Focusing On the Job

‘Focusing on the Job’ starts to prepare you to make the first step to finding your new career. To do this you will be:

1. Identifying your current skills, qualities and attitudes
2. Goal setting to develop skills
3. Developing your confidence in self-promotion
4. Outlining your preferred work environments

Skills, Qualities and Attitudes

Firstly, the list below is broken into three categories – skills, qualities and attitudes. Look at the list and check that you understand what each one is.

1. Highlight or tick the ones you already have.
2. Put a cross beside any that definitely aren’t important or relevant to your area of work.

Skills

Able to prioritise
Book keeping
Brick laying
Carpentry
Communication skills- oral and listening
Communication skills – written
Chair person
Computer-keyboard
Cross cultural understanding and awareness
Database
Driving
English language
Excel – spreadsheet
Filing
Fencing
Good with people
Grammar and spelling
Graphic design
Microsoft word
Minute taking
Networking
Office management
Operate equipment and machinery
Plumbing
Public speaking
Receptionist
Sales
Shearing/crutching
Supervising staff

Qualities

Ambitious
Bright personality
Compassionate
Considerate creative
Efficient
Fair
Generous
Get on well with others
Gets the job done
Good team player
Honest
Kind leadership
Loyal
Organised
Pays attention to detail
People person
Productive
Reliable
Responsible
Sense of humor
Thoughtful
Well groomed
Well spoken

Attitude

Caring
Easy to get on with
Enjoys work
Enthusiastic
Friendly
Helpful
Industrious
Loving
Motivated positive
Passionate
Responsible
Safety conscious
Respectful

To-Do

1. Make a list of all the skills an employer will want in any job you go for (the ads in the paper will help with this).
2. Make a list of skills that you do not currently have, but would like to develop in the near future.
3. For each skill you would like to develop, list one or two ways you could learn or practice those skills and the name of anyone who could assist you with this.

E.g. Computer skills

1. Do a course or get a ‘teach yourself typing’ program
2. Practice at the library or community center

The 2 Minute Role Play

The 2 minute role play can help you in two ways:

1. Develop your confidence when you are talking about your skills and abilities.
2. Start to improve your interviewing skills.

Ask a family member or a friend to be the interviewer in this role play. The scenario should be as following:

The interview has just started. The opening question by the interviewer is “Tell me about yourself.” Try to talk about yourself for 2 minutes. You should try to include the following topics:

1. Career goals and interests
2. Your accomplishments and qualifications
3. Your work values
4. Your recent work experience

You can discuss these topics in any order, but try to include something about all 4 points. When you are finished, ask your interviewer the following questions.

Q1. Was my story interesting?
Q2. Was it convincing?
Q3. Was anything left out?
Q4. How could I make my response better?

Have a think about the feedback you received. Make a list of how you will improve your 2 minute role play and try this activity at another time.

One Response to “Focusing On the Job”

Author comments are in a darker gray color for you to easily identify the posts author in the comments

1. Editor says:

   February 28, 2008 at 9:34 am

   Here’s a quick recap of what we looked at (and what you should do when faced with sudden unemployment):

   1) Actively acknowledge how loosing your job affected you.
   2) Establish goals to achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
   3) Review your values and explore what are your needs (personality).
   4) Set specific goals to ensure you maintain a healthy self esteem.
   5) Identify skills, qualities and attitudes while also making plans to develop.
   6) Establish what type of working environment appeals to you.

   And most importantly commit yourself to working through the neutral zone
   of your transition. Once you have covered these areas, it is time for you to take what you have learnt about yourself and apply it to your next step – finding your job!

   And Good Luck!

   Reply