Job Search Guide 2014-2016
CONTENT INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2 FINLAND ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 SPAIN …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….7 GREECE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……14 ITALY …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….15 SLOVENIA ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….16 ICELAND ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19
INTRODUCTION We all make decisions since we have common sense. We sometimes hit the target and some others we do not. Teenagers aged between 14 to 18 years old often consider if they are able to choose their educational and professional career appropriately in the future. It is a logical concern they all may have and thus it must be dealt seriously at this stage of their life. Undoubtedly, this worry will condition these teenagers’ prospective life years. The formative process, which adjusts to the students´ qualities and improves their performance, is acquired over time, on an ongoing basis and complementing the students’ professional profiles. To this end, the students must previously know themselves; know their strengths, what things they feel comfortable with, the abilities and aspirations they may have and what they have to do to improve. By means of the activities we are going to carry out, we will try to make our students get the necessary skills to guide them in the labour world. Whatever they decide to do, it is very important to bear in mind that nothing is irreversible or unproductive. It might not turn out well; they may not feel fulfilled or even they will not find their “market niche” but if they bet on themselves, they will not be ever wrong. They will have simply enjoyed an experience that makes them develop as individual people in one way or another. It is worth continuing to look for the job they really like because as Confucius said, when they finally got it, when they find the job that makes them really happy, from that moment, they will never have to work a day in their life. For all these reasons we offer a series of activities that we present as follows: The first three activities are designed to discover personal and professional competences by means of a vocational guidance and professional abilities questionnaire, the production of professional posters and the creation of formative itineraries. The following activities are aimed at looking for employment by means of professional lectures and visits to specialised centers, elaboration of CVs/ Europass, presentation and application letters and interviews, knowledge of job search techniques and different types of contract. The third block of activities is aimed at acquiring social and communicative abilities and techniques about resolution of conflicts to successfully develop activities and employment tasks, taking as reference the coexistence between those people who form a work team. Finally, we propose the design of a project with an entrepreneurial initiative to acquire the knowledge of selfemployment. We think that thanks to these working days the students are going to learn a lot and it will imply a very important basis for their integral development as happy and useful people in society.
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
2014-2016
Top tips for job search In this guide you will find experts’ top tips for finding the perfect job. The topics include how to write your CV and application, and how to act in a job interview. The tips were written down by Vaasan lyseon lukio students during their career day when they got to meet several professionals from various fields.
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work
When you are looking for work:
and learning from fail-
- the right attitude is essential - you need the willingness to learn new things and the courage to do them - be self-driven and active - use different channels to seek work, but also check what the company’s preference is - stand out - don’t get frustrated if you don’t succeed immediately
ure.”
- Colin Powell
On the phone: Introduce yourself
properly Be polite and clear “Do you have a few
minutes to spare?” Keep it short and sweet
A positive attitude can be heard on the phone!
Writing your application Read through the job announcement carefully: what kind of work is on offer, what kind of a person are they looking for. Your application letter should fit on one page. Use language that is similar to the language in the announcement.
Here are some tips for your application or cover letter.
Make sure the beginning of your letter is good so that the employer will read the rest of it as well. Be honest.
Writing your application
Stand out of the crowd, market yourself and your skills.
Use a lot of adjectives to describe yourself. Use clear and correct language. Make sure there are no spelling mistakes! Check the level of formality from the original job announcement. If you are writing your application in a foreign language, have somebody (preferably a native speaker or a language professional) check it. Check everything carefully before sending your application. Make sure all the necessary information is there including correct contact information and the required attachments. You can also make a video application, but check with the company first (not all companies will consider video applications).
Here is a tip from the UN Careers website: �Your aim in the cover letter is to describe how your experience, qualifications and competencies match the job for which you are applying. Think of your cover letter as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other job seekers by highlighting what makes you the best match for the position.�
Take your time with your application
“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”
Woodrow Wilson Keep your CV concise and relevant
Writing your Curriculum Vitae
”Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
Helen Keller
Organize your CV so that the most recent information is presented first. Include things like scholarships, awards, participating in student exchanges, acting as a tutor, hygiene proficiency certificates, positions of trust, coaching, courses, first aid skilss, volunteer work. Describe your language skills and IT skills Use previous employers (or teachers/coaches) as your references, do not use your parents as references. If you attach a photo to your application, make sure that it is recent and you look presentable in it.
Mastering job interviews: Be on time!
”What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” Bob Dylan
Wear sensible clothing, pay attention to how you look: clean clothes, nothing too provocative, not too much perfume or accessories.
Find out what the company dress code is: don’t wear jeans if everybody else is wearing a suit.
”People think that at the top there isn't much room. They tend to think of it as an Everest. My message is that there is tons of room at the top.”
Be outgoing, cheery and positive, remember to greet the people you meet. Be prepared! Make sure you know enough about the company and the job on offer. Prepare some questions (about the job and the company) for the interviewer: this shows that you are truly interested. Don’t babble, stay on point and answer honestly.
Margaret Thatcher
”Nothing will work unless you do. ”
Maya Angelou
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
COUNTRY
S P A I N
ACTIVITY TITLE OBJECTIVE
1. QUESTIONNAIRE OF VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS To inform the students how to analyze the professional profile of a candidate in a selection process. Guide the students in terms of the professional skills that they present taking into account their tastes and interests.
STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
Age 15-16 - The activity consists in carrying out two online questionnaires related to career counseling and professional skills. After its completion, the program itself will provide results that will be analyzed and discussed individually with each of the participating students. See links
DOCUMENTS OBSERVATIONS
COUNTRY
2014-2016
C-VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE: http://www.psicotecnicostest.com/testdepersonalidad/testdeorientacionvocacional.asp?TIP_2 =Test%20de%20orientaci%F3n%20vocacional&TIP_1=Test%20de%20Personalidad C-PROFESSIONAL SKILLS: http://www.eligeprofesion.org/pro_006.asp?ipag=6 ACTIVITY TITLE OBJECTIVE STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
S P A I N
DOCUMENTS OBSERVATIONS
2.ELABORATION OF PROFESSIONAL POSTERS Conduct a collection of information about the professional profile chosen Age 15-16 - To carry out this activity the students should have previously made the previous one as well as they should have determined what profession or professions are more suited to their tastes and vocational and professional interests. - Each student will select a single profession and he will make a search for information on it that will focus on: functions, tasks, working place as well as necessary training. - After analyzing and synthesizing the information the student will carry out the design of a poster (which may be made manually or by computer media) which contains both images of the chosen profession and more relevant information. - Alter its completion, the result will be presented to other classmates See example of professional poster.
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
2014-2016
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
COUNTRY
S P A I N
2014-2016
ACTIVITY TITLE OBJECTIVE
3.IMPLEMENTATION OF FORMATIVE ITINERARIES ï‚· Discover the academic background needed to achieve the desired professional profile.
STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
Age 15-16 - The activity will consist in making known on a case by case basis what training is needed to acquire the professional profile chosen. - Alter that, the student will perform in a visual and graphical way his own training path to achieve his professional goal. See example of formative itinerary
DOCUMENTS OBSERVATIONS
NOTE: We enclosed a "general" example of the format to be obtained after the completion of the activity. The activity would consist in making the same format with the final point of training the professional profile chosen by the students.
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
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STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
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2014-2016
4. PROFESSIONAL TALKS AND VISITS TO SPECIALIZED CENTERS Understand the functions and tasks of a given job through the experience of various professionals. Bringing students to the reality of the workplace where the professional profile chosen development. 15-16 aged - Discussions of different professionals will be organized after analysing the preferences and interests of students in general, highlighting those professions that are most in demand. - Following the completion of these talks will be conducted visits to the workplaces of these professionals. They are not necessary.
5. CV / Europass/ cover letters and interview production Know the elements that comprise a CV / Europass and the correct way to write it. Disseminate guidelines for developing a cover letter. Start the students in the various types of job interview. 15-16 aged - Teachers completed show models and Europass CV. - Students develop its own draft a CV and cover letter or creative presentation materials chosen according to the position of work. - Through Role Playing technique will be carried out mock interview. Models: - CV - EUROPASS - Presentation letter. - Sample questions for a job interview.
OBSERVATIONS
CREATE A CV ONLINE: https://www.micvideal.es/rwz/plantilla/comofunciona.aspx?productid=17 CREATE ERUOPASS ONLINE: https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/editors/es/cv/compos MODELS OF COVER LETTERS: http://recursos.donempleo.com/carta-presentacion.html JOB INTERVIEWS SIMULATOR: http://www.miprimertrabajo.com.pe/wps/wcm/connect/websitempt/principal/buscando/simu lador.html# TYPE QUESTIONS IN JOB INTERVIEWS: http://www.gestiopolis.com/80-preguntas-para-laentrevista-de-trabajo/
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
COUNTRY
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ACTIVITY TITLE OBJECTIVE
STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
DOCUMENTS OBSERVATIONS
COUNTRY
6. COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS WORKSHOP Learn skills to express and receive criticism and expression of negative feelings and complaints within an appropriate social behaviour Learning assertiveness skills to keep them in handling difficult situations. Acquire skills to initiate, maintain and end a conversation. Achieve skills to praise, appreciating the importance of verbal and nonverbal components of this behaviour. Learn some techniques to perform properly the conduct of public speaking properly. 15-16 aged - Explanation of the concept of social skill and necessary for the acquisition of these skills by the students’ tools. - The different sessions of the workshop diverse group dynamics where students will practice these skills will arise. See the link.
• EXAMPLES OF DYNAMICS OF SOCIAL SKILLS AND COMMUNICATION: http://jaimesilva.freeservers.com/HABILIDADES.2.htm ACTIVITY TITLE OBJECTIVE STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
S P A I N
2014-2016
7. CONFLICT RESOLUTION WORKSHOP Analyze the attitudes and the factors involved in a problematic situation. Acquiring skills for conflict resolution. 15-16 aged - Explanation of the concept of conflict and necessary for the resolution of conflict assertively tools by students. - The different sessions of the workshop diverse group dynamics around conflict resolution and moral dilemmas will arise.
DOCUMENTS OBSERVATIONS
EXAMPLES OF DYNAMICS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION: http://servicios.educarm.es/templates/portal/ficheros/websDinamicas/27/recursos_para_un_t aller_de_resolucin_de_conflictos.pdf
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
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ACTIVITY TITLE OBJECTIVE STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
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8. KNOWLEDGE OF JOB SEARCH TECHNIQUES Introduce students with the different sources of job search that currently exist. 15-16 aged - Students will be provided with the most common ways of job search among which are: press, radio, television, Internet, bags specific statewide, employment exchange private companies and recruitment agencies. - The students will be asked to select a job offer and according to it the CV and cover letter will be made which has been previously learned and focused on this job. See the link
JOB FOR PUBLIC SECTOR: http://www.carm.es/web/pagina?IDCONTENIDO=309&RASTRO=c36$m&IDTIPO=140 JOB ONLINE: http://www.bolsadetrabajo.com/ EXAMPLE OF PLACEMENT AGENCY: https://gestionandote.com/agencias-colocacion
STUDENTS DESCRIPTION S P A I N
2014-2016
9. TYPES OF CONTRACT Analyze the different types of contracts offered by companies and their advantages and disadvantages. 15-16 aged - Teachers provide students with the different models existing contract. - Following its analysis, in small groups they will carry information leaflets on them. - These brochures will be shared with the other students. Ver enlace
TYPES OF CONTRACT (GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN): http://www.ipyme.org/esES/ContratacionLaboral/TipoContrato/Paginas/Tiposdecontratodetrabajo.aspx
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
COUNTRY
ACTIVITY TITLE OBJECTIVE STUDENTS DESCRIPTION
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2014-2016
10.DISEÑO OF AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP DRAFT. Bringing entrepreneurial, business and professional culture initiative, to perform basic management of a small business or take a job. 15-16 aged - Teachers provide guidance on the elements and the steps for creating a small or a business project guide. - Among the large group brainstorm to determine the orientation of the company will be made, taking into account the new employment and business innovation. - Among the large group will design a fictitious company.
DOCUMENTS OBSERVATIONS
SAMPLE SCRIPT-BUSINESS https://app4.spri.net/masdigitala/docs/2015/Guion%20plan%20de%20negocios.pdf USE THE NEW SOURCES: http://www.educaweb.com/contenidos/laborales/nuevasprofesiones/nuevos-yacimientos-empleo/
PLAN:
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
ACTIVITY TITLE SIMILUTING A COMMERCIAL COMPANY
G R E E C E
OBJECTIVES Students to learn the departments - components of a commercial company Students to understand the main role of the several departments of a company encouraged to accomplish them within the subject of Technology and/or Information Science.
2014-2016
DESCRIPTION Every group of students of the 2nd Class choose a company from a list given by the teacher, p.e a chocolate company, an aluminium company etc Every student becomes the director of a specific department of the company, p.e. Director of Information Systems, Director of Departement of Economics, Education Manager etc. Several assignements relevant to each department are given to students who are
DOCUMENTS Some of the blogs that they have been created, exactly as if they were the official blogs of the company. http://graluminium.blog spot.gr/
QUESTIONNAIRE OF VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
http://www.eoppep.gr/t eens/
CREATE AN e-PORTFOLIO
http://www.eoppep.gr/t eens/index.php/digitalfolder kuder navigator
KUDER NAVIGATOR
LECTURE BY TEACHERS OF THE VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT THE CURRICULUM OFFERED.
tests about our profession career
The students that applied for the Kuder Navigator programme took 3 tests to determine their skills and to learn in which profession they do best. Professors of the vocational high school visited our school to inform the 3rd grade students about the schedule of their school. Also, they showed them a presentation about their subjects in case a student wants to continue through high school and not the general one.
PERSONALITY TEST CALL FOR PARENTS TO BE INFORMED BY A SPECIALIST IN THE JOB ORIENTATION INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSIONALS
http://paroutsas.jmc.gr/i qtest/orient2.htm We had an evening meeting with the parents, informing about the education plan after Gymnasium. Students interviewed preofessionals about their profesion
Interview Interview 2
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
ACTIVITY TITLE
I T A L Y
2014-2016
OBJECTIVES
1.Open day at the University  of Trieste 22 and 23 October 2015
students meet university professors
2.Open day at the University of Ljubljana, Slo February2016
DESCRIPTION 
DOCUMENTS
students attend lectures - after analysing the preferences and interests, students will be able to choose the most suitable subjects to study
http://www2.units.it/ori enta/porteaperte2015 /
students meet university professors and students at various courses
students attend lectures and visit the locations of various faculties,depending on the study area that they are interested in
https://www.uni-lj.si/ http://filternet.si/os/dog odki/informativni-dnevi2016-2/
3.Educational association Slovik -workshops
students attend workshops for career planning
http://www.slovik.org/c ms/index.php?lang=si
4. Progetto lauree scientifiche University Degree in Science Studies Progect 5. Fiera delle professioni Career Fair at the Chamber of Commerce in Trieste.
inspiring and encouraging students to study science
the workshops focus on understanding the importance of an action plan which includes identifying the steps that guide the career planning process students attend laboratories, conferences, workshops at the Faculty of Geology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Fisics students meet and speak to experts in fields such as business, medicine, politics, law etc.
http://www.aries.ts.cam com.it/it/pagina/fieradelle-professioni.htm
students gain knowledge that will help improve their self-view and focus on their interest fields.
http://www.uniud.it/it/s ervizi/serviziorientamentoscuole/serviziscuole/flash-forward-3
6.Flash Forward Project
an event that allows students to match interests and employment objectives through in-depth assessments -college students and researches help high school students learn and experience the world of science and research -students attend video conferences, interact, put questions;
http://www.laureescient ifiche.units.it/
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
ACTIVITY TITLE YEAR 1:
OBJECTIVES learning about themselves, their strengths and interests
- “Learning how to learn”
S L O V E N I A
- a get-to-know-eachother camp
YEAR 2: - research camps
- inviting their parents to present their professions in class
thinking about the world of work and trying to connect their strengths and interests to a particular job (or jobs) we want our students to start thinking about their professional career
- presenting different professions (PPT presentations) in class
YEAR 3:
familiarising students with different possibilities of choosing a job they will love
DESCRIPTION This programme enables the students to find out what their wishes and abilities are; they learn things about time management and setting goals; think about how much effort they are willing to put into reaching their goals and success at school and in life. We show them different learning techniques, how the memory works, how our emotions influence successful learning …Students spend two days with their teachers (out of school, in nature). They participate in different activities, during which they introduce themselves in details, work in teams, learn new things about themselves and their classmates in different circumstances than at school. These activities are organized and implemented by our school social workers and teachers with specific knowledge. In the second year our students can choose a field they are especially interested in and we organize so called “research camps”, where they learn about research methods at a specific subject in details. Students' parents explain everything about the job they do, the education necessary for the position, the possibilities of promotion and of course the reasons why they chose this profession.These presentations take place during their class lessons (1 hour per week) or in some cases during English lessons. In cooperation with our school psychologist or the psychology teacher, students prepare PPT presentations on different professions (their own choice). Students first have a lesson or two with the school psychologist, where they discuss how to choose a job (which criteria to take into consideration: satisfaction, vacancies, current situation, etc.) and then they get into groups of 2-4 students and prepare a PPT presentation on a chosen profession. They present their profession in class (in English) and are graded for their presentation. Afterwards, they also fill in different questionnaires in English about their personality and interests. At the end, they have a discussion with their English teacher about the world of work (different professions, attending a first interview, working conditions, unemployment, retirement, etc.). They also learn how to write letters of application at their English lessons. At ICT lessons they learn how to write an on-line CV. In the third year the school's counsellor presents different possibilities the students have in connection with university enrolment in Slovenia and abroad. We talk about what the students want, which their talents are and where they could improve, we explain the procedure of
2014-2016
DOCUMENTS
- information about university enrolment in Slovenia and abroad
doing - individual discussions, group work, etc.
enrolment to them and different study programmes. They also have the possibility of individual counselling in our school advisory service.
inviting students to different institutions where they can find all of the information they are searching for; organizing lectures for them, so that they can learn about a study or a job first-hand
In the fourth year we explain the enrolment procedure and the requirements of different programmes in details, as well as enable them to discuss everything individually with the school's counsellor. We also carry out a couple of lessons in class where students think about themselves and their goals, their strengths and different possibilities for their employment. We also prepare the so called “career marathon” every year, where representatives of around 20 faculties (in Slovenia we have only 3 universities, which are then divided into faculties) present their programmes. Students and teachers from these faculties come and explain the enrolment requirements, entrance exams, programmes and future employment. We also invite third year student from Gimnazija Vič to these meetings. Besides everything mentioned, we also organize presentations of different studies abroad for second, third and fourth year students. We invite our former students who study abroad to explain what they study, where they work and how satisfied they are with their choice. We also invite all of our third and fourth year students to different events organized by faculties and working organizations, where students can get all of the necessary information on studies and employment. We enable them to connect with the Employment service of Slovenia, where they can fill in different questionnaires that help them determine what their future field of work could be. We help our students when it comes to applying to a university abroad and in Slovenia.
- open day at different Slovene universities (the second Friday and Saturday in February) YEAR 4: - “career marathon”
- cooperation with our former students
Read more on: http://erasmu seng.blogspot.s i/p/how-wedo-it-atgimnazijavic.html
http://erasmuseng.blogspot.com.es/
Job search guide Involve me & I learn
ACTIVITY TITLE SIMILUTING A COMMERCIAL COMPANY
I C E L A N D
OBJECTIVES Students to learn the departments - components of a commercial company Students to understand the main role of the several departments of a company encouraged to accomplish them within the subject of Technology and/or Information Science.
2014-2016
DESCRIPTION Each group chooses a company from a list given by the teacher, i.e. Seafood producer, Bank, Tourist Company, etc The students must decide who will take what role. i.e. who is CEO, financial manager, product manager,etc
QUESTIONNAIRE OF VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
CREATE AN e-PORTFOLIO KUDER NAVIGATOR
LECTURE FROM INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSOCIATION IN ICELAND.
Tests that check which career fits best the personality
Teachers explain how to create it. Example of a good portfolio Students that registered on Kuder take three tests that reveal what job will best suit the student. Professors of the vocational high school visited our school to inform the 3rd grade students about the schedule of their school. Also, they showed them a presentation about their subjects in case a student wants to continue through high school and not the general one.
PERSONALITY TEST
CALL FOR PARENTS TO BE INFORMED BY A SPECIALIST IN THE JOB ORIENTATION INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSIONALS
We had a lecture about how to start a company and innovate new solutions in the field of business. Students interviewed professionals about their profession
DOCUMENTS Some of the blogs that they have been created, showing their interests in life. http://casualtravelist.com/blog/ 25-travel-tips-iceland/ https://tommiiniceland.wordpr ess.com/
http://www.topuniversities.co m/student-info/careersadvice/how-answer-mostcommon-job-interviewquestions http://www.judithcasselman.co m/category/iceland/ kuder navigator
http://innblastur.is/10personuleikaprof-sem-hjalpather-ad-thekkja-thig-betur/ http://www.nmi.is/english
https://youtu.be/gssXW9FIjM4