CAREER AND MAJOR EXPLORATION/ RESUME AND COVER LETTERS Career Development Services Lake-Sumter State College

The Career Exploration Process Conduct Self- Assessment Research Academic/ Career Options Relevant/ Practical Experience Job Search or University Transfer Preparation

Career Development Services One-on-One Career Advising Career/Major Exploration assistance Resume and cover letter tips and critiques Full-time/part-time employment and Internship search tips and strategies Career assessments Interview tips and mock interviews Networking tips Professional Etiquette Salary negotiation tips Career-related presentations and webinars Online Job listings (posted on the CDS website) University Transfer and Graduate School research tips On-campus employer interviews and information sessions Hiring Events Career-related resources online and in-office library

Making the Right Choice Choosing a career is like buying a car. Driver-Car match: – Characteristics of the Driver Personality Interests Skills Values – Characteristics of the Car How much does it match the driver? – Pay – Hours – Benefits – Typical Work Environment

Assessing Your Personality MyPlan: What is your personality type? Extraverted (E) or Introverted (I) How people interact with the world and the way they prefer to receive stimulation and energy. Sensing (S) or Intuitive (N) The way people prefer to gather data Feeling (F) or Thinking (T) The way people prefer to make decisions Judging (J) or Perceiving (P) The manner in which people prefer to orient their lives (structured or spontaneous and adaptive).

Assessing Your Interests

Assessing Your Skills Basic Skills Social Skills Problem Solving Technical Resource Management

Assessing Your Values Values: What is important to me? Achievement: Ability Utilization, Achievement Independence: Creativity, Responsibility, Autonomy Recognition: Advancement, Recognition, Authority Relationships: Co-Workers, Social Service, Moral Values Support: Company Policies & Practices, Supervision: Human Resources, Supervision: Technical Working Conditions: Activity, Independence, Variety, Compensation, Security, Working Conditions

MyPlan.comTutorial

Job Searching Lakehawk Career Connect Careers that target LSSC students Networking Your next best option—who you know Job Listings Indeed.com Other sites tapered to your industry

What is a Resume? A resume is the first step in the application process It summarizes your qualifications and experiences as they relate to the position(s) you are seeking It is a marketing tool A good resume: – Demonstrates your qualifications – Helps the employer see you in the position – Leaves them wanting to know more

Resume Vs Cover Letter Resume Highlights your skills and qualifications Gives a summary of your experience Written in bulleted format “Checklist” Cover Letter Demonstrates knowledge of the company and reason for your interest Showcases your fit with the organization Much more targeted “Personality”

Imagine… You are an employer, looking to hire someone to work in the field of customer service. There are two candidates that your team is reviewing. But time waits for no one and you have a business to run. So you have…. 30 Seconds to review each candidate.

WHAT DRIVES A RESUME’S CONTENT?

Anatomy of a Bullet Point Taught Taught inner-city high school students Taught inner-city high school students and they earned the highest scores in the district on English assessments. Verb (Past Tense) Description Result

Experience Example Lake-Sumter State CollegeLeesburg, FL Student Assistant, AdmissionsJan Present Assist staff in marketing, scheduling, and organizing information sessions for prospective students Maintain log of prospective student inquiries, including contact information Provide customer service to front desk visitors Streamlined the office’s marketing process by creating an easy-to-follow checklist

COVER LETTERS

Cover Letter What is it? – A letter you write in business format to an employer that accompanies your resume Purpose – Supplements the information on your resume – Showcases match with organization – Showcases your research of the organization – Explains how your qualifications have prepared you to do your job – Focuses on the future – Showcases your writing ability

Format Three Paragraphs – Introduction State purpose of the letter (and job #) How you learned about the opening Why you’re interested – Body Why you’re the best candidate for the job and how you’ll contribute to the role Highlight how your qualifications have prepared you to excel at this job Showcase what you know about the company – Closing Summarize contents of letter Express interest in interview Thank employer for time and consideration

Resources Optimal Resume Nice website for building your resume, cover letter, and interview skills CDS Website A host of resources available

Access Resources & Schedule an Appointment Today! Visit the CDS website to access Job Seeker Resources: Office Hours (Walk-ins and Appointments): Leesburg: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm South Lake: Mondays, 8:30 am-4:30 pm Sumter: By appointment only To schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor: Tel: (352) Web: Visit us Online: Facebook: