Planning for Your Career

The 6 Stages of Career Planning Assess personal goals, abilities, and interests. Research careers. Identify job opportunities in chosen field. Develop a resume and cover letter. Apply for jobs. Interview for available positions. Improve interviewing skills. Consider job offers. Accept a job that meets financial and personal requirements. Plan and implement a program for career development.

Assessing Interests & Abilities Aptitude test: help you to find your natural abilities and talents. Interest inventories: help you identify the activities you enjoy most.

How to… Fill out a Job Application Form Use black ink or type Read carefully whether to write first or last name first Education: write last school attended first Work Experience: write last job held first Be careful when mentioning reasons for leaving past jobs Fill in all blanks, including NA where necessary When asked about salary put open or negotiable Include phone number Always pick up 2 applications

Top 10 Mistakes! Misspelled words Crossed out writing Failure to print Wrinkled application Folded application Incomplete information Unanswered questions Incomplete work history Late – deadline Neglecting to sign

Finding a Job It often takes months of time and effort to find a job that matches your qualifications and desires. Try looking for job in the following places: Classified ads Internet; job sites Company websites Trade & Professional Associations websites

Most Common… Job-Search Methods

Cover Letter A personal letter that you present along with your resume. Tells a potential employer why you are interested in a particular job and why it would be worthwhile for the interviewer to interview you.

Parts of a Cover Letter Return Address: Letter Address: Salutation: Shows your address to the person to whom you are writing so that he or she can write back. Letter Address: Contains the name and address of the person or company you are writing to. Salutation: Greeting; addresses your letter to the particular person you want to read the message. Follow name with a colon, or nothing at all- no comma. Avoid ‘To Whom It May Concern’

Parts of a Cover Letter (cont.) Body: Contains four basic parts and should be three to four paragraphs long. First Paragraph: Attracts attention. Identifies the purpose of the letter-why you are writing. This paragraph needs to be as specific as possible; tell the reader why you are writing or how you learned about a job opening. Should refer to specific job title or type of position you are seeking. Middle Paragraph or Paragraphs: Give reasons why you should be considered for the job You may want to relate past experiences that you have had, classes you have taken, or skills you possess, to make letter more interesting and relevant.

Parts of a Cover Letter (cont.) Closing Paragraph: Requests action from the employer; seeks interview. Give reader your phone number and a good time to call. Make it clear that you would like to hear from the reader A.S.A.P., and give times you are available for an interview. Complimentary Close: Phrase such as ‘Sincerely yours’, courteously ends your letter. Your name appears several lines below closing, to allow space for signature.

Cover Letter Do’s: Personalize your letter. Address the specific position advertised. Get to the point. Write and edit your letter with great care. Don’ts: Send a generic cover letter. Make the reader work too hard to know you are in the right position. End your letter passively. Generally, the letter of application should be on white, standard size (8 ½ x 11) Mailing envelope should be of the same color. You may use your own personal letterhead as well.

Resume A one-or two-page summary of your education, training, experience, and qualifications.

How long do employers typically look at a resume? Less than 30 seconds 3 minutes 1 minutes Employers receive 100’s of resumes for a single position. They do not have the time to pour over every word on each one. This increases the importance of the smallest details.

The 7 Essential Parts of a Resume… Heading: Formal name, address, and telephone number (area code), and e-mail address. DO NOT include age, sex, marital status, ethnic background, or measurements. Career Objective: Specific, one sentence explanation about the type of job you are seeking. Education: List all secondary and postsecondary schools you have attended, starting with the most recent and working backwards. You may include your GPA, extracurricular activities, scholastic honors (honors society, deans list), or specific courses you have taken that relate to the job opening.

Parts of a Resume (cont.) Work Experience: This includes a listing of all previous employers, address, dates of employment, and job title. Also, include at least two one-line descriptions about what your job duties and responsibilities. DO NOT use “I”. Volunteer Activities: List special activities you participated in, school or community. Include the years in which you participated. Summary of Skills: Here, you may want to list your computer skills or other languages you might speak. References: 2-3 people you have known for at least one year, who can provide information about your character, achievements, or work ethic. Should be over 18 and unrelated to you. Best types of references include teachers, school counselors, former employers, and adults in business.

Resume Guidelines Keep your resume to one page, if possible. Do not use the word “I”, instead begin with a verb. Use resume paper (8 ½ x 11) Choose a style and font that is appealing and easy to read. Remember…the most important items in your resume should be placed in the upper one-third of the page. Proofread carefully. Your resume should be free of errors.