Hey everyone,
Here are the due dates for upcoming assignments:
Wednesday, Nov.12 – Resume first draft
Friday, Nov. 14 – Cover letter first draft
Resume: http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/resume.shtml
- Functional resume – skills
- Chronological resume – work experience
- Hybrid resume – both (more specifically targeted to job application
Cover letter: http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/cover.shtml
Top-10 résumé tips
- Think ahead. If you wait until the last minute to hand in your résumé, you could miss the deadline and risk not being considered for the job.
- Tailor your résumé. Include information on your résumé associated with the job you are applying for.
- Chunk it out. If there is a lot of information, break it into separate sections with specific headings.
- Use action words. Focus on things you have accomplished, and avoid starting every sentence with “I”.
- Proofread. Never rely on spell check.
- Repeat Tip 5. Seriously, even one misspelled word could put you in the “do not consider” pile.
- Make it presentable. Make sure your résumé looks clean and organized. Use white, letter-sized paper (8.5 x 11-inch) and a font that’s easy to read, like Times New Roman or Arial.
- Keep it concise. Try to keep your résumé as short as possible—ideally one page, two pages maximum.
- Be honest. Lying on your résumé is never a good idea. Many people who lie on their applications end up losing their jobs when their employers find out the truth.
- Be professional. Remember, this is a business document, so don’t include unnecessary embellishments like flashy paper or a picture of yourself.
Points to remember:
- Provide your Job Objective below your contact info. but before your skills/experience
- Your Job Objective must be a job you could and would do TODAY. You are not trained to be an architect but you could work with architects as a receptionist for example.
- The headings on your resume’ ought to reflect the types of skills (groupings) and experiences you possess. Don’t feel you need to copy the headings from the examples provided.
- The headings ought to be suited to the needs of your Job objective
- Avoid sentences; rather list attributes/skills and use active verbs. For example:
Instead of: I have a positive attitude and I am willing to work hard to make the most of opportunities.”
On your resume’ write instead:
– Postive, hardworking, quick learner, team player
Instead of: I am self assured and relate well to people. I enjoy speaking in public.
– Self assured, sociable, skilled public speaker
Instead of: I was the manager of my basketball team.
– Managed a team of 16 players Jr. basket ball league.
- You want the active verbs at the front of the line. These are your transferable skills
- You want the most relevant information to be closest to the top.