Ch. 18: Résumés and Other Job-Search Materials

• Identify your personal assets as a job applicant
• What skills can you offer to a potential employer?
• Search for a job systematically
• Make a plan
• Focus your search
• Use the internet
• Network with people
• Create an effective print résumé
• Include
• contact information
• career objectives
• education
• work experience
• personal data
• references
• Leave out
• desired salary/ benefits
• photographs
• List relevant experience
• Never lie about your credentials
• Use quality paper
• Always proofread!
• Adapt your print  résumé for scanning, emailing, or posting online
• Today, résumés are often submitted digitally
• Make sure your résumé is scannable
• Use standard print and avoid fancy highlighting
• All text should be flush to the left margin
• Save in "text only" or "rich text" format
• Use keywords
• If online, make sure the résumé can be downloaded quickly
• Write an effective application letter
• Develop a draft of the letter
• Customize each letter
• Never be vague and do not exaggerate
• Be enthusiastic
• Be concise
• Make several drafts before settling
• Prepare a dossier, portfolio, or webfolio
• A dossier contains credentials
• Portfolios and webfolios contain résumés and examples of your work
• Succeed in a job interview
• Don't show up unprepared
• Make a positive first impression
• Know the appropriate length for answers
• Be friendly, attentive, and smile
• Ask intelligent questions