HOW TO GET JOB FIRST

• Identifying Your Skills

• Cutting Down the Territory

• Free Career and Job Opportunity Information

• Temporary Work

• Small Business Assistance Centers

Overview

In today's unpredictable economy, the idea of job security with any company would seem to be a thing of the past. Large company layoffs, golden handshakes, mergers, leveraged buyouts, company acquisitions and similar business moves have left people of all ages out of a job.

While there may be some compensation upon being let go from the firm you work for, this money won't last forever. Or, if eligible for unemployment benefits, this also has a finite period of time attached to the check. Sooner or later, job hunting will be necessary.

The secret is knowing where to look, what to ask and how to narrow down the type of job you'd not only enjoy, but be pretty good at, too! So much of this is understanding what makes you tick! Who better to identify this than you? This booklet will give you some pointers in doing it, but it will be up to you to take the time to really analyze what it is you like and want to do. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will give you the power to change your life!

Identifying Your Skills

What are you good at?

Have you ever thought about it? In a truly critical, analytical way? Have you actually sat down and listed your skills and capabilities?

SKILL IDENTIFICATION

There are five major categories of skill identification. You deal with people, things and information everyday. In each category, this requires a skill or combination of several skills. You might not even realize the extent of your ability in an area. You probably know what you're not good at or what you don't like doing, but pinpointing exact skills is not necessarily easy.

Let's divide your skills at dealing with people into working with individuals and working with groups.

Individuals: In working with individuals singly, are you good at:

_ communicating in direct conversation or on the phone?

_ communicating well by the written word?

_ helping, serving or receiving and carrying out instructions?

_ referring people, or helping put two people together?

_ advising, monitoring, coaching or counseling?

_Groups: In working with organizations, companies or associations, are you good at:

_ making presentations?

_ communicating by written word like a newsletter?

_ public speaking?

_ leading or moderating a group discussion?

_ preparing seminars or other educational events?

Equipment. Are you good at working with some type of machinery or vehicle in:

_ driving?

_ controlling?

_ assembling?

_ repairing?

_ cleaning?

Materials. What is your skill level with items such as clay, jewelry, metal, wood, stone and cloth as far as:

_ cutting?

_ painting?

_ crafting?

_ restoring?

_ weaving?

Your Body. Are you good at using:

_ your hands?

_ motor coordination?

_ physical coordination?

_ your fingers?

_ your eyes?

Buildings. Do you have a particular affinity and capability for:

_ constructing?

_ remodeling?

_ decorating?

_ designing?

Raising or Growing. Are you able to successfully:

_ train animals?

_ treat animals?

_ garden?

_ landscape?

_ raise plants or animals or other vegetable or mineral?

IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION

Information. The final category in this part of the evaluation process is seeing how good you are and how much you enjoy working with ideas, concepts, information, specific data and technology. There are four categories to concern yourself with. Do you like creating, storing, managing or putting this information to good use?

Creating. Are you particularly good at:

_ gathering information by observation?

_ gathering information through research?

_ searching for data?

_ imagining ideas or concepts?

_ inventing?

Storing. Once you've assembled the information, are you good at:

_ storing or filing records in file cabinets, microfiche, audio or video cassette?

_ bookkeeping?

_ computer storage?

_ retrieving the information once stored?

_ helping others retrieve the information?

Managing. You must do something with the data or information you've assembled and stored. Are you good at:

_ analyzing your data?

_ organizing?

_ classifying?

_ planning?

_ accounting?

Using The Data. Once you've decided to use the information, are you good at:

_ disseminating the information?

_ demonstrating?

_ putting it to some use?

_ showing it to individuals or groups?

_ publishing?

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

First. let's look at specific knowledge you might possess. Run through the following list, add to it and list the knowledge you currently have. Second, go through the list again and identify the knowledge you would like to have. This will give you two current snapshots: what you know now and what you'd like to know in the future. The latter will define your future educational goals. It may be in areas you believe you'd enjoy if only you had a little more education.

* psychology

* chemistry

* physics

* cinema

* foreign language

* management

* personnel recruiting

* insurance benefits

* geography

* history

* art

* broadcasting

* accounting

* taxes

* marketing

* sales

* computer programming

* aerobics

* graphic arts

* religion

* horticulture

* government contracts

* politics

* teaching

* interior design

* architecture

* vehicle repair

* travel

* systems analysis

* astronomy

* research

* packaging and distribution

* import/export

* merchandising

* machine operation

* graphic arts

* photography

Finally, begin to make contacts with personnel. Find out if there are local job hotlines and other employment identification features. Certainly make contact with specific businesses that you've already identified as possibilities.