Preparing For Your Career Janean Couch, PHRAssistant Director, GVSU Career Centercouchja@gvsu.edu616.331.6708

The Process

• A resume gets you an interview• This document is an outline or profile of you• Keywords – not paragraphs

• An interview gets you a position• Describe your successes• Tell them why they should hire you

• A position helps you build a career• Everyone has to start somewhere• Update your resume with every step you take

• It is not a ladder… it is rock climbing!

Spruce up your resume• What are employers looking for?

• Neat – Organized - Consistent• Knowledge of Specific Industry and Population• Combination of Education and Experience• EASY TO READ

• Goal Oriented:

Objective: To obtain the Child Protective Services position with The State of Michigan contributing to protect children and provide resources to families.

• Demonstrated Experience:• No Claims!• Provide Evidence

Things to Avoid…• Errors!• Templates• Fluffy wording• Inappropriate graphics and colors• Cramming• Too much white space• Paragraphs and “I” language

Powerful Accomplishment Statements

What is the difference between an “accomplishment” and a “job duty”?• Start with an Action Verb• Directed• Planned• Coordinated

• Qualifying or Quantifying Adjectives / Descriptions• Supervised a team of 8 volunteers…• Provided guidance to at-risk students…

• Results-oriented• … to ensure deadlines are met.• … resulting in a 30% increase of participation over last year.

Action Statements• Start with an Action Verb• Coordinated group sessions

• Qualifiers• Coordinated group sessions for adolescent girls

• Quantifiers • Coordinated group sessions for 8-10 adolescent girls

• Outcomes• Coordinated group sessions for 8-10 adolescent girls to provide

support and education of dating violence

Sample Resume

Cover letters• Resume and cover letter go hand – in hand • Take the place of face-to-face interaction• Opportunity to pique reader’s interest in your resume and you! • Show how your background and abilities meet the employer’s needs• Show how you’re a good fit for the organization (this takes research)• Where you heard about the position

Let your cover letter show…Your knowledge of the employer/positionWhy you’re a strong candidateYour communication and writing skillsYour personality and professionalism

◦ Present your professional best! Your motivation energy and enthusiasm

Always send a cover letter!

Interviewing

What will I be asked??

What are some “typical” questions an interviewee faces in the span of a 30-60 minute interview??

30-60 minutes• Thoughtful Response• Reasoning and Evidence• Grammar and Vocabulary• Listening• Degree of Interaction• Expressiveness• Humor / Likability Factor

Selling yourselfThe Sales Analogy• You are the product… and the Sales

Representative!• The employer is a consumer• Your resume is the marketing piece• The interview is your sales pitch

SOAR… or be a STARSituationObstacle or TaskActionResult

Questions?

Career Services• Help you plan/brainstorm!• Resume and Cover Letter Resources• Simulated Interviews• Career Fairs and On-campus Recruitment• Web-based Employment System• www.gvsu.edu/lakerjobs