Learn

What will we do in this group?

Time:Set the timer to 60 minutes for the Learn section.

Read:To understand the purpose of this self-reliance group, turn to the inside front cover of this workbook and read the introduction.

We are here to help each other find new jobs or better work. We also have a larger goal: to become self-reliant so we can better serve others.

Practice:Those who apply the principles we will learn together often find jobs very quickly. So this is worth it! Turn to the Job Search Success Map on the last page of this workbook and take turns reading it.

Read:Each day, we will improve our job search. Starting today, we will focus on answering the six questions on the Job Search Success Map for ourselves. We will make commitments, act, and then report to the group. We will succeed together!

Even after we get jobs, we will continue to come to group meetings to learn and practice the Foundation principles. We can continue to help lift our fellow group members and get the group’s help with challenges to our job search.

Here are the question and action for this week.

Read:QUESTION OF THE WEEK—How do I find the right job opportunities?

ACTION OF THE WEEK—Prepare and practice my “me in 30 seconds” statement and share it with everyone I can. Consider doing the Accelerated Job Search (an optional activity).

The rest of this meeting will help us answer this question and take these actions.

Practice:Let’s do our first action as a group. Let’s take five minutes and decide what our group will be called.

Write group name below:

What do I have to offer?

Discuss:Have you ever been embarrassed to tell people you need a job?

Read:We should not be worried! Everyone has needed a job sometime. We each have talents and experiences. Plus, we are children of God. We can succeed! We need to tell everybody that we are looking for a great job and that we are worthy of it!

Practice:Divide into smaller teams of three people. Move your chairs to face each other, and do the following activity.

1. One of you tell the others about one accomplishment. Be brief! You could say: “I was given the ‘best service’ award at work,” or “I served a mission” (or other Church calling), or “I am a mother.”

2. Now, as fast as they can, the other two tell you what skills and abilities were needed to achieve that accomplishment. If you said, “I served a mission,” the others could quickly say, “Then you are courageous, a good student, a hard worker, a leader, a social worker, a goal-setter, good with people, a teacher, a good planner, and able to do hard things.”

3. Repeat this process for each person in your group.

Discuss:How did you feel as others talked about your talents and skills?

Read:In this box, circle your accomplishments and write more. Do not be bashful. Then circle your abilities, skills, and traits and write more. Try to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you!

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Circle and write more)
Church calling
Mission
Parent
Awards at work
Education
Leadership
Service awards
Led meetings
Sold something
Made something
Gave a speech

ABILITIES, SKILLS, TRAITS (Circle and write more)
Honest	Hardworking
Sales skills	Good listener
Dependable	Kind
Cleaning skills	Mechanical
Communication	Goal-setter
Teacher	Resourceful
Intelligent	Maintenance
Construction	Patient
Creative	Good character
Fast learner	Team builder
Planner	Positive

How do I tell others about myself?

Read:Now you know you have much to offer! To get a good job, you need to tell people how you can use your skills to help them—and you need to tell them quickly and powerfully. With the whole group, take turns reading “Sofia’s Introduction.”

Sofia’s Introduction

Hello! ¹ My name is Sofia Gonzalez, and ² I want a job teaching in a private school. ³ I have five years of teaching experience and a certificate in education. My students get great test scores. ⁴ I’m a fun teacher, and students give me their best efforts.

¹ Name ² Objective ³ Qualifications ⁴ Traits

Practice:Now, create your own introduction with these four parts. Write on the lines below. Take 2–3 minutes. Include:

1. Your name

2. The job you want (objective)

3. Why you would be good at that job (qualifications)

4. Some traits or skills that will help you succeed in that job

“Me in 30” Tip: Keep it short! People will listen for only a few seconds.

This kind of introduction is called a “me in 30 seconds” statement. One by one, stand up and introduce yourselves with your “me in 30 seconds.” Keep it to 30 seconds. Let’s clap and cheer for each other!

Read:“Me in 30 seconds” is a great way to introduce ourselves, especially when it is specific. It is more powerful when we add a question at the end that is specific to the person we are talking to. Sofia practiced adding different questions to her introduction, depending on the person she met:

Friend, family: What teachers or school owners do you know?

Secretary: Could you direct me to Mrs. Gomez, the owner?

Employer: How could my experience help you?

We should introduce ourselves to as many people as possible to let them know we are available for employment.

Practice:Take a few minutes to write your “me in 30 seconds” again. Make it better. Add specific qualifications and traits. Add a question you could use when speaking with an employer.

Question:

Practice:As a group, do the following activity. It should take no more than five to six minutes.

1. Everyone stand up and move to an open space. Each person should face another person.

2. Say your “me in 30 seconds” to your partner.

3. Then the other person says his or her “me in 30 seconds” to you.

4. Quickly give each other this feedback:

   • Did it have all four parts? (name, objective, qualifications, traits)

   • Did it end with a question?

   • Was it genuine and confident? Did it build trust?

   • Did the person smile?

   • Would you want to refer this person or give him or her a job?

5. Then switch partners and do it again. And again!

6. Go as fast as you can until everyone has tried it five times.

Read:From now on, we will not be embarrassed to tell people that we are looking for a job. We can open our mouths and tell everyone we are available for employment and just how qualified we are!

Are we ready to go out and give this “me in 30 seconds” to everyone we see before our next meeting? Will we?

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: ACCELERATED JOB SEARCH
(DO NOT DO THIS DURING THE MEETING.)
In our fifth meeting, we will learn about a way to accelerate our job search. However, if you want to move faster in your job search now, you may do this extra activity before then. You may do this by yourself or with others.
To succeed even faster, you can study “Accelerated Job Search” in the Resources section, pages 15–20. Discuss and learn with your family, a group member, or another friend. Go out and do it—find resources, make contacts, and arrange meetings with as many people as you can. This will likely take two to four hours a day.
Searching for work is work! But when people follow this pattern, they get jobs much faster.
If you choose to do the activity, come back and report to the group afterwards. Your experience will help the other group members!

How can I manage my finances wisely?

Read:Being self-reliant includes spending less than we earn and having money in savings. Savings can help us meet unexpected expenses or help us provide for ourselves and our families when our income is lower than we expect. As a part of this group, we commit to saving every week, even a coin or two.

Discuss:In some areas, it is a good idea to save money in a bank. In other areas, it is not a good idea, such as when a country has high inflation or when banks are unstable. Are conditions good for saving in a bank in your area? Which banks offer the best rates for savings?

Read:Another part of being self-reliant is being free from personal debt. Personal loans are used to spend more money than we have. Prophets have counseled us to avoid personal debt, and as we become more self-reliant we will reduce and eliminate any personal debt (though business debt may be wise in some cases).

Medical emergencies often cause major financial burdens. Insurance and government healthcare programs can often help protect against these burdens. Signing up for insurance or a government medical program can be an important part of our path to self-reliance.

Discuss:Some types of insurance (such as health insurance and life insurance) are more available and more helpful than other types of insurance. Some insurance providers are good and some are dishonest. What are the best insurance options in your area?

Why does the Lord want us to be self-reliant?

Discuss:Why does the Lord want us to be self-reliant?

Read:Read the quote on the right.

“To consecrate is to set apart or dedicate something as sacred, devoted to holy purposes.”

D. Todd Christofferson, “Reflections on a Consecrated Life,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 16

Discuss:How can our efforts to get a job serve a “holy purpose,” as Elder Christofferson said?

Read:The Lord has the power to help us become self-reliant. He has said, “Behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles” (2 Nephi 27:23). As we dedicate, or consecrate, our efforts to succeed in our job to the holy purpose of becoming self-reliant, the Lord will guide us through inspiration. As we show our faith by listening for and obeying His promptings, the Lord will do His miracles and make more out of our efforts than we could ever do for ourselves.