Tips for Succeeding at Career Fairs

Resumes & Cover Letters

that get Interviews

Presented by the Career Services &

Co-operative Education Department

Summer 2019

Introductions

Marianne Botres,

Student Employment Advisor

Elizabeth Manzato,

Student Employment Advisor

Before we begin

• It is recommended that you use earphone/headphones to

listen in.

• This webinar is being recorded.

• Slides and recording will be e-mailed to you after the webinar.

• Please ask questions at anytime using the chat window.

– We will answer questions periodically during the webinar.

• You will receive a survey link at the end of the webinar.

Please provide feedback!

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify how the Career Services department can help

you in your career planning and job search process

2. Identify components of an effective resume and cover

letter

3. Examine how to use information from job postings to

create a customized resume/cover letter

QUICK POLL

We want to hear from you!

Career &

Employment

Advising

Jumpstart your career with Career Services!

Employer

Events

Job Postings,

Sample Resumes

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account today

Step 1: Go to https://hire.centennialcollege.ca

Step 2: Click on the Student button

Step 3: Login using your MyCentennial info

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careerservices@centennialcollege.ca | 416-289-5233 | centennialcollege.ca/employment

HireCentennial Job Portal

Step 1:

Login to myCentennial

Step 2:

Click Student Services

Step 3:

Click HireCentennial

True or False?

Your résumé

should be 1 or 2

pages only.

TRUE

True or False?

You should

include relevant

international

experience in

your résumé.

TRUE

True or False?

On average, a

potential employer

will take between 1 -

2 minutes to read a

résumé for the first

time.

FALSE

True or False?

You can use

the same

résumé to

apply for any

job.

FALSE

What is a Résumé?

• A marketing tool to present your education, skills,

and experiences to an employer

• An overview about you and your skills – not about

your life history

Its purpose is to

GET YOU THE

INTERVIEW

Before you begin …

1. PURPOSE - What am I using this resume for?

2. EDUCATION - What skills have I developed

through my education?

3. EXPERIENCE - What work/volunteer/life

experiences do I have?

4. JOB REQUIREMENTS - What do employers in

my field look for?

Analyzing a Job Posting

Some good websites to use:

• HireCentennial

• Indeed

• Charity Village (non-profit)

What to Look for:

• Keywords and phrases of skills/qualifications

• How do you specifically meet these requirements?

Prove Your Fit

What is the employer

looking for?

How do you meet that

requirement?

Steps to create a customized

resume

Step 1: Find a job

posting you are interested in

Step 2: Highlight key

words/phrases that refer to

skills and qualifications

needed for the job

Step 3: Incorporate

these keywords into your

resume and show HOW you

meet the requirements

Basic Components of a Résumé

• Header: Contact Information

• Objective / Job Title / Profile Statement

• Summary of Skills/Qualifications

• Education

• Experience

Optional:

• Professional Development/Additional Training

• Community Involvement/Volunteer Experience

Sample Résumé

Modern Objective

Summary of

Qualifications

Experience

Education

Contact

Info

Optional

Sections

Contact Information

• Name

• Address

• Professional email address

• Phone number (voicemail)

• Your customized LinkedIn URL

• E-portfolio URL (optional)

Types of Objectives

• Traditional Objective

• Modern Objective / Tagline

• Profile Statement

Traditional Objective

• 1 sentence naming the

target position

• Top skills or reasons why

you are best fit

• Benefits to employer

(optional)

Traditional

objectives are

becoming

outdated and

replaced with

modern styles.

Sample Traditional Objective

OBJECTIVE:

To obtain an Administrative Assistant position

with Centennial College, where my advanced

computer skills, superb organizational abilities,

and ability to prioritize and multitask can be

applied to increase the efficiency of your

department.

Modern Objective or Tagline

• Job/Occupation title

• 3 main areas of expertise/strengths that

are key to the job

• Sample:

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL

Client Service Oriented | Deadline Driven | Efficient

EXAMPLE OF MODERN OBJECTIVE ON

RESUME

Profile Statement

• Written in phrases

• 1-2 sentences

• Summary of experience

• Skills/strengths relevant to job

Sample Profile Statement

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL

Administrative professional with over 2 years of

experience providing support to various

departments. Graduated with a diploma in Office

Administration from Centennial College. Highly

organized with proficiency in Microsoft Office and

ability to prioritize and multi-task to achieve

established timelines.

Summary of Qualifications

WHAT TO INCLUDE:

• Education

• Experience

• Field specific

knowledge and

skills

• Transferable skills

• Computer skills

• Languages

Summary of Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in … ;

Graduate Certificate in …

• Experience in …

• Familiar with …

• Working knowledge of …

• Proficient in …

• Skilled at …

• Trained in …

What skills are employers looking

for?

Technical or “Hard” Skills

(program-specific)

Transferable or “Soft” Skills

(self/people management

skills)

What skills are employers looking

for?

Technical or “Hard” Skills

(program-specific)

Transferable or “Soft” Skills

(self/people management skills)

•

Taxation, budgeting, project

management

•

Interpersonal / team work skills

•

Needs assessment and evaluation,

advocacy

•

Organizational / time management

skills

•

Java, C#, LAN/WAN, VOIP, cloud,

app, tech support

•

Strong verbal & written

communication skills

•

Baking/cooking, hotel operations,

event planning

•

Problem solving skills

•

Logistics, risk management

•

Initiative/self-motivated

•

Pneumatics, hydraulics, 3-D design,

electronics, energy

•

Attendance and punctuality

SAMPLE SUMMARY OF

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Include Centennial College +

other relevant education

• List name of program first, bolded

• List courses or describe relevant

academic projects

Sample Education Section

EDUCATION

Pharmacy Technician Diploma Sept 2013 – April 2015

Centennial College, Toronto, ON

• Courses included: Pharmaceutical Calculations, Pharmacology, ___________, _________

Bachelor of Science in Biology Apr 2013

ABC University, Toronto, ON

Experience

• Include placements, internships, co-op

• Focus on your accomplishments and

results (rather than listing tasks/duties)

• Can separate this section into 2 such

as, ‘Related Experience’ & ‘Other

Experience’

Accomplishment Statements

Use the ADD format to describe your

accomplishments and responsibilities.

A – Action : Begin with a strong verb

D – Description : Describe the task performed

*D – Detail : Add additional detail

(e.g., results/outcome; quantify if possible #, %, $)

Quantify or Qualify Your

Accomplishments

Quantify:

use numbers to make

your ideas more

concrete

Qualify:

demonstrate how well

you do/did on your job,

not just what you did

• Served over 100 customers per day…

• Handled a 5 line telephone system; took

accurate messages and distributed calls to the

appropriate staff members

• Organized a fundraiser for … raising over

$1000 in donations

• Resolved customer complaints, resulting in

consistent return customer business

• Received “Employee of the Month” award for

an outstanding monthly sales record

Use ADD format to create stronger

statements

WEAK STATEMENT STRONG STATEMENT

Handled

cash and credit

transactions.

Handled cash and credit transactions in an

accurate and efficient manner.

Wrote

computer programs.

Created an e

-commerce website using [list

programming languages

] , which resulted in ……..

Cooked breakfast foods.

Expertly prepared delicious breakfast items, such

as pancakes and muffins, using locally sourced

ingredients for elementary school breakfast club.

Took

care of young children.

Regularly cared for groups of up to 10 children

between 5 and 10 years of age, ensuring their

safety and wellness during all activities.

Work Experience

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Pharmacy Technician (Hospital Placement) March 2014

Toronto Hospital Pharmacy, Toronto, ON

 Accurately interpreted and filled prescription orders, and input patient data into computerized

system

 Calculated, prepared and dispensed IV admixtures using aseptic technique

 Controlled inventory levels by adjusting orders and returning products to manufacturers

 Worked effectively with multidisciplinary team

 Followed hospital pharmacy’s policies and protocols

Optional Sections

Professional Development:

• relevant workshops, training, conferences

Community Involvement:

• volunteer, memberships, extra-curricular activities

What NOT to Include On Resume

• Personal Information (age,

weight)

• Citizenship or Social

Insurance Number (SIN)

• Marital Status

• Religion

• Citizenship status

• Reasons for leaving previous

job

• Salary expectations

• Availability

• List of references

•Photo (rare exceptions)

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Prove Your Fit

Jobscan.co

Key Resume Tips

• Be consistent with

formatting– margins,

spacing, bullets

• Put your Header (contact

info) on page 2

• Maximum 2 pages long

• Omit irrelevant or old

experience from your

résumé

Key Resume Tips

• Use appropriate

language to show your

industry knowledge

• Do not use the same

résumé for every job!

• Check for spelling and

grammar – more than

once!

Cover Letters

What is a Cover Letter?

• A letter that is part of the standard application

• Allows an employer to know the personal side of you

• Always changes with the job

• Highlights your skills

• Explains why you should be hired for the position

Quick Tips

• One page in length with 3 – 4 paragraphs

• Use the same header and font as your

resume

• Include the company name and full address

• Use Mr. or Ms. if you have the name of the

hiring manager

– Otherwise, use ‘Hiring Manager’ or ‘Hiring

Committee’

• Do not use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ or ‘To whom it

may concern’

• Include a subject line indicating the position

you are applying for

• Be specific about your qualifications - match

the job requirements

• Error/format free

Sample Letter

Company Contact

Information

Salutation

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Contact

Information

Date

Subject

Paragraph #1

• What position are you

applying for

• Where did you hear about

the position

• Talk about why you are a

great candidate for the

position

• E.g., brief sentence on

relevant qualifications/skills

relevant to the job

• Be creative, capture their

attention up front!

• E.g., why you are

interested in this

company? what you can

offer to this company?

• Do research on company’s

mission, history, philosophy,

values, awards, upcoming

projects, etc.

Paragraph #1 Examples

Example #1:

I was excited to read about the Administrative Assistant job opening at XYZ

company. I have several years of administrative experience in a variety of fields

including insurance and finance. Please accept this letter and attached resume

as my application for …….

Example #2:

My proven track record of successfully performing complex analyses on various

corporations makes me an ideal candidate for the Analyst opportunity that you

have advertised. It is with great interest that I submit my application to be

considered for the …….

Paragraph #2

• Discuss specific examples of

experiences/projects that showcase the skills

required for the position

• Always refer to the job posting!

• E.g., You are looking for a candidate who has ...

• Break into 2 paragraphs if it becomes lengthy

Paragraph # 2 Example

Paragraph #3

•Thank employer for their time

•Ask for an interview, politely

Example:

I would welcome the opportunity to attend an interview to discuss my

qualifications and how I can be an asset for your organization. I can be reached

via phone or email. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look

forward to hearing from you.

Tips for a Strong Letter

• Use confident language

• Let your personality shine

through

• Show your passion for the

job/field

• Include accomplishments from

previous experiences

• Share compliments from

supervisors, patients, team

Summer Webinars/Workshops

Career Chat – Own Your Future, Room #L2-24

Wednesday, June 12 | 12:30PM – 1:30PM

Webinar – How to Find a Job Effectively

Thursday, June 20 | 2:30PM - 3:30 PM

Career Chat – Own Your Future, Room #L2-16

Tuesday, July 16 | 3:30PM – 4:30PM,

Webinar – How to Interview with Confidence

Thursday, July 4 | 1:00PM - 2:00 PM

Webinar – How to Be Successful at Work

Tuesday, July 16 | 2:30PM – 3:30PM

REGISTER ON HIRECENTENNIAL!!!

Career Services

416-289-5223

centennialcollege.ca/employment

careerservices@centennialcollege.ca

PROG C2-10 | MORN 324 | ASH L-104 | SAC 284

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