Work Study IS A REAL JOB

Presented by your:

CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Fall Semester 2006

What We’ll Cover Today !

• Resume Writing

• First Impressions / Interviews

Résumé Writing

Give You An Understanding of :

• The purpose of a Résumé.

• The structure of a Chronological Résumé and how to write your Résumé.

• The help available to you from the

Career Development Center.

What is a Résumé?

• Your résumé is a marketing tool.

• A way for you to “sell yourself”• A good résumé is one that

works = getting you invited for an interview.

• Reflects your skills, knowledge.

• What makes you an ideal candidate?

• Used in interview process.

Why Do I Need a Résumé?

• It gives your future supervisor an idea of who you are and what your strengths/skills are.

• It gives you a “fact sheet” for advertising your achievements and skills to an employer.

• An essential document when searching for internships, summer jobs and, of course, professional employment after graduation.

Your Paper Résumé

• Keep it simple, one (1) page.• No templates or wizards !!• Use 21 or 24 lb weight white or off-white paper• Stay away from to much Italics, underlining,

script.• Font should be popular (Arial/Times New

Roman); font size should be 10, 11, or 12 point• Bullets simple, no images• Spell Check & Proofread. Then Proofread again!• Be consistent with your margins and headings

Points to remember…

• Your résumé is a marketing tool, not an autobiography.

• Any experience - whether paid, volunteer, or extracurricular - is worth considering for your Resume

• PROOF-READ carefully for spelling and grammar. Don’t rely solely on spell check

• Be consistent and attentive to detail

Your Contact Information

IMA STUDENT123 Main Street

Newark, NJ 07102(973) 123-4567

imastudent@pegasus.rutgers.edu

IWANNA JOB www.iwanna.com

123 Main Boulevard, Apt. 3 (973) 123-7654 Newark, NJ 07102 iwanna@rutgers.edu

The Objective:

• Your objective should be concise.

• Your objective tells the reader your short-term goal.

• Keep things general, but do indicate the type of position, field, and/or skills sought.

• You will change your objective to meet the situation you are using it for.

Objective: The Good, the Bad & The Undecided

Good

• A part-time position as a work-study in the Library.

• A summer job that will utilize skills obtained from college study and prior part-time jobs.

• To secure an internship that will challenge skills obtained from classroom study and work-study experience.

Not So Good • A job where I can gain a lot of

experience.• A summer job in a large

company in Newark.• A job that challenges me and

leads to better opportunities.

Education

• Current students and recent graduates should include this after Objective.

• High school info. (first-year students ONLY)

• Only list schools where degrees/diploma’s or certificates have been completed

• List GPA ( …if over a 3.0 )

• Indicate anticipated Rutgers graduation (correct months = May, October, or January )

Education Examples:RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, Newark, NJBaccalaureate degree, Expected Graduation May 2010

AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL, Hillside, NJDiploma, with Honors, June 2006

OR

Rutgers University, Campus at NewarkBachelor of Arts, January 2008Major: Psychology

Hudson County Community CollegeAssociate in Arts, May 2006Major: Liberal StudiesG.P.A.: 3.2/4.0

Achievements & Accomplishments

• Achievements: What you did…….

• Indicate number of hours worked…while pursuing full degree program.

• Financing 75% of college expenses through part-time or seasonal employment.

• Work an average of 25 hours per week while pursuing degree full-time and actively participating in campus clubs

• Accomplishments: How well you did…

• Honors for school or employment.

• Honor Roll, American High School

• Who’s Who, American High School Students, 2005

• Teller of the Month, First Union Bank, 2006

Relevant Experience:

• Your experience is listed in reverse chronological order

• Include paid and unpaid jobs. All jobs have value !

• Use action words for stating accomplishments• Make sure you use the correct tense• Can be stated in bullet or paragraph form • Bullet format uses action words• Paragraph format uses more space• Never use “ I ”, “me” or “my” .

Chronological Presentation of Experience

BULLET FORMAT

Cashier/Salesperson 2005-PresentPathmark Supermarket, East Orange, NJ• Oversee Cashiers . . .• Recognized for effective . . .

PARAGRAPH FORMAT

NJPAC, Newark, NJ 6/05 - 7/06InternSelected to participate ... Created advertisements … Coordinated several …

Consistency is the key!

Action Words: What you do, but saying it differently.

• Did = Conducted, Produced, Participated, Provided, Coordinated

• Helped out = Assisted

• Started = Implemented, Maintained, Organized, Planned, Prepared, Researched, Selected, Structured

• Action Words on Website

Activities and Memberships

Volunteer, Newark Hospital, 2005-6

Treasurer, American High School Spanish Club, Fall 2005

Participant, Easter Seal Holiday Fundraising, 2004

Skills (Additional Skills)

Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel

Bilingual: English/Spanish. Some knowledge of Portuguese

Leadership: Assumed many academic and professional leadership roles

References

References Available Upon Request.

OR

REFERENCES: Available upon request

OR

References on file at: www.referencenow.com

Remember…

• Your résumé is a representation of YOU

• You do have skills that make you a valuable commodity

• Make sure the information is up to date and 100% accurate

• This is not merely practice for the real world - it is a REAL résumé for a REAL job !

Résumé Review

• Please visit the Career Development Center’s Web site to view sample résumés – http://cdc.newark.rutgers.edu

• Visit the Career Development Center during Walk-In Hours or make an appointment to have your Résumé critiqued

Getting off on the Right Foot:Making a Positive 1st Impression

The Interview Doesn’t Start at the First In-Person Meeting!

• It begins at your very first contact! Things you should consider:

• Telephone Greetings: Right Way vs. Wrong Way

• How to properly set-up your meeting: be flexible with your calendar

• During the call: Try to get a sense of the kind of person the Supervisor is

Why Do I Have To Interview ?

• To see if you are a good “match” for the department

• To assess your skill sets and determine how they can contribute to the departments goals

• To establish the framework of a (hopefully) pleasant and prosperous working relationship

Acing The Phone Call

• What to do and not to do when someone answers:

• POOR: “Hello, the financial aid office told me to call you because I’m supposed to be your new work-study”

• BETTER: “Hi, my name is Melissa Withers and I have been instructed to contact your department concerning a possible work-study assignment. May I please speak with the person who supervises work-studies?”

What’s Next?

• Set-up your interview!

• Be willing to meet the interviewer halfway with regard to time. If s/he has specific time set aside for interviews, respect that

• Call the department the day before your interview to “confirm” your appointment

Interview Don’ts

• Arrive late

• Dress improperly

• Smoke, eat, or chew gum

• Bring anyone (friend/parent/child) with you

• Place or receive cellular phone calls

• Forget to bring your Resume

• Forget your manners!

What Should I Wear???

• Men: Clean, pressed slacks or khakis. Polo or oxford-style shirt (tie optional). A fresh shave/neatly trimmed facial hair a must!

• Women: Dress or skirt with coordinating blouse, dress slacks also acceptable

• Both: Polished low-heeled shoes with coordinating hosiery or dress socks; moderate to minimal jewelry, a watch

Be Prepared to Answer Questions On:

• Personal: Why you chose Rutgers, what you hope to accomplish, any majors in mind; about your high school or community college experience

• Skills: What are you good at, what do you enjoy doing, what needs improvement

• History: Any current or previous work or volunteer experience

• Special Issues: Work habits and preferences

Questions You Might Ask:

• What skills are valued most

• Type of supervision/training provided

• A typical day on the job

• Their standard for “a job well done”

• Policy regarding work during exams/breaks

Where to Go from Here…

• Take the interview seriously, but don’t stress too much!

• Be positive, but honest about your skills and interests

• Give the job the same effort you have given to other jobs. Work-Study isn’t free $$$

• Take the opportunity to learn new things• Relax and have fun!

Be prepared.

• You should be able to discuss any of the content of your resume during the interview.

• Example• Technical Skills: Microsoft Word, Access,

Excel, PowerPoint

• All past employment should be included on your resume.

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR

• If you are going to be out for an unexpected occurrence, it is your responsibility to inform your Supervisor of your absence(s) immediately.

• If you are going to be out for a planned amount of time (i.e., exams, spring break, study-group, oil change, etc.) It is your responsibility to inform your Supervisor IN WRITING of your absence(s) as soon as you know.

• If you are going to be out sick, call first thing in the morning to let your Supervisor know. Leave a message if you get voice mail. Speak clearly !

Before We Leave You …

• Use the Career Center’s Walk-In Periods to get help with your resume or get help preparing for your interviews

• Remember, the Career Center also provides professional career counseling if you are having trouble identifying a major or career

• Some Advice about “myspace.com”