1. Take action. Do not stay at home.
2. Network with people especially those who have a similar background to you.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
4. Show up for classes, job fairs, mock interviews, workshops.
5. Get LinkedIn. Take a class if you need to learn more, or talk to Amanda!
6. Keep learning about your profession.
7. Read articles, reports and information.
8. Update your skills, especially with technology.
9. Volunteer in some way to offer help, connect and learn.
10. Follow up with everyone you meet.
11. Connect with the employer after every step of the job search process.
12. Believe in your abilities and be confident.

Do you have other tips to share? Please share them right here. We would love to hear from you.

Join LinkedIn – it’s free! www.linkedin.com

Create a profile – it’s like building a resume. Choose what information to share. Share professional, positive and helpful information. It’s not necessary to share everything. Be concise. Let LinkedIn guide you as you complete the most important parts of your profile. Employers search this online tool when they are hiring so be sure to check content for spelling and grammar mistakes, just as you would for a resume. Ask a friend or a professional consultant to review your profile before taking the next step.

Add connections – search online for people who you know. LinkedIn can import contacts from your e-mail to begin with and send invitations to link in with you. People are happy to accept your invitation if they know you. LinkedIn will show you other people that you may know. Only invite and accept connections if you know them or see that they are connected to you in some way. You’ll be surprised how your connections will quickly grow.

Join groups – expand your connections by joining groups. Choose groups based on your job or profession and on your interests. Find the college you attended. Connect with professional associations. Focus on where you could be helpful to others and what could be helpful to you.

Request recommendations – ask people to recommend your work. Think about colleagues, coworkers, supervisors, managers, instructors and others who would be willing to write a short recommendation about you. LinkedIn manages the process in a polite and professional way. Soon you will have recommendations for potential employers to read which could help your job search. Make recommendations for other people too. Remember networking is two way – help others and others will help you!

It shouldn’t take too long to create your profile and add connections. However, take your time, check and double check your work and stay active on LinkedIn to build your online reputation. Still feel unsure? Join LinkedIn and view some profiles. What do other people write? How do they present themselves? Watching what other people do online helps you to understand etiquette and expected behavior.

Join Amanda Johnson on LinkedIn and see who is in her network.

      1. Credit classes are for students on a degree track. Before enrolling in a credit class, students should meet with a college advisor and take the entrance exam for non-native speakers. This test will assess your math and English skill, and your readiness for credit classes. For more information about this test go to: www.act.org and visit your local college advisor.

      2. Continuing Education offers a wide variety of classes, so there may be something for everyone, whether you want to gain deeper job knowledge or fulfill a personal interest. You’ll find multiple topics that will help you to improve quickly, as well as boosting your resume. Visit local colleges and universities to see their selection of courses and programs. Enter Continuing Education, (your city, state) into your favorite search engine for more information. Here are two sites to review in WA State: www.pce.uw.edu or www.continuingeducation.bellevuecollege.edu.

      3. Workshops can be found at Career Centers throughout the U.S. Career centers are usually open to the public, where you will find short programs designed to give information and help you with finding the right career/job. Take advantage of this free resource and gain vital information. Search Career Services, (your city and state) and find local information like this: www.northseattle.edu.

      4. Libraries provide a wealth of free information and services. Be sure to join your local library today. Not only can you borrow books, CDs and DVD’s, you can listen to podcasts and other online material. Libraries provide computers, printing services, seminars and special events. They offer free classes and learning for adults, a great way to learn inexpensively! Search Library, (your city and state) for current information. Visit these two sites for King County and Seattle: www.kcls.org or www.spl.org.

      5. E-Learning is popular at colleges and universities, offering more convenience. Be sure that you are ready to learn independently and that you enjoy interacting using online services. Check out sites like our www.prepareforworknow.com which is designed especially for English Language Learners, where students will receive classroom type instruction in an easy to follow way. Using videos and workbooks, students watch and listen, read and discover, learn and grow. Viewers love to follow the job seekers in the video, watch their mistakes and see how they correct them. They enjoy reading the conversations with managers, learning new vocabulary and tips, and improving their English. It’s also a good way to build knowledge of the American business culture. Online learning is the new way of learning, and this program is a valuable introduction.

However you choose to learn, consider the purpose of learning, what you would like to achieve, consider your budget and time available. Research options, talk to instructors, friends and family and visit with advisors before making your choice. Be sure to register for classes soon as fall is a busy time of year for learners and educators. Good luck and tell us on Facebook which class you are planning to take.

Health care: medical, prescription, vision and dental plans.

Flexible spending accounts: saving a regular tax free amount each month for health and dependent care. Employees can use the tax free savings to pay for costs each year.

Retirement benefit plans: 401K or 403B plans allow employees to save money for retirement. Employees choose the type of savings plan. Often the employer contributes to the plan for the employee, providing additional income.

Insurance: short and long term health care, disability; auto and home.

Sick leave: You might receive pay for some days when you are sick. This would be helpful if you don’t feel well, or have to have a medical procedure and need recovery time. Check the policy for the number of days.

Paid holidays and vacation: Many organizations pay holidays for days such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If you work for the federal government or the state, you may get other holidays such as: Martin Luther King Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day. In addition to paid holidays many organizations will provide paid vacation. It could be 1 week per year or more. Check the policy for the number of holidays and vacation days.

Bonus: If an organization makes a profit they might pay a bonus, a onetime payment in addition to salary. Sometimes, organizations pay a bonus at the holiday time, a way of saying “thank you” or “Happy Holidays” to employees. A bonus might be connected to work performance, sales results or achieving objectives.

Overtime: Some jobs require overtime. Overtime is when you work after your usual working hours. The organization might pay time and one half for overtime. If you earn $20 per hour, overtime might be paid at $30 per hour ($20 + $10). Check the policy for when overtime is paid.

Product or service discount: Organizations provide a special price for employees to purchase products or use services. Sometimes, this discount is one of the reasons for working for the organization. A parent might want to work at a child’s clothing store to receive discount for the family. A technical employee might enjoy technical products at a discounted price by working for a technical organization.

Cafeteria: Meals and refreshments may be offered at a very low rate or could be free. Imagine receiving breakfast and/or lunch at a good price every day!

Each employer will provide information about their benefits package. These benefits are important for you and your family and can add much value in addition to the salary offered. Look at the salary and the benefits as a package. Read the details carefully so that you fully understand what you might receive in addition to the salary. Ask a friend to help you choose the benefits that might be best for you or talk to the Human Resources department for more information.

      1. Research salaries. Find out what a similar job pays in the same industry. What does the job type earn nationally and locally? Use www.salary.com as a tool to gather information.

      2. Look at salary ranges. Most employers have a salary range Example: $15 to $20 per hour, $2,000 to $2,500 per month, $25,000 to $30,000 a year.

      3. Check your experience. How qualified are you for the position? If this is your first job, or you have little experience, you might expect to receive around the lower part of the range. If you are very experienced, you could expect more.

      4. Speak with confidence. At the appropriate time, ask questions about the salary: What is the salary range? How much could I expect to earn? Could you tell me more about the benefits?

      5. Show your value. Be ready to state your strengths when discussing salary and help the employer to understand why you deserve the salary you are asking for.

      6. Listen and consider. Listen to information provided. Make notes and avoid showing negative reactions. If the interviewer offers a salary during the interview, say thank you and accept or ask for some time to consider the offer. Some offers of employment will be provided by e-mail or phone. Review the salary offer carefully and respond within 24 hours.

Next blog: What kind of benefits could I expect to earn in the U.S.?

1. Prepare your knowledge of the job and organization. Read the job description and research the organization and department.

2. Prepare your answers to questions. Create C-A-R stories. Write the stories, practice them with a friend and by yourself. Speak out loud. Practice until you feel confident.

3. Know your strengths for the job. What are your top 3-10 strengths? Why should the manager hire you? Be ready to share your experience, skills, education and qualities for the job.

4. Be positive. Tell yourself “I can do this”.

5. Practice interviewing. Apply for jobs. You will learn a lot by experiencing the process.

6. Attend classes and workshops at your local college. Visit WorkSource. Both offer free workshops. Colleges offer career planning classes that you could pay for, but you will learn a lot. Both are open to the community.

7. Work with Amanda. Amanda meets with clients individually on all parts of the job search. She also produces online videos and e-guides that you can download today. It’s like stepping inside her classroom! You will see one hour of video and watch four applicants from around the world as they apply for jobs in the U.S. You’ll improve your English, read job search phrases and vocabulary, interview tips and techniques and follow checklists to help you prepare. It’s a small investment that will change your future.

In this economy, it is important to remind managers that you are available to hire, and of your value. Managers are busy people. For some, hiring is just a small part of their job. Make it easy for a manager to take notice of your application. Help them to schedule an interview. Remind them of why you are the perfect candidate for the job. Let them know you WANT the job.

Job seekers asked five questions about following up with managers.

1. I applied for a job a week ago, but I haven’t heard anything back from the employer? What should I do?
Contact the hiring manager right away. A week is a good amount of time for the employer to review your application or resume. E-mail or phone would be appropriate. Say something like:

I applied for the position of ….. and am checking to see that you received my resume/application. I wondered if you had any questions about my background. When will you be scheduling interviews? Would it be possible to schedule an interview with you?

If speaking by phone, be prepared to answer questions, and have your calendar available.

2. I left a message last week for the manager but they did not call me back.
Call again. Send an e-mail. Be polite always, but be persistent. Try calling at different times of the day: early in the morning, or after lunch, or later in the evening. You never know when the manager might be at their desk and able to answer the phone.

3. I had an interview, which went well. What should I do next?
Send a note or formal letter by e-mail or regular mail. Thank the interviewer(s) for their time and summarize your top skills for the job. Let them know you are interested in the job and look forward to hearing from them soon.

4. I sent a thank you note, but I haven’t heard. Does that mean I didn’t get the job?
It might, or it might not. Time to find out! Call them, leave a polite message or send a short e-mail. Politely ask if a decision has been made, or if you can answer further questions. If they tell you the position has been filled, ask these questions:

Could you consider me for any position in your organization?
Will you be hiring again in the future?
Can you keep my resume on hold for future positions?
Do you know of anyone who might be able to use my strengths/skills/experience? Could I have their name and contact information please?

5. I had a second interview, and I feel like it went well. What else can I do to show them I am interested?
You have already sent them a thank you note for the second interview because that is the polite thing to do. You could provide them with a reference, a letter of recommendation or an example of your work. Use words like:

Thank you for meeting with me again for the position of……
I am most interested in this position because…..
I thought you might be interested to see an example of my work from …..
I wanted to share with you these references/this letter of recommendation.

Your words should demonstrate your interest for the job, share positive information about your background and show how suitable you are for the job. Keep communication simple, but helpful.

Job seekers often feel concerned about following up. However, you are giving your time and focus to apply and interview for a job. It is only right that you should know how the process is going and what you can do to help the manager hire you. Be brave. Pick up the phone, write the message and send! Follow up every step of the way.

Looking for temporary employment

Holidays – recruitment usually begins October thru December. Prepare applications early to get the most out of this busy season. Find positions in retail and service type industries.
Employee leave – employees take vacations, medical and maternity leave. The work needs to be done and a temporary employee might be needed to cover. Once working, you could help out in other departments.
Increased business – organizations will hire extra staff for busy working times. It might be for a new order or a rush job. The work might stay in the future creating more opportunities to get hired. Prove you will be a valuable employee during your temporary assignment. Look at all industries. Check local and national news to see who is expanding. Contact staffing services to learn about immediate openings.
Tax Season – January to April is a crazy time and accountants and bookkeepers need help. If you are good with numbers be ready to send your resume to tax preparers early in the year.

Is temporary work a good thing?

The good news is that many businesses are getting busier. Organizations might be feeling confident to hire temporary help, assess the work needs as well as the person, and then offer a more permanent position. Temporary work allows the applicant to try out the job and the employer. The job must be a good fit for both. Temporary work might offer flexibility which is great if a person has other responsibilities such as family and studies. With a less rigid recruitment process, temporary work might also open doors to more opportunities, expand your contacts, gain experience and references, meet new people and make friends. Prepare for Work NOW thinks that’s a good thing!

Apply for temporary work just as you would for any other position. Be professional and business-like always. Make your best first impression when applying for temporary or permanent employment. Check out the videos right here at prepareforworknow.com.

     1. Ask for advice, never for a job. Most people are happy to listen and share their thoughts, ideas and opinions. *Plan to talk to 2 people a day, 10 a week, 40 a month. You will be surprised at how many people you already know. Make a list of everyone without judging if they can be helpful or not.
     2. Show interest in others. Ask questions. Be an assertive listener. This will begin to create a sincere relationship. Begin with people you know and feel comfortable with.
     3. Offer to help, even in a small way. Look for opportunities that might connect you with the right organization or people. Share your skills and knowledge.
     4. Attend groups on a regular basis. When you find a group that is a good fit, attend regularly. People say that if they see the same person often, they have a better chance of remembering and referring them.
     5. Ask for recommendations and referrals. Get the contact information of people that others know, or an introduction through LinkedIn or e-mail. Have the confidence to ask.
     6. Thank everyone you meet. Send notes, short e-mails, leave a voicemail, send a formal letter. Think about the person and how they might appreciate a follow-up.
     7. Continue to share information such as articles, job leads, links to show that you are still thinking of others. Connect with people on social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. (Take care to have professional FB pages).

*Based on the Dependable Strengths® material, Center for Dependable Strengths.