copyright © 2008 by nelson education ltd. ch. 11-1 chapter 11 the job search, résumés, and cover...

Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd.Copyright © 2008 by Nelson Education Ltd. Ch. 11-1

Chapter 11Chapter 11

The Job Search, Résumés, and

Cover Letters


Evaluating Your QualificationsEvaluating Your Qualifications

•What computer skills can I offer?

•What other skills have I acquired in school, on the job, or through activities? How can I demonstrate these skills?

•Do I work well with people? What proof can I offer?

•Am I a leader, self-starter, or manager?


Evaluating Your QualificationsEvaluating Your Qualifications

•Do I speak, write, or understand another language?

•Do I learn quickly? Am I creative? How can I demonstrate these characteristics?

•Do I communicate well in speech and in writing?


Choosing a Career PathChoosing a Career Path

•Visit your school career or counselling centre.•Search the Internet.•Use your library.•Take a summer job, internship, or part-time position in your field.•Interview someone in your chosen field.•Examine the classified ads.•Join professional organizations in your field.


Using Traditional Job Search Techniques

Using Traditional Job Search Techniques

•Study classified ads in local and national newspapers.•Check announcements in publications of professional

organizations.•Contact companies in which you’re interested.•Sign up for school interviews with visiting company

representatives.•Ask for advice from your instructors.•Develop your own network of contacts.


Using Electronic Job Search Techniques

Using Electronic Job Search Techniques

•Canada’s Job Bank•JobsEtc.ca•Charityvillage.com•Workopolis.ca•Monster.ca


Writing a Persuasive RésuméWriting a Persuasive Résumé

Choosing a Résumé Style

• Chronological

• Functional

• Combination


ChronologicalChronological

Lists work history job-by-job, starting with the most recent position.

Quickly reveals experience and education. Works well if you have experience in the

field and steady career growth.


FunctionalFunctional

Focuses attention on skills rather than on past employment.

Groups skills and accomplishments in categories.

Can de-emphasize employment history. Good for those who have changed jobs

frequently, have gaps in employment, or for recent graduates.


CombinationCombination

Draws on features of chronological and functional.

Gives a complete job history that focuses on abilities.

Good choice for recent graduates.


Arranging the Parts of a Résumé


Main Heading • Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address

Career Objective (4 choices)• Include only for a targeted job.• Omit.• Include a general statement.• Omit on résumé, but include in cover letter.




Education• Name and location of schools• Dates of attendance• Major fields of study• Degrees, diplomas, and certificates received• Give information about your studies, but don’t list all your

courses




Work Experience or Employment History• List recent jobs

• Employer’s name, city, and province• Dates of employment, including month and year• Most important job title• Major duties, activities, accomplishments, and promotions




Work Experience• Describe your experience.

• Use action verbs to summarize achievements and skills. Be specific.

– Prepared tax returns for individuals with incomes under $30,000.– Served 40 or more customers each day. – Worked in a team to develop 25-page manual for temporary

employees..




Skills and Abilities• List special skills• Describe skills learned in training• Highlight special abilities

Awards, Honours, and Activities• Include awards, scholarships, certificates etc.• List school, community and professional activities – show you

are well-rounded




Personal information• Omit birth date and marital status• Hobbies and interests may be included

References• Not necessary for résumé• If included, use parallel form• List of references available at interview


Sample RésuméSample Résumé

Jennifer Marie Jenkins3320 Lawrence Street

Swift Current, SK(306) 781-5592

Objective: Administrative position involving• Payroll • Accounting • Employee Benefits • Customer Service

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS• Two years’ experience in responsible administrative and accounting positions• Disciplined self-starter; able to work without supervision• Proficient with PCs including Word, Excel, and the Internet

[Continued on next slide.]



• Can be counted on to follow through on every detail, until a task is successfully ..completed• B.A. degree, University of Saskatchewan, Business Administration major

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE10/04 to Apprentice, Radio Production, CQFA - 94.1, present Moose Jaw, SK• As production manager, schedule studios, recruit support staff.• Process scripts, permissions, and logs involved in weekly productions.

2002-04 Financial Manager, The Shelter House,Moose Jaw, SK.

• Used computer to manage payroll and employee benefits for a staff of 26.• Completed all projects on time, despite chronically chaotic environment.




• Managed agency's cash flow, involving funder reimbursements, in-kind donations, ..and fund-raising.• Processed all accounts payable and receivable, monthly, and quarterly statistical ..reports for local, state, and federal funding agencies. Oversaw petty cash.• Designed a flow chart to track success of a $25,000 fund-raising project.

Spring, 2003 Publicity coordinator, Renaissance Rainbow (performance arts troupe), Saskatoon, SK

• Scheduled all media interviews and supervised volunteers.• Coordinated publicity mailings for Performance Arts Festival.

2001-03 Temp positions, Manpower Temporary Services, Winnipeg, MB• Developed customer service skills as telephone interviewer for Dorhring ..Company.




• Maintained files, routed incoming telephone calls, input employee progress ..journals, prepared interoffice memos, recorded accounts payable cheques, ..keyboarded accounts payable correspondence, learned e-mail systems in various ..assignments.

EDUCATION

B.A. in Business Administration, University of Saskatchewan, 2001. GPA in major: 3.2Dean's list, 2 terms


Making Your Résumé Computer-Friendly


• Avoid unusual typefaces, underlining, and italics.

• Use 10 to 14-point type.• Use smooth white paper, black ink, and

quality printing.• Be sure your name is on the first line on the

page.• Provide white space.




• Avoid double columns.• Don’t fold or staple your résumé.• Use abbreviations carefully.• Include your entire address and telephone

number.• Be prepared to provide your résumé in Plain

Text format.


Applying the Final TouchesApplying the Final Touches

• Avoid humour.• Eliminate personal pronoun I.• Use white/off-white heavy bond paper.• Do not hire someone to write your résumé.• Try to fit your résumé on one page (two maximum).• Proofread several times.


The Persuasive Cover LetterThe Persuasive Cover Letter

Openings for Solicited Jobs• Refer to the name of an employee in the

company.• Refer to the source of your information

precisely.• Refer to the job title and describe how your

qualifications fit the requirements.


The Persuasive Cover LetterThe Persuasive Cover Letter

Openings for Unsolicited Jobs• Demonstrate interest in and knowledge of the

reader’s business.• Show how your special talents and

background will benefit the company.• Refer to the job title and describe how your

qualifications fit the requirements.


Writing a Persuasive Cover Letter


Building Interest in the Body• Relate your remarks to a specific position.• Choose your strongest qualifications and

show how they fit the targeted job.• Discuss relevant personal qualities.• Refer the reader to your résumé.




Motivating Action in the Closing• Ask for an interview. • Make it easy for the reader to respond.

Supply telephone number and best times to call you.


End

copyright © 2008 by nelson education ltd. ch. 11-1 chapter 11 the job search, résumés, and cover...

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