What is in this Book?

The Texas Job Hunter's Guide provides comprehensive yet succinct instructions to guide job-seekers in their search for self-sustaining employment. Its direct, simple language ensures that students and other first-time workers can read and apply its suggestions on their own. Its one-topic-per-page format allows employment counselors and teachers to easily incorporate it in their lessons, job search seminars and other meetings. Its 60-page booklet design ensures that no reader need feel too intimidated to read it. Finally, its Texas-specific resources make it useful for job seekers of all types around the state.

The new Guide also forms the perfect companion piece for Succeed at Work, a magazine that focuses on how to be a good employee. The two are written in a similar style and have a similar design. Together, they span the entire spectrum of work life: from initial job hunting to working and back again.
Click here to view the Spanish/English Express Publications

How can you purchase it?

You can order a copy of the Texas Job Hunter's Guide by sending a check or purchase order to "Career Development Resources." You can obtain the mailing address and order form here.

More Information (General)

The text of the new Texas Job Hunter's Guide provides a wealth of information but we encourage you to use the links below to learn even more.

Career Exploration Information
Professional Job Hunting Assistance: The Texas Workforce Centers

More Information (Specific)

The Texas Job Hunter's Guide refers readers to the website for certain information. To learn more, click on the sites below.

• Cost of Replacing Workers
• Salary Needs
• "Super Seven" Interview Questions Quiz
• Resume Vocabulary Words

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Professional Job Hunting Assistance:
Texas Workforce Centers

Texas is lucky to have Workforce Centers across the state. These centers exist to help job seekers find employment. They offer software, assessments, training and more. Click here For a list of Texas Workforce Centers in your area..

For more information about the Texas Workforce System, visit the TWC homepage.

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Salary Calculations

Page 7 of the Texas Job Hunter's Guide suggests that job hunters identify their monthly wage needs by deciding first how much "take home" pay they need. From that figure, they can calculate the gross wages they need. This process is called "grossing up."

Here's an example:

To calculate the gross salary you'll need if you are in the 15% tax bracket, multiply your expenses by 1.175. This figure is the MINIMUM gross salary you need from a job.

EXAMPLE: If your expenses are $1700/month:
$1700 X 1.175 = $1997.50 (You should go for jobs that pay at least $2000 a month)

You can check for accuracy by going backwards:
$2000 X .15 (tax) = $300 and $2000 - $300 = $1700

Click here for more information and examples..

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Cost of Replacing Workers

The Texas Job Hunter's Guide points out that it costs a great deal for employers to replace workers. Employers are careful about who they hire because they don't want to have to replace the new employee very soon. The following sites offer different estimates of the cost of replacing workers in today's market.

• University of Wisconsin
• San Jose Business Journal
• ExecuSurv

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"Super Seven" Interview Questions

The Texas Job Hunter's Guide states that ALL interview questions really boil down to seven questions: the "Super Seven." To demonstrate this idea, the Guide offers an exercise that asks readers to identify to which "Super Seven" question a list of typical job interview questions apply.

The "Super Seven" are:

• Q1. Are you trustworthy?
• Q2. Can you do the job?
• Q3. Will you really work at the job?
• Q4. Will you fit in?
• Q5. Will you leave soon?
• Q6. Are you safe?
• Q7. Can I afford you?

Here are the explanations behind the quiz answers.
If you haven't completed the exercise yet, you may want to do so before you look at these answers and explanations!

   1. Tell me about yourself.

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are, your character and personality, addresses Super Seven Question 1.

   2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Any question that looks at your qualificiations, including skills, knowledge and abilities (e.g., your strengths or lack thereof), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   3. How do you define “being on time?”

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are (in this case, how responsible and reliable you are), addresses Super Seven Question 1.

   4. Describe a situation in which you were asked to do something wrong. What did you do?

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are (in this case, your honesty), addresses Super Seven Question 1.

   5. What are your long-range objectives?

Any question that looks at the future, especially in terms of goals and plans, addresses Super Seven Question 5.

   6. How did you prepare for this interview?

Any question that looks at your willingness and eagerness to work (here exemplified by the effort you put into the interview), addresses Super Seven Question 3.

   7. How would you describe yourself?

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are addresses Super Seven Question 1.

   8. Describe a time when you handled a stressful situation successfully.

Any question that looks at your qualificiations, including skills, knowledge and abilities (in this case, handling stress), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   9. Tell me about a time when you solved a problem.

Any question that looks at your qualificiations, including skills, knowledge and abilities (in this case, problem-solving), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   10. Give me an example where you set and achieved a goal.

Any question that looks at your qualificiations, (in this case, an example of an accomplishment), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   11. How do you resolve conflict?

Any question that looks at your relations with others addresses Super Seven Question 4.

   12. Describe a time when you had to follow a policy you didn’t agree with.

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are (in this case, your trustworthiness), addresses Super Seven Question 1.

   13. Describe an important document you wrote.

Any question that looks at your qualificiations (in this case, ability to write), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   14. Describe a situation where your job required you to go “above and beyond the call of duty?”

Any question that looks at your willingness and eagerness to work (in this case, to do more than the letter of the job), addresses Super Seven Question 3.

   15. Describe a time when you had to prioritize because you had too many things to do.

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are (in this case, your sense of organization), addresses Super Seven Question 1. This question could also address Super Seven Quetion 2 because it focuses on your skill of prioritizing/time management.

   16. Describe a time when you had to make a quick decision.

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are (in this case, your level of decisiveness), addresses Super Seven Question 1.

   17. Describe a time when you successfully dealt with someone you didn’t like (or vice versa).

Any question that looks at your relations with others addresses Super Seven Question 4.

   18. What courses in school did you like/dislike?

Any question that looks at your qualificiations, (in this case by seeing which courses you enjoyed and were therefore probably good at) addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   19. How do you count back change?

Any question that looks at your qualificiations (in this case for a particular skill) addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   20. Give an example of a time you showed initiative.

Any question that looks at your willingness and eagerness to work (in this case, to do more than just follow orders), addresses Super Seven Question 3.

   21. Describe a recent situation where you dealt with an upset customer or coworker.

Any question that looks at your relations with others addresses Super Seven Question 4.

   22. Tell me about your worst/best boss.

Any question that looks at your relations with others addresses Super Seven Question 4.

   23. Describe a situation where you planned ahead to avoid potential problems.

Any question that looks at your qualificiations (in this case, the ability to avoid problems), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   24. Why did you leave your last position?

Any question that looks at reasons for changing jobs (past or future) addresses Super Seven Question 5.

   25. Why do you want to work for our company?

Any question that looks at your willingness and eagerness to work (e.g., you selected this company over others because you really want to work there), addresses Super Seven Question 3.

   26. How can you contribute to our goals?

Any question that looks at what skills, knowledge and ability you bring to the organization addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   27. Explain your qualifications for this position.

Any question that looks at your qualificiations (i.e., skills, knowledge and abilities), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   28. Where do you want to be in five years?

Any question that looks at the future, especially in terms of goals and plans, addresses Super Seven Question 5.

   29. How would your parents/teachers/former employers describe you?

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are (in this case, from others' perspectives) addresses Super Seven Question 1.

   30. Why should we hire you over other people?

Any question that looks at your qualificiations (in this case as they compare to those of others) addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   31. What do you do best?

Any question that looks at your qualifications (e.g., what tasks you do well) addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   32. What are your long-range objectives?

Any question that looks at the future, especially in terms of goals and plans, addresses Super Seven Question 5.

   33. Tell me about your first/most recent paying job.

Any question that looks at your qualificiations, (in this case, exemplified by your work experience), addresses Super Seven Question 2.

   34. How do you feel about overtime?

Any question that looks at compensation in any form (including overtime), addresses Super Seven Question 7.

   35. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

Any question that looks at the kind of person you are (in this case, personal characteristics you have that resemble those of the animal of your choice), addresses Super Seven Question 1.

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What kind of person are you? Are you honest, responsible, dependable, trustworthy?
Key words: Personal qualities; “who you are”

Are you technically competent? Do you have the skills, knowledge and abilities to do the job well?
Key words: Skills, abilities, strengths, situation

Are you a hard worker? Are you willing and eager to work?
Key words: Initiative, attitude

Will your personality and work style mesh with the company’s? Can you get along with others?
Key words: Relations, coworkers, boss, customers

Will you stick around or will the employer need to go through this whole process again in six months?
Key words: Future, plans, goals, objectives

Can you manage your temper and control your behavior? Will you hurt customers or coworkers?
Key words: Conflict, stress

Are the salary and benefits within range?
Key words: Benefits, salary, over-time, compensation

Return to "Super Seven" Interview Questions Exercise

Resume Vocabulary Words

Here are some action-oriented verbs to perk up your resume and spark employers' interest. This is just a partial list: be creative!

accelerated acted adapted advanced aided analyzed arranged assembled assigned assisted attained balanced calculated classified coded collected communicated conducted considered cooperated coordinated demonstrated designed determined developed

drafted edited ensured established evaluated examined exceeded expanded expressed facilitated formulated furthered gathered generated guided handled helped implemented increased informed initiated interpreted inspected installed instituted

introduced investigated led maintained managed moderated modified obtained operated organized outlined overhauled participated performed planned presented printed produced proofread reduced refined reorganized repaired reported represented

researched responded reviewed screened selected solved sorted spearheaded streamlined studied submitted supplied surpassed synthesized taught trained translated tutored utilized verified wrote

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