Empowering Students with Job Search Skills

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021), the average American works about 2,080 hours each year. Our hope as educators, parents, or just fellow human beings is that young adults find a way to spend those 2,000+ hours that is both enjoyable and profitable. Interestingly, though just about everyone on the planet will have a job at one point or another, the process of finding work is one that is rarely taught in schools. It is commonly a process of trial and error that results in a revolving door of jobs that may or may not evolve into a career. I would argue that a lesson on job searching could easily be embedded into a study skills class, a vocational or CTE program, a life skills course, or even adult education. Should you choose to tackle the topic, I recommend starting at the beginning:

Understanding Employment Eligibility

Age

According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, 14 is the minimum working age in the United States. There are additional, specific laws that vary state-by-state that restrict the number of hours a minor may work and prohibit employment in hazardous jobs. There are also special allowances for minors working in family businesses or in agricultural settings. When in doubt, consult your local laws and default to the more restrictive regulations (state or federal, whichever is more protective).

Citizenship

A discussion of employment eligibility must also include the issue of citizenship. While US citizens and permanent residents are eligible to work, permanent immigrant workers, temporary (non-immigrant workers), and student/exchange workers require an Employment Authorization Document. This list is not exhaustive because laws vary by state. The important consideration is whether or not an age- or residency-based permit is required to obtain work. Be mindful that this discussion in a classroom setting is ripe with opportunities for students to overshare personal information. Also be cognizant of the potential for inappropriate comments about nationality or citizenship.

Exploring Strengths and Interests

There are a number of free interest inventories and aptitude assessments available to help students identify possible career matches. One example is the CareerOneStop Interest Assessment. This free activity includes an animated google slides presentation and worksheet that guides students through exploring their strengths and interests using the CareerOneStop Interest Assessment and culminates in exploring a potential career match.

Transitioning from Jobs to Careers

Most people start with odd jobs in their teens and young adulthood. Ask students whether they’ve considered this? Do they want to explore a series of unrelated jobs? Are they interested in pursuing a single career? There are advantages to both. Varied jobs result in broader experience and diverse skills. A single-focus career often provides more opportunity for specialized skills and (possibly) higher pay. Consider sharing your own career path. Ask what they have seen with friends and family? There is not a right or wrong answer - it is more important to build awareness and be thoughtful about employment decisions. 

When everyone around us is living their best life on social media, students often have an unrealistic perception of career trajectory. They often think they will jump straight from high school to owning an artisanal cupcake bakery in Manhattan or playing power forward for the Lakers. Hollywood and TikTok rarely highlight the years of training and education that precede illustrious careers. Another useful activity to conduct with students is brainstorming a chain of entry-level and mid-level jobs that would develop into their desired career. For example, what would allow a person to test out the field of animal medicine and build experience before becoming a veterinarian? Pet store clerk. Animal shelter volunteer. Kennel attendant. Veterinary clinic receptionist. Vet technician. No one wants to be halfway through veterinary school before learning they can’t stand reptiles or that they are allergic to cats. Guiding students through this brainstorming process highlights the incremental reality of most career development.

Navigating Job Search Resources

In this day and age, job searching ranges from an old-fashioned “Help Wanted” poster in a restaurant window to an AI-generated ad personalized based on your scrolling patterns. Students need to explore the strengths and weaknesses of different search options. Job positions posted to craigslist, Facebook, newspaper ads, local business websites, and bulletin board flyers are better for finding local options and small business jobs. Larger scale searches through Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, ZipRecruiter, USAJobs, LinkedIn, and SimplyHired will produce broader results, often from bigger companies. If you do not have the time or resources to assist a student with job searching, your local Job Center is a fantastic resource that offers job search assistance, resume help, career counseling, job search databases, career planning, connections to training resources, financial assistance opportunities, and more!

Effective Job Search Strategies

It is important that students understand that each industry has a number of different titles for the same or similar roles. A thorough job search requires considering the range of position titles. For example, someone interested in “working with kids” may need to search using titles such as nanny, teacher’s assistant, camp counselor, or childcare worker. Similarly, someone interested in an entry-level law enforcement position may want to explore police officer, deputy, highway patrol, state police, security guard, investigator, correctional officer, patrol, school resource officer, or probation.

Decoding Job Advertisements

Once a student has narrowed the field of possible position titles and found promising ads, interpreting a job posting requires a special skill set. Students need hands-on practice with real examples to identify the location of the job, the eligibility and application requirements, the job duties, the salary range and benefits, plus any details like the possibility for remote work, hiring bonuses, or relocation support. This lesson on job searching includes guided practice for students on reading and interpreting job ads.

Beware of Job Scams!

Finally, a lesson on job searching wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging that every year over 14 million people are exposed to scam job listings (Business Insider, 2022). And, sadly, Americans were scammed out of $68 million due to fake business and job opportunities in just the first quarter of 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Common job scams include reshipping schemes, check fraud, and fake fee-based job placement assistance. It is critical that students learn to be on the look out for scam red flags:

• Rushing: The employer pressures the applicant to decide or act quickly or else risk losing the opportunity.

• Unsolicited emails: An employer reaches out claiming to have found an applicant’s resume, profile, or other details online.

• Poor writing: Communication from an employer contains grammar or spelling errors or has sloppy appearance or poor formatting.

• Sensitive information: The employer asks for personal information or documents too early in the application process (well before hiring and onboarding)

Tips for Protecting Yourself

Students can greatly reduce their risk of becoming the victim of a job scam by:

• Researching any job posting by going directly to the company’s official website (or calling or going into the store). 

• Not following any links in an unsolicited email or social media post. 

• Insisting on an in-person interview or video phone call and interacting with a real person.

• Never paying to apply. There is no such thing as a “deposit” to hold a job.

• Not paying for training, screening, registration, etc. as part of the hiring process.

• Being aware if a job sounds too good to be true - offering salary, benefits, or conditions that are unrealistically good.

Check out this lesson for an engaging Spot the Scam activity where students can analyze and evaluate job postings, seeing if they can identify the red flags.

Too often the process of finding suitable employment is left untaught. Integrating lessons on job searching into educational curricula, vocational programs, and life skills courses empowers young adults to navigate the complexities of the job market more effectively. From understanding eligibility requirements to deciphering job postings and safeguarding against scams, providing guidance at the outset can pave the way for informed career decisions and, ultimately, a fulfilling professional journey.