How to Effectively Search for Jobs

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How to Effectively Search for Jobs

• An Effective Resume and Job Search for Psychology
  Students

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Session Goals

• Learn how to develop a competitive resume
• Identify ways to design an effective job search

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A Competitive Resume
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The Résumé is a Marketing Tool

• Effectively summarize your relevant
  qualifications
• Skills - Education Experience Activities

How long do you think your résumé has to make
an impression?
2 steps to résumé screening First, 15-30
second initial screening Second, a more
in-depth review
The goal of the résumé is to get the interview!
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3 Key Components of an Effective Résumé

• Part I
• Aesthetics and Appearance
• Part II
• Presentation and Selection of Information
• Part III
• Content and Targeting

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Part I Aesthetics and Appearance
How should your résumé look?

• Attractive and readable (appropriate paper and
  fonts)
• Error free
• Not crowded (consistent margins and spacing)
• Maximum 2 pages (one is acceptable)
• Consistent in appearance
• Section headings
• Use of bullets and symbols
• Indentations

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Part II Information
What is the key to presenting your résumé
information effectively?

• Must contain all necessary and relevant
  information
• Avoid including information that could lead to
  discrimination e.g., do not include your age,
  marital status, disability, religious beliefs,
  ethnic background, etc
• Most relevant information should be presented on
  the first page (avoid extraneous/repetitive
  information)
• Be concise and organized, the reader must be able
  to quickly find desired information

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Common Sections

• Education
• Experience
• Achievements and/or Awards
• Volunteer Activities
• Additional Training and Development
• Professional Affiliations
• Interests

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Education

• Degree name in full i.e., Bachelor of Arts, not
  BA
• Include name of school, city and province
• Wilfrid Laurier University, not WLU
• If including GPA, use or letter grade, not
  scale
• List in reverse chronological order
• Do not include high school after 2nd year
• Do not list courses without a clear reason
• May list awards/achievements obtained in
  university in Education section

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Experience - Job Descriptions

• Consider both Relevant and Additional
  experience sections
• May combine paid and unpaid experiences

• When an experience is relevant
• Include more information, 3 - 5 points
• Examples of key responsibilities and tasks
• Include key achievements when possible
• May include a brief description of the
  organization

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Additional Training or Professional Development

• This section can be listed either in a separate
  section (if you have more than 2) or in the
  Education Section (if you have 1 - 2)
• You may include seminars/lectures you attended
  which were not part of course work
• Focus on relevant training and development
• Determine what value the information adds. For
  example, if you have a babysitting
  certification and you are applying for a job in
  an office do you need to include this training?

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Interests
Why do you include your Interests?

• To grab an employers attention/interest
• To appear well rounded
• If you have spaceList 2 5 interests
• Do not use generic individual words (i.e.,
  reading, dancing)
• Interests
• Avid reader of historic novels and biographies
• Attend weekly dance classes and compete in
  Ballroom dancing competitions

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Part III Content and Targeting

• The best résumés are targeted résumés
• ? This will require you to add two key sections
• Objective to focus your resume
• Profile or Summary Section- to give an overview
  

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Objective
1 - 3 lines - target some combination of these
position, field, population, organization, service
Basic Objective To obtain a position as a
Community Worker Targeted Objective A
position as a Community Resources Support Worker
developing and organizing programs and services
to support the needs of _______ (i.e. Youth)
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Profile
4 - 6 point form sentencesWhat information would
you highlight?
? Experience Summary (1 line)? Relevant Skills
(2-4 lines) ? Key Achievements (1 line) ?
Qualities (optional 1 line) ? Key Certification
or a Bonus Highlight (1 line)
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Experience
? Experience needs to be relevant and targeted
and provide a connection to the position
A basic experience point Experience working
with youth
A targeted experience point Two years
experience providing effective programsupervision
, organization and development for youth
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Job Skills
? Include 2 - 4 of the most relevant skills
? Turn generic skills into tangible demonstration
of how you have/will used the skill (sell dont
tell)
A basic/generic job skills point Ability to
Build Effective Relationships A targeted job
skills point Ability to build effective
relationships with others by providing support,
guidance and information to ensure a positive
and rewarding experience
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Achievement
? When possible provide quantifiable information
Developed a new Youth Drop-in program which
exceeded projected participation rates by 15
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Qualities
? You may include a line which provides
information as to the type of worker/person you
are
A warm and trustworthy demeanour which fosters
the development of a strong rapport with clients
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Additional Targeting Tips

• ? You may include specific sections such as
• Technical or Computer Skills
• Counselling Skills
• Languages
• Performances (for music/drama jobs)
• Key skills or additional Skills

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Targeting with Job Descriptions
? When a job is clearly relevant provide details
and examples which demonstrate this relevance
For example, when applying for a job as a camp
counsellor with previous experience as a camp
counsellor

• Camp Counsellor 2007, 2008
• Kids Summer Camp Experience, Kitchener, ON
  (seasonal)
• Supervised children ages 8 16 at a sleep away
  summer camp
• Developed and lead activities including arts and
  crafts, nature exploration, swimming, water
  safety and canoeing
• Ensured inclusive summer experience for children
  with disabilities

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Targeting with Job Descriptions
? When the past job is not directly relevant
make the job details sound transferable to
the job

• Activities Co-ordinator 2007, 2008
• Kids Summer Camp Experience, Kitchener, ON
  (seasonal)
• Co-ordinated and organized activities which
  involved preparing materials, creating schedules
  and managing multiple participants
• Liaised with the public to ensure exchange of
  information including negotiating special
  requests and answering concerns
• Collaborated with colleagues to plan and assign
  tasks and provided training and orientation to
  new employees

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Relevant Sample Action Verbs

• Assessed
• Collaborated
• Conducted
• Co-ordinated
• Consulted
• Demonstrated excellence in/an ability to
• Designed
• Fostered
• Instituted

• Liaised
• Maintained accurate and detailed records of
• Mediated
• Monitored and recorded
• Observed
• Organized
• Presented
• Provided
• Researched
• Served as a

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Final Tips

• Proofread for errors and accuracy
• Present the most relevant information first
• Try not to excuse/explain things on a résumé
• Be concise and focused
• Always send a cover letter with your résumé

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Designing an Effective Job Search
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A Targeted Job Search
The most successful job search is a TARGETED JOB
SEARCH
A successful job search is not just about getting
a job, it should also be about getting THE JOB
YOU WANT
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4 Steps in a Targeted Job Search
1. Know yourself
2. Know the Career/Job Field and Industry
3. Prepare your Job Search Portfolio
4. Search for Jobs
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Traditional Job Search
The Traditional job search involves

• Newspaper/magazine want ads
• Postings and job boards (e.g. www.workinginmental
  health.ca www.charityvillage.com
  www.jobbank.gc.ca Monster.ca)
• Check out www.wlu.ca/career for
• - Alumni Employment Service
• - Graduating Student Employment Service
• - Part-time/Summer Job Postings
• - Employment and Career Resources for
  Individuals with Disabilities
• Registering with agencies/recruiters

• These methods are passive

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Active Job Search
The Active job search involves being
pro-active and targeting jobs.
3 out of every 4 job seekers report finding jobs
through informal or non-traditional job search
methods.
This is how you find the jobs you want!!
How is a job opening created?
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Stages of a Job Opportunity
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Active Job Search
Access The Hidden Job Market by tapping into
Network Contact
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Active Job Search
Contacting Warm Contacts

• Approach/contact them in a professional and/
  or business capacity

• Ask to meet them at their office (if they work
  at an office and this is appropriate) or in a
  place of business such as a restaurant

• Clearly identify the assistance you are
  looking for (information and referral names)
  and be specific with your job/industry targets

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Active Job Search
Generating Cold Contacts

• Research and Targeting is Key

• You are targeting People in the Industry
  (organizations/associations/departments/positions)

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Active Job Search
Locating/Researching Cold Contacts

• Stay informed read industry magazines,
  internet articles and newspapers to find
  names/information

• Review organization websites - review company
  profiles, press releases, reports

• Use job postings not to apply to jobs but as a
  source of who is looking and for what

• Join or attend professional associations or
  relevant organizations, activities and
  events (e.g. career cruising)

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Researching Cold Contacts
ASK Program

• Alumni Sharing Knowledge a database of alumni
  willing to speak with you about their career

• Information is cross-indexed by

• Key words
• Occupation (using N.O.C. Codes)
• Program of Study (or Major)
• Employer Organization

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Researching Cold Contacts
Directories

• The Library References section for Employer
  Directories or Listings
• The Blue Book (The Directory of
  Community
• and Social Services Agencies)

• Regional/City Directories
• Regional lists of associations and
  community partners (e.g. www.canpages.com)

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Contacting Cold Contacts
Informational Interviews

• 1. Making Contact
• 2. Preparation and Information Gathering
• 3. Obtain Referrals and Follow Up
• 4. Thank Contacts
• 5. Network Building

Rules for Meeting In-Person
Rules for Meeting In-Person
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Final Tips

• Know yourself

? Know what you are looking for and what you have
to offer

• Know the industry

? Know the players, the qualifications and the
trends

• Talk to people and let them know what you want
• ? People cannot help if they do not know what
  you are looking for

• Be focussed and targeted
• ? The more focused you are, the more you can
  learn

• Constantly build your network

? Always look for opportunities to build your
network
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Any Questions ?
Thank You For Your Interest!