Resumes, Cover Letters, and Job Searching

Presenter

Erin Koolen

Assistant Director/Career Specialist

Augsburg College

Careers and Internships

Center for Service, Work, and Learning

Agenda

Website

For handouts, resources, and a copy of this presentation:

http://cswl.pbworks.com/

Augsburg’s Career and Internship Wiki

Discovering Your Strengths

Knowing Yourself

Must be able to look at your AmeriCorps experience and talk about your strengthsWill need to talk about your skills in your resume, cover letter, and

interview

National Association of College and Employers

According to employers…

Communication Skills (written & verbal)

Honesty/IntegrityTeamwork SkillsStrong Work EthicAnalytical SkillsFlexibility/Adaptability

Interpersonal SkillsMotivation/InitiativeComputer SkillsDetail-orientationOrganizational SkillsLeadership SkillsSelf-Confidence

Activity

Write down a job description for one or a few of your work experiences

Choose skills that you used to complete the job tasks

Think about what your supervisors said you did well

What would your family and friends say your gifts are?

Finding your strengths and skills

Building Your Resume

What is a Resume?

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

Basic Guidelines

use consistency in your presentationutilize a 10 to 12 point, plain fontorganize your information to make it easy to read use your white space effectivelystart all of your descriptive statements with past tense

action verbsproofread to check for errors

Basic Guidelines

do not use high school information place your most relevant information towards the topinclude industry related keywordstarget it to the career field you are enteringkeep your margins even

Categories

Resume Statements

use past tense action verbs to describe what you did in each position or experience

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

statement

look at job postings to get ideas

practice telling someone else what you did in each position or how you demonstrated each skill

PRACTICE

Use the job description you wrote for your positions and your resume power verbs to write statements for your resume

Remember: be descriptive and specific – who, what, where, when, how, results

• action verb + details + results = strong resume statement

Resume Statements

Personal Information

LEAH M. HELPER2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55410

612.330.3333, helper@augsburg.edu

Introduction

Objectivestates 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

Education

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN May 20XX

Major: Psychology Minor: Communication Studies GPA: 3.7

Honors: Dean’s List, Psychology Honor Society, Augsburg Academic Scholarship

Study Abroad: University of Galway, Galway, Ireland Spring 20XX

Related Experience

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Intern, Crisis Nursery, Minneapolis, MN, Spring 20XX • Selected to demonstrate therapeutic interventions to volunteers at a newly developed parent-child

educational and therapeutic group• Consulted with another therapists regarding client case management

Intern, Washburn Child Guidance Center, Minneapolis, MN, Fall 20XX• Taught emotional regulation and social skills to preschoolers in a classroom setting • Provided therapeutic interventions for children, ages 2 to 10, who were at risk of neglect and abuse• Counseled children and parents with many emotional and mental difficulties to help create a safe home

environment

Student Worker, Augsburg Admissions Office, Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 20XX – May 20XX• Promoted the college to prospective students by giving campus tours and providing them with college

information• Provided administrative tasks including student mailings, filing, and data entry

Community Service/Volunteer

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteer, Meals on Wheels, Minneapolis, MN, Jan. 20XX – Aug. 20XX

Sunday School Teacher, St. Edwards, Bloomington, MN, Oct. 20XX – April 20XX

Other Experience

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Server, Applebee’s, Minneapolis, MN, June 20XX – May 20XX• Trained new employees and evaluated their performance• Succeeded in providing excellent customer service to six tables of people by multitasking and

prioritizing orders

Final Tips

have your resume reviewed

print on good quality paper

look at sample resumes and to get help

Developing a Cover Letter

What is a Cover Letter?

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

Basic Guidelines

should 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

Heading

your 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:

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

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

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

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

Searching for a Job

Strategy #1

Apply for jobs that are posted

General Job Posting WebsitesLandIt: www.landit.orgJobPost: www.stcloudstate.edu/joblistings/jobpost/

Specialized Posting SitesIdealist: www.idealist.orgMinnesota Council of Non-profits: www.mncn.orgEdPost: www.stcloudstate.edu/joblistings/edpost

Strategy #1

Apply for jobs that are posted

Employer Websitesspecific hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations

MegasitesMonster: www.monster.comCareer Builder: www.careerbuilder.com

Newspapers or Want Adswww.startribune.comwww.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress

Strategy #2

Target employers you are interested in

Direct employer contact

DirectoriesMinnesota Nonprofit DirectoryUnited Way: Directory of Community ServicesMinneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Book of ListsThe Gold Book

Strategy #3

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!!!

Friends and FamilyFacultyAmeriCorps ContactsWork and Internship ConnectionsProfessional Associations

Successful Job Searching

What is Networking?

involves connecting with those who work in a field you are wanting to learn more about or break into

is the most effective way to learn about job positions and obtain job positions

does NOT involve asking for a job

Informational Interviews

are a great way to begin to network, build connections, and gain insight into a career

set up times to talk with people and “interview” them about their jobs and/or their employers

follow up after the interview and continue to keep in touch

How Do You Network?

talk to everyone about your job search or career path

request informational interviewsfind a connection/conversation starter with people

you want to network withfollow up with contacts you have made and keep

your network active

Social Networking

Linkedinwww.linkedin.comcomplete a descriptive profilesearch for connections for informational interviewget company information and connections

Facebookbecome a fan of company profilescheck the profile for news and information

Questions?