Step by step Career Prep

1. Step by step Career Prep Tuesday, May 29, 2012 2 pm, Conference Room

2. Welcome

3. Agenda • Career Services • Resume development • Job Correspondence • Interviewing

4. Great Careers Begin Here • Same Day Appointments • Explore, Prepare, Apply • Online Services • Additional Services • Questions

5. Same Day Appointments • How long is each session? • How do I sign up? • What are the sessions intended for? FAQS

6. Explore, Prepare & Apply (cont.) Did you know?? UCLA has one of the largest career libraries in the nation

7. Explore, Prepare & Apply (cont.) • Examples of workshops… • Assessments • Dream Job Discovery • Applying to Medical School • Finding an internship • International Opportunities • Gap Year? • Networking 101 • & much more….

8. Explore, Prepare, & Apply (cont.) Mock Interviews & Personal Statement Critique • Numerous sessions offered • Events & Workshops Tab

9. Explore, Prepare & Apply (cont.) • Six Career fairs per academic year! • 100s of employers looking to hireBruins! • One tip on what to do before a fair?

10. Explore, Prepare & Apply (cont.) CAREER WEEK • 20+ career exploration programs • Free to attend for current students at UCLA • April of each year

11. Explore , Prepare & Apply (cont.) What are websites you can visit to sign-up for workshops, on-campus interviews, job information, internship opportunities& networking?

12. Online Services • Online Resume Writing • Online Resume Critique Service • Career Fair Preparation • Online Interview Workshop • Career Fair Information • Informational Interviewing • Workshop Schedule • Bruinworks (contact Alumni)

13. Additional Resources • Career Planning Course (EDU 150) • Letters of reference • Resume Book • Graduating soon? • Join Facebook • Follow Twitter

14. Part II Resume Development

15. What is a Resume • A marketing tool designed to get you an interview…and hopefully a JOB, INTERNSHIP OR SPOT IN A GRADUATE PROGRAM! • A one-page (2 page max) summary of your education, qualifications, and experience • Who needs one? • ANYONE who is currently working or who is looking for a job, internship, or applying to graduate school – This means YOU!

16. Did you know… The average employer spends only 15-30 seconds scanning each resume?

17. Resumes Do’s and Don’ts… • Limit your resume to 1-2 pages maximum- • Exceptions: CV or Number of years in the technical or skill intensive field. • Adjust margins to maximize use of the whole page • Be consistent with capitalization, indentations, fonts, and spacing • Use bullets to ease readability • Proof read • List experiences in REVERSE-CHRONOLOGICAL order

18. Choose a format… • Chronological • Is most common for students and recent grads • Lists education first, and work experience in reverse chronological order (newest to oldest) • Emphasis on past experience and employment • Functional • Highlights education, skills and qualifications, rather than work experience • Emphasizes skills sets as opposed to job title • Transferable skills across careers or same occupation • Combination • Heavy emphasis on accomplishments and skills, with work

19. The Anatomy of a RESUME Tools You will Need • UCLA’s Career Guide • List of: • Your past employers • Education • Courses • Leadership activities • Honors/ awards • Experiences including dates • Job descriptions • Company information • Quality resume paper • Heading (Contact Info) • Objective (Optional) • Education (Degree, GPA, Minor) • Skills (Technical, computer, language & Behavioral) • Experience (Paid, volunteer, internship) • Activities/Honors • UCLA’s Career Guide

20. Heading • Name • Address • Telephone Number • Email address / URL Natasha Bruin 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (310) 825-1234 nbruin@ucla.edu

21. RESUME SAMPLE HEADINGS… SALLY A. STUDENT 501 Westwood PlazaLos Angeles, CA 90095 (310) 206-1906 sally.student@ucla.edu SALLY A. STUDENT 501 West wood Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90095 (310) 206-1906 sally.student@ucla.edu Resume Heading Samples… SALLY A. STUDENT . 501 Westwood PlazaLos Angeles, CA 90095 (310) 206-1906 sally.student@ucla.edu

22. It’s Optional! • Needs to be clear and concise • Change Objective for every position • Use job Title or closely related term • Define what you are seeking • Used to route your resume • Ex: Financial Analyst for ABC Company, Inc. • NOT: To acquire finance experience and enhance my analytical ability OBJECTIVE

23. Education & Awards and Recognition • Include specific degree (Bachelor of Arts, Masters of Science, Master’s of Arts, PhD) & expected graduation date. • Include GPA if 3.0 or higher • May include study abroad experience • May include list of relevant coursework as applicable to position/industry Awards & Recognition (Separate Section) • May also include Dean’s List, Awards, Honors(if multiple, can Include a Awards and Achievement Section) • High School is generally NOT applicable

24. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELESLos Angeles, CA Bachelor of Arts, Art History June 2011 GPA: 3.3 Relevant Coursework: Child Development, Social Psychology of Higher Education, Understanding Gifted Students, and Academic Success in your Undergraduate Experience Activities: Future Business Leaders of America, Undergraduate Business Society Honors: Smith Scholarship (2009), Rithen Academic Scholarship (2010) EDUCATION UCLA I Los Angeles, CA2007- Present • Major: Business Economics; Minor: Accounting • Cumulative GPA: 3.70; Major GPA: 3.80; SAT: 2310 • Relevant coursework: Finance, Managerial Accounting, Computer Science, Statistics, International Trade • Honors: 2011 Sharpe Fellow, UCLA Dean’s list • Activities: Undergraduate Business Society; Delta Sigma Pi; Beta Alpha Psi UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Expected June 2012 • Relevant Coursework: Business Economics, Accounting Principles, Economic Models of Public Choice • Study Abroad Program Summer 2010 • Meij Gakuin University, Yokohama, Japan • Studied Asian Regionalism, Global Governance and Japanese

25. SKILLS List any computer applications (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) Include any foreign language ability (Bilingual Spanish, Fluent in Portuguese, Conversational ability in Japanese). Emphasize Strong Communication Skills on Resume. Ex: “Translated written and spoken English on a daily basis for two years.” (as applicable)

26. SKILLS Computer: Experienced in Excel, PowerPoint, Word; Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, type over 75 wpm Language: Intermediate fluency in Spanish, Conversational Arabic Sample Skill Sets • COMPUTER SKILLSTechnical: • Programing Languages: HTML, XML, ASP, Visual Basic, PHP, JAVA • Operating Systems & Environments: Windows 7, Windows XP • Application software: Microsoft Office 2010, 2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher); Adobe Photoshop • Programing: • Produced computerized chess game using artificial intelligence problem solving • Designed own homepage using HTML, XML, Java LAB TECHNIQUES / SKILLS Assays PCR Gel electrophoresis Autoclave Spectroscopy Protein Purification

27. EXPERIENCE SECTION Using the broad title Experience allows us to write about any relevant experience in this section Some students choose to have multiple “experience” sections such as: Relevant Experience Leadership Experience Volunteer Experience Marketing Experience Order of experiences Can you include paid and non paid experience? Include any relevant experience (paid, internship or volunteer) Most recent experience should be listed first, but you may want to categorize your experience in terms of its relevance Use bulleted format to highlight transferable skills and accomplishments Qualify and Quantify your experiences Use “Action Verbs” as well as “Keywords”.

28. Action verbs vs. keywords • Keywords: are used by resume scanning devices to sort, filter, or screen resumes. • Can be found in job descriptions • Use exact keywords, not synonyms • Examples: • Quality Customer Care & • Retention • Database Management Systems • End-user Software Applications • Hardware & Software • Troubleshooting • Technical Support • Blueprint Reading • CAD Concepts • Action Verbs: are words used in resumes to emphasize accomplishments • Begin each bullet with an Action Verb • Avoid simply listing duties, look for relevance and action • Lists can be found in Career Center Library or in Career Guide

29. Organized all sorority philanthropic events. Vs. ___________ Organized all sorority philanthropic events which resulted in contribution of over $4,000. LET’S COMPARE……

30. LET’S COMPARE…… Served Food Vs. _____________________ Developed tact and diplomacy in dealing with customers in a fast-paced environment.

31. LET’S COMPARE…… Responsible for typing and filing. VS. _____________________ Commended for efficiency and accuracy in completing office duties.

32. Activity: Create Your Bullet Have you: Done something faster, better, or cheaper? Increased membership, participation or sales? Saved your organization any money or eliminate waste? Identified and/or helped solve any problems? Instituted any new methods, systems, or procedures? Suggested a new service, product, or project? Re-organized or improved an existing task? Refined the nature of an existing task? Maintained a consistently high level of performance Reached out for more work or more responsibility? Achieved results with little or no supervision? Motivated others? Coordinated any event or project? Trained another person? What were the results? Tutored anyone? Did their grades improve? Acquired industry-specific knowledge? Demonstrated leadership skills and exhibited good team player skills?

33. Activities Include any professional organizations, clubs or memberships relevant to the position List leadership activities, including offices held (fraternity, sorority, student groups, etc.) Avoid any “personal” information – unless relevant *

34. Honors/Awards Academic honors and other notable recognitions For example: Dean’s List, Honor Societies, Scholarships, Awards, Etc.

35. Don’t: • Use resume templates- they restrict your creativity!! • Use the same generic resume for each position • Use graphics or brightly colored paper Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Writing Do: Use a concise and consistent format TAILOR your resume to each specific position Always send resume with cover letter

36. Made 2 Weeks in Advance • See dates in bold, if there are no bold dates, no appointments are available • Monday-Friday: 9-5 per availability Practice Makes Perfect! Same-Day Appointments Monday-Thursday 10- 4pm & Fridays: 11-3pm Log on by 9 am to make Same-Day Appointments Or Submit your resume via email to our online critique specialists Accessible through the Career Center web site at career.ucla.edu

37. Part III Job Correspondence

38. Job Correspondence Overview Significance of job search correspondence A vehicle for sending personalized message to a targeted organization Presentation will cover: Cover Letters Thank you notes Letters of Acceptance

39. Purpose of Cover Letter Standard opening procedure First impressions count: first 60 seconds Differentiate yourself from the crowd Captivate the attention of the reader Communicate interest in the organization Convince the employer of your skills and accomplishments Final impressions count: strong closing

40. Customize, customize, customize • Review the criteria for the position beforethe writing processand incorporate employers’ “wish list” into your letter • Assess the employer’s needs • Keep employer’s needs in mind and explain how you can contribute by focusing on your strengths Rules of Cover Letters

41. 3. Actively promote yourself Using a professional tone, mention all relevant accomplishments 4. Keep it simple Limit to 3-4 paragraphs, within one page Rules of cover letters cont.…

42. All Good Cover Letters Include Why you are specifically interested in the employer Why the employer should be interested in you Follow-up information (how you can be contacted by the employer)

43. The Anatomy of A Cover Letter Paragraph One: Capture the reader’s attention Paragraph Two: Outline relevant qualifications Paragraph Three: Request a personal meeting

44. First Paragraph Tell why you are writing. Name of the position, field, or general vocation about which you are asking. How you heard of the opening/organization.

45. Erin Littlestone, Madison Corporation’s Promotions Representative, recommended that I contact you regarding the possibility of an opening with your organization. Please accept the enclosed resume as an expression of interest in joining your firm. Openers

46. Please accept this letter as an application for the ________ position currently advertised on BruinView . My resume is enclosed for your review and consideration. I believe that the combination of my education at the University of California, Los Angeles and my background in ________ offers me the unique opportunity to make a positive contribution to your firm. Openers

47. Second Paragraph Point out related experience. Specialized training Be specific about your qualifications (tell people where and how your skills were developed). Communicate how you would fit within the position and the organization.

48. Third Paragraph Request a personal meeting. Leave contact information. Leave specific contact method/time.

49. I am enthusiastic about the possibility of securing a position within _______ where my abilities and skills can be fully utilized. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss how I can make a substantial contribution to your organization. I will look forward to hearing from you regarding an interview. Closers

50. Thank You Letters A professional courtesy Should follow every interview A polite way to nudge the employer to remember you and act