Preparation:  Resumes & Cover Letters | Interview Tips

Job Search:  Networking | Classifieds/Internet Listings | Employment Services
 

Professional Career Counselors are available, by appointment, to provide guidance to assist students and alumni through the job search process. You will receive individual help with your resume and cover letter, interview preparation materials and job search strategy advice. Computers are available to help you with your job search.

Resumes & Cover Letters

A resume is an advertisement of who you are in terms of your competencies, accomplishments, and future capabilities. It is your chief marketing tool or calling card for opening the doors of prospective employers. Your goal is to create a resume that will summarize and highlight your experience and background relevant to the position, market your relevant competencies and accomplishments, and motivate the employer to interview you. When writing a resume, always remember that you are advertising yourself for an interview, and not for a job. Job offers only come after interviews. The following samples are only guidelines to assist you in creating a resume that will reflect your unique skills and experiences.

You can also view our  online "workshop" on resume writing.  Go to our Workshops page for more information.

Email critique – If you have developed a resume/cover letter based on the examples provided and would like a critique, please email it to careers@jjc.edu as an attachment in a word document that has been saved as a rich text document, with "Resume Critique" as the subject line.

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Interview Tips

You need to understand the interview process to properly prepare. Preparation can take time so it is best not to wait until the last minute to think about this critical event. You will encounter several different types of interviews. It is important that you understand and be prepared for each one. The interviewer will want to learn more about your background relevant to the job and how you will fit into the organization. The following resources will provide you with some basic information to help with the interview.

To view an online "workshop" on Interviewing go to our Workshops page for more information.

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Beginning the Job Search

Networking (75-80% of your time)

Because most jobs are found through networking, you should devote about 75% of your job search time to that activity. The object is to get the word out to as many people as possible that you are trying to match your skills to an employer's needs.

• Identify people who work in your intended occupation or industry. Also identify people who might know people in that occupation or industry.

• Talk to everyone you know – neighbors, friends, relatives, and acquaintances from class, church and organizations you belong to, even your hair stylist, dentist, doctor and their staff. Tell them what occupation you’re interested in, and in a conversational manner provide them with a brief summary of your qualifications. Complete the conversation by asking if they can give you any leads on jobs or people to contact for information.

• Have your resume available to anyone who may be able to help.

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Classified Ads/Internet Listings (15-20% of your time)

Classified Ads:

Be selective in your decision to apply. Only respond to an ad for which you have all the minimum qualifications and even a little more. The best ads are typically in the Sunday papers. Because employers often receive hundreds of replies to one ad, make sure that your cover letter and resume stand out in a very positive way. Be sure to address in your cover letter each requirement listed in the ad – even if it’s already in your resume. If salary history is requested, indicate a range that you are looking for at the bottom of your cover letter. Reading advertisements is helpful to keep up-to-date on what qualities and skills are most in demand. When appropriate, use these keywords in your resume and cover letter.

Internet Job Listings:

Get help from the web for job openings. Many employers are directing job seekers to their company web site for the application process. Because of the lower cost, information is available 24/7, which makes it easier for candidates to apply. Some companies will even tell you how to prepare for the interview. If you are interested in a particular employer, go directly to their web site. If the home page does not have a direct link for employment, do a keyword search for human resources, such as “employment, careers, or jobs” to locate the appropriate page.

There are sites targeting a variety of fields and locations, or you can perform keyword searches using search engines to find your own openings. This is just a small sample of the many job search sites available.

Click here for more links.

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Employment Services (not more than 10% of your time)

Temp Agencies
Employment Agencies
Executive Search Firms
Career Consultants
Job Service

Research the reputation of any agency you are considering and be sure to read and understand the contract. If you are looking for a specific industry, seek out agencies that specialize in that particular field. Agencies can work in two ways: They find temporary employees for client companies, and also find permanent employees for client companies. Often, you can begin as a "temp" and get hired by the employer once you have proven yourself for a certain period of time. Use the agencies where the employer pays the fee and the agency specializes in your field.

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