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

2. Just a Reminder: College Counts!

3. 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.

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

5. 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:

6. 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

8. 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

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

10. Job Application

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

16. 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