Customer Service 4.2 Application to Interview

Completing a Job Application

How Important is the Application? You are making your first impression! It screens you out or in! Creates the tone for the interview!

You Will Need: A black erasable ink pen Phone numbers/addresses Previous experience dates

Tips For a Good Application Read the entire application Follow directions Print neatly Complete every blank Give accurate information

More Tips…. Keep your application form neat and clean Check your spelling Sign the job application form Check over your completed form

Important Your application is the first sample of your work that employers will see! Sell yourself by describing an interesting, enthusiastic worker!

RESUMES Capturing and Marketing Yourself on Paper

Resume Principles Resumes… Are tailored for a specific job/purpose Present focused image of your background, experience and abilities Match your background to readers’ needs Offer most relevant information first Are formatted for left to right reading

Resume Segments Header Opening Body Other Elements

Header Purpose Provide complete, correct contact information to resume reader

Header Samples

Opening Purposes Forecasts what readers will find in resume Begins marketing writer’s abilities Encourages readers to review rest of resume

Opening Parts Objective OR Qualifications » Do not include both an objective and a qualifications section.

Objective/Qualifications Objective states your goal and highlights your abilities Qualifications section summarizes resume

Sample Objective Campaign staff position requiring my political experience, knowledge of Michigan politics, people skills and computer literacy (Skills objective–promotes skills) Part-time campaign staff position (Functional objective–only details position)

Avoid Me-Based Objectives Campaign staff position allowing me to learn more about politics Part-time campaign staff position from which I can advance my career in politics

Sample Qualifications Section Experience campaigning for state government offices, ranging from senate to governor; deal well with constituents and officials; extremely knowledgeable about Michigan politics and districts; computer skills include Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and data entry.

Choosing Objective OR Qualifications Section Ask… Will mentioning a specific goal best market me? Yes? Use Objective. Does summary best tell my story? Yes? Use Qualifications Section.

Body Purpose Details image you offer in resume opening and want to project

Resume Body Types Experience–Highlights your experiences Skills–Highlights skills you want to offer Project/Class–Highlights skills you learned in specific projects or classes

Experience Resume Sample TRAINING EXPERIENCE Intern, Duke Center, Durham, NC, Aug-Oct 2004  Taught exercise classes to fit clients’ medical needs  Designed lesson plans for water exercise classes Intern, Zen Martial Arts, Chicago, IL, Oct-Nov 2004  Taught karate classes to special needs clients

Skills Resume Sample RELATED SKILLS Academic Abilities  Acquired math reasoning in four math classes  Learned scientific principles in science class Musical Talent  Played tuba in band; first chair four years  Played sousaphone in band four years

Project/Class Resume Sample PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE Production Class Rice College, Smith, TX Spring 2005 Produced half-hour news packages to air on Fox’s WXMI “Ride Along”Royal Oak, MIFall 2004 Used digital effects in short musical montage

Education Section Purpose Offers selected aspects of education experiences key to resume purpose

Education Categories Schools (name and location) Related Classes Degrees Major, Minor, Specialization, Program Honors GPA Special Projects

Choosing Education Categories Ask… What will enhance my academic image?

Sample Education Section EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts, Peace College, Spark, NCDec 2004 Major: FinanceMinor: French Professional Classes Retail MarketingBusiness Law Retirement PlanningBusiness Writing Special Projects: Designed marketing strategy for large electronics company using real demographics and market data for Retail Marketing class.

Other Elements Purpose Allow you to market experiences and skills that do not fit in other resume categories

Possible Other Elements Activities Honors Technical Abilities Presentations Volunteer Experience Publications

Possible Other Elements Memberships Certifications Workshops Attended Language Skills References or Reference Line

Choosing Other Elements Ask… What else will promote the image I want to market?

Sample Other Elements CERTIFICATIONS Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist First Aid(For Aerobics CPR (adult, child, and infant) Instructor) MEMBERSHIPS National Strength & Conditioning Association Aerobics & Fitness Association of America American College of Sports Medicine

Sample Other Elements LANGUAGE/ SKILLS English, Hindi and Bengali (fluent in all three) Microsoft Office and Internet (For Sales Internship)HONORS/ACTIVITIES Dean’s List, Western Michigan University, Fall 2004 Indian Student Association, Member, WMU, Fall 2004

Sample Other Elements SELECTED ACTIVITIES Kalamazoo Civic Theater, Volunteer, 2005 Kalamazoo Ballet Academy, Board Member, 2003–2004 Red Cross, Volunteer, 2002 (For Graduate Assistantship) RELATED CONFERENCE/WORKSHOPS Counseling Workshop, Detroit, MI, Jan 2004 MI-MAEOPP TRiO Summit, Troy, MI, Feb 2004

The Career Place Connecting Workers and Employers Cover Letters: Selling your skills on paper

What is a cover letter? Your formal introduction A ‘must’ with your resume The first read, it can make or break your entry

Generating interest The goal is to get an interview! Should be brief and interesting Should not be a carbon copy of your resume Should highlight what you’ll bring to the job Should be versatile, suitable for several jobs Should never be sent in ‘form letter’ style

Presenting yourself in two ways A cover letter comes in two basic forms… Letter of application Letter of inquiry

Letter of application Targeted for a specific ad Outline skills to meet company’s needs Helpful to use ad’s terms, lingo

Letter of inquiry A marketing tool to… Obtain an informational interview Correspond with a networking contact Conduct company/industry research

Job Interviews Quick Tips for High School Students If you've landed a job interview, congratulations. You need to prepare yourself to make the interview a success and make a good impression. To get started, watch the interview VideoVideo What went wrong? – – – What to do to prepare? 1.Prepare 2.Dress for Success 3.Practice 4.The Interview 5.Follow Up Now watch the new and improved interview. VideoVideo What did he do better? -

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