Our students begin applying and working in various jobs in High School. We have an opportunity to teach them the skills they will need to be quality employees and obtain the jobs they want. Applying for jobs is tedious. Let’s explore how we can add some fun to landing the job.

“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.”

Mary Poppins

Job Search

The first step in landing the job is to search for available positions. Many of our students think they will run a company before they have any work experience.

What are the work requirements in your state? Federal law states that students must be 14 years old to work, and they can only work 3 hours on school days. The law also states that they can only work from 7 AM to 7 PM on school days or from 7 AM to 9 PM during the week. Students are forbidden from doing dangerous jobs until they turn 18.

What types of jobs can students do? Explore this question with students. Let them brainstorm the jobs available in your community as a class.

Once students know what jobs they can do, they will need to learn how to find those jobs. Explore where to search for jobs. Does your community have a specific location jobs are posted? Some options might include word of mouth, classified ads, local papers, or job search websites.

Take a few moments to teach students how to read a job description. Outline what a job description entails, including the work that will be required and the skills required to perform the job.

Applications

Now that students can find jobs they want to apply for, they will need to know how to fill out an application. Some essential topics would include the color of ink to use, printing legibly, filling out the application, and writing professionally.

For many students, this is a new concept for them. We have all heard the adage; that practice makes perfect. Take time for students to practice filling out a sample application. The Mind Trek has a job application lesson you can use with your students in our Career Readiness Units.

Encourage students to remember this is frequently their first impression. Help them understand how to make a great first impression on paper. One way to illustrate this is by practicing with poorly written applications. Students should look at poorly written applications and pick out the mistakes. Go over the applications as a class to illustrate why students should write their applications differently.

Interview

Interviewing can be intimidating for seasoned professionals. It is very intimidating for students! Start teaching your students the basics of interviewing skills. Help them understand what they should wear to an interview. Their outfit and appearance make a loud first impression.

Another important topic to cover in interview skills is timeliness. Students should understand that they should show up to interviews a few minutes early and what they do when they arrive. Greet the receptionist or employee that they come into contact with first. Be professional and announce why they are there and who they are meeting.

Students will need to know how to speak professionally in an interview. Mock interviews are an excellent way to practice interview skills. Students can practice with one another or with adults in the community. They can practice making eye contact, tone of voice, how to answer questions, and how to be professional. Practice builds students’ confidence.

Resume

Resumes can be very tedious, and most students do not know how to write a resume. You will want to start by sharing with students what a resume is and its purpose. Resumes are a piece of paper that highlights who you are. It includes your experience, education, skills, and references.

Resumes are frequently used when applying for jobs to start your career, college scholarships, and internships. They give the reader a glimpse of who you are before they interview you. Resumes can be tedious and time-consuming to write. This is why we start writing them in high school so that we can update them as we grow and mature.

The Mind Trek Education Programs have lessons on career readiness and landing the job, including writing resumes. They are included in both our Middle School and High School programs. If you are teaching younger students, you can start teaching resumes by helping students know their phone numbers and address. Many students do not have that information memorized yet.

SEL Unfiltered

Do you want to hear more? Check out the rest of our series on Career Readiness on our SEL Unfiltered podcast, wherever you stream your podcasts.

Check out other episodes in our Career Readiness series, including Why Career Readiness?, Exploration – Engaging with the Community, Virtual Career Exploration, and Employability Skills – Communication.

Game of the Week

We like to bring you a game or activity every week on SEL Unfiltered. You can use the game with your students, in the classroom, or a small group. This week Kaitlin and I did I Think I Can Thursday.

I Think I Can Thursday is a great way to get students thinking in a positive direction. It helps them recognize what they can do and set goals. Setting goals with the class is an excellent opportunity for students to encourage and hold each other accountable.

We love our Take 5 activities here at SEL Unfiltered, and this is no exception. You can do I Think I Can Thursday as an exit ticket, a discussion topic in a small group, or to start class.