Objective 6.01

INSTRUCTIONAL HAND-OUTS

HOW TO WRITE A COVER LETTER

A cover letter can sometimes be even more important than the resume. It will actually “sell” the reader on the idea of reading your resume. Cover letters should always accompany a resume and should always be individualized to the employer you are sending it to.

An effective cover letter:

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Is tailored to a specific position in a specific organization (matches your qualifications with the requirements of the job).

Show why the employer should read your resume

Demonstrate your knowledge of the hiring organization and the job.

States how you heard about the opening, through a person, job listing, ad, etc.

Is straightforward, businesslike, and positive.

Is typed neatly, error free and on good quality paper.

Is no longer that one page.

Is addressed to a specific person. Avoid using “Dear Sir” or “To Whom It May Concern.” If you are unsure to whom is it addressed to use – “Dear Hiring Manager, Dear Manager, Dear Human Resources Manager, or Dear Recruiter.”

Developing a Cover Letter

Cover Letters in General Short Three paragraphs Introduce you to the company Emphasize your good points

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Paragraph I Introduce yourself Explain why you are writing. If you are responding to an ad, mention where you saw the ad and the date it

appeared. If you are not responding to an ad, explain the type of work you are looking for. Express interest in the company.

Paragraph II Describe your qualifications. Emphasize relevant experience or school work. Show how your abilities match the job description. Emphasize how you can benefit the company.

Paragraph III Indicate what action you plan to take. Say that you will stop by on a certain date or that you will call to arrange an

interview. Include information on how and where you can be reached. End with a “thank you”.

Proofread Proofread carefully. Have at least one other person proofread your cover letter.

SAMPLE COVER LETTERMATCHING REQUIREMENTS FORMAT

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September 20, 2004

MBE, Inc.Box 2394Hometown, North Carolina 27512

Dear Manager:

I am interested in the general office clerk position you advertised in Sunday’s Times and Record. My resume is enclosed for your review. The following list matches my qualifications to your requirements.

Your Requirements My Qualifications

One year office experience Worked part time for three years

Knowledgeable of computers Successfully completed training in Microsoft Office 2000

Previous related experience Excellent communications skills – Verbal and written. Cashier and Retail sales experience.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing my qualifications with you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Mary Fox

Enclosure

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

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Your AddressDate

Mr. Ben StewartRegional Manger, First In Food, Inc.222 Peabody Industrial PartRaleigh, North Carolina 26702

Dear Mr. Stewart,

I was excited to learn that your company plans to open ten new restaurants in this area by the end of next year. Your restaurants have always been a favorite of mine. A mutual acquaintance, Mary Walters told me you are interested in hiring managers with proven organizational abilities, a willingness to learn and a high level of commitment to the company’s goals. I have these qualifications and enclosed my resume for your review.

With two years experience working in food restaurant management and a recent Associates Degree in Business Administration, I have obtained the skills, knowledge and dedication to succeed at First In Food, Inc. In my previous position, I led our team in winning “Restaurant of the Year” for two consecutive years. We also maintained the lowest employee turn over rate and increased sales by 25%.

I look forward to meeting you, learning more about your expansion in this area, and discussing my qualifications with you at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at 555-3456.

Sincerely,

Mitch Stevens

Encl.

Sample Cover Letter

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18 Pritchard BoulevardNew Bedford, MA 02740February 14, 2008

Ms. Kathy HardingKatie’s Kraft Shop84 Kendall HighwayNew Bedford, MA 02740

Dear Ms. Harding

My name is Darlene DeSilva. I am a high school sophomore seeking a part-time job in the arts and crafts field. Your store is one of my favorites. I would like to know if there are any job openings at your store.

You will see from my resume that I am active in school art. I enjoy sewing, knitting, and ceramics. You may not know my name, but you would recognize my face. We speak with each other when I am in the store. I am familiar with the products you sell. I am friendly and would make a good sales person.

In a few days, I will visit your store and talk with you. If you wish, please feel free to call me. My phone number is (508) 555-0093.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

Darlene DeSilva

JOB SEARCH ON THE INTERNETCareer ManagementSummer 2006

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Below are a few popular web sites for job search information. For a more extensive list of job search web sites, see the “Additional Resources”, Section V.

Job Search Clearinghouses:

The Riley Guide www.rileyguide.comDirectory of employment and career information sources and services on the internet.

Job Hunters Bible www.jobhuntersbible.comCareer and job information clearinghouse developed by Richard Bolles, author of “What Color is Your Parachute”.

Job Search Sites:

NC Job Bank www.ncesc.comJob listings for jobs throughout North Carolina and the NC State Job Application is here for downloading to your computer.

NC Office of State Personnel www.osp.state.nc.usJob listings for jobs in state government by location or by agency.

America’s Job and Talent Bank www.ajb.orgJob listings, resume postings and a computerized network that includes state Employment Service offices job listings.

Career Builder www.careerbuilder.comJob listings from major newspaper including: The Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and many more.

Career Magazine www.careermag.comJob listings, employer profiles, news articles, and discussion groups.

Career Resource Center www.careers.orgJob information with more than 1,300 career related web sites.

Monster Board www.monster.comJob listings of over 48,000 jobs in all fields, accepts resume and applications.

THE FUNCTIONAL SKILLS RESUMECareer ManagementSummer 2006

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The functional resume organizes your experience by areas of skills, avoiding a strict reliance on chronology. Functional titles or skill clusters are used or organize your skills from various places of employment, volunteer or educational experiences. The functional resume is an excellent tool for career changers, job seekers re-entering the job market after a period of not working and for students finishing a degree or program area, which qualifies them for work differing from their previous employment.

Writing a Functional Resume: Determine the functional titles that best describe your skill area and are most closely

related to your job target.

Include summary statement.

Within each functional area stress your accomplishments, results, or abilities.

Include all relevant accomplishments without identifying the place of employment or voluntary situation in which it took place.

List your education, relevant courses or degree at the top of the resume if it was completed with in the last five years.

List work experience at the bottom, giving dates, company name and title.

Keep length of resume to one page, two maximum. If using a second page, type your name only on upper corner of second page.

FUNCTIONAL FORMAT

NAME – type full name in large printE-MAIL ADDRESSSTREET ADDRESSCITY, STATE, ZIP CODE(AREA CODE) TELEPHONE NUMBER

OBJECTIVE – although optional, either career highlights or objective gives reader the messages of your career goals and your focus.SUMMARY STATEMENT – (optional)EDUCATION – if you are a recent graduate, place your education here, list your diploma, degree, certificate, name of school and location, relevant courses and GPA (optional).FUNCTIONAL TITLE (S) – Select two or three skill areas in which you are interested. Examples: Customer Service, Sales & Marketing, Office Technology, Graphics & Design, Medical Services, Food Service, Hospitality, Horticulture, etc. List them in order of your interest and skill level. State accomplishments or qualifications you have under each title.WORK EXPERIENCE

date job title company name, city, statedate job title company name, city, state

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FUNCTIONAL RESUME SAMPLEDOUGLAS R. JONES

425 Murphy RoadGoldstown, North Carolina 23211

(706) 234-5555

OBJECTIVETo obtain a position in a business office utilizing my strengths in customer

service, computer knowledge and accounting.

EDUCATIONWilliams High School, Williamston, NCDiploma, 1995Continuing education courses through area technical centers in: Visual Basic, Windows, Word, Excel, and Access

CUSTOMER SERVICE Handled retail and food service customers for four years with speed and accuracy Awarded employee of the month for outstanding service and excellent attendance

OFFICE TECHNOLOGY Demonstrated skills and competency in clerical procedures through work and training

including:Typing Billing Record keepingFiling Fax Shipping materials

Handled variety of office duties including receptionist, data entry, multi telephone lines

ACCOUNTING Ordered, stocked and distributed office supplies for entire company Assisted controller in general ledger, payroll, accounts receivable/payable Distributed accounting reports to all department mangers on time

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY1999 – 2002 Counter sales R & B retailers1998 – 1999 Officer assistant Goodson’s Rental Properties1995 - 1998 Cashier, wait staff Crossroads Restaurant & Grill

THE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME

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The chronological resume emphasizes work experience. It is the preferred style of resumes by employers because it enables them to quickly match your previous work experience to their immediate needs. Recent graduates can use it to show their part-time, co-op, and summer employment as relevant work experience.

Writing a Chronological Resume: Use a career objective to market your strengths and skills without limiting your

options. See the preceding pages for more information on career objectives. Use a summary statement, 3-4 statements about who you are, your experience and

credentials. Start with your most recent position and work backward. Give the name of the

company, city, state, job title, major duties and accomplishments. Keep your job objective in mind and emphasize the duties and accomplishments that

publicizes your strengths and for which the employer is looking. Use action verbs to start each phrase or sentence. Use lists preceded with bullets for easier reading. If you have completed a relevant course or received a diploma/degree in the last five

years, it should go at the top of the resume; otherwise education should be listed at the bottom. Keep the length of your resume to one page, two at maximum. If you use a second page, be sure to type your name on the top of page 2.

CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT

NAME – State full name, type in bold and use a large type

E-MAIL ADDRESSSTREET ADDRESSCITY, STATE, ZIP CODE(AREA CODE) TELEPHONE NUMBEROBJECTIVE – indicate the position of general type of job you are seeking.SUMMARY STATEMENT – (optional)EDUCATION – if you are a recent graduate, place your education here, list your diploma, degree, certificate, name of school and location, relevant courses (may be a separate section). GPA may be appropriate.WORK EXPERIENCE – list each job separately starting with your present job or most recent job first, state your position, major responsibilities, duties and accomplishments.SKILLS – list relevant skills. Skills include the machines you can operate, computer hardware, software in which you are competent. Examples: operate a cash register, copier, fax machines, IBM computer, Macintosh computer, Word Perfect.ACTIVITIES – extracurricular activities, community activities are all appropriate if space permits and if relevant to your job objective.

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME SAMPLE

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ANITA CARTERAnitac@dotmail.com5820 Harrison Ave.

Yourtown, North Carolina 21011(919) 230-5555

OBJECTIVE

Hotel or restaurant management trainee

SUMMARY STATEMENT Two years experience in all aspects of restaurant business. Proven customer service and organizational skills. Dependable, conscientious and able to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Perry’s Restaurant, Smalltown, NC 2002-present

Restaurant Hostess Greeted customer quickly and assigned them to appropriate section. Handled customers’ questions, complaints and inquires to assure customers

satisfaction. Assisted wait staff with necessary duties to increase table accessibility and turnover. Handled cashier’s duties of processing charges, direct billings and cash sales. Reconciled cash register at closing of restaurant. Audited supply report and customer’s record for accuracy.

Wait Staff 2000-2002 Greeted assigned customers with enthusiasm and communicated daily specials,

house requests to over 75 individuals daily. Handled banquet room including set up of food and beverage tables. Waited on

customers as detailed in instructions and provided hospitality as requested. Performed kitchen duties including assisted with specialty chefs, dishwasher and bus

crew as needed.

Regional Grocery Store, Anothertown, NC 1998-2000

Cashier Checked and processed grocery orders. Reconciled cash drawer daily.

EDUCATION

Taylor Community College, Taylor, NC 1995-1998Continuing Education Courses: Hospitality, Business Management, Supervision

THE ELECTRONIC RESUME

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The electronic resume will be read (scanned) by a computer and placed in a database. The format may be chronological or functional. It must contain keywords and a keyword summary. Keywords are nouns that state your job title, duties and accomplishments. The keyword summary should contain the targeted job title and alternative labels, as well as previous job titles, skills, software programs, and language known to the particular industry, profession or occupation. It is important to note the resume will be read by a computer first, and a human second. If it does not contain the “keywords” the employer has requested the computer to search, a hiring professional will not see it. See the following pages for sample keywords.

Writing an Electronic Resume: Choose the most likely keywords and arrange them in an appropriate order. Use the typeface most easily read by a computer: Helvetica, Times Courier and a font size

between 10-14 point (name should be 14). Avoid italics, script, underlining, graphics, shading, boxing, vertical and horizontal lines,

columns the computer has difficulty reading these. Bold type and solid bullets are OK. Use smooth white paper (8 ½ x 11), black ink with laser quality print. Use abbreviations carefully. Avoid stapling or folding the resume and cover letter. Words in the fold may not be scanned

correctly. Provide sufficient white space.

ELECTRONIC FORMAT

NAME – Large print, bold without any fancy layoutsE-MAIL ADDRESS

STREET ADDRESS

CITY, STATE, ZIP CODEAREA CODE TELEPHONE NUMBER – To ensure separation of words and categories, leave plenty of white space instead of parentheses. Example: 919 772-5555.

OBJECTIVE – optional, unless applying for specific job title employer is seeking.

KEYWORD SUMMARY – approximately 25 words that best sell you stated in nouns. Include job title, duties, skills, and interpersonal skills.

EDUCATION – if you are a recent graduate, place your education here; list your diploma, degree, certificate, name of school and location, relevant courses. GPA is optional.

SKILLS – relevant to job objective not previously state in Keyword Summary. May include transferable, technical and computer skills. Bulleted single column list scans the best.

WORK EXPERIENCE – list each job separately starting with your present job or most recent job first, state your position, major responsibility, duties and accomplishments.

ACTIVITIES, HONORS, AWARDS – extra curricular activities, community activities, sports, etc. are appropriate if space permits and is relevant to your job objective.

See sample Electronic Resume. (From: Electronic Resume Revolution by Joyce Lain Kennedy & Thomas Morrow, John Wiley

ELECTRONIC RESUME SAMPLE

Kathy S. Reston

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Ksreston@rr.com2457 Lakemont DriveRaleigh, NC 27810

(919) 733-6456

OBJECTIVE: Drafter

KEYWORDS

Blueprint. Process Flow Diagram. Drafting, Instrumentation Diagrams. Auto CAD 14.0. Harvard Graphics 4.0. Lotus Suite. Excel. Document Control files. Structural. Engineering. Electrical. Civil.

DRAFTING SKILLS

Process Flow DiagramsPiping and Instrumental on Auto CAD 14.0Charts and graphics using Harvard Graphics 4.0 and PowerPoint 97 softwareCharts on Lotus Suite and ExcelMaintain Document Control files and documentationMaintain bills of material using Excel

WORK HISTORY

DrafterRaleigh Blueprint & Design.Raleigh, NC1999-2003

DrafterEdwards EngineeringGreenville, NC1995-99

EDUCATION

Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NCAssociate of Applied Science Degree, 2002Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology

COMBINATION RESUME SAMPLEWILLIAM SMITH

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1710 Miller RoadLangton, MI 48880

(615) 555-6789

CAREER OBJECTIVEElectronics Technician

EDUCATIONAssociate Degree, Applied Science, Electronic Technology with Digital Emphasis. Lansing Community College, Lansing, Michigan. June 2003

SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTSANALYZED AND REPAIRED circuit boards and electrical machines in 200 hours of laboratory time. Hands-on experience required the application of classroom theory.

DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED complete working model of conveyor supply line. System worked with 100 percent accuracy. Received one of the highest grades given for this project.

OPERATED TEST EQUIPMENT set-up and used oscilloscopes, multimeters, ohmmeters, volunteers, and automatic testing machines.

TECHNICAL REPORT WRITING skills developed in class through co-op experience. Able to express complex subject matter in understandable terms.

MATH AND ANALYTICAL skills learned through analytic geometry and calculus.

EXPERIENCEELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN, ABC Electronics, Langston, Michigan (1997-2000). Employed through student cooperative education program for three terms. Received grade of A from employer each term.

RADIO REPAIRMAN, Jones Radio Repair, Langton, Michigan (2000-2004). Reached through student cooperative education program for three terms. Received pay raises based on performance.

OTHERExcellent set of working hand tools. Good hand-eye coordination; able to manipulate small objects effectively.

REFERENCESAvailable upon request

Resume Development Checklist

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Category Can Be Improved By GoodOverall appearance: Resume is neatly and

accurately typed with no errors in grammar, spelling.

Adequate white space and margins are used.

Points are graphically highlighted.

Most important “selling” points are at after the job objective.

Resume is brief and relevant. Resume is printed on quality

paper. Resume looks professional.

Objective: Clear, short statement geared

to the employer’s needs. Includes job title and your

special skills.

Education: All relevant honors, awards,

training, education, and special skills are included.

Schools are listed in reverse chronological order.

Experience and Skills: Work history is listed in reverse

chronological order with dates included.

Company name, city, state, job title are included.

Skills and accomplishments are clustered.

Skills and accomplishments are written in short, clear phrases.

Accomplishments from paid and volunteer work are included.

References: You have prepared a reference

list of names, phones numbers,

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and other pertinent information. You have asked permission

from the references to use their name.

Summary: The resume sells the writer. The resume has a cover letter.

WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN AN INTERVIEW

Some questions are asked in almost every typical interview. They include:

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tell me about yourself why do you want to work here what are your goals

Even when we prepare for these questions, sometimes we wonder “Why did they ask that question?” or “What were they really looking for during the interview?” Also note many interviews are now performed as a team. Two or more people will be asking questions. This can cause further difficulty in positioning, eye contact and feeling overwhelmed by the questioning. It may help to focus on the person who is asking the question and not glancing at the other people. Trying to pick up on the reactions of others in the room may distract you from answering the questions with clarity and enthusiasm.

QUESITONS TO EXPECT AND WHAT THE EMPLOYER EXPECTS

1. Tell me about yourself. Interviewer is breaking the ice and you are setting the tone for interview. Mention a few personal, job related or education related skills or accomplishments. Samples: “I am a recent graduate of … school where I played tennis and was a member of the … club. In school I enjoyed my English and computer classes … I worked in the summer as a lifeguard and assisted the swim team coach.” It is not necessary to give too much detail or go back to childhood activities.

2. Why do you want to work here? The interviewer(s) want to know how much you know about their company, including its products and services. This is where the prior research on the company is crucial.

3. What are your career goals? Most of the time, employers are looking for someone to stay in the job for awhile. Therefore, career goals of returning to school, starting your own business or moving to a different location will not be appropriate. They are checking to see if you are really interested in the job or just waiting for the next opportunity. If your career goals fit with the direction the company is moving, then your chances for getting hired have increased. “A career goal is to be the top sales person in xxx amount of time; my immediate goal is to gain more experience in this field and then long term be able to grow as the company grows.”

4. Give me an example of … This can be one of the most difficult questions to prepare for since you have not idea what will be asked. Go to the interview prepared with specific examples of when you used your skills, especially skills in: leadership, stress management, team building, persistence, and problem solving.

Behavioral Interviewing

What is Behavior Based Interviewing?

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Behavior based interviewing focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that are job related. It is based on the belief that past behavior and performance predicts future behavior and performance. You may use work experience, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, school projects, family life – anything really – as examples of your past behavior. There is a strong trend towards this type of interviewing. Always prepare for a behavioral interview.

How Are Behavioral Questions Different from Other Types of Interviewing Questions?

There are 3 types of questions typically found in interviews:1. Theoretical questions – Questions that place you in a hypothetical

situation. These questions are more likely to test your skill at answering questions rather than in doing a good job. Example: How would you organize your friends to help you move into a new apartment?

2. Leading questions – Questions that hint at the answer the interviewer is seeking by the way they are asked. Example: Working on your own doesn’t bother you does it?

3. Behavioral questions – Questions that seek demonstrated examples ofBehavior from your past experience and concentrate on job related functions. They may include:

Open-minded questions – these require more than a yes or no response. They often begin with “Tell me…”, “Describe…”, “When…” Example: Describe a time when you had to be flexible in planning a work load.

Closed-ended questions – Used mostly to verify or confirm information.Example: You have a degree in psychology, is that correct?

Why questions – Used to reveal rationale for decisions you have made or to determine your level of motivation.Example: Why did you decide to major in Psychology ( or what ever your major is)

How Can I Best Answer Behavior – Based Questions?Think of “PAR for the Course”. A complete answer to a behavior-based question must explain the task or problem for which you were responsible, the specific action you took, and the results of your actions. Your answer must contain all of these components to be a PAR answer. Tell the interviewer a “story” (with a beginning, a middle, and an end) about how you used a practical skill.

Behavioral Interviewing Continued

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Problem (P) – Think of a problem you had to solve at work, home or in school. Example: a deadline was approaching on a team project and one team member was not finished with her portion.

Action (A) – What action did you take … I called the rest of the team members and asked for their input. We collectively decided to extend her deadline by ½ a day and to be prepared for an extended time for our last meeting. One person was assigned to this person to continue to coach her to complete the assignment on time.

Result (R) - What happened… A more collaborative effort was needed to finish the presentation and team members had to adjust their time management skills. The presentation went well and the project was finished on time. We learned about time management, flexibility, confronting team members and leadership styles in the process.

Be prepared for the following:A. Who do you admire the most and why?B. Tell me about a time you had to juggle a number of work priorities. What did

you do?C. You can work weekends occasionally can’t you?D. What is your idea of the perfect job?E. How do you handle stress?F. What do you prefer – to be a leader or a follower? Why?G. Give me an example of your leadership style.

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Questions an Employer Cannot Legally Ask You on an Application Form or in a Job Interview

SUBJECT ILLEGAL QUESTIONS

Age

How old are you? What is your birth date?

Exception: It is legal for an employer to ask you to prove that you are over 18. If you are younger that 18, the employer can ask for your birth date and request verification.

Arrest Have you ever been arrested?

Exception: The employer can ask if you have ever been convicted of a crime.

Disabilities

Do you have any disabilities? What is the nature of your disability?

Exception: The employer can ask if you are capable of doing the job you applied for. For example, if the job requires you to lift and move 10-pound bags of cement, the employer can ask you whether you can do so. The employer can even ask you to demonstrate that ability.

Marital Status/Sex

Are you married? Are you divorced, widowed, single? Do you prefer to be addressed as Miss, Ms., or

Mrs.? Indicate (on a form)male or female.

National Origin

What nationality are you? Your parents? What nationality is your spouse? What is your ancestry? What ethnic group do you belong to? What language do you speak at home? What is your native language?

Exceptions: The employer can ask if you are U.S. citizen. The employer can also ask if you are legally eligible to work in the United States. The employer will have you fill out a form from the U.S. Department of Justice (I-9) that requires you to verify that you are eligible to work in the United States. The employer can also ask whether you speak a specific language if it is related to the job.

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Organizations/Clubs

What organizations do you belong to? What clubs to you belong to?

Exception: You may volunteer this information, if you wish, especially if your activities in the organization or club have given you work-related skills.

Personal/Family

Where were you born? Your parents? Your spouse?

Are you a naturalized citizen? How many children do you have? Do you plan to have children? When do you plan to have children? What child care arrangements do you have? Do you have relatives who live nearby?

Photographs Please attach a current photograph to your application.

Race What is the color of your skin, hair, eyes? What is your race?

Religion

What is your religion? What church do you attend? What religious holidays do you observe? Who is your religious leader?

Exception: The employer can ask you if there are certain days or times when you cannot work.

Adapted from: Berk, Amy. TeenWork: A Guide for Finding Jobs – Teacher’s Resource Guide (2006). Goodheart-Willcox. Tinley Park, Illinois.

KEEPING A JOBCareer ManagementSummer 2006

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The first step to remaining successfully employed is to understand what employers want from their employees.

What Do Employers Want? Commitment to Life Long Learning

Realizing its importanceTaking advantage of on the job trainingSeeking additional education or training of the job

Reading, Writing and Computational SkillsCritical to the ability to learn

Listening Skills & Communication SkillsAbility to understand instructionsAbility to communicate with co-worker, supervisors and customers

AdaptabilityAbility to adapt to changes in technology, the marketplace and the jobBeing a creative problem solver (using critical thinking skills)

Personal Management SkillsAbility to set goals and motivate selfTaking charge of own personal and career managementBuilding one’s self-esteem

Group EffectivenessDemonstrate effective team – work skillsWorking and negotiating with others

InfluenceUnderstanding the organizational structure and informal networks (politics)Establishing a sphere of influence in which to contribute ideas (discovering where you will be heard and have the most influence)

The next step in keeping a job is to build a positive reputation. Below are the basics for success in the workplace.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF JOB SUCCESS:

Dependability and ReliabilityFrequent absences create problems for employers and coworkers and are

a cause for dismissal. Reliability means following through on tasks without constant supervision.

PunctualityBeing consistently late causes problems by delaying the work of others.

Employers depend on employees to be on time to work, to meetings and from returning to work after breaks and lunch.Keeping A Job Continued: Quality of Work

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Producing quality is critical to business survival. Employees must take care to produce the highest quality products and services possible.

Being a Valued Team MemberToday’s workplace values team work. Important to being a successful team member includes: taking an interest in people personally and in the job they do; appreciating others’ contributions by saying thank you and sharing the credit; dealing with conflict directly without complaining to others and staying out of others’ battles; appreciating the different values and skills that others bring to the workplace, and developing tolerance for diverse, ethnic and cultural backgrounds as well as ages and gender.

Creating and Maintaining a Positive Relationship with Supervisors and Managers

Supervisors and managers are allies and mentors, not the enemy. They expect honesty, flexibility and initiative. Reporting on work results will help supervisors stay informed of performance and assist them at appraisal time. Knowing when to ask for help with problems and when problems can be solved alone is key to a successful employee/supervisor relationship.

WORK-RELATED BENEFITS AND SALARY DEDUCTIONS INFORMATION

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DEDUCTIONS

1. Income Tax Withholding. It is obligatory for employers to withhold income tax contributions for employees. The amount of the withholding is computed by the employer using a table-based on the W-4 form an employee has filled out listing his or her dependents and based on his or her salary. Some higher-wage employees will also have California Income Tax withholding.

2. Social Security Contributions. It is obligatory for employers to withhold social security contributions under the Federal Insurance Act. These contributions are put in a trust fund to support worker’s retirement cash and health benefits. The employee’s contributions are matched by the employer.

EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

3. Unemployment Insurance Tax Payments. Employers must pay into the California Unemployment Insurance Fund. The exact rate depends on their worker turnover. UI is not a deduction from the worker’s wages but a payment by the employer. MANDATORY

4. State Disability Insurance Payments. Employers must pay into the State Disability Insurance Fund. This fund provides support to workers who are unable to work because of a short-term injury, illness, or disability. Long-term disability falls under the Workers’ Compensation System MANDATORY

5. Worker Compensation Insurance. Employers must include their employees under a Workers’ Compensation Insurance policy. This policy provides payments for medical treatment for work-related injuries and illnesses and, also, pays for rehabilitation and/or retraining for workers who have suffered a permanent injury. The Workers’ Compensation also makes lump sum payments for some permanent injuries as well as paying a specified lump sum to the family of workers killed in a work-related accident. MANDATORY

6. Health Insurance. Health Insurance is a benefit which many, but not all, employers provide to their employees. Plans vary tremendously and may cover a worker only or the worker and their family. Most plans currently require a co-payment from the worker (deducted from his or her check) to cover the employee’s dependents. The actual value of health insurance benefits depends on the worker’s and his or her family’s need for health care. OPTIONAL(pending National Health care reform)

7. Retirement Plans. Many but not all employers contribute to a pension or retirement plan for their employees. Arrangements vary tremendously from plan to plan. The employer’s contribution sometimes is tied to an employee’s contribution, making saving practices an important issue.

HOURLY, DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY, AND ANNUAL EARNING EXAMPLES

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Standard Conversions

Wage Rate/Hr. x Hours/Day

e.g. $5.00/hr. x 8 hrs/day

= Daily Wages

= $40/day Earnings/Day x Days/Week

e.g. $40.00/day x 5 days

= Weekly Earnings

= $200/wk. Weekly Earnings x 4.2

e.g. $200/wk. x 4.2

= Monthly Earnings (est.)

= $840/month Monthly Earnings x 12

e.g. $840/month x 12

= Annual Earnings (est.)

= $10,080/yr.

Alternative Conversions

Hours per month

e.g. $5.00/hr. x 168

= 168 hours/month (approx.)

= $840/month Hours per year

e. g. $5.00/hr. x 2,080

= 2,080 hours/yr. (approx.)

= $10,400/yr. Days per year

e.g. $40/day x 260 days

= 260 days/yr.

= $10,400/yr.

HOURLY, AND DAILY EARNINGS, PIECE RATE EARNINGS

Hourly Wage = Daily Earnings/ Total Hours Worked

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Objective 6.01

Daily Earnings = Number of pieces per hour

x Number of hours per day

x Piece rateTotal Hours Worked = Time arrives at work to time left work

- waiting time, lunch, breaks

SAMPLE PROBLEM – CUTTING ASPARAGUS

Joe went to work at 5 AM and left work at 2 PM Minus the 1 hr waiting time for new boxes and minus the two breaks of 15 minutes each

Total hours worked = ________

9 hours -1 hour 30 minutes

7.5 hours

Piece Rate = _____________ 15 cents per lb.

Joe picked 43 lbs. of asparagus per hour x 7.5 hours x 15 cents per lb.

Daily wage= _______________ $48.37

$48.37 divided by 7.5 hours

Hourly wage = ____________ $6.45/hr.

* Ask workers if they work as fast at the end of the day as at the beginning of the day.

** To compare the value of two different piece rates, remember that the ratio of the piece rates is the same as the ratio of the earnings at the different piece rates. So an increase of 2 cents per lb. on an asparagus piece rate of 15 cents per lb. makes a difference of 13% in daily earnings. Ask the students to figure out what the daily wage increase would be for a typical work week of about 30 hours.

Steps to a Successful Career Transition

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Objective 6.01

Most of us will hold multiple jobs in our lifetime. If you’re dealing with a career change, here are 8 tips from Careers and CareerBuilder.com to help you make a smooth transition:

Know what you want. Analyze your skills, experience and qualifications. What best suits your personality? What best suits your professional or personal needs? What kinds of transferable skills do you have? Note your strengths and weaknesses.

Be prepared to take a dip in salary. Be prepared to backtrack. Remember, trying to advance monetarily will not overcome any dissatisfaction you may have had with a previous job. Keep in mind that you may have to take a temporary salary cut to invest in your career.

Research the field you’re interested in. Do background research on the company you’re most interested in.

Start networking. Talk to anyone and everyone who knows you’re looking for a career change. Ask them to list key competencies that enable them to be successful.

Get in touch with prospective employers. Ask to observe a company with an informational interview. This will give you a better feel for the field and allow the company to get to know you.

Volunteer, temp or take an interim position. These opportunities may introduce you to future career options. It allows you to make sure a company or an organization is the right fit before you make a solid commitment.

Know your qualifications. Learn ahead of time the types of qualifications needed and whether you need additional training. For skills you don’t have, learn or ask how to build upon them.

Customize your resume. Make sure transferable skills being sought are clearly highlighted. Be sure to present yourself in a way that proves to the company you’re qualified.

Adapted from: www.msn.com and www.careerbuilder.com.

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