Teaching Notes: Job Offers & On the job

1st half:
ch. 10, After the Offer
Evaluating job offers
Negotiating
ch. 11, What to Know and Do
Fitting in
Things to Do/Avoid in a new job
Safety Rights & Responsibilities
Harassment
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Chapter 10
EVALUATING JOB OFFERS
ASK

Have you ever had to decide between 2 job offers?

How did you decide?
How would you decide?
Have you ever turned down a job offer?

Example - When I was a student many years ago, I interviewed with the Ministry of
Transportation for a summer job. I didnt get it so I went out and got a dishwashing job at a
restaurant. After I started at the restaurant the Ministry called me and offered me a job but I
turned it down because the pay at the restaurant was the same. I remember the guy on the
phone when I turned it down being sort of surprised I was turning the government job down for
a dishwashing job.
Slide - Evaluating job offers - criteria:
EXAMPLE - when I decided between the dishwasher and MoT job I only considered hourly
wages, I didnt give any thought to:
Organization & Personnel - govt, big, lots of depts, possibility of building a relationship,
looks good on resume, Work Environment = hot wet dirty kitchen vs clean air
conditioned office
Scope - job duties - scrubbing pots vs typing on a computer; govt holidays + weekends
off, 9-5 vs nights at restaurant
Goals - what I wanted to do after I graduated, I had little interest in working in a
restaurant
Slide - Comparing Jobs (Job A, B - Advantages, Disadvantages)
count which company has the most advantages and least disadvantages

Teaching Notes: Job Offers & On the job

NEGOTIATING
ASK - has anyone negotiated (individually/collectively) at work?
Examples Davies - was with his employer for a couple of years - started looking for other jobs researched his job title/average salaries, etc. / Sat down with his boss, presented his case
and actually got more than what he was asking for.
Uncle - research scientist at a University - salary dependent on funding so hes always
looking for opening elsewhere to have some bargaining power by being able to show he
can leave to get what he wants
Me - SEIU - hired right as they were beginning to negotiate a new contract - I filled in a
bargaining survey and elected co-workers to be on the bargaining committee - I was so
new I didnt know what to ask for in our contract - we got a good deal in terms of pay but I
would have asked for stronger language on work hours
Me - ILSC - hired in middle of bargaining - job action - when our bargainig committee met
with management to work on the contract all the teachers wore yellow t shirts with our
union name on it to show management we supported the demands of our committee - they
got a good contract, I was just there a short while
Slides
Salary - dont bring up in interview, let interviewer bring it up,
after an offer bring it up if you think it is too low
Tips
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Chapter 11
FITTING IN
Will talk about culture more in 2nd hour
Diagram - community of practice spiral - newcomer to old timer - increased participation
ASK - has anyone been at a place for an extended time where they started to become an
old timer - what was the progression like?
THINGS TO DO/AVOID IN A NEW JOB
ASK - has anyone had a mentor at a job? were they assigned or did it happen more casually
EXAMPLE - I didnt like my mentor when i took an esl course but i did when i was a union
organizer
AVOID - watch what you post on social media - anything that reflects poorly on your employer
is a risk to them and they will act to reduce that risk

Teaching Notes: Job Offers & On the job

SAFETY RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
EXAMPLE - NOEL - Was injured at work with chemical he wasnt trained on then after that he
was not scared to refuse work
EXAMPLE - Hippy Mike - cutting tree branches, boss told him to reach over his head with
chainsaw - he refused, said the first thing he learned in his forestry program was to never do
this
I worked with injured workers - it is not a pleasant experience to be injured so if your gut tells
you its not right, listen to your gut
ASK - has anyone had an accident at work or refused work?
HARASSMENT
ACTIVITY - BEST JOB/WORST JOB (p. 27 ch. 1 OB & MNGT)
Purpose: Get to know you activity by sharing experiences with work and organizations
Topic: What makes people satisfied/dissatisfied with work
Set-up: Students in groups of 4-6 - choose a recording secretary
Step 1:
Students take turns describing either the best or worst job they have had - be sure to explain
why this job was satisfying/dissatisfying - ex. factors: pay, duties, co-workers, hours, boss
Secretary should make a list of job titles groups held and which were good and bad (15
minutes)
Step 2:
Using info from Step 1 groups should develop a profile of 4-5 characteristics that seem to
contribute to dissatisfaction and 4-5 characteristics that contribute to satisfaction
Write these on the board/chart paper
Step 3:
Groups report back to class and commonalities are examined
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