Resume Writing & Job Search Skills College Success Foundation July 24, 2012

Workshop Agenda: Find a job or internship you would like to apply for (or graduate school, fellowship or scholarship). Create word clouds for the job description and for your resume Update / Edit your resume tailed to this opportunity. As time allows discuss job search strategies.

Online Tools

What are your Key Words? Try dropping your resume or LinkedIn Profile into an online word cloud maker: http://www.tagxedo.com/ Put Job Descriptions into a word cloud maker Do they match?

My “Words” Make Yours…. http://www.tagxedo.com/

Company Research….. Pick a Company Take 5 minutes online to find out: Are they hiring? What type of positions do they have? Do they have an internship program? Do you know anyone who works there? Would you like working there? Volunteers to share what you learned?

Job Searching….. Bottom-line: The Hidden Job Market You have to know what you’re looking for or you will never find it. Use the internet as a tool to figure out what you are really looking for but it CANNOT be your only resource It is YOUR JOB, no one else can find it for you The Hidden Job Market 80% of jobs are never posted Think about your direct connections “The hidden job market is a job you can’t see,” explains Asher. “If I can hire somebody without posting the job, I’m going to do that 100% of the time.”

Your Network is the Backbone of Your Job Search Use your Networking contacts. The vast majority of hiring today (80%) is relationship-based, not resume-based Network, network, network… It’s going to be a personal endorsement from a friend, not a resume, that often gets you the job Your resume is one of the marketing tools that will help you differentiate yourself from other candidates Your online reputation is another tool that will help you breakthrough More on Networking and LinkedIn next session (July 2)

A Good Job Search is Like a Class Project Have a Plan Have a Team CSF is so on your team Have a Clear Idea of What You Want Keep track of your progress As in actually write it down Ask for Help if you Need it Have a timeline “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” -- Confucius

Flexibility is Your Best Friend You do not have to be flexible about your dream – Just about HOW you achieve it. In the beginning you will have to be creative Explore Internships / Volunteer Connect with the right community Consider two pathways: Career Financial Need Give Yourself Permission to Try it Out!

Additional Resources / Tools Go to the company website directly! In job searching you always want to bypass the middle person Campus Career Centers Professional Associations Facebook (yes Facebook) People you know The grapevine…..hence the importance of the network…Examples?

Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong. -- Ella Fitzgerald