Job Search Tip Sheets

 https://www.ldsjobs.org/ers/ct/articles/job-search-tip-sheets?lang=eng

The job search tip sheets cover the basics of a successful job search. Job seekers, employment specialists, and priesthood and Relief Society leaders will benefit by becoming familiar with the information contained in this series of handouts.
Job Search Planning (8.5x11) (A4)
Having a plan for how to approach your job search will help you be more successful in finding new employment. This tip sheet will help you plan your time effectively.
Surviving Unemployment (8.5x11)
Experiencing unemployment can be difficult.  There are many things to think about. This tip sheet lists several things you can do to survive unemployment and be successful in your job search.
Power Statements (8.5x11) (A4)
To be effective you need to be able to communicate your strengths and accomplishments to employers and those in your network.  This tip sheet will help you develop concise, powerful statements that you can use in all of your job search efforts, including your résumé, interviews, networking, and following-up.
“Me in 30 Seconds” Statements (8.5x11) (A4)
Developing a concise statement about your skills and interests will give you confidence when meeting with employers or approaching individuals through networking. This tip sheet will help you develop an impressive way to introduce yourself to others.
Effective Networking (8.5x11) (A4)
Networking is the most effective way to find a job.  This tip sheet outlines who is in your network, how to add more people to your network, and how to manage your efforts to network with these individuals.
Interview Techniques (8.5x11) (A4)
Being well prepared for an interview will help you be confident and impress the interviewer(s).  This tip sheet will help you prepare to respond to basic interview questions with impressive answers  that will set you apart from the competition.
Writing a Résumé or CV (8.5x11) (A4)
Creating a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) that communicates your strengths can be challenging. This tip sheet includes recommendations to help you stand out.
Written Communication (Cover Letters, Applications, Thank-You Letters) (8.5x11) (A4)
Aside from résumés or CVs, your job search will likely require you to write cover letters, complete applications, and send follow-up thank-you letters.  This tip sheet will help you know how to approach each of these types of written communication.
Effective Negotiating (8.5x11) (A4)
Accepting a job offer may give you the opportunity to negotiate salary, benefits, and other job details with an employer.  This tip sheet will help you know when to negotiate and will help you prepare to do so effectively.
Job Fair (8.5x11) (A4)
There are some things you can do to prepare in order to benefit the most from a job fair.  This tip sheet will help you gain the most from your job fair experiences.
Earning Your Daily Bread (8.5x11)
We each have the responsibility to provide for ourselves and our families.  This tip sheet outlines steps you can take to be self-reliant.

Getting an Education

We asked Vicki Lytle to share her experience negotiating the community college system and getting into a state university.  She provided us with the following excellent article.  There are undoubtedly those may feel that they are not in a position to use this information, but we ask that you consider passing this along to those in your family who can use this information.  L&K President Gordon B. Hinckley and other church leaders have taught on many occasions that the Latter-day Saints, especially young Latter-day Saints, should get all the education they can get. Beginning or continuing to earn a bachelors degree is an excellent way to be prepared for the future.  It is cost effective to begin at a community college, but eventually you will have to transfer to a four-year university to obtain a bachelors degree.  The first step is to apply at the university you have chosen. Each school has different procedures, so call or e-mail the campus and follow the steps.  After being accepted, look for funding.  There are several avenues to follow. 1.  FAFSA.  Always apply for a federally funded grant at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  It is a clear and easy-to-follow web site that explains why and how to apply.  You will need all your tax information from the previous year.  Even if you do not qualify for or want a grant, many programs require a current FAFSA application on file before they can work with you.  FAFSA is the acronym for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 2.  Counseling.  Call the university and set up an appointment with a general education counselor.  The counselor will help you map out a course of classes that will meet your educational goals.  They also have pages of financial resources to give you.  Many scholarships are not awarded because no one applied for them.  Every school has grants available also, but you must apply for each grant within a specified time frame. 3.  Avoiding scams.  There are thousands of web sites devoted to helping interested parties get into college, but be careful. Information on getting into college or getting scholarships is always free from the government.  Any site that asks you to pay for information is a scam and there are thousands of them.  A good site to begin at is www.fedmoney.org.  However, even at this site there are schools advertising, so always remember to peruse cautiously. 4.  Tax benefits.  There are some new programs discussed on the IRS web site (www.irs.gov) under the link, Tax Benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Tax deductions that can be taken are also explained. 5.  Help from your employer.  Always ask your employer about tuition reimbursement or other incentives for getting an education.  Many companies set aside funds for the training and education of employees, either as a scholarship or just as a grant.  If your degree is job-related in any way, your company may pay for all or a sizeable portion of your tuition. After choosing a major, set up an appointment with a counselor in your major.  You may have to apply to be accepted into that major program.  The counselor can help you to select the best classes for you and to follow all the correct procedures.  Meet with the counselor every year or even every semester.  You are entitled to that service and have paid for it in your student fees. The most important procedure to remember is to ask whenever you do not understand or need direction. The university wants you to succeed and no question is “stupid” or unnecessary.  Finally, don’t assume you have to have completed a degree to benefit from college.  Often what you learn in a single class enables you to apply for a higher position.  And sometimes you’ll find out about a job from others in your class or are eligible for certain positions simply because you are a student.  Good luck! President Gordon B. Hinckley:  “Be smart. You are all in school. Do not waste your time. This is a time of great opportunity that you will never have again as long as you live. Make the most of it right now. It is wonderfully challenging. It is hard, it is tough, isn’t it? But what a wonderful thing to go and learn of all the accumulated knowledge of all the centuries of time. Go on to college or whatever school, vocational school, whatever your choice is, but take advantage of every opportunity that you have because the Lord has laid upon you a mandate through revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning not only spiritual learning but secular learning. Yours is the responsibility, and you can’t afford to waste your time. There is so much to learn. Be smart. Give it the very best that you have.”  (Emphasis not in the original.) "None of us can assume that he has learned enough. As the door closes on one phase of life, it opens on another, where we must continue to pursue knowledge. Ours ought to be a ceaseless quest for truth. . . . As we go forward with our lives and our search for truth, let us look for the good, the beautiful, the positive." —Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 301 "You belong to a church that teaches the importance of education. You have a mandate from the Lord to educate your minds and your hearts and your hands. . . . There can be no doubt, none whatever, that education pays. Do not short-circuit your lives. If you do so, you will pay for it over and over and over again." —Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 4, 7 "Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. . . . Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves." —Russell M. Nelson, “Where Is Wisdom?” Ensign, Nov. 1992, 6

"Helping with Employment"

Key Statements of Church Leaders

President Thomas S. Monson
“Many areas of the world have experienced difficult economic times. Businesses have failed, jobs have been lost, and investments have been jeopardized. We must make certain that those for whom we share responsibility do not go hungry or unclothed or unsheltered. When the priesthood of this Church work together as one in meeting these vexing conditions, near miracles take place.”

“To Learn to Do, To Be,” Oct. 2008; or Ensign, Nov. 2008, 60.

Elder Robert D. Hales
“As companies continue to downsize or close, even ideal employees may find themselves needing to find new employment. This is an opportunity to rely on the Lord, to grow, and to be strengthened. If you are seeking a new job, increase your faith in the Lord’s desire and power to bless you. Also seek counsel from those you trust, and don’t be afraid to network and ask for help in finding a new job. If necessary, change your lifestyle—and possibly your place of residence—to live within your means. Willingly seek additional training and learn new skills, regardless of your age. Maintain your health and stay close to your spouse and children. And, above all, be grateful. Express your gratitude in prayer for all that has been given to you. Heavenly Father loves you. His Son has promised, ‘all these things shall give [you] experience, and shall be for [your] good’ (D&C 122:7).”
“A Gospel Vision of Welfare: Faith in Action,” in Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance (2009), 1–3.

Bishop David H. Burton 

“As bishops carry out their divine mandate to seek out and care for the poor in the Lord’s way, they will often be required to make very difficult decisions. Bishops are blessed with—and they are very much entitled to—the gift of discernment as they are faced with this task. Each individual case that you deal with requires inspiration. Guided by the Spirit, while keeping in mind basic welfare principles, bishops can best determine who is in need, how much and what kind of assistance is needed, and how long it may be required.”
“The Welfare Responsibilities of the Bishop,” in Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance (2009), 8.

Julie B. Beck

“I have heard President Monson speak with great appreciation about the Relief Society presidents who served with him when he was a young bishop. He and his Relief Society presidents followed the same model we have today. Under his direction, the Relief Society president went into the homes of the members to discover whether or not there was sufficient food, furnishings, skills, emotional strength, or other concerns. With the help of prayer and the spiritual gifts they possessed, his Relief Society presidents sought inspiration to make a proper evaluation of the needs in those homes. Using their assessment, he was then able to develop a self-reliance plan for his people.”
“The Welfare Responsibilities of the Relief Society President,” in Basic Principles of Welfare and Self-Reliance (2009), 4.


Provident Living Home

"Jobs: Lost and Found"

Douglas R. King, “Jobs: Lost and Found,” Ensign, Feb. 2000, 72–73

Knowing my current work assignment might be ending, I started a job search several months before it was to end, something I never thought I’d have to do. As a result of my efforts to find new employment, I have learned several important steps that can make a job search go more smoothly.
• Don’t take your present job for granted. Because of rapidly changing world conditions and new technology, work opportunities are less stable than they were in the recent past. Keep your résumé updated.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Discuss with your spouse what a job loss might do to your circumstances and decide how you might meet such challenges. How much of a financial reserve do you have? How well prepared is your year’s supply of food and clothing? What expenses could be immediately cut from your budget? The plan that my wife and I created some time ago gave us both peace of mind as we faced potential changes in the workplace. Make sure your home is kept in reasonably good repair in case you need to rent or sell it quickly. When circumstances become unsettled, needed home repairs can become a burden if they have been deferred.
• Improve your chances of staying employed. Learn ways to increase your value to your employer. Maintain cordial business relationships. Take advantage of employee training, workshops, and your company’s educational reimbursement program, if available. I completed my master’s degree over a period of five years on a program of company reimbursement. Attending numerous professional seminars also helped keep my skills polished and up-to-date.
• Hold yourself responsible for finding work. If it appears that a change of job is coming, register with an employment agency. However, don’t relax just because you have enlisted help. You have the most to gain from getting a good job and should spend much more time and effort looking for work than an agency is likely to do. I also learned that a friend of mine found that many larger companies now advertise employment openings on the Internet. He was able to send a résumé over the Internet and receive quick replies, sometimes overnight, to his queries.
• Create a plan. Decide what steps you can take to look for new employment. Keep a current list of people you might contact about finding work. After receiving news of the possible changes at my workplace, I set a goal to initiate at least one contact each week while I was still with the company. I called friends, former employers, and other people I didn’t know personally but who I heard might have job openings.
• Keep a positive outlook. Don’t be unduly upset by rumors—even though most of them may turn out to be true. Focus on what you can do today to prepare, not on worrying about what might happen tomorrow. Worrying about uncontrollable matters wastes valuable time and energy.
• Keep your spiritual reserves high. Pay your tithing faithfully, and make scripture reading and prayer a priority. During difficult weeks of uncertainty, I took walks on my lunch hour and often felt the comfort of the Spirit that all would be well with my family no matter what the company did.
The news finally came that my plant was being closed. Within a short time due in part to the efforts extended, I was offered a job in Vancouver, Canada. I also learned for myself that “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).—Douglas R. King, Federal Way, Washington

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