Succeeding in the New Economy Making An Effective Job Application

Making An Effective Job Application The Resume The Correspondence The Interview The Web Approach Dealing With A Tough Market

Making An Effective Job Application The Resume The Correspondence The Interview The Web Approach Dealing With A Tough Market

The Resume Purpose of a resume is to get you an interview Not a career obituary Of itself, not a job application Self-promotional document Two major formats Chronological – good for established career path Functional – good for new entrants, or different careers

What Should I Include Objective – keep it focused A challenging marketing position with a consumer goods company vs A role in marketing where I can develop my full potential

Highlight Positions of Leadership University graduates need points of difference other than grades Highlight positions of leadership Highlight examples which show depth of character e.g. unusual hobbies/travel, community service

Use the Active Language Organised 7 career talks for final year graduating class with industry luminaries including …. Developed financial model for analysing the impact of deregulation on the Singapore telecommunications industry Quantify achievements E.g number of members if you’re a society committee member

Remember the Basics Sufficient personal information Relevant work experience Educational background References Good quality paper Preferably one page For email applications: Text version on body of email MS Word 2000 version as attachment

Making An Effective Job Application The Resume The Correspondence The Interview The Web Approach Dealing With A Tough Market

Distinguishing Correspondence Thank you letter Cover letter Interview & Resume “The Book-Ends”

Cover Letter Basics Objective is for company to get good first impression of you Err on the side of formality, even if emailed Illustrate knowledge of industry or company, previous points of contact Be direct about position you’re looking for and how you’re qualified Provide reason to turn the next page to your resume

Cover Letter : The 3 Bs Brief Bold Brilliant “Don’t wrap your resume like a wet noodle, but coat it with sugar, enticing reader to know you further”

Making An Effective Job Application The Resume The Correspondence The Interview The Web Approach Dealing With A Tough Market

Winning Interviews Prepare, prepare, prepare Research the company (web, company literature) Talk to friends, friends of friends, who work with company to find out more Know the position you want Dress the part Rehearse with friends Confirm appointment, be punctual

Interview Points Remember, 70% of communication is non-verbal Have a positive attitude Display enthusiasm, freshness, vitality Sell yourself Do not be afraid to articulate your strengths Do not be modest But do not brag Keep your radar on Conclude – reiteration of your possible contribution

Making An Effective Job Application The Resume The Correspondence The Interview The Web Approach Dealing With A Tough Market

The Web Approach Currently most applications by email already Most companies progressing to web-based applications Ability to do structured searches Supplemented by free form section to convey individuality Keyword search might be performed on your resume Sorting and processing of applications accelerated Transparency creates keener competition

Use the Internet To Your Advantage Be sure to fill structured as well as unstructured sections of web-based applications Make sure key words are on your electronic resume Register with job notification services to inform you of the latest job openings Create your own homepage to showcase your work/talent Include in resume, cover letter, link to it on body of email Use the Internet to research companies

Dealing With A Tough Market Your primary objective is to build your work experience Ideally in your chosen field But don’t refuse other work experience – any work experience will give you skills Accept temporary positions, projects Build your portfolio Be creative, look for opportunities Above all, persist, persist, persist

Making An Effective Job Application The Resume The Correspondence The Interview The Web Approach Dealing With A Tough Market