Chautauqua Works Summer Youth Employment Program

1. Chautauqua Works Summer Youth Employment Program Work Readiness Work Shop

2. Contents • Portfolio • Application • Cover letter • Resume • References • Follow-up and thank you letters

3. Portfolio • What is a portfolio? • A portfolio demonstrates a level of preparedness beyond the simple resume. • A portfolio is an opportunity to show off skills, strengths and talents. • A portfolio should be taken with you on job interviews. • The portfolio should be reviewed every few months or as you gain new skills, strengths and talents. • By the end of the Summer Youth Employment Program each youth will have developed a portfolio.

4. Portfolio • A portfolio should include: • A personal profile – the 60-second infomercial about you • Resume/fact sheet • Five-year plan • Work essential documents • Academic documents • Samples of work • Awards and recognition • References • Community resources

5. Application

6. Application • Take your time filling out the application, employers want to see your handwriting, correct spelling and accurate information. • Make sure you go prepared to fill out the application on site • Bring 2 pens with you, never ask for a pen because this gives the appearance of being unprepared • Have a copy of your cover letter, resume and references

7. Cover Letter

8. Cover Letter • If an employer asks for a cover letter be sure to include one, as some employers use that as a screening tool, meaning if you did not include one you may be screened out. • Even if an employer does not request one, it is always good business etiquette to include one. • Don’t merely copy your resume, but instead sell yourself to the employer, use this as an opportunity to demonstrate why the employer should choose you. • Spend some extra time customizing your cover letter to mention the desired skills you possess that the employer requested in their posting. (e.g. multitasking) • Direct the letter to the individual that is in charge of hiring for that position, if you do not know the person’s name, find out.

9. Cover Letter • Provide your contact information at the top of the letter • Direct the letter to the person in charge of hiring • Include a reference code where you reference where you learned about the opening and which opening you are applying for, as the company may be hiring for various positions • The body of your letter should be a sales pitch, sell yourself to the company by highlighting your skills and credentials that the company referenced • Keep your letter positive and upbeat • In the final paragraph express your strong interest in an interview and state that you will follow up to ensure that your resume was received • End the letter with a professional close, such as “Best regards,” “Sincerely,” or “Respectfully yours”

10. Your Name • Your Street Address • City, State Zip • Your Email Address • Your Telephone Number • Date • Hiring Managers Name • Title • Company • Street Address • City, State Zip • Dear Name: • Introduction • Body of Letter • Closing Paragraph • Respectfully yours, • Your Signature • Your Name • Enclosure: Resume

11. Resume

12. Resume • What is a resume? • Review of your work-related experiences • Essential information only • Skills, strengths and talents focused • Unique – what makes you distinctive • Marketing yourself to an employer • Effective – gets you an interview

13. Resume • Information that is relevant on a resume • Contact Information • Objective • Education • Relevant Coursework • Extracurricular Activities • Experience • Part-time Jobs • Volunteer Work • Awards • References

14. Resume • Activity • Retail Sales Position or Restaurant Wait Service • Which courses would be applicable to the chosen position and which are not? • Which extracurricular activities would be applicable to the chosen position and which ones are not?

15. Resume • Activity (continued) • Coursework in mathematics may be relevant to the sales position because the job requires working with money and numbers • Coursework in keyboarding may not be as relevant, but would be for an administrative support position

16. Resume • Activity (continued) • Extracurricular Activities and After School Programs may be relevant if they contain leadership and teamwork activities • In which case, these would be added to demonstrate the applicants ability to take on extra responsibility or to work well with others in a group setting • Involvement in drama club may be relevant for someone applying for a position working with children, but may not be useful for someone working in an office setting

17. Resume • Resume Essentials • Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

18. Resume • Contact Information • Name, Address, Telephone Number and Email Address should go at the top of your resume • Avoid nicknames. • Use a permanent address. • Use a permanent telephone number and be sure to include the area code. If you have an answering machine, be sure to record a neutral greeting. • When using an email address, choose one that sounds professional.

19. Resume • Objective • An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you’re hoping to do. • Be specific about the job you want. For example: To obtain an entry-level position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills. • Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek.

20. Resume • Education • Students and new graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. • Your most recent educational information is listed first. • If graduated, include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution attended or attending, and minor or concentration. • Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0. • Mention academic honors.

21. Resume • Work Experience • Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe your job duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order – that is, put your last job first and work backward to your first relevant job. • Include: • Title of position • Name of organization • Location of work (town, state) • Dates of employment • Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements

22. Resume Action Words • A – accomplish, adapt, administer, advise, advocate, analyze, arrange, assess, assist • B – balance, bargain, brainstorm, built • C – calculate, change, check, clarify, coach, collaborate, communicate, compile, compose, conduct, contribute, construct, coordinate, create • D – decide, deliver, demonstrate, design, develop, discover, distribute, drive • E – edit, encourage, engage, enforce, establish, evaluate, examine, exceed, execute, explore • F – facilitate, file, follow, formulate, founded • G – generate, give, guide

23. Resume Action Words • I – identify, implement, improve, influence, increase, initiate, inspect, inspired, instruct, install, integrate, interpret, invent, investigate • L – lead, learn, led, listen, lobbied • M – make, manage, mediate, mentor, modify, monitor, motivate • N – negotiate • O – observe, operate, organize • P – paint, perform, persuade, photograph, pilot, plan, prepare, present, preside, print, produce, program, promote, provide, publicize, purchase • R – recommend, reconcile, recruit, reduce, relate, renegotiate, reorganize, repair, report, represent, research, reshape, resolve, restore, review • S – save, schedule, sell, shape, share, simplify, solve, speak, strategize, study, succeed, supervise • T – taught, teach, train, translate, tutor, type

24. Resume • Other Information • A retention specialist can advise you on other information that you may add to your resume, such as • Key or special skills or competencies • Leadership experience in volunteer organizations • Participation in sports

25. Resume • References • Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to a potential employer. • Do not include your reference information on your resume. You may note at the bottom of your resume, “References furnished upon request.”

26. Resume • Don’t forget… • Run a spell check on your resume before you hand out your resume. • Get a friend (an English major), an English teacher or a professor to do a grammar review. • Ask another friend to proofread. The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen and corrected.

27. Resume • Design • These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an employers database. • Use white or off-white paper. • Use 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper • Print on one side of the paper. • Use a font size of 10 to 14 points. • Use non-decorative typefaces. • Choose one typeface and stick with it. • Avoid italics, script, and underlined words. • Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics or shading. • Do not fold or staple your resume. • If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope.

28. References

29. References • References should include • Work References • Supervisor • Coworker • Customer • Personal References • Community leaders • Mentors • Educational References • Instructor • Professor • Advisor

30. References • Carefully select references • Choose references that know the value of your work and will speak positively about you • Don’t include references that have impressive titles but don’t know much about you • Your references should have good communication skills so they can convince hiring managers you would be a valued employee • Speak with each of your references to ensure that they fully understand your skills and accomplishments, this will help them effectively sell you to the hiring managers

31. Follow-up and Thank You Letters • After a job interview there are several ways you can keep the potential employer's attention on YOU as the likely person to hire, through thank you and follow-up letters. • Thank you letters are critical to your job search success. • Thank you letters should be typed. • Job-seekers should send a thank-you letter right after you've been on a job interview. At the very latest, send thank-you or follow-up letters by mail within 24 hours of an interview.

32. Follow-up and Thank you Letters • Thank you letters • In the first paragraph, thank the interviewer (or express your appreciation) for the chance to meet with them to discuss the job and see the premises (use the term "meeting" rather than "interview" if it seems appropriate). Make some reference to your positive impressions of the company. • In the second paragraph, offer some new information or additional reason for the employer to be interested in you for that job-perhaps a "goodie" that you didn't mention in the interview. (You might even link this new information to a problem or opportunity the company is experiencing.) Repeat the job title you are applying for, and show continued interest in it. • In the last paragraph, let the employer know (graciously) that you expect to hear from them again and "plant" the idea in her mind of a phone call to you. Make it clear you're willing to come in and discuss the job further, if necessary.

33. Follow-up and Thank You Letters Sample Interview Follow-up Letter 7 Apple Court Eugene, OR 97401 503-555-0303 Mr. Archie Weatherby California Investments, Inc. 25 Sacramento Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Dear Mr. Weatherby, Thank you for taking the time to discuss the insurance broker position at California Investments, Inc., with me. After meeting with you and observing the company's operations, I am further convinced that my background and skills coincide well with your needs. I really appreciate that you took so much time to acquaint me with the company. It is no wonder that California Investments retains its employees for so long. I feel I could learn a great deal from you and would certainly enjoy working with you. In addition to my qualifications and experience, I will bring excellent work habits and judgment to this position. With the countless demands on your time, I am sure that you require people who can be trusted to carry out their responsibilities with minimal supervision. I look forward, Mr. Weatherby, to hearing from you concerning your hiring decision. Again, thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, John Oakley