First, identify and prioritize your skills and character strengths
Web reference for US Dept of Labor competencies and skills material: http://wdr.doleta.gov/SCANS/lal/
Web reference for "VIA (values in action) Signature Strengths questionnaire": The Authentic Happiness site http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/
Second, match what
you have to what employers need
Help wanted ads and job postings
“Grapevine”
Third, learn to
“talk what you walk”
Resumes
Cover letters
Interviews
Prepping for the "Expertise for Hire" Job Fair to be held in Ann Arbor, Michigan - date to be announced.
Job seekers, before you attend the "Expertise for Hire" Job Fair, rethink your work and volunteer experience in terms of transferable skills. The University of Minnesota - Duluth has created an online survey to help you identify your transferable skills.
After you've identified your skills, revise your resume. Consider rewriting your resume in a skills-based format using the information and examples found at the links provided here.
Use your resume to research employers and identify those who need your skills, and to prepare to talk with their representatives at the job fair.
Employers, before you attend the "Expertise for Hire" Job Fair, focus in on the transferable skills (examples here) that are the keys to a person's success in your organization. Think about how people may have acquired these skills through their work and volunteer activities. (Please see the online-survey link above for a longer list of transferable skills.)
Be prepared to ask job fair participants for examples from their life experiences that demonstrate the skills you are looking for.