Chapter 11

The Job Search, Rsums, and

Cover Letters

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Ltd. Ch. 11-1
 Top 10 Characteristics Employers Want
#10

Administrative Skills Planning, organizing,

staffing, scheduling.
Supervising employees
Possessing Software
Skills; Comprehending
Word Processing,
Spreadsheets,
Databases, and
Telecommunications.

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 #9

Entrepreneurial Ability to set goals

Knowledge of personal
(Business / selling skills) strengths and weakness
The ability to maximise
opportunities
Full knowledge of business
and businesses competitors
Ability to budget and manage
money
Ability to recognize a business
opportunity

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 #8

Interpersonal Skills measure of a person's

ability to operate within
business organizations
through social
communication and
interactions.
Interpersonal skills are
how people relate to one
another.

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 #7

Creativity Ability to discover new

ideas or concepts,
Being innovative
(bringing something new
to the company)
Thinking outside the
box.

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 #6

Team Skills Ability to work in a

group
Participating in
sports
Belonging to
organizations

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 #5

Developmental Skills Helping

Teaching
Mentoring

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 #4

Persuasive Ability Ability to persuade

effectively
Ability to sell,
influence, motivate
Ability to change
someones mind /
thinking

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 #3

Organizational Skills Being able to see the whole

picture - how everything needs
to work together to complete a
project, or organize an office, or
manage a group of employees.
A person with good
organizational skills can walk
into a situation and immediately
see what could be done to
improve a situation, a setting,
or a project.

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 #2

Achievement Desire to
Motivation accomplishment
something ;
Desire to master skills
Awards, Honours Desire to command
control of situations
Desire to maintain high
standards

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 #1

Communication Writing
Skills Speaking
Listening

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Evaluating Your Qualifications

What computer skills can I offer?

What other skills have I acquired in school, on the job,

or through activities? How can I demonstrate these
skills?

Do I work well with people? What proof can I offer?

Am I a leader, self-starter, or manager?

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Evaluating Your Qualifications

Do I speak, write, or understand another language?

Do I learn quickly? Am I creative? How can I

demonstrate these characteristics?

Do I communicate well in speech and in writing?

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 Choosing a Career Path

Visit your school career or counselling centre.

Search the Internet.
Use your library.
Take a summer job, internship, or part-time position in your field.
Interview someone in your chosen field.
Examine the classified ads.
Join professional organizations in your field.

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 Using Traditional Job Search
Techniques

Study classified ads in local and national newspapers.

Check announcements in publications of professional
organizations.
Contact companies in which youre interested.
Sign up for school interviews with visiting company
representatives.
Ask for advice from your instructors.
Develop your own network of contacts.

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Using Electronic Job Search
Techniques

Canadas Job Bank

JobsEtc.ca
Charityvillage.com
Workopolis.ca
Monster.ca

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 Writing a Persuasive Rsum

Choosing a Rsum Style

Chronological

Functional

Combination

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 Chronological

Lists work history job-by-job, starting with

the most recent position.
Quickly reveals experience and education.
Works well if you have experience in the
field and steady career growth.

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 Functional

Focuses attention on skills rather than on past

employment.
Groups skills and accomplishments in
categories.
Can de-emphasize employment history.
Good for those who have changed jobs
frequently, have gaps in employment, or for
recent graduates.

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 Combination

Draws on features of chronological and

functional.
Gives a complete job history that focuses
on abilities.
Good choice for recent graduates.

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 Arranging the Parts of a
Rsum
Main Heading
Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address

Career Objective (4 choices)

Include only for a targeted job.
Omit.
Include a general statement.
Omit on rsum, but include in cover letter.

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 Arranging the Parts of a
Rsum

Education
Name and location of schools
Dates of attendance
Major fields of study
Degrees, diplomas, and certificates received
Give information about your studies, but dont list all your
courses

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 Arranging the Parts of a
Rsum
Work Experience or Employment History
List recent jobs

Employers name, city, and province

Dates of employment, including month and year
Most important job title
Major duties, activities, accomplishments, and promotions

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 Arranging the Parts of a
Rsum
Work Experience
Describe your experience.
Use action verbs to summarize achievements and skills. Be
specific.
Prepared tax returns for individuals with incomes under $30,000.
Served 40 or more customers each day.
Worked in a team to develop 25-page manual for temporary
employees..

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 Arranging the Parts of a
Rsum
Skills and Abilities
List special skills
Describe skills learned in training
Highlight special abilities

Awards, Honours, and Activities

Include awards, scholarships, certificates etc.
List school, community and professional activities show you
are well-rounded

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 Arranging the Parts of a
Rsum
Personal information
Omit birth date and marital status
Hobbies and interests may be included

References
Not necessary for rsum
If included, use parallel form
List of references available at interview

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 Sample Rsum

Jennifer Marie Jenkins

3320 Lawrence Street
Swift Current, SK
(306) 781-5592

Objective: Administrative position involving

Payroll Accounting Employee Benefits Customer Service

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Two years experience in responsible administrative and accounting positions
Disciplined self-starter; able to work without supervision
Proficient with PCs including Word, Excel, and the Internet

[Continued on next slide.]

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 Sample Rsum

Can be counted on to follow through on every detail, until a task is successfully

..completed
B.A. degree, University of Saskatchewan, Business Administration major

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
10/04 to Apprentice, Radio Production, CQFA - 94.1,
present Moose Jaw, SK
As production manager, schedule studios, recruit support staff.
Process scripts, permissions, and logs involved in weekly productions.

2002-04 Financial Manager, The Shelter House,

Moose Jaw, SK.
Used computer to manage payroll and employee benefits for a staff of 26.
Completed all projects on time, despite chronically chaotic environment.
[Continued on next slide.]

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 Sample Rsum

Managed agency's cash flow, involving funder reimbursements, in-kind

donations, ..and fund-raising.
Processed all accounts payable and receivable, monthly, and quarterly
statistical ..reports for local, state, and federal funding agencies. Oversaw petty
cash.
Designed a flow chart to track success of a $25,000 fund-raising project.

Spring, 2003 Publicity coordinator, Renaissance Rainbow (performance arts

troupe), Saskatoon, SK
Scheduled all media interviews and supervised volunteers.
Coordinated publicity mailings for Performance Arts Festival.

2001-03 Temp positions, Manpower Temporary Services, Winnipeg, MB

Developed customer service skills as telephone interviewer for Dorhring
..Company.
[Continued on next slide.]
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 Sample Rsum

Maintained files, routed incoming telephone calls, input employee progress

..journals, prepared interoffice memos, recorded accounts payable cheques,
..keyboarded accounts payable correspondence, learned e-mail systems in
various ..assignments.

EDUCATION

B.A. in Business Administration, University of Saskatchewan, 2001.

GPA in major: 3.2
Dean's list, 2 terms

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 Making Your Rsum
Computer-Friendly
Avoid unusual typefaces, underlining, and
italics.
Use 10 to 14-point type.
Use smooth white paper, black ink, and
quality printing.
Be sure your name is on the first line on the
page.
Provide white space.

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 Making Your Rsum
Computer-Friendly
Avoid double columns.
Dont fold or staple your rsum.
Use abbreviations carefully.
Include your entire address and telephone
number.
Be prepared to provide your rsum in Plain
Text format.

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 Applying the Final Touches

Avoid humour.
Eliminate personal pronoun I.
Use white/off-white heavy bond paper.
Do not hire someone to write your rsum.
Try to fit your rsum on one page (two maximum).
Proofread several times.

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 The Persuasive Cover Letter

Openings for Solicited Jobs

Refer to the name of an employee in the
company.
Refer to the source of your information
precisely.
Refer to the job title and describe how your
qualifications fit the requirements.

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 The Persuasive Cover Letter

Openings for Unsolicited Jobs

Demonstrate interest in and knowledge of the
readers business.
Show how your special talents and background
will benefit the company.
Refer to the job title and describe how your
qualifications fit the requirements.

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 Writing a Persuasive Cover
Letter
Building Interest in the Body
Relate your remarks to a specific position.
Choose your strongest qualifications and
show how they fit the targeted job.
Discuss relevant personal qualities.
Refer the reader to your rsum.

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 Writing a Persuasive Cover
Letter
Motivating Action in the Closing
Ask for an interview.
Make it easy for the reader to respond.
Supply telephone number and best times to
call you.

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 End

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