Looking for Work An Interactive Guide to Marketing Yourself version 2.0 Copyright (c) 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993 InterDigital, Inc. Suggested BBS name: WORK2 A shareware program from InterDigital Dr. Frank L. Greenagel, publisher 25 Water Street, Lebanon, NJ 08833 (908) 832 2463 * fax (908) 832 6081 CompuServe # 76526,3606 ------------------------------------------------------------------ General Description ------------------------------------------------------------------ Looking for Work is an interactive guide for professionals and managers seeking to change or find employment. It is a step-by-step aid in planning and mounting an effective marketing campaign. It contains six units and almost two dozen worksheets, checklists and models to structure and guide the search for a new job. The program's theme is that a job search is a marketing campaign - one that requires planning, analysis, targeted markets, and commitment to a schedule of tasks and activities. Using sound training principles, the program provides an introduction to a job search, a substantial amount of guidance in analyzing one's "natural" market, and considerable direction and structure in carrying out the many tasks and activities of an efficient campaign. It not only shows one how to go about it but through a series of exercises and worksheets, takes the user through the process. When that user completes the program, he/she will have a list of potential employers, a resume, a core marketing letter, and will be well-prepared for job interviews. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Directions --------------------------------------------------------------------- To start the program, type WORK, then hit . The program will ask you to sign in. When you finish a unit and exit, your progress will be stored in a file. When you sign in subsequently, the program will take you directly to the next unit, or to a menu. If you wish to run the program from your hard disk, you must use a text editor to make a change in the CONFIG file. In line 16 of that file, you need to insert the path (drive and directory) where you have copied the program. For example, if you copy the files to the "STUFF" directory on your C drive, line 16 of the config file should look like this: C:\STUFF. Save this as an ASCII file and start the program. If you do not make this change, you will get an error message saying the program can't find the CNT file. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Target audience, Objectives & Content --------------------------------------------------------------------- Target audience: The intended audience consists of professional and managerial personnel who are seeking to change jobs or who have been laid-off or fired. Many have never been through a job search before and need substantial help on even the most basic tasks and activities. Others may have changed jobs several times, but need a systematic approach and step-by-step guidance. Most people put too much emphasis on the resume and not enough on networking and on a series of marketing letters. Almost nobody prepares adequately for interviews, which is the most crucial step in the process. Objectives: Users will be able to organize and carry out an effective job search campaign, including in-depth analysis of work history, a solid core resume & marketing letters sent to appropriately targeted prospective employers, and preparation for detailed interviews. Users will analyze their own financial situation and work history, and will readily identify industries and firms which represent the highest likelihood of a match with the job specifications. Specifically, the program will: 1) Assist the user in developing a personalized plan, including a time-table and specific activities; 2) Review and analyze the user's financial resources, time frame and other constraints; 3) Provide step-by-step guidelines, checklists and criteria for developing lists of target companies and other sources; 4) Provide forms, information and guidance in preparing a detailed employment history; 5) Step-by-step instructions in preparing industry-specific resumes and marketing letters; 6) Week-by-week lists of tasks and activities, and milestones with which to assess progress. Program features: Multi-track: Because the strategy and timing are likely to differ for people in different circumstances, the program queries the user and directs him or her to a track based on the following information: age, income, current employment status, motivating factors, willingness to relocate, and level in the organization. Structured activities, analysis & guidelines: The program uses a variety of worksheets, checklists and exercises, creative instructional techniques to guide an analysis of his/her personal situation, a very detailed work history, systematic listing (using SIC codes) of related industries and firms, and step-by-step instructions on the preparation of the core resume and several marketing letters. While most users will proceed through the program in linear fashion, experienced job hunters can use the software as a reference work, skipping some sections to concentrate on areas where they need help. --------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER --------------------------------------------------------------------- Users of Looking for Work must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "Looking for Work" is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequen- tial, which may result from the use of Looking for Work. --------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER INFORMATION --------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for Work is a shareware program and is provided at no charge to the user for limited evaluation. You may share it with friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of user-supported software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you use this program beyond a cursory examination, you should feel honor-bound to make the $29 registration payment. The registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. Pay- ment of that fee will bring you two additional lessons: (1) using on-line resume banks and job databases and, (2) preparing for interviews. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibil- ity of it being used at one location while it's being used at another -- just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Commercial users (outplacement firms, employers, etc.) of Looking for Work must register and obtain a site license within 30 days of first use if they intend to use or distribute copies of Looking for Work, or this examination license is withdrawn. A site-license is available to career consulting and outplacement firms at a one-time fee of $2,500. Members of the International Association of Career Consulting Firms are entitled to additional benefits. For information, write or phone InterDigital. Anyone distributing Looking for Work for any kind of remuneration must contact InterDigital for authorization. This authorization will be granted automatically to distributors recognized by the ASP as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering Looking for Work immediately. (However, InterDigital must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of Looking for Work.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LIST of FILES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- These files make up the Looking for Work program: WORK.EXE The "engine" that drives the program CONFIG Enables one to adjust to different hardware MOD#n.LSN Content files for each unit MOD#n.CNT Directory for each unit WORK.LSN The inital module in the program WORK.CNT The contents directory for the first module ----------------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFITS of REGISTRATION ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Educational programs are like games -- few users bother to pay the registration fee, no matter how modest it is. As an incentive to do so, InterDigital will send a registered copy (without "beg" screens) which includes two additional lessons: (1) Making use of on-line job banks and modifying your resume for computer-based resume databases; (2) Preparing for interviews. There is material in this version on getting ready for interviews, but work with several career consulting firms during the year enabled us to enrich it enormously -- to the point where it is now a separate unit loaded with practical advice and activities for the serious applicant. Employers and providers of outplacement and career counseling services may find that the program saves them substantial time and introduces a high measure of consistency and professionalism in dealing with clients. They may wish to have InterDigital customize the program with their firm's name and with other information. Any commercial use of Looking for Work without payment of a licensing fee is a violation of copyright. InterDigital will customize the program for outplacement and career counseling firms and employers for a modest fee. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mail to: InterDigital 25 Water Street Lebanon, NJ 08833 Phone: (908) 832 2463 Fax: (908) 832 6081 Name: __________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ ____ REGISTRATION (Single copy, includes shipping & handling) $31.75 (Check in U.S. funds) Call for multiple user license and discount Media: __ 3« diskette __ 5¬ diskette Who provided your copy of Looking for Work? ______________________ ____ Check here if you are interested in receiving information about a version of this program designed for recent college graduates. ____ Check here if you are interested in a similar program on career management.