1-1 The Job Search A Three Step Process (sounds simple doesn’t it)

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The Job SearchThe Job Search

A Three Step Process

(sounds simple doesn’t it)

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What Not to SayWhat Not to Say

“I'll need $80K to start, full medical, three weeks of vacation, stock options and ideally a European sedan.”

“I need just enough money to have pizza every night.” “I have never had a single blemish held against me and

my IQ is off the charts.” “I'm submitting my resume to spite my lack of C++ and

HTML experience.” “I am quick at typing, about 25 words per minute, 35

with caffeinated coffee.” “I have unsuccessfully raised a dog.”

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What Not to SayWhat Not to Say

“Being in trouble with the law, I moved quite frequently.” “At the age of 12, I began hustling newspapers like many other

great Americans had done. The only difference was that they became great.”

“I prefer informality like wearing sports shirts and sandals for footwear in the summer. I prefer setting my own pace. When things get slack I like the right to walk out and get a haircut during working hours.”

“Please don't regard my 14 positions as job-hopping. I never once quit a job.”

“Worked long shifts to make myself, and my company, a lot of cheese”

“In my last position, I got nowhere as part of a 60-person herd. Consequently, I did not give the company my full effort and received no chance of advancement in return.”

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What Not to DoWhat Not to Do

Chew gum Act Bored Dance or Sing (or both) Eat Swear Complain about your last boss (while swearing) Show off your latest nose and eyebrow piercing – ditto

for the new tattoo Ask “what is it you guys do here?” Ask about the company’s drug test policy

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The ProcessThe Process

Step 1Evaluate Yourself and Your Target Market

Step 2 Interview

Step 3 Interview Follow-up

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Step 1Step 1

Evaluate YourselfResume

Target MarketCareer Research Center (including career fairs)Ads/Internet Searches

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ResumeResume

A resume is a brief summary of your abilities, education, experience, and skills.

Its main task is to convince prospective employers to contact you.

A resume has one purpose: to get you a job interview.

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Evaluate Yourself Evaluate Yourself Build Your Resume - Major ComponentsBuild Your Resume - Major Components

Heading Education Experience Honors Skills Activities References

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Build Your ResumeBuild Your Resume HeadingHeading

Heading Include your name, address (school and permanent)

telephone number, and e-mail addressChoose an e-mail address that is professional

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Build Your ResumeBuild Your Resume EducationEducation

Education College & UniversitySpecial SeminarsTravel Aboard ProgramsAlso include:

Degrees and month/year obtained or anticipated Names and locations of schools Major and minor (not options – use the standard terms) Grade point average if higher than 3.4 (unless asked for) Brief summary of important courses you have taken Do not list high school – unless compelling reason

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Build Your ResumeBuild Your ResumeExperienceExperience

Experience Full-time paid jobs Academic research projects Internships or co-op positions Part-time jobs Volunteer work Include

Month/Years you worked Position Name and location of employer or place

Do not include phone numbers and specific addresses – but have that information available if needed for application or background checks

Responsibilities

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Build Your ResumeBuild Your Resume HonorsHonors

HonorsAcademic Awards

Scholarships Fellowships Honors list

Professional Awards or RecognitionCommunity Awards (i.e. for athletic skills)Select and include only your most relevant

experiences Place your most relevant experiences first Appeal to company's values

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Build Your ResumeBuild Your ResumeSkillsSkills

SkillsComputer languages and softwareResearchLaboratoryTeaching or tutoringCommunicationLeadershipAthletic

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Build Your ResumeBuild Your Resume ActivitiesActivities

ActivitiesMembership in academic, professional, or community

organizations list any offices you may hold

Professional and community activities Include volunteer work if not listed with experience

Extra-curricular activities or hobbies (optional)

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Build Your ResumeBuild Your Resume ReferencesReferences

REFERENCES: Complete name and titleCompany nameAddressTelephone numbers

*You do not put your references on your resume*

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Common Mistakes #1Common Mistakes #1

Resume lacks focus. A sharp focus is an extremely important resume element Keep in mind that the average employers screen resumes for

between 2.5 and 30 seconds, so a resume should show the employer at a glance what you want to do and what you are good at

In a recent study by Career Masters Institute, employers wanted resumes to show a clear match between the applicant and a particular job's requirements

A "general" resume that is not focused on a specific job's requirements is seen as not competitive

In a study by CareerBuilder.com – 71% of hiring managers preferred a resume customized for the open position

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The FormatThe Format

Employers will probably look first and last at your contact information section, so it is well worth your time to make this section easy-to-read and appealing to the eye.

Whatever design choices you make, try to coordinate them with the rest of your resume.

Use strategies to present information in a usable format. For example, to help readers find desired information, you might place your name in a larger font size, center it, boldface it, etc.

If you have a permanent and school address, you might want to play with columns. Add a graphic element such as a horizontal line to help section off your contact

information. Some resumes also include tasteful clipart or a simple image in this section. Coordinate with your cover letter. One way to make your application documents

seem like a professional package is to match your cover letter and your resume. You might do this by creating stationary or a letterhead for both documents. For instance, if you use two columns for your addresses and a double line on your resume header, you might adapt it for the top of your cover letter as well.

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The FormatThe Format

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FormatFormatThe 20-second TestThe 20-second Test

Try having someone perform the 20-second test on your resume.

Simply time your reader for twenty seconds as he or she reads your resume.

What all did he or she learn about you? If your reader noticed within twenty seconds what you want

employers to learn about you, then most likely you have created an effective resume.

If not, try moving important information to the first quadrant, checking that you have used sans serif (type face with simple lines) and serif fonts consistently, and limiting the tools for emphasis you use in your document.

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Resume is duties-driven instead of accomplishments-driven.

Resumes should consist primarily of high-impact accomplishments statements that sell the job-seeker's qualifications as the best candidate.

Never use expressions such as "Duties included," "Responsibilities included," or "Responsible for.“

Be specific - Instead of saying ‘rang up sales,’ say ‘responsible for generating 50,000 sales transactions in three months’

Include numbers and statistics if they are available. (Example: Counted five cash drawers daily; responsible for more than $10,000 per 8-hour shift.)

Quantify it - ‘handled in excess of $5,000 per day.’ Then qualify it. If you sold clothes, how well did you do it? Did you get an award? A bonus? A raise? Measure how much you did and explain how well you did it.”

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Resume items are listed in an order that does not consider the reader's interest.

Title/position, name of employer, city/state of employer, dates of employment.

Education follows the same principle - the preferred order for listing your education is: Name of degree (spelled out: Bachelor of _____) in name of major, name of university, city/state of university, graduation year, followed by peripheral information, such as minor and GPA.

If you have not graduated yet, list your information the same way. Since the graduation date you have listed is in the future, the employer will know you do not have the degree yet.

Experience and education are listed in reverse chronological order on your resume

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Resume buries important skills, especially computer skills, at the bottom. If computer skills are relevant to your field, list them

in your Summary or Profile section. If you are in the technology field, list your technical

skills in a separate section – for example "Systems Proficiencies," - be sure it is on the first page of your resume.

Similarly if language and international-business skills are important in the type of job you seek, list them in your Summary or Profile section, not at the end of your resume.

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Resume is not bulleted.Use a bulleted style to make your resume more

reader-friendlyUsing paragraphs rather than bullet points was ranked

highly as a factor that would inspire employers to discard a resume.

Use bullets consistently

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Resume uses a cookie-cutter design based on an overused resume template.Most resumes created from a Microsoft Word

template are instantly recognizable to employers as such

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Resume lacks keywords.Employers are increasingly relying on digitizing job-

seeker resumes It is estimated that more than 80 percent of resumes

are searched for job-specific keywords

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Key words – Use OfKey words – Use Of

Aim for 25-35 keywords – count them - if you have fewer than that – add them to every appropriate section of your resume varying the forms of the words you choose

Keywords must be specifically tailored to each job you are applying for

Use synonyms, various forms of your keywords, and both the spelled-out and acronym versions of common termsUse both manager and management

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Key Words – Use OfKey Words – Use Of

Test your resume - make a list of the keywords in your target job description then check them against your resume - Goal is at least 50%

Have your friends do the “circle test” review the job description and then your resume circle all of the words and phrases that impress themput a "?" mark by those that are confusing Put “X” through the phrases that turn them off. If there are lots of circles and few X’s and ?’s, then

your resume is ready

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Key Words – Soft SkillsKey Words – Soft Skills

Professionalism, results-driven, self-starter, goal-oriented, team player, communication skills, interpersonal skills, multi-tasker, honest, organized, dependable, punctual, leader, customer service.

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Key Words - Project ManagersKey Words - Project Managers oversee large, complex projects project vision and strategy; strategic planning; implementation of creative strategies and innovative

solutions project completion managerial experience/skills; leadership skills; motivational and influencing skills; ability to manage

multidisciplinary projects with 10+ people; team management and development; team productivity and morale in high-pressure situations; successful record of leadership development

project deliverables; delivering integrated products to market; products and services are brought to market quickly to enhance revenue growth

project plan; scope of work client communication and client relationship skills; excellence in partnering with internal and

external customers IT expertise; software development process; key technology partner to internal business colleagues;

deployment of technology to meet global markets and internal customer needs; extensive experience working in an organization using complex technology management experience in a complex, multi-platform development and processing environment; proven record of managing software/hardware system integration projects/programs

bachelor's degree in management, engineering, computer science, business or similar field communication, negotiation, persuasion skills commitment to quality problem solver

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Key Words – Construction ManagementKey Words – Construction Management

Construction Manager: Construction supervisor, construction project manager, project superintendent, construction foreman, assistant construction supervisor, project management, commercial construction, industrial construction, residential construction, construction supervisor's license, plan reading, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), ground-up projects, subcontractor recruitment/supervision, enforcement of codes and safety regulations, structural engineering drawings, job site supervision & safety, project estimating/bidding, workflow & project scheduling, Critical Path Methods (CPMs), project funding, materials ordering, budgeting & pro-formas, quality control, architectural design, blueprint reading, land acquisition, MS Project, AutoCAD.

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References are listed directly on your resumeList them on a separate sheet, and even then, submit

them only when specifically requested by an employer.

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Resume's appearance becomes skewed when sent as an e-mail attachment and/or resume is not available in other electronic formats.

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Resume contain poorly written objectives If you do use an objective, make it very specific, not

vague and meaningless. Objectives should reflect the employer's perspective,

not the jobseeker's, and should tell what the jobseeker can contribute.

An objective should demonstrate the value the candidate will add to the organization.

Objectives should be as concise as possible.

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Resume contain poorly written objectives Objectives may help sharpen the focus of your resume,

especially if your experience is very diverse, or you are switching into a career not supported by the experience listed on your resume

If you choose not to list an objective on your resume, you may choose to discuss your objective in your cover letter

Whether or not you choose to include an objective, you may wish to present a skills or qualifications section on your resume

Focus on what you have to offer rather than on what the job can offer you. This may sound backwards, but employers are not so much interested in what you hope to get out of a job with them, so much as they want to know whether you fit their needs.

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ObjectivesObjectives

To manage people, interface with customers, and work with highly technical software or hardware applications

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ObjectivesObjectives

Change: Seeking a challenging position with a progressive company that will offer opportunity for growth and advancement.

To: Honors graduate of ABC College's speech communication program seeking a position in training and development. Offer hands-on experience in classroom teaching, corporate training and communication research

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Summary of QualificationsSummary of Qualifications

Excellent time management skills developed through working 25 hours per week while a full time student

Developed leadership skills by serving as a community assistant responsible for 40 residents

Knowledge of WordPerfect 5.1 & 6.0, Windows 95, Microsoft Office and Lotus 1-2-3.

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Cover LettersCover Letters

All Resumes should have a cover letters All Cover letters should:

Explain why you are sending a resume. Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do

you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?

Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization

Flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at the organization

It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.

Convince the reader to look at your resume. Cover letter will be seen first - it must be very well written and targeted

to that employer.

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Cover LettersCover Letters

All Cover letters should: Call attention to elements of your background:

Education Leadership Experience Be as specific as possible, using examples.

Reflect your: Attitude Personality Motivation Enthusiasm Communication skills.

Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample

Indicate what you will do to follow-up

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Cover Letters – Basic FormatCover Letters – Basic Format Your Street Address

City, State Zip CodeTelephone NumberEmail Address

Month, Day, Year

Mr./Ms./Dr. First Name Last NameTitleName of OrganizationStreet or P. O. Box AddressCity, State Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name:

Opening paragraph: State why you are writing; how you learned of the organization or position, and basic information about yourself.

2nd paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the employer or type of work the employer does (Simply stating that you are interested does not tell why, and can sound like a form letter). Demonstrate that you know enough about the employer or position to relate your background to the employer or position. Mention specific qualifications which make you a good fit for the employer’s needs. This is an opportunity to explain in more detail relevant items in your resume. Refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed. Mention other enclosures if such are required to apply for a position.

3rd paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for a position or to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities or hiring plans. State what you will do to follow up, such as telephone the employer within two weeks. If you will be in the employer’s location and could offer to schedule a visit, indicate when. State that you would be glad to provide the employer with any additional information needed. Thank the employer for her/his consideration.

Sincerely,

(Your handwritten signature)

Your name typed

Enclosure(s) (refers to resume, etc.)

(Note: the contents of your letter might best be arranged into four paragraphs. Consider what you need to say and use good writing style. See the following examples for variations in organization and layout.)

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The Job SearchThe Job Search

Target MarketCareer Research Center (including career fairs)Ads/Internet Searches

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Career FairsCareer Fairs

Do your homeworkFind out in advance which companies will be

attending. These lists are usually available online or through career assistance offices.

Prioritize which companies are most important to visit, and plan time to visit each booth. If a company looks interesting, visit its website so you can be knowledgeable when talking with booth representatives.

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Schedule enough time to work the room and visit every booth on your target list

Have prepared questions to ask at each booth to gain a better idea of whether the jobs the companies are offering are interesting and to determine if you have the appropriate skills

Take a pen and paper Don't work the room in a group. You will appear more

confident and professional if you separate from friends and concentrate efforts on the jobs and companies that interest you the most.

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Have plenty of clean copies of a resume – consider business cards in addition not in lieu of

Dress to impressWhen in doubt – where a suit

When meeting with a recruiter, have a firm handshake and look the person in the eye.

Thank those you speak with for their time. If appropriate, ask for a business card and follow up with a formal, hand-written thank you letter

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The InternetThe Internet

Uses:As a place for you to search for vacancies listed by

employers (often called want ads, job postings or job listings)

As a place to post your own resumeAs a place to get some career counseling or job-

hunting helpAs a place to do research or find out information

about fields, occupations, companies, cities, geographical areas, etc.

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Uses:As a place to make contacts with people, who can

help you find information or help you get in for an interview, at a particular place.

good rule of thumb - is that the Internet portion of your job search should comprise about a quarter of the total time you put into searching for a job

According to a 2005 survey from the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va., about 86% of human-resources professionals polled use Internet job postings to recruit candidates.

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Finally, if you can, apply to a person – most job postings instruct applicants to send their resumes to a general email address and do not list an individual's contact information.

Search the company's web site to find the contact information for the head of the department you want to work in

If you are pursuing a finance post, look up the firm's finance chief. If the person is not listed, call the company and ask for the information.

Send an application to the address listed in the ad too Look for on-line contacts for job posting

Museumshttp://museumcareers.aam-us.org/search/

Videogame Companiesgamespress.com,

OPM Response Ltd.Outdoors & Nature

Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education,

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Applying on-line:Use key words, buzz words, and industry verbiage.

Use the verbiage in the job ad as your model. Employers search on key words when they're looking for people to fill specific positions.

Create a skills-inventory section even if the application does not require it – you may be able to put this in the comment section

Complete all fields—even those that are not required.

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Applying on-line: If the company offers an optional assessment test online, take

it. (One employer recently admitted that students who do not take the optional assessment test are automatically screened out.)

Make sure your resume can hold its own in a very simple format. Fancy bullets, text, italics, and bold do not convert well in an electronic application.

If possible, spell check and grammar check your application before submitting it.

Another use for the comment section: use it to demonstrate that you've done research on the company and the industry.

Use quotes from letters of recommendation in the comment section

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Step 2Step 2

Interviews

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3 Most Common Mistakes Candidates Make 3 Most Common Mistakes Candidates Make During Job Interviews.During Job Interviews.

Little or no knowledge of the organization A lack of preparedness to discuss career plans and

goals Limited enthusiasm

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How to Prepare for a Successful InterviewHow to Prepare for a Successful Interview

Research the organization Visit their website Read the mission statements & goals Study financial date – annual reports Search for newspapers and magazine's Read ads (to see how they market themselves)If you are informed – you appear motivated, enthusiastic and competent

Prepare questions to ask at interview Rehearse Your Interview Dialogue And Nonverbal Behavior.

Identify likely questions and your response Identify examples of your skills, knowledge and work habits that will

benefit the interviewer's organization. Check yourself for any strong emotional reactions associated with any

aspect of your job history. Look for opportunity to show a good “fit”

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How to Prepare for a Successful InterviewHow to Prepare for a Successful Interview

Let the interviewer lead the job interview Listen for the concerns behind the interviewer's questions. Look for cues about the interviewer's vocabulary. Matching your communication with the interviewer's will

increase the bonding process Think and speak positively...about yourself and your

employers Describe your strengths in a factual way Do not appear to be bragging but also stay away from false

modesty. Never speak negatively about your former supervisor or

employer - attribute differences to different work styles or philosophies

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Elevator PitchElevator PitchThe Answer to…so tell me about yourselfThe Answer to…so tell me about yourself

"So, why don't you tell me about yourself?" is the most frequently asked interview question

It is a question that most interviewees expect and the one they have the most difficulty answering

The key to answering this question or any other interview question is to offer a response that supports your career objective

Do not respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse, or extra curricular activities..

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Interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to eliminate your candidacy.

Question are asked to differentiate your skills, experience, and personality withthat of other candidates – how you will mesh with the organization's mission andgoals.

Answer with care – don’t attempt to ‘wing it’

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Create a brief introduction that has key attributes to the open position.

Keep your response limited to your current experience. End your introduction by asking an insightful question.

By asking a question you gain control of the interview. Do not however ask a question for the sake of asking. Be sure

that the question will engage the interviewer in a conversation. Doing so may help to alleviate the stress you may feel to

perform.

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During my 10 years' of experience as a sales manager, I have mastered the ability to coach, train, and motivate sales teams into reaching corporate goals. Most recently, at The Widget Corporation, I was challenged with turning around a stagnant territory that ranked last in sales in the Northeastern region. Using strategies that have worked in the past, I developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on cultivating new accounts and nurturing the existing client base. The results were tremendous. Within six months my sales team and I were able to revitalize the territory and boost sales by 65%. Because of my proven experience in leading sales teams, Craig Brown suggested I contact you regarding your need for a sales manager. Craig filled me in on the challenges your sales department is facing. What strategies are currently underway to increase sales and morale within the sales department?

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Step 3Step 3

Follow-up Always follow up with a thank you note... Most job

candidates don't.Use the thank you note to recap your strengths, show

your enthusiasm for the organization, add to or modify anything discussed in the interview.

Your thank you note is another chance to get in front of the interviewer and should be sent before the interviewer makes a decision

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US Resumes vs. European CVUS Resumes vs. European CV

The European Curriculum Vitae format covers: Personal Information Work Experience Education and Training Personal Skills and Competencies Other Skills and Competencies (acquired outside

formal training)

Documents

1-1 The Job Search A Three Step Process (sounds simple doesn’t it)