Find A Job - Questions? Call 800.973.7687

Finding a Job. Welcome to Your Next Career Path.

What to know when you're looking for a job

When businesses look at a candidate and ask questions during an interview, they are trying to determine the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's) of that person. KSA’s are the attributes required from a candidate to successfully perform a job and are generally demonstrated through qualifying service, education, or training. It’s important that you are able to appreciate the differences of these three topics so that you can focus your job search in an area that makes the most sense for you.

Let’s start with some definitions:

Knowledge – A body of information or understanding, usually factual or procedural, gained through experience or association. These would include formal education, training, certifications, or class work that you would have completed.

Skill – The proficient manual, verbal, or mental manipulation of data or things. It is desirable, quantifiable, and measurable; e.g., skill in typing, skill in operating a vehicle, skill in editing for transposed numbers. Simply put, these would be those things that at which you are good because of your repeated successful experiences.

Ability – The natural aptitude or acquired proficiency to perform an observable activity; e.g., ability to write reports, ability to lead or motivate others, ability to analyze numerical data, ability to plan and organize work.

Collectively, these three concepts can paint an accurate picture of what you can offer a potential employer. The trick is in relating them to an employer in the way that makes the best sense for that position.

Job Seeker Tools That Make Results Happen:

Gaps in work history automatically trigger red flags for HR personnel, quickly lowering the likelihood that your resume will make the cut.

iSearch logo iSearch is a fixed-price service ($230.00) designed to help online job-seekers gain an edge over their competition. By knowing the ways in which job boards filter and delineate information, iSearch has a comprehensive understanding of how to get its members' resumes in front of decision makers.

We take your existing resume, cover letter, and electronic job board profile and enhance them using 1) our knowledge of how the search algorithms used by employers work, 2) we add key words and phrases based on our in-house employment expertise, and 3) we leverage our distribution network to get your resume circulated.

iSearch works by refining the search parameters and electronic tags on a resume and resume profile on a job board. These tags are important because they are used by the job boards to sift and sort resumes for HR managers that input a candidate search query. For example, when a HR manager in New York creates a query looking for a Customer Service Professional with Health Care Experience (5-10 years), with a 4-year college degree, looking to earn between $40-45K per year, and living within 20 miles of their office location, they may be confronted with hundreds of resumes that meet those criteria. Do they look at them all? Of course not. Knowing how job search sorting algorithms work allows us to help float a resume to the top of the stack. If a candidate is not seen, they can't be called for an interview. Want to see the process flow diagram for iSearch? PDF - 176 K

All of this exposes your resume to a large audience and moves you to the top of the pile. Remember, the first step in getting an offer is getting seen. iSearch gets you seen.

Click here to view the iSearch program and pricing overview PDF - 95 K.

Click here to contact Seth Acosta (iSearch Program Manager) directly.

plain language logo Writing and communicating are sometimes very different things. This article offers an insight on composing clear prose that convey unambiguous content PDF - 55 K.

Document Library:

Given the ease by which resumes can be circulated, the cover letter is more important now than ever before. The cover letter lets the HR Manager know that you are crafting your response to their exact need. Learn the mission critical questions that every cover letter must answer.

Words matter – especially to a search engine. Action words that convey power, persistence, and leadership matter most: Using these words only work if you are then able to back them up with practical examples. Learn the 10 words that every resume should have. CAUTION: Using these words only work if you are then able to back them up with practical examples.

The FIRST goal of resume distribution is not a job but an interview. Once you get the call for the interview do you know what to do to prepare? We believe that there are 8 questions that every candidate should ask themselves before an interview.

For most jobseekers, the job interview is generally viewed as a very simple win/lose process. Either you get the position or you don't. Nobody gets hired three-quarters of the way. Learn what to do when you don't get the offer.

Finding a job is easy when you know what it takes to succeed. While the work is hard, the plan is manageable. Learn how to make the job search process work for you. PDF - 133 K

There are three basic types of resumes:

1. Chronological: This is the most popular format. It places information in reverse chronological order (i.e. from most to least recent). Employers tend to prefer this format as it (hopefully) demonstrates a candidate’s steady and upward career growth. Thus, the focus is on time, job continuity, growth, and achievements. Click here for more information on Chronological resumes.

2. Functional: A functional resume focuses on skills, credentials, and accomplishments over the course of all jobs held. Emphasis is on what you did, not when or where you did it. Accomplishments, qualifications and experience are grouped together, to emphasize your experience in specialty areas. Click here for more information on Functional resumes.

3. Combination (Uses a Career Profile): A combination resume uses a career profile, which is a functional style listing of relevant skills and accomplishments, and then proceeds to describe employment and education histories in reverse chronological order. In other words, it is a combination of the above two concepts. The experience section directly supports the functional section. Click here for more information on Combination resumes.

NOTE: Unless a functional resume conveys your suitability significantly better than the other types, a chronological or combination format is suggested for entry-level positions. We recommend that you avoid using a functional resume unless an employer specifically requests that format.

Resume Templates:

Microsoft has templates for basic resumes. Please note that these templates require Microsoft Word 2000 or greater.

Chronological Resume Template:

thumbnail of chronological resume template Download a Chronological Resume template.

Functional Resume Template:

thumbnail of functional resume template Download a Functional Resume template.

Find more templates for Microsoft Office programs.

Rate Your Resume:

image of a + sign Does your resume make the grade? Use this form to rate your resume or to allow your friends to rate your resume. Grade the resume in each of the categories listed as either Excellent, Average or Poor.

Download the Rate Your Resume form PDF - 47 K.

Information for Ticket-to-Work (SSA) holders:

Ticket to Work Logo The Sierra Group routinely helps those with a Ticket-to-Work (TTW) with job search and vocational rehabilitation plans customized to their specific needs. Our professional team of counselors and rehabilitation partners need some basic information from you in order evaluate how we can best serve your needs. To gather this information, we require that you complete our basic online intake questionnaire. Once we receive your results, our program manager, Seth Acosta will review your profile and send you a letter detailing our initial plans and recommendations. Your complete and detailed answers are what allow us to help you find competitive employment – by you taking the time needed to accurately complete this profile, we can help you find your next career path.

NOTE: Completing this profile will take about 10-15 minutes (for most people). Many TTW holders find it helpful to have either a list of their prior work experiences or their resume available when they complete this profile. Please allow 2 weeks for your custom response to be sent to you after completing this profile.

Read our privacy policy to see how we handle the personal information you give to us.

Take me to the Ticket-to-Work profile center.

A paper version of this profile can be sent to you if you make the request in writing to:

The Sierra Group
TTW Profile Project
491 Allendale Rd.
Suite 320
King of Prussia, PA 19406

What is the TTW Program: The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The Ticket Program is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 – legislation designed to remove many of the barriers that previously influenced people’s decisions about going to work because of the concerns over losing health care coverage. The goal of the Ticket Program is to increase opportunities and choices for Social Security disability beneficiaries to obtain employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR), and other support services from public and private providers, employers, and other organizations.

Find out if Sierra’s Recruiting Partners have any job openings that fit my skills:

Sierra serves as a sourcing agent for a growing list of national businesses that are specifically looking to recruit qualified candidates with disabilities into their existing hiring processes. We maintain comprehensive lists of available opportunities across the occupational title spectrum. As hiring is a dynamic process, these positions and opportunities change frequently – this means that the best way for us to share any of these opportunities with you is to have you complete a simple Occupational Profile. Completing this profile will help us get to know you and also establish ideas as to how we can help you achieve your ideal job.

Also, you should note that many of the fields are required. Without these critical pieces of information, we will not be able to effectively assist you.

Completing this profile will take about 10-15 minutes (for most people). Many individuals that complete this profile find it helpful to have either a list of their prior work experiences or their resume available. Upon completion of this profile, you will immediately receive an email confirmation stating that we have received your information. You will then be contacted by telephone or email to either clarify your submission or discussion specific opportunities - as may be available. Please allow three business days for this follow up.

A word of caution and support: Be specific. If you are a job seeker with a disability, this may very well be your first step to that next opportunity -please treat it as one. As you complete each section, please do so with the notion that a Sierra employee will be reviewing your materials – therefore, incomplete, grammatically awkward, or poorly spelled materials will not bode well for you. Let the best of who you are come through.

Read our privacy policy to see how we handle the personal information you give to us.

Take me to the Occupational Profile center.

Note: A paper version of this profile can be sent to you if you make the request in writing to:

The Sierra Group
TTW Profile Project
491 Allendale Rd.
Suite 320
King of Prussia, PA 19406

We would like to receive your suggestions or comments. Please sign our guestbook.

Accessibility - Compliance - Diversity