New hires must prepare to make an immediate impact in a fluctuating and dynamic job market. Teaching career readiness and employability skills helps prepare college students for a job search and, ultimately, success in their careers. This paper discusses how an academic program at a university adapted to prepare students for the workplace during a…

This article demonstrates and reinforces the role that well-told stories play in the success of the job-search process. Building on narrative theory, impression management, and an increased use of behavioral-based questions in interviews, well-crafted stories about work and educational experiences demonstrate skills applicants possess and convey…

Educating high school students for both college and career is difficult. Teaching trade skills seems alien to the academic culture. But new research indicates that soft skills are quite important to judgments of employability and that youth learn many soft skills in traditional academic subjects (e.g., literature). A focus on soft skills allows…

This Practice Report describes the development and implementation of the "Maine Employability Skills Program," a model employment program developed by the Maine Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI). The program was designed to support the efforts of the chronically unemployed or underemployed. These consumers were either…

This paper presents a collection of videos that provide ideas on getting jobs for educators. Contents include: (1) Educator's Guide: Introduction to the Video Series; (2) Educator's Guide: Your Journey; (3) Educator's Guide: Your Rights and Responsibilities; (4) Educator's Guide: Introduction to Vocational Rehabilitation; (5) Educator's Guide:…

Good resumes, applications, and cover letters broadcast one's abilities. They tell employers how one's qualifications match a job's responsibilities. If these critical preliminaries are constructed well, one has a better chance of landing interviews--and, eventually, a job. This article provides some guidelines for creating resumes and cover…

Job seekers should distinguish between learning portfolios and career portfolios. The latter should organize skills into categories and use appropriate technology. Maintaining a portfolio helps focus the job search and provides data for interviewing. (SK)

This booklet provides students with information and practice in applying for their first job. Topics covered include applying for a Social Security card, filling out job applications, job interviews, and applying for a work permit. A glossary of terms and abbreviations also is included. (KC)

These bilingual sheets assist migrant farmworkers to develop job readiness skills; however, they would be applicable to any job seeker. The collection contains sheets with the following titles: (1) Decide Where To Look; (2) Extra Steps for Success; (3) Fill Out Applications; (4) Introducing Yourself; (5) Keeping a Job Depends upon You; (6) Learn…

This paper contains excerpts of comments made by a panel of deans, department heads, search committee members, and others, all with professional education positions within the Mid-South Educational Research Association six-state region, offering a candid look at their criteria, preferences, and experiences regarding the employment process. Their…

This workbook is the third in a series of four student workbooks designed to prepare youth with the employability skills needed for the world of work. The four student workbooks contain all phases of employability skills in seven individual packages. This workbook on skills for job getting includes one learning package, which is divided into three…

This booklet is designed to help undergraduate sociology majors find employment in related areas in which they would like to work. Topics include identifying personal interests and skills, researching possible careers, finding out what those careers are really like by interviewing people working in those areas, writing effective letters and…

The purpose of this booklet is to help graduate sociology majors outline a career-planning strategy, highlighting sociological skills that might be valued assets in the eyes of employers. The first two sections help students assess interests and skills, and research careers via publications and informational interviewing. Next, three major aspects…

Objectives and learning activities are delineated for a one-quarter, six-credit course offered by University College of the University of Cincinnati to familiarize students with the written and oral communication skills they will need on the job and to conduct a successful job search. A brief course description is presented first, revealing that…

This illustrated, jungle-theme book plans a job search. There are three major sections in the book: (1) plan your safari; (2) where to look for jobs; and (3) making contact. Section one includes information on resumes, references, official papers needed for a job, and 11 ideas to help find job openings. Section two suggests finding jobs in state…