Our Career Pathways/Road to Success series of blogs is being re-branded as the Get Ready to Win series! This week, we’ll be illuminating a pathway from displacement back to the active workforce.
Step 1: Stay Positive
In these chaotic times, a positive attitude goes a long way. You never know what a positive outlook will lead to, whether it’s a job, a connection, or a partnership.
Step 2: Evaluate Your Options
Do you know which direction you’re heading in? If not, find an online interest inventory. An interest inventory takes the answers you provide and gives you viable options for a future career. If you don’t know which inventory to use, we suggest O*NET’s.
Step 3: Take the First Step Towards Employment
The first thing you need to do is search for a job. There are a lot of options out there, but the search engine we suggest is Pure Michigan Talent Connect (PMTC). PMTC gives you the means to search for legitimate, locally-sourced positions throughout the Upper Peninsula.
Step 4: Refine Your Resume
Your resume is one of the first things an employer will see when they review your application. Call a Michigan Works! office, and an experienced workforce services team member will help you polish your resume. If you need to create a resume from scratch, they can help with that, too. Find Michigan Works! contact information on this page.
Step 5: Apply
This step is pretty simple. Apply for one or more positions that suit your skills and interests. It is important to be thorough, truthful, and neat on every application you fill out.
Step 6: Practice, Practice, Practice
Interviewing, whether it be in person, on the phone, or online, takes practice. Michigan Works! staff members can help you practice, and we can also give you tips and tricks to ace the interview. If you’re staying home and would rather practice alone, you can practice by interviewing yourself in a mirror.
Step 7: Complete the Interview
Don’t think too much. The interviewer is a person just like you. It’s important to remain calm, answer questions thoroughly and truthfully, and have fun. Interviewers want to see the real you, so let your personality shine. Once the interview has concluded, thank the employer for their time and follow up later with a thank-you note.
Step 8: Accept the Job and Prepare
You did it! You were offered the position you applied and interviewed for. Now, you just need to accept the position in a prompt and professional fashion. Once you’ve done that, you need to prepare for your first day. That includes acquiring work-appropriate clothing, finding consistent transportation to and from work, and completing any homework your new employer may have assigned to you.
Final Step: Enjoy Your New Job
You’ve done it! You followed the preceding steps and you got ready to win! Now, all you have to do is enjoy the ride!
For more information about getting ready to win with programs and services through Michigan Works!, please visit our Job Seekers page.