Why do I need to know about myself to Job-Hunt?

_ Self-assessment is the first step in the job search process:

_ It is not a test, it is a way to learn about yourself by gathering data that includes
information about your work-related values, interests, skills and abilities

Although self-assessment can be a time-consuming process, it will provide you with

valuable information and can help you to facilitate career decisions and prepare you to
market yourself as a potential employee.

Self-assessment
Values: 
_ Value: the ideas and beliefs that are important to you. 
 An awareness of what your value in a career will help you when exploring career
goals and help to attain satisfaction in your work. 
_ Which values are important to you? (Your work-related values can include: salary;
benefits and pension; professional status; job security; working conditions and schedules,
working as part of a team or independently, variety…)
_ If you take these things into account when choosing a career, you will have a better
chance of achieving job satisfaction.

Interests
_ Interest: a state of curiosity or concern about or attention to sth
_ Interests are closely related to values and frequently trigger skill development. You can
identify your interests by thinking about professional experiences you have enjoyed,
evaluating what you liked, what you found challenging and what you may have learned
from those experiences. 
_ A tip for discovering your interests is to keep a log of what you like to do and then rank
them.
Skills
_ A skill is sth that you do well. 
_ What you’re good at and what you like may not be the same thing. 
_ Thinking about skills you have developed through education, work experience … 
_ Recognizing your skills and communicating their usefulness in writing or verbally to a
prospective employer will help you with your job research. 
_ List of ways to effectively communicate your skills:
 Describe your skills in concise, unambiguous terms
 Refer to actual experiences to demonstrate your skill level
 Connect your skills concisely to the need of a prospective employer
Be sure to list some transferable skills (skills which are useful in a variety of work
environments)
Abilities
_ Ability: a natural or acquired skill or talent
 Do you remember numbers? Are you quick at math? (Finance major)
  Do you have the natural ability to talk to anybody?
Think about what abilities you’ve utilized throughout your life up to today.

How do I present my non-traditional experience?

“I’ve been out of the Job Market for a While”
Prove to a potential employer that you’re up to date and motivated
 Research changes in the field (to identify prospective employers’ priorities)
 Be active in professional organizations
 Learn the software important in your field
 Show how your personal experience relates to your job (multi-tasking, managing
projects, dealing with unpredictable situations, listening, making presentations…
are all transferable skills)
 Create an up-to-date e-portfolio of your work (to track and demonstrate your
expertise)

“I don’t have any experience”

Several ways to get experience:
 Take a short-term job (use every opportunity to learn about the management and
financial aspects of the business)
 Volunteer (get an opportunity to do more: manage a budget, create fundraising
materials, supervise other volunteers)
 Freelance (design brochures, create websites/blogs, become a translator to
improve language skill…)
 Write (create a portfolio of ads, instructions, or whatever documents are relevant
for the field you want to enter)

“I’m a Lot Older Than the Other Employees”

 Keep up to date (to keep up with the younger colleagues)
 Learn the computer programs your filed uses
 Learn from younger people when working on a team, volunteer work, or on the
job
 Use positive emphasis (to talk about your ability connect with mature customers
and the valuable perspective you bring)
 Show energy and enthusiasm