Contextualized Lesson Planning Guide

Title: Choose Your Path with Technology Time Required: 8 weeksPrerequisite: Computer BasicsContributed By: Barbara Crowley batrc123@gmail.com

Lesson Contextualized Toward: Career Exploration

Content Standards Benchmarks Taught: T.1.1.3, T.1.1.5, T.1.1.7, T.2.3.1, T.3.1.1, T.6.1.1, T.6.1.3, T.6.2.1, T.6.2.2, T.6.3.1, T.6.2.3, T.6.2.4, T.6.3.2

Digital Literacy Skills Taught: Word, Excel, Internet searches, uploading files, completing online forms, email.

Objectives/Learning Goals:

Rationale:Everyone needs digital literacy to be current with technology; to learn in other classes and to search for and apply to company positions. They will need to know how to create resumes to capture their skills, education and employment history. They will use Word and the Internet and work on their intercommunication skills as well.

Materials/Resources Needed:

Students will need at least a 1MB jump drive or use Google Drive Career Clusters handouts from http://www.careertech.org to designate a career path To find out what skills students need to work on to get into their desired career path, go to

maepd.org/lib-preparingworkers.html or http://www.onetcenter.org/links.html. Handouts from Integrating Career Awareness into the ABE & ESOL Classroom. To find hot jobs, statistics and job listings: www.bls.gov, https://www.ncworks.gov .

Procedure/Instructional Outline:

Week 1: Find Your Path

Relate: For me, I was always good in English and I had excellent organizational skills. During high school and following graduation, I was a library clerk in CT. In the early 1970s, I got married and moved to NJ where I was a clerk first, then a secretary at a few companies. In the late 1980s, an executive told me I would not go far in my career because I lacked a college degree. In 1995, I got divorced and started working on my associate’s degree at the company’s expense. I also went to Europe for the first (so far only) time. Within two years, I became a buyer in that same company. I finished my AS degree shortly thereafter, in 2000.

What do you want to do in the future? What do you like to do? What are you good at? If you could be anything, what would you be? Be realistic. How long would it take you to qualify for your ideal job? What will your next step be~ further education, career, or both?

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Experience: Today we will go to www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/explore-careers.aspx to take a self-assessment of our interests. Next, we’ll do a Skills Profile on this site.

Apply: With these tools, you will find out how your interests align with skills you already have. A list of suitable and not-so-suitable careers will result from your choices.

1. I will show you how to get there, but you will need to do the rest. [Demonstrate interests and skills profile based on Level 3].

2. Let’s try this together, pretending to be Joe Schmo, who dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer. Most of his interests are in math and problem solving. You help me complete the forms and we’ll see if his interests are in line with that of an engineer.

What education level does Joe have? On the skills profile, what level of jobs could he consider today – 1, 2, 3 or 4? How do the job titles differ from one level to another? Will salaries increase?

3. Now answer the questions in the Interests Profile for yourselves and discover what fields might fit your interests. Then complete your Skills Profile. I encourage you to look at higher levels to see what jobs might be in your future, depending on the education attained/certificates/experience.

Cooperate: Let’s arrange ourselves by personality type. Compare notes. What career clusters fit with your main personality trait? What career clusters were represented in your group? What did you all learned about yourselves by completing the two profiles? Elect a scribe to take notes and a different person to present your group’s findings to the class.

Now rearrange yourselves by career cluster. Assign two different people to act as a scribe and as a speaker. The scribe will go to Google spreadsheets and create a table listing each person in the group, marking YES answers only:

1) How many people knew what they wanted before the exercise began? What job title/CC?2) How many were surprised by the variety of jobs listed in that field?3) How many in each group changed their original career goals, according to their new research?4) How many people will further their education (GED, college, certificate) to succeed?

Name 1) Knew their ideal job title/career cluster

2) Surprised by job variety

3) Changed career goal (job title/career cluster)

Future education?

Person1 Y secretary Y Y buyer YPerson 2 N Y Y welder NTotal # Names

Total Y vs. Total #

Total Y vs. Total #

Total Y vs. Total # Total Y vs. Total #

If you do not have an email account, please create a Google account now with some version

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of your given name in it. Students, please help each other with this and remember - your password is private. Write the password down for yourself; do not share it. Please write on a slip of paper your full name and email address for my use. Thanks.

Transfer: Some of you have just performed public speaking. Bravo! All of you have worked on your listening skills. The scribes worked on their listening and writing skills. By charting our survey results, can visualize results in a graphical display. Having done this research, you should be that much closer to figuring out what path to follow, whether it is furthering your education, working toward a certification, or staying in place for now. Perhaps your present or future employer will offer on-the-job training to enhance your job skills.

Homework Assignment:Send me an email (from a library if needed) at ____________, using complete sentences to answer the following questions:

1. What career path did you choose?2. What jobs were found that matched your current interests and skills inventory?3. Is there any particular job you are interested in now?4. What position do you see yourself holding five years from now?5. What attracted you to that particular career path/position?

a. It’s easy to do / I could be successful in this workb. There is room for advancementc. It will challenge my mind or bodyd. It’s a growing industry in North Carolina

Next week: Bring in a 1MB or higher jump drive next week if you don’t already have one. In Week 2 we’ll do a salary check and reality check for your dream job.

Week 2: Salary and Reality Checking Your Dream Job

Relate: In the year 2000, I quit my buyer job in NJ and moved with my fiancée to Louisiana, where neither of us had jobs lined up. I should have researched the pay scales for the area and where the best jobs could be found (NY-NJ-CT). Out of desperation, I took a job as a Customer Service Rep (CSR) – something I had never done before. I was not good at it: the job lasted 6 weeks. I was excited to find a great buyer position an hour away from my home, working for a private health insurer. My pay was $7,000 less than what I made in NJ, despite my now having an AS degree in business. Why? (1) I was in my late-40s and (2) I had moved from a good-paying position in NJ to a comparable position down south. Pay scales vary greatly from state to state, along with the cost of living. In late 2004, I was laid off when my company was bought out. After earning my bachelor’s degree in 2005, my income hit an all-time low. Why? (1) Now I was over 50; (2) I took a lower-paying position as a secretary; and (3) I worked for a State community college. Then everyone lost their jobs when Katrina came.

What will your story be? Today we will find out if the dream job we worked on last time can become a reality. We are going to research jobs. Even if you are not looking for a job at this time, the computer research steps are the same, following links to related sites. Learning how to research helps in school, at work and at home. How many times have you wondered if a gadget at one store was available for less somewhere else? This is what comparison shopping is all about.

Experience: We will visit O*NET (or Career Info Net’s Occupational Profile) for in in-depth Barbara Crowley 3

description of your dream job title at http://www.onetcenter.org/links.html. Then we’ll look at the hot industries in the North Central Region of North Carolina by visiting two websites: The Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov, and NC Works https://www.ncworks.gov.

Apply: 1. Let me show you how to get to O*NET on the Internet. I’m going to follow the links that are posted on the board and look up Administrative Assistant.a) What does an administrative assistant earn, from lowest to highest?b) Is it an hourly or salaried position?c) Can this career grow into better-paying positions?d) What education or certifications are needed?

Next, I’m going to pull up national and state statistics in www.bls.com to see the employment outlook of administrative assistants. On https://www.ncworks.gov, are administrative assistant positions considered to be hot jobs today? Have these positions been in decline?

2. Class, now let’s research O*NET together for certified nursing assistants. Answer the following:a) What does a CNA earn, from lowest to highest?b) Is this an hourly or salaried position?c) Can this career grow into other positions?d) What education or certification is needed at entry level? At the most advanced

level?

Let’s visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics site. What is the employment outlook for CNAs across the country? How about in NC? On www.ncworks.gov, are medical positions considered hot jobs today? Or have CNA positions been declining?

3. Now look up your choice of career on O*NET, BLS and NC Works. Answer:a) Job titleb) What is the employment outlook for your chosen position in the US and in your

county?c) Is it an hourly or a salaried position?d) What does that job pay, lowest to highest?e) Can your career grow into other positions?f) What education or certification is needed at entry level? At the most advanced

level?

Cooperate: In small groups, discuss hourly vs. salaried positions. What are the benefits of each? Discuss the value of earning overtime, perquisites (perks), PTO (paid time off), vacation, health insurance, 401K plan, a company retirement savings plans. What types of jobs and/or perks does your group want? Elect a speaker to report to the class.

Transfer: You need to follow directions to be successful. Baking a cake from a mix or from scratch must be done in consecutive steps. An employer will not consider you if you did not submit a cover letter when specified or if your resume exceeded their expressed (usually 2-page) limit. Some manufacturers will not give you a rebate if you don’t include an original receipt. Not following police directions could be met with deadly force.

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Homework Assignment: Send me an email answering the following questions using complete sentences:

1) What is your ideal job position/Career Cluster?2) Are there plenty of those positions available in NC, or would you need to relocate?3) What type of education or training (certificate), or number of years of experience is

needed?4) Do you have - or can you apply for - your targeted job today? Or do you need to have

more education first?5) If you need more education or a training certificate, how long before you are ready?6) Is your career choice realistic? Why or why not?7) What would prevent you from pursuing your goal? Time – money – other commitment?

Next Week We’ll Talk About How to Find the Ideal Company

Week 3: Finding the Ideal Company

Relate: I worked in aerospace for 13 years. It seemed like the company changed its name every two years. The benefits were awesome and the pay wasn’t bad IF you had a degree. There was some travel involved where I trained employees at other facilities. The down sides were a 1-year salary freeze and the frequent mergers and divestments – job insecurity will always be a given in this industry. I also worked in a 2-person office, which had its pros and cons. Loved my boss, but the pay was stuck at the same hourly rate for years; plus, there were no benefits other than free t-shirts and other advertising specialty items for me and my son.

What differences can you name between working for a huge corporation versus a small or medium company? They each have advantages and disadvantages. Can you name some pros and cons of each? What size company would you prefer to work for?

Experience: By going to http://www.indeed.com/Best-Places-to-Work/Raleigh-NC.com and select a link to a target employer to research. By clicking on the company’s name, it should link us to the company itself where we will expand our research. We’ll find out the company mission, what charities they support, and what their recent press releases reveal. If you like what you read about the firm, visit the Better Business Bureau to see if they are a member. Are there any complaints listed on the BBB site, and have those complaints been resolved? Will the research affect your decision to work for them?

Apply:1. I’ll go first, to http://www.indeed.com/Best-Places-to-Work/Raleigh-NC.com. We’ll see a

listing of the area’s top employers and how many positions are available at each. I’ll pick a firm to see how many buyer or administrative positions they have. Other sites you may visit are on the board: http://maepd.org/lib-preparingworkers.html or http://www.naid.ca, http://www.onetcenter.org/links.html. Once I find something I can do, I’ll click on that company.

When visiting a company’s website, check out the following: When was the company established? What size company is it? Is it a public or private company? What is their mission statement?

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What is the latest news (either the News or Press Releases tab). Are pictures of the CEO and top staff members posted? Do they support any charities? Are they members of a professional organization? What steps must job applicants take to apply for a position?

2. Next, let’s go to http://www.indeed.com together and click on for the link about the best places to work. Call out a company name for us to research what kind of position? (Class picks). Which company sounds like they’d have that kind of position? Let’s click the company name together. After we click on it, can you see the link name identified on the menu bar? Each student will answer one of the posted questions. What things do you like about the company? Did something turn you off about them?

3. Now you will go on Indeed and click on one of the job title you’re interested in among the top employers in NC. Select a company to research. Repeat the same steps as before. If there is time, you may look up the company on www.bbb.org to see if the company has a rating and/or if there are any formal complaints.

Cooperate: In new groups, discuss your individual findings. Assign a speaker. Together, create a Google spreadsheet that lists the company names and job titles each group member researched on Indeed. How should you APPLY? (In person? Call someone? Apply through Indeed? Or through the company website?) RESUME: Recreate on their system, or Attach your own, What format is required? Is there a page limit you must follow? Is a COVER LETTER required? We’ll do cover letters in Week 8.

Company Job Title How to Apply? Resume? Cover Letter?Company Name

Warehouse Clerk

In Person R / A ; PDF or Word

Y or N

Transfer: Adequate research is essential before taking on any big step. Countrywide Mortgage had many job openings some years back, coincidentally when rumors began to surface about sub-prime mortgages. Would you have been comfortable buying a mortgage from Countrywide? Would you apply to any company if you suspected that its days were numbered? Consider how you would get a refund or return defective items if a retailer went out of business overnight. For example, it’s happened with wedding venues/photographers.

Homework Assignment:1) Do further research into one company in your desired industry.2) Are there recent newspaper articles or press releases about the company?3) Report on the size company (how many employees); where it is headquartered, its NC

connection, and the career cluster/position researched.4) If you are not yet qualified for the position, what skills are needed for you to get there?5) How long do you think it would take for you to be qualified to meet the minimum

requirements?6) How and on what site (on a job board and/or the company website) were you instructed to

apply for positions with this company?7) Send me an email to answer the questions above using complete sentences.

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For Week 4 – bring in a list of all the jobs you have held in the last ten years, including the starting and ending months and years and duties of each. If you supervised others; how many?

Week 4: Creating Your Resume

Relate: Before I came to NC in 2011, I was taught repeatedly that a resume must be customized to each employer so that your skills reflected those stated in the employer’s want ad. Include as many key words from the company’s ad as possible (to impress the company scanners). Companies that scan resumes often get skewed results due to fancy resume formats (underlines, columns, tables); that do not translate from your computer to theirs. There is a trick to adding key words that I’ll share with you later. Each time I get certified to teach another type of course, I update my resume. I’m not looking for a job, but TSLW needs this on file in case a company or another agency requests it, mostly for grant purposes.

Experience: We will visit http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/curricula-vitae-cvs-versus-resumes to learn the difference between a resume and a curriculum vita (singular). You may have seen on a job board “attach CV” – now you’ll know what it is. Then we will create a resume in Word based on your lists of previous jobs. We will use the templates loaded in Word, but there are many more available on the web. Don’t go crazy – the cleanest looking resume will get an employer’s attention. “Clean” means the format is best without lines or columns for companies than scan resumes. The formatting must be simple and consistent. “Purpose” typically is a waste – all applicants want the job for which they are applying. How will your resume stand out? Will you be remembered for typos and grammatical errors?

Apply:1. I’m going to pull up several resume templates in Word. I’ll start creating Joe Schmo’s

resume. I’ll use creative language in third person singular voice to make the documents speak to the reader without “I-I-I” or “me-me-me”. Example: “Designed outstanding, memorable presentation for two industry-wide events.” This time Joe will be a project manager with an MME degree (mechanical engineer) from Stanford University with two long-standing jobs totaling 30 years as his previous employment. Resumes should be no more than 2 pages long to cover the last ten years. Why ten

years? It’s the most recent/most relevant to today’s hiring manager. Joe has a master’s degree in engineering with Stanford University and about thirty

years of work history; 5 years with one company and 25 years with another. Should they both be included?

I’m going to add professional affiliations: Lion’s Club, APICS (a purchasing society). Before you include any religious or political affiliations, ask yourself if that is relevant to how you’ll perform your job? Could a secular person or someone from a different faith or political leaning turn you down based upon their biases?

Adding keywords: find a blank space on the completed resume; type your keywords separated by commas in a very small font. Do not list keywords if you do not have the skills. When finished, change the font color to white. The hiring manager won’t see the keywords, but a scanner will find a match to many of their listed keywords.

2. Let’s browse the various templates together. Our goal is to create a simple one-page

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resume for David Schmo, Joe’s son. What if he’s just finished high school and has no work history? We can list his transferable skills and interests. If he has an achievement that demonstrates leadership qualities, we’ll want to include that. Why? Because it is relevant to his intelligence, skill or character (National Honor Society, Class President, Eagle Scout, etc.). Typically, we do not include hobbies on resumes unless it relates to the particular position you’re applying for. (i.e., woodworking for a carpentry position).

3. Now please select a template for yourself. You may decide on a template based on how “pretty” the format looks. Refer to the cheat sheet you brought from home to fill in the blanks. Complete the information in reverse order by naming your current/most current job first, then going in order backwards to ten years ago. If you’re still working, the end date will be “Present”. List the dates by months and years. You may see it listed as MM/DD or MM/DDDD; be consistent. Under Education, list the most recent education first, ending with high school/GED. If you have a certification for any skill, list the certification date, who certified you, and include the expiration date. If you did not complete high school or get your GED/HSE, you have a few options. a) List the school name, city and state with either “attended” or “did not graduate.” b) You can delete the Education field on the template. 3) List your transferable skills, such as customer service skills, typing, mechanically inclined, etc. You have more going for you than you might believe. Sell yourself truthfully. When finished or before we end class, save your resume as RESUME-LASTNAMEFIRSTINITIAL1. Save your incomplete resume on your jump drive to continue working on it at home or at the library. If you want a printout your resume as is, print it now.

Cooperate: The class will discuss in small groups how the resume-writing went. Name a person to write down everyone’s comments. Was this your first time creating your resume? Did anyone experience any issues? Was the problem with what you had to write? Did you have trouble with the template itself? Using third person singular? Saving the document under a new name? Elect a person to report on your findings. Could anyone in the group offer help with your issues?

Transfer: It is always helpful to know what assets you have, even when you are not looking for work. What skills help you in everyday life? Are you creative, punctual, organized, a good listener or speaker? Are you good at math? Or are you good at performing physical tasks? Can you use a computer? A resume gives you the tools to say “I am a capable person”.

Homework Assignment:1) Finish editing your resume.2) When you are satisfied that the document looks professional and has no typos (spell

check AND proofread), save the file as RESUME-LASTNAMEFIRSTINITIAL2 on your jump drive.

3) Email the file to me before our next class.

Next week: We will constructively critique resumes in class.

Week 5: Interpersonal Skills / Word

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Relate:Isn’t it amazing when you’ve written something and looked at it over and over, you miss errors that are so obvious to others? When I write in front of a class, I’m often humbled by my obvious errors. Most embarrassing for me was that I created a presentation for several competing vendors and did not notice the misspellings until everyone else did.

Today we’ll look at version 2 of your resumes. We will thoughtfully critique each resume shown on the Smart board screen. Our goal is to help each other succeed. Look for formatting errors, typos or missed words. Could something be worded better? Remember to be constructive, not destructive, in your criticism.

Experience:Helpfully critique each other’s edited resumes.

Apply:1) First, I’m going to critique my resume using constructive criticism. I’m going to answer

these questions: Is it aesthetically pleasing? Are there errors? Irrelevant information? What could I do differently to make me more attractive to prospective employers? Does it sound “clunky”? Did anyone fall into the first person singular voice?

2) Next, here’s Joe Schmo’s resume. Now everyone has a chance to help Joe improve his work. What changes would you recommend to Joe, based on the same questions? Ask yourselves if your criticism was constructive or destructive?

3) Last, each of you gets to comment anonymously on a copy of each student’s resume. The writer will receive everyone’s constructive comments, but won’t know who said what. You will then compile a list tallying the number of spelling mistakes, formatting issues, and missing items everyone found. If more than one person finds the same error, count it only once. Keep the number errors to yourself as a starting point.

Cooperate:In small groups, giving each person a number, discuss how it felt saying your opinions about your peer’s resumes? Were you comfortable? Confident? Too shy to be honest? How did it feel to be on the receiving end? Were you angered, hurt or helped? Assign a scribe and a speaker to report.

Person #

Giving Constructive Criticism to

How was it Received?

Work Needed by Giver?

Getting Constructive Criticism from

How was it Perceived?

Work Needed to Accept Graciously?

1 234

234

2 134

134 etc

Table 1Transfer:

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Knowing how to talk to other people is a skill, especially about “touchy” subjects. Some people do it well, while I’ve been struggling all of my adult life to be diplomatic and tactful. It truly is an art that is much needed everywhere in life. You don’t want to hurt others’ feelings when you provide constructive criticism. This is true whether you’re talking to your children, parents, work colleagues or friends. It’s HOW you tell people; honesty without brutality. You want to help them improve.

Homework Assignment:1) From your resume 2, make the changes suggested to you in today’s critique.2) Save the changed file name to LASTNAMEFIRSTINITIAL3. Next week we will compare

Version 2 against Version 3 side by side on your jump drive.3) Email the new file to me.4) Tell me about the sharing experience; was it a difficult exercise for you?

Next week: We will compare both versions of your resumes and provide feedback. We will also complete an online job application.

Week 6Interpersonal Skills / Spreadsheets

Relate: Have you ever wanted to give a store a piece of your mind, whether to compliment or complain about the service you received or about a product you bought? How is your criticism received? If you verbally or physically attack someone, you likely will not get the desired result. Remember the adage: “You’ll get more flies with honey than vinegar”.

Most everyone writes the same way they speak. Giving feedback – written or verbal - can reap rewards. It all depends on how you say it and where you say it: verbal/email/snail mail.

If you are angry when talking with someone you may say something you wish you could take back. If you are upset when you complete a hard copy/online customer satisfaction survey – perhaps wait a day to cool off before you vent. In all situations, be polite and do not use abusive language.

Experience:Oral critiquesCreating tables in Google spreadsheets or Excel

Apply:1) We are going to create a new Google spreadsheet. I’ll call it Table 2.

A. I’ll start it.B. I started with five columns in row 1. You can add or delete rows in any spreadsheet.C. I put Name in the 2nd row since I did not participate in giving feedback last week.D. Now I’ll share it with you by going to the share button on the top right corner.

Table 2Barbara Crowley 10

Names RESUMESWas delivering constructive criticism any easier this week?

Rate yourself at handling constructive criticism (1 good – 5 bad)

Rate your group at delivering critiques (1 good – 5 bad)

Were the resumes better than last week’s?

#/Name Y/N 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 Y/NGroup # Tally

Group % who said Y

Group Average Group Average

Group % who said Y

2) Now that each of you has received a link to the shared spreadsheet, open it and fill in your name. You’ll see everyone else add their names simultaneously. Go back and add a group # and slash before our names. See the example in line 2. Let’s add a filter to the top row. This way we can alphabetize our names within our groups. You can insert or delete columns and rows in a spreadsheet, as well as sort them.The speakers from last week’s groups should insert a tally line beneath their group. When we’re all done, you will see a total for each group. What type of formula would we add on this line for the desired results? Let’s see if your suggestions work.

3) Now each of you will be able to track the class once we break into groups. Add two shaded lines at the bottom. The first line should be blank. The second line should list your name/class total. Put what you think the correct formula would be in each field for combining all the group totals into a Class Total. You will see as many class totals as there are students here today. Create your formulas with that in mind.

Cooperate:Assemble in the same groups as last week. Use Table 1 for critiquing each other. Each person will enter their answers in a Google/ Excel spreadsheet (Table 1). Help each other determine how to do sums, averages and percentages. Assign a different spokesperson than last week to report the group’s findings.

Person #

Giving Constructive Criticism to

How was it Received?

Work Needed by Giver?

Getting Constructive Criticism from

How was it Perceived?

Work Needed to Accept Graciously?

1 234

234

2 134

134 etc

Table 1 – Week 2 Resumes

Use Table 2 to complete our new survey. As a group, combine your group totals with the remaining groups to determine the CLASS TOTALS. Did each individual predict the same answer? Why or why not? What formulas were to find the class totals? How can you tell? Report your findings to the class.

Names Was delivering Rate yourself at Rate your Were the Barbara Crowley 11

constructive criticism any easier this week?

handling constructive criticism (1 good – 5 bad)

group at delivering critiques (1 good – 5 bad)

resumes better than last week’s?

1 thru 4My Group # Tally

Group Total = Y

Group Average Group Average

Group % said Yes

Person 1 CI T

Person 2 CI T

Person 3 CI T

Class Tally

Class Total = Y

Class Average Class Average Class % said Yes

Transfer:We’re still working on improving our communication skills which are needed in all aspects of life. The added factor today is in digital communications. You don’t want to be the subject of a “flaming email” war or get into heated exchanges on social media. I certainly don’t want to see anyone I know on the show “The Internet Ruined My Life.” Some innocent comments may be misconstrued, escalating in death threats.

Some doctors will notify you by email and ask you to complete a patient survey after each visit. Completing online forms gets easier with practice. Some stores let you track your purchases and duplicate receipts which comes in handy if you lose the original receipt.

Communicating data is important in business. One wrong formula can mess up a presentation, whether it’s dollar figures or inventory, getting data entered correctly is one step to effective communications.

Homework Assignment:Send me an email, answering this survey:

1) How did you feel filling out the online application?2) Was it a useful exercise?3) How did you feel about the group exercise?4) Could you or someone within your group handled giving/receiving criticism better?

Next week: Bring your latest resume

Week 7Barbara Crowley 12

Completing a Job Application Online

Relate:I love using a computer, but I thoroughly dislike having to re-input the same information into different formats. Well, we just have to. As I said before, having a resume online can save you time to recreate it as a job application elsewhere. It still takes time which is a pain, but you need to go through the motions if you want a position with a company that won’t accept a readymade version, whether it’s in Word, a PDF or some other format. Some sites are easier to navigate than others. Some sites may get “hung up” when you’re through with just one page. Today you will complete an online job application.

Experience:Complete an online job application.

Apply:1) I will go to Family Dollar’s website and complete their application from my resume.

Remember the term: DOB = date of birth. Call out if there any other abbreviations or sections you have questions on. When completing an application, if you are asked for the reason why you left a job, be honest (to a point). You won’t get in trouble for saying MOVED or FOR A BETTER POSITION. Writing PERSONAL won’t hide the true reason if you are called in for an interview. If you were terminated, say so. It is not necessarily a deal breaker to be laid off. I will see if they will let me print the document without saving or submitting it.

2) Next we’ll complete an application together. Let’s use my email address for Joe Schmo’s resume this time. Each student will come up to my computer and complete one section (Name and Address, Work History, Skills, Education History, Other). Again, we will print the form, but won’t save or submit it.

3) Now each of you will go to this website and refer to your final resume to create a job application for something within your skill set. Let me see it and print a copy of it. Then discard your changes or exit the website.

Cooperate: In small groups, name a scribe and a speaker. Discuss what jobs your peers are applied for today. Are they prepared to work at that job today? If not, what do they need to become ready? Is it training, higher education and/or experience? What job would they like to have in five years? In five years’ time, how much more education, training and experience would they need?

Person Job Title Ready (Y/N)

Need Now 5 yr Job Title Ready (Y/N)

Next Steps

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Transfer: Completing online applications is essential in today’s workforce. By having a Word resume handy, you can cut and paste information as needed, still keeping (or copying) the

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original document. The questions rarely differ from one employer to the next, but it does happen. The format may be slightly different, but usually follow in reverse job order. Cutting and pasting is an easy way to recreate your resume online. If you know someone else who is looking for work, now you can help them succeed in applying to any number of companies.

Homework Assignment:1) Complete an actual online job application to a company that interests you.2) Print out the application without saving or submitting it.3) Scan and attach a copy of it to email me and yourself. If you don’t know how to scan,

please stay after class a few minutes.4) Do not submit the application.5) In the same email, answer these questions:

How easy was completing this job application? Did you have trouble answering any specific question? If so, what was it?

Week 8

Writing a Cover Letter

Relate:A well-written cover letter can make the difference between getting called to an interview or not. I once was called by an employer who “wanted to meet the writer of such an outstanding cover letter”. He may have been disappointed to meet me in person because I don’t always interview well. When writing, I can take time to craft my words, but nerves get in the way when I meet someone for the first time.

A cover letter should be sent whenever the employer or job board requires it. If a posting specifically says NO COVER LETTERS, should you send one anyway? Hmm…can you follow directions? The employer wants to see your command of English, learn something that is not on your resume, and he does not want the same old cookie cutter letter (e.g., “I’m a hard worker”). Your cover letter should reflect YOU as a person. Do not let someone else write for you. Why not, you ask? In an interview, it will become obvious that your speech patterns/vocabulary do not sound like the same person who wrote the cover letter.

Experience:Write a cover letter in response to a job posting.

Apply:1) First, I will search Indeed for a buyer position, preferably MRO.

a. Then I will print out the specifications for the job.b. Comparing the company’s specifications with skills I have on my resume, I will show

the company that I am an outstanding candidate.c. Then I will create a cover letter that suits my abilities. Two formats immediately

come to mind: flush left, which for this letter and I’ll show you how an indented letter looks. Always proofread. Spell check will not find missed words or wrong (but correctly spelled) words.

2) As a class, we will search Indeed for a mechanical engineering job for Joe Schmo.a. Print out or make note of the specifications for the job.

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b. Does Joe have the necessary degree and years of experience?c. Let’s include that in his cover letter. We’ll use an indented format. Again, I’ll use spell

check and proofread the letter before it gets sent to anyone.3) Now you will each search Indeed and find a company that has a suitable position open.

Create and print your own cover letter using either format. Spell check and proofread your document. Put the file on your jump drive.

Cooperate: In small groups, share your cover letters. Name a scribe and a speaker. Make a quick chart (by hand or in Google spreadsheets) to capture your group’s findings. Did anyone write a generic “Dear Sir” type of letter? Were the appropriate contacts named? Was the letter supplemental to the resume, or did it just repeat information? Were there grammatical or spelling errors that needed correcting? Please help your peers improve their work by offering helpful criticism. Each student should make their own notes based on their peers’ findings for future use.

Transfer: Everyone needs to know how to format letters for use in daily life. If you want to apply for a job, you definitely need this skill along with business writing. Having someone look over your letters for mistakes is not a bad idea, and Spell Check can help. However, proofreading is your best tool.

Homework Assignment:Edit and email your cover letter to me.

I will email your final grades to you once I have them, or you can call me late next week.

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