Job Search Tools
Resume Writing | Resume Theory 101 | Resume Builder Software | Cover Letter | Application Forms (CACEE form) | Transcripts | Job Search Tips | Networking & Business Etiquette | Interview Tips | Polish Your Interview | Interview Skills Workshops |Employer Panel Discussions |Articles of Interest |
Looking for a job? Need help with developing a resume and wondering where to start? The key to any successful job search is to start early, do your research and be prepared.
It does not matter if you are a first year undergraduate business student or or enrolled in a graduate-level business program, with or without relevant experience. It is never too early to be prepared. You never know when a job opportunity will present itself. It could be during a casual meeting or during something more formal. Whatever the scenario, start putting your information together now!
Employers who actively recruit at our school start looking for next year's talent as early as September and October through a variety of on-campus recruiting activities including advertising job postings online, attending Career Fairs, hosting information nights, sponsoring school functions, setting up displays within the school, or through other networking activities. It will be important for you to have all the necessary tools in place to make that first impression a memorable one!
Whether you plan on landing a job on your own or through the opportunities on campus, having the 'right stuff ' is integral to your success. Be prepared, know yourself and what you want to do, then do your research, understand what the specific employer has to offer and what you can do for them.
Resume Writing Tips
As a current business student and/or alumni of the Edwards School of Business, you are welcome at any time to make an appointment with Goodspeed Career Services to discuss your resume. Remember not to wait until the day your resume/application is due to try to make an appointment!
A resume is a snapshot of you on paper. How it looks, what it says, and the first impression it makes is a critical part of the hiring process. The resume alone will not get you the job, but if it does what it is supposed to do...highlighting your key skills relevant to the employer's needs and making a positive impression, then it should set the tone for your next meeting, the interview!
Resumes can be viewed on paper (hard copy) or via a website or attachment (soft copy) and can be sent in a variety of ways. No matter the method, always include a cover letter with your resume.
- Will it be hand delivered? Directly to whom it is addressed or to someone else?
- Am I sending it via e-mail?
- Am I applying through a website?
Are there really any differences? Of course there are! An uploaded resume will present differently to a resume printed off or delivered in hard copy. Why? Because most online applications where you upload your resume remove formatting so prepare a text rich format for those situations. And of course, always remember to ensure there are no spelling mistakes!
- For your contact information, only include your name, your full address (optional to list your address), your telephone and/or cell number and an e-mail address. Make sure to use a professional e-mail address like your university e-mail account. Stay away from examples like: 'cool.dude@hotxxxx.com'.
- Use 8x11 quality white paper. Stay away from coloured paper and coloured text. Print using a laser quality printer
- Include your name and page number on subsequent pages of your resume. Don't use the same header as your first page on subsequent pages (ie. your full contact information)
- Focus on quality vs. quantity. There is no set number of pages but two is most common
- Include the skill sets used in performing the duties. Highlight accomplishments
- Use quantitative indicators! Employers like to see results. Ie. ...saved the company 10% by...
- Use action verbs to describe activities
- Stay away from using "I' in your resume. It is already about you!
- Ensure someone other than the 'spell checker' looks over your resume.
Resume Theory '101'
There are three philosophies you should consider when preparing a resume for someone to review. Employers will form an impression on a resume immediately upon seeing it for the first time. Remember that an employer's time is precious and they will not spend a lot of time looking at a resume the first time over.
- For example, if an employer is reviewing applications for an advertised position, he or she is going to quickly scan over the application pool looking for the key skill sets/qualifications. If they cannot find it quickly, they may move on to someone else's application that has made an effort to draw out those key qualifications.
First Philosophy
The first page has high priority. To make an immediate impression, you must present the most relevant points first. If you don't, you may not captivate the reader.
- Put points/sections in order of relevance to that reader/position. Do not list things because they 'fit' the page
- Tailor your skill sets to the requirements of the job especially in the first page and if applicable, throughout the rest of your resume. This may mean that the resume content and/or look may change to meet the needs of each of the companies/jobs that you apply to
- Until you have sufficient relevant experience, your education should be put on page one. How would an employer know what you graduated/majored in if they cannot clearly see it on page one?
- Your contact information should also be on page one
- Not only is the first page the priority page, the first section, the first topic within the section, the first bullet and the first word in that bullet. ALL play an important role in getting the reader's attention!
How you present the information on page one depends on your background, what you have to offer, and who your target audience is. These are the factors that dictate what goes where.
Second Philosophy
The left side of your resume is more important than the right. We are taught to read left to right, therefore, presenting relevant, eye catching topic/subject etc. information on the left side is key to attracting the reader's eyes to move right to read into the subject more in depth.
As an analogy, think of a dictionary or a Table fo Contents section, we scan down the left to find the word or topic and then move in to find out more information.
- For example, many resumes list their dates of employment, schooling etc. on the left hand side of the resume. Would it not make more sense to list a work experience topic, the company name or job title to draw the reader in to read further?
The point is, what would the reader want to see first? Once you figure that out, go with it.
Third Philosophy
It is all about balance and flow. Utilize indenting, title case, and strategic bolding to provide balance and flow to your document.
- Your name and the headings should be the only things 'all caps' on your resume. If you all caps headings, company names, degrees, whatever, you can lose continuity. Remember too, that ALL CAPS text, other than headings, can be taken as shouting (in e-mail). If these are the only things 'all caps' a reader can easily spot them throughout the document
- The same goes for bolding. Use bolding strategically to draw the reader's eye to something unique
- Do not left justify all your text, or leave vast white spaces on the left. Rather, balance the information utilizing indentation
- Use solid bullets verses dashes to identify statements
- Stay away from Italics as it takes away from a 'sharp' focused look
These are just a few concepts to consider when putting your resume together. For a more in depth look into all aspects of writing a resume, check out:
View and/or download the SECC Resume Guide
Welcome to our new Resume Builder and Interview Preparation software. Part of our mission is to provide you with the information and tools to market yourself effectively. OptimalResume™ is such a tool, designed to prepare you to engage employers with professional-quality documents and successful interviewing skills. Start Now!
Cover Letters
Cover letters are business letters and should be tailored to EACH job you are applying to. Resumes should always be accompanied by a cover letter as it is the introduction to your resume and highlights why you should be considered for the position.
Presentation:
- Use the same quality paper and font as what is on your resume
- Left justify the letter with no indents
- Address the cover letter to a specific person including their title and mailing address. Remember to also include your full contact information at the top of the letter
- Use a 'RE' heading just above the first paragraph to highlight the position sought
- Address the cover letter to a specific person. Stay away from "To whom it may concern"
- Cover letters are never more than one page long
The first paragraph is your priority paragraph. Just as above regarding the first page of your resume, what you write here entices the reader to continue on or it could possibly tell the reader "Here we go again, another generic cover letter to look at!"
Content:
- Never use a generic cover letter and fill in the blanks. Employers will see through that very quickly!
- Try to stay away from starting each sentence with 'I'
- Attempt to highlight at least three specific skills/experiences that are relevant to the position and how your experience will benefit the position applied for
- Never just talk about you; 'I did this' or 'I have these skills' without taking it to the next step. Do take those thoughts and relate how they fit into the position!
No two jobs are the same. The sooner you figure that out, the sooner you will realize that you must tailor each cover letter to that specific reader! Employers can tell a generic cover letter with 'fill in the blank' zones verses a focused, well presented cover letter unique to what they are looking for in an applicant.
A good rule of thumb is: With the cover letter you just wrote, can you substitute another company's name, job title etc. and still feel the cover letter makes enough sense to be sent off to that other employer?
If you have written a cover letter that targets specific skills relevant to that position and show how those skills can benefit the position and/or their organization, substituting a new employer's name etc., should make the content un-focused and irrelevant.
Welcome to our Cover Letter Builder software. Part of our mission is to provide you with the information and tools to market yourself effectively. The Cover Letter builder from OptimalResume™ is such a tool, designed to prepare you to engage employers with professional-quality cover letters. Start Now!
View and/or download the SECC Cover Letter Guide
Application Forms
The CACEE application form (pronounced "K-See")is a standard application form requested by a few different employers. Although its use is not as prevalent as in previous years, some employers still use it and you should be prepared to fill out the form should it be requested. The form is in a Word format, and you are allowed to download it and save it to your hard drive.
View and/or download the CACEE application form now!
Where do I get transcripts from?
During the school year, employers may ask for a copy of your current transcripts to accompany your application package. There are basically two ways to access a copy of your transcripts..
- Request an official copy of your transcripts through PAWS
Once in PAWS, select the tab 'Academics' and on the screen you can select 'Request Official Transcript'. There will a $10 fee for an official copy. Only get one official copy and photocopy the original as required. If you are job hunting throughout the year, you may have to update your official copy as each term ends to have the most up-to-date information listed.
- Copy and Paste your transcripts from PAWS into a Word or PDF Document
From Internet Explorer (this doesn't work in Mozilla and Firefox), select the tab 'Academics' and select 'View Unofficial Transcript'. Once your unofficial transcripts are on the screen, highlight and copy the whole transcript and paste it into a Word Document. The table will look identical to what you see on the screen. Remove the reference to your birth date. You can now save it as a Word or PDF document. Remember, that it is unethical to modify anything else on this transcript.
Two of the most intriguing questions to challenge you in an interview:
- Why should I hire you?
Intriguing yes, because whether it is asked of you or not, you better be prepared to answer it! Employers may ask the question directly or they may offer you a moment at the end of the interview to ask questions or add something to the interview. That is the time to respond with why you are the candidate for the job. Your confidence must show itself as you answer, but not to the point of being over confident. Why are YOU the right fit for their organization? Highlight the key skills you want to showcase!
- What are you doing to become a business professional?
This question is not as easy as it looks. The answer is not "I am getting a business degree ", rather what is your passion for business? What else are you doing in your day to day life that showcases your interest in business? Do you participate in out of class business events? Do you actively follow the stock market, perhaps you have a business you are developing or running. There are many examples to choose from. What this question does is to allow you to showcase your talent, your passion and interest in this field inside and outside the classroom!
Each fall, Goodspeed Career Services hosts two industry-specific interview skills workshops. This is your opportunity to learn what goes on in the hiring process and will give you a chance to ask hiring professionals about preparing for and succeeding in an employment interview.
Thursday September 25, 2008 5:30pm - 6:50pm Arts 241- Targeted to all Business students
RSVP your attendance to /www.edwards.usask.ca/tools/rsvp/
Monday September 29, 2008 5:30pm - 6:50pm Arts 241- Targeted to Accounting students
RSVP your attendance at: www.edwards.usask.ca/tools/rsvp/
Check out our Interview Prep software from OptimalResume™. Part of our mission is to provide you with the information and tools to market yourself effectively. The Interview prep software allows you to practice answering interview questions 24/7. You can choose the types of questions you want asked or select one of the preset question formats for each discipline. If you have a webcam, you can even record your answers and play them back too! Start Now!
Nervous about your next job or co-op interview? Don't stress out. Practice with Interview Prep! Get Started Now!
Interview Prep helps prepare you for even the toughest of interviews with real-to-life, multi-media interview scenarios that were developed by seasoned employment professionals. To begin, all you need is access to a computer with or without a web cam and microphone. It's that simple. No special software is needed.
When you start a new Interview Prep session from the Skills Center, the first step is to configure your interview. Select the length of the interview, anywhere from 5 to 20 questions. Pick a recording format, either audio and video, audio only, or no recording. Then you can select the type of interview you want to practice.
Networking and Business Etiquitte
More information will be added as time permits..
Employer Panel Discussions
Want to work in a specific industry? Employers will be on hand to discuss their industry and organization.
Stay tuned for more information on the employers participating and location and time.- Career Options - Relevant magazine articles targeted at university students
- Ask The Headhunter - Informative insider's edge on job search and hiring
