MyLifeSTUDENT BOOKLET

Year 9Revised 2015

Session One – Interactive Bullseye PosterA good place to start thinking about occupations and careers is to consider what you’re good at and what you enjoy.

The MyFuture website is a great place for you to explore in order to research and understand the different occupations available to you.

Once you have an idea for an occupation, you can begin to plan the pathway that will lead you there.

Today you will explore the MyFuture Bullseye posters. These start narrower then become broad depending on the level of education or training necessary for each occupation.

TASK: Use the Bullseye posters from the MyFuture website to research at least five occupations. Fill out the table below to complete the task.

1. Access the MyFuture website – www.myfuture.edu.au and click on Tools and Resources.

Access the Bullseye Poster section under “Learning Tools for Secondary Students” on the Tools & Resources page.

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** Click on the subject you like and view the “Bullseye Poster” for that subject or click on the “list of occupations” for that subject– this will then give you links to different jobs relating to that subject so you can find out more about those jobs.

2. From your research of the Bullseye Posters and List of Occupations, identify five occupations you might be interested in and fill in the table below with the information you have discovered:

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Occupation Duties and tasks Related jobs Related coursesOccupation 1

Occupation 2

Occupation 3

Occupation 4

Occupation 5

Session Two – Resume Writing

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When you apply for a job, you need to make a good impression. You’ll need to provide your employer an

APPLICATION LETTER and a RESUME.Today we will learn how to write both.

Letter of application Your letter should include:

Who you are

Why you are interested in the position

Your relevant skills, abilities, interests

A final paragraph thanking them for considering you and telling them that you will ring them on a particular day to see if they have a position for you

Example of Application LetterYour nameYour addressState PostcodeTelephone number

Date

Name of CompanyCompany address

Dear Sir / Madam (or name of person if known or HR manager),

I wish to apply for one week of Work Experience with your firm/company commencing on Monday……. to Friday …………

I am interested in pursuing a career in___________________ when I leave school. Work Experience at_____________________ would give me the opportunity to experience this first hand.

I am interested in working specifically in the area of __________________________

because___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Enclosed is a copy of my resume for your consideration.

Should my application be successful I will require you to complete and sign a Work Experience Arrangement Form that I can provide to you.

Thank you for considering my application.

Yours sincerely

(Sign your name in pen)

Your name printed

HOMEWORK TASK: Using the logos from various organizations write 3-4 practice letters (either enquiring or applying for a variety of jobs)

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WRITING A RESUME – what is a RESUME?A resume is a summary (or snapshot) of what you have achieved and who you are. It is a very important part of your job application, as it contains a brief outline of your personal details, employment history, education, skills and interests. You can use the same resume

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for several applications but sometimes you may wish to make small changes to highlight special skills or experiences that apply to a particular job. It’s a good idea to update your resume when you gain new skills, undertake new work or gain relevant experiences such as coaching sports teams or undertaking voluntary work.

Here are some suggested headings and the kind of information that should go under these headings.Contact details: This first part of your resume contains your name, address, and

telephone number. It is optional to include your date of birth, place of birth, nationality and whether you are married or not.

Education: Show the highest educational level you have reached and where you studied. List information about the subjects you have studied. Include recent subject results if you have them. Include any courses completed and certificates you have achieved such as:

Certificate 1 Retail Training, 2011 Basketball Coaching Level 2, 2012

Other skills: It is important to give details of any skills that you possess, such as reading, writing or speaking another language; typing; word processing; computing; leadership and organizational skills; ability to accept responsibility; mathematical skills; or ability to work under pressure. Your skills show a prospective employer your range of abilities but they need to be related to the job.

Work History: List any previous jobs you have had. Show your job title. If you didn’t have a title, put down

something that describes your job in a couple of words Show the employer’s name. This means the name of the

business, not the boss’s name. Include the suburb or town. Show dates of employment. Be as accurate as you can with the

periods of employment, eg. December 2006-June 2009. Include work experience and casual or part-time work. Any

work experience such as working in a friend’s café, or work experience arranged by schools, holiday work, and voluntary work should be mentioned.

Referees: Include referees and references. Be sure to ask their permission before you give their names and addresses. Your referees could include a teacher or academic who knows your work, at least one past employer and someone who has known you for a long time from an organization or social group.

TASK: NOW PREPARE YOUR OWN RESUME on WORD and SAVE IT TO YOUR COMPUTER OR ON USB – SEE EXAMPLE ON NEXT PAGE

The following example shows one way to set out a resume.

RESUME John Smith

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6 Smith Street, Brunswick VIC 3056Phone: (03) 9387 1234Mobile: 0419 666 555Email: jsmith@yahoo.comDOB: 23rd March 1995 (optional)

Career Goal/ObjectiveI am looking for a job in the retail industry where I can gain experience and learn new skills.Education and Training2012 – 2014 Year 7 –9 Brunswick Secondary CollegeSubjects currently being studied: Mathematics, Science, English, IT, PE, Art, Wood

Employment History2013 - present McDonalds, Sydney Road, Coburg - Crew Member

Duties: Taking orders, food preparation, cash handling, cleaning

2014 Work Experience (1 week), Carlton Hardware, Hardware Store Assistant Duties: Answering phones, customer service, checking stock

Employment Related Skills – Here are some examples that you can use when applying for a job (Choose 3 to 4 areas that apply to you and are most relevant for the job)

Communication I can speak confidently in front of large audiences. I have had experience participating in

classroom debates as well as representing the school in debating. I am able to speak and write in Italian.

Team work I have had experience working as part of a team in the classroom and through my

participation in school sport. I have been a member of the local community soccer team since 2002.

Leadership I have been involved in coaching younger sports teams. I am involved with the school’s Peer Support Program

Planning and organising I am an SRC member and I organize fund raising activities for our chosen charity.

Problem Solving I was recently involved in the state wide ‘Environmental Challenge’ in Science where we

worked in groups find solutions to a number of environmental issues.Technology

- I am able to use Microsoft Word, Excel and Photoshop at an intermediate levelHobbies and Interests

Swimming Reading Chess Football

Referees: (You should include at least one person - remember to ask them first)

Mr Ben Newman Mrs Maria SantoriYear 10 Coordinator McDonaldsBrunswick Secondary College Sydney Road, Coburg VIC 3056Ph: 9387 6133 Phone: 9387 5555

Session Three – Career Chats on Rotation

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Objective: This activity is designed to assist students with their career exploration by providing the opportunity for students to hear from a diverse range of professionals regarding various occupations. This allows students to gain an insight into the range of jobs available upon leaving school and to make connections between the subjects at school and where they can lead. The students may start thinking about jobs they might be interested in and how their school subjects can help them get there. Students may also start thinking about where they might like to do their work experience in Year 10.

How: Students will be split into 5 groups of approx. 25-30 students.

There will be 5 guest speakers who will come along to chat to each group of students for about 10 mins per session. The students will rotate with their teacher after each session to the next speaker.

What students will hear: The Career Chats will be about the guest speaker’s occupation, what is involved in the job, what qualifications are required to do the job, where the job can lead and what subjects students should be studying at school if they want to move into this field. The smaller group chats should allow time for students to ask questions of each guest speaker to learn as much as they can.

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psychologist

actor

photographer

trades

policeman

social media adviser

Example of guest speakers

Session 4 - Communication Skills – phone and interview

Effective Telephone SkillsWhen you are looking for work experience, you may need to phone the company first. It is important to be well prepared. How well you come across on the phone may have an effect on the success of your application.

Plan what you are going to say Have the telephone number and employer

details clearly written down Preparation may include writing down some

“prompts” (key words that will remind you what to say)

For example Purpose of the call Introduce yourself and say why you are phoning - ask to speak to a person by

name or their title eg: Mr Thomas, the Manager etc….. Take a note of the name of the person you are talking to Your details Give them brief personal details. Be prepared to answer questions about your

skills, interests, work experience dates etc.

SOME TIPS…………1. Make your calls when you have plenty of time2. Make your calls at a time of day when you are energetic and at your best3. Make your calls after you have prepared some notes or a script4. Do some research before you call5. Organise your thoughts 6. Make sure all background noises from TV, music, barking dogs etc. have stopped7. Be articulate – don’t “um” and “ah” if you can help it 8. Don’t use slang – speak in a clear and polite voice

TASK : ROLE PLAY - In pairs prepare (5 minutes) and take turns at being the employer and the young adult seeking work experience using the telephone. Use the information below to guide your practice. Get feedback from class and teacher on your speaking skills.

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Try and gather the following information when you ring:

A time and date when you could come and meet them to get your form signed (repeat this back to them to ensure you have the correct arrangement details)

Find out your duties

address of the company,who to ask for {contact person}

what time you should be there

what is appropriate to wear.

End the conversation pleasantly, using the person’s name and thank them for their time. “thank you John, I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me”.

Remember…

Your Voice - The quality of your voice projects an image of you. Aim to sound pleasant and clear. You don’t want to mumble and sound disinterested.You want your voice to sound:• Energetic • Enthusiastic • Confident • Purposeful

Ask Open questions - Open questions are best when asking for information, or an opportunity. Closed questions just bring Yes or No answers and can stop conversation.

Open questions begin with words like: WHEN, WHY, WHERE, HOW, WHATExample:• HOW do you normally select students for work experience?• WHAT type of application would you want to receive from me?

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You will probably need to meet your potential work experience employer to get the form signed. This is the final stage of the process and may be considered to be a bit like an interview.

When planning for an interview, the two most important things are preparation and impressions.

FOR THE INTERVIEW…… Bring a copy of: your resume use a large envelope, plastic pocket or

folder to keep these neatFIRST IMPRESSIONS……are important!!

Do not be late! Switch off your mobile phone. Do not chew gum. Dress appropriately: clean, tidy and well groomed (including shoes) Speak clearly and confidently and politely Be ready to ask and answer questions Have some questions written down such as:

What type of induction will I receive when I start? Can you tell me about the work that I would be doing? What time would you like me to start? What is the name of my supervisor/s

Learn as much as you can about the company before your interview. Visit their website or drive past their office to see where they are located.

Bring pen and paper or notebook to take notes

TASK: MOCK INTERVIEW & FEEDBACKPart 1 - Whole class & teacher: Brainstorm (5 minutes) some questions that an employer might ask at the interview. Write these on the whiteboard.Part 2 – Interview practice and feedback – EITHERIn pairs take turns at being the employer asking the questions and the young adult being interviewed for work experience place.ORTake it in turns completing a mock interview in front of the class. The class acts as the Feedback panel. The role of the panel is to listen carefully, take notes and give feedback that is aimed at helping improve the speaking skills of their peers who have taken part in a mock interview.

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