Preparing for the Job Market: Cover Letters, Job Applications, & Resumes AVID Standard 3.0 Students will develop proficiency in “writing to learn” across the curriculum

Average Weekly Earnings by Educational Level (2006)

Think of College as a Job The average college graduate makes roughly $1,200,000 more in lifetime earnings than a person having only a high school diploma.

California Minimum Wages from 1916-2008

Cover Letters A cover letter is a one page typed letter that has three goals: To introduce yourself to an employer To briefly describe your skills and work experience To ask the employer for an interview

John Q. Student 1234 My Road Blvd. Santee, CA 92071 whhsstudent@hotmail.com April 16, 2013 Mrs. Kohler, AVID Coordinator West Hills High School 8756 Mast Blvd. Dear Mrs. Kohler: I am interested in applying for a job as an AVID tutor at West Hills High School. I am currently a senior at West Hills High School. I have been in the AVID program for the last five years and have found it to be very successful both for me and my peers. I believe it has helped me strive to do my best in all my classes. It has certainly helped me maintain my 3.9 G.P.A. I have experience working as a peer tutor in other AVID classes and experience teaching Sunday School at my church. I am a dependable and mature young man who can work with many types of people. I have heard great things about your AVID program from friends of mine. I would love to work at a one of the best schools in Grossmont District as an AVID tutor. I hope you decide that you can use an employee like me in your AVID program. Please call me for an interview. My home phone number is (619) 123– 4567. Thank you in advance for considering me for the position. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, John Q. Student Enclosures: Resume Application

Job Applications A job application gives the employer a snapshot of who you are. Remember: Follow directions carefully! Don’t fold or crumble the application Deliver in person when possible

Neatness Counts! If you write like this, typing would be best!

Job Application

Words Not to Use on an Application When Looking For a New Job quit fired not enough money low pay or need more money did not like the job hours too long not enough hours pay was too low bad working conditions got in fight at work did not like boss (or coworkers) tired of customers had to quit due to low grades

Words to Use on an Application When Looking For a New Job resigned you want: career growth potential, more challenges, career change, more responsibility, career change, to learn new skills, advancement opportunity, want to enter management training program, company downsized workforce

What is a Résumé? A résumé is a brief but detailed synopsis of your life. It includes: heading objective education work experience school organizations community service honors, awards, and memberships interests, hobbies, and talents references

Action Words to Use on a Résumé Accomplished Achieved Adopted Adjusted Administered Advised Analyzed Assessed Assisted Attained Budgeted Calculated Collaborated Communicated Completed Conducted Consolidated Constructed Consulted Contributed Controlled Coordinated Counseled Created Decreased Delegated Delivered Demonstrated Designed Developed Disseminated Distributed Diverted Doubled Eliminated Enforced Engineered Equipped Established Evaluated Executed Expanded Expedited Generated Implemented Improved Improvised Increased Initiated Inspected Inspired Installed Instructed Introduced Investigated Launched Maintained Managed Monitored Motivated Multiplied Negotiated Obtained Opened Operated Ordered Organized Originated Persuaded Predicted Prepared Prescribed Produced Promoted Proposed Provided Realized Recommended Reconciled Reduced Reinforced Repaired Revamped Reviewed Revised Revitalized Risked Saved Scheduled Secured Simplified Sold Solved Strengthened Submitted Succeeded Supervised Supported Trained Transferred Translated Troubleshot Unified Upgraded Utilized Won Wrote