Job Seekers & Strategy Documents

Strategy Statement, CV/Resume, Web Site, and Letters

24th January 2011

In this second class focused on seeking your first Job, we will expand on the first meeting's introduction to the idea of Strategy Documents. We will consider each of the four basic components: your Strategy Statement, CV/Resume, application letters and web site. Below I provide links to the readings that you should do to prepare and the agenda of topics that we will discuss during the class session. I recommend you look over the agenda before starting on the readings so you know what to read for as you prepare for the class discussion.

The Nature of the Readings

As will be the case in nearly all our class sessions the readings are provided through links. They consist of materials that I have found useful in elaborating my understanding of topics that I want us to include in discussing the content of your Strategy Documents. They indicate why the topic is important and how to address it. For example: What is the function of the job application letter for the student versus the person receiving it? What are the alternative formats and content for application letters in differing contexts?

Primary and Supplementary Readings

For most topics there will be a primary reading and then a secondary reading and possibly examples to give you a sense of differing perspectives on this topic that bring out both commonalities and contrasts. Whenever useful, I will use the same source for sub-topics so as to provide an understanding of how the treatment of each comes together in the author's view.

For example for today, we view the very useful video demo of the Career Development eManual produced by the University of Waterloo's Career Services Department. This is complemented by the first chapters from two books: Cover Letters for Dummies and Resumes for Dummies and links to awarding winning examples of cover letters and CVs/Resumes.

To further supplement these readings I will often provide a list of other Resources. These will connect you to information relevant to Canada and B.C., and additional readings and video materials.

Goal of the Readings

In all the readings I am seeking to give you a good starting point for advancing your knowledge, skills and attitudes relating to seeking a first Job. I do not expect you to read and absorb it all first time. Rather read to get a first level of better understanding and plan to get more with further iterations. You will almost certainly want to return to them as you develop your Strategy Documents and start the process of searching for a Job. As indicated elsewhere, I hope you will let me and the rest of the class know whenever you find useful readings among the enormous and rapidly growing resources out there. Please post to the G2Y blog whenever you want to suggest something.

Reading Preparation

Primary Materials

• On strategy: UW Career Development eManual The link takes you to a demo video summarizing the 6 Steps to Success discussed in the emanual, which we will use to identify and discuss the basic components of your Strategy Statement. Each step and its sub-parts links to key topics for you to consider. The eManual is an extremely rich resource with considerable detail including video clips, tests and document formats. Review the demo video firstly to get a sense of what is available in the eManual and the 6 step approach to a strategy. Go through a second time and use the pause button (bottom left) so you can take the time to read all the text on each page. In the class session we will be looking at selected steps and components. Last year the full eManual was available on line at no charge. Unfortunately you now have to pay $56 for three months of use. I have purchased a subscription and will show you in class what kind of material is available.
• Inspired by a Dream Goal Setting by Gregg Taylor on BCjobs.ca
• Be Strategic About Your Job Hunt by Sarah McNeill on BCjobs.ca
• Resumes for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy provides a second perspective on this topic. This is the 5th Edition (2006) of the book and it is written by a well-known journalist specializing in career development. Read Chapter 1 for a good overview. A new edition is due out later this month which you may wish to consider buying.
• Cover Letters for Dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy. This is the 3rd Edition (2008) of this book and Chapter 1, available online, provides a good overview.

Supplementary Readings

• Each year Career Directors International holds a competition to identify the best Resumes and Cover Letters produced by one of their members to meet a particular client's needs. They are organised into different categories and available for a number of past years (e.g. look at the 2009 winners in Best New Graduate Resume). After the Resume or Letter, the nominating member writes a short explanation of why she or he suggested to the client that they should design it the way they did. I was impressed by the products and pleasantly surprised to see the varied ways in which conventional approaches are being re-formed to reflect changing expectations of the times and differing contexts for use. I recommend perusing them.

Resources

• CareerTV Founded in 2006 this is an interesting source of video material on all kinds of aspects of career development. It is a good place to hear what employers are looking for and to get the advice of those who read resumes and interview applicants. It is strongly corporate in orientation but the issues addressed are none-the-less relevant to other contexts.
• BCjobs.ca A good source of BC oriented information and links to all kinds of related web sites. Provides another perspective on the basic issues and strategies related to getting a job.
• Working with a career professional Having read the resumes and cover letters written for clients by career professionals, I believe the right person could be of great assistance, particularly when it is a critical stage in your career development (e.g. an advertisement appears for your dream position and you really want to get all the help you can to maximize your chance of being the person hired). Here you will find guidance on how to find the "right" career professional for you.

Agenda

Goals for Job

• Aspirations for planning career? (including personal and life goals). Your vision and be SMART about goals < Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time specific.
• SCARP program focus?
• Capstone research focus?
• Internship focus?
• Goals for first job?
• What did you say in your Omnibus web site? What was my feedback?
• Develop a "brand" for yourself.

Opportunities and Constraints

• Do you have any particular opportunities (e.g. connections, advertisements, etc)
• Do you have any particular needs and constraints (e.g. location, timing, pay etc)
• What are the alternative organizations to consider? (i.e. do your research)

Strategies for Searching for Potential Opportunities

• Arrange information interviews
• Seek opportunities to shadow planners for a day
• Gain experience by volunteering and taking part-time/short-term employment
• Watching for advertisements (where, when)
• Asking those you know or have met
• Asking for a referral
• Approaching organizations cold
• Approaching individuals cold

Approaches for getting to interview (with and without advertisement or announcement)

• Email or letter with package
• Phone call as follow-up
• Seeking an interview

Content of letter and package (with and without advertisement or announcement)

• Letter
  • What can you offer them?
  • What are you seeking from them?
  • What might they be looking for from someone, like you?
• Package
  • CV and Resume plus 3X4 calling card
  • References: omit names, check past, brief writers
  • Portfolio
  • Web site