DOL Employment Workshop Participant Guide Department of Labor Employment Workshop (DOLEW) Participant Guide Revision Date: 11 2019 1 DOL Employment Workshop Participant Guide Contents Getting Started .......................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Objectives...................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Course Overview ........................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Prerequisites ............................................................................................................................... 10 1.4 High-Quality Civilian Career ........................................................................................................ 10 1.5 Four Principles of Getting a Job .................................................................................................. 11 1.6 Career Transition Journey Map ................................................................................................... 12 Identifying Your Career Goals ................................................................................................. 14 2.1 Creating SMART Goals ................................................................................................................ 14 2.2 SMART Goal Examples ................................................................................................................ 15 2.3 Activity: Create Your SMART Goal .............................................................................................. 16 Surveying the Job Market ....................................................................................................... 18 3.1 How Hiring Occurs....................................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Advertised Vacant Positions ....................................................................................................... 19 3.3 Talent Hires ................................................................................................................................. 19 3.4 Unadvertised Employment Opportunities .................................................................................. 20 3.5 Additional Options ...................................................................................................................... 20 Identifying Your Skills .............................................................................................................. 24 4.1 Inventory Your Skills .................................................................................................................... 24 4.2 Activity: Create a Skills Inventory................................................................................................ 24 4.3 Transferable Skills ....................................................................................................................... 26 4.4 Activity: Identify Skills Employers Are Seeking ........................................................................... 27 4.5 The STAR Method ....................................................................................................................... 29 4.6 Putting STAR into Practice .......................................................................................................... 29 4.7 STAR Statements for Interviews and Networking....................................................................... 30 4.8 Activity: Use the STAR Method to Create a Skill Statement ....................................................... 31 4.9 Translating Military Terminology into Civilian Terms ................................................................. 33 4.10 Developing Skills ......................................................................................................................... 35 Developing Your Personal Brand ............................................................................................ 37 5.1 What is Personal Branding? ........................................................................................................ 37 5.2 Creating a Strong Online Presence ............................................................................................. 37 5.3 Activity: Check Your Online Presence ......................................................................................... 38 2 DOL Employment Workshop Participant Guide 5.4 Using Social Media to Leverage Your Online Presence ............................................................... 39 5.4.1 LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) ............................................................................................. 39 5.4.2 Facebook (www.facebook.com) ......................................................................................... 40 5.4.3 Twitter (www.twitter.com) ................................................................................................. 40 5.5 Professional Introduction............................................................................................................ 41 5.6 Activity: Draft Your Professional Introduction Statement .......................................................... 42 5.7 Resumes ...................................................................................................................................... 44 5.8 Activity: Job Posting Cheat Sheet ................................................................................................ 46 5.9 Building Your Resume Section by Section ................................................................................... 48 5.9.1 Section 1: Contact Information ........................................................................................... 48 5.9.2 Activity: Create Your Contact Information .......................................................................... 48 5.9.3 Section 2: Career/Job Objective Statement (Optional) ...................................................... 49 5.9.4 Activity: Create Your Objective Statement ......................................................................... 50 5.9.5 Section 3: Summary of Qualifications ................................................................................. 50 5.9.6 Activity: Create Your Summary of Qualifications ................................................................ 51 5.9.7 Section 4: Experience/Achievements ................................................................................. 51 5.9.8 Activity: Create Your Achievement Statements .................................................................. 59 5.9.9 Section 5: Education &Training ........................................................................................... 60 5.9.10 Activity: Create Your Education & Training ......................................................................... 61 5.9.11 Section 6: Other Additions .................................................................................................. 61 5.10 Cover Letters ............................................................................................................................... 62 Building Your Personal Brand .................................................................................................. 65 6.1 Networking .................................................................................................................................. 65 6.2 Expanding Your Network ............................................................................................................ 66 6.2.1 Ask for Referrals from your Current Network .................................................................... 66 6.2.2 Volunteering ....................................................................................................................... 66 6.2.3 Join Professional or Trade Organizations ............................................................................ 67 6.2.4 Attend Networking Events .................................................................................................. 67 6.2.5 Attend Job Fairs................................................................................................................... 68 6.2.6 Contact your Local American Job Center ............................................................................ 70 6.2.7 Contact Your Schools .......................................................................................................... 70 6.2.8 Contact Former Co-Workers, Supervisors, and Businesses ................................................ 70 6.2.9 Use Social and Professional Networking Sites .................................................................... 71 3 DOL Employment Workshop Participant Guide 6.2.10 Conduct Informational Interviews ...................................................................................... 71 6.2.11 Find a Mentor ...................................................................................................................... 73 6.2.12 Expand Your Network Online Using LinkedIn ..................................................................... 74 6.3 Activity: Join Groups on LinkedIn ................................................................................................ 75 Activating Your Brand 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