Ch. 13-1

1
Chapter 13

• The Job Search, Résumés, and
• Cover Letters

2
Test Your Employment Savvy
1. You are just entering the workforce. How many
times are you likely to change careers over the
course of your working life?

• Two times
• Three times

• Four times
• Five or more times

3
Test Your Employment Savvy
1. You are just entering the workforce. How many
times are you likely to change careers over the
course of your working life?

• Two times
• Three times

• Four times
• Five or more times

4
Test Your Employment Savvy
2. Having your job terminated ranks in the top
ten of lifes most severe crises.

• True

• False

5
Test Your Employment Savvy
2. Having your job terminated ranks in the top
ten of lifes most severe crises.

• True

• False

6
Test Your Employment Savvy
3. You are putting together a résumé. What format
do recruiters generally prefer?

• Chronological (arranged by dates)
• Functional (arranged by skills)
• Combination

7
Test Your Employment Savvy
3. You are putting together a résumé. What format
do recruiters generally prefer?

• Chronological (arranged by dates)
• Functional (arranged by skills)
• Combination

8
Test Your Employment Savvy
4. Many experts in the field of recruiting think
that the surest way for a college graduate to
find a job today is by

• Searching the Internet
• Sending out hundreds of résumés

• Networking
• Reading the classified ads

9
Test Your Employment Savvy
4. Many experts in the field of recruiting think
that the surest way for a college graduate to
find a job today is by

• Searching the Internet
• Sending out hundreds of résumés

• Networking
• Reading the classified ads

10
Test Your Employment Savvy
5. You begin your job search the way most people
do by looking through newspaper ads. What
percentage of available opportunities can you
find in those ads?

• 10 to 19 percent
• 20 to 29 percent

• 30 to 49 percent
• 50 percent or more

11
Test Your Employment Savvy
5. You begin your job search the way most people
do by looking through the newspaper ads. What
percentage of available opportunities can you
find in those ads?

• 10 to 19 percent
• 20 to 29 percent

• 30 to 49 percent
• 50 percent or more

12
Test Your Employment Savvy
6. Youve heard that networking is a good way
to find a job. Who should be on your list of
people to contact?

• Potential employers and professional
  organizations
• Family members, friends, neighbours, associates
• School alumni and former instructors
• Your dentist, your doctor, other service
  providers.
• All of the above

13
Test Your Employment Savvy
6. Youve heard that networking is a good way
to find a job. Who should be on your list of
people to contact?

• Potential employers and professional
  organizations
• Family members, friends, neighbours, associates
• School alumni and former instructors
• Your dentist, your doctor, other service
  providers.
• All of the above

14
Test Your Employment Savvy
7. Youve landed a job interview with a company
that has a casual dress code. What should you do?

• Dress in campus casual attire
• Dress professionally in a suit
• Hit a happy medium
• Call to ask interviewer

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Test Your Employment Savvy
7. Youve landed a job interview with a company
that has a casual dress code. What should you do?

• Dress in campus casual attire
• Dress professionally in a suit or
• Hit a happy medium
• Call to ask interviewer

16
Identifying Your Interests

• Do I enjoy working with people, data, or things?
• How important is it to be my own boss?
• How important are salary, benefits, and job
  stability?
• How important are working conditions, colleagues,
  and job stimulation?

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Identifying Your Interests

• Would I rather work for a large or small company?
• Must I work in a specific city, geographical
  area, or climate?
• Am I looking for security, travel opportunities,
  money, power, or prestige?
• How would I describe the perfect job, boss, and
  coworkers?

18
Evaluating Your Qualifications

• What computer skills can I offer?
• What other skills have I acquired in school, on
  the job, or through activities? How can I
  demonstrate these skills?
• Do I work well with people? What proof can I
  offer?
• Am I a leader, self-starter, or manager?

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Evaluating Your Qualifications

• Do I speak, write, or understand another
  language?
• Do I learn quickly? Am I creative? How can I
  demonstrate these characteristics?
• Do I communicate well in speech and in writing?

20
Choosing a Career Path

• Visit your school career or counselling centre.
• Search the Internet.
• Use your library.
• Take a summer job, internship, or part-time
  position in your field.
• Interview someone in your chosen field.
• Monitor the classified ads.
• Join professional organizations in your field.

21
Using Traditional Job Search Techniques

• Study classified ads.
• Check announcements in publications of
  professional organizations.
• Contact companies in which youre interested.
  Write an unsolicited letter and include your
  résumé.
• Ask for advice from your instructors.
• Develop your own network of contacts.

22
Using Electronic Job Search Techniques

• Canadas Job Bank
• JobsEtc.ca
• http//www.charityvilla ge.com
• Workopolis.ca
• Monster.ca

23
Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Choosing a Résumé Style
• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination

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Chronological

• Lists work history job-by-job, starting with the
  most recent position.
• Quickly reveals experience and education.
• Works well if you have experience in the field
  and steady career growth.

25
Functional

• Focuses attention on skills rather than on past
  employment.
• Groups skills and accomplishments in categories.
• Can de-emphasize employment history.
• Good for those who have changed jobs frequently,
  have gaps in employment, or recent grads.

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Combination

• Draws on features of chronological and
  functional.
• Gives a complete job history that focuses on
  capabilities.
• Good choice for recent grads.

27
Arranging the Parts of a Résumé

• Main Heading and Objective
• List your name, address, telephone number.
• Include a career objective for a targeted job.
• Education
• Name and location of schools
• Dates of attendance
• Major fields of study
• Degrees, diplomas, and certificates received.
• Give information about your studies, but dont
  inventory all your courses.

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Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Work Experience
• List your previous jobs.
• Start with the most recent jobs. Include
  employers name and city, dates of employment
  (month, year), most significant title, duties
  activities, accomplishments and promotions.
• Served 40 or more retail customers a day
  Successfully resolved problems about customer
  stationery orders Acted as intermediary among
  customers, printers, and suppliers

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Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Work Experience
• Describe your experience.
• Use action verbs to summarize achievements and
  skills relevant to your targeted job.
• Prepared tax returns for individuals with incomes
  under 30,000.
• Conducted interviews with over 50 individuals to
  determine required tax information.
• Determined legitimate tax deductions and recorded
  them accurately.

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Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Work Experience
• Include nontechnical skills.
• Give evidence of communication, management, and
  interpersonal skills. Employers want more than
  empty assurances. Try to quantify your skills.
• Organized holiday awards program for 1200
  attendees and 140 awardees. Praised by top
  management for enthusiastic teamwork and
  achievement.

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Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Special Skills, Achievements, Awards
• Highlight your computer skills.
• All employers seek employees proficient with
  word processing, databases, and spreadsheets.
• Show that you are well-rounded.
• List awards and extracurricular activities,
  especially if they demonstrate leadership,
  teamwork, reliability, loyalty, initiative,
  efficiency, and self-sufficiency.

32
Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Additional Tips
• Omit references (unless specifically required).
• Look for ways to condense your data.
• Double-check for parallel phrasing.
• Project professionalism and quality.
• Avoid personal pronouns. Omit humor. Use
  24-pound paper and a quality printer.
• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.

33
Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Additional Tips
• Omit references (unless specifically required).
• Look for ways to condense your data.
• Double-check for parallel phrasing.
• Project professionalism and quality.
• Avoid personal pronouns. Omit humor. Use
  24-pound paper and a quality printer.
• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.
• Proofread!

34
Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Additional Tips
• Omit references (unless specifically required).
• Look for ways to condense your data.
• Double-check for parallel phrasing.
• Project professionalism and quality.
• Avoid personal pronouns. Omit humor. Use
  24-pound paper and a quality printer.
• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.
• Proofread! Proofread!

35
Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Additional Tips
• Omit references (unless specifically required).
• Look for ways to condense your data.
• Double-check for parallel phrasing.
• Project professionalism and quality.
• Avoid personal pronouns. Omit humor. Use
  24-pound paper and a quality printer.
• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.
• Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!

36
Writing a Persuasive Résumé

• Additional Tips
• Omit references (unless specifically required).
• Look for ways to condense your data.
• Double-check for parallel phrasing.
• Project professionalism and quality.
• Avoid personal pronouns. Omit humor. Use
  24-pound paper and a quality printer.
• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.
• Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!

37
Poor Résumé
RÉSUMÉ OF JENNIE JENKINS 3320 Lawrence
Street Swift Current, SK [phone] OBJECTIVE
An entry-level position where my proven
communication, accounting, and administrative
skills could be utilized in a path leading to
advancement into management eventually. DEGREE
from University of Saskatchewan. Business
Administration major. Bachelor of arts. 3.2 in
major.
Continued
on next slide.
38
Poor Résumé
EXPERIENCE Apprentice CQFA - 94.1 in Moose Jaw,
SK. Duties included scheduling studios. Also
recruited staff. Some paperwork. Often given
responsibility to act asproduction manager. 10/00
to present. Shelter House Position for
financial manager. Duties included payroll and
benefits for employees of shelter. Was
responsible for the books, also for cash
transactions. Took care of some donations.
Expected to help raise funds. I prepared all
payroll reports. Also petty cash. Chaotic
environment, underfunded.

Continued on next slide.
39
Poor Résumé
Spring, 1998 Worked for one spring with
Renaissance Rainbow, which is a performing arts
troupe operating out of Saskatoon. My duties
included scheduling interviews with print and
broadcast journalists. Was responsible for
volunteers and publicity. Other temporary
positions Manpower, Inc. Winnipeg. Worked at
many different places as a temp. 1996-98.
Dorhring Company. File clerk, receptionist,
general duties. Other places. Good Earth
Restaurant - server 1995-1996.

Continued on next slide.
40
Poor Résumé
Personal Self-starter, can finish jobs without
supervision. Marital status single Birth
6/15/77 Health Excellent Hobbies Knitting,
singing, like to read Anglican Church of
Canada Awards Spirit Award, Oak Park High
School Deans List, college, 2 semesters


41
Improved Résumé

• Jennifer Marie Jenkins
• 3320 Lawrence Street
• Swift Current, SK
• [phone]
• Objective Administrative position involving
• Payroll Accounting Employee Benefits
  Customer Service
• SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
• Two years experience in responsible
  administrative and accounting positions
• Disciplined self-starter able to work without
  supervision
• Proficient with PCs including Word, Excel, and
  the Internet
• 
  Continued on next
  slide.

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Improved Résumé
Can be counted on to follow through on every
detail, until a task is successfully
..completed B.A. degree, University of
Saskatchewan, Business Administration
major RELEVANT EXPERIENCE 10/04 to Apprentice,
Radio Production, CQFA - 94.1, present Moose
Jaw, SK As production manager, schedule
studios, recruit support staff. Process
scripts, permissions, and logs involved in weekly
productions. 2002-04 Financial Manager, The
Shelter House, Moose Jaw, SK. Used computer
to manage payroll and employee benefits for a
staff of 26. Completed all projects on time,
despite chronically chaotic environment.

Continued on next slide.
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Improved Résumé
Managed agency's cash flow, involving funder
reimbursements, in-kind donations, ..and
fund-raising. Processed all accounts payable
and receivable, monthly, and quarterly
statistical ..reports for local, state, and
federal funding agencies. Oversaw petty cash.
Designed a flow chart to track success of a
25,000 fund-raising project. Spring, 2003
Publicity coordinator, Renaissance Rainbow
(performance arts troupe), Saskatoon, SK
Scheduled all media interviews and supervised
volunteers. Coordinated publicity mailings for
Performance Arts Festival. 2001-03 Temp
positions, Manpower Temporary Services, Winnipeg,
MB Developed customer service skills as
telephone interviewer for Dorhring ..Company.

Continued on next
slide.
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Improved Résumé
Maintained files, routed incoming telephone
calls, input employee progress ..journals,
prepared interoffice memos, recorded accounts
payable cheques, ..keyboarded accounts payable
correspondence, learned E-mail systems in various
..assignments. EDUCATION B.A. in Business
Administration, University of Saskatchewan, 2001.
GPA in major 3.2 Dean's list, 2 terms
45
Preparing a Computer-Friendly Résumé

• Avoid unusual typefaces, underlining, and
  italics.
• Use 10 to 14-point type.

46
Preparing a Computer-Friendly Résumé

• Use smooth white paper, black ink, and quality
  printing.
• Be sure that your name is on the first line.
• Provide plenty of white space.
• Avoid double columns.
• Dont fold or staple your résumé.

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Preparing a Computer-Friendly Résumé

• Use abbreviations carefully.
• Include all your addresses and telephone numbers.
• Be prepared to send your résumé in Plain Text
  format.

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What Turns Recruiters Off When Reading a Résumé?

• A focus group of nine expert recruiters gave
  these individual responses
• Personal data. Thats a major red flag. Also
  typos, inconsistent punctuation, and huge
  paragraphs that look like job descriptions.
• Odd-sized résumés from services saying
  Presenting the candidacy of . . . I don't even
  read them anymore. Theyre a major rip-off.

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What Turns Recruiters Off When Reading a Résumé?

• A focus group of nine expert recruiters gave
  these individual responses
• Résumés that show no research not looking at
  the employers needs.
• Omission of dates. And misspellings!
• Long cover letters and résumés over two pages.

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What Turns Recruiters Off When Reading a Résumé?

• A focus group of nine expert recruiters gave
  these individual responses
• Excess cosmetics, substituting form for content.
  A résumé should look nice but not go overboard.
• A photo. I remove them because they are not
  applicable.
• Not sending the résumé to the right place.

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What Do Recruiters Consider Most Important in a
Résumé?

• The objective, plus dates when things happened
  and accomplishments.
• Information about skills that apply to the job
  less about job history and past duties.
• Valid information in an easy-to-read, attractive
  style.

52
What Do Recruiters Consider Most Important in a
Résumé?

• The candidates address and phone number. Lots
  of people put them only in the cover letter!
• Realizing that the employer is looking for red
  flags and making sure there arent any. If you
  have an employment gap, include a clear statement
  explaining it.

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What Do Recruiters Consider Most Important in a
Résumé?

• Meeting the qualifications for the job.
• The presentation and the objective.
• A clear objective, backed up with qualifying
  experience and continuity in the work history.

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Risking Your Future with an Inflated Résumé

• Avoid these common problems
• Inflated education, grades, or honours
• Enhanced job titles.
• Puffed-up accomplishments.
• Altered employment dates.

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Writing a Persuasive Cover Letter

• Opening
• Address the letter to an individual by name.
• For advertised jobs, name the source include job
  title, date, and publication.
• If someone referred you, name that person.
• Show that your qualifications fit the job
  specifications, show your knowledge of the
  readers business, or show that your special
  talents will be assets to the company.

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Writing a Persuasive Cover Letter

• Body
• Demonstrate that your background and training
  meet the job requirements.
• Summarize your principal assets from education,
  experience, and special skills.
• Avoid repeating specific data from your résumé.
• Refer to your résumé.

57
Writing a Persuasive Cover Letter

• Closing
• Ask for an interview. Consider connecting the
  request to a statement reviewing your strongest
  points.
• Make it easy to respond. Tell when and where you
  can be reached (during office hours). Some
  recruiters prefer that you call them.

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• End