1. REFERENCES - GUIDELINE

2. What is an employer looking for when they ask for references?  When employers ask for references, they are looking for a person who can expand on what you have claimed in your resume and cover letter  This person would be able to state your skills, job experiences, effectiveness as an employee, etc

3. Who makes a good reference?  Employers are normally looking for professional references  This would be someone who can tell the new employer what your skills are, what your previous responsibilities included, your work ethic, etc  It is best if your references were in a position of authority over you

4. How many references do I need?  The general rule of thumb for professional references is three  If you do not have three professional references, sometimes employers will be okay with you have one or two personal references as well.

5. How can I help my references?  The best thing you can do for your references is let them know  It is important that your references know that you are applying for new positions and that they are listed as a reference for you  Your reference should know what type of work you are looking for so that they can provide the employer with your relevant work experience  It would also be valuable to inform your reference if they might be expecting a phone call so that they can answer professionally.

6. Letters of Reference  Letters of reference are very valuable  We want to always keep our original letters of reference and give potential employers the photocopy  Never date your letters of reference so that you may still use it in the future

7. Applying for Jobs

8. E-mail  We include our e-mail address on our resume and cover letter.  We need to make sure that our e-mail address is professional.  We need to make sure that we have internet access if we are including our e-mail address  We need to check our email at least a couple of times per day  Employers will expect timely responses

9. Voicemail  We need to have voicemail set up when applying for jobs in case employers try to contact us  Our voicemail message should be very professional. State your name and that you will return their call as soon as possible  No Kids  UHC has a voicemail service if you do not have one  Again, make sure you are checking your voicemail regularly.

10. Job Searching

11. Places to search for jobs  Newspaper Ads  Job Bank Ads  Internet Websites  Cold Applying  Employment (Temp) Agencies  Community Agencies  Hidden Job Market  Professional Memberships  Service Organizations

12. COLD CALLING/APPLYING It is important that you get yourself out there and that you are applying directly to employers as not all employers place ads.  Go dressed and ready for an interview  Ask to speak to the Owner/Hiring Manager  Provide a copy of your resume, thank the person for their time  Most of the job market is hidden

13. Remember to…  Apply for the job in the manner they ask for  Include all information that they are asking for in the manner that they asked for it  Do your research on the company  Check your email and phone regularly  Make sure your messaging system has a professional greeting

14. Job Search Websites  Most employers post their job advertisements online. They can reach more applicants and have a greater selection of candidates to choose from. This means more competition when applying for jobs. You will have to tailor your cover letter and resume to fit each job description. Before you can do this, you will have to be able to find the job advertisement and job descriptions along with it.

15. The Online Job Search Where to Start

16. The Process Have a Resume and Cover Letter Prepared Visit Job Search Websites and Sign-Up for Alerts Tailor your Resume and Cover Letter to Each Job you Apply for

17. Popular Job Search Websites  Indeed*  Job Bank*  Simply Hired*  Monster*  Workopolis*  Wow Jobs  Career Builder  hotjobs *Most Popular