The American dream has always included the “go to college
and further your education” statement as part of the blueprint for as long as I
remember. We are told a college education is the
key to living a prosperous life, and whether we believe that or not,
there is one thing for certain, and that
is not everyone is destined for college.
So what about them? What do we do
about the group of people who are going to enter the workforce with a high
school diploma and compete with experienced adults for jobs? If you or a loved one falls into this category, the answer is simple: preparation.
Once our students have finished their formal education, we MUST prepare them to enter the workforce regardless
of the position they are trying to land.
If they are applying for an office
position they will need a resume, the question is what does someone put on a
resume with no paid work experience?
Hiring managers will take a look at any candidate who can demonstrate on
paper that they are capable of filling their open position. Someone with no previous work experience can
demonstrate that using the right words and provide
good sound examples. “Enthusiastic” “Quick learner” “Team player”
“Take initiative” “Proactive”
will always grab attention and they can use any and all experiences to fit the
bill. Experience with Microsoft Office
(especially Excel) is a plus, involvement in high school activities (Yearbook committee/sports teams/drama club)
community organizations (Boy/Girl Scouts, mentorship programs) religious
activities (church groups/choirs/ushers) can all be used on a first resume.
Once you have decided on the content and found a template you like, make sure you have someone proofread the finished
draft before you submit it. Nothing will
get your resume ignored faster than a bunch of typos and bad grammar. Having a practice interview can also go a
long way in getting through the first job interview without crashing. Everyone is nervous but if you have done it
before you have an idea what to expect.
Sit them down and take them through it as best you can. If you don’t feel comfortable, find someone
who is so that it is meaningful. Make
sure they are dressed properly for the job they are applying for and when in
doubt overdo it. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed, and it may be one of the things
that separate them from the other
candidates. Pass them the interview tips
from the Volume 1 DEES newsletter, if you don’t have your email copy they can
see it for free on the www.DEJumpStart.com
website blog or the dejumpstart.blogspot.com
blog site. There are a variety of
websites that provide sample resumes for people with no work history, and if you email customerservice@DEJumpStart.com, we will send
you one free of charge that you can customize.
If they need help getting through a phone screen from HR, you can emailcustomerservice@DEJumpStart.com,
and we will set up a prep session so they can advance in the process to the
hiring manager interview.
Once they have landed the job, getting through the
probationary period is the next step to securing and maintaining
employment. Because there are some
similarities to high school, it can be
easy to fall into some of the workplace traps in those first three months of
employment that can be prevented with the
right preparation. Falling in with the
wrong work clique is the quickest way to falling out of favor with the person
who just hired you. Most people aren’t
open about their disciplinary situation at work so coming in late, leaving
early, not taking lunches/breaks on time, inappropriate dress, being
unprofessional are all things that may not seem so bad if it appears to be a
group of co-workers getting away with it.
Coach them to stay away from that negative energy. Nothing good ever comes from negativity, and if you can’t demonstrate the
ability to handle the simplest levels of professionalism like showing up on
time dressed properly for work, there is
no need to wait and see if it gets better after probation because it normally
never does. Let them know there will be
people who will label them for being good at their job and for being a good
professional but the more positivity they demonstrate the further they will go
on the job and in life. Do your best,
don’t be afraid to ask questions, be friendly enough and always be a team
player even if you think others on the team are not and you will get through
the probationary period and establish yourself as an employee who should be
valued.
Sending our young adult loved ones out to “get a job” has to
come with more than just that order. If
we want them to succeed both short and long term we have to invest the time and
resources to help them. Providing them
with the tools and guidance to separate themselves from the other candidates
will give them the necessary confidence to overcome the nerves and successfully
navigate the interview experience.
