Resources

Jobs for Youth in San Mateo County – We invite you to attend a SMC Jobs for Youth Job Preparation Workshop!  You’ll learn how to complete job applications, create an effective resume, prepare cover letters, send thank you letters, access jobs listings and paid/volunteer internship opportunities in our San Mateo County community.  http://jobsforyouth.org

Youth Work Permits – Students who wish to work need to get a Work permit other than for odd jobs such as yard work and baby-sitting. Get the permit from the public school district in which you live, or possibly your private school.  Students under the age of 18 must provide the employer a work permit. In order to receive your work permit, please follow the instructions below:

  1. Obtain a work permit form from school (i.e. Counselor’s Office, Career Center, Main Office) or school district office (during summer sessions). Click here for morre details:  http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlse-cl.htm

  2. At the time of hire, have the employer complete the ‘Employer Section’ on the Work Permit Form.

  3. A parent or guardian must also sign the Work Permit Form

  4. Once the form is completed with the proper signatures, return the form back to the school or the school district office (during summer sessions).

  5. A work permit from the school will be issued to the student.

Youth Labor Laws -Detailed information on laws that affect youth in California can be accessed by clicking on Labor Laws.

RESUMES & COVER LETTERS

  • CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME -The chronological format focuses on the chronology of your work history by highlighting dates of employment, places of employment, and job titles.  This format directly ties responsibilities and accomplishments to companies and time frame.  Use this form if you want to highlight stability, consistency, growth, and development in your career.  You are looking for a similar or more senior position within the same industry.  This enables an employer to determine, at a glance, where and when you worked and what you accomplished at each job.  Is the most common and widely accepted format. 

  • FUNCTIONAL RESUME – The functional format emphasizes your skills, capabilities, and accomplishments, and deemphasizes your job titles, employers, and dates of employment.  This format allows you to prioritize your experience and accomplishment according to impact and significance, rather than chronology.  The experience section is limited to employer names, job titles, and dates of employment.  Use this format if you change jobs frequently.  Have gabs in your employment history.  Have limited work experience.  Are changing career or gained significant experience outside your career path.  This format also highlights accomplishments, skills, and experience most relevant to your career.  Takes focus off gaps or inconsistencies in your work history and draws from a range of paid and on-paid experiences.  Some disadvantages include that this format makes it difficult for hiring managers to tell exactly what the candidate did in each job.  Is also can lead employers to suspect you’re trying to hide something.

  • COMBINED RESUME – The combined format includes the traditional experience section of the chronological resume as well as the skills and accomplishments sections of a functional resume.  This format is the most flexible, allowing you to highlight those sections of your resume that are most relevant to your career objective.  Use this format if you want to highlight your relevant abilities during a career transition.  This is a great format if you are a student or recent graduate with extensive work experience.  This is great if you have been free-lancing, consulting, or performing temporary work.  Highlights your primary skills and accomplishments at the top of your resume.  Some disadvantages include that this format could become longer than necessary and lose the employer’s interest.  This format also lends itself to containing redundant information.

  • O*NET ONLINE – The O*NET program is the nation’s primary source of occupational information. Central to the project is the O*NET database, containing information on hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors. The database, which is available to the public at no cost, is continually updated by surveying a broad range of workers from each occupation. Information from this database forms the heart of O*NET OnLine, an interactive application for exploring and searching occupations. The database also provides the basis for our Career Exploration Tools, a set of valuable assessment instruments for workers and students looking to find or change careers. https://www.onetonline.org/

  • HIGH SCHOOL RESUME OBJECTIVE – What the Resume Objective IS supposed to say: A short blurb telling the hiring manager what skills, knowledge, and abilities you have that will help the company achieve its goals.  https://resumegenius.com/how-to-write-a-resume/career-objective-writing-guide-v2#High%20School%20Student

  • Resume Buzz Words or keywords will help improve your resume’s job descriptions by showing potential employer that you understand the terminology of the specific field or job.  These words help market yourself better.  Many of the internet and applicant tracking system recognize keyworkds, such as “Coordinated” and will identify applicants with those skill sets.  Take time to develop key buzzwords effectively in your resume and cover letter.  The use of effective verbs is equally important! 

THANK YOU LETTERS
FOLLOW-UP ON JOB APPLICATION
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
HOW TO FIND A JOB
JOB INTERVIEWS
Interview Fails:

Links to Effective Communication, Relationships, Dating, Texting, Self-Esteem, Conflict Resolution, etc. – http://www.loveisrespect.org/content/healthy-relationships-start-school-year/

Right-click and select Save-As to download the County of San Mateo Jobs for Youth Soft Skills Workbook (25MB).

Right-click and select Save-As to download the County of San Mateo Jobs for Youth Soft Skills Workbook (25MB).