z7'Z/X5-7//y ^ CAN GET THAT JOB! maturity is an asset The "How To" ideas in this folder ha^'e been tested, and they work. Use them all, and you'll have a good chance of succeeding in your search — because they have been used with good results by thousands of job seekers over 35. YOU CAN GET THAT JOB! Be determined, be persistent — and remember that every day more employers are discovering that people past 35, 50, or 65 are often not only just as good but better than younger workers, in ability, productivity, loyalty and many other important traits. As a mature worker, you have experience that gives you an edge over anyone who has had less. But you'll need to convince the employer that he will gain by hiring you — so follow the plan laid out here, to convince him. TAKE STOCK OF YOUR ABILITIES The best way to start on any successful job hunt is first of all to take stock of yourself — sit down and size yourself up. It will pay you to prepare a sheet showing your strong points and your weak ones. Be realistic — make this a "cold turkey" study of yourself. Use the "self- inventory sheet" in this folder, if you wish. No one else needs to read this sheet, and you can throw it away when it has served its purpose. SELF-INVENTORY ABILITIES EDUCATION & TRAINING SPARE-TIME ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES PHYSICAL CAPACITIES PERSONAL QUALITIES JOB PREFERENCES WHERE TO LOOK FOR WORK NAME OF COMPANY ADDRESS TELEPHONE WHOM TO SEE List your experience and abilities — not just your regular work skills, but any talents you have found through hobbies, part-time jobs, or giving volunteer help to some organization. List your education and training briefly, and the particular job skills they have given you. List your physical capabilities as well as any physical limitations you have. Consider your personal qualities and the kinds of work that interest you most. After you've prepared this sheet you will find it a lot easier to make a sensible job search, without wasting your own time or that of any possible employer. You'll have a pretty good idea about the kinds of jobs you can handle, and which ones to avoid. You'll know what jobs probably would interest you, and what ones you would find dull and hard to carry out. If you need further help in deciding what kind of work to look for, ask to see the counselor in your nearest public employment office. FIND A MARKET FOR YOUR SKILLS You can find job leads in a lot of ways. Your local office of the State Employ- ment Service will help; your school or college may have a placement service to help you; your union or professional association may provide leads. Ask your friends, relatives and neighbors about possible jobs they may know about. Look at the "^vant ads." Check the classified telephone directory for names of firms in the fields you plan to seek work in. As soon as you have decided where to go for your first try for a job, try to learn in advance as much as you can about the firm to which you are applying. You can do a better job of selling your services with that knowledge. Think through your qualifications for the particular job for which you will be interviewed, and have the facts arranged in your mind so that you can answer ques- tions clearly and briefly. PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD This checklist will help you with your interview: Take with you a summary of past experience and education, with names, places, and dates. Have ready a list of three to six people or firms (with names, addresses, and telephone numbers) which may be used as references. Take your Social Security card. Don't take anyone with you to the interview. Be on time for your interview, not even one minute late. Dress well, but not gaudily. Be clean and neat. If you are a woman, do not use flashy makeup or excessive jewelry; if you are a man, avoid sports clothes. Even if you feel tired or a little unwell, sit up and look alert. Don't yawn, slouch or show signs of nervousness. Answer all the employer's questions frankly, honestly, and briefly. Don't boast, but speak with confidence. If you are asked to fill out a number of forms or to take various tests, do so cheerfully and do as well as you can. When you are asked, point Out the value of your past experience, especially as it applies to the job you are seeking. Don't let yourself argue with the person interviewing you. Do not criticize others, including your past employers or associates. Keep your personal, domestic or financial problems out of the conversation. The employer only wants to know what you can do and how well you can do it — he isn't interested in your troubles. Be polite. Show courtesy and respect for the person interviewing you. If the employer offers suggestions about other jobs or types of work, but will not hire you for the one you visited him about, listen to what he has to say. He may provide you with just the lead or advice you need to secure another job. If you feel you were not able to give a good impression in your first interview, because of nervousness or other reasons, don't let that worry you unduly. Your experience with that interview will help you handle the next one. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HELP AVAILABLE You can get useful help at your nearest public employment oflSce. It will assist you in an analysis of your experience and abilities, in counseling, and in finding job openings. When you register with this office (which is open to everyone), your interviewer will study your record and ask key questions to help find occupational classifications into which your experience best fits. If you have already made a personal analysis, as suggested above, you will be better able to give the Employment Service interviewer or counselor the right infor- mation, and to benefit from questions and suggestions. Special problems in your job hunting will get special consideration. Your Employment Service may also be able to help you find training you need to bring your skills up to date, or to adapt your skills to some new type of work. Keep your registration with the public employment service up to date until you find a job. Do your own searching too, of course, but if the Service calls you for an employer interview, take advantage of it as soon as you possibly can. If you find a job yourself, notify your Employment Service so that it can use the time to find openings for other job seekers. For further information, visit the nearest local office of the State Employment Service. U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE; 1957 • O — 44S430 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, TJ. S. Govemraent Printing Office Washington 2S, D. C. - Price 10 cents SEE YOUR STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE affiliated with UNITED STATES EMPLOYMENT SERVICE ■I UNIVERMTY OF FLORIDA 3 1262 08858 9261