Click here for a list of items required in portfolio.

PART 1: Complete Career Interest Surveys to Determine Career Options
Assignment: Visit each of the following sites. Do each part an indicated below. (Required Items for Part 1: Printout of required copy/paste items identified by headings; list of five careers that fit in your color; Two-page paper on three possible careers)

• MAPP: Understand your true motivations (copy and paste the paragraph about you from each section; must create a login)
  http://www.assessment.com/MAPPMembers/Welcome.asp
• LiveCareer: Take this to find out the areas of employment you would be most interested in. (copy and paste the "workplace fit graph" and the description of the areas you scored "high" in)
  http://www.livecareer.com
• Princeton Review: Take this very short quiz and find out your "interest" and "usual style" colors. (copy and paste the descriptions and colors) Then, register and get a list of careers that fit your color. Pick FIVE career you think are interesting from the list. Read about a few of them and be sure to click on "Facts and Figures" to find out average salary. Then, write a two-page paper (double spaced, 1" margins, size 12 font) about your findings. Of those five careers, which seems most interesting to you? Identify the top two and read more about those. Which has the highest salary? What can you major in at college to be this? Which might you choose if you had to decide right now?
  http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/quiz/default.asp?careers=6

PART 2: Online Job Search
Assignment: Using the internet as a resource, locate jobs in your identified career area. If you plan to attend college after high school, then look for a job that you could carry during school for which you are currently qualified. Be sure that the job is one that, upon graduation, you will be qualified for. Copy and paste at least four jobs in this general geographic area (Kansas City, Columbia, St. Louis, or Southeast Missouri) and one job elsewhere. Try to find jobs that give lots of information on the job (requirements, hours, pay rate, etc.). The sites below may be helpful in your search. (Required Items for Part 2: Detailed classified ads for four possible jobs)

• Southeast Missourian Newspaper (Cape Girardeau)
  http://www.semissourian.com
• Daily American Republic Newspaper (Poplar Bluff)
  http://www.darnews.com
• Standard Democrat Newspaper (Sikeston)
  http://www.standard-democrat.com
• Kansas City Job Hunter
  http://www.kansascity.com/classifieds/jobs/
• St. Louis Post Dispatch
  http://www.post-dispatch.com
• Columbia Tribune
  http://www.showmenews.com/
• Career City Job Search
  http://www.careercity.com/
• America's Job Bank
  http://www.ajb.dni.us/
• Nation Job Search
  http://www.nationjob.com/jobsearch.html
• DICE High Tech Job Search
  http://www.dice.com/search-dice.html

PART 3: Application Process
Assignment: Visit businesses in the area. Obtain three employment applications. Complete one application (typed) for your portfolio. (Required Items for Part 3: Employment application)

PART 4: Cover Letter
Assignment: Read through the sources listed below and take notes about writing effective cover letters. Then, write two different cover letters (pick two of the jobs you selected in Part 2). If any of the companies have internet webpages, refer to them for more information about the position. (Required Items for Part 4: Notes; 2 Cover Letters)

• Job Search Correspondence: The Cover Letter. Explains what a cover letter is, how it is used, and tips for writing cover letters. Has one example.
  http://www.vcu.edu/safweb/careers/strategy/letters.html
• Best Cover Letters (Examples of letters)
  http://www.bestcoverletters.com/

PART 5: Resume/Interview Preparation
Assignment: Read through the following web sites and take notes on what employers look for in candidates, resume writing, and the difference between electronic and paper resumes. Prepare a  resume to accompany one of the cover letters in Part 4. (Required Items for Part 5: Notes; 2 resumes)

• What Employers Look For (read over this before you create your resume; note what things an employer wants so you can properly prepare an effective resume; take notes!)
  http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html
• Sample Student Resume (no work experience)
  http://jobsearch.about.com/library/samples/blhsresume2.htm
• Resume Templates (can open in Word so you have a format to begin with, but change to YOUR information!)
  http://www.collegegrad.com/resumes/quickstart/agree.shtml

PART 6: Job Interviews
Assignment: Read through the following web sites. Take notes on the various types of interviews, dressing for interviews, the role of nonverbal communication in interviews, tips for interviewing, and how to answer tough interview questions. Students will each be individually interviewed by the instructor and all students will participate in a group interview. (Required Items for Part 6: Notes; types of interviews handout; Five personal answers to interview questions; Evaluation of Interviews)

• Types of Interviews (view this PDF; print and include in your portfolio)
  http://careers.usc.edu/docs/handouts/Interview_Different_Types.pdf
• How to Answer Job Interview Questions (read over these before moving on)
  http://www.professional-cv-services.co.uk/intv/job_interview_answers.html
• College Student Interview Questions (read over these 20 questions; pick the five you think would be most important and answer them for you)
  http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_database/college_student_traditional_questions.html
• Types of Interviews (Campus, On-site, Telephone, Panel, Group, and More)
  http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/CDC/inttyps.htm
• Having a Successful Job Interview. Includes ways to answer interview questions.
  http://www.sla.org/chapter/ctor/toolbox/career/success.htm
• The Most Important Interview Nonverbals
  http://www.collegegrad.com/book/15-7.shtml
• Dressing for Interview Success
  http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/dress.html

PART 7: After the Interview
Assignment: Examine the following web sites. E-mail me a few reasons that thank-you letters are important. Prepare a thank-you letter. (Required Items for Part 7: Summary of Thank-you Letters; Thank-you letter)

• Strategies for Interviewing: Writing a Thank You Letter After the Interview. Includes reasons for writing thank you letters, tips for writing thank you letters, and a sample.
  http://www.vcu.edu/safweb/careers/strategy/iviewletter.html
• Sample Thank You Letter
  http://www.jobbankusa.com/CareerArticles/Interview/ca10706a.html

PART 8: Other Employment-Related Letters
Assignment: Write a short summary differentiating between an acceptance letter, rejection letter, resignation letter, and follow up letter. Prepare each type of letter for portfolio. (Required Items for Part 8: Summary; Letters)

• Job Search Correspondence. Includes thank you letters, acceptance letters, and more.
  http://www.upenn.edu/careerservices/sw/sswcorrsp.html
• Employment Letters (examples)
  http://jobsearch.about.com/od/morejobletters/Resignation_Letters_Thank_You_Letters_Employment_Letters.htm

PART 9: Summary and Review
Assignment: Complete the review questions. (Required Items for Part 10: Original answers to review questions)

• Summary Questions for Employment Unit