Job Searches
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Is it okay to follow up after a job interview to check on the status of your application?
Yes- but you should give them a reasonable amount of time after the interview, at least a week or two, and you should not pester them. You shouldn't follow up more than one time per week, at most.
In the public sector, where do companies get the money they pay their employees?
The government pays them with tax revenue
In the private sector, where do companies get the money they use to pay their employees?
From the money they make from operations- selling a product/service
True or False: Commuting for long periods on a daily basis has been shown to increase stress and reduce a person's quality of life.
True- it is wise to cut down on your daily commute as much as you can for your own quality of life.
What should you always do before listing someone as a reference?
Get their permission.
What should you always have prepared for the end of a job interview?
Questions to ask the interviewer
Give an example of a public sector job.
This could be any job that is funded by taxes- for example, teachers, firefighters, military, police, etc.
Give an example of a private sector job.
This could be any job that is not funded by taxes- there are hundreds of potential answers to this question.
Why is it an extra challenge when you have conflict with your boss?
They are typically the one you would go to if you have a problem at work.
What is one of the job search websites we discussed?
Some answers could include Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn, Zip Recruiter, etc.
Should you ever bring your parents to an interview? Why or why not?
NO- this will send the message that you are not responsible and cannot take care of yourself.
What is likely the main reason why someone would want to work a public sector job?
To make a difference
True or False: Most jobs are private sector jobs.
True- most jobs are not funded by tax revenue
What crucial soft skill should help you navigate many types of workplace conflict?
Communication
What is the difference between someone giving a good reference and giving an effective reference?
A good reference is when someone says positive things about you. An effective reference is when someone says the things that will help you get the job.
If you are asked a question in a job interview and your answer would be negative, what should you do?
Do not lie- but try to frame the answer in the most positive way possible.
Why are public sector businesses more likely to deal with public pressure?
The government pays public sector businesses, and that money comes from taxpayers, so both groups tend to want a say in what public sector businesses do.
True/False: In general, the rarer your knowledge, the more you get paid in the private sector.
True- pay in the private sector is often based on how valuable your skills are to a company. An employee with rarer skills is likely harder to find/replace and would be worth more money to a company.
If you are not satisfied with your pay or benefits, what can you do?
The only thing you can really do is negotiate when it is time to re-sign your contract and try to get a better deal. If you can't, you will need to decide whether it is worth continuing the job without the additional pay/benefits.
What is one of the resume tips we discussed on the PowerPoint?
The tips we discussed were:
Keep it organized
Prioritize
Describe your job duties, not just your job title
Be honest, but be generous with yourself
Focus on professional elements
Use only one page, but fill that page
Adjust your resume for the job you are applying for
If you are asked a question in a job interview and can not think of an answer, what should you do first?
If we didn't have public sector jobs, what is one way our country would be negatively impacted?
There could be a lot of potential answers to this, but some of the main ones would be that we would be less educated and less safe, which would mean we would also be a very poor nation and would likely have significantly less freedom than we do today.
What does the term hierarchy mean?
Basically, who is in charge of who- it is the positions and rankings of people in a company, which specifically shows who has authority over who
What is whistleblowing and why is it such a big challenge for many people?
Whistleblowing is when an employee reports that someone at their company (or the entire company) is breaking the law and/or doing something unethical. It is a big challenge because it can have consequences for the person who blows the whistle- many companies will retaliate against whistleblowers, even though it is illegal to do so.