Job search handbook student employment - connecting students + employers
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job search
handbook
student employment
connecting students + employersTable of Contents
Getting Started 1
Target your job search and clarify your employment goal 1
Build your skills 1
Networking 3
Information interviews 5
Access the hidden job market 6
Investigate companies 6
Cold Calls 7
Obtain References 8
Research companies and your industry 8
Resume Writing Tips 9
Resume Content 9
Resume Styles 9
Visual Presentation 13
Steering clear of possible employer concerns 13
Tips for Creating an Electronic Resume 14
Submitting Your Resume 15
Need more assistance with your resume? 15
Cover Letters 16
Sample Cover Letter Outline 17
Application Forms 18
Portfolios 19
The Interview 20
Research 20
Planning 21
Strategic Maneuvering 21
Panel Interviews 23
Tips for handling telephone interviews 23
sample interview questions 23
Answering inappropriate questions 24
Negotiating Your Salary and Compensation 26
Tips for Working Overseas 28
Handling Rejection and Staying Motivated 29
Job Search Evaluation Questions 30
using guerilla tactics to get a job 32
Additional Job Related Resources 33
2 NAIT Student EmploymentGetting Started
Getting Started
Many companies want to hire the best people before other companies beat them to it.
Believe it or not, you are a hot commodity! Companies want to hire you, but they can’t
unless you apply. Employers will often start advertising jobs up to six months in advance of
when the successful candidate will actually start work.
Also, it’s much easier to start looking for work early in the school term, when you’re not
insanely busy. (you may find it easier to approach employers as a student, rather than
waiting until you’ve graduated and are unemployed.) Why add having to find a job to your
end of term worries about passing exams and completing assignments? Apply early, land
a job, and take a load off your mind.
Starting your job search early will assist you in getting a good job, rather than a crummy
one. If you’re scrambling to find a job at the end of the term, you won’t be alone. Many
others will be scrambling for that elusive job too. That means competition - something
you want to avoid.
tips on how to get
your job search started.
Target your job search and clarify your
employment goal
Identify at least three possible job titles of interest. If your goal is fuzzy, it’s time to devote
some attention to this fundamental area. Struggling with this? Then speak to one of our
NAIT Counsellors to help you sort this one out.
Build your skills
Increase your work experience
and develop your transferable skills
There are plenty of ways to get work experience while you’re in school. What will often get
an employer’s attention are your transferable skills. You need skills that apply to a wide
range of positions and duties.
The skills most desired by Canadian employers, no matter the industry, are communication,
teamwork, interpersonal, analytical, and organization skills. Employers also want to hire
people with a good work ethic.
Focus on ways to develop these skills in your academic, volunteer and work activities.
For example, say you’re in Animal Health Technology and your class decides to do some
fundraising for the SPCA. You work as a team (teamwork) to plan an event (organization)
where you can raise some money. You contact the media (verbal communication,
interpersonal) and although it takes a lot of time and effort (good work ethic), you are
able to present the SPCA with a substantial cheque. Afterwards, you go over the entire
process (analytical) and write up a report of recommendations for next year’s class
(written communication).
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 1See how that works? Try to put yourself in situations (working, volunteering, or even doing
Getting Started
schoolwork) where you are able to develop these skills.
Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice your grades for these new skills. So, manage your
time effectively, keep ahead of your schoolwork and know your limits. Get involved! You’ll
have a good time, meet some new people and improve your chances of landing that great
job.
The next step is to ensure that you remember these transferable skills when it’s time to
write your resume and cover letter, and during an interview. This will help separate you
from your competition in that search for a job.
Assume leadership roles
Examples: team leader for groups, projects, student government, run your own summer
business.
Seek career-related summer employment after
your first year
Career-related summer jobs are great experience. They also help strengthen your resume
and increase your chances of landing a good job after you graduate.
Take advantage of the assistance provided by
Student Employment
Visit www.nait.ca/studentemployment to review job postings and post your resume on
our resume database. Meet with a NAIT Student Advisor to review your resume and cover
letter and to discuss job search strategies including interviews. Attend on-campus career
events coordinated by Student Employment staff, and meet industry professionals.
Join career-related professional associations
and organizations
Professional associations and organizations can provide excellent networking
opportunities. Joining may also increase your confidence and knowledge of labour market
needs in your profession. Refer to the section on networking in this handbook for more
information on the benefits of membership.
Volunteer
Check out NAIT’s Volunteer Centre (room E133) for opportunities! Or, call the Volunteer
Centre Manager at (780) 491-3966, or email naitsavc@nait.ca.
Strive for the best marks possible
Visit NAIT’s Tutor Centre and Student Employment for information on Peer Tutoring. Talk
to a NAIT Counsellor for academic counselling. Attend counsellor run seminars that can
help your study skills, exam writing, time management, stress management, memory,
learning and concentration. Visit the NAIT Counselling website at www.nait.ca/counselling
for more information.
2 NAIT Student EmploymentStart your own Resume Bank
Getting Started
A resume bank is a list of statements that describe all of your work experience. Whenever
you need to write up a new resume to focus on a particular type of employment, you
can take a look at your qualifications in your resume bank and select the appropriate
statements that are best suited for the job.
How do you set up a resume bank? First, write down all of the positions, volunteer or
paid, that you have had in your life – do the same for all schooling that you have done.
Don’t leave out anything! You never know when all of that customer service you provided
working at McDonalds or delivering the Journal might pay off.
Second, brainstorm every single last thing you did in those positions.
Everything! Think in terms of verbs or action words that describe what you did. Use words
like cleaned, swept, painted, repaired, delivered, assembled, constructed, cooperated,
prevented, ordered, maintained, cut, sandblasted, phoned, adjusted, troubleshot,
analyzed and communicated, demonstrated attributes and skills like initiative,
diligence, customer service, safety awareness, determination and endurance. Think in
terms of accomplishments too – what differences/improvements did you make in the
organization?
Third, starting with a verb, describe specifically how you demonstrated each skill. Instead
of just saying “Ordered supplies” say, “Ordered industrial cleaning and painting supplies
on the phone and via email, respecting budgetary guidelines.” The better you can describe
what you actually did, the fewer questions the employer will have. Your resume will also be
a lot more interesting to read and, after an employer reads 50 resumes, this is desirable!
Fourth, after coming up with all of your statements, you may want to categorize them so
that when you are looking for a statement to highlight your communication skills, you’ll
know where to go. Then it’s simply a matter of reading the job ad carefully and copying
the appropriate statements into your resume. And, of course, you’ll want to add to your
resume bank as you learn new skills and further develop the skills you already have.
Make it a habit to keep all the advertisements for jobs you have successfully applied to
along with copies of all your resumes. If you don’t receive a copy of your job description
from your supervisor or the Human Resources area, ask for this document and put it in
your file. When you leave a job, ask for a reference letter. Often, reference letters describe
your skills as well as the type of worker you are. You will find all this information invaluable
when writing future resumes.
Setting up a resume bank is an investment in time and effort that will pay off by making it
easier for you to create the targeted resume that employers love. It gets you in the habit of
closely analyzing what you’ve done in your career and will assist you in seeing how your
skills transfer effectively to other situations.
Stay organized
As you job search, you will collect information on industries, companies and employer
contacts. You will also have copies of your resume and cover letter. Being organized will
help you keep track of the jobs you’ve applied for and future job opportunities.
Networking
You can start networking any time and the sooner the better. Most employers search
internally for people to hire and often ask staff to refer outside people to them.
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 3You want to be one of those people, not one of the 200 who apply if the job gets advertised
Getting Started
outside the company! Don’t keep saying, “You’re so lucky!” to people who are getting
jobs instead of you. “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Be
determined, demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic attitude, and don’t give up.
When most people think about networking, they shudder and say, “I don’t want to go
around talking to strangers and begging for a job!” But if you think about it as a way of
spreading the word that you are looking for work and increasing your chances of hearing
about unadvertised positions, then it doesn’t seem quite so bad. Think about it, if you were
an employer, would you rather spend a lot of time going through the hiring process or
would you rather have someone recommended to you? Most employers would rather save
time and money by drawing on their own contacts for referrals.
You don’t have to search far to start your own personal network! You can start with the
people who are already in your cheering section:
• Your family. Strange as it may seem, the people in your family do know and talk with
other people besides you. Most of them have been working for quite a while and have
friends who may know others who could be a great contact for you.
• Your friends.
• Program Staff, Student Employment staff and other NAIT professionals. Most
instructors have connections with people in their field; many of these may be past
graduates with whom they have maintained contact. Use the many options available in
Student Employment. Don’t forget to talk to the administrative people in your program,
they usually know just about everything and everyone!
• Other people in your Life. The doctor, the baker, the candlestick maker! Seriously, spread
the word with people who talk to other people. How about your doctor, hairdresser,
dentist or your practicum/co-op supervisors? How about people in your sports club,
hobby group or dog-walking group? You never know who could happen to be in the right
place at the right time to give your name to that employer.
It’s not enough to just tell people you need a job. You have to clearly state exactly what
you’re looking for and how you can be contacted if something comes up. That’s how you
get the jump on the competition! You may even want to make some cards with your name,
address and phone number/email address and your job objective on it to give out to people.
Make it easy for them to network for you. You should also get their phone number and call
them back from time to time to let them know you’re still looking (or even to tell them you
just got a job and thank them for their help!).
Be professional when you’re networking and listen to any advice they may give you. Take
what you need from the advice that’s appropriate for your situation. Don’t forget to thank
them for their help!
Here are some other ideas for networking sources:
• Visit the NAIT Student Employment’s Job Opportunities web site. Under the Industry
Websites link, you can get a list of professional associations relevant to NAIT
programs.
• Search the Internet. Don’t forget NAIT’s Job Opportunities site.
• Use the yellow pages.
• Read job ads.
• If you completed a career investigation report for admission into your NAIT program,
4 NAIT Student Employmentconsider contacting the same people you interviewed initially. Contacting them again
Getting Started
will also let them know that you followed through with your schooling and are now
looking for work.
• Attend career related professional organization meetings, conferences and events.
For industry and association
website links, visit
www.nait.ca/studentemployment
Information interviews
When it comes to researching a career, you need to get the straight facts.
So how do you get them? One excellent way of getting the cold, hard truth about a
particular career is to speak with someone in the know. Someone who has experience in
the career you’re investigating. Someone who’s doing the job that you want to do. Someone
who will give you an information interview!
An information interview may take place in a variety of ways. It may be talking to your
contact on the telephone, a conversation over coffee, an exchange of emails, or an actual
in-person interview. No matter the format, the important thing is that you get your
questions answered, and answered honestly.
What do you learn from an information interview? - Whatever you want to know. The
questions you have about your potential career may be quite unique to your situation.
Nevertheless, there are a few topics you might want to consider:
• What’s a typical day like?
• What do you like most about your career?
• What are the qualifications for this type of work?
• Where else would I find people working in this occupation?
• What are the opportunities for advancement in this field?
• What courses would be most helpful in this career?
• What is the best way to job search in this field?
• What skills or personal qualities are necessary in this type of work?
How do you find someone to interview? Aren’t people too busy for that sort of thing? It’s
true that potential interviewees are often busy, but it’s also true that many people, even
busy people, love to talk about themselves. First, see if any of your contacts know people
working in that field. This can include friends, family, teachers, co-workers, even your
friendly neighbourhood Student Advisor! You’d be surprised how far your web of contacts
stretches.
Still drawing a blank? Check out the yellow pages or refer to companies listed in the
Industry Websites page of the Job Opportunities web site. When you speak to the
potential career contact, ask for 15 minutes of their time, when they’re able to answer a
few questions about their career. You’ll likely end up getting at least a half hour of valuable
information. Remember, generally people love to talk about themselves.
A few points to remember: Come prepared with questions. If you meet the contact in
person, dress and act professionally. Ask the most crucial questions first. Thank them in
person and send them a thank you note. Finally, get a second opinion! Not everyone has
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 5the same information or shares the same views even when talking about the same career.
Getting Started
Information interviewing can give you the added confidence that you are making a good
career decision, or that the career is not at all what you expected. Either way, it’s an
invaluable part of any successful career investigation.
Access the hidden job market
It is good to avoid job ads that will likely attract hundreds of candidates and, instead,
look for jobs advertised on company websites, industry magazines, and specific internet
job boards like the one provided by NAIT. Here are some tips on how to eliminate your
competition by uncovering the hidden job market.
“Over 70% of all available jobs are found in the hidden job market.” So what does that
mean exactly? Just what is the “hidden job market”?
The hidden job market refers to all the jobs out there that are not widely advertised.
Some of these jobs include those that haven’t been advertised yet, but will be shortly. For
example, a company knows an employee will be retiring, but hasn’t yet started recruiting
for a new person. Or, a company may have just won a new contract, but has been too busy
to start looking for new employees.
Other “hidden” jobs are those that don’t currently exist, but might be created for you based
on your skills and qualifications. An example of this is one student who wanted to do some
research for a particular organization. She wrote up a proposal, submitted it, and a job was
created for her. Since these jobs aren’t advertised, you don’t have to worry about too much
competition from other job seekers.
Quite simply, it is an enormous pain for employers to recruit candidates through
advertising. It takes a great deal of time and money to advertise, sort through hundreds of
applications, interview candidates and agonize over a decision. If your application is on file
already, they might just interview you, thus saving such an expenditure.
How do you access the hidden job market? Take a proactive approach to your job search.
Instead of waiting for the job to fall in your lap, go to the jobs. The proactive approach is all
about networking.
The other way to break into the hidden job market is to find out as much as you can about
your industry. Which companies are getting lucrative contracts? The companies that are
getting new contracts are more likely to be hiring new people. If you can contact them
about employment opportunities before they start their hiring blitz, then you’ll get the
inside track on jobs. Networking can obviously help you get the inside scoop on which
companies are looking to expand, but so can industry magazines, news reports, and
company websites. So, start uncovering the hidden job market in your industry. The deeper
you dig, the easier it will be to find the best jobs. For more information on the hidden job
market, see a NAIT Student Advisor.
Investigate companies
Ever feel like being a private detective? Wonder what it would be like to uncover important
clues and solve mysteries? Want an excuse to wear a fedora, smoke cigarillos, and skulk
about in dark places? Well, here’s your big chance! Get the goods on companies and
organizations in your particular industry. Sometimes researching a company can feel a
lot like doing detective work. There are just fewer femme fatales, car chases, and sucking
6 NAIT Student Employmentchest wounds to worry about.
Getting Started
So, why should investigating companies be part of your job search? First, if you want to
have a beautifully targeted resume and cover letter and give a stupendous interview, you
need to find out as much as you can about your prospective employer. Many employers, for
example, will ask interview questions like, “So, what can you tell us about our company?”
In this question, employers are obviously interested in whether or not you have taken the
time to learn about them. Your answer to a question like, “What skills do you have that
would be useful in this job at Acme, Inc.?” will also improve if it is based on your knowledge
of the company and the job.
Second, if you are offered a job, investigating the employer will help you decide whether or
not to accept it. Believe it or not, there are jobs out there! The first offer may not always be
the best offer. If, for example, you feel uncomfortable about some aspect of the company
(maybe they sell a product line that you dislike), then wait for a better offer. Or perhaps
you find out that the company is planning to move your division to another city. Knowing
this will help you make the right decision about which offer to take.
How do you get started? The first place is pretty obvious – the company’s website. A
typical website will include information about the company’s vision and values, history,
awards, recent projects and acquisitions, charity work, financial information, as well as
their products and services. Try comparing the company with one of its competitors.
Asking people in your industry about the company will also provide valuable information
that the company is unwilling to promote. The Reference section of libraries like our very
own McNally Library, the Winspear Business Library at the U of A, the Government of
Alberta Labour Market Information Library and public libraries also contain excellent
objective information on their shelves and websites about companies, their annual and
financial reports, and position within the industry.
It is really important to venture into a job search or a new job with all the facts. Doing some
detective work will prepare you for the application process and help you make the right
decision when you’re offered a job. Ask employers how they screen resumes for interviews.
For more information on this topic, speak to a NAIT Student Advisor.
Cold Calls
Cold calling is one of the best ways to uncover the hidden job market. Cold calls are
when you call a potential employer to request inside information about job opportunities
or to expand your network. Once you’ve done some research about your industry and
companies within that industry, it’s time to pick up the phone and start networking.
Cold calling can be awkward at first. However, with preparation, planning and practice
these calls will become easier to make. The better prepared you are, the more information
you’ll acquire.
Being able to refer to a short script will also help. Below, you’ll find a sample cold call script
to help you.
Step 1:
Introduce yourself, explain who you are and why you’re calling.
If you have honours marks or related experience, you may also want to add that to
your initial introduction as a way of getting the person’s attention. However, keep your
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 7introduction as short as possible.
Getting Started
Step 2:
Ask if the employer has time to talk/meet with you.
If yes, begin asking your questions. Or, you may choose to arrange an in-person meeting
that’s suitable to the both of you.
If no, accept this response graciously and ask if there’s a specific time you could call back.
You may also ask if there’s someone else they may know who could talk to you.
Example:
“Hello my name is ________.
I’m currently a NAIT student/graduate in/from the ___________ program.
I am familiar with _________(procedures needed to do the job).
In addition, I gained experience in ________(transferable skills such as customer service)
in my job last summer.
I am very interested in working as a _________ and would like to set up an appointment to
talk to you about your company and possible job opportunities in the future.”
Obtain References
References are a very important part of the job search process. Good references can
land you the job and bad references can cost you the job. Also, don’t assume that your
references will all give you glowing reviews. Talk to them about this first before providing
their information to an employer.
You should have at least three references that are work/school/volunteer related who can
confirm you have the skills that you have chosen to emphasize on your cover letter and
resume. Personal references may be seen as biased and are generally frowned upon.
When you have decided who you want to use as references, ask for their permission before
you give out their name and contact information to employers.
Keep your references informed about your job search activities. If you’ve been asked to
provide references, call your references and give them a “heads up”. Let them know they
should expect a call and give them details about the job. Ask that they highlight key points
to best show your suitability for the new job. It’s also an idea to give your references a copy
of your resume for them to keep by their phone. That way, if they get a surprise call from
an employer, your references can refer to your resume to better talk about your skills and
experience.
Also, let your references know if you get the job and keep in contact with them even after
you’ve been hired. You can benefit from a long-term relationship with your references.
Research companies and your industry
Through the internet you can research industries, find out about upcoming conferences
and seminars, learn about companies and obtain contact information to begin your job
search.
NAIT Student Employment on-line is your link to job search resources. Visit www.nait.
ca/studentemployment to research industries, companies, labour market information,
job postings and more. NAIT offers on-line job postings, an online resume database, job
search tools and links to industry websites.
8 NAIT Student EmploymentAlso, you can meet with a NAIT Student Advisor to discuss job search strategies and
Resume Writing Tips
obtain more information to get your job search started!
Resume Writing Tips
A resume is the first impression an employer gets of you, so it’s pretty important.
The two main things to consider when writing a resume are:
1. Content
2. Visual presentation
Advice on resumes does vary. What one employer may swear by, another may trash.
What’s mentioned here is generally a safe bet, but it all comes down to the employer’s
opinion in the end. Also, since it’s your resume, you have to feel comfortable and confident
with it.
Resume Content
The most important thing to keep in mind when writing your resume is your target
audience – who do you want to read this resume and what kind of job are you hoping to
obtain as a result? It is vital to customize your resume to the company, industry, or type of
position. It may be necessary to develop more than one resume in order to showcase the
information that highlights your most relevant qualifications for the job.
Use an advertisement or a job description to tailor your resume to the company and the
position.
• Incorporate the keywords found in help wanted ads/job descriptions – use industry
buzzwords and lingo
• Highlight the job skills, competencies, experience, education and other nouns that
employers request
• When you know what the employer’s needs are, you can tell the employer why you
are the most suitable candidate. In a tight job race the candidate who knows the most
about the employer has the edge. Therefore research the company/organization before
writing your resume – the internet makes it so easy to do this!
• In every statement, your resume strategically convinces the employer that you can do
the job, have a positive work attitude and get along well with others
Resume Styles
The reverse chronological format is by far the most popular with employers because it is
so straightforward. The reverse chronological format cites your most recent employment
and educational experiences and works its way back.
A combination style resume includes chronological information, but the skills or
achievements are put in a section that comes before the education and experience.
The Essential Parts of a Chronological Resume
Contact information
• write your name and contact information on the top of your first page as it should be
first thing the employer sees
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 9• get creative with this section but if unsure, stick with a standard format
Resume Writing Tips
• You should include an e-mail address, but ensure that it’s professional
Objective
• The objective section is optional. If you choose to use an objective, it should be clear,
concise and directed to fulfilling the employer’s needs. The job that you’re applying for
and perhaps the name of the industry is all you really need to write here. It should tell
the employer that you are interested in a career related to their type of business. Keep it
simple and to the point
Qualification Summary
Alternative Titles – Summary of Qualifications, Summary, Highlights of Qualifications,
Skill Summary, Profile
• A qualifications summary is a way to show the employer right away that you meet their
qualifications – it is the first information they read on your resume that relates your
skills to do the job
• This section is also an opportunity to set you apart from the other applicants
• A qualifications summary should be brief – no more than four or five statements
• Emphasize education, knowledge of procedures, and skills that are relevant to the job. If
safety is a factor in the position, include safety courses and/or record
• Be sure to support your statements with examples of how you demonstrated or
developed your skills. Include skills gained from formal training, work experience and
volunteering
• The skills most desired by Canadian employers, no matter the industry, are
communication, teamwork, interpersonal, analytical, flexibility and organization skills.
They also hire people with a good work ethic
Education
Alternative Titles – Education and Training, Formal/Informal Education, Academics,
Special Interest Courses
• Include your program name, certificate/diploma, name of the school, date, aspects of
your education which might matter to the employer, achievements/activities
• This section is particularly important for new graduates as it usually contains your
most important qualifications for the job. In addition to skills learned in the program,
you should include information on achievements earned or activities you participated
in at school. These may show that you are a high achiever, team player, leader, good
communicator, or gained additional skills in certain areas (projects, optional courses,
etc.)
• Short term courses, workshops, and certificates earned outside of your formal education
also add to your qualifications. For example, an Emergency First Aid course can be
viewed by an employer as a benefit. Training/courses should be limited to those that are
relevant to the type of work you are seeking
Experience
Alternative Titles – Employment, Relevant/Additional Employment, Professional
Experience
• Include your position title, company name, date, duties, accomplishments/skills used
• If you were not assigned a formal job title, you may make up a title reflecting the nature
of the work you were doing. For example, if you were performing general maintenance
and clean up of a shop, your job title might be “Labourer”.
10 NAIT Student Employment• It is suggested that you include information on your three most relevant or recent work
Resume Writing Tips
experiences
• Generally, you should limit this section to experience gained in the past five years. You
may choose to list experience beyond this timeframe if you feel it is relevant or if you
have worked for one employer for an extended period.
• Include the most relevant duties – the description should contain information that the
employer would care about
• Individuals who have experience related to their training could list these jobs in a
Relevant/Professional Experience section and have another section entitled Additional
Experience where non-relevant jobs are listed
• Stress contributions and achievements that will provide the employer with examples of
your motivation and work ethic. For example, you may have been awarded “Employee
of the Month”, received a promotion, been recognized for good performance, received
commendations from supervisors, co-workers and/or customers, increased sales,
trained new staff, been given new responsibilities, improved workplace safety, or
increased efficiency
• Describe relevant transferable skills – for example, communication, customer service
and teamwork skills will transfer from a restaurant position to a technical services
position
Volunteer
Alternative Titles – Community Involvement, Volunteer Experience
• Another way to demonstrate experience related to your chosen career is to highlight
any related volunteer work
• Volunteer experiences that aren’t directly related to the position can enhance your
resume by illustrating relevant personal qualities
• If you have only one volunteer experience and it is relevant to the job, include it under
the “Experience” section, and indicate that it was a volunteer position. If the position
was not directly related to the job, include it as part of your “Interests” section
Interests
Alternative Titles – Community Involvement, Interests and Activities, Recreational
Interests, Additional Information
• Employers take into account the activities you are involved in outside of work/school.
They provide a picture of your personality and act as an indicator of the qualities you
would be able to contribute to the organization
• Present yourself as a well-rounded individual who enjoys activities that include others
or individual pursuits
• Keep the employer’s needs in mind and expand information in areas that show relevant
skills or interests
• Qualities such as leadership, motivation, team approach, organization, and initiative can
be illustrated through activities, e.g. setting up and maintaining a neighborhood watch
program demonstrates your organizational abilities and initiative. It is helpful to indicate
intensity of interest (member for 5 years) and progression (team member for 3 years
prior to moving into coaching)
• If you do not have enough of one type of information to warrant an entire section, you
can combine a number of items in an “Additional Information” section. For instance,
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 11interests, volunteer experiences, memberships, languages you understand/speak, and
Resume Writing Tips
travel that might be relevant can all be included in this section
References
• You should have at least three references that are work/school/volunteer related who
can confirm you have the skills you have chosen to emphasize.
• Include the name, position title, name of the company/organization, and telephone
number/e-mail address of the people providing the references
• Personal references are not credible and may be seen as biased
• It is optional whether to include a list of references with the resume or bring them with
you to the interview
• Do not include letters of reference with your resume
The Essential Parts of a Combination Resume
The first three sections of a combination style resume are the same as described in the
chronological resume. It is following these sections that the headings change as follows:
Relevant Skills and Experience
• First Skill Set Written Here (e.g. Computer Hardware and Software Skills)
• Provide a detailed description of your knowledge, skills and experience in this section
• You can have approximately 4-8 bullets in each skill set section as needed. Having more
than this number of bullet points can become overwhelming for an employer who has
limited time to read your resume
• State only your skills and experience that fit into this skill set and that are relevant to the
position
• Support your statements with detailed examples of how you demonstrated or
developed these skills
• Don’t assume that the employer knows what you learned from your NAIT program.
Describe your education in more detail here to explain to employers what you’re now
able to do
• Second Skill Set Written Here (e.g. Quality Control and Management)
• Have approximately 3-4 skill sets on your resume.
• Try to refer to any related work experience as much as possible
• Third Skill Set Written Here (e.g. Management and Leadership Skills)
• E.g. “Prepared and presented sales reports for executive members”
• E.g. “Hired and trained 8 staff in a high volume sales environment”
• E.g. “Managed a team of 5 members in a promotional project for ABC Company while
ensuring timeline and budget limits were met”
• Your “Relevant Skills and Experience” section will likely take up the first page. Page two
would then continue as follows:
Education
• Put the name of your program in bold, include your school name, relevant courses and
any achievements/activities that occurred as a student
• Repeat this format as necessary with any other formal schooling you have taken
• If you have not graduated, you can write “expected graduation date _____” for your date
information
Employment
• Put your job title in bold, include the name of the company/organization, duties that
12 NAIT Student Employmentwere relevant and any accomplishments/skills that occurred
Resume Writing Tips
• Repeat this format as necessary with other jobs you have held
Volunteer Experience
• This section will be formatted the same as “Employment”. If you have limited volunteer
experience, incorporate this information in the “Interests” section
The sections for “Interests” and “References” are the same as described in the
chronological format
Visual Presentation
When choosing a format for your resume, err on the side of caution. Most employers
prefer resumes received on conservative white paper. Unless you are looking for a job as a
Graphics Designer or in marketing, simplicity is best. If you do feel the need to have your
paper resume stand out from the pack, choose a type of paper that’s of a slightly higher
quality or higher grade than standard.
easy to read resumes = interviews
Following are tips to create a great visual
presentation:
• Choose a format and stick with it. Show uniformity throughout your resume; everything
should be standardized
• Section headings should stand out and be labeled clearly. Try using different sizes of
font to make headings standout. Italics, underlines, or columns don’t fax or scan well
• Bulleted phrases make it easy to scan quickly while being able to effectively absorb the
information. Employers don’t expect fully developed sentences
• Don’t be wordy – keep in mind that employers only take a few minutes to read over
resumes. Use a thesaurus if you’re having trouble thinking of words
• Limit the number of lines used in a section. More than seven lines and your segment will
begin to look like a paragraph and employers will be turned off from reading it
• Quantify your descriptions. Don’t just say, ‘I was November salesperson of the month.’
Instead say, ‘November: sold 34% of overall sales and qualified for the Salesperson of the
Month award.’ Keep the end product or achievement in mind and ensure they support
your qualifications for the job
• Avoid using common phrases like “good eye for detail” unless you back it up with an
example
• Use a 12-point font – don’t run the risk of giving potential employers eyestrain.
Remember some of us are older and/or wear glasses
• Stick to two pages printed on good quality paper. Put your name at the top of the second
page. That way the employer can contact you even if they misplace your first page
• Proofread your resume! Ensure your resume has no spelling, punctuation or grammatical
errors whatsoever
Steering clear of possible employer
concerns
There may be parts of your past that an employer could be concerned about.
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 13Gaps in employment or education
Resume Writing Tips
Gaps may lead to suspicions about your background. You don’t want to have employers
focus their attention on this and potentially have their imaginations run wild.
One way to handle employment/education gaps is to avoid writing the month of your
employment/education. Consider writing the year only. Here is an example:
Labourer, DEF Company 2003-2004
Cashier, ABC Company 2001-2002
You can see that a few months gap in employment would not be noticeable.
If the gap between jobs/education is a considerable length of time, be ready with an
explanation. Ensure that you keep your responses as positive as possible. The employer
wants to know that you are ready and able to commit to a job. If the gap is obvious, write a
brief explanation either on your resume or your cover letter.
Lack of education or experience
Often employers create job postings by writing a wish list of qualifications that they
desire for their ideal candidate. Once they start the selection process, employers may find
their wish list is somewhat unrealistic. If this happens, the employer will become open to
considering applicants with other qualifications.
Don’t be put off applying for jobs because you don’t appear to have all of the qualifications
listed on a job posting. Instead, ensure that your cover letter and resume highlight your
skills, abilities, training and experience that compensate for the seeming lack of education
or experience requested by the employer.
If you have other concerns that are not addressed here, make an appointment with a NAIT
Student Advisor.
Applying for government jobs can be somewhat different than applying for positions
with other employers. After submitting a resume and/or application form (as per the
employer’s instruction) selected applicants may be invited to write an exam(s). Those
who are successful after the exam(s) are invited to an interview. If an applicant is not
offered a job, his/her information is kept on file for a period of time (sometimes 6-12
months), in the event that more positions become vacant in the future.
Tips for Creating an Electronic Resume
More and more, employers are asking applicants to submit electronic resumes because
they are using databases to match resumes to available positions in their company.
Research your industry to find out if employers are likely to use this technology.
Here are some tips to help you create such a resume:
1. Employers use keywords and phrases when conducting searches. You won’t know which
keywords the employers will use for their search, so it’s important that you’re familiar
with your industry’s jargon (if you’re not, do some research and find out) and use these
keywords and phrases in your resume. You can use them when you’re describing your
skills, experience and education. Use relevant keywords and use them often!
Examples of keywords may be:
• Job specific skills
• Technical terms
• Job titles, company names
14 NAIT Student Employment• Education (e.g. names of schools, types of certificates, diplomas or degrees)
Resume Writing Tips
• Names of professional associations and organizations
• Transferable skills ( as discussed on page one)
2. Remove anything fancy from your resume: graphics, shading, underlining, italics,
bolding, bullet points or lines, etc. Instead, capitalize your letters to create emphasis on
items such as section titles.
3. Left justify all text.
4. Use font sizes of 11-14 points.
5. Use common standard fonts such as Times, Courier, Arial. (Don’t use fancy fonts.)
6. Use only high quality laser or inkjet printers. Print your resume on good quality white paper.
Submitting Your Resume
Always follow the directions given in a job posting for delivering your resume. If you don’t,
the employer may perceive that you don’t follow instructions which could jeopardize your
chances of being interviewed.
If you’re applying for an unadvertised job, it is best to submit your resume to the head of
the department that hires people with your skills and then follow-up with a phone call.
When you call, give a brief overview of your qualifications matching them to the job, and
then ask if you can book an appointment to come in and speak to them for 10 or 15 minutes.
By using this method, you are the one in control of your job search.
E-resumes
Except for the few businesses that don’t use computers and companies that prefer the job
seeker to actually come into the employment office and fill out an application, e-resumes
have become essential. To create your e-resume:
• Use a word-processing program, such as MS Word or WordPerfect
• Convert your formatted resume (MS Word or WordPerfect) into plain text
• Use either your .doc file or .txt file to import your e-resume to other applications, such
as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file
• You can also save your MS Word document as HTML from the MS Word ‘save as’ tool bar.
Do not over send your resume – employers will get annoyed if they receive 20 copies of
your resume.
Don’t forget to follow-up after sending your resume. Wait a couple of days then call
the company to ensure that they have received your resume and know that you are still
interested in a position with them. You may follow-up more than once but like over-sending
your resume, be careful not to annoy potential employers.
Need more assistance with your resume?
NAIT Student Employment offers resume consultations throughout the year. Contact the
office for more details on the following options for assistance:
• Book an appointment with a Student Advisor
• Watch for the Rapid Resume Review Booth coming to your area during strategic times
of the year
• Resume Blitz is held during Reading Week. Drop by Student Employment for a
consultation; no appointment necessary.
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 15Cover Letters
Cover Letters
So, you’ve finished creating a winning resume and now you’re ready to move on to the next
step in your marketing strategy. Keeping in mind that your goal is to get an interview, how
do you get an employer to look at your resume out of the hundreds of resumes on their
desk? You have to attract and keep their attention with a killer cover letter!
Here are some content and format pointers:
• Focus on what you can offer the employer – employers want to know how hiring you
will benefit their company. Your one page cover letter should illustrate how your
qualifications meet the company’s needs and show how you can be of value to the
company. Read the ad carefully, research the company (collect information from their
website, written materials, etc.), and identify the employer’s needs. What industry
buzzwords do you need to know?
• Always address the letter to the person doing the hiring. The extra few minutes you
spend to locate the person’s name demonstrates your interest in the job and can create
a favourable impression.
• Use your Spell Check! Errors show a lack of attention to detail and signal a lack of
interest in the position. Remember that Spell Check doesn’t catch everything! Always
get someone else to proofread your letter. Read it out loud to check for flow and
organization.
• Use the same font style and size, paper, etc. as you used in your resume to create an
overall impression of polished professionalism.
• It can be difficult to avoid the overuse of “I” sentences but it will be worth your time once
you read how well your letter flows. Your goal is to create an interesting and attractive
cover letter that will make the employer want to know more.
• Always write personalized cover letters tailored to the job. This will demonstrate that
you are sincerely interested in the company and in the position.
16 NAIT Student EmploymentCover Letters
Sample Cover Letter Outline
Your address
Date
Name and address of the employer
Dear Mr./Miss/Ms./Mrs. ____________:
(if you don’t know how to address the person, put in Attention: _______________)
In your first paragraph, you will state your reason for writing (i.e. responding to a job
advertisement, making a general inquiry about employment opportunities with the
company). If responding to a job advertisement, identify the position you are applying for and
how you found out about the position. You may also briefly express why you’re interested in
the company and the position.
In your second paragraph, indicate how you are qualified for the position. Describe any
relevant skills, training, education and experience. You must satisfactorily answer the
question “Why should I hire you?” (This section of your cover letter may require more than
one paragraph.)
In your third paragraph, thank the employer and indicate how you can be contacted
(provide your phone number, for example). If you prefer, you can mention that you will
contact the employer to follow up. State when you will be available to attend an interview
or to begin work.
Sincerely,
Your signature
Your name typed
Enclosure (this indicates that you are enclosing another document ie your resume)
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 17Application Forms
Application Forms
Many employers find application forms an easy way to compare one applicant’s
qualifications to another. If you don’t follow application instructions, an employer will likely
be put off and not want to interview you. The impression you’ll leave is that you don’t
follow directions and that you’re not interested in the job enough to take the time to apply
properly.
Here are some tips to help you complete an application form:
• If you’re not comfortable completing the form at the employer site, take a couple
of forms (in case you make a mistake on one you’ll have another) home with you to
complete.
• Read the form in its entirety before completing it.
• Complete the form using a black or blue ink pen. Do not write in pencil or coloured ink.
• Print your answers rather than using cursive writing for a more legible appearance. If
you think you have messy writing, consider writing in block letters.
• If you’re able to, use downloadable forms from the employer’s website.
• Do not attach your resume and write “see attached” across the application form without
also completing the application form.
• Read and follow the instructions on the application form carefully. An error or oversight
on the form may leave a bad impression.
• Answer all of the questions. You can write “N/A” or “Not Applicable” for questions that
don’t pertain to you.
• Keep your answers concise and to the point.
• Before submitting your form, proof read it to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical
errors.
18 NAIT Student EmploymentPortfolios
Portfolios
Portfolios are great job search tools for just about any profession. However, they are
standard in some industries. Generally these include creative industries where seeing your
work plays a large role in whether you get the job. Many industries, however, do not require
portfolios for the interview.
Regardless, portfolios often prove to be beneficial for many job seekers. They provide
the opportunity to show employers the work you’ve done as well as the opportunity to
talk about your qualifications in more detail. They also enable you to keep track of your
accomplishments.
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a compilation of information about you: your accomplishments, work
projects, transcripts, diplomas/degrees, awards, letters of reference, samples of work
(including photographs, technical drawings, project reports, programming examples, etc.).
You compile this information by category. The most important thing is that you’re familiar
with your portfolio and comfortable talking about what’s inside. Think of it as a “show and
tell” about your professional and academic life.
As you make professional and academic accomplishments, you can continuously make
additions to your portfolio.
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 19The Interview
The Interview
Remember the last time you had a first date with someone you were really, really attracted
to? Remember that stomach churning, nerve wracking, what should I say/wear/do
feeling that became the focus of your existence for the 24 hours leading up to that date?
Remember how some of those first dates turned out? Well, that’s exactly how you’re going
to feel when you go for your first job interview.
How long did it take you or your date to decide if this new love interest was going to be
a loser or a winner? It will take the employer the same amount of time or less to make
a similar decision about you! So, are you going to crash and burn or is it going to be the
beginning of a beautiful relationship? A positive, knock them dead first impression takes a
lot of research, planning and strategic maneuvering.
Research
Read the ad carefully again and go over the research you did for your cover letter
(information you collected from their website, written materials, etc.). Go over your list of
the employer’s needs and review/write down how your skills, personal qualities, training,
education and experience meet these needs. Employers often say that the top ten personal
qualities they look for are: communication skills, motivation/initiative, teamwork skills,
leadership skills, academic achievement, interpersonal skills, flexibility/adaptability,
technical skills, honesty/integrity, work ethic and analytical/problem solving skills.
What industry buzzwords do you need to know? Create a list of questions you might be
asked and how you would answer them.
Know what your salary expectations are in case you are offered the job during the first
interview. Refer to the NAIT Graduate Survey Summary as it provides information on
salaries of students who graduated from your program the previous year.
Be prepared with examples so you can answer situational or behavioral questions such as “
Tell me about a time when you …” These questions are usually based on situations that you
will likely need to handle if you are successful in attaining the position. Also, be prepared
for the ever popular: Tell me about yourself, what is your weakness (always, always state
something that you’ve already improved upon or focus on what you think the employer
is concerned about and stress how your strengths negate this concern), and why do you
want to work for us.
Don’t bring up your history of doomed experiences. Focus on your strengths and on
convincing the employer that you are the right person for the job.
Interviewers always ask if you have any questions so prepare a few questions beforehand.
Check the Student Employment website for ideas. A lack of questions will show a lack of
both research and interest in the company, so write them down and have them ready to
refer to in the interview.
Here are some sample questions to ask during an interview:
• Is there a training program?
• What skills and attributes are needed to be successful in this role?
• What characteristics does your company value most in its employees?
• What can you tell me about the management style used in the department/company?
20 NAIT Student Employment• How is good performance measured and rewarded?
The Interview
• What do you believe to be the greatest challenges in this position?
Planning
In many ways, getting ready for your interview is just like getting ready for a date. How are
you going to make them love you at first sight? You’re probably going to be worried about
what you should wear, how you should act, what you should say, what time you should
get there and what you should do while you wait for them to call you in. Is your stomach
churning yet?
The way to effectively manage most interviews and make a great first impression is all in
the planning you do before the interview starts. It’s always a good idea to have your full
interview battle dress ready to go in your closet at all times. This includes having a shiny
pair of shoes to wear with your outfit; you’d be surprised how many employers look at your
shoes when they first meet you. The state of your shoes and what you’re wearing tells
them a lot about you. So make sure your outfit says good things about you! Get a hair cut if
you need one, skip the perfume/cologne (a lot of people have allergic reactions to scents),
make sure your hands/nails are in good shape and make sure your pearly whites are ready
to be flashed.
Plan to take several copies of your resume, a copy of your reference list, a daytimer/
notebook (with your questions written down and the place marked with a pen), and any
certification/documentation you think you might need in a professional looking attaché
case or file folder. Being able to give an extra interviewer a copy of your resume will
demonstrate your ability to be proactive and resourceful.
Plan how you will act/respond in different interview locations/situations. Think now about
how you will handle a restaurant or coffee interview: what will you order, should you bring
money, whom sits down or stands up first. What if the interview is in a hotel or at the
airport? What if it is a teleconference or on the Internet?
Be sure you know the address and how you are going to get there. If you are able, drive by
the interviewer’s office the day prior to your interview so that you don’t get any last minute
surprises such as there are no close parking spaces, or the address is misleading. Always
take the address, phone number and the interviewer’s name along with you just in case
something happens and you need to contact them.
Study your resume and practice answering the questions you might be asked. Make sure
you get a good night’s sleep and that you eat something before you leave.
Plan to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early. If your hands get really sweaty or clammy either
put some tissues in your pockets to wipe them off or go to the washroom to freshen up and
warm your hands under the hot water tap.
Strategic Maneuvering
You should be feeling fairly prepared and confident at this point. You’re ready to make a
great first impression and ready to keep building on it to keep this mutual love affair on
track. This will call for some strategic maneuvering!
When you get there, give your full name to the receptionist and explain that you have
an appointment for an interview. Be pleasant and friendly but businesslike at all times.
Remember, the receptionist may be consulted on their impressions of you. Read over
your notes or resume while you are waiting or try to put yourself into a relaxed state of
www.nait.ca/studentemployment 21You can also read
