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Youth Programs

Dress for Success

Types of Dress for Different Interviews

OCCUPATION: Janitorial, domestic aide, factory, machine operator, etc.
MEN: Pants/jeans and plain long sleeved shirt. Work shoes. WOMEN: Plain dress or skirt/slacks and blouse. Low heeled shoes and nylons. Little or no jewelry.
OCCUPATION: Orderly, nurses aide, bus person, stock clerk, waiter/ waitress, cook, messenger, shipping clerk, etc.
MEN: Slacks and plain long sleeved shirt. Tie, if
appropriate. Dress shoes.		 WOMEN: Dress or skirt and blouse. Low or medium heels and nylons. Little if any jewelry.
OCCUPATION: Clerical, sales associate, customer service, office equipment repair technician, etc.
MEN: Suit or sport coat and slacks with dress shirt and conservative tie.
Dress shoes.		 WOMEN: Suit, tailored skirt and jacket or tailored dress. Medium heels and nylons. Conservative jewelry.
OCCUPATION: Professional/Technical
MEN: Dark or neutral suit with dress shirt and conservative tie. Dress
shoes.		 WOMEN: Tailored suit. Medium heels and nylons. Conservative jewelry.

APPEARANCE GUIDELINES

HAIR:

  • Clean, professional style
  • Well trimmed beard and mustache, if applicable

COSMETICS:

  • Neat and lightly applied, conservative

GLASSES:

  • Clean, clear-lensed glasses

NAILS:

  • Nails must be neat, clean, and manicured
  • Choose clear or light colored polish, stay away from trendy colors

SCENT:

  • Avoid heavy scent in aftershave, cologne, perfume, or deodorants

SHOES:

  • Shoes should be polished; avoid scuffed, worn heels and soles
  • Over the calf socks, coordinating with pants/slacks
  • Medium heel pumps; avoid "strappy" look or sandals
  • Stockings or pantyhose in nude, beige or coordinating shade

ACCESSORIES:

  • Tip of tie should cover belt buckle
  • Avoid trendy or oversized jewelry
  • Belts should match shoes and show no signs of wear
  • Women should wear a maximum of two rings and one pair of earrings
  • Make sure that tattoos are covered up, if applicable
  • Avoid taking purse



 

What are your traits?

Step 1: Write down the key traits you feel describe you.

Accountable
Accurate
Adaptable
Adventurous
Alert
Ambitious
Analytical
Assertive
Believable
Calm
Cautious
Committed
Competitive
Confident
Considerate
Cooperative
Courteous
Creative
Decisive
Dependable
Detailed
Diplomatic
Direct
Efficient
Empathetic
Energetic
Enthusiastic
Flexible
Friendly
Hardworking
Humorous
Imaginative
Independent
Innovative
Intelligent
Knowledgeable
Loyal
Mature
Motivated
Objective
Optimistic
Orderly
Organized
Patient
People-oriented
Perceptive
Persistent
Personable
Persuasive
Poised
Polite
Practical
Productive
Punctual
Resourceful
Responsible
Results-oriented
Safety-conscious
Self-directed
Sincere
Spontaneous
Team-oriented
Thorough
Trustworthy
Versatile

Step 2: Choose the six top traits that describe you best. These six words should be the description that you want the employer to definitely know about you before you leave their office after an interview.

Step 3: Select two words from step 2. Write down a job related or personal experience example of how you demonstrated this personal trait. This could be in an assignment or project at school, a trait that you display on a sports team, in a volunteer position or serving in a club at school. This is to help you create a picture in the interviewers mind of where, when and how you demonstrate your work traits.

Example for "responsible" - I'm a very responsible person. My last supervisor routinely assigned the most critical projects to me because he could count on me to meet deadlines.

Example for "dependable" - I'm a very dependable and punctual person. I consistently arrive early and have been commended for my good attendance. (At school or on a job

 

What are your skills?

Write down all the words that identify your skills.

Automotive

Cashiering/cash handling
Change air filters
Change oil
Change hoses
Change spark plugs
Change tires
Check fluids
Customer service
Customer assistance
Data entry
Follow directions
General clean-up
Hand tools (type of tools)
Keep stock neatly organized
Minor auto repair
Operate machines (type of machines)
Receive deliveries
Rotate tires
Stock floor with necessary supplies
Take messages
Telephone (# of lines)
Use service manuals
Vehicle maintenance

Child care

Babysitting (number of children/number of hours)
Planning activities
Meal & snack preparation
Child safety

Custodial

Sweeping
Vacuuming
Cleaning windows
Mopping
Dusting
Empty Trash
Sanitation
Waxing and polishing floors

Computers

IBM
Macintosh
Scanners
Windows 3.1 or 95
CAD
Access 2.0
Approach 3.0
Freelance Graphics 2.0
Power point 4.0
Presentations 3.0
Lotus 5.0
Excel 5.0
Quattro Pro 6.0
AmiPro 3.0
Word 6.0a
WordPerfect 6.1
Data entry
Databases
Internet
Presentation Graphics
Spreadsheets
Word Processing

Food Service

Bank deposits
Clean-up/bussing
Credit card authorizations
Customer service
Customer assistance
Data entry
Delivery of product/merchandise
Dishwashing
Displays/merchandising
Familiar with health and sanitation rules
Food prep
General clean-up
Hold food handlers card
Hostess
Inventory
Operate machines (type of machines)
Prep/grill cook
Quality control
Salad bar
Sales (product/negotiation)
Stock inventory
Take messages
Telephone (# of lines)
Waitress/waiter

Gardening

Compost building/removal
Cut grass
Cutting hedges
Digging trenches
Edging
Fertilizing
Hand tools (type of tools)
Lifting (number of pounds)
Operate machine (type of machine)
Plant grass, flowers, shrubs, trees, etc.
Plant/shrub removal
Raking grass/leaves
Service sprinklers (repair/maintenance)
Sweeping
Watering
Weeding/weed whacking

General Labor/Warehouse

Ability to read maps
Assembly
Driving
Equipment maintenance
Filing (type of filing)
Forklift operations
Hand tools (type of tools)
Inventory
Lifting (number of pounds)
Loading/unloading
Operate machines (type of machines)
Packaging
Painting
Quality control
Read blueprints
Stocking
Take messages
Telephones (number of lines)
Use service manuals

Office

10-key calculator
Ability to read maps
Assembly/correlating
Bank deposits
Completing forms
Credit card authorizations
Customer assistance
Customer service
Data entry
Delivery of product/merchandise
Equipment maintenance
Faxing
Filing (type of filing)
Inventory
Office procedures
Operate machines (type of machines)
Photocopying
Quality control
Sorting/distributing mail
Typing (# of words per minute)
Stock inventory
Take messages
Telephone (number of lines)
Use service manuals

Retail Sales/Customer Service

Bank deposits
Cashiering/cash handling
Credit card authorizations
Customer assistance
Data entry
Delivery of product/merchandise
Displays/merchandising
General clean-up
Inventory
Operate machines (type of machines)
Quality control
Sales (product/negotiation)
Take product/merchandise orders
Take messages
Telephone (number of lines)

Skill Areas That Apply to Most Jobs

Ability to follow directions
Bilingual (languages)
Excellent grades
Excellent communication
First aid/CPR
Organized
Outstanding record of attendance
Team Player
 

Suggested Summer Activities  for 14 and 15 Year Olds

 

Volunteering Does Pay….

When you volunteer you're still developing skills, showing commitment and responsibility. Employers place as much value on a volunteer position as they do on a paid position. In fact when you complete your commitment with a volunteer position, it shows what great skills you do have.

Employees see what a great, dependable volunteer you are. Sometimes they have leads for you. Companies do look at their committed volunteers to fill their future job openings.

Check Out These Volunteer Opportunities….

United Way - San Diego

Boys and Girls Club of East County:
(619) 440-1600

Get Out and Meet Your Neighbors….

Summer is a time when lots of extra projects need to be done, pets need to be watched while people are on vacation, local babysitting, and yard work. Make up a simple flier with your information on it, and take it around to your neighbors.

Try Some of These Ideas….

  • Host a bake sale / craft sale
  • Organize a yard sale for your block
  • Run errands for busy neighbors / relatives
  • Walk dogs for working neighbors
  • Pick up mail & water plants for people out of town
  • Help elders with daily activities
  • Post a flyer on your stareet for yardwork/babysitting
  • Put a notice in your church or community bulletin
  • Talk to small businesses about helping after school
  • Go door to door for local realtors
  • Twirl signs to attract customers to businesses
  • Ask family friends with businesses if they need help

Some Employers Do Hire Young People Under 16

Sign Twirling Companies:
EVENTS EXTRAORDINAIRE (Age 14+):
800-343-8368
DIRECTIONAL CONCEPTS (Age 15+):
800-71.-6992 x311
Mostly Saturdays and Sundays; Part-time work at $9 / hour

PetSmart
Boomer's
Subway
McDonald's
 

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