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Getting Experience Searching for Positions Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

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Page 1: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Getting ExperienceSearching for PositionsWriting a Resume and Cover Letter

Preparing For Your Future

Page 2: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Getting Experience

• Volunteer• Part-Time and Summer Jobs• Join College Activities

Page 3: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Getting Experience

• Internships• Gives you great experience• Allows for you to “test” out a career field• Both for credit and non-credit• Paid and unpaid options• Can start one anytime

Page 4: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Searching for Positions

• Many job seekers make the mistake of not focusing their career goals• Makes job search overwhelming

• Identify your personal strengths, interests, skills, and values

• List possible job titles and fields of interest• Sales, PR, Social Work, Research, Writing,

etc.

Page 5: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Searching for Positions

• Research companies and organizations• Research potential career fields

• Know typical entry-level jobs, salaries, etc.

• Think about location• Identify potential employers who you

would like to work for

Page 6: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Searching for Positions

• Target your resume to a specific field or position

• Update your facebook and myspace profiles• Have a professional email address and

voicemail message• Learn how to network and do an

informational interview• Develop a job search plan using multiple job

searching strategies

Page 7: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Job Search Strategy #1

Participate in Campus Programs and Events

Contact:Career and Employment CenterSarah Hover 651-450-3874http://www.inverhills.edu/StudentResources/

CareerServices/

Page 8: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Job Search Strategy #2Apply for Jobs that are Posted

General Job Posting Websiteswww.inverhillsjobs.com

Specialized Posting SitesIdealist: www.idealist.orgMinnesota Council of Non-profits:

www.mncn.orgEdPost:

www.stcloudstate.edu/joblistings/edpost

Page 9: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Job Search Strategy #2Apply for Jobs that are Posted

Employer Websites

Megasites Monster: www.monster.com Career Builder: www.careerbuilder.com

Newspapers or Want Ads www.startribune.com www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress

Page 10: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

http://cswl.pbworks.com/

Finding Postings Using the Wiki

Page 11: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Application Questions

•Do I need to fill out each section if I already have that information on my resume?• What do I put down for my reason for leaving?•What about the salary expectations section?•Who should I put down as references?•Others???

Page 12: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Job Search Strategy #3Target Employers You Are Interested In

Direct employer contact

Directories Minnesota Nonprofit Directory United Way: Directory of Community Services Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Book of

Lists The Gold Book On the wiki: http://cswl.pbworks.com/

Page 13: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Job Search Strategy #4NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!!!

Page 14: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

• is a document to market your skills, experience, education and accomplishments to employers

• is meant to get your an interview

• is NOT your life history

• is very concise and easy to scan for information

What is a Resume?

Page 15: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Basic Guidelinesuse consistency in your presentation

utilize a 10 to 12 point, plain font

organize your information to make it easy to read

use your white space effectively

start all of your descriptive statements with past tense action verbs

proofread to check for errors

Page 16: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Basic Guidelines

do not use high school information

place your most relevant information towards the top

include industry related keywords

target it to the career field you are entering

keep your margins even

Page 17: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

CategoriesObjectiveSummary of Qualifications

EducationHonorsRelated Coursework

InternshipsResearch

Related Experience

Additional Involvement

VolunteerCommunity Service

SkillsEmploymentActivities

Page 18: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Resume Statementsuse past tense action verbs to describe

what you did in each position or experience

be descriptive and specific – who, what, where, when, how, resultsaction verb + details + results = strong

resume statementlook at job postings to get ideaspractice telling someone else what you

did in each position or how you demonstrated each skill

Page 19: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Personal Information

LEAH M. HELPER2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55410

612.330.3333, [email protected]

Page 20: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

IntroductionObjective

states what type of position you are looking for and what you will bring to the position

Summary of Qualificationshighlights your related qualifications for the

position

Page 21: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Education

Page 22: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Related Experience

Page 23: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Activities

Page 24: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Other Experience

Page 25: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Final Tips

• have your resume reviewed by a career specialist

• print on good quality paper

• look at sample resumes and to get help

Page 26: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

• is a letter that gives you a change to elaborate on more skills you have that may not be specifically highlighted on your resume

• is meant to get the employer to read your resume

What is a Cover Letter?

Page 27: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Basic Guidelinesshould always accompany a resume even

when not requested

needs to be well-written and in a professional tone

do not start all of your sentences with “I”

customize each letter with a job description of the organization you are applying for

Page 28: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Headingyour name and address should come first

then put the date

next the employer’s name, title, and work address

always address your employer as:Dear Mr. or Ms. Last Name:

Page 29: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Opening

indicate the position you are applying for and how you came to learn about the position

state why you are interested in the position

say something you know or admire about the organizationshows you have done your research

Page 30: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Middle Section(s)

highlight your experience as it relates to the position

provide them with the key skills you have that are mentioned in the job description

be specific about how your achievements and education have prepared you for the position

elaborate more in-depth than what is on your resume

Page 31: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Closing

reiterate your interest in the position and thank them for their consideration

state that you hope to discuss your qualifications in an interview

say when you plan to follow-up with them and then do so

Page 32: Getting Experience  Searching for Positions  Writing a Resume and Cover Letter Preparing For Your Future

Final Tips

• sign your letter with sincerely and your signature• do your research on the employer• PROOFREAD!• use the same font and paper as your resume• show enthusiasm for the position