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Are you prepared to start interviewing?

Is your resume RawlsCONNECT ready?

Do you know how to approach an employer at a job fair?

Do you know how to use RawlsCONNECT to its full potential?

If you answered NO to 1 or more of these questions, you need to plan to attend one of the CMC Workshops! 

Workshops will cover:Resume Do's and Don'ts

RawlsCONNECT navigationJob Fair Preparation

Interviewing Skills

No signup necessary - they will be held throughout the semester on MONDAYS in BA 266 at 2:00pm and on

THURSDAYS in 266 at 3:30pm. 

Developing a winning résumé & cover letter:

Your ticket to a great career!

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Disclaimer:

Résumés are like snowflakes…no two are exactly alike.

However, résumés, like

snowflakes, are made composed of the same material and have

the same basic properties.

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Ten Critical Success Factors

• Positive attitude toward work • Proficiency in field of study • Communication skills (oral and written)• Interpersonal skills• Confidence• Critical thinking and problem solving skills• Flexibility • Self-motivation• Leadership • Teamwork

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Resume Basics:

• Profile/Objective• Education• Computer Skills• Experience• Honors/Awards• Collegiate Activities/

Volunteerism

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Your Profile

• Don’t waste the hiring manager’s time explaining what YOU want to do.

• The only thing that interests prospective employers is what you can do for THEM. Your skills/talents/etc.

• Your resume profile must quickly show – Who you are, what skills you bring to the table – What you can do for the company.

Consider the profile as an ad for the rest of the resume: it must

immediately convince the hiring manager to keep on reading.M

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Your Profile

•Sample profilesEducated in International Business and Spanish, with experience in document translation, international student programs, foreign studies, and travel. Additional education in import/export processes. Experienced in team building and customer service. Additional experience in developing, executing, and analyzing tactical and strategic planning, organizational projects, fundraising, problem solving, market research, and risk analysis; professional literacy in the use of computers.

Friendly, dependable university graduate possessing an extensive background in sales and customer service. Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent computer proficiency, and solid financial knowledge are additional defining characteristics.

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The Job Objective:

• The “hook” that grabs the attention of the reader.

• Needs to answer 2 questions:•What you want & Why you want it?

• Needs to be focused•Short & Concise•The ‘2’ Second rule!

• Used when you are applying to a specific position with a companyM

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Your Education:

• What is Needed?• Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech

University, Lubbock, TX • August 2003 – Present• Bachelor of Business Administration, Major• Anticipated Graduation Date

• Extras• The Great GPA Debate• Should I list every class I ever took?• Scholastic Honors, Awards & Scholarships

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Computer Skills:

• List all software applications that you are familiar with

• List all hardware that you have used• List other “tools of the trade” that

you know employers are looking for.

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Work Experience:

• What are Employers Looking For?• General work experience• Does this person have a good work ethic?• Customer Service Skills/ Interpersonal

Skills• Teamwork skills

• Professional Experience• The Use of Bullets• Utilizing Power Words

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Job Description Sample:

Wal-Mart Inc., Wichita Falls, TXCustomer Service Representative- May 2003 to

Present• Monitored customer satisfaction.• Managed inventory movement.• Trained new employees in positive customer service.• Organized and participated in weekly staff meetings.

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Job Description Sample:

ICS Computer Solutions, Dallas, TX  Technical Support Associate – Summer 2003• Install, configure, and maintain software on desktop

workstations and servers-based computer systems.• Replace hardware components while performing

routine computer checks on personal computers.• Support multiple software applications with Microsoft

Windows operating systems.• Checked, monitored, and changed daily backups of

both Windows 2000 and the Novell NetWare Servers.• Monitor, respond, and promote reliable customer

service as a help desk technician.Manageri

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Important point!

What is the difference between a good resume and a GREAT resume?

Good resume – In the job description, tells the employer what you did in that position.

Great resume - Tells the employer what you did in that position why you did it, why it was important to that employer and the results of your work.M

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Collegiate Activities

Why is this necessary?

What is Important?The Message…

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Sample: Activities

• Texas Tech Student Government Association• Financial Aid Committee, 2003• Faculty Senate Representative, 2004

• Habitat for Humanity - Student Volunteer, 2004

• Tech Marketing Association - Secretary• Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity

• Treasurer• Rush Chair

• American Red Cross

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Resume Extras:

• Personal Strengths• Special Skills• Time Management Skills• Customer Service Skills• Organizational Skills• Community Activities

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References

• “Available upon request”• Separate piece of paper

• Name, Address & Telephone Number• Include email address• Company & Title of Individual• Make sure to call those you have chosen

• Whom should I ask to be my references• Employers & Teachers• Co-Workers & Family Friends

• How many references should I haveManageri

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Most Common Mistakes:

• Spelling• Grammar• Too much information…• Too little information…• Inappropriate email addresses

• Hotspanishlvr@whatever.com

• Length• Microsoft Templates

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Most Common Mistakes:

• Font & Font Size• Personal Information• Pictures• Colored Paper• Long-winded paragraph Job

Descriptions• Objectives that are vague

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Cover Letters

"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.“

Thomas Jefferson

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Basic formula - cover letter:

Standard business letter format prospect name, title, company, address-

top left

Salutation yes, it should be to a real person (take

time to know who your target is)

First paragraph Why you are writing? To meet that

company's specific need(s)!Manageri

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Second paragraph Briefly state two or three top skills (from

the Summary section of your résumé), then immediately follow with benefit after benefit that these features (and you as a person) will provide to the company.

Third paragraphClose the sale. Give your target contact a

specific action to take and a backup action you will take if you do not get a response. Make them WANT to call you!

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Cover Letter Checklist

__One page and limited to three targeted paragraphs__Typed, spell checked and proofed.__Written to someone specific, name and title spelled

correctly.__Company name and address are correct and complete__Quality paper, 8x11 inches, same as your résumé__Three paragraphs (focused on the reader's needs)__ enclosure notation is needed on the letter __Closes with "Sincerely,"- Signed with a blue or black pen__Place the résumé behind and fold in a tri-fold, with no

staples__Type or neatly print address on envelope__Conservative stamp on the envelopeM

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Cover Letter Checklist

Do not just send off your resume and cover letter and wait for the

phone to ring. It won’t.

Final step:

__do not forget to follow up, or all the other steps will be in vain!

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