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
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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
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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 STUDENT
123 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
Not So Good
• A part-time position as a
• A job where I can gain a lot of
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.
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
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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, NJ
Baccalaureate degree, Expected Graduation May 2010
AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL, Hillside, NJ
Diploma, with Honors, June 2006
OR
Rutgers University, Campus at Newark
Bachelor of Arts, January 2008
Major: Psychology
Hudson County Community College
Associate in Arts, May 2006
Major: Liberal Studies
G.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
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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-Present
Pathmark Supermarket, East Orange, NJ
• Oversee Cashiers . . .
• Recognized for effective . . .
PARAGRAPH FORMAT
NJPAC, Newark, NJ
Intern
Selected to participate ... Created
advertisements … Coordinated several …
Consistency is the key!
6/05 - 7/06
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
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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:
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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
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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”