GETTING THE JOB YOU WANT.
AP P L I C A T I O N S
R E S U M E S
R E F E R E N C E S
THE APPLICATION
Most businesses will have you fill out a job application.
Job Application: A form that asks questions about your skills, work
experience ,education,
and interests.
Most businesses prefer to have you fill out your application on line.
However, if you are
given a paper application, it is best to take it home to fill out. Remember
that a job
application deserves a lot of attention and it should be neatly filled out in
blue or black
Ink and be error free.
THE RESUME
This document is a summary of your personal information .
Resume: describes your education, skills, work experience, activities, and int
It introduces you to potential employers.
There are two basic resume formats:
1. Chronological resume
2. Skills resume
A Chronological
REVERSE TIME.
Resume presents information in order of time –
A Skills Resume highlights skills and accomplishments.
Electronic Resumes:
Today, the electronic resume is the most popular way to send an
employer your resume via the Internet. Therefore it is a good idea to
have an electronic resume ready and saved to your computer hard
drive.
Many companies today scan paper resumes into their computers and
store them electronically.
When they need to hire someone, they do a computerized search of
the resumes in their database. They search for key words describing
the skills and work experience they are seeking.
Key word examples are: creative thinker, computer skills, team
oriented, bilingual and excellent communication skills just to name a
few.
COVER LETTER
A Cover Letter is a one-page letter telling who you are and why you
are sending a resume.
• You should always send a cover letter with a resume.
• The cover letter introduces you.
• It is the first thing a potential employer sees and it makes a
powerful impact.
• It needs to be neat and error free.
• It makes the first impression about you.
• It should capture the employers interest.
• It is the place to highlight interesting details about yourself that
may not appear in your resume.
• What you say in your resume in your cover letter will persuade
the reader to turn to your resume.
REFERENCES
References : These are people NOT RELATED to you who can recommend
you to an employer.
• Choose references carefully.
• They should not be relatives or your best friends
• They should be former employers, teachers, coaches, or guidance
counselors.
• Always ask permission to use someone as a reference.
• Supply their name, address, telephone number so that the employer
can contact them.
• Make sure to talk with the person you are going to use as a reference.
That way the two of you can come to an understanding about what
you want them to say to the employer (or not say).
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
Some of your references will supply you with a letter of recommendation.
A letter of recommendation is a letter in support of you from a person you
have used as a reference.
It provides insight into your background, skills, work ethic and character.
THE INTERVIEW
A face to face meeting with the potential employer(s).
Know the company before you go in. Research it!
Put effort into preparing for your big day.
Have a positive attitude.
Show enthusiasm
Your answers to questions should be honest and specific and truthful.
Watch your body language. In fact your actions speak louder than
your words.
• Make good eye contact.
• Use a firm handshake
• Smile
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THE FOLLOW UP LETTER.
At the end of the interview, you may be offered the job on the spot.
More often than not, you will have to wait and see if you were the
chosen candidate.
You should follow up and say thank you to the employer for the
interview.
This is done in a formal letter after the interview. You should send it
no later than one day after the interview.
In the letter, thank the interviewer for his or her time. Express your
enthusiasm for the job and stress the experience and skills you have
that match the job. Mention