Job Hunting Tips
For Your Red Head

FOR EXAMPLE:

ONE of my redheads’ 1st job was part-time at a local fast-food chain that was tough grueling work. The first few days she'd come home and collapse at the top of the stairs, smelling like food (which the dog loved!).

A bit later she joined the armed forces, proudly serving in the military and traveling worldwide...which led to other opportunities...(what a transformation!)

Our OTHER redhead managed to find work initially volunteering at a hospital and a wedding shop
(loved it), which then led to a paid part-time position as a Page at our local public library (a bookworm so loved it!).

Later, she found a full-time job as a customer service rep for a medical info. site, leading to more job choices.

There were things I could have done better such as more extensive teaching on balancing checkbooks, monitoring how they spent and saved, more help with how to deal with difficult people and temptations, etc.

But, as we learned, teens are sneaky and I was naïve. You do the best you can at the time. Now we laugh a lot about it!

In the end, it all turned out, God protected them when I couldn’t, we’re all a little wiser, and they have learned to budget more wisely now.

OKAY, the reality is you may have to start at a minimum-pay job or a job that's not your first choice......

And unfortunately, in many places businesses are swamped with applications from out-of-work professionals who are competing for jobs usually filled by young people or others such as: making beds, serving food, mowing lawns, running concession stands, operating carnival games and rides, child care, and so on...

BUT don't give up and keep looking... Do your BEST in whatever job you find. WHY? -- You just never know where that FIRST JOB or foot in the door will lead down the road!!
(Better read my page on "Job Evaluation Funny Quotes" first!!!)

• Find your niche, something that fits your skills or interests. What things excite you or you have a talent for?
• Check out local state work force centers (state jobs centers). They often provide help searching for jobs, education classes, job hunting tips, and resume help.
• Call local jobs hotlines. These are often managed by state work-force centers and have current job listings.
• Temp agencies. A good place for a job search because they often look for short-term workers and sometimes these turn into full-time jobs. (My eldest redhead had this happen)
  Benefit: The employer gets to try you out and see what kind of worker you are. Same for you. You can see if you like it there. If either one is unhappy, you can move on. If you like it and there’s work, you may get offered a permanent job.
• Ask around Learn about available jobs from:
  - Relatives, family, friends
  - Newspaper want ads
  - School placement offices and career days
  - Employers of friends and family or your current employer
  
• Newspapers, online and local in Classified Ads, Help Wanted sections.
• Volunteer for experience and networking. Volunteer in a field you like to find out more about it and talk to people who work in that job to find out what it’s really like, the schooling needed, etc. Sometimes volunteering can lead to jobs down the road.
• Federal and state government job sites.
• Help-Wanted Websites (probably for more experienced job seekers) Some people use these:
  - www.employmentguide.com/browsejobsnew.html (specific market or keyword searches)
  - www.FlipDog.com (Search local areas, most popular, etc.)
  - www.Jobs.com (To check locations, in and out of US)
  - www.monster.com (Job search by category and location)
  - jobseearch.usajob.opm.gov (Jobs with federal govt.)
  
• Job Fairs. (If you go to one, take many copies of your resume to pass out to employers there. Be confident. Prepare ahead of time a short sales pitch of who you are, what your skills are, and how you can benefit their business if they hire you. NEVER pay a free up front or give out your personal info like SSN or bank info.
• Local shops, restaurants, fast-food, amusement parks...We had one family member dress up and go door-to-door to shops and places in her neighborhood in her job search. She let them know she was job hunting and available and asked if they were hiring. She did eventually impress someone with her initiative and got hired!

-- FILL OUT A JOB APPLICATION --

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