As you prepare to enter the "real world" it helps to consider who you are and what you believe, and to begin thinking about HOW you think and WHY you believe what you believe. This is "metacognition". It's an important part of knowing what you want to do with your life.
Label a piece of paper "Who Am I?" and list SEVERAL items for each section:
Passions: A passion is something you feel very strongly about, something for which you have boundless enthusiasm. You might be passionate about music, sports, art, horses, anime, or cooking. Think about times when you've been working on something (playing a game, doing art, shooting hoops, etc.) and you suddenly realized you had been doing it for hours. The happiest people are often those who find a way to incorporate their passions into their career. These are the people you'll hear say things like, "I can't believe they pay me to do this."
Values: Your values are those qualities or things that are most important in your life. Some people value family or security, while others place more importance on adventure or power. You might value beauty, knowledge, social justice, or independence. Your career and life choices should be compatible with your values if they are to bring true satisfaction.
Personality Traits and Strengths: Are you tactful? Bold? Sociable? Quiet? Thoughtful? Energetic? Funny? Sympathetic? Inquisitive? Reserved? Dramatic? Intelligent? List as many traits as you can.
Skills and Aptitudes: What skills have you learned? What comes easily for you? Do you have a special talent for anything in particular? Are you good at working with your hands? Solving problems? Working with people?
Roles: Your roles are the different parts you play in your life. Most of these are temporary, though some can go on for many years. Right now you are probably a son or daughter, a student, and a friend. You might also be an employee, a sister or brother, a girlfriend or boyfriend, and so on.
Occupations and Vocations: Here I mean both work you do for pay (occupations) and recreational activities (vocations). For example, you might be a grocery clerk, a babysitter, a flute player, cook, ballet dancer, skateboarder, or basketball player.
You will also receive a copy of the "Personality Target" (get one here). We will be completing these targets by neatly listing our passions, values, etc. in the concentric circles of the chart.
Today we are going to be watching a documentary about bottled water and access to clean drinking water.
Before we begin, I want to say that I DO drink bottled water. Not as much as I use to [I generally refill my bottles several times] but I am not an environmental activist at all. I am also a Libertarian and I don't want the government making new laws or regulations -- if I want to drink bottled water and hurt myself or the environment, that's my prerogative... but this is definitely an important issue for our world and will continue to be more so in the future.
This movie discusses legal rights of water, access to water, and the production process. It also talks about health risks associated with the production of the bottles and in the water itself. Finally it discusses recycling, pollution, etc.
You'll note in this graph that bottled water consumption (per person) has risen dramatically over the last 30 years, but look at the dip right around 2007-2009; that is when attention [from films such as this documentary] brought attention to what is going on. At that time cities [like San Francisco] began investigating banning bottled water. Also notice, however, that the bottled water industry weathered that storm and is back on the way up.
I would also like you to consider the cost of bottled water. A typical 16.9 ounce bottle of water
bought in a vending machine is around $1.50. Since there are 128 ounces in a gallon, that means it would take 7.57 bottles of water to equal a gallon -- so we're paying about $11.36 per gallon... for water... which falls out of the sky... and we are complaining about paying $3.99 for a gallon of gasoline.
I'm not mad at the water industry -- I wish I had thought of it, myself. But they get the water out of the tap, raise the price 1900%, and we buy it from a vending machine next to the water fountain.
I have a series of questions that I would like you to answer. A PDF version of the handout can be found here, but the questions are also available here:
1.Is water a “fundamental right”? Why/why not?
2.What is your opinion of buying bottled water?
3.How is the law of “Supply and Demand” important to drinking water?
4. _____% of the surface of Earth is covered by water – but only _____% is drinkable.
5.Why is ground water different from lakes, rivers, or other surface water?
6.What does “Absolute Dominion” mean?
7.Bottled water costs approximately _______ times as much as tap water.
8.Who said, “There is enough water for human need, but not for human greed”?
9.By saying that bottled water is “pure” or “safe”, do you think that implies that tap water isn’t?
10.Where does Aquafina and Dasani come from?
11.Where are the bottles made that hold the bottled water?
12.What is PET or PETE used for?
13.What does “benzene” have to do with bottled water?
14.How is tap water and bottled water regulated differently? How are they tested differently?
15.If bottled water is produced and sold in the same state, how is it regulated?
16.What sorts of contaminants did action groups find inside bottled water?
17.Are the large “water cooler” bottles safer than the small, single-serve bottles?
18.What studies does the FDA rely on to make sure we [as the public] are protected?
19.The amount of plastic drinking bottles being recycled in America is about _____%.
20.What is the “bottle deposit” (5 cents in California) used for?
21.Why is recycling important?
22.Why is bottled water considered the “biggest scourge” affecting our environment?
23.What is the Western Garbage Patch and the Eastern Garbage Patch?
24.What can [or should] we do to change the way the industry handles bottled water?
25.Did the movie “Tapped” change any of your perceptions about bottled water?
This title use to be available on Netflix Streaming, but is now only available on DVD, unfortunately.
Below is the full documentary if you would like to watch it online, however it is subtitled in Spanish.
And since this movie was published, other stories have come out demonstrating other issue. This article explains why the bottled water industry may lead to bad teeth in young people.
The Business of Water
The Story of Stuff: Bottled Water (2010)
From a personal perspective, the town I was born in has a dam that creates Lake Mendocino. It's like Norris Dam / Norris Lake, but much smaller. Here's how it looks:
This was Lake Mendocino in 2006:
Finally, here's a story about water being used up and the products being exported to Saudi Arabia and China:
Today we are having a class discussion about budgets and building a "Hard Times" budget using the absolute minimum amounts for rent, car insurance, food, utilities, etc. We will also calculate monthly income based on a minimum wage and will discuss how tight our budgets might be.
Homework: Another "Ask Someone Who Knows" assignment where students are to ask someone who owns a house *and* someone who rents an apartment/house for a general budget. [Forms Will Be Here]
After Our Discussion
We went with the absolute minimum that we thought we could survive on and these are the numbers we went with:
Monthly Expense
Amount
Explanation
Housing / Rent
$ -
-
Food
$ -
-
Car Payment / Insurance
$ -
-
Gas, Oil & Auto Maintenance
$ -
-
Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water, Etc.)
$ -
-
Phone / Cell / Internet
$ -
-
Cable / Satellite
$ -
-
Health Care / Medicine
$ -
-
Clothing
$ -
-
Entertainment
$ -
-
Pets
$ -
-
Sundries (TP, Soap, Shampoo, etc.)
$ -
-
Furnishings & Kitchenware
$ -
-
School Expenses
$ -
-
Credit Card Payments
$ -
-
Child Care
$ -
-
Savings
$ -
-
Laundry / Dry Cleaning
$ -
-
Energy Drinks, Soda & Candy
$ -
-
That comes to a total of $- per month.
So how much can you make working full time (no days off and no vacation days)?
Well, with minimum wage being $7.25 per hour, if you worked full time (40 hours per week) every week for 12 months (no vacations or sick days)... you would make around $1256 per month ($7.25*40*52/12). But wait... there are taxes and other things (Social Security, Disability, etc.) that come out of your check. You will likely bring home more like $1005. That gives you a surplus of $- each month! That means if you actually ever want to eat something besides Ramen noodles... or buy a pair of shoes... or pick up a candy bar... you can probably do it.
Remember, though... that things like a flat tire, a car repair, a broken tooth, an injury, breaking your phone, etc. can eat up months of your "extra" money. The smart move is to put "extra" money into savings for those kinds of emergencies.
The other thing to remember is that you may [some day] want to go out with friends... or see a movie... buy a birthday present... or buy a video game. That money has to come out of somewhere.
Read the article then follow the instructions at the end:
As we move through your last year of high school, many of you are thinking about moving out on your own. Moving out for the first time is one of the biggest steps you’ll take in life. It not only represents your freedom, independence and a sense of growing up, it also tests your ability to make it on your own.
Since most of us will be renting our first place, we will begin there. There are usually two ways to go. You can rent month-to-month, which means you are able to move out whenever you want, but it also means the landlord can kick you out or raise your rent almost at will. The other way to go is a lease. The lease locks you into a predetermined number of months. For most apartments and condos, a one-year lease is standard. Landlords will usually charge you less if you sign a lease with them. Keep in mind that if you sign a one-year-lease and decide to move out after two months, you’re still on the hook for the additional ten months. Make sure you really like living under that roof and plan to stay there for the lease period or you may want to stick with a month-to-month.
Whenever you rent an apartment or a house, there will always be a deposit required. This deposit will vary based on:
The amount of the rent.
Your credit score.
Are you signing a lease or renting month-to-month?
Is the landlord buying a new car that month?
You can usually expect to pay first month plus a security deposit equal to first month’s rent. If you are renting an apartment or condo, many times there is a reduction or special deal offered by the complex. For example, you may be able to pay first month’s rent plus a small deposit of say, a few hundred dollars. If you have pets, and the landlord allows them, you will be required to pay a deposit for the pet. In some cases, the landlord may require you to pay first month’s rent plus last month’s rent and a security deposit. The important thing to remember is to find out exactly what will be required before you sign anything and what will be required in the end to get your deposit back when you move -- and get that in writing.
OK, moving day.
You’ve taken ten minutes and packed up all your worldly possessions. Mom is standing by the door weeping because her baby is now ready to fly the coop. Even though you needed them to give you 20 bucks to go out last week, you are ready to be an independent adult. Dad is also standing by the door, but he’s got a slight grin on his face. Why you ask? He is planning how to turn your room into his office or new entertainment center! But forget about that for now. You’ve found the apartment, signed the rental agreement, paid your fees and are moving in. Now what?
Have the phone turned on [unless you have your own cell phone].
Have all the utilities turned on (gas, electric, propane, kerosine, etc.).
Have cable activated if you’re using cable [or even have your own television].
Move all your stuff in (which is usually a bag or two).
Get some furniture in that place (beanbags and milk crates are popular in first apartments).
Get some food in the fridge (make sure the place COMES with a fridge!).
Make sure you have at least a towel or two and don’t forget the toilet paper.
A vacuum cleaner would be nice.
Get hooked up for Internet access (might be part of your cable or phone service).
Get some plates and silverware and maybe a glass or two (you may get tired of paper plates and plastic silverware).
This is a fun and exciting time in your life. Sitting in your new apartment for the first time is great feeling of accomplishment for both you and your parents!
Assignment:
Title your page "Moving Out" (bold and center this)
Write one paragraph about when you plan to move out on your own and describe how you expect to be able to do that. Will you have help? Where will you go? If you are already out on your own, discuss how it went for you and what you have learned.
Create a section title called "Questions:" (bold this)
Explain the following items based on your reading above:
When would a lease be good for you?
When would a lease be bad?
What kinds of "deposits" might you have to pay when moving in somewhere?
What does the term "first and last" mean in an ad for an apartment?
How does having a pet affect your plans for moving out?
Create a section title called "Must Haves" (bold this)
Create a bulleted list of items that you absolutely musthave when you move out
Think about which tools you need (hammer, screwdriver, etc.)
Which cooking supplies (frying pan, turner, etc.)
Which appliances (microwave, mixer, vacuum, etc.)
What do you use every day in your life? (towels, coffee cups, etc.)
List things you wouldn't want to do without (television, furniture items, etc.)
Now, while I believe your generation is absolutely amazing -- the thing that I worry most about you all is your dependence on your mobile devices. You may agree or disagree, but then that's what this assignment is about. I will show you a video demonstrating technology use, and I want you to take a position on texting and our connection to [or reliance on] technology. Write the entire 5-6 minutes that you are allotted and I will give you a final minute to close out your thoughts.
I Forgot My Phone:
After writing your journal entry, watch the next clip. Did it change your viewpoint?
It's not about battery life, it's about real life.
Commentators on Sorority Girls Taking Selfies at a Baseball Game:
ROCKETS: Revitalizing Our Community & Keeping East Tennessee Successful
We are a club based at Jellico High School in Jellico, Tennessee. The idea of the club is to revitalize our communities in Jellico, LaFollette, Elk Valley, Duff, Clairfield, Stinking Creek, Caryville, White Oak, Newcomb, etc.
Note: If you have suggestions or information that can help us achieve any of these goals, please contact Mr. Griffith (askgriff@gmail.com).
We will:
Work on community clean up and beautification projects
Look for ways to improve infrastructure (missing / needed signs, road problems, safety issues)
Support local business and buy local when possible
Encourage potential businesses to consider our communities
Celebrate and preserve our history and culture
Attend City Council meetings to lend our voices to the mix
Focus on School Climate / Making School a Community
Locate open land, buildings, storefronts, etc. and track prices.
Action Alert: Suboxone Clinic:
Which cities have a City Council?
Jellico: 3rd Thursday
Caryville
LaFollette
Rocky Top: 3rd Thursday
Norris
City Contact Information: City of Jellico (Campbell County)
410 South Main Street
Jellico, TN 37762 Phone: (423) 784-6351 Fax: (423) 784-3131 City: http://www.jellico.tn.us City Email: cityofjellico@birch.net
Governing Body:
Forster Baird (Mayor)
Elsie Crawford (Alderman)
Jamie Lawson (Alderman)
Louise Walden (Alderman)
Sarah McQueen (Alderman) [pool]
540 Wright Street, Jellico, TN 37762
Charlotte Lindsey (Alderman)
Terry Basista (City Attorney)
Don R. Moses (City Judge)
Roy Price (Emerg. Mgmt. Director)
Mark Bell (Fire Chief)
Mark Tidwell (Library Director)
Alvin Evans (Parks & Recreation)
Christopher Anderson (Police Chief)
JJ Hatmaker (Asst. Police Chief)
Jerome Smith (Street Superintendent)
Keith Blair (Water Manager)
Some of the brainstorming/ideas students came up with so far include:
More / New Police Officers
Police Shouldn't Let People Off Easy
Volunteering
New Freedom (Building Help)
7th Day Adventiist (Store Work)
Food Pantry (Exists)
Homeless Shelter
Drug Rehab:
Springs of Life
Celebrate Recovery
Need Adult Volunteers
Teen Recovery Starting
City Basketball League
Build a Closer Community
DMV / Department of Safety
Attend City Council Meetings
Community / Rec Center
Tear Down Falling Buildings
Fix Up Old Buildings / Storefronts
Dog Park
Animal Shelter
Get the Pool Running Again: [Joe McCulley]
Stop Sign / Hedges Blocking View
Park Hours Extended (+ Lighting Trails: [Joe McCulley]
Clean / Trim Trails at Park [Joe McCulley]
Community Free Clothing for Kids / Teens
7th Day Adventist: Every Thursday
Clothing Swap Meet (Possibly Between Schools)
Fix the On/Off Ramps (Dangerous Circle)
Fix the Roads (not just patch)
Neighborhood Cookouts / Get to Know Neighbors / Block Parties
Roadside Trash Clean-Up / Adopt a Road
Railroad Trash Clean-Up
Fix up the tennis courts / ball fields / get community soccer/football field
Jellico Towers / Myrtle Street Clean-Up: [Rita Mclearran / Sarah Phillips]
Helping Elderly: Cut grass, cut wood, cook, transport, walk dogs, shovel driveways, etc.
Wellness Checks for Elderly -- Especially in very cold or very hot weather
Visit Nursing Homes
Hiking / Biking / Walking Trails & Greenways
Tutoring for Children: [Brooke LeMarr]
Raise Money for a Park
Clean Up Cemeteries
Restore Abandoned Cemeteries
Cemetery Behind Jerry's Car Wash
Plant Trees / 5k Tree Day
Schedule Small Bands to Play at Veteran's Park Stage
Visit People in Community to Make Lists of What to Work On
Get More Vendor's for Fall Festival
Raise Awareness of Jellico History / Promote Tourism / Speak to Travelers
More Playground Stuff (benches, equipment, shelters / gazebos)
Classes for Parents to Learn Reading, Job Training, etc.
Better Recycling Programs
Shop Locally
Fix Stop Sign Graffiti
Remove Graffiti at the State Park (including the rock)
25W Sale: Annual "endless yard sale" along Highway 25
Businesses to Bring to Town:
Gym (that includes men and women)
Factory / Assembly Jobs
A Real Restaurant
Cracker Barrel
Steakhouse
Cheddars
Buffet
Shoneys
Donuts / Krispy Kreme
Amusement Park
Escape Rooms
Roller Skating Rink
Theater / Drive-In
Candy Shop
Bowling Alley
Starbucks
Chick Fil-A
KFC
Bed & Breakfast
Walmart
Jump Jam
Veterinarian
Car Lot / Dealership
Book Shop / Comics
Art Gallery
Ice Cream Shop / Baskins Robbins / FroYo's
Something for Teens
Arcade
Paintball
Laser Tag
Airsoft
School Climate / Improvement:
Morning Assembly / Launch: Pledge, Moment of Silence, Announcements
Student-Led Programs: Bullying, Drunk Driving, Drugs, etc.
More Pep Rallies
More Class Variety
Clean the Bathrooms (Especially in Locker Rooms)
Larger Library
Better Technology
Less Focus on Sports
Paint Football Field for Games
More White Boards
No Study Hall / RTI
Less Test Focused
A Greenhouse / FFA
Attend More Parent/Teacher Meetings
Bring Back Breaks
Fix Broke Desks, Lockers, Lights, Ceiling Tiles
More Hands-On Activities in Classes
Talk to People You Usually Don't Talk To
Bigger Lunch Room
Longer Lunch
Fix Roads Near School
Sidewalks From High School to Elementary
Stop Bullying
Recycling
Teachers focus too much on keeping pace for the tests. Some get left behind.
Off-Campus Lunch (for students with good attendance and GPA).
Life Skills Class
"One hall for focus classes and the other for required classes."
More Sports (Soccer and Golf)
Clean Bleachers
Sex Ed Class
Paint Murals in Classrooms
Build Bird Feeders and Bird / Bat Houses for Town
Find / Prosecute Drug Sellers at School
Turn Grass Area Between Buildings Into Courtyard
Get Morning News Back: [Brooke LeMarr]
Host Movie Evenings / Casual Get-Together: [Brooke LeMarr]
More "Mix it Up Day" like activities: [Brooke LeMarr]
Equal Equipment/Programs With Campbell County High School
Better Internet
Community Safety:
Focus on Drugs / Drug Dealers
Focus on Prostitution
Local Property Owners:
John Davenport, PO Box 856, Jellico, TN 37762
Jellico Motel: 131 Douglas Ln.
To Consider:
1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." (more)
Today we will begin watching part of an award-winning documentary called, "Maxed Out". We will be pausing the movie every few minutes to discuss various aspects of the movie as they relate to this class, our experiences, and our future. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, or ask for clarification.
An interesting juxtaposition from the opening scene in Maxed Out is this video about the economic collapse of Las Vegas and the drying up of the housing market there.
Bank Mergers in One Easy Chart:
MORE STUFF
Some have asked about the music in the Maxed Out movie -- no, it's not Vanilla Ice.
Going through the Employment Portfolio assignments I had a suggestion to do a "Personality Test". Today we're going to be taking a Myers-Briggs personality test. This will give you an estimate of what your "personality type" is. Personality types can help you select occupations or college majors if you are undecided.
Answer the questions as honestly as you can, and try to not leave the sliders in the center. If you're honest about your feelings, the results are more accurate.
ASSIGNMENT:
When you have your result, type your personality type as the title in a new Microsoft Word document. (Mine is ENFJ, for example).
Summarize your "Strengths" in a short paragraph. Make a note about whether this is accurate or not.
Summarize your "Weaknesses" in a short paragraph. Make a note about whether this is accurate or not.
Click the "Personal Relationships" button. Discuss how your "Personal Relationship" results are right or wrong.
Click the "Career" button. Summarize the "Work Habits" section and discuss whether you think the results are accurate or not.
Summarize the "Career Plans" section. Make a bulleted list of careers that [according to the test] might work for your personality type. Discuss whether you think those are careers that might interest you.
Did you get the same personality type? How are they similar? How are they different?
Having taken two different Myers-Briggs tests, how has your view of your place in the world changed? Why or why not?
Note, do a search on Google for your personality type. For example, if I opened Google and typed ENFJ, I would see a LOT of pages based on my particular personality type.
Today we will be discussing some of the "do's and don'ts" of writing Cover Letters as well as why we are writing the letters (see below). We will also be typing our first "Cover Letter" -- the "Ad Response".
COVER LETTERS
Cover Letter “Do’s”
Address your letter to a specific individual.
Send an original letter to each employer.
Use simple language, action verbs, and keep it brief and to the point. Eliminate all unnecessary words and be sure to check for any repetitive wording.
Write targeted cover letters that are unique to each situation.
Refer to the job requirements and relate them to your skill set.
Keep your letter brief and never go beyond one page! Each paragraph should have three to four sentences at the most.
Tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribute to the company.
Refer to specific achievements and accomplishments and set yourself apart from other job seekers.
Make sure your letter answers the question that the employer will be asking while reading your letter: “Why should I hire this person?”
Never bring any negative tone into a cover letter.
Be sure you are providing all contact information, such as home phone, cell phone, and email address.
Keep any e-mailed cover letter shorter and more concise than a letter being postal mailed.
Cover Letter “Don’ts”
Don’t send a resume without a cover letter.
Don’t use a sexist salutation, such as “Gentlemen” when answering a blind ad.
Don’t waste your first paragraph by writing a boring introduction. Use the first paragraph to grab the employer's attention; give the employer the reason s you are qualified for the position.
Don’t depend on the employer to take action. Request action. Request an interview, and tell the employer when you will follow up to arrange it. Then, Do So. It is imperative that you follow up. You will greatly increase your chances of getting interviews if you call the employer after writing instead of sitting back and waiting for a call. Those who wait for the employer to call them will generally have a long wait indeed.
Don’t send a cover letter that contains any typos, misspellings, incorrect grammar or punctuation, smudges, or grease from yesterday’s lunch.
Don’t rehash your resume. You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are relevant to the position, but you’re wasting precious space and the potential employer’s time -- if you simply repeat your resume.
Don't forget to personally sign the letter, preferably in black ink.
Simply put, your letters should tell the reader why you are writing, what position you are applying for, what you have to offer, and why this organization is of interest to you. You should close any letter by advising them of your intention to call them in several days, to arrange further discussion of employment opportunities.
Why are you writing - Let the reader know what has prompted you to communicate with them. Was it something you read or heard, if so, paraphrase the content. If your correspondence is in regards to an advertisement, clearly indicate what position you are applying for and where the advertisement was found.
Promise a benefit - Specify special skills, training, or educational experience that may increase the reader’s interest in you. Cite a particular example of a recent accomplishment in a way that will wet the reader’s appetite and help him/her see the benefits that you can bring to the company.
Refer to your particular interest in an organization - Here is an opportunity for you to tell them where your special skills can best be put to use. Through the use of words, create a picture that will actually assist the reader in imagining you as a member of their team.
The closing - This area provides the writer with an opportunity to control further communication and follow through between the writer and the recipient. Always make certain to request an interview. Give an approximate time in which you will contact the company. Never ask them to contact you at their convenience (with exception to executive recruiters and blind ads). Although a cover letter is not intended to land you the job, it most definitely can either increase or hurt your chances of your resume being read.
TYPES OF COVER AND FOLLOW-UP LETTERS
Targeted / Ad Response Cover Letter: The most common way to hunt for jobs is to check newspaper and online listings. Many people turn to the Sunday paper to see who is hiring, how much they are paying, and how much experience these positions demand. The effectiveness of responding to these ads is debatable. Often, companies list openings only because of "open door" regulations, and have already chosen an internal candidate. Many openings are filled through connections before the first letters come in. Other ads are placed by companies or recruitment agencies that simply wish to test the waters. Even if the ad is legitimate, it is sure to attract dozens, even hundreds of other applicants – which is why having a standout cover letter is vital.
When responding to an advertised position, spell out in the first sentence where you learned about the job opportunity. List the exact name of the advertised job title, the name of the newspaper the ad was in (or which web site it appeared on) and the day and date the ad ran. Because companies often run several different ads at once or ads for more than one position within a department, writing "I'm responding to the advertised marketing position" may not be enough.
Referral / Networking Cover Letter: Friends, acquaintances and family may sometimes tip you off to openings or currently hiring employers. This necessitates a different approach to the cover letter - the Referral cover letter. Connections are great things that need to be cultivated, so make sure you follow proper networking etiquette. Do not use networking cover letters to ask for a job. People with the power to hire new employees take their responsibilities as gatekeepers seriously, and some stranger asking for a job only turns a gatekeeper off. But networking cover letters asking for career advice, information on the industry or just more contacts can often convince a powerful person like a hiring manager to become a more welcoming mentor. By using all of your connections and sending your cover letter and resume to all contacts will inform them of everything they need to know about you. By the time you do your follow-up phone call, they are prepared to tell you if you can fit into their hiring plan. Depending on how strong the contacts are, they might also be able to give you insider information on how you can make your cover letter and resume even more effective for the company in question.
Cold Contact Cover Letter: Companies do not have to have a “hiring” sign hanging on their door in order for you to apply. If you are interested in a particular company, by all means send your cover letter and resume. These types of letters have a great advantage as they show your initiative and genuine interest in a company. The effectiveness of cold mailings ultimately depends upon the establishment you contact. Some well-organized companies actually keep resumes on file and pull them when they begin hiring. But before you rush to mail letters to every Fortune 500 company, understand that most companies lack the organization to take such care with your resume.
Be sure to demonstrate your interest in a company by presenting your knowledge about that company's history, current projects, and business plan. Once you know its plan for the future, you can tell the company how you will contribute to that strategy.
Make sure you're addressing an individual. Call reception and ask for the head of the department in which you're interested. Hiring decisions are made by the people within the department, not Human Resources, so if you have a choice, avoid HR. Contacting an individual can also create a feeling of personal responsibility in the reader that might save your documents from the shredder. Seeing one's own name creates a sense of accountability that an anonymous posting doesn't inspire.
Follow-Up Letter: Whena company opens a position for hiring, they can receive hundreds of applications for a single job. It is very easy for your application packet to get lost in the pile. When a company received additional information (like a professional Follow-Up Letter), they pull the application to attach the new document – which often brings your application back to the top of the pile. This not only adds name recognition [helps them remember you] but allows you another chance to tell them why they should hire you.
Thank You Letter: If you managed to make it through the first stage [your application packet was accepted and screened] and then you made it through the second stage [you received an interview] you are probably in the top few candidates for the job. Another way to stand out above your competition is to send a Thank You Letter. The Thank You Letter is a way to thank the person/people that interviewed you, to remind them what position you interviewed for, to let them know that you are still interested in the position, and to give them a specific benefit you would offer their company. Because you want to be specific, make sure you note some things you learned about the company during the interview. This will let the employer know that you have taken the time and interest [and felt they were important enough] to learn about them.
Not only will a Thank You Letter bring your name back to the top of the pile, but it will make you more memorable – and often will be the deciding factor if the employer is trying to decide between two or three candidates.
Chapter 1 Lesson 1: Scarcity and Choice Assignment:
Begin Chapter 1: Section one and define the terms on the top of Page 3:
Explain the difference between scarcity and shortage in your own words.
What are the "Factors of Production"?
Explain the difference between "Human Capital" and "Physical Capital".
Explain the difference between "Goods" and "Services"
Go to "Section 1 Assessment" (p.7) and answer question 9 and 10.
Next, begin thinking of a store or other shop you would like to open. Start brainstorming ideas for your business. It could sell t-shirts or organic groceries; you could open a restaurant or a gas station; it could be a car detailing shop, a motorcycle store, a shooting range, an upholstery shop, a hair salon, etc. Come up with something that interests you and that you understand, because you'll be using "your business" throughout this class.
Homework:
Draw 4 "building shapes" (see below) on a paper and label it, "Land, Labor, & Capital", The triangle is the business name (I am giving you two businesses to start with) and you will come up with two additional businesses, including the business you are brainstorming in #7 above. Fill in possible Land, Labor, Physical Capital and Human Capital for each business.
Monday: Be prepared to tell me what Scarcity and The Factors of Production are, and what they mean, and have your possible business ideas ready.
Today we're watching a movie called "Dreams of Flying." It's a cheesy, 90's movie about careers, college, family expectations and peer pressure. While some of the acting is horrible, it makes a valid point about who is really "flying your plane."
Open Microsoft Word and put your name and title ("Dreams of Flying") on the top.
Before we watch the movie, spend 5 or 6 minutes answering these questions:
Are there any careers that should only be performed by a man or woman? Explain.
Do you have any family pressure to pick a certain career -- or to avoid a career? Explain.
Do you have pressure from friends about your life choices -- or future goals? Explain.
After we watch the movie, answer these questions:
Summarize the movie and give me some feedback about whether or not it's applicable to high school students today.
Do you relate to any of the characters in the movie? Why or why not?
Today we are going to be discussing and demonstrating proper handshake etiquette. I will be giving you a handout that you will keep in your portfolio as a reminder of proper technique.
Keep in mind that when you are looking for a job, you have to get over a series of hurdles:
You have to submit the proper paperwork (resume', cover letter, application, etc.)
You have to be vetted by the hiring manager
You get asked to a job interview
You meet the interviewer (first impressions are important)
You get through the interview successfully
Sometimes you get asked for a second interview
If you trip at any of those hurdles, someone else will pass you up. That being said, take a look at Step 4 above. If you dress poorly, have messed up hair, aren't groomed well, smell bad, etc. you will probably not fare well in the interview. If you show up looking great and then you give a really horrible handshake, you can complete lose all of the progress you made by looking good. First impressions are important.
Today we will be writing our first "block letter". This is a standard block letter (see format below) which does not require any special formatting (bold, italic, underline, centering, etc.) so we are able to do it in writing -- but they are typically done in a word processor (like Microsoft Word). Notice that everything is aligned along the left side of the page with NO indenting.
Block letters consist of the following sections:
Return Address (your address)
Date (in long form such as "September 16, 2010"
Addressee/Destination (Name and Address)
Salutation (Dear Mr./Mrs. __)
Body of the Letter (at least two real paragraphs)
Complimentary Close (Sincerely,)
Signature (Written by hand in blue or black ink)
Your Typed Name
In the theme of looking at your future, we will be writing a letter to yourself 10 years in the future. Your current address goes on the top and your future address goes after the date -- feel free to make up an address where you think (or hope) you will be living.
Introduce yourself and tell "future you" about your favorite foods, books, movies, TV shows, music, actor/actress, game, teacher, etc. Remind yourself about ideals or beliefs that you hope you still have. Congratulate "you" on whatever achievements (job, marriage, children, etc.) you have made over the last 10 years. Tell yourself about important events going on in your life, your church, your country or around the world.
