Professional Documents
Culture Documents
com
By: www.hrinmotion.com
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2
Tips for Planning Your Job Search Effectively .......................................................................... 3
What Are Your Job Skills .......................................................................................................... 4
Writing The Cover Letter and Resume .............................................................................. 5
Resumes ................................................................................................................................... 5
The Resume Format: ...................................................................................................... 6
Sample Resume 1: Graduate Student .................................................................................. 7
Sample Resume 2: Management .......................................................................................... 9
List Of Action Words For Resumes ......................................................................................... 11
Tips and Tricks For Effective Resumes .................................................................................. 12
The Cover Letter ......................................................................................................................... 13
Format ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Sample Cover Letter ........................................................................................................... 15
Tips and Tricks For Effective Cover Letters ............................................................................ 16
The Job Search........................................................................................................................... 17
The Job Interview ........................................................................................................................ 18
Before the interview ................................................................................................................ 18
The Interview Questions ......................................................................................................... 19
Open Questions: ................................................................................................................. 19
Closed Questions: ............................................................................................................... 19
Leading Questions .............................................................................................................. 19
Hypothetical/Situational Questions ..................................................................................... 20
Behavioral Questions .......................................................................................................... 20
Interview Tips and Tricks ........................................................................................................ 21
Common Interview Question (General)................................................................................... 22
Preparing Questions For The Interviewers ............................................................................. 24
The Interview Follow-up ...................................................................................................... 24
Sample #1: Thank you Letter .............................................................................................. 25
Sample #2: Thank You Letter ............................................................................................. 26
The Follow-up Phone Call ....................................................................................................... 27
Job Search Checklist ............................................................................................................ 27
In the competitive employment market, along with the ease of online job
applications, hiring managers commonly receive hundreds of applications for a
single job opening. Many factors influence the number of job applications
including the availability of skill set, the strength of the employer brand and the
attractiveness of the employment opportunity.
The internet has given job seekers more option and choice than ever.
However, it has also given employers more applicants to choose from. Because
of these dynamics, it is not uncommon for an employer to receive hundreds of
applications for a single job posting. This e.book will help you meet this
today’s job market challenge - to stand out from the crowd as the one to hire.
Job search, job interviewing and resume writing is my passion. I have authored
over 200 articles, blog posts, books and courses on the topic of job
preparation. While I cannot cover every aspect in detail in this e.book, I will
attempt to cover the most important points on job search, resumes and job
interviews.
I wrote this e.book because everyday I receive questions from job seekers that
I have already answered in newspaper and magazine articles, in our blog or in
the courses we have authored.
I think the main reason job seekers fail is due to a lack of education and
training on the topics of resume writing and job interviewing. Having
interviewed thousands of applicants, screened many resumes I can tell you that
most applicants are not aware of where they can improve. Quite often,
candidates are over estimate in their ability to impress an employer.
The saying goes that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
When it comes to job interviews, studies show that you only have a few minutes
to impress most hiring managers before they make up their minds.
Finding the right job takes planning and preparation. Whether you are a first-
time job seeker, already employed, or re-entering the job market, there are
basic steps you can take to prepare for a successful job search.
This package will introduce you to valuable information that will help you on
your way to successfully preparing and finding that right job.
Now is always the best time to look for a job. You have all the knowledge, skills
and abilities as the next person, so start now before someone else gets “your”
job. You’ve already made a good start by attending this workshop, so let’s put
those skills to use.
If you think you don’t have job skills, think again! Job skills are job-hunting
tools that you develop that give employers an idea of who you are – your
experience, your education, your accomplishments, your skill sets - and what
you have the potential to become.
If you don’t know how to determine your job skills, creating a personal
background and experience list may help you.
• W r i te d o w n a l l k n o w led ge , s k il ls a n d a b i l i ti e s
r equ ire d to d o a ll y our h obb ies an d i n ter es ts .
R e a l l y b e s p e c i f ic
Ed uca t io n: • L is t th e sch oo ls you a ttend ed , da tes , ma jor
s tu di es or sp eci fic d eta i ls o f co urs e c om pl ete d
• L is t a l l ad di t i ona l voc a t io na l or o n- th e- j ob
tra i ning
The Resume
“You begin a relationship with an employer the moment you apply for the job”
The above is a quote from a senior HR leader that highlights the importance of
your resume as a first step in cultivating a relationship with an employer. It
reminds us that an employer starts forming an impression of who you are well
before they ever meet you.
Resumes
Now that you’ve created a Personal Background and Experience List, let’s
create the resume. The purpose of a resume is to get you in the door for an
interview. Employers decide whom to interview based on the resumes they
receive for each job. The better your resume is, the more likely it is that you'll
get an interview.
W h at a re t h e a d va nta ge s of a r e su me?
1. Personal Information:
• State your objective at the beginning of the resume to ensure that you
will be considered for the correct position. The objective does not have to
be included on the resume if the resume is being submitted with a cover
sheet.
3. Experience/Skills Summary:
4. Education:
5. Work Experience:
6. Volunteer Work:
• List all contributions you have made on a volunteer basis (e.g. non-profit
organization), Similar to the work experience section, the company, date
and experience details are required.
7. Hobbies/Interests:
• This section is optional. Some employers look for candidates who are
well rounded and show interests and hobbies outside of the workplace.
While other recruiters don’t require this section. The key is to be brief
here and where possible list a few personal hobbies and interests that
relate to the job.
Jane Jackson,
117 River St, Williams Lake, M6G 2K9
Phone (762) 222- 5678 Cell (604) 345-8976
E-Mail: JJackson@yahooo.net
OBJECTIVE: Seeking an entry-level position within the Engineering Department of a manufacturing facility.
EDUCATION:
EXPERIENCE:
Chris & Sons Engineering Works, Victoria, BC May 2001 – Sept 2001
Placement Student
Summer Placement
Summer Placement
• Completed Auto-CAD drawings of proposed layouts for a large production facility in Nanaimo.
• Reviewed production procedures and engineering specs including machine drawings prior to submittal for
review in the change process.
• Developed and maintained a database for tracking tech files, equipment specs, equipment installation
checklists etc.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Markus Mathews
117 Ocean Drive, Vancouver, V5F 4H5
Phone 604- 277-7711 Cell phone 604-716-4444
mathew_m@hotmale.ca
OBJECTIVE:
Seeking a position as an Office Manager within a dynamic company.
• Strong interpersonal skills; proven ability to work well with individuals at all levels.
• Possess strong problem resolution skills.
• Proven ability to gather, collate and use data effectively.
• Computer literate; proficient in current business software, spreadsheets etc.
• Dedicated individual; reputation for going beyond expectations.
EDUCATION:
EXPERIENCE:
Office Manager
• Managed a staff of twenty employees within the purchasing and planning group.
• Responsible for the training and development of employees.
• Produced comprehensive analysis of training opportunities and skills gaps.
• Scheduled employee holidays, benchmarked employee salary increases against current standards,
performed employee performance evaluations and managed travel and expenses for the division’s
employees.
Administrative Assistant
• Coordinated weekly work schedule for the development division including the monitoring of holidays and
sick days.
• Responsible for general office duties such as scheduling meetings, maintenance of the internal and external
mail systems, filing, faxing and answering the telephone.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• Use a computer to help you prepare your resume. There are many easy-
to-use computer programs as well as Human Resources services you can
use to help you build a professional resume.
• Be sure all dates included in the resume are accurate. If unsure, do not
add them in.
• Centre and justify all headings and write out all words (no abbreviations).
• Use action verbs (see list included). These words capture the reader’s
attention.
• Make sure resume is clear and easy to read with lots of white space.
• Make sure resume has been proofread carefully by someone other then
yourself prior to sending them out to companies.
• Inspect all photocopies for clarity and any mistakes by the printer
(smudges/marks). Don't fold a laser-printed resume right along a line of
text.
• Be consistent with font sizes, font style, margins, bullets & bolding.
Unlike the resume, which can be a more generic and general document, the
cover letter is tailored to each specific job. The cover letter is the initial letter
that a reader will see, before the resume, so it has to be specific, clear and
show intent.
Purpose:
The cover letter and resume usually provide all the information which a
prospective employer will use to decide whether or not you will reach the next
phase in the application process: the interview.
While your goal is an interview and, ultimately, a job offer, the purpose of your
cover letter is to simply gain an attentive audience for your resume.
Audience:
A cover letter lets the prospective employer hear the applicant’s voice. It
reflects the applicant’s personality, attention to detail, communication skills,
enthusiasm, intellect, and specific interest in the company.
A cover letters should be tailored to each specific company and each specific
job. It is important to conduct research to know the interests, needs, values,
and goals of each company.
Content:
A cover letter should be addressed to the specific company and the specific
individual or department responsible in the decision making process. This can
usually be acquired through research or by calling the company to find out
whom you should address your letter to.
The letter should name the position, which is being applied to, and also make
specific references to the company. Indicate the your knowledge of and interest
in the work the company does, and an your qualification for the position. What
do you want the reader to know?
Format
• What job you are applying for and how you learned about it
• Any personal contacts you have in or with the company
• Your general qualifications for the job.
The body of your letter should consist of approximately one to three paragraphs
in which you expand upon your qualifications for the position: Most relevant
qualifications, demonstrating how your background and experience qualify you.
The concluding paragraph should request an interview. Inform where and when
you can be reached, and express willingness to come to an interview or supply
further information. Close by thanking the reader for his or her time and
consideration.
Jane Doe
1234 Creek Side Drive,
Vancouver, BC
V75 3F5
(604) 234-5786 (hm)
(604) 715-3456 (cell)
Date
Mr. Billy Bob,
Human Resources Manager,
ACE Tire Company,
Bridge Road,
Richmond, BC.
I was put in contact with you through Tom Timmons at Acme Recruitment Specialists. I was made aware
of your requirements to hire an Facilities Manager and I enclose my resume in application for this role.
My experience as an Facilities Manager has included a three year position as Facilities Manager at Burnts
Plastics where I had direct responsibility for four manufacturing lines over two shifts, a total of 143
employees and an aggressive manufacturing schedule and build plan. Prior to that I was a Facilities
Supervisor for four years with Yates Steels Inc where I supervised forty employees and managed all
aspects of production planning.
With my successful management experience and proven track record in manufacturing, I feel that I would
be a valuable addition to your company. I enclose my resume for your attention and hope that if you have
any questions that require clarification you will not hesitate to contact me at the above telephone
numbers.
I would personally like to discuss this further and will contact you within the next week to arrange a
meeting at your convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Jane Doe
Jane Doe
Enclosure: Resume
• Make sure you tell the reader how you found out about the vacancy.
• Keep the cover letter brief. Never more than one page. Each paragraph
should have no more than one to three sentences.
• Tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribute to
the company.
• Do try to answer the question that the employer will be asking while
reading your letter: "Why should I interview this person?"
• Use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are
relevant to the position. Do not simply repeat your resume.
• Avoid negativity.
• Uses e-mailed cover letters, but keep them shorter and more concise.
Now that the cover letter and resume are prepared its time to start looking for
job opportunities that fit your skills and goals. The job search takes time, so
the more effort you put into seeking work, the greater the chance you'll
experience early success.
• Internet sites
• www.bctechnology.com
• www.workopolis.com
• www.monster.ca www.careerclick.com
• www.canjobs.com
• www.canadajobs.com
• www.actiojobs.com
• www.careerowl.com
• www.jobshark.com
• www.bcjobs.ca
• www.allstarjobs.ca
• www.hotjobs.ca
• www.indeed.com
• www.simplyhired.ca
• “Cold calling”.
• Yellow Pages.
• Professional / trade directories.
• Company information.
Your resume has been chosen and now you are one step closer to landing that
position. It's your chance to show the employer that you have what it takes for
the job and able to communicate effectively.
• Look at the companies website: This will give you a good overview of the
company's philosophy, culture and business concepts and fiscal reports.
• Be Careful- make sure you have the right information.
2. Learn about the person interviewing you
• Know the names and job titles of the people you will be speaking to.
• How to spell and pronounce the interviewers' names.
• Ask the person who set-up the interview or look at the company website.
3. Gather Your Information
• Take all gathered information and write them neatly on a piece of paper,
this will prepare you for the interview. The information will give you
confidence going into the interview.
4. Practice Potential Interview Question
• Dress and groom for the interview as you would for the job. Look neat
and clean.
• Conservative colours such as blue, black, grey portrays a professional
image.
• Well pressed shirt, pants, ties and traditional skirts (not too short) should
be worn.
6. Pack your case / portfolio
Here are the different types of interview questions that may be asked in an
interview:
Open Questions:
Ex amp le:
• T e ll me a bo u t you r s e lf?
• W h a t qu al i fi es yo u for t h is job ?
Closed Questions:
These questions are direct and focused. This type of question is not used very
often since it only lead to 'yes' or 'no' answers, however these questions are
useful for concluding and summarizing. Effectively used in confirming
information
Ex amp le:
• A r e y ou a va i lab le t o w o r k i n C an ada ?
• C a n you s ta r t ne x t Mon da y?
Leading Questions
Leading questions are directive and always indicate the preferred answer or
telegraph the interviewer's opinion. These are not productive in obtaining depth
or qualify of information
Hypothetical/Situational Questions
These questions require you to imagine yourself in a situation and what steps
you would take to solve the problem presented. These questions are open in
style and pose a 'What if...' scenario. They can be useful in analyzing
knowledge, attitudes, reactions, creativity and speculative thinking.
Ex amp le:
• W h a t c ou ld y o u s ee as th e ma j or o bj ec ti v es o f t his jo b? I f y ou w er e
h ir ed b y our o r ga niz a ti on , how w o ul d you ide n ti t y t he m a jor r ol es a nd
r esponsibilities of yo ur n ew p osition ?
Behavioral Questions
Behavioral interviews are very probing in nature and are based on the concept
of “predictable future behavior.” In other words, what you have done in the past
strongly suggests what you will do in the future. They are similar in nature to
hypothetical questions in that they can measure knowledge, attitudes,
reactions, creativity and thinking.
Ex amp le:
• T e ll me a bo u t a t ime y o u w er e ab le t o s uc c es s f ul l y d ea l w i th a noth er
p erso n e ven w hen that ind i vidu al ma y no t ha ve pe rsona lly like d yo u (or
vice ve rsa)?
• Desc ribe a time w he n yo u an tic ip a ted po ten tia l p rob lems an d deve lo ped
p r e ve n ti v e m eas ures?
• Why do you think you would like to work for our company?
• If it were your first day, what would you say to the associates you will be
working with?
• What has been your greatest crisis, how did you solve it?
• What do you like best about your job/school? What do you like least?
• In what areas of the job would you expect to be most successful.... least?
• Describe a situation with an irate customer and how you handled it?
• What are your long-range career objectives and how do you plan to
achieve them?
• How many hours a week do you need to work to get the job done?
• What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
At the end of the interview you may be asked if you have questions. Never end
without a question, show your interest, have some questions ready. Look as if
you are thinking about whether you have any questions and then ask an
appropriate one from a list you have beforehand. Here are some potential
questions that may be asked:
Ex amp le:
• H ow w ou ld y o u desc r ib e a t yp ic al w or k da y?
• Are ther e sign ifican t op por tun i ties to take se minars , c lass es ,
e tc . t o learn m o r e a b o u t t h e d i f fe r e n t face ts o f the co mp an y?
• W h y di d you jo in t he c o mp an y?
The thank-you letter must be sent 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. You may even want to ensure that the interviewer has your thank-you
letter in hand no later than end of the next day. The letter shows your interest
in the position and serves as a constant reminder to the interviewers who you
are.
The letter should be a simple note thanking that person for taking the time to
meet you, saying how much you enjoyed your discussion, and how much you'd
like to join the team.
A tangible letter will appear more personal rather then sending a e-mail. With a
email, the probability is high that it will be glanced at and forgotten.
Thank you for meeting with me today. I enjoyed learning more about ABC Company and hearing about
your plans for market expansion.
In my current position I manage over 100 receivable accounts. Through an incentive program, I decreased
turnaround time for incoming payments from 60 days to an overall average of 45 days.
As ABC Company expands its market, tracking and improving receivables will be important. With my
experience, we can accomplish these goals, save money, and maintain good client relations at the same
time.
I look forward to our next discussion and the chance to meet with your CFO, Ms. Daniels. In the
meantime, please let me know if you'd like additional information.
Sincerely,
Jack Jackson
Jack Jackson
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the secretarial position this morning. Our conversation gave me
a better understanding of ABC Company and the requirements of the job. The additional information
from Max and Kathryn was helpful in gaining a better perspective of the position.
My strong office and interpersonal skills will definitely make a contribution to your company. I am
proficient in all of the computer software packages that you use and possess the customer service
experience that you want.
I enjoyed meeting the office staff and touring the facility. This is clearly a quality organization with an
emphasis on efficiency and a dedication to teamwork. I would consider it a privilege to join your team
and look forward to hearing from you.
Again, thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jack Jackson
Jack Jackson
If you haven't heard anything after a week CALL THEM. A friendly phone call
after a week tells the employer that you are truly interested. The call will serve
to remind the company about you they may not want to let go.
You can also ask (in a polite fashion) in about how long they'll be making their
decision. If that date passes and you still haven't heard anything call again. It's
not being pushy it's being persistent.