How Do I Get And Keep A Job?
Our goal is to make it a lot easier for you to complete job applications by helping answer some of your biggest questions and get job-ready. We hope this will help you get organized, apply for, get and KEEP the jobs you want. Let us know if this helps you feel more confident to go out there and achieve your goals.
Good luck! We believe in you!
GET READY TO JOB SEARCH
Before you start filling out job applications, you need to assemble:
A complete list of your previous employers;
The dates you worked each job;
Your supervisor or manager’s name and contact info (full name, email, and phone number); or
One to three references, meaning people you worked with or for, and teachers or professors who agree to speak in positive ways about your skills, talents, and your potential. Ask them if they are willing to speak on your behalf, and how they’d like potential jobs, apprenticeships to contact them (such as by phone or email).
A resume, including all of the above as well as your school history, awards, skills, and references.
What If I Have Never Had A Job Before?
That’s OK. You can still assemble a list of references, and document what you have done. You might be surprised at the skills you have that you may not consider talents or work experience.
Have you babysat or taken care of siblings? Then you may have one or more of these skills:
Communication
Planning Ahead
Creative Thinking
Decision Making
Working In A Stressful Environment
Problem Solving
Analytical and Time Management
Compassion and Empathy
Organization
Leadership
Classroom and/or Household Management
Physical Stamina
Quick Learner
Do you volunteer regularly to help your community? Have you been captain of a sports team? Do you train or raise animals or pets?
Then you may have one or more of these skills:
Persuasive speaking
Honesty
Flexibility
Media Literacy
Empathy
Adaptability
Use of Encouraging Language
Clear Communication
Patience
Self-Control
Taking Responsibility
Patience
Listening
Attentiveness
Time Management
Leadership/Teamwork
Willingness To Improve
Ability To Admit You Don’t Have The Answer
These are all transferable skills (skills you can take from one area of your life or experience, and apply in a work, school, or other desired environment). Write them down in a life experience resume, and ask for people who have witnessed you or taught you these skills to speak on your behalf. These people may become your references or write you letters of recommendation.
What If I Have A Criminal Record or Have Been Incarcerated Or Am Coming Out Of Substance Treatment?
Relatives who are navigating reentry from treatment or who have been justice-involved often worry that their past will determine their future. Bad choices do not mean you’re a bad person, or that your life is over. It’s not over, and you’re not alone.
Take action today to rewrite your story and live a good life.
Seek out employers known to hire those with a record. Ask relatives, probation officers, sponsors, and treatment counselors to introduce you or give you ideas.
Document the ways your life has changed since you had your experiences in treatment, jail, detention or prison.
Keep all of your records, art made, home addresses, classes taken, books read, awards, recovery efforts and successes, justice-related events/timeline, and your accomplishments. Put it all on paper to show the changes you’ve made and demonstrate who you are today.
Know your rights and research options for record expungement, reentry resources and opportunities. https://guides.loc.gov/reentry-resources/employment
Re-frame your background as an asset to an employer. Did you have a job while incarcerated or in treatment? Look at the skills lists from the What If I’ve Never Had A Job Before section above and use what applies to you. Add any that apply to your skill set from the list below:
Sales and Service Oriented
Negotiating Contracts
Active Listening
Resiliency
Creativity
Monitoring Situations Closely
Situational Awareness
Critical Thinking
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation
Mathematics
Negotiating Differences
Coordinating A Team
Street Smarts
Shady Activity Discernment
What If I Have A Disability Or Need Accommodations At Work?
If you have a documented physical, learning or emotional disability, it is illegal for employers to discriminate against you. You can request reasonable accommodation at work so that you can be a successful employee there.
The Ask Jan organization (askjan.org) offers free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment via resources, training, and referrals for all individuals, whether they have a job or not.
If you think you might need accommodations, but have never been evaluated, ask your doctor, counselor, or school to help you determine what kind of support you need to help you succeed.
How Do I Keep My Job?
A few strategies to not only keep your job, but learn and grow in your work environment are to:
Show up: When you are at work, be at work. Set boundaries with family and friends around when and how you will be available while at work.
Take care of yourself: Maintain your own physical, emotional and spiritual health. Try to keep yourself as well and balanced as possible, so you can be available to work. If you aren’t well, or don’t rest, it’s so much harder to be consistent and feel encouraged at work. Practice self-control and stress management techniques to help you stay calm in tense situations. The Nap Ministry (https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/) has some great ideas for self-care in all kinds of situations.
Do what you say you will: Show up on time, take note of commitments you’ve made and keep them. Be reliable.
Say what you mean & keep it positive: Communicate clearly, before (or as soon as possible when) there’s a problem. Speak up for yourself and for others. Don’t hesitate to give a compliment or acknowledge when things are going well. You don’t have to be an extrovert to be a good employee. Write out what you want to say. Ask to speak with your coworkers or managers in a quiet environment if it’s easier for you to communicate clearly.
Be creative, and be yourself.
Encourage and support others: Look for ways to encourage and uplift your co-workers; and
Keep learning: Stay curious and interested, if you notice something that is new to you, ask for more information, research new ways of approaching your work.
Make it happen: Find things to do in down times at work. Don’t immediately go to your phone if it’s slow or you’re not sure what to do next. Ask what you can do to help, learn something new, or make someone else’s job easier.
How Do I Get And Keep A Job? by Iman Moore and Dyana Valentine is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0