Life After VISTA: Landing a Job Debbie Cushman Minnesota Literacy Council April 25, 2014

Your Presenter

Agenda 1.Job Search Overview 2.Resumes / Cover Letters 3.Interview Tips 4.Follow-up / Networking 5.A Day in the Life of HR 6.The Big Picture SELECTION PROCESS

1. Job search overview New Job Framing the goal Finding opportunities Selection process Follow-up/networks

2. Resumes A.Content – Key competencies – Employment history – Volunteer experiences – Educational details – Other B.Approach C.Efficiency D.Accuracy

Resume Do’s and Don’ts Do: Include volunteer experience Don’t: Leave out relevant experience Do: Tell a straight story Don’t: Try to hide gaps or mislead the reader

Resume Do’s and Don’ts Do: Label positions as volunteer Don’t: Misrepresent volunteer work Acceptable: - VISTA – your specific title - your specific title (VISTA volunteer)

Resume Do’s and Don’ts Do: Consider the best place to highlight volunteer work - Inter-woven - Separate Section - Mixed Don’t: Put volunteer work under “Employment History” without clarifying

Resume Do’s and Don’ts Do: Produce error-free, polished resume Don’t: Forget to read through it backwards and ask 2 other people to proof-read Do: Tailor your resume for specific position Don’t: Use a generic resume

Resume Do’s and Don’ts Do: Use precise language and terminology Don’t: Overstate or over-explain past positions/training Do: Put your resume in PDF format Don’t: Send all your materials as separate documents

Resume Workshop Trade resumes with a partner / review Look at: – Approach – Efficiency – Accuracy Discuss: – Things that work – Things that are confusing

Cover letters Why write one? Format ( , document, etc.) Content Approach Efficiency Accuracy

Cover letter activity Review job posting Outline a 4- or 5-paragraph letter: Individuals – 10 min. Discuss with your neighbor: In Pairs – 5 min. Refine a final letter at your table: In Pairs: 10 min.

3. Interview tips A.Be on time (but not too early) B.Dress professionally C.Have some questions of your own (but not too many) D.Practice active listening E.Relax!

4. Follow-up & networking A.Send a thank-you! Please? B.Show sincere interest C.Be patient D.Work to discover connections E.Be open without expectations

5. A day in the life of HR Most nonprofit employees are busy multi- taskers and under-resourced Staffing is a lot of work and routine Interview panel dynamics

What is HR looking for? The best possible match for the job at hand – Practical aspects (salary, availability) – KSAOs (knowledge, skills, abilities, other) – Personality / fit with team – Eagerness for the position! – Other things you won’t know about Future potential – Within job ladder – Across functions/roles

6. The big picture It’s a p-r-o-c-e-s-s… sometimes a long one Consider both sides of the match Get good at it… the search will happen again

Questions? Contact Information Debbie Cushman Associate Director (651)