Get the Job You Want Your Résumé: Your First Contact Employers use résumés to choose a short list of applicants to invite to a job interview. What Makes a Résumé Effective? When creating your résumé, you should:  Limit it to one page  Make sure the information that is most relevant to the job is easy to find  Keep sentences short  Use bullet points whenever possible  Proofread for spelling, grammatical, or formatting mistakes résumé A summary of your skills, abilities, education, work history, and achievements. job interview A formal meeting between an employer and a job applicant.

Get the Job You Want pg Write Your Résumé Two Résumé Formats The two most common résumé formats are:  Chronological résumé  Skills résumé Electronic Résumés A résumé submitted by should:  Use simple formatting  Include key words that will catch your prospective employer’s attention

Get the Job You Want pg Write Your Résumé Cover Letters Your cover letter should:  Include your contact information  Introduce you in one sentence  Specify the job for which you are applying  Highlight specific skills or accomplishments you feel make you a good candidate for the job  Include a final paragraph that asks for an interview Cover Letters Formatting may be lost when you send your cover letter and résumé in the body of an , so it is best to also send both as attachments. cover letter A short letter you send along with a résumé, specifying the job you are interested in and highlighting specific skills or accomplishments you feel make you a good candidate for the job.

Get the Job You Want pg st CENTURY CONNECTION Résumé Dos and Don’ts Dos To create an effective résumé, do:  Match your experience and capabilities with the job’s requirements as much as possible  Keep sentences, paragraphs, and bullets short  Start sentences with a verb  Use a plain 10- or 12-point font for the body of the résumé  Use bold or italic formatting sparingly  Include a cover letter  Proofread your résumé and cover letter carefully  Print any hard copies of your résumé on good quality, opaque white bond paper  Examine any hard copies to ensure that they have printed clearly

Get the Job You Want pg st CENTURY CONNECTION Résumé Dos and Don’ts Don’ts When writing your résumé, do not:  Lie  Include anything negative or critical about yourself or a previous employer  Include irrelevant personal interests or hobbies  Include references  Use pronouns in your descriptions  Include family information  Include jokes, humor, or slang  Include anything about salary, either previous or desired

Get the Job You Want pg Find Job Openings Help Wanted! Some common Help Wanted categories you might find in newspapers are:  General  Professional  Education  Technical Job Banks A local employment office’s job bank lists:  Local, state, and federal government positions  Jobs from private industry employers

Get the Job You Want pg Find Job Openings Job Fairs At a job fair, you can:  Meet representatives of many different companies  Talk to company representatives face to face about employment opportunities Job Recruiters Job recruiters seek future employees for large companies by:  Visiting community colleges, universities, and local job fairs  Matching a person’s skills to the needs of open positions

Get the Job You Want pg Find Job Openings Jobs Online You can use the Internet to:  Search for jobs  Fill out a preliminary screening application  Post your résumé online  Find out about jobs in other parts of the country or world

Get the Job You Want pg Fill Out Job Application Forms Job Application Forms When you apply for a job, you will need at least three references, usually adults such as your:  Teacher  Coach  Internship supervisor reference The name of a person an employer can contact to find out about a job applicant.

Get the Job You Want pg Fill Out Job Application Forms Legal Information on the Application Form A job application may include:  Work rules  A request for proof of identity and legal work authorization  Notification about pre-employment drug screening  Disclaimers  Employment-at-will statement  Statement of confidentiality employment-at-will Employment that can be terminated with or without cause by the employer.

Get the Job You Want pg st CENTURY CONNECTION Job Application Essentials Basic Guidelines Some guidelines for filling out a job application include:  Reading through the entire application carefully before filling it out  Asking questions if needed  Either typing your information onto the form or using blue or black ink  Bringing your driver’s license, Social Security card, reference information, and a copy of your résumé  Being honest on your application  Including any relevant activities or occasional jobs you have had  Listing any academic honors, awards, or community service

Get the Job You Want pg st CENTURY CONNECTION Job Application Essentials Final Steps Before handing in your job application, be sure to:  Proofread carefully  Make a copy of the completed application for your personal files  Mail the application in a large envelope so it does not get creased or folded

Get the Job You Want pg Manage Your Job Search Organizing Your Job Search Set up a job lead tracking system using:  Word processing software  Spreadsheet software  Database software  Address Book and To Do applications of your PDA You can also use this system to track:  Referrals  Networking contacts