • have a few suggestions of answers that you could give besides your prepared answer

Knowledge, Skill and ability questions

 

Presentations will be on Nov.26th, next week

  • Have your questions prepared, and
  • dress formally!

 

Cover letters and job interviews – Nov.14

Hey everyone,

Today, we will:

• Collect finished resume’s
• Homework check – references
• Homework check – cover letter 1st draft brought to class

Discuss:
http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/interview.shtml
https://www.jobsetc.gc.ca/pieces.jsp?category_id=300&crumb=1&crumb=34&crumb=106

Watch this job interview video:

YouTube Preview Image
• What about it do you think was realistic?
• What about it was not realistic?

Peer-edit our cover letter’s
• review handouts p. 5-8

For Nov. 18 class (Tuesday), we will:

  • hand in our finished cover letters and references
  • typed and formatted according to handout
  • prepare for our in-class job interviews.

Top-10 tips for a successful job interview

  1. Dress for success. Professional business clothes are always appropriate, regardless of the type of job you are interviewing for. Proper hygiene and a tidy appearance are important. Iron your clothes if you can, and avoid strong perfumes or colognes.
  2. Be there on time. Try to arrive 5 or 10 minutes early to be safe. Find out ahead of time where you’re going and how long it will take to get there. Drive or travel the route a day or two ahead, at the same time of day as you will on the day of the interview. Confirm how often the buses run. Have a back-up plan.
  3. Let your personality shine. If you’re excited about the job, don’t be afraid to show it. Employers want passionate employees, so be yourself. Just remember to always keep it professional.
  4. Be confident. Feeling nervous in an interview is perfectly normal; just don’t let your nerves overpower your interview. Eye contact and a calm, clear speaking voice are excellent ways to show your confidence.
  5. Watch your body language. During your interview, relax and sit naturally, but don’t slouch in your chair or lean on the interviewer’s desk. Avoid chewing gum, or fidgeting with jewelry or your hair.
  6. Be professional. This begins with a smile and a firm handshake. Remember, this is your first introduction to the organization, so be polite to everyone you meet and turn off your cell phone.
  7. Listen and ask for clarification, if you need it. Remember to listen carefully to the interview questions so that you actually answer the question, and never interrupt. If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
  8. Let them know what you have to offer. When answering the questions, let the employer see what you have to offer their organization. Talk about your past experiences and accomplishments without bragging, and tie those experiences to how they can help you contribute to their organization.
  9. Think before you speak. Although you want to be open and honest in your interview, avoid talking about your personal or financial problems.
  10. Don’t linger. Leave as soon as the interview is over, making sure you don’t linger. Shake the interviewer’s hand again, restate your interest in working for the organization, and thank them for the interview.

Resumes and cover letters – Nov.12

Hey everyone,

Last class we reviewed a first draft of your resume and talked about cover letters and references.  We also discussed how to frame your marketable skills.

Here are some useful links:

Cover letters:

http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/cover.shtml

  • Advertised job
  • Unadvrtised job

References:

  • Character references
  • Profesiional references

http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/references.shtml

For next class, remember to bring in your finished resume, a 1st draft of your cover letter, and your references!

Top-10 cover letter tips

  1. Do your homework. Learn what you can about the company or organization you’re applying to, so you can tailor your cover letter and really show the employer that you could be a good fit.
  2. Follow instructions. Be sure to include any information that was requested in the job posting. If the posting asked for the amount of hours a week you are available to work, be sure to answer that question in the cover letter.
  3. Don’t just restate your résumé. Use your letter as an opportunity to make a great first impression. Most employers read the cover letter first, so you want to catch their attention by describing your impressive skills. That way, they are more likely to read your full résumé.
  4. Personalize your letter. When possible, address your cover letter to a specific person. Use their name and title, and make sure the spelling of the name is correct.
  5. Tailor your letter to the job. Make sure the skills and experience you highlight in your cover letter are clearly connected to the job you’re applying for.
  6. Presentation counts. Use a font that’s easy to read, like 12-point Times New Roman or Arial. Using 8.5 x 11-inch white paper is usually a smart choice.
  7. Break it down. Make your cover letter easier to read by breaking the text down into short paragraphs.
  8. Use a professional tone. Be sure to use professional and respectful language when writing your cover letter.
  9. Be brief. Your cover letter should be no more than one page long—the best strategy is to keep it short and to the point.
  10. Proofread. Review your cover letter several times; don’t just rely on spell-check. Ask someone else to proofread it as well.

Top-five tips for choosing references

  1. Think ahead. Although reference checks typically happen during the final stages of the hiring process, it’s a good idea to be proactive. Think about who your references could be, let them know that you’re applying for jobs, and ask if they would be willing to be a reference for you.
  2. Pick someone who knows you well. This will allow the employer to get an accurate, honest, and realistic description of your personality and work ethic. You want a reference who can easily speak about your strengths and abilities.
  3. Update your reference list often. Make sure your references are as current as possible, and link them to your most recent job, volunteer, or community experience.
  4. Presentation counts. Your reference list should be on a clean sheet of plain paper. Use an easy-to-read, 12-point font like Arial or Times New Roman to match your résumé.
  5. Say “thank you”. Your reference is doing you a favour by speaking to an employer to help you land a job. Be sure to thank them for helping you out.