Preparing for the Job Market: Cover Letters, Job Applications, & Resumes

Just a Reminder: College Counts!

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 *$12.00 per hour if there are 26 or more employees at the company.

Can You Live on Minimum Wage in California? 40 hours per week X $12.00 per hour x 52 weeks per year = $24,960 or $2,080 per month. Monthly Expenses for 1 Person Living Alone Income/Expenses Income per Month +$2,080 Income Taxes & Social Security - $328.80 Rent (1 bedroom apartment) -$1,000 Utilities (water, gas, electricity) -$120 Groceries & Household Supplies -$220 Cell Phone & Internet Car (payment and gas) -$350 Health Insurance $0 Total -$58.80 For a family of three in 2015, the poverty line was $20,090. Source: https://aspe.hhs.gov/2015-poverty-guidelines#threshholds

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

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, 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