1. JOB SEEKING TOOLS

2. Things You Need to Do  Cover Letters  Resumes  Thank You Letters

3. What is a cover letter?  A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out.  A cover letter should complement, not duplicate your resume.  Its purpose is to interpret the data- oriented, factual resume, and add a personal touch.  The application letter responds to a known job opening. (This is what you will be doing.)

4. Things to remember  Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each position you seek.  Your cover letter should NOT be a form letter that you send to every potential employer (you know what you do with junk mail!).  REMEMBER, this is your chance to stand out from everyone else.

5. What they should accomplish?  They should explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization.  They should identify your most relevant skills or experiences  Remember, relevance is determined by the employer's self-interest  They should express a high level of interest and knowledge about the position.

6. RESUMES: What are they for?  To generate interest and interviews  To grab the interest of the reader  To answer the only question the reader cares about:  Will this candidate add value to my company?

7. What needs to be on it?  Positive personal characteristics  Technical and computer skills  Coursework relevant to your desired profession  Educational accomplishments  include your GPA if it is over 3.0  Skills and experience gained during internships or summer jobs

8. Make adjustments for the position you are applying for  Look for frequently-mentioned requirements.  Ask experienced professionals what they consider important when they make hiring decisions.  Read professional publications and websites related to your target industry.  Learn as much as you can.

9. Resume Design  Research says your resume has 20 seconds to make an impression.  It must be eye-catching and easy to read.  Look at samples of resumes to help you decide the best approach for you.  Keep it concise! One page is best.

10. Thank You Letter  What is a thank you letter?  A nice, simple note to thank an employer for meeting with you in an interview.  Another chance to sell yourself to your possible future employer.  An absolute must after an interview.

11. What to include?  Obviously, you need to thank them for taking time out to meet with you.  This is a good time to enforce qualities you have that they want based on what you learned from actually speaking to someone at the company.  Elaborate on anything you do not think you said clearly or ideas that have come to you since the interview.