Standing Out in a Competitive Job Market

1. Standing Out in a Competitive Job Market Career Center Julie Law Alejandra Toribio

2. The Cover Letter • Introduces and personalizes your résumé • Motivates employer to read your résumé • Tailored sales tool • Demonstrates your interest in the position and company • Showcases written communication skills • Exhibits what you can offer the employer

3. The Cover Letter

4. Basic Cover Letter Components • Sender/your contact information • Date of letter • Employer’s contact information & Title • Company name • Address • Salutation • Opening paragraph: make the match • Middle paragraph: make the case • Closing paragraph: make the close • The signature line

5. Quick Tips 1. Avoid “To whom it may concern” or templates -Personalize with Mr._____/Ms._____ 2. Use a friendly opening -Try to arrange contact prior via email or phone 3. Make presentable - Left justified business format, consistency in font/style with résumé 4. Have résumé and job description handy - Tailor to position, industry, and company - Include key words from job description 5. Know your relevant skills, qualifications, and experience - Don’t reiterate your résumé

6. The Résumé

7. What to Include? • Header • Objective • Education • Summary of Qualifications • Internship Experience • Relevant Experience • Work Experience • Skills i.e. computer & technical • Languages • Relevant Projects • Honors & Awards • Clubs & Organizations • Professional Memberships • Community Service • Key words • Action oriented descriptors • Utilize Bullets • Highlight Special Projects

8. Résumé Don’ts • put your résumé in a fancy binder or folder • list an unprofessional email • No“I” statements • include the complete addresses of employers, or supervisor names • include salary information (For Salary History see page 40, of the Career Guide) • No references (see page 58 of the Career Guide • Go back more than 10 years • highlight problems • state the obvious • include photographs • disclose personal information: age, sex, religion • use jargon or slang • over explain things on your résumé • use conjunctions

9. Résumé Do’s • Use high quality or résumé paper • Standardpapersize8 ½ x 11 inches • Tailor your résumé to the job • Contact information should be current • When using an objective do make sure it applies directly to the position • Do only go back 10 years in your work history • List your GPA if its 3.5 or higher • Be consistent with your layout and composition • Be honest • Use bullet marks • Use past tense for previous activities, experiences or acquired skills • Limit your résumé to 1 page • Proof read your résumé • Continuously update your résumé

10. Listing Your Education Example EDUCATION California State University, Fullerton Expected May 2012 Bachelor of Science, Health Science General Rules • List only colleges or universities where you will receive or have received a degree/credential/certificate etc. • GPA should be at least a 3.0 if listed (3.5 Preferred)

11. Use Action Words • Don’t list duties: or responsibilities: • Instead use action words Think of … • Action • Purpose • Result Use Page 46 of the Career Guide Examples: • Collaborated with physical therapists by providing patient care including transfers, exercise, and other duties as requested • Provided group instruction in weight training/body conditioning • Developed schedules and arranged officials for intramural competitions

12. Formatting Your Résumé • Most Frequently Used is Reverse Chronological • Be Concise & Specific • Include Only Pertinent Information • Omit Personal Pronouns such as “I” & “We” • Use Action Words • Limit to 1 page if possible • Use .75” - 1” margins all around • Use The Same Font throughout the résumé • All Margins Should Be Well Aligned • Use Caps OR Bold To Emphasis Categories or Headings- DO NOT OVER UTILIZE • Use 11” or 12” font

13. Award Winning Résumé What makes an Award Winning Résumé? • It is presented on nice professional paper • It is well organized and put together • Easy on the eyes, easy to read and follow • The information provided is easy to find, self explanatory and without spelling errors • Gives a good summary of your experience • Dates follow in a chronological order • Accomplishment statements are action oriented • Highlights your skills strengths, interests, and talents

14. 12 Common Résumé Mistakes • Font is too small/too big or hard to read • Spelling mistakes • Repetitive words • Leaving out dates • Inconsistent layout of résumé • Using someone else’s words • Just having one version of a résumé • No Cover Letter • Unprofessional email address • Cluttered information • Including personal Information • Applying use of abbreviations or contractions

15. Log into www.fullterton.edu/career • Go to the Virtual Career Center • Click on the link • Choose “Access the All New Titan Resume Builder” • Log in to your portal • Click on create new resume Resume Assistance • Drive-Thru Hours- No appointments needed • Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

16. The Job Search Process • Get Focused & Have a Purpose • Learn the Job Search Etiquette • Begin Networking • Research the Industry- • Ferguson • Eureka, • O*net Online, • Gather Your Marketing Materials-Tailoring is HUGE • Resume-Titan Resume Builder • Cover Letter • References • Contacts • Practice Interviewing • InterviewStream • Mock Interviews • Interview Attire • Follow-Up • Keep Track- have a system • Be Proactive & have a positive attitude

17. The Hidden Job Market • Research shows that 80% of jobs are found through networking • Make contact lists • Informational Interviews (pg. 68 of Career Guide) • Keep accurate records (pg. 33 of Career Guide) • Goal is to acquire valuable “inside” field information, clarify career options, get feedback, and meet other professionals

18. Job Search Resources • Networking is #1 (friends, family, professors, staff) • Titan Connection Jobs Database and NaceLink • Fergusons Career Guidance Database • O*Net online • Internship & Job Fair • Employer Information Sessions • Informational Interviews (pg. 68 of Career Guide) • Industry Specialist • Job Search Engines: www.indeed.com, simplyhired.com, www.juju.com

19. Communication Tips • When posting your resume on-line • Spell and check grammar on your resume • Have a Career Services staff member review your resume • Have a professor review your resume • Have a professional email address GOOD: elmunoz@fullerton.edu BAD: funny.gurl@yahoo.com • Have a professional Voice Mail GOOD: “Hi, you have reached Elizabeth Muñoz, I am away….” BAD: “Yeah, you dialed the number, you know what to do.” • Do not use ring tones, recruiters find them annoying • Keep it on silent or if needed, use vibrate mode

20. Career Center Services • Drive-thru Advising • No appointment needed • 10 minute session with a counselor • Résumé/Cover Letter review • Career Questions • Assistance with online resources • Industry Specialist Meeting • Schedule appointments for: • Résumé/Cover Letter review • Job Search Assistance • Mock Interviews

21. Take 5 Workshops • Career Networking: Online & Face-To-Face • Marketing Your Leadership and Transferable Skills • Overview of Careers in Non-Profit and Government Sectors • Getting Into Graduate School • Interview for a Real Job • Powerful First Impressions that Lead to Career Success • Business Survival Skills

22. Contact Information Elizabeth Muñoz Education, Health, and Non-Profit Specialist elmunoz@fullerton.edu (657) 278-2032 Langsdorf Hall (LH 208)