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Youth Training
and Employment Program
Gives Top Job Searching Tips
CHICAGO, IL.
(August 24, 2009) – Chicago's youths face great employment
challenges as more experienced applicants are now applying
for entry-level jobs. Jobs For Youth, a non-profit that
averages over 1,000 job placements for Chicago youths (ages
17 to 24) from low-income families every year, offers youth
tips to help in their job search.
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Building Your Resume: If you have never
done a resume, use a resume template. They can be found
easily on-line or in your computer software. Make sure
you use spell-check and have at least three people look
over your resume for grammatical errors.
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Phone
Etiquette: As you start applying to jobs, make
sure your voicemail message is business appropriate. Let
members of your household know that you are expecting
calls for employment interviews so that they may also
answer the phone appropriately.
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Network:
It is amazing who you may know who may know someone else.
It is all about connections. Make a list of organizations
and places you are involved with - church, school, community
groups, family. Talk to them. Let them know you are looking
for a job and what your skills are.
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Interviewing:
Be 15-minutes early for all scheduled appointments and
interviews. Carry at least three copies of your resume
and list of references to each interview. Maintain a neat
and professional appearance. When in doubt, wear a suit.
Do not bring anyone with you to interviews. And remember,
everyone in the office is watching you. Be polite to everyone.
Always turn off your cell phone. Remember to send a thank
you letter after the interview.
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Congratulations, You Have a Job! Knowing your
strengths and how they are used at work can make you realize
how valuable you are and therefore make you appreciate
your job more. Here are a few pointers so that you can
keep working. Know where you want to be with the company
and know how to get there. Bring new ideas to the job,
make yourself valuable. Be flexible with job requirements:
tasks that look like a pain can turn out to be a blessing.
Be friendly with everyone, you never know who can take
you to your next step. Support your teammates, they will
support you!
About Jobs
For Youth/Chicago, Inc.
Jobs For Youth/
Chicago, Inc. (JFY) helps young men and women from low-income
families become a part of the economic mainstream; and,
in the process, provides the business community with motivated
job-ready workers. JFY offers pre-employment training, GED
preparation and job placement services to youth that are
between the ages of 17 and 24. Established in 1979, JFY
has made over 26,000 job placements and had 964 students
receive their GED (since 1987). More information is available
at www.jfychicago.org,
including a short video about JFY programs and services.
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For
more information, please contact us at:
17 North State Street
Sixth Floor
Chicago,
Illinois 60602-2100
Phone:
(312) 499-4778
Fax:
(312) 499-4772
E-mail: info@jfychicago.org
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For
general informational handouts, click here.
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