Cover Letter Resume Interview Dressing Networking The following are tips to help you prepare for a job search. Items of interest include preparing a cover letter, writing a resume, interviewing skills, dressing for success, and networking to build contacts. COVER LETTER A cover letter is an opportunity to show how your background fits a particular position you are applying for. A well-written letter may encourage an employer to review your resume. A cover letter also demonstrates to a prospective employer your ability to write professional correspondence and communicate thoughts and ideas clearly. Some rules to keep in mind: Always send a cover letter with your resume unless indicated otherwise in the position listing. Incorporate your career objective into the letter. Research the employer. Demonstrate knowledge of the organization. Highlight how and what you can contribute to the organization to which you are applying. Call attention to items on your resume rather than duplicating all information. Be brief. A cover letter should generally be no longer than one page. Proof read letters for mistakes, spelling as well as grammatical errors. Sign your cover letter. Always keep a copy of all letters you write, as well as all correspondence you receive. EXAMPLE COVER LETTER FORMAT: Your Street Address City, State, Zip Today’s date Name of Contact Title of Contact Organization Street Address City, State, Zip Opening: Use the name of an individual or title if possible. Avoid "To Whom It May Concern." Instead, use "Dear Personnel Manager" or "Dear Director." Do not use "Dear Sir" unless you know for certain that the person reading the letter is male. Opening Paragraph: Give reasons for your interest in the position and demonstrate your knowledge of the organization. State where you saw the position advertised. Mention if a particular individual has referred you. State any information you have heard about the organization from employees, media, acquisitions, etc. If you have met the person to whom you are writing, remind the person by stating where and when you met and thank him/her for stimulating your interest. State how this position fits into your career objective or goals. Middle Paragraph(s): Stress what you can contribute about the organization. Call attention to particular experiences and abilities that relate to the position being sought. Do not duplicate information from your resume word for word. Indicate knowledge of the position. Closing Paragraph: If applicable, request necessary application materials. If you will be in the city on a certain date, include this information. Thank the person for their time and consideration. Closing: Acceptable closings include: Sincerely, Sincerely Yours, Yours Sincerely. Type and sign your name. Type the word ‘enclosure’ to indicate that additional materials such as your resume have been enclosed. Return to top RESUME Writing a resume can be a daunting experience! For high school students or those with limited work experience, here are some rules to bear in mind. The basic format should cover the following items: Heading (to include name, address, telephone number and e-mail address) Objective (to describe the type of opportunity desired) Career Experience (include work/summer employment and volunteer work) Education (include your GPA) Related Course Work (include accomplishments and their relevance) Honors and Activities (include relevant activities and hobbies) Use a two-page resume when you have more experience, technical skills, etc. When your resume is completed, make sure you have about the same space around the actual words on the paper – top, bottom, left and right. Your resume needs to look balanced. RESUME WRITING TIPS Pay careful attention to spelling, punctuation, grammar and style. Proof read your resume carefully, using a dictionary and stylebook, and have several people proof read it, too. Organize information in a logical fashion. Keep descriptions clear and to the point. Confine information to one page. Use a simple and easy font. Use good quality white or off-white bond paper. Include work experience, if any. Tailor your information to the job you are applying for. Always ask for help at your career service center. Include examples that present you as a team player. Aim for specific accomplishments. E-MAIL RESUMES Avoid italics, underlines or fancy fonts. For plain text resumes (those that are sent by e-mail), set margins at 1.75 margins on left and right, so that your resume will e-mail correctly. Limit each line length to 65 characters and spaces for e-mail resumes. Put only your name on the first line of the resume because everything on the first line appears as your name. Put your contact information into the e-mail message and include text version of cover letter and resume. Return to top INTERVIEW Take a test drive to the interview location prior to your appointment so you will allot enough arrival time Or plot your journey on computer to give you an estimate of how long it will take you to get there. Call at least a day ahead if you need to reschedule an interview. Keep resumes flat in a small folder or portfolio. If your interview entails filling out an application form, use a black pen to fill out the application. Make sure you read the application properly before filling it out. Have complete information of all former employers, volunteer positions held and internships. Prior to the interview learn as much as you can about the organization, industry, field trends and position. Know how long it has been established and its products/services, if any. Read: newspapers, journal, web reports Talk: employees, clients, friends Visit: informational interview Bring extra copies of your resume. Keep one of your resumes in front of you while you are being interviewed. Arrive 15 minutes early for the interview. TIPS Smile. Project an upbeat and positive attitude. Work on a firm handshake; concentrate on your posture. Don’t look down or fidget during the interview. Speak in complete sentences. Do your "personal best." Think of this as a two-way conversation. Have a list of five things you’ve accomplished during your life that you are most proud of. Be yourself in the interview. Relax and smile. If you get very nervous, pause a moment, collect your thoughts and ask for a glass of water and sip between conversations. Do not lie! No profane language! Do not talk too loudly. Maintain good eye contact and use proper grammar. Prepare, prepare, prepare! Confirm, confirm, confirm. Always ask questions of the employer to show your interest in the company and the position applied for. Look and act like a problem solver. Offer to solve a problem or volunteer some of your time. Put a positive spin on your weaknesses instead of apologizing. Write notes right after the interview to remember how it went and what was discussed. Acknowledge the support staff you talk to and remember to thank them for their help prior to your departure. They are sometimes your most direct link to the person who has the power to hire you, so their impressions of you can make a difference. If they wear a name badge, take note of their names and thank them as Mr./Ms. XYZ. Employers look for candidates that possess skills such as teamwork, flexibility, dependability, manage their time, set priorities and resolve conflicts. If the employer brings up the issue of salary, here are some appropriate responses: I am much more interested in doing (type of work) here at (company name) than I am in the size of the initial offer. I will consider any reasonable offer. You are in a much better position to know how much I’m worth to you than I am. After the interview: Thank the employer and ask for his/her business card. Write and mail a Thank You note within 24 hours of the interview. Record notes on interview for future reference. If you get a job at the end of this process, share your experience with a friend. If not, share and learn from your mistakes. Return to top DRESSING Your choice in clothes is important because it’s your packaging. Some rules to bear in mind: Dress appropriately. Take it easy with the cologne, perfume or shaving lotion. Wear what is the norm for that profession. The goal is to blend in and "look the part." Do not wear T-Shirts with words on them. Do not wear flashy clothes, hair, nails or jewelry. No earrings on men. Shoes need to be clean. No sneakers. Appear "clean cut." No hats, sunglasses, beepers, cell phones, food or drink. Don’t smoke or chew gum. Carry your resumes in a flat folder. Leave backpacks, athletic bags and water bottles at home. Concentrate on your posture. No slouching. Dress nicely when picking up your application – first impression. Wear a "smile!" Offer a firm handshake. Go to the interview alone; no family or friends. Always remember: The Chemical Reaction: Commitment to work * Attendance * Appearance * Attitude (CA3) = a job. Return to top NETWORKING Networking is a focused method of developing and building a pool of contacts. It is the most successful job search strategy. It is a formal, rather than informal, activity and it needs to be planned, structured and have a specific purpose. It is not easy to learn. You need to work on developing networking skills while in school to strengthen your ability. Think of networking as planting a garden: Start with a fertile base (develop a strong resume and cover letter). Select and plant the seeds (identify and choose people to connect with). Tend the first shoots (develop relationships via e-mail, phone and in person). Reap the benefits of your hard work (collect new contacts, apply for positions). Replant (follow up on new contacts). Through networking, one can create an ever-expanding web of contacts in a particular career field or industry. Keep in mind, networking is sharing information and building trust. Your contacts won’t share job leads or new contacts if they do not trust you or your intentions. Networking is not going from person to person. It is an interconnected web of individuals to whom you return over and over. Contacts are developed and maintained, not used and discarded. Your success depends on personal commitment, dedication, and thorough follow-up. Return to top