Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

Course: Job Searching Online 101: Part I Date: 05/10/2013 Topic: Learning about job resources through the Milwaukee Public Library and how to use the MilwaukeeJobs.com to find and evaluate job postings. Target Group: Adult job-seekers interested in learning how to begin searching for positions online. Session Length: 90 minutes

Assignments Due: Find and evaluate three job postings on MilwaukeeJobs.com. Fill out information on MilwaukeeJobs.com practice worksheet and return to class with any questions, doubts, or concerns. Objectives: Recall multi-step process of opening a web browser, entering a web address, and successfully navigating to a job searching site. Recognize and identify various searching interfaces on MilwaukeeJobs.com Demonstrate knowledge in selecting appropriate searching methods and distinguish between different types of searching, such as keyword vs. category searches. Evaluate the descriptions of job postings to determine suitability for ones own search.

Outline: Introduction and Ice-Breaker: Students will be welcomed into the room, asked to sign in, grab a folder containing class handouts and take a seat in the computer lab. As students are coming in, they will be instructed to fill out the Pre-Course Questions which asks their name, the date, career field, what types of jobs theyre seeking, and if they have ever searched for jobs online b efore. After everyone has settled in, the IL instructor will provide a brief self-introduction and will also ask for the students to introduce themselves to the class by stating their name and what they hope to achieve from this session. In doing this, the instructor will elicit discussion on what the students hope to gain for the course and will craft the course objectives together with the students. Any objectives that are not mentioned by the students themselves will be brought up the instructor, and the instructor will explain the importance of sharing our knowledge with each other in the learning process, and will encourage students to share questions and comments freely throughout the course. Activity 1: Opening a Web Browser The instructor will introduce the topic of opening a web browser to access the Internet. As many students may be somewhat unfamiliar with the desktop, the instructor will provide a brief breakdown of parts of the desktop, including shortcut icons, the Start button, and the task bar. Students will practice opening Mozilla Firefox on their desktop by double-clicking on the shortcut icon or clicking and hitting the enter key. The students will be able to compare what they see on their screens with that of the instructors pr ojected screen. The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) homepage will load, and the instructor will continue to provide a brief breakdown of the web browser window, such as the web address bar, the minimize, maximize, and close buttons, and the scroll bar. Activity 2: Accessing Job-Related Resources on MPLs Homepage The instructor will also elicit the students in discussion on web links, and the difference

Objective:

Students will have the opportunity to introduce themselves, express their hopes for the session, and engage in a dialogue about the objectives of the course. (15 minutes)

All of the students will gain a basic understanding in opening a web browser, and identifying key parts of the window regardless of prior experience in computer use. (10 minutes)

Students will learn of the MPL Drop-In Job Help

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

between a website and a webpage. The students will be directed to look at their Accessing Resources at the Milwaukee Public Library sheet and the group will follow along with the instructor in completing the steps detailed on the sheet. The Drop-In Job Help center available through MPL will receive great attention, as this is a place where one-on-one assistance can be provided to job-seekers on particular questions or processes in which they may need support or feedback. The instructor will also have students open the link for Job and Resume Assistance in Milwaukee, as this provides an up-to-date list and description of various agencies in the city of Milwaukee that provide assistance to job-seekers. sessions where students can take advantage of receiving one-on-one support in their job search. Learners will also become aware of other job agencies in the city that can provide further assistance and training. (10 minutes)

Activity 3: Using MilwaukeeJobs.com The IL instructor will engage students in exploring the MilwaukeeJobs.com website, which is one of the most popular job searching websites in the metropolitan area. MilwaukeeJobs.com has a more complex searching interface than many other job boards, yet is relatively userfriendly. The instructor will first lead students to the site by demonstrating how to click in the web address bar and type in the address for this site. As the students perform this task for the first time, the instructor will check each students screen before they hit enter to go to the MilwaukeeJobs.com site. Once on the website, the instructor will discuss basic elements of the homepage with the students. Students will explore moving their cursor over the various tabs at the top of the page to discover the resources listed on the site. After doing this, the instructor will ask the students to take out their MilwaukeeJobs.com instruction sheet to follow along with the hands-on demonstration. Students will be directed to the Find a Job tab and will be given the opportunity to click on each type of search interface listed here. Advantages and disadvantages of the various search interfaces will be discussed.

Students will learn the step-by-step process of entering in a new web address and successfully going to a new website. (5 minutes)

Students will gain a sense of understanding that there are often many ways to search on a website, each with its own unique advantages and/or disadvantages. (10 minutes) Students will receive hands-on guided practice in learning how to perform two types of searching. They will also engage in a conversation on the importance of closely evaluating job descriptions before deciding to apply to a position. (20 minutes)

Students will be directed to take out their MilwaukeeJobs.com worksheet. The instructor will first lead the students in performing a category search, and then a keyword search. During both of these searches, students will learn of the importance of filtering results by date, and how to access various pages of results. Furthermore, the instructor will engage the students in opening job descriptions of positions that they are interested in, and learn how to closely read and evaluate job descriptions for essential information before taking the time to apply to a position. As time permits, students will be given the chance to begin searching for positions of interest on their own and the instructor will walk around and provide assistance as needed.

Wrap-Up and Directed Paraphrasing Assessment After the last activity, students will be given the MilwaukeeJobs.com practice worksheet and instructed to try performing searches on their own and filling out the information on the worksheet. Students can return the worksheet in the Job Searching Online: Part II session. The reasoning for this worksheet will be for students to take the time to practice exploring the MilwaukeeJobs.com website and practice finding relevant jobs for their own search. It will also provide students with structured questions to answer in order to assist them in recalling the important details discussed in class.

Students will have the opportunity to practice their skills outside of class and find relevant jobs to their own search.

Also, for a brief, informal assessment, the IL instructor will use the Directed Paraphrasing assessment as a way to gain a better idea of the students understanding of the session. The students will be called upon to partner up with another classmate and explain the basics in how MilwaukeeJobs.com works. The students will be told to imagine that they are explaining the site to someone who only knows how to search for position postings in a printed newspaper and is unfamiliar with online job sites. After discussing with their partner, the instructor will ask for the students to share their responses and as a group, the students will be able to combine their knowledge to describe the process that they completed.

Together with their partners, the students will discuss the most important concepts learned in class, and will create a description as a group of how to search online for jobs on MilwaukeeJobs.com.

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

After this, students will be asked to complete their Post-Class Questions and turn in this assessment sheet. The instructor will use their answers here in combination with the answers provided from the Directed Paraphrasing assessment as a way to gauge student understanding. Moreover, the students will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge from this session at the beginning of the next session, Job Searching Online: Part II, and the instructor will be able to adequately check their progress in accordance with the rubric. (10-15 minutes) Students will be free to go, and encouraged to return to the next session. Materials: -Sign-in Sheet -Pens -Projector with screen -Folders with all class sheets inside: -Pre-and Post-Class Questions Sheet -Using MilwaukeeJobs.com Sheet -MilwaukeeJobs.com Practice Sheet -Drop-In Job Help flyer

Assignment: Find and evaluate three job postings on MilwaukeeJobs.com. Fill out information on MilwaukeeJobs.com practice worksheet and return to class with any questions, doubts, or concerns.

Notes: Q:

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

Job Searching Online: Part 1 Pre-Class Questions

Name: Date: What is your career field?

What type of jobs are you looking for?

Have you looked for jobs online yet, and if so, which sites did you use?

Job Searching Online: Part 1 Post-Class Questions

What was the muddiest, most unclear point of the course today on which you would like further clarification?

What other job-related questions do you have?

Are there any training courses in particular that youd like to see offered by the Milwaukee Public Library?

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

Accessing Job Resources at the Milwaukee Public Library

1. Go to the Milwaukee Public Librarys homepage (www.mpl.org) 2. Click on Research Resources on the left-hand side of the page. 3. Click on Job Seeker Help.

Job Resources at the MPL and in Milwaukee

4. Click on Printable Drop-In Job Help PDF to see the days and times that the Drop-In Job Center is offered. 5. Scroll down the page a bit and click on Job & Resume Assistance in Milwaukee link.

Every Milwaukee Public Library cardholder receives two hours of computer time per day. Job-seekers can supplement this time by attending Drop-In Job Help!

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

Using MilwaukeeJobs.com
One of Milwaukees most popular job-seeking websites is MilwaukeeJobs.com. There are many ways to search for open positions on this site, such as searching by category, company, and keyword searching. Our class will explore searching by category and keyword searching. Category Searching

1. Click on the Find a Job tab. A drop-down menu opens. This menu allows you to decide how youd like to search for jobs on this website. 2. Click on By Category. There are over 50 job categories to choose from, some with subcategories.

Job Categories

3. Scroll down the page to find a job category that youre personally interested in. 4. Click on the job category. The first page of results opens.

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

Note: As MilwaukeeJobs.com is a for-profit job board that offers incentives to companies that frequently post the most jobs with them, some employers receive the label premier and appear near the top of the list. One of the most useful ways to display results is by Date, as this lists the positions most recently posted in reverse chronological order. 5. Click on Date in the upper left-hand corner. This allows you to view the most recently posted positions going backwards from today. As you may check this site daily or many times a week, sorting the results by date allows you to view only the most recently posted items. 6. Notice the quantity of results by looking at the upper left-hand corner of the page where the number of results will display. 7. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the total number of pages of results. 8. Click on either the next page number or click Next>> to continue to the following page of results.

Keyword Searching 1. Click on the Find a Job tab. At the top of the page, there is a keyword searching box that defaults to listing Milwaukee, WI as the preferred job location and will search for jobs within a 50 mile radius. 2. Click inside the Enter keywords box. Notice the blinking cursor now in the box. This means it is ready for you to type in this area. 3. Type a word or phrase related to the type of job you are searching for. For example, if you are a CNC machinist, type in simply CNC. 7

Notice the suggested related terms. You may click on one of these suggestions or otherwise simply leave your word or phrase. 4. Click on the drop-down arrow next to the 50 miles. If you wish, you may select a smaller or larger radius for posted jobs depending on how

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

far you are willing to commute. 5. Click Search Jobs to obtain results of your keyword search. An advantage of a keyword search is that it retrieves all results that contain a particular keyword or phrase regardless of the job category in which the job was placed. This could be particularly helpful if you offer certain transferrable skill sets, such as the ability to speak another language or a mastery of a certain trade. A disadvantage of a keyword search is that sometimes certain job titles have synonymous names, such as clerk and attendant. Also, you may have to sift through more results that may not be relevant to your search. Evaluating Job Descriptions Now that youve explored two different ways to search, its important to learn how to gain further information a position you may be interested in. This information is included in the job description of a position. On MilwaukeeJobs.com, the job description can be found by clicking on a particular job title in your search results. 1. Perform either a keyword or a category search to obtain a list of results. Each result displays the date a position was posted, the position title, the name of the company and/or staffing agency that is posting the position, the location, possibly salary information. It also includes the first few sentences from the longer job description.

1. Click on the job title of a position that you are potentially interested in. A new window opens containing the full job description. 8

Its beneficial that the job description opens in a new window so you could continue searching the results, and leave various windows open for jobs that you are interested in reviewing at the end of your search 2. Scroll up and down the job description. 3. Take note of essential information that may influence your decision to apply to a particular job. More detailed information is provided in the blue box, such as the employment term (ie. permanent vs. temporary), employment type, (ie. full-time vs. part-time), and work hours (ie. 1st vs. 2nd shift).

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

The job description is provided below the job details. Make sure to read it carefully before investing time in completing the application! Pay extra attention to Special Notes/Instructions, as many employers will indicate how they prefer for you to apply to the job, such as by emailing them a resume, applying on their company website, or through the MilwaukeeJobs.com site. MilwaukeeJobs.com is being constantly updated with new jobs, which means its a good idea to check in at least once a day to see if any new jobs have been posted in your field of interest. By filtering the results by date, you can check just the most recent positions up until you reach the jobs that youve already seen in previous searches.

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

MilwaukeeJobs.com Practice Worksheet

Find three positions of interest to you using either a category or keyword search. Try to fill in the following information below about each position. Position #1: Job Title Employer Employment term, type, and work hours Any special notes/instructions? Method of applying: Anything important to note?

Position #2: Job Title Employer Employment term, type, and work hours Any special notes/instructions? Method of applying: Anything important to note?

Position #3: Job Title Employer Employment term, type, and work hours Any special notes/instructions? Method of applying: Anything important to note?

10

Paula Mason, Job Searching Online 101: Part I

Rubric:
OUTCOMES 1) Student is able to correctly open a web browser, type in an address and access a new website. 2) Student demonstrates familiarity with search interfaces on MilwaukeeJobs.com website. 3) Student is able to sort results by date and successfully navigate among result pages. 4) Student evaluates job descriptions for suitability for his/her own search. Exceeds Expectations Student demonstrates ease in opening a web browser, using parts of the window with ease, and accessing other websites. Student is very comfortable with using MilwaukeeJobs.com and has explored other features of the site. Student is able to sort and navigate results with ease, and demonstrates curiosity about other ways to limit and sort results. Student can quickly determine a positions suitability and has started the job application process. Meets Expectations Student opens a web browser, can type in a new address and access another website. Student is able to perform job category and keyword searches on MilwaukeeJobs.com. Student can sort results by date and move between pages with little need for assistance. Student is able to determine a positions suitability for his or her search. In Need of Improvement Student struggles to perform this task and needs step-by-step assistance.

Student is unsure of how to approach searching on MilwaukeeJobs.com website. Student does not demonstrate knowledge of how to sort results by date nor navigate to other pages of results. Student is uncertain of whether a position fits her or her needs.

11