Character Education Home Articles  Illustrations/Activities/Ideas  Lessons Intercom Insights  Links Membership  Hot Stuff

How Can I Find a Job That I Love?
October 20

Hates Her Job

Loves Her Job

Many of you asked questions concerning vocation, like:

• "How do I go about finding a job?"

• "How can I best prepare for a job?"

• "Do I really have to get a job?"

To answer your questions, we're lining up some interesting panelists. Linda Hazelip works at Chattahoochee Tech and has advised students about careers for 20 years. Surely she's figured out something important during all those years! John Hollner comes from a military background and advises people on their vocations. Julie Bordelon has had numerous jobs, loves her present job, and has much experience hiring people for jobs. Get the inside scoop, and come with all your questions!  

We also just might spice up our next session with some clips from "The Apprentice." 

You never know what might happen in these sessions...so don't miss them!

Resources We Like on Finding a Job You Love

Websites

Career Cruising - www.careercruising.com 

I love this site! First, get your school's username and password from your school librarians or counselor or teacher. (They're paying for it, so you might as well use it!) 

Once you get in, you can take a cool, online profile, where you answer questions about yourself. Then -- Voila! The program spits out a list of vocations you might enjoy, based on your answers. Click on a vocation that looks interesting to find more about it, and even read an in-depth interview with a person who works in that field. HINT: Click "Portfolio" and "Create a New Portfolio" BEFORE doing your profile. That way, you can save your profile to your portfolio and come back to it later.  

Georgia Career Information System - http://www.gcic.peachnet.edu/

Gives lots of information on tons of careers, as well as letting you know which jobs are currently in most demand. Again, get your username and password from someone at school.

Monster - www.monster.com

Perhaps the most popular site to find jobs in your area, get advice on how to find a job or write a resume, etc. HINT: In one study, 96% of the people who looked for jobs on the internet didn't find their jobs there. (What Color is Your Parachute?, 2005 edition, p. 28). 

So...why do we recommend this site? There's lots more to do on this site than just apply for a job. I especially like to check jobs in an area I'm interested in, like Web Design, to discover what employers are looking for. For example, some companies may require a 4-year college degree, but others may want merely certifications in different programs (like DreamWeaver) and two years' experience. Armed with this vital information, I know to offer myself to some companies as an intern or part time worker to get the experience, which just might be more important to  certain employers than my degree.

Book

What Color is Your Parachute?, by Richard N. Bolles, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California, 2005.

I know...it's a book...a really big book. So why read it? Because while finding a crappy, temporary job can be pretty easy, finding a well-paying job that you actually like can take some time and effort and thought. THIS BOOK SHOWS YOU HOW, with lots of ideas you'd normally never think about. Since it's updated every year, get this year's version for the latest information. Very simply written and fun to read. Odds are, you'll be looking for jobs at many points in your life, so why not learn how to do it right the first time? This is the best-selling job-hunting book in the world.  

If You Forget Everything Else...

Remember,

• There are more types of jobs out there than you can imagine (over 26,000 businesses in Cobb County alone!) Many are probably a great fit for you.

• Just because you hate your first 5 jobs doesn't mean your next job won't be great. Keep trying new stuff.

• Get to know yourself -- what you love, what you hate, what you're good at and what you stink at. Ask your friends and family what they think you'd like to do. Keep taking evaluations to learn where you fit.

• Network. Meet people. Yes, today, in the lunch room or in your neighborhood. You're more likely to get a job through a person you know than by submitting a cool, but anonymous, job application.

• Walk into businesses that interest you and find out what they're looking for, whether or not they say they're hiring.

• Keep learning! You'll change over time, learning new skills and forming new interests. Don't worry that you've got to find THE ONE JOB that will fascinate you for a lifetime, your first time out. More likely, we'll grow and change, moving through several jobs during our lifetimes.

• Don't just get a degree; GET WORK EXPERIENCE.

And the questions are...

This Thursday, we'll throw your questions about vocation at the panelists. Billy allowed me to hang around the cafeteria today to get some your questions ahead of time. Here's what you asked:

The first 11 questions were asked by seniors.

1. Resumes are confusing. How do you write one?

2. How important is appearance?

3. How can I get an easy job?

4. How do you deal with annoying people?

5. How can I make sure I'll work under a manager that I like?

6. How can I find a job that I will love?

7. How can I get an internship, or other experience?

8. Do you have to go to college till you're 30 years old to get a good job?

9. What's more important after college - my grades, my extra-curricular activities, or which college I went to?

10. How can I start out making a lot of money?

11. Do you pursue the job you want, or go for the quickest money to maintain the lifestyle you like?

The following were asked by juniors:

12. How much money do they take out for taxes?

13. Tell me about 401K's to help me work toward retirement. Will employers match what I put in?

14. Tell me about benefits: will my employer cover health insurance? What if the company goes bankrupt?

15. How can I keep from being taken advantage of - managers expecting me to work longer than they first said I'd work, etc.

16. What fields can I go into where there is a future; you know, like you can keep working your way up through the company, rather than it being a dead end?