Find a Better Job for Self-Reliance

1

The Fundamentals

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Act in Faith
Focus Your Search
Work Hard: Identify Resources and Make Contacts

10

Succeed at Work

Job Search Principles, Skills, And Habits

Be a Great Employee
Make Employment Goals

2

Networking

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

How People Really Get Jobs
Talk to Everyone
Me in 30 Seconds

3

Match Your Skills to the Employer’s Needs

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Identify the Employer’s Needs
Match Your Skills

4

Power Statements

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Make Powerful Impressions
Follow the Power Statement Formula

5

Written Materials

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Three Simple Principles
Résumés
Cover Letters
Applications

6

Nail the Interview: Part 1

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Prepare Before the Interview
Open the Interview Effectively
Use Your Me in 30 Seconds
Use Power Statements

7

Nail the Interview: Part 2

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Turn Negatives into Positives
Ask Questions
Close the Interview Effectively

8

Practice Interviews

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Practice Makes Perfect

9

Accelerate Your Job Search

Job Search Principles, Skills, And Habits

Work Hard: 15-10-2
Work Smart

Find a Better Job for Self-Reliance

Action Partners

Read:

With the help of others, you can accomplish great things. For example, missionaries have companions for support. In our groups, we have “action partners.” Each week we will choose and work with an action partner. Action partners help each other keep commitments by:

Calling, texting, or visiting each other during the week.
Talking about what we learned in the group.
Encouraging each other to keep commitments.
Counseling together about challenges.
Praying for each other.

Discuss:

How has someone helped you accomplish something difficult?

Read:

Being an action partner is not hard or time consuming. To start the conversation, you could ask:

What did you like about our last group meeting?
What good things have happened to you this week?
How have you used the My Foundation principle this week?

The most important part of the discussion will be helping each other keep commitments. You could ask:

How are you doing with your commitments?
If you haven’t kept some of them, do you need help?
How can I best support your efforts?

Agendas

Option 1

Meeting 1 (8–9 Hours)	Meetings 2–12 (1–1.5 Hours)
My Foundation	Report
Chapters 1–10	My Foundation
Commit	Sharpen Your Skills
	Commit

Option 2

Meeting 1 (4–5 Hours)	Meeting 2 (4–5 Hours)	Meetings 3–12 (1–1.5 Hours)
My Foundation	Report	Report
Chapters 1–5	My Foundation	My Foundation
Commit	Chapters 6–10	Sharpen Your Skills
	Commit	Commit

Option 3

Meeting 1 (3 Hours)	Meeting 2 (2–3 Hours)	Meeting 3 (3 Hours)	Meeting 4 (2 Hours)	Meetings 5–14 (1–1.5 Hours)
My Foundation	Chapters 4–6	Report	Chapters 9–10	Report
Chapters 1–3		My Foundation		My Foundation
Commit		Chapters 7–8		Sharpen Your Skills
		Commit		Commit

Option 4

Meeting 1 (2 Hours)	Meetings 2–10 (2 Hours)	Meetings 11–12 (1–1.5 Hours)
My Foundation	Report	Report
Chapter 1	My Foundation	My Foundation
Commit	Chapters 2–10 (1 per week)	Sharpen Your Skills
	Commit	Commit

Appendix

Job Search Tracking Record

Day 1
Resources:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Contacts:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Meetings:	□ □	Daily Total
Notes:

Day 2
Resources:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Contacts:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Meetings:	□ □	Daily Total
Notes:

Day 3
Resources:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Contacts:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Meetings:	□ □	Daily Total
Notes:

Day 4
Resources:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Contacts:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Meetings:	□ □	Daily Total
Notes:

Day 5
Resources:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Contacts:	□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □	Daily Total
Meetings:	□ □	Daily Total
Notes:

Contact Follow-Up Form

Contact

Person or organization:

Telephone:

Address:

Email:

I was referred by:

I contacted this person

Date:

Items Discussed

Follow-Up Activities

New Referrals

1. Name:

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Address:

2. Name:

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Address:

Interview and Meeting Evaluation

Date

Make copies of this form before you fill it out. Use this form to evaluate your interviews and meetings and to track your progress. Add new referrals to your network list.

Person or organization:

I was prepared.

Yes
No
Comments:

I achieved my objectives.

Yes
No
Comments:

I presented myself well.

Yes
No
Comments:

Items discussed:

What Went Well

What I Need to Improve

Follow-up activities:

New referrals:

1. Name:

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Address:

2. Name:

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Address:

Advanced Networking

Identify Decision Makers

Read:

Beyond talking with who you know, you should also contact businesses. When you contact businesses, your efforts will be much more effective if you talk to the people who make the hiring decisions. Use the internet and professional social media sites to identify who you should talk to.

For example, Josh wants to work in computer support. He might look up a company and try to identify people who manage the Information Technology Department. He could check the company directory or do a search for people by company on a social media site. He can then call the company and ask for these people by name. When you use names, it is surprising how often you will be connected directly with the people.

Each business and person you identify is a resource. Each employment interaction you have with a business or person at a business is a contact. The more personal contacts you make with businesses and people at those businesses, the quicker you will find a job.

Use Scripts

Read:: Writing scripts can be a great way to prepare yourself for effective interactions. This will help you sound more confident and have more success. To help you with this, here are some sample scripts for three basic scenarios for contacting people or businesses.

Contacting Someone You Know

Say, “Hello, (name of contact), this is (your name). Could you talk with me for three or four minutes?”

Briefly explain why you are calling (don’t take longer than 15 seconds).

Use your Me in 30 Seconds statement.

Use a closing question to ask for help (remember to include contacts, referrals, and leads).

Thank the person for his or her time.

Contacting Someone You Were Referred To

Say, “Hello, (name of contact), my name is (your name), and (name of person who referred you) suggested I call you. Could you talk with me for three or four minutes?”

Briefly explain why you are calling (don’t take more than 15 seconds).

Use your Me in 30 Seconds statement.

Use a closing question to ask for help (remember to include contacts, referrals, and leads).

If the person you are talking with mentions an internal job opening, ask for an interview. (Be sure to offer two choices for a meeting time.)

Thank the person for his or her time.

Contacting Someone You Don’t Know (A Business)

Ask for the name of the owner, manager, or supervisor.

Say, “Thank you. May I speak to (name of the supervisor), please?”

When the supervisor answers, say, “Hello, (name of supervisor), my name is (your name). Could you talk with me for three or four minutes?”

Briefly explain why you are calling (don’t take more than 15 seconds).

Use your Me in 30 Seconds statement.

Use a closing question to ask for help (including contacts, leads, informational interview, and so on).

If the person you are talking with mentions an internal job opening, ask for an interview. (Be sure to offer two choices for a meeting time.)

Thank the person for his or her time.

Informational Interviews

Read:

Informational interviews are another powerful networking tool. In informational interviews, you meet with people to get advice on your job, to learn more about them or their job, and to make a great connection. They are a lot like a job interview, but there is less pressure for both sides because there isn’t necessarily a job on the line. However, if you do well, it is like you just had a great screening interview, and you might get referred to more people and opportunities. These interviews are a great way to build networking relationships.

Michael shared the following experience of how informational interviews led him to incredible success in his job search and career.

“When I was looking for work, I learned that most positions are filled without being advertised. I knew there had to be an opportunity out there for me. If I could make the right contacts, I was confident I could make a good impression. Some of my own contacts referred me to people they knew working in the industry I was interested in. I reached out to them by phone, email, or in person. I explained my interest in the industry or company and asked if I could get 15 minutes of their time. They almost all accepted!

“I learned quickly that I needed to be prepared for these conversations and have some questions ready. I also learned that these conversations were a screening process, a lot like a first interview. The people were sizing me up, seeing if I might be a good fit for their company. If they liked me, we would visit again or they would refer me to additional contacts. I began to realize that informational interviews gave me the power to create screening opportunities without waiting for a formal job interview. My informational interviews began to turn into actual job interviews, all of which were for jobs that weren’t being advertised. This culminated into a week in which I received four job offers! Since that time, every promotion I have received or job I have gotten has been through networking and informational interviews.”

Informational Interviews: Suggestions for Success

Read:

Remember, when you initiate an informational interview, the person you are meeting with is doing you a favor. Here are some suggestions to help you best use the person’s time and have a great experience. Take turns, each reading one suggestion out loud as you go around the group.

Use a script (see pages 198–200) to ask for an informational interview.
Find out about the industry or the person’s company in advance.
Prepare appropriate questions in advance.
If needed, make multiple contacts per request to get an interview.
Do not ask for more than 15 to 30 minutes of a person’s time.
Do not go beyond the agreed upon time.
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Can you tell us a little about yourself?
  (Use your Me in 30 Seconds.)
- Why are you interested in this?
As the conversation develops, it may be appropriate to ask for other contacts or leads.
Follow up promptly with a thank you.
Follow through on any commitments you made.

Written Materials

Examples of Résumé Accomplishments

Raised over $10,000 yearly for five years through event planning, communication, and recruiting volunteers. (Mother)
Achieved a 3.5 GPA through high school while working and playing multiple sports by planning and prioritizing activities and duties. (Student)
Saved over $200,000 in first year with active budget management and improved cost controls. (Business Manager)
Achieved a 99 percent quality rating on thousands of complex welds with exotic metals, compared with company quality average of 92 percent. (Welder)

Résumé Tips

Write to the employer’s needs. Most employers spend less than 10 seconds skimming over your résumé, so you need to make it easy for them to see how you are a match.
Top- and left-load your résumé. When employers skim your résumé, they look primarily at the top and left sides, so place your most important information there.
Use bullets, not paragraphs. Make it easy for employers to find your information.
Use easy-to-follow formatting. Organize your résumé in a stair-step fashion, with the same types of information aligned so that employers can naturally find and understand your content.
Don’t use résumé templates. The computer programs employers use to scan résumés, called applicant tracking systems (ATS), can’t read templates, and templates typically don’t look as good as made-from-scratch résumés.
Don’t use objectives. They are a thing of the past, and you might get screened out for failing to be current.
Include a summary targeted to the employer’s needs. Use the top one-fourth to one-third of the page to write a simple summary that includes a headline, a summary, and key words.
Use key words from the job description. Key words catch the employer’s interest, and the ATS is programmed to search for them.
Describe your accomplishments using the résumé version of power statements. These power statements should include details with numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, and so on.
Give context. By giving a comparison or a little background of a situation, you set yourself apart from your peers.
Include all education experience, even if it is still in progress. Make sure to note that it is in progress or that there is an expected graduation date.
Keep your résumé neat. Use consistent section headings, consistent formatting, and good white space.
Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors. These errors will screen you out quickly.
Use traditional fonts. Stick to traditional serif or sans serif fonts.
Do not go below 11-point font size. You want your résumé to be as easy as possible for employers to read.
Keep your résumé to one page. Stick to one page until you have at least seven years of related professional experience.
Use the same heading for all of your career documents. A heading is the part of your résumé that typically contains your name and contact information.
Do not include references on your résumé. Employers assume you have references, and if they want them, they will ask for them.
Convert your résumé to a PDF. If you email or submit your résumé electronically, convert it to a PDF document. If you don’t, you run the risk of the employer’s software not matching yours. That could result in the formatting being altered and the employer being unable to read your résumé.
Get computer help. Find friends, family, community resources, or online tools to help you create great-looking documents.

Cover Letter Tips

Write it specifically to the business, organization, or job opportunity.
Use power statements to capture the reader’s interest and set you apart. In your cover letters, make your writing style simple and straightforward.
Keep it short. Typically the cover letter should be no more than three simple paragraphs and never more than half a page.
Ask for an interview.
Use the same heading for all of your career documents. A heading is the part of your résumé that typically contains your name and contact information.

Application Tips

Write it to the job.
Use accomplishments to describe your work experience.
Fill in the information completely and accurately.
Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors.
Identify key words and use them in your application.

Chronological Résumé

A chronological résumé lists your work experience in chronological order beginning with your most recent position.

This format primarily allows you to show your complete work history, but it may not effectively show how you best fit the position for which you are applying.

Functional Résumé

A functional résumé lists your relevant skills and experiences. This format allows you to highlight how you best fit the position for which you are applying.

Combination Résumé

A combination résumé lists your skills, experiences, and work history. This format allows you to highlight how you best fit the job you are applying for while also still giving a chronological work history.

Page 2 on next page.

Sample Cover Letter 1

Sample Cover Letter 2

Sample Cover Letter 3

Turning a Negative into a Positive

Continue to the next page.

Here are some sample interview questions in which you would want to turn a negative into a positive.

Why did you leave your last position?
What was your greatest failure at work, and what did you learn from it?
What is your greatest weakness?
Tell me about a time you disagreed with your boss.
Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult customer or coworker.

Negotiate Effectively

You need to answer several questions for yourself before you enter into employment negotiations. The following list may be helpful.

What is the minimum level of compensation you can accept?
What does the industry generally pay for your skills?
What benefits are important to you?
- Health care
- Retirement leave
- Sick leave
- Vacation leave
- Bonuses
How do you feel about the commute?
How do you feel about the schedule?

Anticipate areas that might present problems, and then list several alternatives to resolve those issues.

Activity

In the following exercise, select the response you feel would be most appropriate in negotiation. (The answers are on the next page.)

Negotiating monetary expectations should occur:
1. At the beginning of an interview for hire.
2. After you have received a firm offer.
If you must discuss monetary expectations:
1. Give an exact figure.
2. Give a range between two figures.
If the organization thinks your monetary expectations are too high:
1. Offer the expectations of others in the field to validate your claim.
2. Indicate what you think your contribution will be to the organization.
In response to an offer that you don’t like:
1. Say, “Thank you,” and accept it.
2. Restate the offer, sit quietly, and silently count to 10.
When the negotiation is concluding and the final offer is not enough:
1. Refuse the offer and leave.
2. Offer to discuss the negotiation later.
If the negotiation ends with an offer for a future increase in pay after a certain period of time:
1. Shake hands on the deal and leave.
2. Ask for the offer to be written in a contract.

Answer Key

b. After you have received a firm offer.
b. Give a range between two figures.
b. Indicate what you think your contribution will be to the organization.
b. Restate the offer, sit quietly, and silently count to 10. (The person you are negotiating with may make a better offer to break the silence.)
b. Offer to discuss the negotiation later.
b. Ask for the offer to be written in a contract.

Notes

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Notes

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 60.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 189.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 42.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 116.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 76.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 24.

Each week we make commitments. When we meet next week, we will begin by reporting on our commitments. Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 152.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 172.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 132.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Commit—Maximum Time: 10 Minutes

If this is your last chapter for this week, complete “Commit.” Otherwise, skip to page 98.

Read each commitment aloud to your action partner. Promise to keep your commitments and then sign below. Record your goals on the chart on pages ii–iii.

Evaluating My Efforts
Skills
For Facilitators
Meeting Options
Agendas
1.

The Fundamentals
2.

Networking
3.

Match Your Skills to the Employer’s Needs
4.

Power Statements
5.

Written Materials
6.

Nail the Interview: Part 1
7.

Nail the Interview: Part 2
8.

Practice Interviews
9.

Accelerate Your Job Search
10.

Succeed at Work
Sharpen Your Skills
Appendix
My Foundation

Evaluating My Efforts

For Facilitators

Thank you for facilitating a self-reliance group. The group should function as a council with the Holy Ghost as the teacher. Your role is to help each person feel comfortable sharing ideas, successes, and failures.

Important: Report and Improve

Complete the Group Registration Form at your first meeting and the End of Group Report and Certificate Request Form at your last meeting. Visit srs.lds.org/report.
Review the booklet Facilitating Groups at srs.lds.org/facilitator.

Facilitator Self-Assessment

After each group meeting, review the statements below. How well are you doing?

Find a Better Job

for Self-Reliance

Getting Started—Maximum Time: 15 Minutes

Have an opening prayer.

Introduce yourselves. Each of you take one minute to share your name and something about you.

Welcome to Our Self-Reliance Group!

Read:

The formula for a successful job search is:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Together with your group, and aided by the guidance of the Spirit, you will learn why faith is the foundation of a job search, and you will be challenged to work hard. You will also learn the skills needed to work smart, such as networking, matching your skills to employer needs, power statements, written materials, interviewing skills, and more. At the beginning of each meeting, you will review a gospel principle that will help in all areas of your life.

How Does This Work?

Read:

Self-reliance groups function like a council. There is no teacher or expert. Instead, you follow the materials as they are written. With the guidance of the Spirit, you will help each other as follows:

Contribute equally to discussions and activities. No one, especially the facilitator, should dominate the conversation.
Love and support each other. Show interest, ask questions, and learn about each other.
Share positive and relevant comments.
Make and keep commitments.

Elder M. Russell Ballard taught, “There is no problem in the family, ward, or stake that cannot be solved if we look for solutions in the Lord’s way by counseling—really counseling—with one another” (Counseling with Our Councils, rev. ed. [2012], 4).

Watch:

“My Self-Reliance Group” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Skip to “Without a Teacher, How Will We Know What to Do?” on page 4.)

Discuss:

What made the group in the video so successful? What will you do as a group to have a life-changing experience?

Without a Teacher, How Will We Know What to Do?

Read:

It’s easy. Simply follow the materials. Each chapter in the workbook has six parts:

Report: Discuss the progress you made during the week on your commitments.
Foundation: Review a gospel principle that will lead to greater spiritual self-reliance.
Learn: Learn practical skills that will lead to greater temporal self-reliance.
Ponder: Listen for the Holy Ghost to offer inspiration.
Commit: Promise to act on commitments during the week that will help you progress.
Act: During the week, practice what you learned.

How to Use This Workbook

When You See These Prompts, Follow These Directions

Read	Watch	Discuss	Ponder	Activity
One person reads aloud for the whole group.	The whole group watches the video.	Group members share thoughts for two to four minutes.	Individuals quietly consider, meditate, and write for two or three minutes.	Group members work individually or with others for the specified time.

Certificate of Completion

Read:: Group members who attend meetings and keep their commitments may receive a self-reliance certificate from LDS Business College. See page 251.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

1. Sharpen Your Skills

Read:

The formula for a successful job search is:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Ponder:

If you aren’t having as much success as you would like, which element(s) of the formula might be missing from your job search?

If you are putting in the work but not having success, look at your job search skills. It is common for job seekers to struggle with certain aspects of their job search, and it takes time to develop the skills. It is important to recognize where you are struggling and what you can do about it.

Activity (10–15 minutes)

To help you overcome common job search challenges, each of you pick one of the common difficulties from the following table. Explain it to your group or action partner. Then work together to practice one or more of the suggested skills. You may also want to review the corresponding chapter or practice more during the week.

Common Difficulties	Skills to Practice
1. I don’t know what job I want.	Chapter 1: The Fundamentals Focus on one to three jobs (p. 7)
2. I am not finding job leads.	Chapter 2: Networking Me in 30 Seconds (p. 29)
3. I am struggling with networking.	Chapter 2: Networking Me in 30 Seconds (p. 29)
4. I am not getting job interviews.	Chapters 2, 3, 4 Match skills (p. 48) Résumés (p. 79) Cover letters (p. 85) Applications (p. 88)
5. I am getting interviews but no offers.	Chapters 3–8 Match skills (p. 48) Use power statements (p. 63) Prepare before the interview (p. 100) Open the interview effectively (p. 101) Me in 30 Seconds (p. 101) Turn negatives to positives (p. 118) Ask questions (p. 121)

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In the previous chapter, you learned that networking is the best way to find jobs. But once you find a good job lead, what should you do first? Match your skills to the employer’s needs. This is another job search skill that will help you work smart.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

When Josh started his job search, he updated his résumé to include all of his experience and then attached it to his job applications. Despite applying for many jobs, he didn’t hear anything back most of the time. Can’t these employers see how good he would be at the job? Is there something he could be doing differently?

Discuss:

In what ways can you relate to Josh?

Read:

Many job seekers ruin their chances from the beginning by not first identifying the employer’s needs and then matching their skills to those needs. They just send in the same information about themselves and think the employer will figure it out. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Believe it or not, this is sort of like ordering a pizza.

Imagine that you have been thinking about pepperoni pizza all day. You don’t want any other kind of pizza—just pepperoni. So you order a pepperoni pizza from your local pizza shop. You are starving and can’t wait for it to arrive. The doorbell rings and you open the door, pay the delivery person, and take the unopened pizza box to the kitchen. You set it on the table and open it up, and this is what you see:

Discuss:: How long did it take you to realize this isn’t what you ordered?
Read:: If you don’t take the time to first identify and target employers’ needs, they will probably screen you out just as fast as you screened out the wrong pizza order. This has been part of Josh’s problem. He didn’t know how to target employer needs. He was sending in résumés and applications with information the employer wasn’t interested in. Successful job seekers take the time to understand what the employer ordered; then they serve up the perfect application, résumé, or interview to meet the employer’s needs.

1. Identify the Employer’s Needs

Read:

There are many resources you can use to identify the employer’s needs.

Company websites and reports
Internet
Social media
People working in similar roles
Job description

Discuss:

How could these or other resources help you identify an employer’s needs?

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: Remember in the last chapter how Josh called his uncle David? Well, Uncle David really came through for him. He referred Josh to a friend of his named Julie, who is a manager at a large local employer, ABC Marketing. Josh called Julie and introduced himself using his Me in 30 Seconds. Julie was impressed! Julie told Josh they are looking for good computer support, but they hadn’t posted the opening because they were too busy. She sent Josh the job description and asked him to send her a résumé. Before applying for the position, Josh decides to make sure he knows what the employer actually needs.

Read:: Now compare what you marked with this one. Were you pretty close, or did you miss a few things? If you missed several things, keep practicing and you will get better.

Tip:: The company and job description you found are both resources.

2. Match Your Skills

Read:: Once you have identified what the employer wants, your next step is to figure out if your skills and experience match. This is as simple as asking yourself, “Do I have that skill?” or “What experience do I have doing that?” The more examples or accomplishments you can think of, the better.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

This is how Josh began matching his skills to the employer’s needs. He highlighted the following sentence in the job description:

Troubleshoot customers’ technical issues in person and on the phone.

He thought to himself, “I am really good at that. In my last job, I had a system for troubleshooting, and I got twice as much work done as the other technicians.” He also saw several other key skills and basic requirements that he met. He circled all of the skills or experiences he felt he was a match for. He also wrote notes about his experience and related accomplishments.

Read:: Keep in mind that most job descriptions are an employer’s ultimate wish list. It is okay if you don’t match every skill or qualification listed. Do not lie or make things up just to get an interview or job. If you review a job opportunity and think you match at least 50 percent of what the employer wants, you should apply. If you match at least 75 percent, you are probably a strong candidate.

Discuss:: How will matching skills this way help you in your job search?

Conclusion

Watch:: “The 16th Time Is the Charm,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 54.)

Discuss:

What are the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

Matching your skills to the employer’s needs is working smart.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Match your skills before you apply for a position, write a résumé, or have an interview. If you do, you will experience greater success in your job search.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In this chapter, you will learn how these same principles apply to succeeding at work and how employment contributes to your self-reliance.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: Great news! Julie from ABC Marketing called Josh and offered him the Help Desk Technician position. He starts this week. Josh and his family are thrilled! This is a great step toward self-reliance, which Josh knows is more than just having a job.
Discuss:: How is employment related to self-reliance?
Read:: The scriptures teach, “For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save” (2 Nephi 31:19). We saw that Josh worked hard, exercised faith, and was blessed with a job. However, just being employed doesn’t automatically mean that someone is self-reliant. You also need to do well at your job and perhaps look to greater employment goals. Heavenly Father can help you with this.
Discuss:: How might Heavenly Father bless you in your employment?

1. Be a Great Employee

Read:

Being a great employee will help you keep your job, grow at work, and earn more money. This can help you become more self-reliant.

Whether you are in your preferred job or aren’t there yet, remember, there is always value and experience gained through any job.

Great employees see every job as an opportunity, even if they would prefer a better job. Try not to leave a job until you have another job lined up. Opportunity takes work, and being a great employee will bring you more opportunities. Nearly all work is noble.

Discuss:

Why should you be a great employee, regardless of the job?

Watch:

“Keep it Simple,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 182.)

2. Make Employment Goals

Read:: To become self-reliant, you may need to consider broader employment goals.
Ponder:: Will your current job (or the job you are seeking) help you become self-reliant?

Read:: Now that you have an idea about where you want to go, how do you get there? To progress in your work, you may need additional skills or education. What you have learned about job seeking will also help you with your employment goals. Identifying resources and making contacts will help you qualify for the positions you may want in the future.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: Josh is happy to have a job, but he wants to become a network engineer. That will help him earn more and be more self-reliant. To help him see what he needs to do next, he used this tool.

Positions You Want	Skills and Knowledge You Need	Ways to Gain the Skills and Knowledge	Next Steps
Network engineer	Degree in computer science Networking certificates More experience	Finish degree Ask for special projects Talk to other network engineers	Informational interviews with some network engineers

Discuss:: How will taking these next steps lead to greater self-reliance?

Conclusion

Watch:: “Growing,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 183.)

Discuss:

What are the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

The formula for a successful job search is:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

These same principles apply to succeeding at work. God loves you and wants you to be self-reliant. Show your faith by striving to be a great employee and planning for a job that will help you be self-reliant. He will bless you as you work hard and act in faith.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Discuss:

What did you learn from each other’s experiences?

Read:

A successful job search follows a simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In the previous chapter, you learned about faith and hard work. In this chapter, we will start learning the skills to work smart. We will begin with networking.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: Josh has been finding all of his job leads online or with employment agencies. However, he has had almost no success, and most of the time he hasn’t heard anything back. He is convinced there is a better way to find a job. He has heard about things like networking but isn’t sure what that is about or how to start.
Discuss:: How does your job search experience compare with Josh’s?

1. How People Really Get Jobs

Read:: You will find work more quickly if you look in the most effective ways.
Watch:: “How Jobs Are Really Filled,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 35.)

Read:: Compare these two graphs.

Discuss:: What would change in your job search if you networked more?

2. Talk to Everyone

Read:

Networking is the best way to find a job. Networking means talking to people who can help you find people and organizations that need your skills. Talk to everyone about looking for work. People will help you. President Spencer W. Kimball said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs” (“Small Acts of Service,” Ensign, Dec. 1974, 5).

Sometimes you need to network through many layers to find the person with the information you need. Networking through layers means asking people to give you the names of other people who may have information that could help you. You can network in person, over the phone, or by email. You can also use professional and social networking websites.

Tip:: Each person and business you just wrote down counts toward your daily goal of identifying resources.

Discuss:

What could happen if you talked to each of these people and businesses about what job you’re looking for?
What if you talked to all of the other people you know?

3. Me in 30 Seconds

Read:: Networking with others works best if you know what to say. A Me in 30 Seconds is the best tool for contacting people or businesses. It helps people understand what job you’re looking for and how they can help. It follows these four steps.

Tip:

Possible Me in 30 Seconds Questions

Who would you recommend I talk with?
What opportunities do you know of for someone like me?
What do you know about (company, industry)?
What businesses are in the area that are looking for (job type or position)?
Who do you know who does what I do?

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

Here is how Josh used his Me in 30 Seconds to network with his uncle David. Note the four parts in action.

“Uncle David, this is your nephew ➀ Josh. How are you? Do you have a minute? You may not have known this, but ➁ I am looking for a new job in computer support. ➂ I have two years of experience and carry several technical certifications. With my last company, I was named the top service technician because of my efficiency. I am good at what I do and enjoy it. ➃ Who do you know who I could contact about opportunities?”

Read:

In the previous chapter, we learned about contacts. Remember, a contact is any employment communication with a resource. Not all contacts are created equal. The more personal you can make your contacts, the more effective they will be. Talking face-to-face with someone is more effective than an email or a text. At least two of your daily contacts should be face-to-face. That is why a Me in 30 Seconds can be so powerful.

Your Me in 30 Seconds is one of the job search skills that allows you to work smart. You know you have a good Me in 30 Seconds when it consistently leads to the help you need. Practice your Me in 30 Seconds often and get feedback. Let’s start right now!

Discuss:: How would networking with your Me in 30 Seconds be an act of faith?

Conclusion

Watch:

“Basketball Got Me a Job,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 36.)

Discuss:

What are the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

A successful job search follows this formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Networking takes faith and hard work. Networking is also a smarter way to find a job, and you now have a great tool, Me in 30 Seconds, to help you get started. The Lord has promised, “Open your mouths and they shall be filled” (D&C 33:8). Now go out and make networking a daily part of your job search.

For more advanced networking ideas, read pages 197–202 in the appendix on your own this week.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Interview skills help you work smarter. Because interviews are so important, we will spend the next three chapters learning and practicing interview skills.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: More good news. Julie from ABC Marketing called Josh after she received his résumé and cover letter. She scheduled an interview with him two days from now for the help desk technician job. Josh has always been nervous during job interviews and is concerned about what questions Julie might ask him. He is pretty sure that he didn’t do well in the two interviews he has had so far, but he isn’t sure what he could improve. Josh wants to be prepared.
Discuss:: In what ways can you relate to Josh?
Watch:: “The Interview,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 109.)

Read:

Interviews are one of the last steps in getting a job. The purpose of an interview is to get a job offer. The Lord has promised, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). If you prepare well, you can replace fear with confidence.

In this chapter, you will learn to work smart by developing the following interview skills:

Prepare before the interview.
Open the interview effectively.
Use your Me in 30 Seconds.
Use power statements.

1. Prepare Before the Interview

Read:

Wouldn’t it be nice to know what questions you were going to be asked in an interview?

You can.

Most interviewers will ask a combination of common interview questions and job-specific questions. You already know how to identify the employer’s needs, so you can use that skill to figure out what the employer will probably ask you. For example, Josh is pretty sure he will be asked about customer service, troubleshooting, and communicating technical things in simple terms.

2. Open the Interview Effectively

Read:: When you open an interview, there are some simple things you can do to make a great first impression. As a group, take turns reading the list of do’s and don’ts below.

Do	Don’t
Dress one level above the company’s dress standard.	Dress too casually.
Arrive 5–10 minutes early.	Be late or more than 10 minutes early.
Use positive body language.	Use negative body language.

3. Use Your Me in 30 Seconds

Read:: Often one of the first interview questions you will be asked is, “Tell me about yourself.” A Me in 30 Seconds adapted to an interview setting is a great response to this question. The Me in 30 Seconds for an interview is slightly different. For example, you don’t usually need to use your name. And instead of asking for referrals like you would with networking, you close it by showing interest in the company or position.

Activity (4 minutes)

Let’s read through two examples of people responding to the opening question of the interview. Choose roles and act out the following.

The Bad Example

Interviewer: “Before we get started, please tell me a little bit about yourself.”

Job Seeker: “Well, I grew up in Kansas as part of a large family. I am married and have three kids and a puppy. We love to travel, and we spend as much time at the lake as possible. Just last year we bought a new boat. It was pretty expensive, which is part of why I am looking for work. I have a lot of experience working with people. I started out 20 years ago, when I was 19, as a teller in a bank. So I learned quite a bit about money and finances. For example, I learned that banks don’t hold your money; they just take it and then lend it out again to make interest. Anyway, I did that for a few years, and then I went to college. I wasn’t very good at school. I really don’t like studying. I got a job at a friend’s marketing business. I did mostly administrative stuff—you know, like answer phones, mail, meetings, that kind of thing. But working with friends doesn’t always work out, so I left that position and looked for something better. Let’s see … I worked at a few other places, but I can’t remember their names. Oh, the best job I had was this customer service position where I got to work from home. I could work in my pajamas, answer the phone, and just work on my computer. That was really nice. Anyway, I like working, and I like people. I will do a good job for you.”

The Good Example

Interviewer: “Before we get started, please tell me a little bit about yourself.”

Job Seeker: “Well, my 20-year career has largely been in finance and banking. I began as a teller in a local bank and then progressed into management. Early on I realized the value of education and completed a degree in finance. I excel in managing people, costs, and reaching sales goals. For example, in my previous position I took over a struggling branch, and within six months we were exceeding our sales goals. I am interested in this position because it sounds like this may be a similar challenge.”

Discuss:: Why was the second example better?

4. Use Power Statements

Read:

Power statements should be used to answer most interview questions. They are memorable and powerful and will help you stand out as the clear choice.

Remember to follow the power statement formula:

Activity (4 minutes)

Let’s read through these interview examples from chapter 4 again. Choose roles, and act out the following.

The Average Example

Interviewer: “Tell me about a time you provided great customer service.”

Job Seeker 2: “Customer service is very important to me. The customers are key to our continued success. I have always found that if you treat the customers right, they will reward you with continued business. I have a lot of experience with customer service, and I am very good at it. Customers want to be heard and know they are listened to. It is important that we do our best to get it right the first time and make it right as quickly as possible when we make a mistake. I believe in the mantra that the customer is always right.”

The Good Example

Interviewer: “Tell me about a time you provided great customer service.”

Job Seeker 3: “I am very skilled at customer service. For example, when I worked for YZ Sales, we had a long-term customer who, on one occasion, did not get what he had ordered. When he called me, he was upset and threatened to cancel all of his business with us. I took time to listen and understand his situation and then provided a solution that worked for him. As a result, we not only retained the customer but he increased his orders with us by 200 percent. I am confident I can put these same customer service skills to work for you.”

Discuss:: How did using a power statement make the second example more effective?

Conclusion

Discuss:

What were some of the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

You have begun to learn some interview skills that will help you work smart.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

If you are prepared, there is no need to fear. Pray for help, and then prepare and practice as much as possible. In the next chapter, we will learn more interview skills.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In the previous chapter, you learned a skill to help you work smart: how to match your skills to the employer’s needs. In this chapter, you will learn another “work smart” skill: power statements.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: Josh can now see he is a good fit for the help desk position at ABC Marketing. But he is pretty sure other people might have the same qualifications. What really helps him stand out are his accomplishments, but he isn’t quite sure how to talk about them. He is wondering what he can do to stand out as the clear choice.
Discuss:: In what ways can you relate to Josh?

1. Make Powerful Impressions

Read:: The best way to show you meet the employer’s needs is with a power statement. A power statement briefly describes your previous experiences and accomplishments by sharing a specific example and outcome. Think of them as small stories. Other people might have similar qualifications, but nobody has done exactly the same things. So rather than list off generic skills that anyone could say, use a power statement.

Activity (4 minutes)

Choose roles and act out the following three examples. As you do this, think to yourself, “Who stands out as the clear choice?”

The Bad Example

Interviewer: “Tell me about a time you provided great customer service.”

Job Seeker 1: “I really like customer service, and I think I am pretty good at it. Except when customers are jerks. I don’t need to be treated that way. Wait, are your customers jerks?”

The Average Example

Interviewer: “Tell me about a time you provided great customer service.”

The Good Example

Interviewer: “Tell me about a time you provided great customer service.”

Job Seeker 3: “I am very skilled at customer service. For example, when I worked for YZ Sales, we had a long-term customer who, on one occasion, did not get what he had ordered. When he called me, he was upset and threatened to cancel all of his business with us. I took time to listen and understand his situation and then provided a solution that worked for the customer. As a result, we not only retained the customer but he increased his orders with us by 200 percent. I am confident I can put these same customer service skills to work for you.”

Discuss:: Why was the third example the best?
Read:: The third job seeker used a power statement, which enabled him or her to talk about something he or she had actually done in an interesting, memorable, and completely unique way. It was like a short, true story. It helped the third job seeker stand out as the clear choice.

2. Follow the Power Statement Formula

Read:

Power statements follow a very simple formula:

Part of the power in a power statement is that it is brief. Delivering a power statement should not take more than 30 to 45 seconds.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

Let’s look at a power statement Josh put together after reviewing the job description at ABC Marketing. He saw that the employer needed someone with good troubleshooting skills. Notice how he used the formula to create his power statement.

➀ “I am great at troubleshooting. ➁ For example, as a help desk technician at IT World, I developed a simple process to identify common technical issues. ➂ As a result, in two years I was able to resolve over 1,000 concerns in about half the time as my peer group. ➃ I can put this same expertise to work for you.”

Discuss:: How will Josh’s power statement help him stand out as the clear choice?

Read:: Here are more sample power statements for a returned missionary, a small business owner, and a mother, who are all seeking jobs. They used the four steps and included specific details to strengthen their power statements. Take turns reading each statement out loud.

Activity (5 minutes)

Take a few minutes and use this chart to create some personal power statements. Then pair up with your action partner to share them.

Follow the Formula:

Discuss:: What did you learn from sharing your power statement(s)?

Read:

Power statements are a job search skill that will help you work smart. You will know you are doing it right if your power statements lead to more employer interest. Power statements in résumés should lead to interviews. Power statements in contacts should lead to helpful information or leads. And power statements in interviews should lead to job offers. If you aren’t getting these results, work to improve this skill.

Practicing with others and getting feedback will help you improve. Let’s start right now!

Activity (5 minutes)

Step 1: Everyone stand up and divide into two lines facing each other.

Step 2: Share one of your power statements with the person across from you.

Step 3: Quickly give each other feedback:

What skill did your partner claim?
What was your partner’s example?
What was the result?
How did your partner match it to an employer’s needs?
Were you impressed?

Step 4: Everyone in one line then moves down one person. The person on the end rotates to the beginning of the line. The other line does not move. Repeat steps 1–3 until you have shared your power statement with everyone and received feedback.

Discuss:: How will power statements help you stand out as the clear choice?

Conclusion

Watch:: “The Power of Power Statements,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 70.)

Discuss:

What are the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

Power statements will be the most influential job search skill you can learn. They are key to working smart.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Power statements will help you stand out as the clear choice more than anything else you can do. Use them in your résumés, contacts, and interviews. Practice this skill. Prepare dozens of power statements. Pray for Heavenly Father’s help, and you will see greater success.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

The formula for a successful job search is:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Over the course of this book, you will follow a path to help you act in faith, work hard, and learn the job search skills to work smart. Starting from the bottom of the graphic, take turns reading each section of the Path to a Better Job below.

Read:: We will begin with the fundamentals of faith and hard work.

1. Act in Faith

Read:

The foundation to a successful job search is faith. To Heavenly Father, all things, including looking for work, are spiritual. The Lord has said, “I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal” (D&C 29:34).

Because getting a job is important both spiritually and temporally, everything you do in a job search can be an act of faith. You hope and pray that God will bless you with a job, but you act to show your faith.

Discuss:

What does faith have to do with looking for a job?

2. Focus Your Search

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

Throughout our group meetings, we will observe and coach Josh as he tries to apply the principles and skills of an effective job search. Josh was laid off two months ago after two years as a computer support technician. He is married and studies computer science. He has a wife and baby to support. Josh needs to find a job.

Josh is having a hard time knowing where to start his job search. He has applied for all sorts of jobs. In the past week he applied to be a waiter, a customer service agent, a computer technician, and a warehouse worker. However, he isn’t having much success.

Discuss:

How does your job search experience relate to Josh’s?

Read:

Start your job search by knowing what kind of job you want. It should be something you are qualified for. Many job seekers fail to do this. Just like Josh, they waste time considering all kinds of jobs. You will find a job quicker if you focus on just a few kinds of jobs.

If you don’t know what job you want, take some time talking with other people and finding helpful information to figure it out quickly. Many job seekers take a stabilizing job to support themselves while they look for or prepare for a better job. If this is the case for you, remember this counsel from President Spencer W. Kimball: “Work brings happiness, self-esteem, and prosperity. It is the means of all accomplishment; it is the opposite of idleness. We are commanded to work” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 118–19). Work is noble.

Josh realizes he will have more success if he focuses on computer support positions. That becomes his employment goal.

3. Work Hard: Identify Resources and Make Contacts

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

Josh hasn’t liked looking for work. He puts in a few hours each day, mostly looking at online job postings and talking to employment agencies.

Discuss:

What do you think about Josh’s level of effort? How long do you think it will take him to find a job this way?

Read:

Successful job seekers work hard. You get out of a job search what you put into it. The harder you work, the quicker you get a job. Your work should consist of identifying resources and making contacts every day.

A resource is any source of information or connection that will contribute to a successful job search. It can be a person, place, or thing.

The more resources you find and contacts you make, the quicker you will find a job. Identify 15 new resources and make 10 contacts each day to dramatically accelerate your job search.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

Once Josh learned about resources and contacts, he got to work.

For example, yesterday he did the following:

Discovered three companies he is interested in.
Found three helpful websites.
Thought of seven people he could contact (friends, classmates, and former coworkers).
Found two job openings.

That makes 15 resources in just one day!

Then he contacted those resources by:

Calling those three companies directly to learn more about them.
Meeting, emailing, or sending a text to four of his friends to let them know he was looking for work.
Applying for those two job openings.
Following up with someone at both companies to make sure his information was received.

That makes 11 contacts in just one day!

Read:: Now that we have a list of potential resources, our next step is to contact them.

Tip:: Keep your resources and contacts organized with the forms on pages 194–96 of the appendix.
Discuss:: How will working hard at your job search demonstrate faith?

Conclusion

Watch:: “It Was a Miracle,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 18.)

Discuss:

What are some of the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

Start applying the formula right away by identifying resources and making contacts each day. This demonstrates your faith. Ask Heavenly Father to help you and to recognize your work as an act of faith, and He will bless you with success. In the next several chapters we will begin to explore the skills that will help us work smart.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In the last two chapters, you learned several interview skills to help you work smart. In this chapter, you will practice them.

1. Practice Makes Perfect

Read:

Practicing for an interview will increase your success. It will help you feel more comfortable and prepared when you are in an actual job interview.

Here are the interview skills you have learned:

Prepare before the interview.
Open the interview effectively.
Use your Me in 30 Seconds.
Turn potential negatives into positives.
Ask questions.
Close the interview effectively.

We will each take turns doing a practice interview.

In each practice there are three roles:

The job seeker
The interviewer
The feedback group

As each of you will do your own practice interview, watch this video first to see how this is to be done. Then read and follow the activity instructions.

Watch:: “Practice Interview Example,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? See page 138.)

Activity (35 minutes)

As a group, read all of the steps before beginning this activity.

Step 1: Break into groups of at least three but no more than six.

Step 2: At the front of your group, set up two chairs facing each other.

Step 3: For the first round, each group needs a volunteer to be the first interviewer and someone to be the first job seeker. Everyone else will be in the feedback group. Who wants to go first?

Step 4: Read through the instructions for your role before beginning the practice interview.

Job seeker, page 143.
Interviewer, page 144.
Feedback group, page 145.

Step 5: Do the practice interview. It should take six to eight minutes per interview, including feedback.

Step 6: Change roles and repeat the practice interview until everyone has had a chance to be the job seeker.

Discuss:

How did practicing help you in your interview preparation?
How could practicing for an interview be a demonstration of faith?

Conclusion

Watch:: “Practice Makes Perfect,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? See page 146.)

Discuss:

What are the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

Practicing for interviews helps you improve your skills and work smart.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

You know you are interviewing effectively when you get job offers. If you are getting consistent interviews but aren’t receiving job offers, improve your skills through more practice, and you will see more success. Heavenly Father will bless you for showing your faith as you practice.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

If you could cut the time it took you to get a job by 90 percent, would you be interested? You can. In this chapter you will be challenged to follow this formula in a way that will dramatically accelerate your job search.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: Josh interviewed for the position at ABC Marketing. He thought it went well and was glad he had practiced. He should hear back from them this week. He is excited about that possibility, but he doesn’t want to put all of his eggs in that basket. He might not get that job. He needs to get as many other good job leads as possible so that he can get a job quickly, but how?
Discuss:: In what ways can you relate to Josh?
Read:: In many ways, your job search is a lot like this funnel. It takes a lot of effort doing the basics of identifying resources and making contacts to funnel down to job leads, interviews, and job offers. The more resources and contacts you make by working hard, the more interviews and job offers you will get. However, working hard is not enough. It’s also important to work smart so that more of your contacts and resources turn into leads, interviews, and job offers.

1. Work Hard: 15-10-2

Read:

There is a proven job search strategy called 15-10-2 that has often reduced the time it takes people to find work from 200 days to 20 days! It involves a basic plan for your daily job search efforts.

Identify 15 new resources every day.
Make 10 contacts every day.
Make two of those contacts face-to-face.

Remember, a resource is any source of information or connections that will contribute to a successful job search. It can be a person, place, or a thing.

A contact is any employment communication with a resource. This could be meeting with someone face-to-face, making a phone call, sending an email, submitting an application or résumé, or sending a follow-up note. The more personal you can make your contacts, the quicker you will get a job, which is why you want to make at least two face-to-face contacts every day.

The 15-10-2 approach will dramatically shorten the time you are looking for work. 15-10-2 might not be possible for everyone, so adapt it to your circumstances. For some, a 10-8-2, or even a 7-7-2 approach might be what their time allows. The point is to put as much work as you can into your job search. The more resources and contacts you put into your funnel, the more job leads, interviews, and job offers you will get.

Ponder:

What would it be like to find a job quickly? How hard are you willing to work to find a job?

2.  Work Smart

Read: 

While essential, hard work alone won’t accelerate your job search. You must also work smart.

Effective job seekers work hard by pursuing multiple job opportunities at a time. They work smart by identifying and directly contacting the people who can help them get those jobs. They also work smart by customizing their job search tools, such as Me in 30 Seconds and résumés, for each job.

Remember, you get out of your job search what you put into it.

Discuss:

How did Josh work smart?
How quickly do you think Josh will get a job by working this way?

Read:

By working smart, Josh was able to accelerate his job search, find success, and reach the daily goal of 15-10-2. As you work on your job search, notice how working smart naturally leads to achieving 15-10-2.

Discuss:: Share your plan on how you will work smart.
Read:: Working smart is more effective than just working hard. Keep in mind that even when working smart, sometimes things don’t work out. At times, you will run into dead ends. Keep working hard and smart, and have faith. The Lord knows what you are going through and will bless you.
Discuss:: What can you do to keep working hard and smart, even when your job search is difficult?

Conclusion

Watch:: “Rafael: Job in 6 Days!” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 165.)

Discuss:

What were the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

If you want to shorten the time it takes you to find a job, work hard and work smart. The Lord has said, “Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will. … For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.” And this commandment comes with a promise: “Inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward” (D&C 58:27–28). Fill your funnel with as many effective resources and contacts as you can, and you will be blessed.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In the last chapter, we learned the following interview skills:

Prepare before the interview.
Open the interview effectively.
Use your Me in 30 Seconds.
Use power statements.

In this chapter, we will be practicing a few more interview skills to help us work smart.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

Josh has anticipated a few questions and has prepared a few power statements for his interview at ABC Marketing. He has also prepared a solid Me in 30 Seconds to open the interview effectively. Josh would like to be as prepared as possible and decides to call his uncle David to ask him for some interview advice.

Uncle David tells Josh that typically an interviewer asks a job seeker about a weakness. The main purpose of this question is to address possible concerns about the job seeker. He suggests having a few questions to ask at the end of the interview and gives Josh some advice on closing the interview effectively.

Discuss:

What do you think of Uncle David’s advice?

Read:

The more you improve your interview skills, the more you will have success. You will know you are interviewing effectively when you get job offers. In this chapter we will learn and practice the following interview skills:

Turn negatives into positives.
Ask questions.
Close the interview effectively.

1. Turn Negatives into Positives

Read:

A potential employer may have concerns about hiring you. These could stem from your employment history, experience, age, or any number of things. They will often ask you questions about these things in an interview. For example, they may ask questions like the following:

Why did you leave your last position?
Tell me about a time you didn’t get along with a coworker.
What is one of your weaknesses?

When faced with these types of questions, try to resolve the possible concern using honest and favorable terms, preferably with an example.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:: Josh is wondering if the employer will be concerned that he is young and maybe doesn’t have enough experience. He used this simple table to prepare a response.

Discuss:: What did you notice about how Josh addressed the employer’s possible concern?

Read:: During the week, see page 214 in the appendix for more practice turning a negative into a positive.

2. Ask Questions

Read:

Somewhere near the end of an interview, you will typically be asked if you have any questions. You should have a few questions ready to help you gain more information and to show genuine interest in the opportunity. Here are a few examples:

How does this position contribute to the organization?
What is the training like for this role?
Where do you see the company in five years?

Do not ask about money, benefits, or schedules at this point of the interview. Don’t talk about these things until the employer brings them up or an offer is extended. To learn more about negotiating, see pages 215–17 in the appendix on your own this week.

3. Close the Interview Effectively

Read:

What you say and do at the close of your interview can have a lasting impact on how favorably your interviewer remembers your conversation. Follow these guidelines:

When you stand up to leave, make eye contact, smile, and shake hands again (if this is appropriate to your culture).
Call the interviewer by name.
Thank the interviewer for his or her time and interest.
Determine what the next steps in the process are and how you should follow up. You might say something as simple as, “What are the next steps, and how should I follow up?”
Indicate your own interest by saying something like, “I enjoyed our visit and look forward to hearing from you,” or “I am confident I can make a positive impact here.”

Discuss:

How will doing these things help you have successful interviews?

Conclusion

Watch:: “Amy Nails Her Interview,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 126.)

Discuss:

What are the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

You now have several interview skills to help you work smart.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

The Lord has promised, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). Prepare by praying for help and practicing as much as possible.

Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:

A successful job search follows this simple formula:

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

In this chapter you will learn an essential job search skill: how to create great résumés, cover letters, and applications. When you can produce great written materials, you are working smart.

Josh’s Job Search

Read:

Josh has done a good job contacting individuals and matching his skills to the employer’s needs. But now Julie at ABC Marketing has asked for a résumé. The same old résumé and cover letter Josh has always used probably won’t be good enough, since they didn’t produce many interviews before. Josh wants to have great written materials that help him stand out as the clear choice, but how? Can he use something like power statements? And how do you make résumés and cover letters that actually look good?

Discuss:

In what ways can you relate to Josh?

Read:

Written materials—such as résumés, cover letters, and applications—are an essential part of any successful job search. You’ll want to make as good an impression in writing as you do in person. Each of your résumés, cover letters, and applications should be written to the specific job you are applying to. You’ll know you have good written materials when you get consistent interviews.

What is popular with written materials changes, and there are several right ways to create them. This chapter presents basic information and some examples. There are more information and examples on pages 203–13 of the appendix, which you should read on your own this week. In addition, seek out additional information and resources on your own.

Tip:

Helpful websites, articles, or résumé examples each count as resources.

1. Three Simple Principles

Read:: Effective written materials follow three simple principles:

Discuss:: Why would these three principles be important to résumés, cover letters, or applications?

2. Résumés

Read:: A résumé is a written document that summarizes your skills, abilities, and accomplishments. It is like a quick advertisement of who you are.

Read:

Most résumés include three types of information: summary, experience, and education and training.

Summary information is like an introduction and is typically at the top of the résumé. It includes your name, contact information, and a quick summary of your relevant skills and experience. An employer will often scan this part of your résumé in just three to five seconds and decide whether to read on or screen you out.

You can see that Josh used what is called a title or headline (Experienced Help Desk Technician) so the employer would immediately know who he was as a professional. He then followed it with key words and skills from the job description to catch the employer’s attention.

Read:: Experience information includes things like work history and should include several accomplishments that relate to the employer’s needs. Accomplishments are similar to power statements, but in a résumé you move the outcome to the beginning of the statement to stand out. Take turns reading through the statements under “Professional Experience” in Josh’s résumé to see how he wrote about his accomplishments.

Read:

Education and training information helps an employer understand your credentials. It can include degrees, certifications, specific classes, and more. Make sure what you include is relevant, beginning with the most impressive information.

Here is how Josh included his education and training information.

3. Cover Letters

Read:

A cover letter often accompanies your résumé. It functions as an introduction and should encourage the employer to then read your résumé. The cover letter can help the company understand why you are interested in the opportunity and why you think the company would be wise to hire you.

Good cover letters open with a power statement to capture the reader’s interest quickly.

4. Applications

Read:

Applications are commonly used by businesses as part of their recruiting process. They typically ask for your basic contactinformation, education, and work history. Many applications are submitted online and can take time to complete. Just completing the application can be part of the employer’s screening process.

Good applications follow the principles of attractive, applicable, and accomplishments by being free of errors, relating to the job, and describing your experience using power statements.

Conclusion

Watch:: “Better Written Materials,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 92.)

Discuss:

What were the most important things you learned from this chapter?

Read:

Writing great résumés, cover letters, and applications is a job search skill that helps you work smart.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

The better you get at writing them, the more success you will have. Pray for Heavenly Father’s help, and then put in the work. Follow up on every résumé and application you submit. This is showing your faith. As you do this, you will find that writing résumés becomes easier and you will get more interviews.

Meeting Options

While this is a 12-week commitment, your options for meetings are flexible. Many groups choose to go through the 10 chapters of Find a Better Job within the first few weeks so they can start practicing and putting those skills to work right away in their job search.

Once you have completed all of the chapters in Find a Better Job, continue to meet at least weekly for the remainder of the 12 weeks. These meetings are about an hour and you will use the “Sharpen Your Skills” section to report on your commitments, study My Foundation, practice your skills, and make weekly commitments.

Here are a few suggestions that other groups have found effective. You can use these suggestions or come up with your own meeting options. Sample agendas are on page vii.

Option 1:: Meet for 8–9 hours for the first meeting to complete all of the chapters. Then meet weekly for about an hour for each of the remaining 11 weeks.
Option 2:: Meet twice for 4–5 hours each within the first two weeks to complete all of the chapters. Then meet weekly for about an hour for each of the remaining 10 weeks.
Option 3:: Meet four times for 2–3 hours each within the first two weeks to complete all of the chapters. Then meet weekly for about an hour for each of the remaining 10 weeks.
Option 4:: Meet weekly for 2 hours each week, doing one chapter a week. It will take 10 weeks to complete all of the chapters. Meet weekly for about an hour for each of the remaining two weeks.

Message from the First Presidency

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

The Lord has declared, “It is my purpose to provide for my saints” (D&C 104:15). This revelation is a promise from the Lord that He will provide temporal blessings and open the door of self-reliance, which is the ability for us to provide the necessities of life for ourselves and our family members.

This workbook has been prepared to help members of the Church learn and put into practice principles of faith, education, hard work, and trust in the Lord. Accepting and living these principles will better enable you to receive the temporal blessings promised by the Lord.

We invite you to diligently study and apply these principles and teach them to your family members. As you do so, your life will be blessed. You will learn how to act on your path toward greater self-reliance. You will be blessed with greater hope, peace, and progress.

Please be assured that you are a child of our Father in Heaven. He loves you and will never forsake you. He knows you and is ready to extend to you the spiritual and temporal blessings of self-reliance.

Sincerely,

The First Presidency

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 189.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 42.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 172.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 24.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 98.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 60.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

Read:: Begin the meeting by completing principle 1 in My Foundation on page 4. Then return to page 6 of this workbook.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 132.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 152.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 116.

My Foundation—Maximum Time: 20 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of the week, complete the next principle in My Foundation found in the back of this book. Then return to page 76.

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“God has given each of us one or more special talents. … It is up to each of us to search for and build upon the gifts which God has given. We must remember that each of us is made in the image of God, that there are no unimportant persons. Everyone matters to God and to his fellowmen” (Marvin J. Ashton, “There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might. … And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life” (D&C 75:3, 5).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness. Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you” (D&C 33:8–9).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing” (D&C 88:119).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“How forcible are right words!” (Job 6:25)

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves” (D&C 104:17).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“First seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men” (D&C 11:21).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“My purpose is to give us confidence that we can, by doing small things, expect a great harvest because of the preparations which the Lord has made to magnify the results of our work” (Henry B. Eyring, “The Lord Will Multiply the Harvest,” Teaching Seminary Preservice Readings Religion 370, 471, and 475 [2004], 94).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Ponder—Maximum Time: 5 Minutes

Individually think about what you have learned today and consider what the Lord would have you do. Read the scripture or quote below and write responses to the questions.

“Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).

What are the most meaningful things I learned today?

What will I do as a result of what I learned today?

Find a Better Job for Self-Reliance

Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah

English approval: 8/16
Translation approval: 8/16
Translation of Find a Better Job for Self-Reliance
English
PD60002306 000

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

You will repeat Sharpen Your Skills for the remainder of your meetings.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Use the “Evaluating My Efforts” chart on pages ii–iii to review your commitments from the last meeting. First, write in the actual number of resources you found and contacts you made. Then individually evaluate your effort to keep each commitment by marking red, yellow, or green.

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Each of you report how you did with your commitments by sharing your goals and actual numbers and by stating “red,” “yellow,” or “green” for your effort. Share what went well and how Heavenly Father helped you.

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are of the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 42.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 172.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with The Group (10 minutes)

Each of you report how you did with your commitments by sharing your goals and actual numbers, and by stating “red,” “yellow,” or “green” for your effort. Share what went well and how Heavenly Father helped you.

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are of the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 24.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are of the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 98.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 60.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 132.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 152.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with The Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are of the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 116.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Report—Maximum Time: 25 Minutes

If this is your first chapter of this week, complete “Report.” Otherwise, skip to page 76.

Last Week’s Commitments

Identify resources daily.
Make contacts daily.
Contact and support my action partner.
Practice and share today’s My Foundation principle.
Practice job search skills.

Step 1: Self-Evaluate (5 minutes)

Step 2: Share with the Group (10 minutes)

Step 3: Choose Action Partners (2 minutes)

Choose an action partner from the group for this coming week. Generally, action partners are the same gender and are not family members.

Take a couple of minutes now to meet with your action partner. Introduce yourselves and discuss how you will contact each other throughout the week.

Action partner’s name

Contact information

Write how and when you will contact each other this week.

Complete the activity on the next page.

Resources

The 16th Time Is the Charm

Read:

Let’s read about how Isabella’s job search improved dramatically when she started matching her skills to the employer’s needs.

“I had been looking for employment for over a month. There was a factory in my town where I wanted to work, and they often had positions open. I was well qualified for the position, so I started to apply. I applied 15 times for the same position but was never called for an interview. Of course I was sending the same résumé over and over expecting a different result. Then I learned about identifying the employer’s needs, and that changed everything.

“I looked over the job description and identified the key skills and experience. When I looked back at the résumé and application I had been submitting, it wasn’t even close to what the employer needed. No wonder they hadn’t called me back. So I identified my skills and accomplishments that matched the employer’s needs and applied for the 16th time. Two days later I was called for an interview! They offered me a position as soon as the interview was over, and I started work that same week. Matching my skills to the employer’s needs was the key to my success.”

Back to page 51.

Resources

Keep It Simple

Let’s listen to one employer describe some keys to being a great employee.

“I hire people every year and watch them either grow into the job or move on. Let me share with you the basic things we expect from our employees. First they need to be dependable. Second, they have to be able to work effectively with each other. And third, we need them to contribute. Just doing these three little things makes a huge difference in their success with us. Let me share an experience as an example.

“We recently hired two people to work here. Their positions were the same. They started around the same time. The first person has been great. She is never late for work, rarely calls in sick, and she just has her stuff together. Other people don’t cover for her. She fits in well and gets along with others. Beyond that, she also does a great job. She not only gets the work done, but she looks for more to do. She has been here a few months, and we are already looking at possible promotions or raises.

“The second person is not working out. He is frequently late and always has an excuse, from a sick child to missing the bus. He can’t seem to pull it together, and others have to pick up his slack. I have also noticed that he is disruptive while he is here. He can’t seem to get through the week without getting into some kind of disagreement. My employees have come to me complaining about things he has said or done. I really don’t want to deal with that stuff. I just wish he could get along better or behave more appropriately at work. Finally, he just isn’t that great at his job. He is meeting minimum expectations, but I wouldn’t say we are getting any type of return on investment from him. I am planning on letting him go.

“Keeping a job is simple. Be dependable, be easy to work with, and do a good job. If you can do those things, you will probably always have a job and more opportunities when you need them.”

Back to page 175.

Growing

Angela shares what she is doing to grow at work.

“I worked hard to get the job I have, and I think that makes me appreciate it. It’s a great job that I enjoy and provides for my family. I have plans to move up but also want to do a good job right now. So I have been using my job search skills to grow here at work. Knowing that there is always more to learn motivates me, and accomplishing my daily goals keeps me progressing toward long-term goals. Every day I want to be better.

“I am always looking for how I can do a better job. I found a few resources that have really helped, including some books. But people have been my best resource. Some of my more experienced colleagues and other managers have been very willing to help me. All you have to do is ask, and most people are glad to help you get better. And it makes you want to exceed their expectations.

“I am also continuing to network. Many of the positions in my company are filled through promotions. I have been doing informational interviews with others here to learn more about their roles and to seek their advice. This has helped me make some great connections and learn things I would not have known otherwise. I know there is a better chance that people will think of me when positions do open up for two reasons: first, I am a good worker, and second, they know me and trust me.

“I also know Heavenly Father wants me to succeed and be able to grow. He blessed me with this job, and I know He can help me as I work and try to grow.”

Back to page 179.

Notes

Resources

How Jobs Are Really Filled

Listen as this employer describes how positions are actually filled.

“The mistake most job seekers make is spending their time sending out résumés, when they should be spending their time networking, connecting with key people in their industry and building relationships.

“As a recruiter, I helped our company fill close to 1,000 openings last year. Here is how they were filled.

“We didn’t advertise most of our openings. Instead, the hiring manager already had someone in mind, or maybe a member of his team referred someone to him. He would contact me and let me know he had someone he wanted to hire and I just moved it along from there.

“For the advertised positions, there would often be at least a hundred people who had applied for the opening. I typically got calls from the hiring managers asking me to pull out specific applications for people they wanted to interview. These were people they knew, who were referred to them, or who had already contacted them. Because the manager already knew about these people, he knew they would be a great fit. These were the people who usually got the job. We did hire some people from the general pool of applicants, but it was only about 25 percent of the time.

“My advice: network. Build your network. Maintain your network. Connect with the people making hiring decisions either directly or through others. If job seekers will do this, they will get jobs.”

Back to page 26.

Basketball Got Me a Job

Let’s read how Reuben’s Me in 30 Seconds led to a great job from his network.

“I’ve always been a hard worker, but sometimes that’s not enough. Cutbacks left me without a job, and I figured since I was a hard worker I’d find work easily. The problem was, I had several barriers in my background that were making it difficult to get interviews. It seemed like I could never get past the applications. Several weeks went by, and I was frustrated and discouraged. Then I learned about networking and thought that might be the key for me to get an opportunity. I practiced my Me in 30 Seconds over and over and started talking to everyone—letting them know I was looking for construction management opportunities and what my skills were and how experienced I was.

“One evening I was playing basketball with some friends. I realized they each knew a lot of people and might be able to help me find work, so I shared my Me in 30 Seconds with them. To my surprise, one of them said his wife worked for a construction firm and to send her my résumé. I did and followed up with her the next day. She said she would pass it along to an industry group she belonged to. A few days later I got a call from a man I didn’t know. He had my résumé and wanted to talk with me. He managed a large construction firm. Ultimately that led to a great job. My job was never posted to the public, and it came from someone two or three levels deep in my network. I never would have gotten this opportunity if I hadn’t opened my mouth and shared my Me in 30 Seconds. Everybody has a network; use it to get the word out.”

Back to page 32.

Resources

The Interview

Choose roles, and act out the following.

Interviewer: “What can you tell me about yourself?”

Candidate 1: “You mean like what I like to do? Not much, really. I don’t really have any hobbies or interests. I pretty much do nothing.”

Candidate 2: “Um … well, I …”

Candidate 3: “Oh, I’d love to. As you can see, I spend a lot of time lifting weights. I’m supposed to go to anger management classes too. But who wants to go to those? You know what I mean?”

Candidate 1: “Or do you mean what I’m like at work? I haven’t really stayed at a job long enough to say. I get bored quickly and just stop showing up. … I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

Candidate 2: “Um …”

Candidate 3: “I mean, the guy who teaches that anger management class … I could break him in half. So who would my boss be? You? Hey, you aren’t the type that is always checking to see if we’re busy, are you? Like we’re a bunch of little kids? My last boss did that, and I didn’t like it.”

Interviewer: “Why should we hire you?”

Candidate 2: “You should hire me because … um …”

Candidate 1: “Well, I need a job. I thought my mom came down and talked to you about that yesterday. She said I should get a job. Didn’t she?”

Continue reading on next page.

Candidate 3: “You’d be crazy not to hire me. I noticed when I was coming in that some things really need to be changed around here. It’s a wonder you guys are still in business. I could fix all that. Yeah. You’ll be thanking me for saving your business.”

Candidate 2: “Because … um …”

Interviewer: “What is your biggest weakness?”

Candidate 3: “I don’t have any weaknesses. What’s yours? Man, I hate questions like that.”

Candidate 2: “Weaknesses? Hm …”

Candidate 1: “Um … stealing. I mean, not stealing, really. It wasn’t stealing. It’s a long story. I mean I was going to bring it back. I thought my boss would let me borrow it for a while.”

Back to page 99.

Resources

The Power of Power Statements

Darren shares how power statements helped him stand out as the clear choice in a competitive hiring process.

“Even if you have a job, it’s good to prepare and practice your power statements. I knew I was going to get laid off, so I started actively job seeking. Made me realize you need to keep your network up to date … anyway, what I do is a bit of a specialty, but there are others with similar skills and experience. I found a position online and went about preparing my application and résumé. I knew the competition would be high, especially because this position was posted where anyone could find it. I had learned about power statements and knew that was my key. While others had similar skills, no one had the same experiences and accomplishments I did. I crafted a great résumé, tailored to the employer’s needs, and cited several relevant examples and accomplishments. The employer called me within days of submitting my applications.

“I ended up going through several interviews—some by phone and some by video. I prepared power statements for the interview questions I anticipated. Because it was a remote interview, I could actually use my notes. I knew they were interviewing others, so I had to stand out. The power statements helped me sell myself. The power statements proved who I am. They proved I was willing to take the job and run with it. The employer knew I would do well for them because I could share examples and stories of when I had done similar things in the past. I got the job! I know my power statements made the difference for me.”

Back to page 67.

Resources

It Was a Miracle

John shares what he learned as he applied the success formula to his job search.

Act in Faith + Work Hard + Work Smart = Success

“I had a great job, and I was good at it. My boss was happy with the work I did, and that made it easy to do good work for him. My wife and I had two beautiful girls and a baby on the way. For a young family, it felt like we had everything we needed, especially a good future.

“And then my wife got sick. We did the best we could until we learned that she needed medical care 500 miles away. So of course we moved. I got her and the kids settled and went back to my job until I could find something closer to the family. I didn’t think it would take long; I was well qualified and I’ve never had trouble finding a job in the past. I was confident I could handle it on my own, but for some reason I couldn’t find anything.

“The weeks stretched into months. I was working in one city and looking for a job in another, all while worrying about my wife and family. It was a losing battle. I needed help. I could not do it alone. I turned to my Father in Heaven. I fasted and prayed. My job search turned into an exercise in faith. I worked very hard, asking the Lord to bless me for my efforts. But I soon realized that hard work wasn’t enough. I needed to work smarter. There were better ways to job search—skills I needed to learn and improve.

“As I combined my faith, hard work, and improved skills, things got better. I began to get interviews and then landed a great job. It was terribly hard being apart from my family and going through such a tough time. But it worked out, and I learned so much. This really was a miracle for my family. I am thankful I had this experience and am so grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me all along the way.”

Back to page 13.

Resources

Practice Interview Example

Choose roles and act out the following script. Depending on the size of the group, you might play multiple roles.

Narrator
Facilitator
David (Interviewer)
Jennifer (Job seeker)
Group Member 1
Group Member 2
Group Member 3

Imagine you are looking in on a self-reliance group about to do the practice interview activity.

Facilitator: So to get started with our practice interviews, it looks like we need two volunteers—one will be the interviewer, and one will be the job seeker. Any volunteers?

David: I’ll try being the interviewer for this round.

Jennifer: I’ll be the job seeker. Might as well go first.

Facilitator: Great! Before you come up to the front, Jennifer, can you quickly tell us about the job you are interested in?

Jennifer: Sure. I am interested in a position as a teller at a local bank.

Facilitator: Thank you. Now, both of you please come up to the front to begin the practice interview. David, remember you have a script and sample questions to follow as the interviewer.

Continue to next page.

David (interviewer): Welcome, Jennifer. I am looking forward to visiting with you. Please, have a seat.

Jennifer (job seeker): Thank you.

David (interviewer): Jennifer, to begin, could you please tell me a little about yourself?

Jennifer (job seeker): I would be happy to. I have always enjoyed working with customers. I have over six years of customer service experience, including three with another financial institution. In each of my previous positions, I have quickly developed a reputation for dependability and accuracy. For example, at ABC Bank, I was asked to perform the daily audit after just one month on the job. In addition, I hold an associate’s degree in accounting studies. I am confident my experience and skills will be a good match for your needs.

David (interviewer): Thank you. Can you please tell me about a problem you solved?

Jennifer (job seeker): Yes. When I was a teller with ABC Bank, I was processing our nightly deposit, and it was short several thousand dollars. I counted it two more times to be certain. Our deposit had never been off by that much. I talked with the other tellers and followed our processes to verify their transactions. I was able to discover an error by one of the tellers. We worked together and quickly corrected the error. As a result, we had a balanced deposit and it was a learning opportunity for the teller. I believe my problem-solving skills will help this bank as well.

David (interviewer): Thank you. Can you tell me why you left your last position?

Continue to next page.

Jennifer (job seeker): Thank you for asking me. I enjoyed my time at ABC Bank and gained valuable experience there. I recently relocated to this area to further pursue my education. As a result, I had to leave my position. However, I was very pleased to find an opportunity where I could put my skills and experience to work again. I plan on being here for several years. Did that answer your question?

David (interviewer): Yes. Thank you. Jennifer, do you have any questions for me?

Jennifer (job seeker): I do. Can you tell me what a typical day is like in this position?

David (interviewer): Sure. The majority of your time will be spent interacting with our customers. We have several who come into the bank each day as well as those who use the drive-through. You will also help promote other financial products, like checking accounts or loans. You mentioned balancing deposits, which is another daily duty.

Jennifer (job seeker): Thank you. Working with customers was one of my favorite things about my previous position.

David (interviewer): Good. Do you have any other questions?

Jennifer (job seeker): No. Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you. I look forward to hearing from you.

David (interviewer): I enjoyed our visit as well. We will be in touch. Thank you.

Narrator: David and Jennifer breathe a sigh of relief and turn and smile to the rest of the group. The group claps for them.

Jennifer: Okay, everyone, how did I do?

Continue to next page.

Group Member 1: Jennifer, I thought you did so many things right. For example, when David asked you to tell him about yourself, you nailed it with a good Me in 30 Seconds. It was related to the job, not too long or too short, and you even slipped a short example in there to develop credibility. Nice job!

Jennifer: Wow, I guess I did do that! Thanks. What else?

Group Member 2: I liked that you used a power statement to answer David’s question about solving a problem. You shared an example of fixing a deposit. I do wonder if there are other examples of tougher problems you might have solved, though. Was the deposit a common problem?

Jennifer: You are right. It was definitely related to the bank’s needs, but deposit issues were common. I will work on a power statement related to a tougher problem, since I might see that question again. This is great. What other feedback do you have?

Group Member 3: Nice work on turning a negative to a positive on leaving your last job. I bet the employer would be worried about you sticking around for them too. You told them you planned on being there for several years. I think that helped them feel more comfortable.

Jennifer: Thank you.

David: I noticed something you might want to work on.

Jennifer: Oh, good. What was it?

Continue to next page.

David: At the end of the interview, when I asked if you had questions, your first question was great. However, I noticed you didn’t ask about how to follow up or about how or when the employer was going to make a decision. I remember that was some advice from closing the interview effectively—that we should try to figure out how we can follow up. It sort of puts some of this in our control, instead of just waiting to hear back.

Jennifer: You are right! I was so happy that I had remembered to ask any questions that I completely forgot that. I’ll have to keep practicing. Anything else?

Group Member 1: Don’t forget to send David a thank-you card right away!

Jennifer: Good idea. Okay, now it is my turn to be the interviewer, and I get to choose the next person. Olivia, would you like to come up next? I promise to be nice!

Back to page 134.

The Job Seeker

Pretend you are in an interview for the position in the job posting you brought with you today or a job you are interested in.

Before you begin the interview, share with the group a brief description of the job.
The interviewer will then welcome you and begin the interview.
Answer the interviewer’s questions using your interview skills.
Once your practice is done, ask for feedback from the group.
After the feedback discussion, switch to the interviewer role and choose the next person to be interviewed.

For instructions on how to play the interviewer, go to page 144.

For instructions on how to play the feedback group, go to page 145.

Back to page 134.

The Interviewer

After the job seeker has described the job to the group, follow this script.

Greet the interviewer, shake hands, and ask the job seeker to have a seat. Sit down. Thank him or her for coming to interview.
Ask question 1: “Tell me a little about yourself.”
Ask question 2: (Choose a question from the “Sample Interview Questions” list below.)
Ask question 3: (Choose a question from the “Sample Interview Questions” list below.)
Ask question 4: “Do you have any questions for me?” (You can make up answers to the job seeker’s questions.)
Thank the job seeker for his or her time. Let the job seeker know you will get back to him or her with your decision.

Sample Interview Questions

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a supervisor and how you handled it.
Tell me about a difficult problem you solved.
What are your strengths?
What is your greatest professional achievement?
Tell me about a failure you experienced at work and what you learned from it.
What type of supervisor do you work best with?
What do you expect from us as an employer for you to be successful?
Why do you want this job?
Why should we hire you?
What qualifies you for this position?
What is your greatest weakness?
Why did you leave your last position? Or why are you considering leaving your current position?

For instructions on how to play the job seeker, go to page 143.

For instructions on how to play the feedback group, see the section below.

Back to page 134.

The Feedback Group

Your role is to provide feedback.

Observe how the job seeker does. Watch for what he or she does well and what can be improved. The feedback prompts below will help you know what to watch for.
At the end of the interview, the job seeker will ask for feedback. Share what you observed.

Feedback Prompts

Did the person make a good first impression by shaking hands and greeting the interviewer?
How was the job seeker’s body language throughout the interview?
Did the job seeker use his or her Me in 30 Seconds? Was it relevant to the job? Was it too long or too short?
Did the job seeker use power statements to answer the interview questions?
Was there an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive? How did the job seeker do this?
Did the job seeker ask questions at the end?
Did the job seeker determine what the next steps were and how to follow up?

For instructions on how to play the job seeker, go to page 143.

For instructions on how to play the interviewer, go to page 144.

Back to page 134.

Practice Makes Perfect

Henry shares how practice helped him have great interviews.

“I went through five rounds of interviews to get my job. Each one was tough, but I was prepared. It would be easy to lose focus, or leave out important info about myself, but like I say, I prepared … I think I overprepared! Some of my interviews were by phone, others by video, and the final one was in person. To prepare for each interview, I practiced with others. I would give them questions I was anticipating an interviewer would ask and they would grill me to see how I would react. When it came to the actual interviews, I had practiced for nearly every question. It made a tremendous difference in my confidence. I used Me in 30 Seconds, power statements, and other skills, and I know that was what set me apart. The company knew I would do a good job for them because I could demonstrate my previous success, and I was good under pressure.

“One of the most important aspects of my preparation was prayer. I asked Heavenly Father to help me be prepared and calm. I did my part through practice, and I know He helped me because I showed faith. I know my success came because I put in the effort to practice and prepare for my interviews.”

Back to page 135.

Resources

Notes

Resources

Amy Nails Her Interview

Let’s read how Amy’s preparation and practice helped her have a great interview.

“When I finished my degree, I thought I would quickly find work. I was wrong. My education wasn’t finished yet. I had to learn how to find a job. So I went to work—I learned how to network. I learned how to make my résumé more relevant to the places I applied. And I had to practice my interview skills. Interviews have always made me nervous, and when I get nervous, I stutter and my brain goes numb. So I wanted to prepare as much as possible. A friend at church referred me to a manager at a local employer. The manager called me and set up an interview. I took a deep breath and practiced my answers to each question many times in front of the mirror and with friends using Me in 30 Seconds, power statements, and turning negatives into positives. I also prayed for confidence and help from my Heavenly Father.

“When the day came for my interview, I was still nervous, but I also felt prepared. I dressed one step above the typical work attire and arrived seven minutes early. I ended up interviewing with a team of managers. I opened the interview with Me in 30 Seconds, and things moved on from there. I had practiced for nearly every question they asked me. Even when they would ask a question I hadn’t practiced, I would have something to say because I was so familiar with the interviewing skills. The interview felt more like a conversation, and I knew Heavenly Father was helping me. When the interview was finished, I knew I had done well. A few days later, I was offered the job. I know being prepared and prayerful helped me have a successful job interview.”

Back to page 123.

Resources

Better Written Materials

Mary shares how improving her written materials was key to her job search.

“When I was looking for work, I just pulled out my old résumé, added some of my new experience, and figured I was ready to go. My résumé was now three pages long and loaded with all sorts of great things … kind of impressive. Or so I thought. I started using my résumé to apply for several jobs that I was well qualified for. I got a total of zero responses. Something was definitely wrong. I would have been great at any of those jobs, so why weren’t they calling me? I finally decided I needed some help. I prayed for assistance and started doing some research and talking with others about résumés. I soon realized the résumé that I thought was so great was really pretty bad and probably wasn’t being read at all. That was humbling.

“I went to work fixing it. This took time and a lot of effort. I started customizing it to each position, making it more readable and replacing my boring lists of responsibilities with exciting accomplishments. It really helped me to look at good résumé samples and try to follow those models. I knew I was on to something when I started getting a lot more calls for interviews. My written materials were finally working for me instead of against me. Those interviews led to job offers.

“It took a healthy dose of humility for me to realize I needed help, but once I did, Heavenly Father directed me to resources. I look back at my old résumé and laugh. I am thankful that I learned a better way. It made a huge difference for me.”

Back to page 89.

Sharpen Your Skills

Job Search Principles, Skills, and Habits

Sharpen Your Skills