What You’ll Learn
- Best practices for writing effective, job-tailored resumes and cover letters
- How to identify and communicate relevant job experiences and transferable skills to potential employers
- How to use digital tools in the job search and application processes
- Approaches to organizing and tracking your job search
Why This is Important
We each have our own motivations for wanting to work in the world of progressive politics. Whatever your “why” is, before you can begin making your mark on the American political landscape, you’ll need to get your foot in the door. Every industry has its own tricks of the trade, and politics is no exception. There’s never a wrong time to do some maintenance on your professional self, and even seasoned professionals from other fields can benefit from the approaches outlined in this course.
Key Resources
- Job Search Organizer
- Guide to Progressive Job Searches
Jan Gaetjens
Trainer
Jan Gaetjens is a Chicago-based educator whose career spans K-12, higher ed, and adult learning. A first generation American of Haitian and Guyanese descent, Jan has an unwavering belief in the potential of the American experiment and views education as central to the sustenance of participatory Democracy.
Since 2012, Jan has developed career exploration and social-emotional learning curricula for Chicago Public Schools, several charter school networks, DePaul University, and Rush University, supporting countless students through college and into fulfilling careers. In 2017, he was recognized as the Illinois Counseling Association’s Graduate Student of the Year for his work on Chicago’s West side.
Jan holds a BA in Sociology from Georgetown University and an MA in School Counseling from DePaul University, where he is currently pursuing a PhD in Curriculum Studies. His research and writing focuses on the intersections of democracy, education, and racial justice.