UNH Career Center Spring 2008

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UNH Career Center Spring 2008

• Alumni
• Job Search
• Strategies Resources

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Content

• Quiz
• Contingency Planning
• Self-Care
• Connect
• Obstacles
• Setting Goals
• Goals Worksheet

Creating a Personal Structure Life
Constellation Prepare Practice Professional
Development Assess Decide Decision-Making
Worksheet Resources
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Average time an employer views a resume.

• 20-30 SECONDS

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1 in every ___ resumes sent out leads to a job.
200
5
1 in every ___ informational interviews turns
into a job.

• 12
• http//www.quintcareers.com/information_background
  .html

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Time you should dedicate to a job search.

• At least 2 hours every week

7
How many seconds does it take to make a first
impression?

• 7

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Contingency Planning

• Develop a contingency plan if you were to lose or
  had to change jobs
• Create a budget
• Assess essential and non-essential expenditures
• Build a financial cushion typically 3 months for
  essential expenditures
• List additional ways of creating income

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Take Care of Yourself

• You cant conduct a successful job search if you
  dont take care of yourself.
• Eat healthy meals
• Get sleep
• Keep active
• Stay engaged in the activities that have been
  fulfilling, healthy, and enjoyable

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Connect I

• Dont isolate yourself. Create and use a
  supportive network as you job search.
• Seek out local career networking groups
• Take advantage of existing networks UACC, UNH
  Alumni Association local chapters, Career Mentor
  Network, field-specific professional
  organizations, former professors, Linked-In,
  friends, family, colleagues
• Create your own networking group

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Connect II

• A companys Employee Assistance Program can offer
  referrals to local career counselors
• Your states Employment and Training Office may
  also have career counselors on staff
• Just dont go it alone.

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Obstacles I

• Identify what is getting in your way of moving
  forward
• Money Use a professional to help create a budget
• Identify your interests, values, skills to help
  you focus.
• Lack of contacts Start with your personal
  network, your career center, alumni group, and
  local networking groups
• Tips on starting a networking conversation Read
  this handout.

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Obstacles II

• We all struggle with negative thoughts about our
  abilities. Examine the assumptions/beliefs that
  stop you.
• Identify, challenge, and track them
• Run your assumptions/beliefs by your network of
  contacts, and ask them for a reality check.
• Remember that companies want to hire people who
  have the skills sets, interests, and motivation
  to contribute to the companys mission.

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Create Reasonable Goals

• Short term/Immediate goals (now to 3 months)
• Intermediate term (3 9 months)
• Long term (9 months 2 years)

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• Goal-Setting
• Goal setting keeps you on track. In setting
  goals, the following guidelines will enhance the
  potential for success. A goal MUST be
• SPECIFIC that is, capable of being put into
  words. To work hard is not specific enough.
• CHALLENGING to the person setting the goal.
  The idea of setting goals is to push yourself to
  achieve.
• ACHIEVABLE you possess the skills, energy, and
  time to accomplish it.
• MEASURABLE in terms of time and accomplishment.
  For example, I will set aside 5 hours a week to
  research and talk to people in my network.
• DESIRABLE something the goal-setter wants.
  Goals are not for the other people in your life,
  but for you!
• TIME LIMITED your goals must have deadlines to
  help you avoid procrastination.
• Now, brainstorm a particular goal of yours.
• GOAL STATEMENT I will

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Create a Reasonable Structure

• Identify a reasonable time commitment to spend
  each week on the job search
• Put it on a calendar or in a planner, and stick
  to it.
• 30 minutes a day can do it.
• Let other people know what your schedule is.

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Life Constellation
What does this picture look like in your life?
Are there gaps? What would you like it to look
like?
Education
Fitness
Family
JOB
Religion Spirituality
Hobbies
Personal Space
Community Activities
Developed by Marc Verhoeve
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Prepare and Practice

• Identify
• Interests
• Values
• Skills
• Ideal work environment
• Geographical needs
• Financial needs
• Companies Organizations you would like to work
  for
• Accomplishments What are you most proud of in
  your life both at work and outside of work?

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Prepare and Practice

• Identify your obstacles
• Develop your networking pitch
• Practice your interviewing skills
• Update your resume
• Write the cover letter

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Professional Development

• Improving current skills and developing new
  skills are important for your job search
• Take advantage of your companys tuition
  reimbursement program
• Identify local one day workshops or seminars
• Volunteer in addition to making a difference,
  you will update skills, develop new skills, and
  make new connections
• Look at your State Employment and Training Office
  for additional training opportunities

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Assess Decide

• The job search process requires a series of
  decisions over time
• Make time to assess the information you have
  collected, and identify any info you still need
  to make an informed decision
• Give yourself mini-deadlines for gathering
  information making decisions so you can stay on
  track
• Discuss your options with your support network

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DECISION-MAKING WORKSHEET BEST CASE SCENARIO
WORST CASE SCENARIO
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Resources

• Useful links
• Coping with job loss
• UNH University Advising Career Center
• UNH Alumni Association
• Additional Alumni Resources
• MonsterTRAK
• Alumni Jobline
• Experienced/Older Workers

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Resources

• The Art of Mingling, Jeanne Martinet
• What Color is Your Parachute, Richard Nelson
  Bolles
• Transitions, William Bridges
• Do What You Are, Paul D. Tieger Barbara Barron
• The Introvert Advantage, Marti Olsen Laney
• Zen and The Art of Making A Living, Laurence G.
  Boldt