Everything You Need to Know About How to Find a Job or Internship

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Everything You Need to Know About How to Find a
Job or Internship

• Presented by Psychology Peer Advisors
• March 20th, 2006

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Overview

• Types of resumes
• Interviewing skills
• How to make yourself the most qualified candidate
  possible
• Benefits of internships
• Other options if you dont want a job or
  internship

• How to find a job/internship using on-campus
  resources
• How to find a job/internship using off-campus
  resources
• Writing a cover letter
• Writing a resume

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How to Find a Job/Internship Using On-Campus
Resources

• Mollie

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On-Campus Resources

• Academic Advising and Career Development
• Main Office 301 Wilson Hall, 568-6555
• 800 a.m. 500 p.m. Monday through Friday
  Tuesdays 5-7pm
• MadisonTRAK
• On-campus events

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What Does AACD Do?

• Academic advisors assist undeclared students
• Individual career counseling and resume reviews
• Appointments may be made for students needing
  individualized assistance
• Career Life Planning Course (IS 202)
• Internship Listings

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What Is MadisonTRAK?

• JMU's on-campus recruiting segment of MonsterTRAK
  that aids students in
• Registering for on-campus interviews, mock
  interviews, and employer-in-residence
• Accessing a list of companies scheduled to
  recruit at JMU
• Viewing detailed information on job descriptions
• Submitting resumes via the web to employers

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On-Campus Events

• Resume writing clinics
• Offered at various times from September through
  April
• Interview preparation web tutorials
• Visit AACD website
• Additional book resources may be found in our
  resource center in Wilson Hall
• Mock interviews
• A variety of employers are on campus to conduct
  mock interviews each semester

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On-Campus Events Continued

• Employer in Residence Program
• Meet with an employer to do an informational
  interview, resume review, mock interview or ask
  general questions regarding your job search
• Special Job Search Workshops
• Attend a variety of sessions
• Topics vary by semester
• Examples of past topics
• Behavioral Interviewing
• Preparing for a Career Fair

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On-Campus Events Continued

• Resume Round Up
• Resume express review days
• Take place in Wilson 301
• Must bring a paper copy of your resume
• On-campus interviews
• Sonner Hall

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How to Find a Job/Internship Using Off-Campus
Resources

• Renae

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Internet Resources

• How do I go about searching for an internship via
  the internet?
• Many companies have websites where they post
  prospective internship/job opportunities
• What if I dont know of a specific company I am
  interested in?
• Search by using internship search engines

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Internship Search Engines

• The Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com
• MonsterTRAK www.monsterTRAK.com
• The Washington Center www.twc.edu
• Rising Star Internships www.rsinternships.com
• Career Builder www.careerbuilder.com

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What To Do After Finding a Listing

• Read carefully to make sure the listing meets all
  your requirements for an internship
• Follow the directions for applying to the
  internship
• May ask for an application, resume, cover letter,
  official transcripts, letters of recommendation,
  and/or written response
• Apply to a number of different internships in
  your field of interest or related fields of
  interest

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Something a Little More Personal

• Contact agencies of interest to you in your local
  area
• Yellow pages, word of mouth, connections
• Call an agency/employer directly to set up an
  appointment or stop by the agency or business to
  speak with someone face-to- face
• More personal and shows your interest in the
  agency
• Be sure to show enthusiasm and excitement whether
  on the phone or in person
• Ask questions

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Writing a Cover Letter

• Audra

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What Is A Cover Letter?

• Letter of application
• Introduces you
• Explains your purpose for writing
• Highlights your experience/skills
• Requests an opportunity to meet your employer

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How to Format Your Letter

• Type each letter individually
• Use good quality bond paper
• Address each employer by name and title
• Make sure to use spell check, correct grammar,
  and proper punctuation
• Use conventional business correspondence form

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Helpful Tips to Writing a Cover Letter

• Limit to one page
• Be organized
• Tailor your letter to each job opportunity
• Use action verbs, a mature voice, and convey
  confidence and respect
• Show some personality!

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Organizing Your Letter

• Opening paragraph
• Explain why you are writing
• Establish a point of contact
• Give a brief description of yourself

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Organizing Your Letter

• Body paragraph
• Comment about the position you are seeking and
  why
• Highlight a few of your most outstanding
  qualities
• Include your education and experience
• Explain what you would contribute to the
  organization

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Organizing Your Letter

• Closing paragraph
• Stress action
• Politely request an interview at the employers
  convenience
• Indicate what supplementary materials are being
  sent over
• Thank the reader for his/her time and
  consideration

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Questions to Ask Yourself While Writing the Cover
Letter

• Who is my audience?
• What is my objective in this letter and how can I
  best express it to my audience?
• How can the cover letter best advertise for the
  resume (if resume is included)?
• How can I maintain and heighten the interest of
  the reader throughout the letter?

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Top 8 Rules of a Cover Letter

• Remember your purpose of writing
• Be brief
• Narrow your focus
• Set realistic goals
• Emphasize your main selling points
• Explain unemployment or gaps in work history
• Never overstate your qualifications
• Follow the rules of business writing

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Writing a Resume

• Rachele

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What is a Resume?

• A brief summary of your qualifications and
  experiences
• Major purpose is to secure an interview
• Helps prospective employers evaluate the skills,
  accomplishments, and educational background you
  have to offer

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Resume Content

• Focus on the areas of your background that best
  demonstrate your skills and abilities
• Categories included depend on the information you
  want to emphasize
• There is no standard resume format

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The Heading

• At the top of the resume
• Name
• Mailing address
• Telephone number
• E-mail address
• If still in school
• Include your permanent and temporary addresses
  and phone numbers
• Your name should be legible and should stand out
  to the reader

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What to Include

• Job Objective
• Educational Background
• Related college coursework
• Experience

• Activities
• Honors
• References
• Skills
• Personal Data
• Other categories

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Job Objective

• Informs the employer of the type of work you are
  looking for
• Sets the tone of the resume
• May include
• Job title
• A description of activities and skills you wish
  to perform
• Type of organization you wish to join
• Special interests
• Any short/long-term goals
• EXAMPLE
• To obtain a challenging entry-level position as a
  programmer or analyst that will utilize and
  enhance my knowledge of the information systems
  field

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Education

• Names and addresses of all colleges/universities
  attended in reverse chronological order (most
  recent first)
• Date and type of degree earned
• Major(s) and Minor(s)
• Cumulative and/or major GPA (if assets)
• Do NOT include high school information unless
  applying for a summer internship or job
• EXAMPLE
• James Madison University, Harrisonburg,
  Virginia
• Bachelor of Arts, May 2004
• Major International Affairs, Minor Political
  Science
• Honors Program, Cumulative GPA 3.7, Major
  GPA 3.8

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Related Coursework

• List appropriate college coursework IF
• You are applying for a position that is unrelated
  to your major
• OR
• The coursework is unique/specialized in the
  career field
• It is usually recommended that you omit
  major-related coursework

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Experiences Activities

• Discuss those that best accentuate your skills
  and abilities and are related to the type of job
  you are looking for
• Include the title of your position, the name of
  the organization, location, and the dates you
  worked at the organization

• List college and professional organizations/clubs
• Include the name of the organization, any offices
  you held, and the dates you were a member
• Include a brief description if it would be
  relevant to what you are applying for

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Honors Skills

• Include scholarships, Deans List, President's
  List, and memberships in honor societies
• List dates that you were part of these societies
• If less than three, list these in the education
  section

• Information about special skills that are
  relevant to the job for which you are applying
• Examples
• computer
• language skills

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References Other Categories

• Always seek permission first
• Use individuals who know you well and will
  highlight your positive attributes
• May include a note on resume that says
• References available upon request.
• OR
• Attach them on a separate sheet

• Be creative!
• May feel it is necessary to include other
  categories to highlight specific skills you have
  which could be beneficial in the job or
  internship for which you are applying

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General Guidelines

• Be brief
• Use action verbs when describing accomplishments
• Emphasize successes and leadership abilities
  related to the job you are seeking
• Use a consistent format and verb tense, as well
  as font size and style
• Proofread!
• Use CAPITAL LETTERS, bold print, or italics to
  highlight parts

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General Guidelines Continued

• Match the paper color of your cover letter and
  resume
• Print your resume on a light bonded paper (e.g.
  white, off-white or ivory)
• Use simple graphics such as lines to create a
  border
• Create a well-organized and visually appealing
  resumeappearance is just as important as content

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Types of Resumes

• Jenn

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Resume Formats

• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination

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Chronological Format

• Organize your information as a timeline
• Start with your most recent jobs or experiences
  and work backwards
• Use this format when
• Your job history shows growth
• Or if you want to emphasize accomplishments
• Disadvantages
• Skills may not be highlighted
• Gaps are more visible

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Functional Format

• Focus on accomplishments and strengths
• Draw from all areas of experience to describe
  skill
• Use this format when
• You want to enter a different career field
• Your work experience has been limited
• You wish to focus on special skills
• Disadvantages
• Takes more time and effort than chronological
• De-emphasizes titles and work history

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Combination Format

• Combines both chronological and functional
  formats
• Use this format when
• You want to emphasize work history and skills
  equally
• Disadvantage
• Harder to keep resume organized

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Final Tips

• Keep it as concise as possible but two pages is
  fine
• Have many people read over it
• But do not over due it
• Give yourself plenty of time
• A good resume will take longer than a night to do

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Interviewing Skills

• Kara

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Prepare

• Write down questions to think about
• What skills are necessary for this job?
• What might be some challenges involved with this
  internship?
• Update your resume
• Know yourself
• Know your employer

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Practice

• Mock interviews
• http//www.jmu.edu/aacd/workshops/mock.htm
• Speak out loud to friends
• Use key words
• motivated, cooperative, honest,
  independent, strong communicator, critical
  thinker

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What to Bring

• Copies of your resume
• Pen and paper
• Internship/Job application
• List of contacts
• Arrive early
• Dress business-casual
• Turn OFF cell phone

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Its Go Time

• Shake hands, smile, eye contact
• Be clear and concise
• Briefly pause after a question is asked to
  reflect before speaking
• Use real life experiences
• Ask questions
• Thank the interviewer

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How to Make Yourself the Most Qualified Candidate
Possible

• Stephanie

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Research

• Evaluate research
• Select, administer, and score tests and surveys
• Present findings efficiently
• Compose objective reports and proposals
• Research and organize resources
• Create graphs and tables

• Be familiar with a variety of research methods
• Understand procedures used to develop research
  projects
• Use research equipment
• Collect, organize, and interpret data
• Support ideas with objective evidence
• Ability to use statistical instruments

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Human Services

• Engage in ethical practice
• Knowledge of human development and behavior
• Display empathy
• Able to promote healthy relationships
• Perform crisis intervention

• Social perceptiveness
• Service orientation
• Understand individual and cultural differences
• Insight to deal effectively with people
• Recognize and understand behavioral and emotional
  disorders

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Leadership/Teamwork

• Good Listener
• Ability to resolve or mediate conflicts
• Understanding of group dynamics
• Organize and lead groups

• Display fundamental counseling skills
• Concern for and sensitivity to others
• Effectively inform and explain information
• Motivate

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Opportunities to Develop

• Classes

• PSYC 345-social psychology
• PSYC 410-industrial/organizational psychology
• PSYC 427- Tests and Measurement
• PSYC 440-counseling psychology
• PSYC 495-Field Placement

• PSYC 210-psychological measurement statistics
• PSYC 211-experimental psychology
• PSYC 235-psychology of adjustment
• PSYC 290/402- independent study and research
• PSYC 330-psychology of personality

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More Opportunities

• Internships
• http//www.jmu.edu/aacd/
• Volunteering
• http//www.jmu.edu/csl/

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Benefits of Internships

• Katie R.

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What is an Internship?

• A work experience which provides hands- on
  training under the supervision of a professional
• Bridge between college and work

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Benefits

• Explore possible careers
• Earn academic credit
• Gain hands-on training
• Accumulate evidence of your abilities
• Apply classroom theory to real work situations
• Identify interests and talents
• Gives you competitive edge in employment after
  graduation

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Networking

• Number one way to find future jobs
• Builds alliances
• Ways to network
• Attend meetings
• Ask questions
• Talk to employees
• Make yourself stand out

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Other Options If You Arent Ready for a Job or
Internship

• Laura

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Dare to Make a Difference

• Ask not what your country can do for you, but
  what you can do for your country. John F.
  Kennedy

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Staying in the Country

• U.S.A. Freedom Corps
• Website http//www.usafreedomcorps.gov/about_usaf
  c/programs/index.asp
• Promotes a culture of service, citizenship, and
  responsibility in America
• Aid Federal service programs, act a resource for
  non-profits and businesses, and enable people to
  find opportunities to volunteer in their
  communities
• Volunteer services within the Freedom Corps
• Americorps
• Citizen Corps
• Teach for America

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Americorps

• Approximately 75,000 people/year participate in
  Americorps
• Diverse set of opportunities that utilize
  different skills
• Members tutor/mentor youth
• Build homes
• Teach computer skills
• Help communities respond to disasters (e.g.
  Katrina)
• Clean parks and streams
• Website http//www.americorps.org

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Citizen Corps

• Enables people to partake in efforts to improve
  homeland security
• Various corps created within Citizen Corps
  Council
• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
• Medical Reserve Corps
• Neighborhood Watch
• Volunteers in Police Service
• Fire Corps
• Website www.citizencorps.com

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Teach for America

• 3,500 members this year
• 2 year commitment
• Goal is to provide all children with an equal
  chance in life, regardless of their social
  economic status
• Website www.teachforamerica.org

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Volunteering Outside of the Country

• The Great Adventure Peace Corps
• Involves 2 year assignments to solve important
  challenges around the world
• Ample opportunity for diverse jobs that utilize
  your individual skills
• Broaden horizons by learning about a new culture
  and way of life
• Website www.peacecorps.gov/
• Life is calling. How far will you go?

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Want to Leave the Country and Still Earn Money?

• Apply for a short-term VISA to work in another
  country
• Opportunity to experience another culture and
  still earn money
• Good resume builder for the future
• Chance to travel within continent or country more
  cheaply (especially in Europe)

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Questions
Comments
Concerns
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Thank You For Coming!

• PSYCHOLOGY PEER ADVISING
• Johnston 113
• 568-6214
• Office Hours Mon.-Thurs. 10-5, Fri. 10-2
• AIM PeerAdvising
• E-mail peer_advise_at_jmu.edu
• http//psychweb.cisat.jmu.edu/peeradvising/

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You can HELP others! GIVE to the JMU FOOD
FIGHT Against Hunger!March 21-23, 2006All
proceeds will go to the Blue Ridge Area Food
Bank and Mercy Corps InternationalContact
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jmu.edu