Job search workshop agenda - Days 1,2
1. Discuss how project is different from other activities - the project has
beginning and the end. What are the tangible outcomes to be produced. Even if do not find jobs by the end of our project, this way can part fully satisfied.

2. Why you don’t have a job yet:
A. There are no jobs for you in the current job market
B. There are no jobs you can do - you don’t have the necessary skills to get hired
C. There are no jobs you would like to do
D. You don’t have the necessary skills to do the job you would like to do
E. You got the skills and there are presumably jobs out there but the way you go about job search is just not right – why?

3. Why you need a job. Imagine you have an income comparable to your
expected salary - what would you do etc.

4. Resume
a) Current resume(s) review
b) What is you dream job and how your resume can be tweaked to match your dream objective.
c) What jobs similar to your dream job and your last jobs you can possibly do. How you resume can be tweaked to match these job descriptions.
d) Identify gaps in your skill set that prevent you from expanding your opportunities at low cost (in terms of time and money)

5. Discuss job search strategies (job search sites, recruiters, press, networking, cover letters, etc.)

6. Work out a job-search routine (e.g. weekly set of actions along with progress measurements - e.g. 2 hours of daily routine plus once-a-week networking event attendance)

7. Tough questions (recruiters & interviewers) and how to answer.

8. Bonus:
a) Resume buzzwords
Software qualities: scalability, flexibility, robustness, usability, maintainability, portability etc.
One more buzz-word: ROI – you do mention that you software was used for some practical purposes and allowed for full automation of whatever – saving money speaks to the companies that are industry leaders and have assets to fund research.
TCO - total cost of ownership
b) Business cards