Chapter
1. Navigating the Job and Grad School Search: Research, Network, Apply and
Follow-up
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/findjobs
has What Amounts to a small ebook to Help Look for a Job
They have several icons that you can
click onto like:
Find Jobs, Internships, and Grad
Schools
Search for Jobs, Internships,&
Graduate Schools
Receive Academic Credit for Co-ops
and Internships
Prepare for the Academic Job Search
How to Search for Jobs and
Internships
career.uark.edu/cdc
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/resume/
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/findjobs/
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/explorecareers/
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/ctr/
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/aceyourinterview/
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/events/
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/appointment/
career.uark.edu/cdc/employers/postjob/
career.uark.edu/cdc/employers/getinvolved/
career.uark.edu/cdc/employers/corporatepartners/
career.uark.edu/cdc/employers/reporthires/
career.uark.edu/cdc/employers/events/
Research
What opportunities are available?
What skills and experience do I
have?
What kind of company do I want to
work for?
Do I want to work alone or with
other people?
How much responsibility do I want?
How important is status to me?
What skills has my degree and/or
experience given me?
What do other people think I'm good
at now?
My achievements and accomplishments?
In previous jobs or internships, how
did people rely on me?
Where do I want to be
geographically?
What type of industries are based in
this area?
What kind of employer needs my
skills and experience?
Things to consider before and during
your graduate or professional school search
Motivation: Why do I want to go to
grad or professional school?
Are there other factors or people
contributing to my decision?
School characteristics: What type of
degree am I seeking?
In what geographic area do I want to
study?
What type of learning experience am
I seeking?
Do I want a part-time or full-time
program?
Financial
Aid
Job
Searching, Where Should you be Looking?
Build a list of target companies in
your industry or career of interest, considering things like:
interest in their products or
services
Networking
Who can you contact?
Tell people you’re looking for a job
like:
Current and Former Coworkers and
Supervisors
University Clubs and Organizations
Volunteer and Community
Organizations
Grad
School Application
Give yourself plenty of time to
research, at least 5-6 months.
Cast a wide net at first and weed
out schools as you learn more about them.
School-specific factors to consider:
Faculty (and their research areas)
Size of the institution and
department
Keep track of schools to which
you're considering applying or have applied
Keep a reminder of application fee
costs
Sometimes those deadlines are different,
so get all of your materials in by the earliest deadline.
Graduate or Professional School
Admission Requirements may include, but not be limited to:
Minimum GPA (official transcripts)
Minimum Test Scores (GRE, GMAT,
MCAT, LSAT)
Personal Statement and/or Statement
of Purpose Writing Sample
Sample Portfolio as with art or
architecture
kaptest.com
princetonreview.com/grad-school
free
online GRE, PSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and LSAT tests..
phds.org
graduate-and-international.uark.edu
usnews.com/rankings
have
information including number of students, student/faculty ratios, tuition
costs, and much more.
carnegieclassifications.iu.edu
Carnegie
Foundation Rankings
find out
the ranking of the institution you
chronicle.com/section/Facts-Figures/58/
for
information on how much faculty are paid, type of institution, number of
students, etc.
The
Job Search is Actually a Skill that you Practice just like With Anything
Applying for a job in any field
requirers a certain amount of knowledge that you learn.
You learn the best general job
websites and the job websites for your field.
You learn how to apply, who to apply
to, etc.
If you are a college student, I say
go to the career center and ask them for help.
If you are not, I list lots of free
websites where you learn about applying for a job like
career.uark.edu/cdc/students/findjobs
ucd.ie/researchcareers/
career.uark.edu/cdc/
indeed.com/
simplyhired.com
Find a job for which you would want
to apply today.
youtube.com Channel AHECS Higher Education
Careers Services or youtube.com/channel/UC768xhFdEDbccfIcLZi02Gw for Free
Career Videos
How to look for a job.
Chapter
2. The Job Application Form
Application Forms Guide
With a resume, you can put your best points first and avoid
blanks and even on application forms, you can describe your qualifications in
terms of the job's duties.
Know what the job calls for and fill the application form
accordingly. Some items that appear on
virtually every application form are:
Current address and phone number. If you are rarely at home during business
hours, try to give the phone number of a friend or relative who will take
messages for you.
Experience (paid and volunteer). Date of employment, name and full address of
the employer, job title, starting and finishing salary and reason for
leaving. Moving, returning to school and
seeking a better position are among the readily accepted reasons.
Education. The
school's name, the city in which it is located, the years you attended it, the
diploma or certificate you earned and the course of studies you pursued.
Other qualifications.
Hobbies, organizations you belong to, honors you have received and
leadership positions you have held.
Office machines, tools and equipment you have used and skills that you
possess.
Job sought or career goal.
Tailor this to suit their job.
Other information, such as your Social Security number, is
often asked for on application forms. Application forms might also ask for a
record of past addresses and for information that you would rather not reveal
such as a record of convictions.
If asked for such information, you should be honest. Honesty does not, however, require that you
reveal disabilities that do not affect your overall qualifications for a job.
Some large employers such as fast food restaurants and
government agencies make more use of application forms than of resumes.
The forms suit the style of large organizations because
people find information more quickly if it always appears in the same place.
You can submit a resume even if an application is
required. It will spotlight your
qualifications and the information on it will serve as a handy reference if you
must fill out an application form quickly.
Application forms are really just resumes in disguise
anyway. No matter how rigid the form
appears to be, you can still use it to show why you are the person for the job
being filled.
At first glance, application forms seem to give a job hunter
no leeway. The forms certainly do not
have the flexibility that a resume does but you can still use them to your best
advantage. You're a salesman selling
yourself.
Request two copies of the form. If only one is provided, photocopy it before
you make a mark on it. You will need
more than one copy to prepare rough drafts.
Read the whole form before you start completing it.
Prepare a master copy if the same form is used by several
divisions within the same company or organization. Do not put the specific job applied for, date
and signature on the master copy.
Leave no blanks.
Enter N/A for not applicable when the information requested does not
apply to you. This tells people checking
the form that you did not simply skip the question.
Carry a resume and a copy of other frequently asked
information such as previous addresses with you when visiting potential
employers in case you must fill out an application on the spot.
Whenever possible, fill the form out at home and mail it in
with a resume and a cover letter that point up your strengths.
Take a Look at Some Application Forms
job-applications.com, shows actual job application forms
from companies.
The Common Job Application/ Apply to Many Major Companies in
One Shot
jobapplicationcenter.com, apply to almost every major u.s.
company directly.
job-applications.com
myjobapps.com
Online Application Form Websites
eapplicants.com, us website - find job applications for
every major us company.
job-applications.com,
online job application form resource site
jobapplicationguide.com
myjobapps.com,
companies providing users with downloadable applications, salary information
and real-time listings of jobs.
Chapter
3. Job Application Test/ Pre-Hiring Job Test
Pre-Employment Tests/ Assessing You Before They Hire You
If you know you have to take a test for a job like a
government job, go to a bookstore, buy a test book and practice. The tests given to job applicants fall into
several categories:
1.) Aptitude tests predict your ability to learn and perform
job tasks.
2.) Job knowledge and proficiency tests measure what you
know and what you can do in a job (for example, word processing speed for a
secretary job, knowledge of street names and routes for a fire fighter job,
etc.)
3.) Literacy tests measure reading and arithmetic levels.
4.) Personality tests help identify your personal style in
dealing with tasks and other people.
Certain personalities can be well suited for some jobs and not so well
suited for other jobs. For example, an
outgoing person may be well suited for a sales job.
5.) Honesty and Integrity tests evaluate the likelihood of
stealing and trustworthiness of applicants.
6.) Physical ability tests measure strength, flexibility,
stamina and speed for jobs that require physical performance.
7.) Medical tests determine physical fitness to do a
job.
8.) As far as I know genetic screening tests are currently
illegal but employers can do this easily while their doctors conduct a routine
medical check-up. They just get a bit of
blood, some skin scraping or a bit of hair at the follicle and they can test a
person's genetic code for genetic predisposition for genetically-inspired
diseases then they can quietly disqualify candidates with genetic
predispositions for diseases.
9.) Drug tests show the presence of illegal drugs that could
impair job performance and threaten the safety of others.
You can't study directly for aptitude tests but you can get
ready to do your best by taking other tests.
Look for tests or quizzes in magazines and school books. Set time limits.
By taking tests, you learn about the testing process. This
helps you feel more comfortable when you are tested. Brush up on job skills. For example, if you're taking a typing test,
practice typing. If you're taking a construction test, review books and
blueprints.
Get ready for physical tests by doing activities similar to
those required for the job. For literacy
tests, review and do exercises in reading and math books or enroll in remedial
classes. It's natural to be nervous about tests (some anxiety may even help
you).
If a medical test is required, learn as soon as possible
what the disqualifying conditions are, then have your physician examine you for
them so that you do not spend years training for a job that you will not be
allowed to hold. If you have bad
eyesight, check before you train for a job.
If you practice beforehand, you will be better prepared and
less nervous on the day of the test.
That will put you ahead of the competition. You will also improve your performance by
making a list of what you will need at the test center including a pencil.
To practice for a test, you must learn what the test
is. Once again, you must know what job
you want to apply for and for whom you want to work in order to find out what
tests, if any, are required.
Government agencies, which frequently rely on tests, will
often provide a sample of the test they use.
These samples can be helpful even if an employer uses a different
test. Copies of standard government
tests are usually available at the library.
Get a good night's sleep.
Be at the test center early. Read
the instructions carefully. Generally,
speed counts. Do not linger over
difficult questions. Learn if guessing
is penalized.
Most tests are scored by counting up the right answers. Guessing is good if you're not penalized for
wrong answers.
Some tests are scored by counting the right answers and
deducting partial credit for wrong answers.
Blind guessing will lose you points but if you can eliminate
two wrong choices, a guess might still pay off.
Tests are tough. I
had three academic degrees when I wrote a firefighter's test. I thought it would be a breeze but it was
tough. A good bookstore will sell test
books for just about every job. Get one
and study it.
360-feedback.us
4tests.com
accordsyst.com, employee assessment tools, consulting
services.
aimmconsult.com
allpointsfeedback.com, managing your employee review
process. am-coach.com
anagrampeople.co.uk, psychometric testing.
appraisal-smart.com
aprtestingservices.com
aptitudetestsonline.com
assess-strategies.com
axiomsoftware.com
bigby.com, consulting for hiring or promoting employees,
employee training and development.
brainbench.com, technical skills testing and certification
service.
brainsbuilder.com
bsrpinc.com, behavioral sciences research
business-marketing.com/html/emptesting.html
calipercanada.com, employee assessment test, canada.
careerbridge.com.au
censeocorp.com
checkster.com
chrysaliscorporation.com
clearlearning.com
cmypeople.com
cognology.biz
Testing Resources
Go to #378.16 at the library for books about college
entrance tests.
act.org
barronseduc.com
brain.com, intelligence test.
brains4zombies.com
collegeboard.com
collegeboard.com/clep
collegeboard.org
cua.edu, testing and evaluation.
ed.gov/pubs/parents/testtaking
ets.org, testing.
fairtest.com, national center for fair and open testing.
fairtest.org, generally down on admission tests.
fairtest.org/optinit.htm, list of schools that don't
emphasize the sat much.
getcollegecredit.com
gocollege.com
hbtpc.com, psychological corp., many tests.
iqtest.com, intelligence test.
kaplan.com
kaplan.com/gre, graduate record exams.
learnatest.com, 888-551-5627, books.
mensa.org, intelligence test.
mindgear.com
mindmedia.com
petersons.com/testprep prep.com
princetonreview.com, 800 2review
psychcorp.com, test seller.
review.com, 800-review6, test prep.
smarterkids.com
tasa.com, reading tests.
testprep.com
testprepcenter.com
thomsonrights.com
College Entrance Exam Board
Pob 6200
Princeton, Nj 08541
609-771-7600
ets.org
They administer the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the
Achievement Tests. Ask about the College
Level Examination Program (CLEP) which administers equivalency tests through
which you can get credit for some prior knowledge that you already have.
Act Publications
American College Testing Program
500 ACT Drive
Pob 1008
Iowa City, Ia 52243-1008
800-498-6065
319-337-1000
319-337-1270
Fax: 319-337-1578
act.org
They administer the ACT nationwide. The American College Testing Program also
offers a Student Need Analysis Service where they offer a free booklet,
Applying for Financial Aid: A Guide for
Parents and Students. For a low fee,
they'll help you fill out the complicated financial statement part of your
student loan application. They have
several booklets for a fee and some free ones on their website.
Educational Testing Service
Pob 955
Princeton, Nj 08541
609-771-7600
609-771-7070
ets.org
gre.org
Central authority for all college standardized tests like
the GRE, MCAT, etc. Send for
information.
excelsior.edu
888-723-9267
Regents college exams.
Fairtest
342 Broadway
Cambridge, Ma 02139
617-864-4810
Fax: 617-497-2224
info@fairtest.org
fairtest.org
Some testing books geared for the SAT and ACT. List of colleges which don't use SAT test
scores for basis of admission.
learnatest.com
888-551-5627
Books about career tests like police test, firefighter test,
postal employee test, etc.
National Occupational Competency Testing
Institute
500 N. Bronson Ave.
Big Rapids, Mi 49307
800-334-6283
nocti.org
They run all the standard tests for major occupations, free
info about the tests.
The Psychological Corporation
555 Academic Ct.
San Antonio, Tx 78204
210-299-3616
Fax: 210-299-3662
hbtpc.com
Tests for education, psychology and vocational.
Take A Test
Learn the material by trying to understand it. Most tests are on a time limit so always bear
that in mind when taking one. Speed
means a lot. You're striving for maximum
points so get right on it, answer the easy and middle level qustionss first
then spend the rest of the time on the tough, tedious questions.
Find practice copies and learn as much as you can about the
test beforehand. Every library has a
test section which contains guidebooks of standardized tests. You might find these books at #371.302.
Contrary to popular opinion, more is not better. For questions that require written or essay
type answers, people get tired of long, convuluted streams of crap.
Keep it short, clear and to the point; the main idea and a
few supporting ones and that's it. If
it's a concept/ issue type question, present the main viewpoint and the
opposing viewpoints. Use proper grammar.
If you're not penalized for guessing wrong on a multiple
choice test, answer them. The longest
answer is usually right.
Bring a few pens with you in case one runs out.
Follow all instructions.
Don't offer more information than the question asks to show that you
studied a bunch of stuff not on the test.
It's convoluted and the person may spite you and fail you because he can
claim you didn't answer the question.
If something is hard, skip it, move on and come back to it
later.
If you're unsure about something, ask for clariification.
Relax, it's only a test.
Don't get test anxiety. Meditate
if you have to.
Get enough sleep. Go
to the bathroom beforehand. Take a long
drink of water before you go in to write the test.
If you have any physical difficulties, tell the test
administrator.
If you don't understand the test instructions, ask for help
before the test begins.
If you have time, review your answers. Check to not misread a question or make
careless mistakes.
You may be able to re-take the test. Ask about the re-testing policy. You can retake most standardized academic
tests after six months or so.
Get a proper interpretation of your scores. The scores may indicate other career
opportunities that should be pursued.
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