OD-3: Getting the Job 2

Online Discussion 3:

Getting the Job

Do one of the following activities, according to your own interests. Post your own entry of at least 200 words

1. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Use your research skills to help you identify the kind of job you want (not necessarily the one you are applying for in your employment package).Feel free to research the job of your dreams rather than one you qualify for right now. View the Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/. Then respond to the questions below.

· What job do you want?

· Is your job listed in the Occupational Outlook Handbook? If your job is not listed, find a similar one that is listed.

· What is the training and education needed?

· What are the earnings?

· What are the job prospects?

· What do workers do on the job?

2. Networking: Learn about how to develop a professional network at www.hr.com. Browse around it and then write some points you found helpful to let the other students in the class learn about the potential benefits to them of visiting that particular site.

3. Running a Business: Visit one of the sites below that can help you learn about running a business. (I have offered a very brief description of what I found helpful on the sites.). Browse around it and then write some points you found helpful to let the other students in the class learn about the potential benefits to them of visiting that particular site.

A. Business Owner’s Toolkit—Information Resource http://www.bizfilings.com/toolkit/index.aspx)

B. Workforce Management (www.workforce.com)

C. Tips for Small Business Owners (www.businesstown.com)

4. Recommendations: Go to About Business Majors (http://businessmajors.about.com) and search the term “Recommendation Letters.” Discuss some points you found helpful, using the prompts below if you find them useful.

· What’s a good process for identifying the best people to ask for recommendation letters?

· What information should you provide to letter writers to help them produce a credible and compelling letter on your behalf?

· What are the most common mistakes you need to avoid with recommendation letters?

5. Finding a Job (three groups): Respond to any one of the prompts below.

a. Personality Assessments: Many companies now require a Briggs Meyers type personality assessment. These assessments are subjective. Your responses to questions may be affected by recent experiences or your mood. Additionally, your personality profile changes as you mature.

Take one of the free online assessments listed below and then discuss your results. Then give your opinion about how accurate the test is and to what extent you believe it is appropriate for employers to use personality profiles in the interview process.

i. 53 Question adapted Myers Briggs Type Test by Similarminds http://similarminds.com/jung.html

ii. Adapted Myers Briggs Test by Humanmetrics: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

b. Selecting the Right Job: Assume you spent the last four months of your college senior year looking for the perfect job. You interviewed with dozens of companies, but given the competitive job market, you haven’t received any offers. Today, suddenly, you receive two very good offers from two very good companies. The salary and compensation packages are nearly identical, and the opportunities for advancement are similar. Both jobs are in the same town you currently live in. How would you decide which job to take? Make a list of at least five criteria you would use to help you make a decision, rank them in order of importance, and explain your rationale.

c. Job Interviews: Search “job interview” on YouTube, and find one or more videos of mock job interviews. Assess whether you believe the interviewee looks professional, based on the criteria in Chapter 12. Also, rate the interviewees responses to 2 or 3 key questions on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 the best), and explain your ratings.

Alternatively, you might watch one or more videos with tips about how to have successful job interviews and summarize what you learn from them. Include the links to videos you watched.