Planning 10 - Lesson #24

Lesson #24 - Interview Skills

You've approached some businesses, handed out resumes and cover letters and now you've been contacted to come for an interview.  You're one step closer to getting a job.  Now you have to make a good impression at the interview.  Preparation is important.  Spend some time thinking about the questions you may be asked and put together some well thought out answers.  If you have an idea of what to expect, you'll feel more confident going into the interview and likely, do a better job at presenting yourself.

ASSIGNMENT (20 marks)

Here is a list of commonly asked questions at an interview.

Common Interview Questions

1.  Choose 5 questions from the list of "Common Interview Questions" and answer them as you would in an interview.  You may choose to write up your answers and submit them or video yourself answering the questions.  ***If you choose to video yourself, please ensure that I am able to receive the video through Office 365 OR email it to me at khoshizaki@sd19.bc.ca OR put it on a memory stick (with your name attached) and place it in my hands or in the folder at the office.

The following is a list of things you should NEVER do in an interview.

Poor Interview Behaviours

2.  Choose 5 of these "never do" interview behaviours and for each one, describe WHY this wouldn't be appropriate  --- what concerns might a potential employer have about you if you were to behave this way?

Submit your assignment by;

• placing a hard copy in the Planning 10 folder in the office OR
• sharing it with me on Office 365

Planning 10 - Lesson #23

Lesson #23 - Creating a Cover Letter

A COVER LETTER is a letter that accompanies your resume.  It's your opportunity to promote yourself and set you apart from other applicants --- to allow your personality to shine through (whereas your resume is more objective and impersonal.)

 A few guidelines when writing a cover letter:

• Keep it to one page
• Convey a confident, genuine, positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Tailor it to the position - focus on three personal qualities that make you an excellent candidate for the job.
• Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
• Type and format the letter correctly (use full block letter style, as shown in examples.)  This is the format you should use with any formal letter (including any scholarship letters you may write in the future.)
• Whenever possible, address the letter to a specific person (and make sure you spell their name correctly).  If you don't know the specific name of the person, use "To Whom it May Concern".
• If you provide a hard copy of the letter to your potential employer, ensure that you have signed the bottom (between the salutation and your typed name.)

Your cover letter should consist of three paragraphs;

First Paragraph:  State the reason for your letter and the position you are applying for.  Where did you hear about the job and why are you interested in the position?

Second Paragraph:  This paragraph answers the question:  "Why should I hire you?"  Highlight the most relevant skills, knowledge and experience that are applicable to the position.  When possible, include some of your own research about the company or organization.

Third Paragraph:  Thank the employer for their time and consideration.  State that you are looking forward to hearing from them.

Examples of cover letters:

Cover Letter Example 1

Cover Letter Example 2

ASSIGNMENT (15 marks)

Create a COVER LETTER that you could include as part of your application for ONE of the examples of job postings at the following links;

Job Posting Example 1     Domino's Pizza
Job Posting Example 2     Canadian Tire
Job Posting Example 3     Thrifty's Foods

Please submit your assignment;

• by placing a hard copy in the Planning 10 folder in the office OR
• sharing it with me on Office 365

Planning 10 - Lesson #22

Lesson #22 - Building a Resume

A resume is an organized document that tells a potential employer about you and your skills, qualities and experiences, etc that make you a desirable employee.  It is meant to provide insight into who you are and what type of employee you might be.  It's an employer's first introduction to you so it needs to look and sound impressive.  

There are many different formats that can be used and it's ok to make your resume unique - as long as it looks organized and easy to read.  Typically, you should include the following information:

• Your Contact Information - Name, Address, City, Province, Postal Code, Email address and Phone Number
• Objective - a statement outlining your specific employment goal
• Work Experience - dates of past jobs and descriptions of your tasks and responsibilities. 
• Volunteer Experience - similar to the way you listed your work experience.
• Education - include education, training and other certificates.  
• Skills and Accomplishments - strong skills (Employability Skills - reflect back on Lesson #16) that you have that will be beneficial in the job you are applying for and accomplishments that demonstrate qualities that you have.
• Hobbies and Interests - this section allows the employer a glimpse into your personality.
• References - contact information of people who have witnessed your skills and can vouch for your character.

Other things to consider:

• begin with a general resume and then tailor it for specific jobs
• ideally your resume should be ONE page with an absolute maximum of two pages
• you MUST type your resume
• make sure there are NO spelling or grammar errors and the format is consistent throughout
• ensure that your contact information (i.e. email address) is appropriate
• your resume is a work in progress and should be continually updated as you gain education, experience and skills, etc.

Let's go through each section and provide some examples:

1. CONTACT INFORMATION

Example:  

Leslie Knickerbocker

1122 Orange Lane

Revelstoke, BC

V0E 2S0

(250) 814-0000

lknickerbocker@telus.net

2. OBJECTIVE

Example 1:  To obtain a job as a cashier at a grocery store.

Example 2:  With strong writing skills, international volunteer experience and a drive to succeed, I am seeking a challenging internship at a dynamic advertising agency that values and engages its employees.

3. WORK EXPERIENCE AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Start by listing your most recent and working back chronologically.  Provide company (organization) name, your job title, dates of employment (or volunteer work) and a description of your tasks and responsibilities - organized using point form (bullets).  Begin each description with an action word (see link below for an extensive list of action words.)

List of Action Words for Resumes

Example 1:

June 2016 - August 2017

        Cashier, SAVE-ON FOODS GROCERY STORE, Revelstoke, BC

• Operated check-out and rang through groceries.
• Assisted customers.
• Collected money and distributed change.
• Performed bagging duties.

Example 2:  

September 2017 - February 2018

      Mentor, REVELSTOKE SECONDARY SCHOOL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, Revelstoke, BC

• Planned and participated in various after school activities with grade 5 student (crafts, cooking, board games, basketball, etc)
• Modelled appropriate social behaviour

4. EDUCATION

Include your area of study, school (organization) name and the completion date.  Start by listing your highest level of education.  Remember to include any special training and certificates earned if you feel they could be relevant or helpful on the job.

Example 1:

• Grade 12 Graduate - Revelstoke Secondary School, June 2017

Example 2:

• Standard First Aid and CPR Certificate - Canadian Red Cross - August 2017

5. SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

List any skills/accomplishments you are proud of or an employer may see as beneficial.

Example 1: (Accomplishments)

• Principals Honor Roll - Revelstoke Secondary School - grades 8-12
• PERC Card recipient - Revelstoke Secondary School - grades 8-12
• Recipient of the "Citizenship" Award - Revelstoke Secondary School - June 2015

Example 2: (Employability Skills)

• Ability to problem solve
• Computer savvy
• Honest and reliable
• Excellent listening skills
• Willingness to learn and accept feedback
• Strong teamwork skills
• Enjoy working with a diverse group of people

6. HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

Example:  

• Reading
• Horseback Riding
• Sailing
• Photography

7. REFERENCES

Example:

John Smith 

Manager, SAVE-ON-FOODS, Revelstoke, BC, (250) 837-0000 or jsmith@sofrevelstoke.com

ASSIGNMENT (20 marks)

OK - now its your turn to put your RESUME together.  It needs to be PERFECT - or you will be asked to redo it.  There are zillions of template examples on line or if you have Microsoft WORD - under "File", click on "New from Template" and search up "Resume" - it also will provide you with many examples.

Here's one example to get you started:  (Personally, I like the look of this but feel more information should be added to the "Work Experience" section.)

Sample Resume

Please submit your assignment;

• by placing a hard copy in the Planning 10 folder in the office OR
• by sharing it with me on Office 365

Planning 10 - Lesson #21

Lesson #21 = Your Career and the Labour Market Outlook in BC

Now that we've considered some possible careers, let's look to see if there's a good chance of finding a job (in BC) once your completed your education.

ASSIGNMENT (10 marks)

Using the WorkBC website by clicking on the link below;

Work BC - EXPLORE CAREERS

Put in the name of the job you would like to explore.  Choose a specific job from the list provided.

You will be looking at three different aspects of this job:

• B.C. Labour Market Outlook
• Workforce and Employment Statistics
• Insights from Industry

1.  Complete the worksheet found at the link below with information that you have found on the website.

Labour Market Outlook Worksheet

2.  Answer the following questions (also found on the worksheet)  on the back of the worksheet:

a)  Does it look like there will be reasonable opportunities available for you in the future in this career? Explain.

b)  Do you have any concerns about this career path after researching this information? Explain.

Please submit your assignment;

• By placing it in the "Planning 10" folder in the office OR
• sharing it with me on Office 365 

Planning 10 - Lesson #20

LESSON # 20 - Your High School Grad Plan

Now that you have investigated a career that interests you and the schooling required for that career - it's time to plan for the rest of your time at high school.  This involves looking ahead at the courses you will take to meet the requirements for graduation and any post-secondary training/education you plan to attend.  If you are not planning to attend post-secondary, choose courses that will help you develop the skills necessary for the type of job you plan to do.

ASSIGNMENT  (10 marks)

Using the school website, look through the courses offered at RSS, found at the following link.

Courses offered at RSS

 Print off the Grad Plan template found at the link below.  Required courses for graduation are already listed for you.  For some, you will need to make a choice - please indicate your choice on the sheet.  You will also need to choose electives.  Complete the sheet by filling in the courses you are taking this year and those that you plan to take during grades 11 and 12.  Read the bullets below to ensure that you fill in the Grad Plan properly AND the courses you select meet all the Grad requirements.

• In places where multiple choices are available e.g.;  Science 11 - make sure you only select one course in that box - if you want to take other courses from that category, place them in the "elective" sections.  
• In order to meet the Graduation requirements, at least 4 of your courses must be designated Grade 12 level courses.  Ensure that you have English 12 or Communications 12 and at least 3 others.
• Another Grad requirement is that you have at least one elective course during grade 10, 11 or 12 that is considered either a FINE ART or APPLIED SKILL.  An example of a fine arts course would be;  Band, Drama, Art, etc.  An example of an applied skills course would be;  Tech Ed, Foods, Woodwork, etc.  Make sure your Grad plan includes at least one of these types of courses.
• If you have extra (more than 8 courses in a year or off-timetable courses e.g;  Jazz) or external credits (e.g; Musical, Athletic, First Aid, Coaching, Cadets) you can include these in "Extra courses and Credits" section.  
• Add up the credits for each grade and then add grade 10, 11 and 12 together to ensure you have enough to graduate (a minimum of 80).  Do you have the courses you need to apply to the post-secondary program you are hoping to enter?  

Grad Plan Template

Of course what you choose for the purpose of this assignment is not written in stone.  I know that you may change your mind, but this lesson is meant to help you understand what is required for graduation as well as help you plan for your future.

You may hand in your completed "Grad Plan" by either;

• placing a copy in the Planning 10 folder in the office OR
• sharing it with me on Office 365

Planning 10 - Lesson #19

LESSON #19 - Post-Secondary Education

Hopefully Lesson #17 & #18 have given you some ideas as to careers that may interest you ---- or perhaps you already had some idea of what you want to do when you "grow up".  Regardless of how certain you are or aren't about your future career, this lesson will provide you with some resources to help you navigate the world of post-secondary education.

If you have already decided on a career area, obviously you will research this area.  If you haven't, pick a program that you are interested in finding more about.

ASSIGNMENT (15 marks)

• Use the following links to investigate what post-secondary schools (one for BC, one for Alberta) offer programs that relate to your chosen future occupation.  
• If you are interested in attending a post secondary institution that is not located in either of these provinces, feel free to research other sites, universities and colleges.  
• For the purpose of this assignment you need to investigate TWO different post-secondary institutions that offer your career choice.

Education Planner BC

Education Planner ALBERTA

Please provide the following information:
-You may need to spend some time navigating the site to find this information.
-You may use the template found at the link below to organize your information.

Post-Secondary Template

1.  List the career you have chosen to research.

2. a) Suggest 2 different schools that offer the program you are interested in.  b) What are the titles for each of these programs?

3.  Is this a certificate, diploma, degree or apprenticeship program?  (Does your career require post-graduate schooling?  If so, explain).

4.  How long is each program? (i.e.; months, one year, two years, four years, etc)

5.  What are the admission (entrance) requirements for each school?  (This may include high school courses and/or grades, etc).

6.  What is the approximate cost for the program at each school?  This should include tuition and books.

7.  When is the application deadline for each program to begin schooling the following year?

Please submit your assignment by;

• placing it in the "Planning 10" folder in the office OR
• sharing it with me on Office 365

Planning 10 - Lesson #18

Lesson #18 - Your Personality and Your Career

Remember Lesson #4 where you were asked to do a "Myers-Briggs Jung Personality Test"?  You were assigned 4 LETTERS - either I or E, N or S, F or T, and P or J.  Well - when it comes to careers - some lend themselves better to certain personality types.  Click on the following link to find careers that may suit your personality.  (Please keep in mind that these are just suggestions - this is not scientifically proven - it just shows trends - it is meant to get you started looking at careers and not "determine" your career path).

Careers based on personality type

Have a look at the "poster" - it provides quite a bit of interesting information.  To the right of the poster, click on the link that says "Discover Careers".  Scroll down until you find the four letters that describe your personality type, click on this - investigate careers that might interest you.  Use the information to complete the following assignment.

ASSIGNMENT (10 marks)

1.  Suggest 2 careers that are recommended for your personality type.  Explain what it is about your personality that lends itself well to each career.

2.  Do either of these careers seem like something that might interest you?  Why or why not?

Planning 10 - Lesson #17

Lesson #17 - Interests and Careers

"Choose a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life."  Confucius

Choosing a job is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life.  Although, the chance of you changing your occupation throughout your lifespan is high, life will be better if you work at things you enjoy.

In this lesson, we are going to look at careers that match your interests.  The following link will ask you to complete a survey that will suggest a "career cluster" for you - an area that you might enjoy working in.

Interests and Careers Survey

ASSIGNMENT (10 marks)

1.  Take the survey - what career cluster was recommended for you according to your results?
2.  Give 5 examples of jobs that fit into this career cluster.
3.  Is this a career field that interests you?  Why or why not?

Planning 10 - Lesson #16

Assignment #16 - Employability Skills

This half of Planning 10 will focus on Employability, Career and Finances.  A lot of what you learn, and the assignments you do, can be used for your future Grad Transitions (a 4 credit requirement for Graduation).

Let's start by looking what is meant by the term; employability skills.  In order to do a job well you need both specific skills and training (hard skills) and people skills (soft skills).  The following video quickly defines the difference between Hard skills and Soft skills.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

The link below shows a list of employability skills - "skills you need to enter, stay in, and progress in the world of work -whether you work on your own or as a team."

Employability Skills

ASSIGNMENT (10 marks)

1.  Take the Employability Skills Quiz found at the link below.

Employability Skills Quiz

2.  What rating did you receive for each category of the employability skills quiz?

3.  If you were to interview for a job, one of the most common interview questions is:  "What are your greatest strengths?".  If you were just focussing on your "soft skills" - what would you say to this question in an interview setting, if you only had 1 minute to answer this question?