Careers Education

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Careers Education Placement Centre

• Written Application
• for Engineering Position
• Date 18 November,1999 (Thur)
• Time 600 p.m. - 700 p.m.
• Venue T2, Meng Wah Complex

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Careers Education Placement Centre
Ms Emily Wong Manager Email eypwong_at_hkucc.hku.h
k Homepage http//www.hku.hk/cepc
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When you apply for a job, you will need

• cover letter
• resume
• AND/OR
• Company Application Form

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Resume Covering Letter

• A Resume is a one or two pages history of your
  achievements, education and characteristics that
  qualify you for the position you seek.

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Resume Covering Letter (Contd)

• A Covering Letter introduces your resume to the
  employer and links your most important skills and
  experience to the job.
• It should explain why you are interested in that
  career and that employer.

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Who are the READERS? What are their backgrounds?

• The Human Resources Personnel
• The Line Managers
• The Selection Committee

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Your Challenge

• To show where you are different or better than
  your competitors!
• Add value - your experiences inside and outside
  of school will set you apart from your peers.

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Remember

• The resume and covering letter are your
• own personal marketing document
• no standard format
• Your can read examples of resumes, but dont copy
  them.
• Make one for yourself.

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Competition is fierce in 98 - 99
Banking
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Competition is fierce in 98 - 99
Information Technology
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Your goal

• Catch the employers attention in the first few
  seconds
• To get an interview
• To remind the employer of you after the interview

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Covering Letter

• Basic knowledge of cover letter
• Limit it to one page, one and a half at the most
• A4 size quality paper
• Be brief and specific - dont re-produce your
  resume
• be addressed to the relevant named person in the
  organization

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Covering Letter contd

• say how you came to know about the vacancy
• draw attention to relevant skills and experience
• dont merely quote what skills your have, give
  specific examples
• say why you are attracted to and suitable for the
  job

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Mechanical Engineer

• Job Description
• - concern with the design, manufacture and
  maintenance of machines and equipment with
  moving parts

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Mechanical Engineer

• Typical Work Activities
• understanding and using physics
• using mathematics to solve technical or
  scientific problems
• learning how machines work
• responsible for controlling or adjusting
  equipment
• understanding technical drawings and diagrams
• understanding the scientific properties and uses
  of materials
• planning how work is to be carried out
• problem solving by seeking new ideas
• being interested in 3-dimensional design,
  manufacturing or processing industries
• keeping accurate records or reports

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Electronics / Electrical Engineer

• Job Description
• concern with any project which uses electronics
  and/or electricity
• - improving communication links using
  telecommunications
• - electronic mailing systems
• - balancing electricity supplies
• - maintaining electrical equipment

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Electronics / Electrical Engineer

• Typical Work Activities
• - understanding and using physics
• - using mathematics to solve technical or
  scientific problems
• - working with electricity or electronics
• - learning how to machines work
• - understanding technical drawings and diagrams
• - planning how work is to be carried out
• - problem solving by seeking new ideas
• - work requiring accuracy and attention to detail
• - understanding the programming of computers
• - responsible for controlling or adjusting
  equipment
• - keeping accurate records or reports

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Format for Cover Letter

Your Address Date The persons name Job
tile Employer name Address Dear (Mr/Mrs/Ms
Surname), Ref (Position) Introduction -
Explain why you are writing Middle paragraph/s
- Match your qualification, experiences, and
achievements with the primary tasks of the
appointee. Make them interested in meeting you!
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Format for Cover Letter contd
Penultimate paragraph - Say why you are attracted
by this employer and occupation. Closing
paragraph - Leave the way open for further
communication. Yours sincerely, Your name
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Covering Letter

• Why are you interested in the company and the
  job??
• Research!!
• recruitment talk
• career booklet
• company file/newspaper cutting file
• world wide web (e.g. South China Morning Post
  Achive)
• alumni contact/friends
• CEPC homepage

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Covering Letter

• Why the Company is interested in you
• e.g. I understand that you are looking for people
  with strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
  I believe these traits are demonstrated by the
  academic success, previous work experience and
  active participation in extracurricular
  activities described in my resume. In the summer
  of 1997, I was employed as a Student Research
  Assistant in ABC Research Co. During this period,
  I conducted several research projects, one of
  which was to investigate the .... I carefully
  studied the data and...... My observation
  was.........

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Covering Letter

• Leave the way open for further communication
• e.g. I have included my resume and transcripts
  for your consideration. I look forward to hearing
  from you soon.

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Exercise

• Common mistake
• I have hands-on experience in using major
  computer software
• Revision
• In my final year research project, I used SPSS to
  process the statistical data and....
• I used Foxpro to store the 500 XXX records that
  I collected from the telephone interviews....

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Exercise

• Common mistake
• I am a self-starter with excellent leadership
  ability. I believe these qualities will be an
  asset to your company.
• Revision
• In my last summer job, I took the initiative to
  help the supervisor set up a systemic filing
  system, ...This system allows the team to
  retrieve information easily and effectively.

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Basic Knowledge of Resumes

• Keep it to 1-2 pages
• Use quality A4 paper and matching envelope
• Neat and clear presentation
• Include information that is relevant to the job
• Leave out expected salary unless asked for

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Information to be included

• Personal Information
• Include only relevant information (e.g. telephone
  number, address, e-mail)
• Information on your height, weight, place of
  birth, gender, marital status etc is not needed.
• Dont take up too much space with this section

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Information to be included

• Summary Statement (value adding)
• It is useful for employers to have a brief
  summary of your strengths, skills and experience
  for the job.

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Information to be included (contd)

• Summary Statement (value adding)
• It underscores the important message in the cover
  letter
• It repeats the key words in the cover letter
• It leads into the career objective

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Summary - Example 1

• An undergraduate at the University of Hong Kong
  with a major in Business Administration
  (Accounting and Finance). Able to work under
  pressure and possess effective communication and
  interpersonal skills. Willing to face challenges
  and have commitment and drive to succeed.
  Actively participated in extra-curricular
  activities during University career and enjoy
  team work. Proficient in English and Cantonese.
  Taking Mandarin course in University. Knowledge
  of major computer software.

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Summary - Example 2

• HKU English major, with particular interest and
  strength in creative writing most outstanding
  achievement being the piece of investigative
  journalism conducted in Beijing, aspire to
  research and analytical work.

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Information to be included

• Career Objective (value adding)
• Tell the employer
• what type of job you are looking for,
• what type of industry,
• what skills would you like to apply to his
  position.

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Career Objective

• me-me trap
• A trainee position in a well established
  software house where I can gain experience in
  writing computer documents
• Revision
• A trainee position in a well established
  software house where I can use my background in
  computer science to write computer programmes.

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Information to be included

• Education
• Start with your MOST RECENT education and work
  backwards
• Give the name of the University, the title of the
  degree in full, date of graduation and final year
  project title, if relevant
• Other relevant training courses that you have
  attended

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Information to be included

• Work Experience
• Start with your most recent or most relevant
  experience,
• Give the company name, period of employment and
  job title,
• Describe your duties and responsibilities,
• Show what your have done rather than simply tell
  (statement of achievements, showing result).

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Information to be included

• Extra-Curricular Activities
• Include student activities, committees, sports or
  responsible positions that you have held,
• Include related achievements,
• Include title, period, statement of
  responsibilities, and statement of achievement as
  with Work Experience.

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Information to be included

• Skills
• Include other qualifications that are relevant to
  the company
• e.g. language and computer skills

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Hobbies and Interest

• Useful if they are relevant to your career
  objective.
• Avoid being too general such as reading or
  sports,
• Be specific and list achievement, if any
• e.g. reading detective stories, war game
  strategies, literature classics etc.,
• bird-watching and keeping log book of
  species seen,
• hiking, improved from grade __,
• walks to grade __ walks.

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Professional Membership

• If it is relevant to your career objective, put
  it down
• e.g.
• Student Member of
• the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers
• (Banking posts),
• he Hong Kong Institute of Marketing (marketing
  posts).

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Expected Salary

• Leave it out unless it is asked for.
• Do some research and find our what news recruits
  are paid in that industry.
• state a range
• ?? HK 10,000 - HK20,000
• HK 10,000 - HK12,000

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Resume Format

• Name
• Address
• Contact Numbers
• Summary
• Career Objective
• Education
• Extra-Curricular Activities
• (Position, Organisation, Period, Statement of
  responsibilities (use action words to show
  skills))
• Statement of achievement (showing results)

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Resume Format

• Work Experience
• (Position, Organisation, Period, Statement of
  responsibilities (use action words to show
  skills))
• Statement of achievement (showing results)
• Hobbies and Interest
• Skills and other qualifications relevant to the
  company
• References (Ideally three referees, not
  relatives, to comment on your ability, character,
  attitude to work, achievements)
• Expected Salary (unless asked for)

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The DOs

• write the resume yourself
• make it error free
• make it look good
• stress your accomplishments
• be brief and specific
• be honest
• keep it lively - use action words (e.g.
  organised, participated, handled..etc)
• address to the right person

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The DONTs

• Incomplete Information
• Poor layout
• Too fancy/complicated
• Incorrect dates (e.g. date of birth, year of
  graduation)

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One Final Rule

• Remember the 4Ss
• SIMPLE
• SUCCINCT
• STRAIGHT-FORWARD
• SPECIFIC

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Other Resources

• The Resume Writing Workbook
• Write for the job
• Getting the job you really want
• Write, giving full details (video)
• The Miracle Resume (video)
• Language Centre
• More .......
• Careers Library, 3/F, Meng Wah Complex

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Summary

• The formats of application letter and resume?
• What the employer expects from your application?
• What to include in your application?
• How to make your application effective?
• How to get in touch with the CEPC?

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ANSWERS
QUESTIONS