Date post: | 24-Dec-2015 |
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Preparing For Your Career Janean Couch, PHRAssistant Director, GVSU Career [email protected]
The Process
• A resume gets you an interview• This document is an outline or profile of you• Keywords – not paragraphs
• An interview gets you a position• Describe your successes• Tell them why they should hire you
• A position helps you build a career• Everyone has to start somewhere• Update your resume with every step you take
• It is not a ladder… it is rock climbing!
Spruce up your resume• What are employers looking for?
• Neat – Organized - Consistent• Knowledge of Specific Industry and Population• Combination of Education and Experience• EASY TO READ
• Goal Oriented:
Objective: To obtain the Child Protective Services position with The State of Michigan contributing to protect children and provide resources to families.
• Demonstrated Experience:• No Claims!• Provide Evidence
Things to Avoid…• Errors!• Templates• Fluffy wording• Inappropriate graphics and colors• Cramming• Too much white space• Paragraphs and “I” language
Powerful Accomplishment Statements
What is the difference between an “accomplishment” and a “job duty”?• Start with an Action Verb• Directed• Planned• Coordinated
• Qualifying or Quantifying Adjectives / Descriptions• Supervised a team of 8 volunteers…• Provided guidance to at-risk students…
• Results-oriented• … to ensure deadlines are met.• … resulting in a 30% increase of participation over last year.
Action Statements• Start with an Action Verb• Coordinated group sessions
• Qualifiers• Coordinated group sessions for adolescent girls
• Quantifiers • Coordinated group sessions for 8-10 adolescent girls
• Outcomes• Coordinated group sessions for 8-10 adolescent girls to provide
support and education of dating violence
Cover letters• Resume and cover letter go hand – in hand • Take the place of face-to-face interaction• Opportunity to pique reader’s interest in your resume and you! • Show how your background and abilities meet the employer’s needs• Show how you’re a good fit for the organization (this takes research)• Where you heard about the position
Let your cover letter show…Your knowledge of the employer/positionWhy you’re a strong candidateYour communication and writing skillsYour personality and professionalism
◦ Present your professional best! Your motivation energy and enthusiasm
Always send a cover letter!
What will I be asked??
What are some “typical” questions an interviewee faces in the span of a 30-60 minute interview??
30-60 minutes• Thoughtful Response• Reasoning and Evidence• Grammar and Vocabulary• Listening• Degree of Interaction• Expressiveness• Humor / Likability Factor
Selling yourselfThe Sales Analogy• You are the product… and the Sales
Representative!• The employer is a consumer• Your resume is the marketing piece• The interview is your sales pitch
SOAR… or be a STARSituationObstacle or TaskActionResult
Career Services• Help you plan/brainstorm!• Resume and Cover Letter Resources• Simulated Interviews• Career Fairs and On-campus Recruitment• Web-based Employment System• www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs