Looking for job-finding tips? This handy download from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission has everything you need, including assessing your job skills, preparing cover letters and resumes, interviewing tips, and more.
Tips for Finding the Right Job
CareerJournal Job Hunting Advice
HireVetsFirst.gov
JobsOK.com
Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Department of Labor — includes job search tips, information about the job market in each state, and for hundreds of different types of occupations, tells you: training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and general working conditions. Also, check out Labor's Career Guide to Industry.
Monster Career Advice
Quintessential Careers
Workforce Oklahoma
CareerTech Resources for Students
Oklahoma Career Readiness Certificates
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board PetroTech Certification Program
Oklahoma Higher Education Career & Education Services
Oklahoma Job Link School & Provider Training Search
www.OKcommerce.gov/media — providing both audio and video content, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce multimedia library offers keynote addresses, presentations, orientation and training videos, and more. Two videos specifically for the job seeker:
1. Employment Deal Breakers discusses specific skills, personality traits, and attitudes that employers want to see in job applicants. Panel members share real-life, candid examples of the ideal workers they want to recruit and hire.
2. What Employers Really Want details the skill sets employers want to see in both new hires and incumbent workers.
Even as employers clamor for workers, finding a job can be challenging. Connecting with the right company or organization takes time, dedication, and precise and calculated effort. Career and job counselors say that finding employment must become your full-time job until you secure that perfect position.
Here you'll find a variety of tips and resources to hone your job-search skills, including:
Oklahoma industries are booming, with plenty of opportunities for the newcomer to the working world as well as for those who need a change of pace and a fresh start. So what career fits you? And how will you get there? Check out Explore Careers where you'll find the tools and resources you need to:
On average, employers or their recruiting agents skim a resume for 2.5 to 20 seconds before deciding to schedule an interview or throw the resume out. To stand out, your resume needs to be as close to perfect as possible. Here are a few general Dos and Don'ts.
Resources also exist for resume tips by industry and profession. For example, Monster Career Advice offers specific resume tips for the Information Technology industry, Finance professionals, nurses, and more.
Proof your resume to ensure that it's free of typos and grammatical errors. If you can, always have another set of eyes look it over. A resume with typos and grammatical errors sends all the wrong messages to a prospective employer.
Be specific, and highlight your accomplishments instead of just duties. Peter Vogt, a MonsterTRAK Career Coach, offers these examples of differences between listing your job duties versus listing your accomplishments.
Duty or function: Updated departmental files. Accomplishment: Reorganized 10 years worth of unwieldy files, making them easily accessible to department members.
Customize your resume for each and every position you apply for. Employers want to see resumes that outline what you can do for their companies or organizations specifically.
Don't worry if your resume goes beyond one page. It's best to keep your resume to two pages, but don't be so brief that you miss the chance to communicate clearly what you've accomplished during past work experience, educational opportunities and exchanges, through participation in professional or civic organizations, etc.
Stay away from using passive verbs and personal pronouns and articles. Business communication, which includes resumes, needs to be concise and tight.
For example, instead of saying: "I developed a new product that added $1 million in annual sales and increased the market segment's gross margin by 12%." The statement should read: "Developed new product that added $1 million in sales and increased market segment's gross margin by 12%."
Don't forget to use keywords throughout the resume. Employers often store resumes in databases that they search using keywords. To determine the keywords for your resume, review the job descriptions carefully and pull keywords or phrases from them.
The following job interview tips come from the U.S. Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, www.bls.gov:
Know your salary requirements and develop an understanding of what skills are worth in the market where you plan to work. Doing your salary range research gives you a solid foundation for negotiation. Suggestions for good salary-range sources: U.S. Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov; The Salary Calculator™; and OK CIS.
Avoid discussing salary until you receive an offer, and let the employer bring it up. You do not have to put your current or specific salary requirements on your resume or in a job application. If asked, use words such as "open," "negotiable," or "competitive."
When stating a salary range, use the top figure of the employer's stated salary range, and extend the range to about 5% to 15% above.
Make sure you receive a written confirmation of the salary offer, including start date, salary, commission or bonus plans, employment location, and details about your benefits package.
Don't focus solely on salary because employers often offer a range of other benefits, which can be worth as much as 30% to 40% in addition to the actual salary. These benefits include: vacation, holidays, retirement, life and disability insurance, medical insurance, tuition assistance, stock purchase or savings plan, child care, and bonuses.
Evaluating a Job Offer CareerJournal Salary Negotiation Advice Completing Job Applications