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 1. Discovering Your Strengths 2. Building a Resume 3. Developing a Cover Letter 4. Searching for a Job/Networking 5. Q and A

Website For handouts, resources, and a copy of this presentation: Augsburg’s Career and Internship Wiki

Discovering Your Strengths

Knowing Yourself Must be able to look at your AmeriCorps experience and talk about your strengths Will 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/Integrity Teamwork Skills Strong Work Ethic Analytical Skills Flexibility/Adaptability Interpersonal Skills Motivation/Initiative Computer Skills Detail-orientation Organizational Skills Leadership Skills Self-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 presentation utilize a 10 to 12 point, plain font organize your information to make it easy to read use your white space effectively start all of your descriptive statements with past tense action verbs proofread to check for errors

Basic Guidelines do not use high school information place your most relevant information towards the top include industry related keywords target it to the career field you are entering keep your margins even

Categories CommonAdditional Additional Involvement Other Experience Related Experience EducationResearchSkills Objective or Summary

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. HELPER 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN ,

Introduction Objective states what type of position you are looking for and what you will bring to the position Summary of Qualifications highlights your related qualifications for the position

Education EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN May 20XX Major: PsychologyMinor: Communication Studies GPA: 3.7 Honors: Dean’s List, Psychology Honor Society, Augsburg Academic Scholarship Study Abroad: University of Galway, Galway, IrelandSpring 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 organization shows 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 Websites LandIt: JobPost: Specialized Posting Sites Idealist: Minnesota Council of Non-profits: EdPost:

Strategy #1 Apply for jobs that are posted Employer Websites specific hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations Megasites Monster: Career Builder: Newspapers or Want Ads

Strategy #2 Target employers you are interested in Direct employer contact Directories Minnesota Nonprofit Directory United Way: Directory of Community Services Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: Book of Lists The Gold Book

Strategy #3 NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!!! Friends and Family Faculty AmeriCorps Contacts Work and Internship Connections Professional 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 interviews find a connection/conversation starter with people you want to network with follow up with contacts you have made and keep your network active

Social Networking Linkedin complete a descriptive profile search for connections for informational interview get company information and connections Facebook become a fan of company profiles check the profile for news and information

Questions?