Look at Job Openings

Step 3 | 30 minutes

Instructions

You should now have a list of three occupations or business start-ups.  It's too early to look for full-time work now, but in this step you'll make sure you have a professional email address, become familiar with job search resources, and look at actual job openings to see how you compare to the qualifications.

 

Reading

Begin with the end in mind.  This is a well-known tip from the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Dr. Stephen Covey.  The main idea is to think about what you are trying to accomplish, and then work backward from there.  That's one advantage to looking at actual job openings now or testing your plan for a business start-up ahead of time.  The more you can learn about what it will take to succeed, the better you can plan for what you need to do and learn now.

For example, if you're planning to start a landscaping business after graduation, what will it take for you to convince potential customers to choose you?  What equipment will you need?  What related learning opportunities do you have at your high school, online, through reading, or by talking to landscapers you know?  Are there some projects you could take on now that will help you learn?

Let's say you're interested in a job at a local hospital or doctor's office.  What are the requirements you see in their online local job postings (e.g., Indeed.com), and what would it take for you to qualify?  Are there courses you could take or certifications you could earn next year at your high school?  Maybe you'd like to schedule a meeting with a few people who manage hiring and ask for their advice about how to best prepare for some of the openings they might have next year.

One last thing: it's not about you, it's about others.  The truth of the matter is that working in a job or running a business is ultimately about serving others.  Every job or business exists to solve a problem for someone.  Yes, keep in mind your own interests, values, and strengths, but give lots of thought to how you'll apply those to solving challenging problems for those you serve through your work.

Before you tackle your Action Item, watch the video about getting the right email address to help you succeed.

 

Video - Your Personal Email Address

 

Action Item
  1. Review the email addresses you have and choose one to use for all your correspondence with potential employers or customers. If you need to create a new one, consider creating a Google Gmail account. When your email address is ready to go, make sure you’ve entered it in your Profile in the CFNC.org Dashboard.
  2. Go to the Search for a Job resources on NCcareers.org to review current job openings listed on the NCWorks website and Indeed.com.  See if the plans you made in Step Two are preparing you to qualify for the jobs you'd like to have.
  3. If your focus is entrepreneurship, take advantage of NC's 58 Small Business Centers or the federal Small Business Administration site.

 

Additional Resources and Tips

For Students

Learn more about work-based learning opportunities in this article on NCcareers.org: Internships, Apprenticeships, and Other Work-Based Learning.

Check out Job Seeker 101 resources on NCcareers.org for tips on job searches, resumes, and more.

For Parents

You are a critical support and guide as your student transitions after high school!  We hope these resources have been helpful, and we'd appreciate your taking a minute on the next page to let us know what you think.

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