A Guide for New Job Seekers - ALIS - Government of Alberta

A GuideforNEW JOB SEEKERSFor youth andnewcomers to theworkplace

Catalogue Item # 755290This publication is available to view or order online atalis.alberta.ca/publications. Copies can also be orderedfrom the Learning Resources Centre by telephone at780-427-5775 or by fax at 780-422-9750.Career PractitionersA Guide for New Job Seekers (formerly the Job Seeker’sHandbook) is for people who are looking for their firstjob or who have been away from the workforce for a longtime. It provides job seekers the basics about finding ajob and helps them to:• identify their employability skills• explore the tools used to find work — job applications,resumés, cover letters and portfolios• explore the skills used to find work — networking,information interviewing and interview skills• identify ways to stay positive and handle rejection• connect with further information and resources.Check out the publication Advanced Techniques for WorkSearch for job seekers with experience and/or postsecondaryeducation. This publication providesinformation and exercises on identifying skills, using theInternet for job search, resumé development,information interviewing and preparing for an interview.Also, check out the many job search tip articles on theALIS website at alis.alberta.ca. Here you will find articlescovering topics such as portfolios, resumés and coverletters, job application forms, preparing for an interviewand much more.For copyright information, contact:Alberta Employment and ImmigrationCareer and Workplace ResourcesTelephone: 780-422-1794Fax: 780-422-5319Email: info@alis.gov.ab.ca© 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 Government of Alberta,Alberta Employment and ImmigrationThis material may be used, reproduced, stored ortransmitted for non-commercial purposes. However,Crown copyright is to be acknowledged. It is not to beused, reproduced, stored or transmitted for commercialpurposes without written permission from theGovernment of Alberta, Alberta Employment andImmigration. This publication is not for resale unlesslicensed with Government of Alberta, AlbertaEmployment and Immigration. Every reasonable efforthas been made to identify the owners of copyrightmaterial reproduced in this publication and to complywith Canadian copyright law. The publisher wouldwelcome any information regarding errors or omissions.Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment andImmigration publications may contain or referencepublications, trademark, patent or copyright held by thirdparties (“third party material”), identified with a credit tothe source. This does not grant the user a licence or rightto that third party material. Users who wish to reproduceany third party material in this publication should seekpermission from that third party.Information in this publication was accurate, to thebest of our knowledge, at the time of printing. However,legislation, labour market information, websites andprograms are subject to change, and we encourageyou to confirm with additional sources of informationwhen making career, education, employment andbusiness decisions.The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with theGovernment of Canada to provide employment supportprograms and services. These benefits and measures arefunded, in whole or in part, by the Government of Canadafrom the Employment Insurance Account.ISBN 978-0-7785-7318-002/2002 - 75M01/2003 - 75M07/2004 - 75M12/2005 - 75M07/2007 - 75M01/2010 - 110MAll photos in this booklet are for illustrative purposesonly. They are not actual photos of any individualsmentioned.

Table of ContentsRead This First 21. Getting Started 3Getting Organized 3What Employers Want and You Have 4Finding Out Where Your Skills Are Needed 92. Finding Work 12Ways to Find Work 12Networking and Information Interviewing 13Contacting Employers Directly 15Your Personal Work Search Plan 193. Marketing Your Skills 20Portfolios 20Resumés 22Cover Letters 31Examples: Tracey, Brad and Ann 32Application Forms 47Interviews 504. Going The Distance 57Handling Rejection 57Staying Positive 58Looking Ahead 60Where To Get More Help 61© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration1

READ THIS FIRSTIS THIS THE BOOK FOR YOU?A Guide for New Job Seekers is a basic, step-by-stepguide to help you find entry-level work. It will answeryour questions about the complete job search process.If you are looking for your first job, your first job in along time or your first job in Canada, this guide willshow you how to assess your skills, target your worksearch, write resumés and cover letters and practiceinterview skills.But, if you have already been in the workforce for along time or have post-secondary education or trainingin your desired field, you may be more interested inAdvanced Techniques for Work Search. It is a guidedesigned to help you improve your work searchstrategies and is available at places listed under WhereTo Get More Help at the end of this book.A FEW WORDS ON THE JOB MARKETMore and more employers are hiring temporary, parttimeand contract workers, and using computers toscreen applicants. You’ll have greater success findingwork if you keep two things in mind while you’relooking — be current and be flexible.• Use current work search methods. The most effectivework search methods take time, organization andhard work. The answer-a-few-ads-and-see-whathappensapproach generally doesn’t work very well,if at all. To find work, you have to be willing to workas hard at findingwork as you wouldon the job. If you Nowadays, work comesare currentlyin many forms. It mayunemployed andlooking for full-time not always be packagedwork, that meansin neat little bundlesyou should bespending 40 hours a called “jobs”, so theweek on your work words, “work” and “jobs”search.are used interchangeablythroughout this book.The best jobs don’tnecessarily go to the mostqualified applicants; they goto the best job seekers.• Consider the possibility of accepting temporary orpart-time work, or doing project work on a contractbasis. It will give you a chance to show employerswhat you can do. Later, if your employer creates apermanent position, you will have a big advantageover other applicants because the employer alreadyknows you. (Unless, by then you have decided tocontinue working on a project basis because youenjoy the variety and challenge of working forseveral employers at the same time and/or changingprojects frequently.)Building a successful job search is like building ahouse. If the foundation is poor, the whole structureis weak. To build a strong work search foundation,follow these steps:1. Get started by getting organized, identifying yourskills, and deciding what types of work you arelooking for (Chapter 1).2. Find suitable work opportunities by using worksearch methods that fit your circumstances and thekind of work you want (Chapter 2).3. Market your skills by presenting them effectively viaportfolios, resumés, cover letters and applicationforms, and by talking to employers (Chapter 3).4. Maintain a positive attitude (Chapter 4) by:• making sure your expectations are realistic• learning from your experiences• taking good care of yourself• wrapping up your work search properly• keeping your eyes open and planning ahead.If you have been looking for work for some timealready and are feeling discouraged, you may want toread Chapter 4: Going the Distance first.Learning how to look for work is much the same aslearning any other skill. First you learn the basics, thenyou practice. The best way to use this guide is to readit once, and then review each section more carefully asyou put work search strategies into practice.2 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

GETTING STARTEDA job search is like any other kind of search. If youknow what you are looking for and where to look, youare more likely to find it. If your search is wellorganized, your chances are even better. So, it makessense to get started by:1. getting organized2. finding out what employers want and what youcan provide3. finding out where someone like you is needed.Getting OrganizedGetting organized means more than making sure youhave all the things you will need to find and start workas soon as possible. It also means using your time andenergy efficiently and effectively.Equipment and suppliesIf possible, find a place where you can keep all thethings you’ll need together:• a desk or table with good lighting• office supplies such as pens, paper, envelopes, stapler• a telephone and answering machine(or voice mail service)• a computer with a laser printer and access tothe Internet• this book.If you don’t have easy access to a computer or answeringmachine, rent one or find out where related services areoffered in your community. Most communities inAlberta have at least one public access computer locatedin an educational institution (e.g. a high school orcollege), a public library, an Alberta Employment andImmigration service centre (see“Where To Get More Help” at theback of this book for a list of phonenumbers) and/or other serviceagencies. Ask around — someagencies will also take messages forLooking for workis a full-time job.Writing a resumé shouldnot be your first step.Before you can write areally effective resumé, youneed to know what skillsjob seekers whodo not haveemployers are looking for,access to voice which ones you have andmail messagingor an answering where they are needed.machine. Ifnecessary,arrange for atrusted friend to take messages for you when you areaway from a phone.Whether it is a whole room or a tabletop, try to keepyour work search area as organized and pleasant toreturn to as possible.Social Insurance NumberTo work in Canada, you must have a Social InsuranceNumber (SIN). If you don’t already have one, go to aService Canada office and apply in writing. You willneed to provide one original document that provesyour identity and status in Canada, such as a BirthCertificate or Certificate of Canadian Citizenship.If the name on this document is different from thename you currently use, you will also need to provideone original supporting document, such as a Certificateof Marriage or Change-of-name Certificate.For more information:• Call 1-800-206-7218 and press 3 for informationabout Social Insurance Numbers.• Go to the Service Canada website atservicecanada.gc.ca. Click on Find a ServiceCanada Centre Near You.• Go to servicecanada.gc.ca. Using the A to ZServices Index, choose Social Insurance Number.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration3

Putting off getting started? If so, start small.Make a list of the things you have to do. If youcan’t do anything on the list in less than a halfhour, break down the tasks on your list intosmaller “bite-size” things to do. For example,if one of the tasks on your list is to get a SocialInsurance Number (SIN), you might break thework involved down as follows:• Find the nearest Service Canada Centre underGoernment of Canada in the phone book.• Call to find out about office hours andprocedures for applying for a SIN.• Figure out how to get there.• Go and fill out the forms.Time managementIf you are unemployed, you owe it to yourself to putas much time and energy into your job search as youwould into working. If you are employed, your worksearch may take longer because you have less timeavailable to devote to your job search on a daily basis.Either way, drawing up a work search schedule will helpto keep you motivated and on track.You will use your time most efficiently if you:• schedule short breaks as often as you need them torefresh yourself and keep up a steady pace• make lists of things you have to do and check tasksoff as you complete them• do similar things at the same time (e.g. make all ofyour telephone calls at one time instead of returningto the phone to make calls several times a day)• change from one type of activity to another at regularintervals (e.g. spend an hour making telephone calls,then go to the library to do some research beforereturning home to work on your resumé).If people expect you to be available to do other thingswhen you should be looking for work, talk to themabout your plans and describe your schedule. Ask fortheir understanding and co-operation.If your friends and family are willing to help you withyour job search, let them! They can be a big help inidentifying your skills, targeting your job search andfinding employment opportunities.What EmployersWant and You HaveEmployers are looking for people who:• are honest, positive, responsible, adaptable,willing to learn and safety-conscious• work productively in a team environment• can solve problems (in particular, problems theemployer is currently facing or willface in the near future).The problems employers need solved may be relativelysimple (e.g. we need someone to stuff envelopes) orextremely complex (e.g. we need a team of people todesign a space station).Even if you have little or no paid work experience, youalready have some of the skills employers need. The key towork search success is to identify your strongest skills andwhere they are needed. The following exercises will helpyou get started.What do you have to offer?Make a few photocopies of the following checklist ofemployability skills and show it to people who knowyou well and will be honest with you (family members,friends, teachers, former co-workers or employers).Ask them to check off the statements they think applyto you. At the same time, do the exercise yourself. Thencompare what you checked off to what they checked off,and talk about why you/they checked off some itemsand not others.When you are doing this exercise, check off the skillsat which you are competent. Competent means you areable to perform the activity as well as most people(e.g., check off “plan and manage time” if you do that aswell as most people). You don’t have to be an expert at itto check off a skill.When you talk to others about this exercise, ask them tocheck off things you do as well as most people.4 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

PERSONAL SKILLSPositive attitudes and behaviours❏ feeling good about yourself – confident that youcan make a positive contribution in work, school,family and leisure situations❏ maintaining high ethical standards – dealing withpeople, problems and situations honestly❏ giving credit where credit is due – recognizingyour own and other people’s good efforts❏ taking care of your health – eating a balanceddiet, getting enough rest and exercise, etc.❏ managing addictions – admitting to anyaddictions you have, and getting help or treatment❏ showing interest and initiative by getting involvedin existing activities or starting new onesResponsible❏ organizing your work site – keeping your workarea neat and clean; taking care of tools, materialsand equipment❏ planning and managing your time to achieve goals❏ anticipating future financial needs, settingfinancial goals and deciding how you will manageyour money (e.g. paying off credit cards at theend of each month; saving/investing)❏ setting goals and priorities to balance your workand personal life❏ following through with time and financial plans,and making adjustments when necessary❏ risking, when appropriate – assessing, weighing andmanaging physical, emotional and financial risk❏ accepting responsibility for your actions and theactions of your group❏ being socially responsible and contributing toyour community (e.g. obeying laws, volunteering)Adaptable❏ working alone or as part of a team❏ working on several tasks or projects at thesame timeAsk your references to helpyou with this exercise.❏ being innovative and resourceful (identifyingand suggesting different ways to get work done)❏ accepting change and using it to your advantage❏ accepting feedback and learning from your mistakes❏ coping with uncertainty (making decisions whenyou are not sure what the outcome will be)Learn continuously❏ always learning and growing❏ being aware of your personal strengths, and areasthat need improvement or development❏ setting your own learning goals instead of waitingfor someone else to tell you what you should learn❏ identifying and using learning opportunities andsources of learning❏ planning for and achieving learning goalsWork safely❏ being aware of personal and group health andsafety practices and procedures, and actingaccordingly❏ managing stress – knowing the causes of personaland professional stress, and coping with demandsand pressuresTEAMWORK SKILLSWork with others❏ getting along – demonstrating respect and caringabout the feelings of others; being considerate❏ using tact – being discrete and diplomatic,particularly when dealing with sensitive issues❏ supporting – helping others with their problems;supporting others’ decisions and initiatives❏ accepting authority – being able to work undersupervision❏ respecting differences – appreciating diversity;accepting the uniqueness of individuals❏ co-operating with others to accomplish shared goals© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration5

❏ clarifying the group’s goals and objectiveswhen necessary❏ being flexible – respecting and being open toothers’ opinions and contributions❏ stating opinions – having the confidence andassertiveness to say what you think❏ accepting feedback without becoming angryor overly defensive❏ contributing by sharing information and expertise❏ leading, or supporting when appropriate, bymotivating others to perform well❏ confronting – telling others things they may notwant to hear about their behaviour, habits, etc.Participate in projects and tasks❏ doing your part – working to acceptable standards❏ being timely – completing work on time to meetproject deadlines; arriving at meetings on time;responding to messages reasonably quickly❏ determining priorities – deciding what is mostimportant and doing that first❏ scheduling – predicting how much time tasks willtake; setting time frames for activities❏ initiating – taking the first step; getting things started❏ planning – developing projects or ideas throughsystematic preparation, and deciding in whichorder and at what time events will occur❏ organizing – co-ordinating the people andresources necessary to put a plan into effect❏ coaching – providing one-to-one or small groupassistance to help others achieve a goal❏ providing feedback – accurately describing anindividual’s work, behaviour, appearance, etc. ina helpful and considerate way❏ making decisions – choosing a course of actionand accepting responsibility for the consequences❏ carrying out projects/tasks from start to finishwith a clear idea of what you want to achieve❏ selecting and using appropriate tools and technology❏ reviewing how time has been used and makingchanges that will increase efficiency❏ adapting to changing requirements andinformation❏ keeping track of how well projects/tasks areprogressing and looking for ways to improveFUNDAMENTAL SKILLSCommunication skills❏ reading – getting information from writtenmaterials; following written instructions❏ reading and understanding informationpresented in nonverbal formats (e.g. graphs,charts, diagrams)❏ writing – using good grammar to write clearsentences and paragraphs; being able to expressyourself/explain things in writing❏ talking – being able to provide informationeffectively in ordinary settings❏ public speaking – being able to keep theaudience’s attention while delivering a speech❏ listening – paying attention to what other peoplesay to understand and appreciate their points ofview, and responding appropriately❏ questioning – asking the right questions to obtainuseful information, or to help others gain insight❏ explaining – being careful and clear in what youtell people, so they understand quickly and easily❏ resolving conflicts – bringing conflicts tosuccessful conclusions❏ persuading – convincing others to do whatyou want❏ negotiating – bargaining with others to solve aproblem or reach an agreement❏ teaching – understanding group dynamics andinstructing othersThe skills checklist is based on TheConference Board of Canada profile ofEmployability Skills 2000+. For moreinformation, check out their website atwww.conferenceboard.ca/education6 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

❏ chairing meetings – presiding over a group ofpeople who come together for a purpose;listening, speaking, encouraging discussion, andfollowing an agenda❏ sharing information by using information andcommunications technologies (e.g. email, voice mail)Information management skills❏ following directions – completing tasks as directed❏ maintaining records of inventory, budgets orother information❏ recording – using planners such as calendars andappointment books to keep track of activities❏ organizing information – keeping orderly records(e.g. files, binders of information)❏ filing – sorting information into an organized system❏ scheduling – keeping track of projects,timetables, itineraries, etc.❏ researching – locating and gathering information,using appropriate technology and informationsystems (e.g. computers, library classificationsystems, Internet search engines)❏ analyzing information – breaking it down tobasic elements❏ applying knowledge and skills from one or moredisciplines (e.g. arts, languages, science,technology, math, social sciences, humanities)Numerical Skills❏ deciding what needs to be measured or calculated❏ observing and recording data, using appropriatemethods, tools and technologyThinking and problem-solving skills❏ assessing situations and identifying problems❏ seeking different points of view and evaluatingthem based on facts❏ recognizing that there are often several aspectsto problems (e.g. human, technical, scientific)❏ investigating – gathering information in anorganized way to determine facts or principles❏ analyzing – breaking concepts/problems intoparts so each part can be examined❏ being creative and innovative in exploringpossible solutions❏ using scientific, technological and mathematicalways of thinking to gain and share knowledge,solve problems and make decisions❏ evaluating solutions to make recommendationsor decisions❏ synthesizing – putting facts and ideas together innew and creative ways; finding new ways to lookat problems and do things❏ acting on your conclusions❏ checking to see if a solution works, and takingopportunities to improve on it❏ counting – determining how many items thereare in a group❏ calculating – using basic arithmetic: adding,subtracting, multiplying and dividing❏ measuring – using tools or equipment todetermine length, angle, volume or weight❏ estimating – judging the cost or size of things;predicting the outcome of an arithmetic problembefore it is calculated; forecasting the cost ofproducts and services❏ budgeting – planning how you will spend money;deciding what to buy and how much to spend, orhow to get work done the most cost-effectively© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration7

If you ask your references to help you with thisexercise, they will be better prepared to answerquestions about you. Keep in mind that yourreferences should be people in positions of authority(e.g. supervisors, teachers, group leaders) who canconfirm that you did what you say you did.If you ask others to complete this exercise too, you mayfind that they think you have more employability skillsthan you give yourself credit for. Or, you may find thatthey do not see you as having some of the skills youthink you have. In either case, don't argue. Listen to theirreasons as objectively as you can – what you learn abouthow you are perceived by others could greatly improveyour chances of finding work and staying employed.Which personal management, teamwork andfundamental employability skills are your strongestskills? Which ones do you want to use and develop?These are the skills you should focus on in thenext exercise.Where and when have youused your skills?One of the most effective ways to let employers knowthat you have the skills they are looking for is todescribe situations in which you have used those skills.For example, describing situations in which you haveshown you can work well with others is much moreconvincing than simply calling yourself a “team player.”Employers will be even more impressed if youdescribe the positive results you have achieved. Forexample, describe what happened after you tookresponsibility for a task, or how other people’sbehaviour changed as a result of your efforts tomotivate them. Or, tell employers about an award youreceived for good attendance or a good safety record.Better yet, show them the award or other evidence.Did you check off “feeling good aboutyourself”? If not, employers will pick up onyour lack of confidence and doubt yourabilities too. Read Chapter 4: Going theDistance, and talk to someone you trust.Career advisors and employment counsellorsare available to help with your work search byphone and in person (see “Where To Get MoreHelp” at the back of this book).1. At the top of separate pages (paper or electronic), listeach of the employability skills you identified in the“What do you have to offer?” exercise.2. Under each skill, briefly describe three situations inwhich you have used the skill.Be specific. What needed doing and why? What didyou do? How did you contribute if it was a teamworksituation? Where did you do it and when? How? Namethe tools you used (e.g. computer programs), describethe types of people you consulted (e.g. teachers,co-workers, experts), the tasks/steps involved, theproblems you encountered and how you dealt withthem, and what happened as a result.If you need more help identifying and describingyour skills:• Talk to someone at one of the places listed under“Where to Get More Help” at the end of this bookand ask for a copy of Advanced Techniques forWork Search.• Visit your local public library or book store andcheck out some of their career planning and jobsearch lists.8 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Finding Out WhereYour Skills Are NeededIf the types of employers who need your skills areobvious (e.g. you just graduated from a trainingprogram for a particular type of work), you can skipto the “Researching Work Options” section. If not,the following exercises will help you decide where youare most likely to find employers who need someonelike you.You’d be good at…1. As quickly as you can, list all of the kinds of workyou can think of that you could do well now orcould learn on the job.2. Ask your family and friends to think of differenttypes of work you would be good at, and add anynew ideas to your list.Don’t argue if someone suggests something youthink is out of the question. Sometimes, ideas thatdon’t seem to have much merit at first can sparkmore interesting ideas later on.Have fun — get a group of people together andbrainstorm ideas. If you have friends who arelooking for work too, you can bounce some ideasaround about what they would be good at.3. Group the ideas you have gathered by employmentfield or industry.Knowing you have skills to offerhelps build confidence.Telephone directory exercise1. Glance through the yellow pages index of yourtelephone directory to get an overview of thecategories. The index is usually located at the front orback of the directory. If the index is quite long, divideit into sections and work on one section at a time.If you are interested in government work, use thegovernment office listings that are often in a “bluepages” section. The blue pages list federal,provincial and municipal government offices.2. Go through the listings title by title. Ask yourselfthe following question(s) for each title.Am I interested in this field?If not, move on to the next title.If so, ask yourself the next question.Do I need special knowledge or experience toqualify for work in this field?If not, check off the title.If you don’t know, check off the title —you can find out for sure later.If so, ask yourself the next question.Do I have the necessary knowledge or experience,or would I be willing to get it?If not, move on to the next title.If so, check off the title.3. From the ones you checked off, choose theemployment fields that look the most interestingto you. For a list of local employers in each field,simply turn to the page number beside the title inthe index.As you go through the yellow pages index or the bluepages of your directory, you may find that you arechecking off too many titles (more than 30). If so, youcan afford to be more selective. If you are checking offvery few titles and are not willing to move to another© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration9

community to seek work, you may have to be lessselective.If you are having other difficulties with this exercise,talk to a trusted friend or counsellor about yourexpectations and the local employment situation.Researching work optionsThere are basically three ways to learn about workoptions: read print materials, search the Internet, andtalk to people who have first-hand knowledge.READ ABOUT EMPLOYMENT FIELDSA lot of information about employment fields can befound in the reference, periodicals and non-fictionsections of your local library. Business magazines,newspaper articles, occupational profiles and industrydirectories contain a wealth of information for jobseekers.If you know very little about an industry oremployment field, look for basic information about:• primary products or services• how products or services are marketed and thelevel of competition in the industry• research and development activities• the challenges employers are facing• which companies are growing.Introduce yourself to the reference librarian andexplain what you are looking for. Librarians canbe very helpful if you clearly describe the typesof information you need.Alberta Employment and Immigration service centresare another good source of work search information(see Where To Get More Help at the back of this book).SEARCH THE INTERNETMuch information on careers and employment isavailable on the Internet. If you don’t have easy accessto the Internet, use the public access computers inpublic libraries, cyber cafes, and Alberta Employmentand Immigration service centres.The Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS)website (alis.alberta.ca) is an Internet gateway to allsorts of career, learning and employment information.• Click on the Career Explorers tab to get toOCCinfo, a database of Occupational Profiles thatdescribes more than 500 different types of work.• Click on the Job Seekers tab to get to Alberta WorkSearch Online, a guide to finding workon the Internet.TALK TO PEOPLE WHO KNOWPeople employed in a specific employment field orindustry can give you information you may not beable to find in print or on the Internet. For example,they can tell you:• what job titles are usually used in their industryfor the type of work you want• where people who do that type of work areemployed• how most people find work in the industry.They can confirm what you learn from reading, andanswer any questions your library and Internetresearch left unanswered.If you know people who work in some of the fieldsthat interest you, ask them if they would be willing tospend some time with you discussing their industry.Talk to more than one person — you are more likelyto get a balanced picture that way.10 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

If you don’t know anyone workingin fields that interest you, ask yourfriends, relatives and acquaintancesto introduce you to people theyknow in those fields. You may alsobe able to obtain information andreferrals from related professionalassociations or unions.Tell the people you talk to that you are lookingfor information. Describe the types of jobs andemployment fields that interest you. Ask forreferrals to people who may have additionalinformation.If you research several different fields ofemployment before you start looking for specificjob opportunities, you will be much betterprepared to follow up suitable job leads whenyou find them.Do any of the following statementsreflect your thinking right now?I don’t like to bother other people.People like to help. It makes them feel goodabout themselves. Let people know thatthey can help by simply taking a fewminutes to talk about their employment field.Most people wouldn’t consider it a“bother” at all!I don’t know many people.You don’t have to know many people. If youknow one or two people, ask them to referyou to people they know who work in theemployment fields that interest you. Theymay even be willing to introduce you tothese people.I don’t like to admit thatI am unemployed.Many valuable workers find themselvestemporarily out of work through no faultof their own. Don’t shut yourself off frompeople who can help provide informationand support!© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration11

Recipe for job search success:FINDING WORKwork hard, work smart, and use avariety of work search methods.Finding work opportunities takes detective work.You are looking for information about potentialemployers, and who is hiring now or might be hiringin the near future.Finding work would be much easier if the term “jobmarket” actually referred to a place where employersand job seekers meet and make mutually beneficialdeals. Unfortunately, no such marketplace exists. Bothjob seekers and employers must use a variety ofmethods to find one another.Ways to Find WorkThere are many ways to find employers who need yourskills. From the following list, choose the two methodsyou think are the most effective in mostcircumstances.❏ Attending workshops and taking other learningopportunities.❏ Registering with private employment/placementagencies.❏ Frequently checking job postings at Canada-AlbertaJob Order Bank Services (JOBS) kiosks, visitingtheir website at www.jobbank.gc.ca.❏ Hearing about work opportunities through friendsand acquaintances.❏ Contacting executive search firms.❏ Posting your resumé on employment-relatedwebsites.❏ Reading the advertisements in the Classified andCareer sections of local newspapers.❏ Using the services of the placement office at a postsecondaryeducation institution you have attended.❏ Watching for “job available” signs in the windowsof local businesses.❏ Approaching employers directly and asking aboutjob openings.❏ Attending career and job fairs❏ Paying attention to news reports about newprojects, and thinking about the types of work thatwill be generated and where.❏ Reading the job ads in trade magazines.❏ Meeting people in fields that interest you by doingvolunteer work.❏ Placing “employment wanted” ads in newspapers,trade magazines or on the Internet.❏ Searching career sites, bulletin boards, andcompanies’ home pages on the Internet.❏ Consulting a career or employment consultant.If you chose “hearing about work opportunitiesthrough friends and acquaintances” as generally themost effective method and “approaching employersdirectly” as the second most effective method, youare right.Although different methods of finding work are moreeffective in different circumstances, more successfuljob seekers find work through personal contacts(networking) and approaching employers directlythan through all other job search methods combined!That’s because most employment opportunities arenever advertised or posted electronically. They are inthe “hidden job market.”Also, many new types of work are constantly emerging.If you have some of the required skills, you might beable to learn the rest on the job. If not, you might beable to acquire the necessary technical skills throughshort training programs. However, if you do not realizethat you are qualified to apply, these opportunities arealso hidden from you.So how do you find out which employers are lookingfor workers, and which new work opportunities youmight qualify for? By using a combination of the worksearch methods listed previously, but concentrating onnetworking and contacting employers directly.12 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Networking andInformation InterviewingNETWORKING is an organized way to make linksfrom the people you know to the people they know.It is a process of linking contacts together to form a“net” of personal contacts who can provide supportand information.INFORMATION INTERVIEWING is talking topeople who work in fields that interest you about howthey found work and where they suggest you shouldlook for work. It is not asking people for a job! You arelooking for advice, not putting people on the spot byasking them to hire you. If they do happen to have a jobopening and are in a position to hire you, they willprobably tell you. Then you can decide whether topursue the opportunity right away or not. If you don’thave a good overview of opportunities and hiringpractices in your target employment fields yet, it mightbe a good idea not to apply right away.Why are most workopportunities never advertised?Put yourself in the shoes of a busy employer.If you advertise a position, you willhave to spend a lot of time readingapplications and interviewing people.It is much easier to:• wait for a motivated job seekerto come to you• ask your employees and colleaguesif they know of a qualified, reliableperson who is looking for work.If you can find someone suitablethis way, why bother advertisingthe position?Writing a resumé should not be your first step.Before you can write a really effective resumé, youneed to know what skills employers are looking for,which ones you have and where they are needed.Through friends, acquaintances and advice-givers, youcan eventually reach just about anyone you would liketo interview. One person can put you in contact withseveral others, who can put you in contact with manymore people.Who should you talk to?Everyone! Your hairstylist’s brother may work in anindustry that interests you. Or your neighbour mayknow someone you should talk to. You’ll never knowuntil you ask.People whose work involves a lot of contact with otherpeople can be particularly helpful. If you know anyteachers, social workers, religious leaders orcommunity leaders, for example, be sure to talk tothem about your skills and work search targets.Start networking by making a list of people you know,and deciding which ones to contact first.SHOULD YOU HAVE A BUSINESS CARD,EVEN IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED?Yes. The people you talk to may ask for your telephonenumber or email address, so they can let you knowwhen they hear about work opportunities.You can print businesscards quite cheaply oncomputers by usingIf you are looking for computerrelatedwork, it makes sense to surf available from officespecial card stockthe Internet to find work supply stores. Or, youcan pay a printer toopportunities. But don’t spend allmake moreyour time surfing! Networking and professional-lookingcards with your namecontacting employers directly areand telephone number,still more effective work search and a fax number ormethods than posting your resumé email address if youhave one. If you wish,on the Internet.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration13

you can also includeyour occupation orfield of work underyour name and up tothree bullets thathighlight your bestqualifications.Here’s an example.Jessica JonesWeb Page DesignerTelephone: 780-000-0000email: jjones@email.address• Graduate of Multi-Media Institute• Innovative, custom designs• Technical expertiseWhen you are telephoningpeople you have never met, planyour call so you will be as briefand to the point as possible.Your goal is to set up a meeting with theperson, and get answers to some of your questions (orat least get another referral).1. Introduce yourself.2. Explain who referred you, ifHow should youBeing assertive means appropriate, and why you arecontact people?calling. (Remember, you areexpressing yourself in aTalk to the people you meet in the course oflooking for information, notyour daily routine about your job search. straightforward way that asking for a job.)Telephone or arrange to meet people you have shows self-respect and 3. Ask for a short meeting or, ifmet before. Depending on how confident yourespect for others.appropriate, ask your questions.feel and how much time you have, you mayWhen people agree to meet witharrange to be introduced to the people you areyou, arrange a time and placereferred to, or you can call them yourself.that is convenient for them.If people refuse your request,What should you saypolitely ask if there is someone else you should talk to.when you contact people?Be assertive, not aggressive.When you are talking to people you know personally: Sometimes, the people you call may be willing to• Tell them about your work search plan and describe answer a few questions on the phone, but not meetthe types of work you are looking for.with you in person. Briefly describe your backgroundand work search targets, and ask if the person knows• Tell them how your training and experience relate any employers looking for someone like you. If you doto the type of work you want. If appropriate, offer get a job lead, ask for the name and position title ofto give them a copy of your resumé.the person you should contact about it.• Ask if they are aware of suitable employmentRemember, your purpose in networking is to meetopportunities.people who can give you valuable advice and• Ask them to refer you to others who might know information. Some of the people you meet may beabout work opportunities.employers. Interview them in the same way you wouldinterview anyone else. If they have a job opening and• Ask if they would be willing to introduce you toyou make a favourable impression, they may decide tothese people, or ask for permission to mention their turn your information interview into a job interview.name when you contact the people they refer you If they don’t have any openings and you make ato. Strangers will probably be more helpful if you favourable impression, they may tell you aboutstart out by saying that someone you both knowsuitable opportunities with other employers and/orsuggested you call.keep you in mind for future job openings.14 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Look your best whenever you go out.Be polite and treat everyone you meetWhat should you ask whenyou meet with people?Before you meet with anyone, do some library orInternet research. Then you will be better preparedto get the most out of your information interviews.Prepare for each interview by listing the questions youwant to ask. The more you learn about work in yourfields of interest, the more specific your questions willbecome.Most people will have a limited amount of time to talkwith you. Plan to ask your most important questionsfirst, and make your questions as brief as possible. Bebusinesslike and don’t take more than 15 to 20 minutesof a stranger’s time.In general, ask:• How people found work in their employment field.People love to talk about themselves, so this isusually a good conversation opener. However, don’tspend too much time on this or you won’t havetime to ask other questions.• How people are usually recruited and the work searchmethods that work best. For example, should youcontact employers directly by dropping in, phoning,sending an email message, or writing a letter?• About key issues and challenges. What is mostrewarding/challenging about their employmentfield? What are the current hot topics in their field?• Where a person with your background and skillsmight fit in. When appropriate, ask for detailsabout the types of work mentioned.• If there is someone else the person wouldrecommend you talk to.with respect.Take notes. When you have conducted a numberof information interviews, it is hard to rememberspecifics like names and telephone numbers. Duringor immediately after each interview, write down thefollowing information:• name of the person you talked to• date• what you learned from the person• the names and telephone numbers of any referrals.Within a day or two, write a brief note thanking theperson for his or her time and help.Follow up each information interview by phoning twoto three weeks later. A contact may have heard aboutwork opportunities in the meantime, or thought ofsomething else that might help you.ContactingEmployers DirectlyThere are five basic steps involved in contactingemployers directly:1. Identify potential employers.2. Choose appropriate ways to contact them.3. Identify the specific person you should contact.4. Make contact.5. Follow up.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration15

Contacting employers to get a job interviewis not the same thing as information interviewing.This time, your objective is to convince employersthat they should hire you.1. Identify potential employersThe yellow pages list local employers, but there are otherresources that may contain more information about them.For example, most medium-size and large employers havewebsites that describe their products and services. Thesewebsites may also include information about companystructure and hiring practices.Business directories provide overviews of companyactivities as well as addresses and phone numbers.Regional and national directories may be available in thereference section of your local library, Labour MarketInformation Centre (located in Alberta Employmentand Immigration service centres), or provincialeconomic development office.If you are interested in working in the public sector,detailed directories may be available for different levelsof government in your area.2. Choose appropriateways to contact employersYou can contact employers in person, over the phone,by mail or email. There are several factors to considerwhen you are deciding which method(s) to use:THE TYPE OF WORK YOU WANTEmployers use different hiring practices for differenttypes of work. For example, they may use employmentor placement agencies or campus placement offices tofill some positions, but not others.To find work as quickly as possible, you need to knowhow most employers hire people for the type of work youwant. You can find out by reading about the occupationand industry, and by information interviewing.YOUR PERSONALITY AND SKILLSIf any method of contacting employers is generallyacceptable for the type of work you want, choose themethods that will work best foryou. For example, if you usuallymake a good first impressionwhen you meet people, contactemployers in person. If yousound pleasant and confidenton the telephone (or couldwith practice), phoneemployers. If you canwrite a dynamitebusiness letter or emailmessage, contactemployers in writing.YOUR WORK HISTORYIf your work history hasgaps in it that are difficult toexplain briefly or in a positiveway, contacting employers inperson or by phone is probably a better approachthan sending letters or emails. On the otherhand, if your qualifications look really good onpaper, a wellwrittencoverletter andTailor your work search plan to fitresumé (oryour particular circumstances. The email) may getbetter results.better the fit, the more likely you areto find suitable employment.YOUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCESIf you are applying for work in a community somedistance away from where you live, you may not be ableto drop in on employers or make lots of telephone calls.You may have to rely primarily on a letter campaignor email.16 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Method of Contacting Employers — Advantages and DisadvantagesMethodAdvantagesDisadvantagesin person • most effective for unskilled, somesemi-skilled and some sales-related work• impresses employers who are looking foroutgoing people• favourable first impressions can be createdby your appearance and manner, regardlessof your qualifications• requires self-confidence• time-consuming• may require spending money ontransportation• some employers might resent peoplewalking in and taking up their timeby phone • can contact many employers in a short time• harder to ignore than a letter• can be effective for most types of work• requires good telephone skills• you have less than a minute toconvince an employer to talk to youby mail • emphasizes good qualifications• may be the most practical method if youare currently employed• not many employers will respond(five to 10 per cent)• not as effective in competitive fields• time-consuming• waste of time if not well written• cost of supplies and postageby email • demonstrates your computer skills• faster and doesn’t cost as much as mail orlong distance calls• requires a personal email address• waste of time if not well written• requires reformatting your resumé3. Identifythe person to contact“Dear Sir/Madam” and “To whom it may concern” typesof approaches are not very effective. No matter whatmethod of contact you use, address a specific person.• If you are contacting employers in person, call aheadof your visit and ask who has hiring authority forthe type of work you want. Find out when thisperson may be available to speak to applicants.When you walk in, ask for the person by name.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration17

• If you are contacting employersby phone, ask the person whoanswers the phone for the nameof the person who has hiringauthority. Then, if that person isreluctant to put your call throughto the appropriate person, callback another day and ask for thehiring authority by name.• If you are contacting employersby letter or email, it is absolutelyessential to address your messagesto specific people. You may beable to find the names andaddresses of company executivesby checking company websites or local businessdirectories, or by networking (if calling theorganization is not practical).Record names and contact information in anorganized way that gives you room for notes aboutwhen you contacted people and how they responded.You will need this information to follow up later.4. Make contactVisit, phone, send letters and emails. The moreexperienced you become at contacting employers,the easier it gets. (Yes, really!)If you are not comfortable meeting employers ortalking to them on the phone, practice ahead of time.Write a short script that takes less than one minute tosay and sounds upbeat. State your name, describe yourbackground and the type of position you are lookingfor, and ask for a job interview.If you still feel uncomfortable, try role-playing yourscript with a friend. Then contact the employers thatinterest you the least. That way, you’ll be moreexperienced and confident by the time you get tomore interesting employers.Your request for a jobinterview will be turneddown many times. But, ifyou persist, you will get anumber of interviews thisway. Don’t give up! Keeprefining your script, andcontacting moreemployers.Don’t overlookorganizations with fewerthan 20 employees. Smallany other way.businesses create more newjobs than large businesses.Another advantage incontacting small businesses is that it may be easier toget through to the person who has hiring authority.In fact, it may be the boss who answers the phone.If the thought of contacting employersdirectly scares you, ask yourself, “Whatis the worst/best that could happen?”If an employer does not have a currentopening, you are no worse off than youwould be if you had not asked. If theemployer does have a job opening, youhave a lead you might not have found5. Follow upFollow up your contact with an employer after areasonable length of time (about two weeks).Be gently persistent.If you meet employers in person and they have noopenings, leave a resumé or your business cardanyway. Ask if and when it would be appropriate tocheck in with them again.On the phone, your objective is to get a job interview.After a meeting, leave a resumé (if appropriate) andask if it would be acceptable to call back in a coupleof weeks.When you contact employers by mail or email, ask foran interview in your closing paragraph. If possible,give a date and time when you will phone to arrangea convenient time. Then be sure to call when you saidyou would!18 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Your PersonalWork Search PlanMost work opportunities are not advertised, so yourjob search plan should include networking and sometype of direct contact with employers. Your choice ofother work search methods should be based on yourknowledge of how most employers hire people for thetype of work you want.Which work searchmethods will you use?Check off the methods that will be the most effectivefor you.❏ Networking and information interviewing.❏ Contacting employers in person.❏ Contacting employers by telephone.❏ Contacting employers by mail.❏ Contacting employers by email.❏ Answering job ads in the newspaper and/oron the Internet.❏ Using the services of the placement office at apost-secondary institution you have attended.❏ Joining a “job club” or some other support networkfor job seekers.❏ Registering with employment/placement agencies.❏ Frequently checking job postings onCanada-Alberta JOBS kiosks or on the Internet(www.jobbank.gc.ca).❏ Using creative methods of attracting attention suchas designing your resumé to look like a brochure.Other method(s) listed below.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Which work search method will you spend most timeon? Put a #1 beside that method.Which one is next important? Put a #2 next to it.Assign a priority to each of the methods youhave chosen.The amount of time you spend on work searchactivities should reflect your priorities. For example,if networking is your number one method, then mostof your job search day should be spent networking.❏ Attending career and job fairs.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration19

MARKETING YOUR SKILLSMarketing your skills is much the sameas marketing any other type of product.You have to:• be familiar with your product(your skills – see Chapter 1)• identify potential buyers(employers – see Chapter 2)• present your skills in a way thatwill attract attention and makea good impression.Portfolios, resumés, cover letters, emailmessages, application forms and interviewsare marketing tools. They shouldpresent the benefits that hiring youwould bring to an employer.Both content and “packaging” are important. If yourresumé, cover letter and email look well-organized andinteresting, employers will probably start to read them.Quality content is required to keep their attention.Your marketing tools should reflect both the typeof work you are applying for and your personality.If you are applying for work in a conservative industrylike banking, your application should follow all thestandard guidelines for application forms, cover lettersand resumés. However, if you are applying for work ina creative industry like advertising, your marketingtools will be more effective if their formats demonstrateyour creative abilities.A resumé you write yourself is bound to reflect yourpersonality better than a resumé written for you by afriend or resumé service. Most employers see a lot ofstandard-looking resumés. If you can create a uniquestyle that is informative, interesting and drawsattention to your strongest skills, your resumé willcertainly stand out.As your work search progresses, keep improvingyour tools. Take note of what seems to impressemployers and what does not, and use this knowledgeto refine your marketing strategies.PortfoliosFor years, people in creativeoccupations have used portfoliosto show the quality of their work.Employers have come to expectphotographers, graphic artists,writers, crafters, broadcasters andothers in creative fields to submitcopies of their best work whenthey apply for work.People in other types ofoccupations areA portfolio is a collection beginning to discoverof items that shows what the advantages ofhaving a portfolio too.you have done.For example, teachersmight show prospectiveemployers copies ofitems that illustratetheir teaching style, philosophy and ability (e.g.photographs of creative classroom displays or studentsworking on an innovative project, sample lesson plans,practicum evaluations or letters from supervisingteachers, students and parents). Applicants who bringportfolios of such items to interviews are often muchmore impressive than applicants who do not.Creating a portfolio will help you market your skills by:• reminding you of things you have done well• providing evidence of your skills• helping you write a much more effective resumé• helping you prepare for job interviews.You can also use your portfolio for:A skill is a learned abilityto do something well.Communicating effectively isa skill, just as operating apiece of equipment is a skill.PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT PLANNINGIf your portfolio does not include evidence that youhave all of the skills employers in your field are lookingfor (e.g. communication skills, computer skills,20 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

No matter what type of work you are lookingfor, creating a portfolio can give you acompetitive edge.teamwork skills), look for ways to develop ordemonstrate the skills that are missing.PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENTSPost-secondary institutions sometimes admitapplicants who do not meet standard admissionrequirements (e.g. the applicant does not have arequired credential). When appropriate, institutionsconduct prior learning assessments to evaluateapplicants’ abilities to succeed in a program. If yourportfolio includes evidence that you have succeeded insimilar learning situations, it can be a great asset.SCHOLARSHIP, AWARD ANDCERTIFICATION/LICENSING APPLICATIONSWhen you are applying for certification, licensing,scholarships or other awards, use your portfolio inmuch the same you would when applying for work.You probably already have the beginnings of aportfolio in a folder or shoebox somewhere. If youdon’t, it is never too late to start. Here’s how.Go through your papers,photographs, closets, etc.Gather together evidence of everything you have doneon the job, at school and during your leisure time thatrequired work-related skills (see Chapter 1). Yourcollection might include:• projects you completed on your own or with others(e.g. school assignments, work reports, volunteeractivities)• photographs or models of project activities• documents from previous jobs (e.g. records ofemployment, job performance evaluations, lettersof recommendation, letters of reference)• thank-you cards from people who appreciatedsomething you did• items that show the results you have achieved or thequality of your work (e.g. certificates, awards, awardnomination papers, safety records, sales figures,marketing plans, technical drawings)• copies of computer documents or programsyou have developed• posters or brochures about events you haveworked on• newspaper or magazine articles about you orquoting you, or about projects you have beeninvolved with.The possibilities are endless. The important thing is tostart collecting, keep these items together, and add toyour collection as you acquire more experience. Overtime, it is easy to forget some of the things you havedone, especially if you work many temporaryassignments or on contract.Organize your collectionOrganizing your collection makes selecting appropriateitems much easier when you are contacting employersin person and getting ready for job interviews.The best way to organize your collection depends onyour skills and the types of items you have gathered. Usewhatever methods and categories make sense to you.• If most of your items are paper-based (e.g. letters,photographs), you can organize them in a threeringbinder with dividers to separate evidence ofdifferent types of skills or work. Or, you can copy,enlarge, shrink and laminate documents andphotographs, and put them in a scrapbook.• If you are looking for computer-related work, scandocuments and create an electronic portfolio.Be creative in the way you display, organize and storeyour collection. But make sure you can easily takeyour portfolio apart to add new items or take thingsout to show employers.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration21

Employers want to know if you are honest,positive, responsible, adaptable, willing to learn,safety-conscious, and can work productivelyin a team environment.Decide what to showto which employersWhen you are getting ready to approach an employerin person or go to a scheduled interview, try to figureout which skills will interest the employer most. Thenselect items from your portfolio that show you havethose skills. If you have any education documents(certificates, diplomas, degrees) that relate to jobrequirements, put them at the front.For example, if you know the work you areapplying for involves creating professionallookingdocuments, take along a copy of areport you produced by inserting graphicsor charts in a word-processed document.It doesn’t matter if you created the reportat work, for a schoolassignment or as avolunteer activity – itis concrete evidenceof your ability to usea word processingEffective resumés take time toprogram effectively.develop … but get results.Quality is important!The whole point is toimpress employerswith the quality ofyour work, yourorganizational skills and your presentation. If youdon’t have time to do a good job, leave your portfolioat home. Even when you are sure you have done agood job, ask someone else to review it and proofreaddocuments for mistakes.How to use your portfolioReview your portfolio before meeting with anemployer. It will remind you of stories you can tellthat illustrate your skills.Employers may not want to look through your wholeportfolio, but they will be impressed with the qualityof the samples you select and the time, energyand skill that went into creating your portfolio.Here are some tips about using your portfolio inan interview.• Present only samples that are relevant to thequestions employers ask.• Don’t just read the material. Talk about what you did.People are more likely toremember what they haveseen and heard, than whatthey have only heard.• Practice your stories beforeyou go. Friends and relativescan provide useful feedback.• Never complain aboutproblems you had with aproject. Talk about how yousolved problems and workedwith others.• Take copies of items tointerviews, not originals. Ifemployers don’t have time tolook through your portfolio while you arethere, offer to leave it for them to look at later.ResumésMost employers will expect you to have aresumé (a one-page or two-page summary ofyour qualifications). Some employers may askyou to fill out an application form as well. When thathappens, all you have to do is copy information fromyour resumé on to the form.The purpose of a resumé is to quickly draw anemployer’s attention to your most relevant skills andaccomplishments. It is a marketing tool designed toget you invited for an interview. It should be short,interesting to look at and easy to read.Many books have been written about how to write aneffective resumé. Unfortunately, they don’t always agree.22 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

ReferencesMost employers check references, so make sureyour references are able to speak clearly andenthusiastically about you.• Some authors emphasize the need for a “jobobjective” statement near the beginning of aresumé. A job objective statement very briefly statesthe type of work you want and your strongestqualification(s) for that type of work. Otherauthors argue that you don’t need to include a jobobjective statement, especially if your goal isobvious or can be stated in a cover letter.• Some authors recommend listing your referencesand their contact information at the end of yourresumé. Others suggest ending your resumé with astatement such as “References available uponrequest” or “References available from supervisorslisted above.” Still others suggest not mentioningreferences at all because employers generallyassume that you will bring a list of references withyou to an interview.You have to decide what will market your skills mosteffectively for the type of work you want. If you are notsure, write a draft resumé. Then show it to people whowork in your target industry, and an employmentcounsellor or two. Ask them to suggest improvementsand accept their comments without argument. Chancesare, you will get a variety of opinions. Do what youthink will work best.Despite varied opinions about some aspects of resuméwriting, most experts agree on the following steps:1. Gather together information about your skills, workhistory, education and training.2. Decide what information to include in your resumé.3. Choose a format or combination of formats.4. Write a draft.5. Get feedback on your draft and keep editing it untilit is as impressive as you can make it.6. Tailor your resumé to fit the needs of specific workopportunities.7. Choose the most effective method(s) of deliveringyour resumé.Always ask your references for permission to usetheir names and ask if they feel comfortable aboutrecommending your work. If they don’t, theywon’t give you a strong recommendation.Give your references a copy of your resumé andpoint out how your qualifications relate to yourwork search targets. Tell them about the type ofwork you will be applying for and the skills youwant to emphasize. The better informed yourreferences are, the better prepared they will bewhen employers call them.If you decide not to list your references on yourresumé, list them on a separate sheet of paperand take it with you when you meet employers.Remember to put your own name somewhere onyour list of references, in case it gets separatedfrom your resumé.1. Gather informationtogetherThe first step is to gather facts about your employmentand education history, and do some work on identifyingyour skills and accomplishments. If you have alreadycompleted the exercises in Chapter 1, or collected itemstogether for a portfolio, you are well on your way.Create a “fact sheet” by listing the followinginformation:• work history including dates of employment, jobtitles and descriptions, names, addresses andtelephone numbers of former employers, names ofsupervisors, your skills and situations in which youhave demonstrated those skills• education/training history including names andaddresses of education/training institutions,programs completed, dates, major areas of studyor training, and any awards or recognitions youreceived• volunteer experience, hobbies, other activities andmemberships that show you have knowledge orexperience related to the type of work you want, or© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration23

show you have positive characteristics (e.g. you arehonest, positive, responsible, adaptable, willing tolearn, safety-conscious)• the names, addresses and telephone numbers ofyour references, preferably people who havesupervised your activities in the past, whether onthe job, at school or for volunteer activities. Makesure their contact information is up to date!2. Decide what to includeThe second step is to sort through the facts you havegathered and compare your qualifications to therequirements of the work you want. Decide which areyour strongest qualifications and list them near thebeginning of your resumé, so employers see them first.• If you have lots of work experience that is related tothe type of work you are applying for, informationabout your work history should appear before youreducation/training history.• If you have more related education than workexperience, information about youreducation/training should be near the beginning.• If you have strong qualifications in severalcategories, briefly list them in a “QualificationsSummary” section at the beginning and providemore information later in your resumé.The first thing employers want to know is whether ornot you have the required qualifications. If you do, thenext thing they want to know is how well you would“fit” in their work environment. You never know whatclues will indicate to a particular employer that youwould fit in. So, if you have room (your resuméshould be one page if you don’t have much educationor experience; two, at most, if you do), include someinformation about your interests and leisure activities.3. Choose a format orcombination of formatsThe third step is to decide how to organize andpresent your information. Different resumé formatsare appropriate in different circumstances.CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMÉSIf you have had a series of work assignments withincreasing levels of responsibility and your experienceis directly related to your work search target, use achronological format. In other words, list your workand education/training history in chronological orderfrom most recent to least recent.Chronological resumés highlight a steady employmentrecord and emphasize career growth and development.Employers are most familiar with this format, and achronological resumé is easier to write than other typesof resumés.FUNCTIONAL RESUMÉSIf you don’t have directly related work experience, orhave changed jobs frequently or been unemployed forlong periods of time, you can use a functional resuméformat to minimize these drawbacks. Organizeinformation about things you have done (on the job, atschool, as a volunteer) in skill categories that are directlyrelated to the requirements of the work you want.Functional resumés highlight skills, not work history,but generally are not recommended. Many employersview functional resumés with suspicion because theydo not include specific “where and when” information.For more information on functional resumés, see thetip sheet The Functional Resumé–Focus on What YouCan Do, available at alis.alberta.ca/tips.COMBINATION RESUMÉSIf you want to highlight your skills but do not want totake the risk of making employers suspicious,use a combination resumé. Organize information aboutthings you have done in skill categories and brieflyoutline your work history near the end of your resumé.24© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Tracey KozuchowskiBox 359Wetaskiwin, AlbertaT9A 2G6tkozuchowski@email.ca780-555-4266Combinationresumés drawattention to whatyou can do, andprovide “where andwhen” informationas well. Theyminimize drawbackssuch as gaps inemployment and lackof directly relatedexperience, but must bewell written to beeffective.SCANNABLE RESUMÉSTracey KozuchowskiBox 359Wetaskiwin, AlbertaT9A 2G6tkozuchowski@email.ca780-555-4266EDUCATION2007 – 2009 Police and Security DiplomaCommunity College, Edmonton• courses included Securing a Crime Scene, Traffic Enforcement, Forensic Science,Enforcement Techniques, and Young Persons in Conflict with the Law.• refined my observation, communication, enforcement and report writing skillsduring six months (16 hours/week) of field placement experience with the City ofEdmonton Police Service.2004 – 2007 High School DiplomaAlexander Composite High School, WetaskiwinWORK EXPERIENCE2006 – 2009 Corporal, 15th Field Battery R.C.A., EdmontonSummer and Part-time • completed basic training, artillery trades training, and junior leadership trainingin the militia.• demonstrated an ability to work with a variety of people at all levels, take charge whenrequired, handle weapons, and deal with emergencies.• achieved rank of Corporal.Summer 2005 Customer Service, Vivid Video Shop, Wetaskiwin• monitored in-house goods and facilities security system.• served customers with courtesy and respect, accepted payments and operated cashregister, stocked shelves, and took inventory.2004 – 2004 Part-time Parking Attendant, Wetaskiwin General Hospital• supervised hospital parking lot.• enforced safety and hospital regulations, issued time cards and accepted customerpayments.• reported incidents of theft, property damage and vehicle abandonment.Captain of my high school basketball team.Coach little league baseball.PERSONAL Excellent health, bondable, valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License with a clean driving record.REFERENCES Available upon request.If you will be applying for work in organizations thatprobably receive hundreds of resumés each year, use ascannable resumé format. More and more organizationsare using electronic resumé tracking systems to selectresumés for consideration. Managers list keywordsrelated to the skills and knowledge required for theposition, and a computer selects resumés that containthose keywords.Scannable resumés are chronological, functional orcombination resumés that increase the chances of yourresumé being electronically selected. They may or maynot include a keyword list near the beginning or end ofthe resumé. Keywords are nouns that are not the same,but mean the same thing, as words used in other partsof the resumé. For example, if you want to becomea salesperson, your keyword list should include“salesperson” (if that word is not already used in a jobobjective statement or former job title) as well assynonyms such as “sales associate”, “sales representative”and “marketer”. Then, your resumé will pop upwhenever employers search for resumés containing anyof those words.EDUCATION2007 – 2009 Police and Security DiplomaCommunity College, Edmonton• courses included Securing a Crime Scene, Traffic Enforcement, Forensic Science,Enforcement Techniques, and Young Persons in Conflict with the Law.• refined my observation, communication, enforcement and report writing skillsduring six months (16 hours/week) of field placement experience with the City ofEdmonton Police Service.2004 – 2007 High School DiplomaAlexander Composite High School, WetaskiwinWORK EXPERIENCE2006 – 2009 Corporal, 15th Field Battery R.C.A., EdmontonSummer and Part-time • completed basic training, artillery trades training, and junior leadership trainingin the militia.• demonstrated an ability to work with a variety of people at all levels, take charge whenrequired, handle weapons, and deal with emergencies.• achieved rank of Corporal.Summer 2005Customer Service, Vivid Video Shop, Wetaskiwin• monitored in-house goods and facilities security system.• served customers with courtesy and respect, accepted payments and operated cashregister, stocked shelves, and took inventory.2004 – 2004 Part-time Parking Attendant, Wetaskiwin General Hospital• supervised hospital parking lot.• enforced safety and hospital regulations, issued time cards and accepted customerpayments.• reported incidents of theft, property damage and vehicle abandonment.PERSONALREFERENCESExcellent health, bondable, valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License with a clean driving record.Captain of my high school basketball team.Coach little league baseball.Available upon request.Tracey KozuchowskiBox 359Wetaskiwin, AlbertaT9A 2G6tkozuchowski@email.ca780-555-4266EDUCATION2007 – 2009 Police and Security DiplomaCommunity College, Edmonton• courses included Securing a Crime Scene, Traffic Enforcement, Forensic Science,Enforcement Techniques, and Young Persons in Conflict with the Law.• refined my observation, communication, enforcement and report writing skillsduring six months (16 hours/week) of field placement experience with the City ofEdmonton Police Service.2004 – 2007 High School DiplomaAlexander Composite High School, WetaskiwinWORK EXPERIENCE2006 – 2009 Corporal, 15th Field Battery R.C.A., EdmontonSummer and Part-time • completed basic training, artillery trades training, and junior leadership trainingin the militia.• demonstrated an ability to work with a variety of people at all levels, take charge whenrequired, handle weapons, and deal with emergencies.• achieved rank of Corporal.Summer 2005 Customer Service, Vivid Video Shop, Wetaskiwin• monitored in-house goods and facilities security system.• served customers with courtesy and respect, accepted payments and operated cashregister, stocked shelves, and took inventory.2004 – 2004 Part-time Parking Attendant, Wetaskiwin General Hospital• supervised hospital parking lot.• enforced safety and hospital regulations, issued time cards and accepted customerpayments.• reported incidents of theft, property damage and vehicle abandonment.PERSONAL Excellent health, bondable, valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License with a clean driving record.Captain of my high school basketball team.Coach little league baseball.REFERENCES Available upon request.PLAIN TEXTRESUMÉSWhen you submityour resumé byemail, you may wantto use a plain textversion and include itin the body of yourmessage. Occasionally,employers are unableto open a formattedresumé if sent as anattachment.Plain text resumés arechronological, functionalor combination resumésthat have little or noformatting. They are not asinteresting to look at, but can be sent to employersvery quickly and inexpensively.ILLUSTRATIONS OF RESUMÉ FORMATSIn the following illustrations, some items are optional.You can choose to include them or not, depending onyour particular circumstances. For example, list job titlesif they tell readers that your experience is directly relatedto your work search targets. If they don’t highlight theskills you want to emphasize, leave them out.Likewise, if employers may not be familiar with thelocation of your previous employers, include the nameof the community and province. If they are probablyfamiliar with the employers on your list, you can leaveaddresses out.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration25

ILLUSTRATION OF SCANNABLE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMÉYour Full NameYour Street Address or Box NumberCommunity, ProvincePostal CodeEmail address(Area code) Telephone numberObjective:Describe the type of work you are seeking and your most relevant qualifications(optional section).Experience:20XX – 20XX20XX – 20XX20XX- 20XXPosition Title (optional)Company Name of Your Most Recent EmployerName of Community, Province (optional)• what you did in this job that required skills similar to those needed for the typeof work you are applying for.• your accomplishments (e.g. consistently met or exceeded sales targets orservice standards; received good feedback from clients or customers).• start each item with active words. For example, “participated in establishing...”instead of “responsible for helping to set up...”Position Title (optional)Company Name of Your Second-Last EmployerName of Community, Province (optional)• use expressive nouns to describe responsibilities, duties and accomplishmentsthat are relevant to your objective.• list other duties and responsibilities very briefly.Position Title (optional)Company Name of Your Third-Last EmployerName of community, Province (optional)• skills, duties, responsibilities and accomplishments.• shorter descriptions of experience that is less relevant to your objective.26 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Education:19XX- 20XXSummer 19XXName of Educational InstitutionCommunity, Province (optional)Diploma, certificate or degree earned; major and minor fields of study or training.Also list short education, training and professional development courses thatrelate to the type of work you are applying for.ActivitiesChoose a title for this section that reflects the additional information you want toinclude. This section could include:Skills • volunteer experience and hobbies, particularly those that relate to the type ofwork you are applying for.Interests • recognitions or awards you have received that provide evidence of strongpersonal skills and/or good citizenship.Community Involvement • interests you have in common with many people in the type of work you areapplying for.• skills not already mentioned that relate to the job (for example, your ability tocommunicate in a second language).• memberships in professional organizations.If this information includes some of your strongest qualifications for the position,call this section “Skills” or “Highlights of Qualifications” or something elseappropriate and put it at the beginning of your resumé.Keywords ListList alternate names and abbreviations for position titles, education programs,tools, skills and other key information that employers might scan for and you havenot used elsewhere in your resumé. Use commas or periods to separate wordsand phrases.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration27

ILLUSTRATION OF A SCANNABLE COMBINATION RESUMÉYOUR NAMEStreet Address or Box NumberCommunity, Province, Postal CodeEmail Address(Area Code) Telephone Number(s)OBJECTIVEEXPERIENCESkill TitleSkill TitleSkill TitleWORK HISTORYEDUCATIONDescribe the type of work you are seeking and your most relevant qualification(optional section).Group your skills under two or three (no more than five) skill titles (e.g. Customer Service,Community Relations, Project Management).The skill titles you use should reflect the types of skills required for your objective.Concisely describe how you have demonstrated each type of skill and where.Under Organizational Skills, for example, say what you have organized and how,and the results you have achieved.Use expressive words and nouns that employers will probably use to scan and selectappropriate resumés.Avoid self-evaluations. For example, under “Customer Service Skills” replace “providedexcellent service” with “improved customer satisfaction ratings.” Even better, state howmuch customer satisfaction ratings improved, or any recognitions you received(e.g. employee of the week).Position title (or a phrase describing the type of work you did), name of employer, address(optional), and dates of employment.List the name of your employer first if it is more impressive than your position title.Or, put the dates of employment in the left margin as you would in a chronological resumé.List your high school or post-secondary education, the names and locations of theinstitutions you attended, and the dates you attended.Highlight diplomas, licenses, etc. and any awards or recognitions.Include other relevant training (e.g. seminars, short courses, training for volunteer work).INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPSThe title of this section should fit your circumstances. Include information that gives thereader an idea of your personal strengths and involvements.If you are applying for work that has physical requirements, include information such as“excellent health” under the title “Personal” or “Personal Data.”Or, you can leave this section out altogether.KEYWORDSList alternate names and abbreviations for position titles, education programs, tools, skillsand other key information that employers might scan for and you have not usedelsewhere in your resumé. Use punctuation to separate words and phrases.28 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

ILLUSTRATION OF A PLAIN TEXT RESUMÉYOUR NAMEStreet Address or Box NumberCommunity, Province, Postal Code(Area Code) Telephone Number(s)Email AddressOBJECTIVE:Create a plain text resumé by saving a copy of your chronological orcombination resumé as a text (.txt) file. This will remove any formatting(e.g. bold, font sizes, bullets, indenting) you have used to make your resumélook professional.EDUCATION:* Highlight and separate titles and subtitles by using the Enter key andSpace Bar to create white space. Do not use the Tab key.* Start each new item in a list with an asterisk (*),hyphen (-) or plus sign(+).* If you have a choice of fonts, choose a fixed-width font such as this one(Courier) so your resumé will scan better.EXPERIENCE:* Make sure each line is less than 65 characters long and ends with a hardreturn (use “Enter”).* If you allow lines to wrap the way they do automatically in your emailprogram, employers’ systems will wrap them differently, often withunattractive results.* Check to see how your email will look on other systems by copying yourplain text resumé into the body of an email message, and sending it toseveral friends. Ask your friends to send the message back to you so youcan see how their systems display it.KEYWORDS:Employers who ask applicants to apply by email may use electronic resumé trackingsystems, so make sure you include as many relevant keywords as you can.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration29

4. Write a draftThe fourth step is to write a draft (or two if you arenot sure which format will work better for you).• Keep it simple and clear — two pages at most.• List a telephone number where you can be reachedduring the day. Or, list two telephone numbers, onewhere messages can be left during the day and anevening number.• Emphasize your accomplishments andachievements. Wherever possible, describe howyour work helped employers solve problems andachieve their goals.• Use active, expressive words to describe what youhave done. You can use a thesaurus to finddescriptive words, or check out books that have lotsof sample resumés at your local library or bookstore.Don’t use “I” and inexpressive words such as “I wasresponsible for...” or “My duties involved...”• Be honest. Don’t exaggerate or misrepresentyourself — most employers check. On the otherhand, don’t sell yourself short by being humble.• Use good quality, white or off-white, 8 1/2" x 11"paper and a laser printer that produces clean, clearcopy. Add to the professional look of your resuméby using wide margins and using point form tocreate lots of “white space” on the page. Use boldto highlight information.• Make sure there are no errors in spelling, grammaror typing. Check and double-check!• Don’t sign or date your resumé, put the title“resumé” at the top, attach a photograph ofyourself, or include personal information such asage, sex, height, weight or ethnic background.If your resumé should be scannable, follow theseguidelines as well.• Use a standard font type (letters should not touchone another, so a fixed-width or sans serif font issafest) and font size (anywhere from 11 point to 14point size). Don’t use italics or underline text.• Use a simple layout — no columns, lines (verticalor horizontal), or graphic elements such as boxesor shading.• Put only your name on the first line, and use astandard address format on the next line.• State your qualifications in as many different waysas you can.• Use lots of descriptive nouns (name your field ofwork, your strongest skills, the types of equipmentand computer programs you know how to use). Youcan use industry jargon and abbreviations if you aresure everyone reading your resumé will understandthem (including Human Resources people who donot have a technical background). If you useabbreviations, write the words out at least once,preferably near the beginning of your resumé.• If you have not used all of the keywords andabbreviations that might be used to describe yourfield and skills, list the ones you have not used in a“Keyword Summary” section near the beginning orend of your resumé.Check out the resumés on the following pages to seehow Tracey, Brad and Ann have written theirscannable chronological and combination resumés.Then develop your own style and content — yourresumé won’t attract much attention if it looks exactlythe same as a lot of other people’s resumés!5. Keep rewriting your resuméThe fifth step is to get some feedback on your draft(s),and edit until your skills are presented as conciselyand impressively as possible. This is much easier if youuse a computer to create and edit your draft. Keep acopy on a disk so you can edit and revise your resuméas necessary in the future.Before you start sending your resumé to employers,ask as many people as possible to give you feedbackon your most recent draft(s). You need to find out ifyour resumé gives a clear and appealing picture ofyour best qualifications.30 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

When you have foundKeep copies of your resumédrafts for future reference.work, continue to updateyour portfolio and resuméregularly.After you have started using your resumé, review itfrom time to time. Keep refining it as your worksearch progresses and you learn more aboutemployers’ needs and expectations.After completing each draft, ask yourself (and others)the following questions:• Is it attractive and easy to read?• Do key points and headings stand out?• Is it concise (no unnecessary words or sentences)?• Is all the information relevant and positive?• Does every statement emphasize a skill or ability?• Are there any errors in spelling or grammar?Show employers your resumé only when you canconfidently answer “Yes” to all of these questions.6. Tailor your resuméIf you are applying for different types of work, youwill probably need more than one version of yourresumé. For example, for work requiring specificcredentials, the “Education” section should be near thebeginning of your resumé. For other types of work, itmay be to your advantage to highlight otherqualifications by putting them first.Every time you apply for work, analyse the jobrequirements before you submit a resumé. If necessary,reorganize or rewrite your resumé in a way that clearlyshows you can satisfy job requirements.7. Deliver your resuméThe last step is to get your resumé and cover letterto employers. You have several options:• deliver your resumé in person• mail it• fax it• email it.However you choose to deliver your resumé, it is a goodidea to follow up to make sure it has been received. Forexample, send aclean paper copyby regular mail if you have faxed or emailed yourresumé unless the employer has indicated otherwise. Itdoesn’t hurt for employers to see your resumé more thanonce, and a paper copy will make better photocopies fora review panel.Cover LettersA cover letter is a businesslike way to introduce yourresumé or application form. It creates an importantfirst impression of your qualifications. Someemployers automatically discard any applications theyreceive that do not include a cover letter.To be most effective, your letter must:• get the employer’s attention by appealing to theemployer’s interests and needs• highlight your skills and accomplishments• provide information that is relevant to theparticular job you are applying for• convince the employer to read your resumé orapplication form.Checklist for writinga cover letter❏ Make it brief and to the point. Your letter shouldbe short, and typewritten on good quality paper —a standard business-style letter. Use simple anddirect language.❏ Link yourself to the employer by naming your referralif possible (for example, Joe Davis, your Manager ofCustomer Service, suggested I write to you). If you areresponding to a newspaper advertisement, refer to thead. Show your awareness of the types of things thecompany is doing and its objectives.❏ “Personalize” your letter. It should reflect yourpersonality. However, be careful to avoid appearingpushy, overbearing or too familiar. This is a businessletter so humour is generally out of place here.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration31

TRACEY’S COMBINATION RESUMÉTracey KozuchowskiBox 359Wetaskiwin, AlbertaT9A 2G6tkozuchowski@email.ca780-555-4266OBJECTIVEA loss prevention position related to my training in security and safety/first aid.EDUCATIONPolice and Security DiplomaCommunity College, 2009High School DiplomaAlexander Composite High School, Wetaskiwin, 2007• Courses included Security Survey, Security Emergency Planning, Computers,Young Persons in Conflict with the Law, and Securing Crime Scenes.• Achieved an overall 3.1 grade point average (out of 4).EXPERIENCESecuritySafety and First AidWorking With PeopleReport Writing• Enforced safety and hospital regulations with tact and courtesy while employed as aparking lot attendant.• Monitored in-house goods and facilities security system in a retail outlet.• Learned self-defense and weapons handling techniques while in the militia.• Observed law enforcement and courtroom activities of Edmonton police officersduring six-month field placement (16 hours/week).• Followed safety procedures and administered first aid as required in the militia.• Instructed artillerymen in weapons handling and safety procedures.• Hold a valid Standard First Aid Certificate.• Commended by employer for serving customers well and maintaining productivework relationships while employed in a video store.• Worked co-operatively with a variety of people, dealt with mock emergencysituations, and assumed a leadership role as required while in the militia.• Captain of my high school basketball team and coach for community league baseball.• Used word processing software to write reports both in the militia and during fieldplacement with the City of Edmonton Police Service.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration35

Tracey Kozuchowski 780-555-4266 Page 2 of 2WORK HISTORYCorporal, 15th Field Battery R.C.A., Edmonton, summer/part-time from 2006 to 2009Customer Service, Vivid Video Shop, Wetaskiwin, summer 2005Parking Attendant, Wetaskiwin General Hospital, summer 2004 and part-time 2004-2005PERSONAL INFORMATION• Excellent health• Bondable• Valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License with a clean driving record• Captain of my high school basketball team• Coach little league baseballREFERENCESBryan Lee, InstructorSgt. Gordon KimballPolice and Security Program15th Field Battery R.C.A.Community College Box 526Edmonton, AlbertaEdmonton, AlbertaT5P 2P7T5K 5Z4780-555-1234 780-555-1794Ms. Mona MottersheadMrs. E. Rudyk, PrincipalVivid Video ShopAlexander Composite High School509 Main Street Wetaskiwin, AlbertaWetaskiwin, AlbertaT9A 7N3T9A 5X2 780-555-5319780-555-528336 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

TRACEY’S SCANNABLE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMÉTracey KozuchowskiBox 359Wetaskiwin, AlbertaT9A 2G6780-555-4266tkozuchowski@email.caEDUCATION2007 – 2009 Police and Security DiplomaCommunity College, Edmonton• courses included Securing a Crime Scene, Traffic Enforcement, Forensic Science,Enforcement Techniques, and Young Persons in Conflict with the Law.• refined my observation, communication, enforcement and report writing skills during six months(16 hours per week) of field placement experience with the City of Edmonton Police Force.• achieved an overall 3.1 grade point average (out of 4).2004 – 2007 High School DiplomaAlexander Composite High School, WetaskiwinWORK EXPERIENCE2006 – 2009Summer and Part-timeSummer 20052004 – 2005Part-timePERSONALKEYWORDSCorporal, 15th Field Battery R.C.A., Edmonton• completed basic training, artillery trades training, and junior leadership training in the militia.• demonstrated an ability to work with a variety of people at all levels, take charge whenrequired, handle weapons, and deal with emergencies.• achieved rank of Corporal.Customer Service, Vivid Video Shop, Wetaskiwin• monitored in-house goods and facilities security system.• served customers with courtesy and respect, accepted payments and operated cashregister, stocked shelves, and took inventory.Parking Attendant, Wetaskiwin General Hospital• supervised hospital parking lot.• enforced safety and hospital regulations, issued time cards and accepted customer payments.• reported incidents of theft, property damage and vehicle abandonment.Excellent health, bondable, valid Alberta Class 5 Driver’s License with a clean driving record.Captain of my high school basketball team.Coach little league baseball.Law enforcement, electronic security systems, surveillance, retail, military, self-defense,emergency procedures, crime prevention, conflict resolution, customer service, safetyprocedures, firearms, weapon handling, marksman, instructor, clean abstract, own vehicle, FirstAid Certificate, leader, MS Word.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration37

TRACEY’S COVER LETTERBox 359Wetaskiwin, AlbertaT9A 2G6June 28, 2009Mr. William Dickson, SupervisorLoss PreventionBig B Department StoreRed Deer, AlbertaT4N 3K2Dear Mr. Dickson:As a recent graduate of the Police and Security Diploma program at a community college in Edmonton, I was veryinterested in reading a recent article about your firm in the Enforcement newsletter. Your approach to loss preventionsounds both innovative and practical.I am writing to ask for your advice and assistance in my search for a full-time position in the loss prevention field. If you areaware of positions that are currently available or may become available in the near future, I would certainly appreciatehearing about them. Central Alberta would be my preferred location, but I am willing to relocate anywhere in Alberta.My training included an extensive field placement with the City of Edmonton Police Service. My work experience includestwo and half years in the militia where I learned to work effectively with a variety of people, to defend myself, and to dealwith emergency situations and administer first aid. I have enclosed my resumé to give you a more complete picture of mybackground.I will be in Red Deer in two weeks time and will call you then. Any information you can provide about current or future jobopenings would be greatly appreciated!Thank you for your consideration.Sincerely,Tracey KozuchowskiEncl.38 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

BRADBrad has had threeunskilled and semiskilledjobs since hegraduated from highschool. He enjoyedworking as aconstruction labourerand has decided hewants to become awelder. That means heneeds to convince aqualified employer tohire and train him as anapprentice.Brad found a short descriptionof what welders do and theAlberta apprenticeshiprequirements on the Internet(alis.alberta.ca/occinfo).He has also talked to somewelders at work. From thisinformation, he has gatheredthat employers are looking forprospective apprentices who:• are hard workers• have a positive attitude• are interested in welding and able to learn• are safety-conscious• have good eye-hand co-ordination and manualdexterity• have good vision• are able to concentrate on detailed work• are patient• work well with others• are productive with little supervision• have the strength required to work all day withheavy metal components• are willing to work outdoors on construction sitesor in oil fields.Brad has all of these qualifications. His workexperience is not directly related to welding, so heknows a chronological format probably won’t be thebest format for him. However, he has decided to startby organizing information about his work history inthe form of a standard chronological resumé.To develop a more impressive combination resumé,Brad asked himself the following questions:• Which of the required qualifications haveI demonstrated in my previous jobs?• Where else have I demonstrated those qualities?• What other employability skills do I have thatemployers might be looking for? (See Chapter 1)Brad will be applying for work in companiesof all sizes, so he chose to use a scannablecombination format.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration39

BRAD’S CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMÉBradley Roy16532 – 101 StreetGrande Prairie, AlbertaT8V 4M7780-555-8778Objective:Apprentice welder position.Experience:2006 – 2009 LabourerM & M Construction, Grande Prairie• loaded, unloaded and moved construction materials, tools and equipment.• shovelled and raked earth to excavate and backfill.• shovelled cement and other materials into cement mixers, and mixed,poured and spread concrete.• assembled and dismantled scaffolding, ramps, catwalks, shoring andbarricades.• demolished buildings, sorted and removed debris, cleaned and piledsalvaged materials.Summer 2006Landscaping AssistantCity Turf, Grande Prairie• mowed, power-raked, edged and fertilized lawns.• laid sod and planted trees.• helped install brick patios, walkways, tree rings and fire pits.2005 – 2006 Gas Station AttendantBonaventure Gas, Grande Prairie• served customers and accepted payments.• pumped gas, checked automotive fluids, checked tire pressure.• filled propane vehicles and cylinders.• closed store at end of shift.Education:2002 – 2005 Completed Grade 12 at Allendale High SchoolActivities/Interests:• Hockey, baseball and skateboarding• Making and flying model airplanes40 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

BRAD’S SCANNABLE COMBINATION RESUMÉBRADLEY ROY16532 – 101 StreetGrande Prairie, AlbertaT8V 4M7780-555-8778OBJECTIVEApprentice welder positionSUMMARYHard worker, fast learner, safety-conscious, strong and physically fit, good vision,eye-hand co-ordination and manual dexterity, enjoy detailed work requiring patience,enjoy working outdoors, require little supervision.EXPERIENCEConstructing • assembled and dismantled scaffolding, ramps, catwalks, shoring and barricadesworking for M & M Construction for the past three years.• helped build brick patios, walkways, tree rings and fire pits while employed byCity Turf.• build and fly model airplanes, requiring attention to detail, precision, a steadyhand and good co-ordination.Heavy Lifting • helped load, unload and move construction materials, tools and equipment; shoveland rake earth to excavate and backfill; shovel cement and other materials intocement mixers, and mix, pour and spread concrete; and demolish buildings, sortand remove debris, clean and pile salvaged materials for M & M Construction.• broke up existing walkways, laid sod and planted trees for City Turf.Working with Others • have worked co-operatively and safely with journeymen and others on M & Mconstruction sites for the past three years.• worked with a team of landscape workers for City Turf.• play hockey and baseball in Grande Prairie men’s leagues.WORK HISTORY Labourer, 2006 – 2009M & M Construction, Grande PrairieLandscaping Helper, Summer 2006City Turf, Grande PrairieGas Station Attendant, 2005 – 2006Bonaventure Gas, Grande PrairieEDUCATION High School Diploma, 2005Allendale High School, Grande PrairieConstruction Site Safety 2006Standard First Aid 2008© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration41

BRAD’S LETTERTO A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER16532 – 101 StreetGrande Prairie, AlbertaT5V 4M7July 4, 2009R.C. JacobsonConstruction SuperintendentAllied ConstructionBox 2323Grande Prairie, AlbertaT5V 4Z3Dear Mr. Jacobson:Are you looking for a responsible young person for a welder apprentice position? If so, I would like to be considered for theposition.I have enjoyed working on a variety of construction sites over the past three years, and would like to begin workingtowards journeyman certification. Welding particularly interests me because I enjoy building things to precisespecifications.My resumé is enclosed. I will call you next week to find out when it would be convenient to meet and discuss myqualifications.Sincerely,Bradley RoyEncl.42 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

ANNAfter the birth of her first child, Ann took a part-timejob as a food and beverage server in a local diner.It worked out well because she enjoyed servingcustomers, her husband could usually care for thebaby while she worked evenings and weekends, andshe often earned a fair amount in tips.Just before her oldest started school, Ann’s husbandgot a new job and they moved from Calgary toLethbridge. Ann applied for and got a part-time job ata day care, so she could work during the day and benear her younger children at the same time.Now, Ann’s children are all in school during the dayand she wants to earn more money. She knows thatshe enjoys serving people and is good at it.A friend who works at a local supermarket told herthat the manager is looking for a full-time cashier towork weekdays when most of the part-time personnelare not available. Ann has begun preparing to apply bytaking stock of her skills. She has listed her workrelatedexperiences, both paid and unpaid, andidentified the skills she used and developed througheach experience. Following is a list of the skills sheidentified for two of her experiences.Ann knows from experience buying groceries thatcashiers in supermarkets must be able to serve thepublic courteously and work efficiently at the sametime. These are skills she has and therefore wants tohighlight.Paid Employment as a ServerActivitiesGreeting, assisting andbeing courteous tocustomersTaking food ordersServing food andbeveragesPlacing orders andworking with otheremployeesAccepting paymentsand making changeSkills and Knowledgeresponsibleadaptable and flexiblework co-operatively withothersshow interest in customersread body language welltactfulattend to detailsmemorize ordersfollow proceduresrememberco-ordinate tasksattend to detailsserve customerswork well under pressureenergetic/alertefficientwork co-operativelyorganizedfollow procedurescalculate in my headaccuratedemonstrate integrityWorking as a HomemakerActivitiesSetting up andmanaging thefamily budgetPlanning andpreparing mealsDoing routinecleaning and laundryPlanning familyactivitiesGeneral homemaintenanceHome decoratingSkills and Knowledgekeep records/calculateestimateplaninvestigate/researchbudgetplanfollow proceduresimproviseexperimentadaptbe efficientsortorganizeperform repetitive taskspersistentnegotiateplanorganizebuild/constructoperateadjustfix/repairplanvisualize/imaginedesign/display© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration43

ANN’S CHRONOLOGICAL RESUMÉAnn McKinney1458 Taylor DriveLethbridge, AlbertaTIK 4X7Telephone: 403-555-9393OBJECTIVESupermarket cashier position.WORK EXPERIENCE2006 – PresentPart-timePart-time2001 – 2006 Good Fortune Cafe, CalgaryDay Care WorkerAlicia’s Day Care, Lethbridge• Greet children and parents as they arrive, supervise free play, serve lunch andsnacks, and clean up.• Plan, organize and supervise games, crafts and other learning activities as part ofa team responsible for 40 children ages 2 to 4.Food and Beverage Server• Greeted customers and presented menus, helped customers select menu items,and placed orders with the kitchen.• Served food and beverages for up to 12 tables at a time.• Prepared itemized bills and accepted payment.1998 – 2001 Dietary AideGeneral Hospital, Calgary• Assembled patient food trays, delivered trays to wards, and operated dishwasher.SummerServer1997 B&G Fast Food, Calgary• Entered customer food orders on computerized cash register, assembled foodorders, accepted payment and made change.EDUCATIONHigh school diplomaCoronation High School, Calgary, 1998• Courses included English 33, Typing 20 and Business Procedures 10.PERSONALExcellent health, available to work flexible hours.Active member of the Hillcrest Community League and the Southside Bowling Club.44 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

ANN’S COMBINATION RESUMÉAnn McKinney1458 Taylor Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 4X7Phone: 403-555-9393HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS• Five years of experience serving food and beverages in a busy restaurant.Efficiently and courteously served up to 12 tables at a time.• Six years of experience supervising children and responding to parental concernsin a day care setting.• Grade 12 education, including Typing 20 and Business Procedures 10.• Volunteer experience tabulating monies at community bingos and operatingconcession booths for various charitable organizations.WORK HISTORYDay Care Worker,Alicia’s Day Care, Lethbridge2006 to the present, part-time• Greet children and parents as they arrive, supervise free play, serve lunch andsnacks, and clean up.• Plan, organize and supervise games, crafts and other learning activities as partof a team responsible for 40 children ages 2 to 4.Food and Beverage Server,Good Fortune Cafe, Calgary2001 – 2006, part-time• Greeted customers and presented menus, helped customers select menu items,and placed orders with the kitchen.• Served food and beverages.• Prepared itemized bills and accepted payment.Dietary Aid,General Hospital, Calgary1998 – 2001Server,B&G Fast Food, CalgarySummer 1997• Assembled patient food trays, delivered trays to wards, and operated dishwasher.• Entered customer food orders on computerized cash register, assembled foodorders, accepted payment and made change.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration45

ANN’S COVER LETTER1458 Taylor DriveLethbridge, AlbertaTIK 4X7May 13, 2009Mr. Don Cameron, ManagerRiteway Foods456 Main StreetLethbridge, AlbertaTIK 7G4Dear Mr. Cameron:Rita Stobbe, my neighbour, suggested that I contact you. I would like to be considered for afull-time cashier position.My experience as a food and beverage server has taught me how to deal pleasantly andefficiently with customers, even when working under pressure. I take pride in being able toremember items and prices, and handle cash with a high degree of accuracy. The enclosedresumé briefly describes my experience and education.I will call you on May 22 to arrange a meeting, if I have not heard from you by then.Sincerely,Ann McKinneyEncl.Ann chose to send hercombination resumé with thisletter because it highlights herqualifications for this job betterthan her chronological resumé.46 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Application FormsSome employers require applicants tocomplete an application form insteadof submitting a resumé. They find it easier to compareapplicants’ qualifications if everyone has completedthe same form.Tips for CompletingApplication FormsTake copies of your resumé and list of references withyou when you are applying for work. When you haveto fill out an application form, you can copy names,addresses, telephone numbers, and start/finish datesinstead of relying on your memory.Ask for two copies of the application form and, ifpossible, take them home. Then you can take as muchtime as you need to fill out the form neatly andcorrectly. Use the second copy if you need to redo theapplication to improve it.Bring your own good quality pens in case you can’ttake forms home. Using erasable pens makescorrecting errors much easier and neater.Read the instructions on application forms carefully.If a question does not apply to you put a dash in theblank or write N/A for “not applicable.” Don’t useshort cuts like “see resumé.”Be honest. It is almost impossible to repair thedamage if you are caught in a lie. If your response to aquestion might be seen as a reason not to interviewyou, you can write, “will explain in the interview” orcounterbalance the negative aspects of your answerwith more positive information. You can attach a sheetof paper if you need more room.Be specific about the type of job you are applying for.Ask the person who gives you the application formabout the correct position title for the type of workyou want.Fill out every applicationform as carefully andcompletely as you do thefirst one.List your most recent employer firstand work back when you arecompleting the work experiencesection of the form. Include start and finish dates,names of companies, job titles and duties, and thepositive contributions you made while you workedfor that employer.Write something positive such as “left to pursueother opportunities” in a “Reason For Leaving PastEmployment” section. If you say something negativeabout a former employer or something like “personalreasons,” recruiters may get the impression that youhave a poor attitude or are not reliable.In the education and training area of the form,provide specific information such as dates youattended, names of schools, certificates or diplomasyou earned. If you have taken training courses or haveearned special awards that relate to the work you areapplying for, list them as well.Fill in the “Additional Comments” section if there isone. It is the one place on the form where you canexpand on the unique combination of skills andinterests you would bring to the work environment.Don’t put down an expected salary figure unless youare sure of the standard salary range for this type ofwork. State that you are “open to negotiation.”Deliver a clean, crisp-looking form. Do not fold theapplication form many times or let it get dog-eared.If you can show samples of your work, bring aportfolio with you. However, don’t attach copies ofyour marks, performance appraisals or letters ofrecommendation to your application form unless youare asked to do so. All of your important qualificationsshould be outlined on the application form — don’texpect employers to read attachments to find them.Make personal contact with the employer, if possible,when you deliver the application form. Be businesslikeand ready to answer any questions the employermay have.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration47

ATYPICAL APPLICATION FORMPersonal DataName (last) (first) (middle)Phone No. HomePhone No. MessageAddress (street)(city) (province) (postal code)Date AvailablePosition Applied ForSalary ExpectationAre you legally entitled to work in Canada? Yes NoWould you be willing to work? Full Time Part Time Shifts Weekends On-CallAre you willing to relocate? Yes No Are you bondable? Yes NoWork HistoryPresent or Last Employer From To SalaryAddressTelephoneSupervisor’s NamePosition HeldSupervisor’s TitleDutiesReason for LeavingMay we contact the employer? Yes NoPresent or Last Employer From To SalaryAddressTelephoneSupervisor’s NamePosition HeldSupervisor’s TitleDutiesReason for LeavingMay we contact the employer? Yes NoPresent or Last Employer From To SalaryAddressTelephoneSupervisor’s NamePosition HeldSupervisor’s Title48 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

DutiesReason for LeavingMay we contact the employer? Yes NoEducationName and Location Course/Program Credits Diploma/Degree DatesElementarySecondaryVocational/TradeCollege/UniversityPost Graduate/OtherSpecial CoursesSkill ProfileTyping wpm Data Entry Shorthand Speedwriting OtherDo you have a valid driver’s license? Yes No ClassOther InformationGive names of three persons not related to you.ReferencesName Phone Number Occupation/Business AddressI hereby declare that the foregoing information is true and complete to my knowledge. I understand that a false statement maydisqualify me from employment, or cause dismissal.SignatureDate© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration49

Your RightsIn Alberta, the Human Rights, Citizenshipand Multiculturalism Act makes it illegalfor employers to ask you:• for information specific to gender or maritalstatus (e.g. your plans for marriage or child care)• for your maiden name, “Christian” nameor the origin of your name• for age or date of birth• for place of birth, or racial origin• for height or weight• for a photograph (it would reveal race,gender, etc.)• about memberships that would indicate race,religious beliefs, ancestry or place of origin• about present or previous health problems,Workers’ Compensation claims, or any absencedue to stress or mental illness• about citizenship other than Canadian, orlanguages not required for the position• about military service outside of Canada• for previous addresses outside of Canada.Employers are allowed to ask applicants abouttheir ability to satisfy work-related requirements(e.g. ability to work shifts, travel or lift heavyitems if the job requires it). Employers can alsoask for the name used in previousemployment or education to do reference checks.When an application form has an inappropriatequestion or an employer asks an inappropriatequestion in an interview, you can respond in anumber of ways.• If you are willing to supply the informationand don’t mind working in an environmentwhere this type of information is consideredimportant, answer the question. Once youare hired and have established a goodworking relationship with the employer,look for opportunities to talk to the employerabout Alberta’s Human Rights, Citizenship andMulticulturalism Act.• If you are willing to risk putting yourself out ofthe running for the job, put a dash in the blankor write N/A (for “not applicable”). Or, tactfullylet the employer know that the question isinappropriate.• If you think the employer might simply beunaware of the law and you really want the job(but would be uncomfortable working in anenvironment where this type of information isconsidered important), you may decide toanswer the question but bring the issue upwhen you are offered the position.If you point out that a question is inappropriateand are not satisfied with an employer’s response,you can make a complaint with the AlbertaHuman Rights and Citizenship Commission.InterviewsA job interview is a business meeting. Bothparties want to make a deal: you have skills andthe employer has work. Your first task is toshow you have the skills the employer needs toget the job done. Your second task is to find outif you are interested in the work. In other words, youshould be prepared to ask questions as well as answerquestions.Some employers are better at interviewing than others.Skilled interviewers are good at putting you at ease, andgetting down to the business of discovering what youhave to offer each other. Not-so-skilled interviewers mayramble or bluster. If that happens, you may have toguide the conversation yourself to ensure that theTreat each job interviewas an opportunity to learnsomething and improve yourinterview skills.interviewer gets a clearpicture of how your skills fitthe requirements of the job.BeforeinterviewsWhen an employer or a receptionist calls to set up aninterview, politely find out as much as you can.• Ask for the names and position titles of the peoplewho will be conducting the interview.• Try to find out what you should expect. Forexample, will the interview be an initial screeninginterview (to determine whether you will beinterviewed more seriously later) or a selectioninterview (to make a hiring decision)? Will there be50 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Realistic expectations andthorough preparation are the keysto reducing anxiety and doing1. Reviewone interviewer orseveral?• The caller will tell youwhere and when theinterview will be held. Ifyou are not familiar with theinterview location, it might bea good idea to ask about nearbybus stops or parking areas.• Ask if the caller would be willing to faxor email a job description to you so youcan prepare for the interview.If you are applying for a job in another community, anemployer may want to interview you by telephone.Arrange to receive the call where you can speakcomfortably. Then have your resumé and portfolio (ifyou have one), a pen and some paper, and your list ofquestions with you when you answer the phone.Job interviewpreparation checklist2. Anticipate3. Prepare4. Ensure5. Allow❏ Review your resumé and the information you havegathered about the employer and the work. If you havenot already researched the job and the employer, doso! For help, see Chapter 2.Put yourself in the employer’s shoes: whatqualifications would you be looking for? Look forclues in the wording of the work description or thejob advertisement. Then identify things you havedone that show you have those skills.❏ Anticipate potential interview questions andprepare answers.This is particularly important for questions you hopethe employer won’t ask! If negative things havehappened in your past, be ready to answer questionsabout them in a positive way. For example, if youmade a mistake, briefly admit it and quickly move onto explaining what you have learned from it.well in a job interview.Interviewers may be reluctant to askabout sensitive areas. Mention themyourself if you think the employermay see something as a potentialproblem (e.g. a disability,qualifications, gaps in your workhistory, appearance, etc.). Explain why itwould not be a problem, so the employer isnot left in doubt.Review the sample interview questions in thefollowing section. Prepare answers that respond tothe underlying question as well as the stated question.Practice your answers in front of a mirror or recordyourself and play it back, or get a friend to role-playan interview situation with you. Then you canimprove both your verbal and nonverbalcommunication skills. Your posture, facialexpressions and gestures should communicate apositive attitude, not fear or frustration.If you don’t know the typical salary range for thetype of work you want, check out occupationaldescriptions on the Internet such as the OccupationalProfiles on the Alberta Learning Information Servicewebsite (alis.alberta.ca/occinfo).❏ Prepare your questions.What do you want to know about the job and theorganization? You may want to ask questions aboutthe company’s goals and objectives, the workingconditions, the people you would be working with,or how much travel would be involved.Be sure to word your questions tactfully, and leavequestions about pay and benefits until after youhave been offered the job.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration51

of the question.❏ Ensure a goodfirst impression bydeciding what youwill wear andplanning ahead soyou will get to the interview ten to fifteen minutesearly. You must look neat, clean and well groomed.Dress the way you expect the interviewer to dress.If you are not sure how long it will take to get fromyour home to the interview location, make a testrun. When you are there, take note of how thepeople working there are dressed.❏ Allow plenty of time for the interview.For anynumber of reasons, the interview may take longerthan you expect it to. Don’t box yourself in byplanning to meet someone in an hour or by payingfor limited parking time.Interview questionsThe key to effectivelyanswering a question isto understand the purposeNo matter how irrelevant or ridiculous an interviewquestion may sound, it generally has a purpose. Forexample, when interviewers ask questions like “If youcould be any vegetable, which vegetable would youchoose to be?” they aren’t really interested in thecontent of your answer. They want to see how youhandle the unexpected.Although no two interviewers will ask the exactlysame questions, most interview questions fall into oneof four categories:1. questions about you and your skills2. “what if” and “what did you do when” questions3. questions about your interest in thejob/organization4. questions about your expectations and plans.Each type of question has a different purpose.QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SKILLSPurposeEmployers want to know what you can do for them,what kind of person you are, and what makes youdifferent from other applicants.Typical QuestionsTell me about yourself.What is your greatest strength? your greatestweakness?What five words would you say describe you best?What kind of working environment do you prefer?Do you like … ?Can you … ?Why should we hire you?These questions are much easier to answer if you haveidentified your skills (see Chapter 1) and learned as muchas you can about the job/employer (see Chapter 2).Briefly describe your strongest qualifications. If youare asked to describe a personal weakness, choose onethat will not prevent you from doing a good job.Talk about your skills and characteristics, and whereyou have demonstrated them. For example, if youknow the job requires patience (to deal withdissatisfied customers) or persistence (to solveproblems), focus on situations in which you havedemonstrated those characteristics.Be tactful but honest. When interviewers ask aboutyour preferences or ability to cope with certain types ofsituations, the job probably involves those situations.Say you are willing to fulfill job requirements (e.g.work shifts, relocate, retrain) if that’s true.But ifyouwouldn’t accept shift work, or would not be willing torelocate or retrain, say so. There is no point in beingoffered work you would not accept.52 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Stay positive and upbeat. If there is somethingnegative about your work history, acknowledge thefacts and briefly describe any circumstances that werebeyond your control. Then quickly move on tosomething positive. For example, if you have beenfired, describe the positive things you learned from theexperience. Avoid saying anything negative aboutprevious jobs (e.g. salary, working conditions,supervisors, co-workers). If you must say somethingnegative, back it up with facts that can be checked.Otherwise, employers may see you as a potentialtroublemaker.Avoid getting emotional. Take a deep breath to calmyourself, if necessary (sometimes, interviewers saynasty things just to find out how you will handle thesituation, especially if the job involves dealing withdifficult people). Smile and keep your head up, evenif you think the interview is not going well.“WHAT IF” AND “WHAT DID YOU DOWHEN” QUESTIONS.PurposeEmployers want to know how you will handlesituations that may arise on the job.Typical QuestionsWhat if a customer started yelling at you. What wouldyou do?What would you do if you saw a co-worker doingsomething unsafe?Tell me about a time when someone criticized you inpublic. What did you do?Describe a time when a teacher or boss did somethingyou didn’t like.Think of a time when you had a problem workingwith someone on a project. What did you do?“What if” questions are sometimes easier to answerthan “what did you do when” questions, but they canboth be challenging. Skilled interviewers won’t giveyou any clues to let you know what they think youranswer to a “what if” should be. Be honest and brieflydescribe what you think would be the best way tohandle the situation.Don’t blurt out the first answer that comes to mind.Take a reasonable amount of time to think throughyour answer. Interviewers will usually follow up“describe a time when you had to deal with a problem”questions with more detailed questions about exactlywhat you did and what happened as a result. Sodescribe real situations that you dealt with effectively.Don’t make up answers or try to gloss over havinghandled a situation badly by describing how you wouldhandle a similar situation in the future. Interviewerswho ask behaviour-based questions believe that howyou reacted in the past is the best predictor of how youwill react in the future. They may ignore “how I woulddo it differently next time” types of answers.QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR INTEREST INTHE JOB/ORGANIZATIONPurposeEmployers want to know if you are really interested inthe job and understand the goals and needs of theorganization.Typical QuestionsWhat interests you about our services/products?What is your understanding of the nature of the joband the company?What do you know about our company? ourproducts?Why do you want to work here?Why did you apply for this position?© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration53

You will certainly stand out from other applicants ifyou can answer this type of question well! This iswhere it really pays off to have done some researchbefore the interview.Summarize what you know about the company and itsgoals, operations and products. Then ask any questionsyou may have about the organization’s goals andchallenges. Show interest in helping the organizationovercome its challenges and achieve its goals.QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PLANSAND EXPECTATIONSPurposeEmployers want to know if your expectations arerealistic, and you will stick around long enough tomake it worthwhile to train you.Sample QuestionsWhat are your long range goals? Are you thinking ofgoing back to school or college?Why have you changed jobs so many times? Don’t youthink you are overqualified for this job?What salary and benefits do you expect?Let the employer know you won’t quit after a shorttime. Talk about how the job fits into your careerplans, but be brief. Interviewers are more interested inhearing about what you can do for the organization,than what the organization can do for you.If you have changed jobs many times, explain why youfelt it was necessary and emphasize that you expect tostay longer in this job (if that’s true).If you are overqualified for the position, stress youradaptability and flexibility, and your willingness toassume more responsibility.Body LanguageYour mannerisms, gestures, body movements,posture, tone of voice, and expressionscommunicate just as much as your words do.For example, the position of your body whileyou are speaking and listening says a lot abouthow interested you are. Slouching or being toolaid back destroys a positive image, so sit upstraight or lean forward slightly.Cultural background determines how bodylanguage is interpreted.Eye contact is a good example. In some cultures,making eye contact is considered disrespectful.However, most Canadian interviewers will thinkyou are trying to hide something if you don’tmake eye contact in a job interview.Watch the interviewer’s body language forclues about how well you are doing.If the interviewer appears confused, ask if he orshe would like you to explain something further.If the interviewer looks bored, change gearsand show more energy, or take the hint thatthe interview is near an end.Avoid discussing salary and benefits until after a joboffer has been made. Understandably, employers wantto find out what hiring you will cost them. However,if you state a figure they consider too high, you willnot be seriously considered for the position. If yourfigure is low, that’s all you will be offered.If the interviewer persists, state the typical salary range forthe type of work you are discussing and that you expect areasonable salary for someone with your qualifications. Ifappropriate, let the employer know you are open tonegotiation depending on the benefits offered.If you don’t know the typical salary range, say that youwould like to research the pay and benefits for similarjobs before you commit yourself.54 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

HandlinginterviewsHaving a general idea of what toexpect in an interview goes along way to improving yourconfidence. Well-run interviewshave three stages:1. a short introduction2. an exchange of information (both you and theinterviewer ask and answer questions)3. a closing that wraps up the interview.Most interviewers “size up” applicants in the firstminute or two. If their first impression is negative, youhave an uphill battle to turn that impression around.Therefore, pay attention to how you appear and whatyou do when you first arrive. You want to do your bestto create a good first impression.• Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, and briefly let thereceptionist know you have arrived.• If you have to wait a few minutes, use the time totake a few deep breaths and try to look confident.Don’t be afraid to look at people and smile.• If other job applicants are waiting in the receptionarea too, and you imagine that they all have betterqualifications than you do, DON’T GIVE UP.Remember that employers are looking for personalteamwork and fundamental skills as well astechnical (specialized) skills. You may have just thecombination the employer is looking for.• Don’t smoke, chew gum or drink coffee, and try notto fidget.• Be pleasant, honest and sincere with everyone inthe office. Interviewers may ask other staffmembers for their opinions.• When you first meet the interviewer(s), introduceyourself, shake hands firmly and make eye contact.• Remain standing untilyou are offered a chair,then sit up straight.• Follow theinterviewer’s lead. Theinterviewer may spend a few momentsmaking small talk. If so, say something positiveabout the weather, traffic or whatever, but beprepared to move quickly into the main part of theinterview when the interviewer is ready to do so.When you get to the main part of an interview, takeevery opportunity you are given to talk about yourskills, knowledge and achievements. Emphasize whatyou can contribute to the organization. Avoidmentioning your needs until after a job offer is made.• Point out connections between your capabilitiesand the employer’s needs, even if they seem obviousto you.• Avoid “yes” and “no” answers. Answer the employer’sunderlying question as well as the stated question.• Follow the interviewer’s lead. If the interview seemsquite “structured” (each applicant is asked the samequestions in the same order regardless of theiranswers), it is generally best to save your questionsuntil the end.• If the interviewer asks more “open” questions (forexample, “Why are you interested in this position?”)and bases the next question on your answer, youwill have more opportunities to ask questions andlead the conversation toward a discussion of yourstrongest qualifications.• Show your interest in the job by looking interested(posture, facial expressions and other bodylanguage), by asking informed questions, and bylistening carefully to the answers.• If you don’t understand a question, politely ask theinterviewer to rephrase the question. If you don’tknow the answer, say so.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration55

• Take the time you need to think about difficultquestions. Don’t think out loud.• Cheerfully agree with appropriate requests (e.g. tofill out application forms or supply references).• If the employer raises an issue such as “you’ve beenout of the workforce a long time” or “you’ve alwaysworked in the same type of environment,” deal withthe employer’s concern directly. Explain why itwould not be a problem. For example, tell theemployer how you have kept up to date, or drawthe employer’s attention to how the skills youdeveloped in your previous jobs relate to this job.Near the end of the interview, the interviewer shouldtell you about how and when the successful candidatewill be selected. Summarize your skills, state that youare very interested in the position (if you still are),and ask any remaining questions you may have aboutthe work.If you are comfortable doing so, ask if it would beacceptable for you to follow up by calling theinterviewer and, if so, when you should call.Thank the interviewer(s), give the interviewer a firmhandshake if the interviewer offers a hand, and leavepromptly in a positive manner.After interviewsRegardless of the outcome of an interview, it is a goodidea to write a brief letter of thanks for the interviewer’stime and consideration. It sets you apart from otherapplicants, and may remind the interviewer about youand your strongest qualifications. You can also use yourletter to briefly supply additional information.A handwritten letter or note is acceptable if yourwriting is easy to read. Write the letter while theinterview is still fresh in your mind.Learn from each interview by asking yourself thefollowing questions.Don’t be too hardon yourself.You will get betterwith practice!• Did the interviewerask questions that Iwas not preparedfor? If so, how can Iprepare better for future interviews?• Did I forget to ask anything about thejob/organization?• Did I emphasize the connection between my skillsand the skills required for the job?• Was I pleasant, honest and sincere?• Did I answer the interviewer’s underlying concernsas well as the questions asked?• Did I address the employer’s concerns in apositive way?• Did I sum up my skills, then leave promptly andpolitely at the end of the interview?Take note of what you want to do differently next time.Briefly record your impressions of the interview andrecommendations for improvement in futureinterviews. Include names, what was discussed, salaryfigures and anything else you might need to rememberif you are offered the job.If you promised to call the interviewer on a certaindate, make sure to put a reminder on your calendar. Ifthe employer said you should expect a call by a certaindate, note the date on your calendar and call if youhave not heard anything by then.Don’t assume you have a job until an employer tellsyou when to start. Keep looking and following upother opportunities, even after several interviews havegone very well. If a job you thought was going to comethrough does not, you won’t be so disappointed orhave wasted time waiting.If you receive several job offers, you can choose thejob you like best. You may want to ask your employerof choice for a written offer letter so you know it issafe to turn down the others.56 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

GOING THE DISTANCERejection letters and other disappointments happen inany job search. Realistic expectations about how longthe search will take, a willingness to learn from yourexperiences, and a healthy, balanced lifestyle will helpyou stay positive and handle rejection constructively.When you receive a rejection letter, read it carefully tosee if it contains any clues about why you didn’t getthe job. If it does, you can learn from it. Everyone getsrejected sometime. It is what you do with the rejection— how you handle it and use it to your advantage —that makes all the difference.Handling RejectionIf you are feeling rejected, check the statements thatdescribe your thoughts right now.❏ You hoped you would find work a lot faster, andwithout doing the preparatory work described inChapters 1 and 2.If you have found work relatively easily in the past,your expectations for this job search may beunrealistic. Fortunately, it is never too late to putsome serious effort into identifying your skills(Chapter 1) and finding suitable workopportunities (Chapter 2).❏ Your applications usually don’t make it past the“paper screening” stage — you have not beeninvited for many interviews.There are a number of possible reasons you haven’tbeen invited for an interview. For example, you maynot have the required skills or education, your skillsmay be out of date, other applicants may have betterqualifications, or your application did not clearlycommunicate that you are qualified.If there is a good chance you haven’t communicatedyour qualifications very well on paper, take anotherlook at your resumé. Does it tell employers clearlyEvery mistake presents and conciselywhat you can doan opportunity to learn.and what sort ofperson you are? Ifnot, rewrite it.The most directway to find outwhy you haven’t been invited for an interview is toask. Call employers and explain that you are tryingto improve your job search skills and would likesome feedback on your application. You havenothing to lose and you could get some veryvaluable advice.If an employer seems to think you don’t have thequalifications required, don’t argue. Show yourresumés and cover letters to people you respect,including at least one employment counsellor(see Where To Get More Help at the end of thischapter). Ask for suggestions about how you cancommunicate your qualifications more effectively.❏ You have not found many suitable job openings.There are two possibilities you should consider:1. There are very few jobs that satisfy your workobjective.2. You need to put more effort into findingsuitable opportunities.Before you assume that the first possibility is thecase, be honest with yourself about how much timeand effort you have put into networking, contactingemployers and other methods of finding workopportunities. If you can honestly say you haveresearched the possibilities well, you may have tobroaden your work search targets or be willing tomove. Discuss your situation with a career oremployment counsellor, or someone whosejudgement you respect.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration57

❏ You really thought you had a job in the bagso you stopped looking for other leads.No matter how sure you are, don’t stoplooking for other possibilities until youhave an offer on paper. There are toomany things that can go wrongbetween a tentative verbal offer andan official written offer.If you have learned this toughlesson the hard way, don’t wasteany more of your precious time. Getback to work looking for work as quickly asyou can.❏ You got an interview, it seemed to go well, and youhave no idea why someone else got the job.When there are a number of well-qualifiedapplicants applying for the same job, employershave to make some very difficult decisions. Thedifferences between successful applicants andunsuccessful ones may be hard to identify.Unfortunately, all the preparation in the worldwon’t get you a job if the “chemistry” between youand the interviewer just isn’t right. When thishappens, talk to an understanding friend about it.Expressing your frustration can help you to put theexperience behind you, and move on.❏ You just had an interview, and it didn’t go very well.If you were not well prepared, decide what you willdo differently to be better prepared next time. Ifyou don’t have the required skills, you may need torethink your work search targets or do moreresearch about specific work opportunities beforeyou apply for them. Otherwise, chalk it up toexperience and move on.❏ You are fed up andready to give up.Frustration anddiscouragement will sabotageany work search. Read thefollowing section on stayingpositive. If you are still feelingdiscouraged and can’t seem toshake the feeling, talk to aprofessional counsellor. Contactthe nearest Alberta Employmentand Immigration service centre(see Where To Get More Help) orCanadian Mental Health Associationoffice. Or, look in the yellow pages under“Employment Counselling” to find other agenciesthat may be able to help you.Staying PositiveThere are a variety of things you can do to cope withthe ups and downs that everyone experiences during awork search. Learning to handle rejection constructivelyis one. Several other strategies are outlined below. If youcan think of other methods of coping that have helpedyou through stressful times in the past, add them to thelist and use them this time too.Tips for staying positiveTake good care of yourself. Eat well-balanced mealsregularly, and get plenty of rest. Exercise and enjoy theoutdoors. Ten minutes on the move can make a worldof difference to how you feel.Schedule regular breaks in your day and take them.Make your breaks short, but get away from worksearch activities completely.Seek out people who can give you emotional support.Tell family members and friends about what you aredoing and how things are going. They may be worriedabout how the changes in your life will affect them.58 © Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

Keeping lines of communicationopen will help them too.If your family members or friendsare interested, let them help youby brainstorming ideas with you,networking for you, and reviewingdraft applications and resumés.You may have to cut back on yourexpenses, but try to keep yoursocial life as normal as you can.Contact the nearest AlbertaEmployment and Immigrationservice centre. Ask about workshops and job clubsoperating in your area. Or, make an appointment tospeak with a career and employment consultant.Set realistic short-term goals, and reward yourselfwhen you achieve them. For example, decide howmany direct contacts (in person, over the telephone,by mail) you should be able to make each day.Make a list of things that make you feel good, but don’tcost too much in time or preparation (for example, alonger walk than usual). Use these activities as rewardswhen you have achieved the day’s objectives.Set a time limit on how long you will allow yourself tofeel “down,” preferably no more than a few hours.Then start working your way back up again.Keep growing. Do lots of reading on currenttechnological trends, and subjects related to your workor areas of interest. Take short courses, and attendconferences and seminars. If they might be helpful toyou, read books or attend workshops on timemanagement, problem-solving, communication, selfesteem,relaxation, or positive thinking.Help others. Get a better perspective on your owntroubles by reaching out to help others. Do volunteerwork that will make use of your skills, give you neededexperience, or allowyou to meet peoplewho could behelpful in your jobsearch.Take temporaryor part-time workto help keep yourspirits up, as wellas provide shorttermincome. Ifyour employers areimpressed with your performance, they may offer youfull-time work or pass on information about workopportunities they hear about.A major disadvantage to taking temporary or parttimework is that it decreases the amount of time andenergy you can devote to your job search. Only youcan decide if the advantages outweigh thisdisadvantage in your case.Be kind to yourself. Watch out for negative thoughts.If you catch yourself thinking “I can’t...,” “I’m no goodat...,” “It’s impossible...,” STOP. Try to reframe andthink in more positive terms. For example, “I can learnfrom this mistake” instead of “I’m such a fool.”Read every flattering thing (letter of praise,recommendation, performance appraisal) you haveever received. Keep them handy and read themwhenever you are feeling down.Make a list of the things that worry you andbrainstorm solutions with a friend or counsellor.Don’t lose your sense of humour. What makes youlaugh? Cartoons? Recordings of comedians? Certaintypes of television shows? Being with certain friends?Laughter is a wonderful emotional release, so use it asoften as you can.We all need a little help from our friendsfrom time to time — lookingfor work is often one of those times.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration59

Looking AheadBe ready to:• negotiate when employers offer you work• wrap up your work search in a way that will makeyour next one easier.When you have been looking for work for some timeand you finally get a job offer, it is tempting to jumpand shout YES. But hold on.Take some time to consider the advantages anddisadvantages of accepting the job, and negotiate thebest possible terms of employment (hours, salary,benefits). Did you like the feel of the place when youwent for an interview? Can you afford to wait for abetter opportunity? Will you be satisfied with thesalary and benefits the employer is offering?If you have questions or concerns about the terms ofemployment, talk them over with the employer beforeyou accept the position. (You have no bargainingpower if you have already accepted the job.) Make itclear you are interested in the job, then ask if there isany room to negotiate salary and/or benefits. Forexample, if the salary offer is lower than you expected,you may be able to negotiate an increase in pay(starting now or in a few months), health and/ordental insurance coverage, an extra week of holidaytime, a parking stall, or whatever else you want(within reason, of course!).If you decide to turn a job offer down, be tactful andexpress your appreciation for the offer.If you decide to accept, show your enthusiasm. If youhave negotiated any special terms of employment,make sure they are included in the written job offerand confirm them in your letter of acceptance.Wrap up your work search by letting others know youhave a new job.• If you are currently employed, submit a tactfullyworded letter of resignation that gives youremployer reasonable notice (at least two weeks).You may need a letter of reference in the future, sodon’t burn any bridges behind you!• Let your references and contacts know that you haveaccepted a position, and thank them for their help.• Withdraw any other applications you have in theworks by letting employers know you have accepteda position.Make your next worksearch easierOdds are, you will change jobs a number of times overthe course of your career. Make your next transitioneasier by:• creating and maintaining a work-related portfolio.Keep adding notes and things like letters ofappreciation and performance appraisals, soupdating your resumé will be much easier next time• staying in touch with people who have beensupportive and helpful• keeping informed about new developments in yourfield/industry, reading/watching news articles aboutchanges in the labour market, and anticipating howchanges are likely to affect your work• paying attention to your feelings and looking forways to make your work life as meaningful andrewarding as possible.Taking charge of your career by looking ahead willgive you a sense of confidence and freedom that goeswell beyond ordinary job security.60© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

WHERE TO GET MORE HELPResourcesALBERTA LEARNING INFORMATION SERVICE(ALIS) WEBSITEalis.alberta.caAlberta’s leading online source for career, learning andemployment information. Here you will find theresources you need for making the most of your future.CAREER AND WORKPLACE RESOURCESYou can obtain the following print resources onlinethrough the ALIS website at alis.alberta.ca/publications, or view copies at any AlbertaEmployment and Immigration service centre.Publications are available free of charge to Alberta,Northwest Territories and Nunavut residents.Creating a New Future: The job-loss workbookPositive Works IIAbout changing negative attitudes and beliefsinto positive ones.Time to Choose…a post-secondaryeducation programTraining for WorkAbout alternatives to traditional full-timeclassroom training.Workability: What you need to get & keep a jobAbout the skills and attitudes you need to findand keep work.Adult Back to School PlannerAdvanced Techniques for Work SearchAssessing You: The first step in career planningChange and Transitions: The path from A to BHelp for people making changes.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration61

ServicesALBERTA CAREER INFORMATION HOTLINEPhone: 780-422-4266 in EdmontonToll-free: 1-800-661-3753 in AlbertaWebsite: alis.alberta.ca/hotlineHours: 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to FridayCall the Hotline for answers to your questions about:• career planning• job search skills• educational options• occupational descriptions• educational funding• referrals• resumé review serviceALBERTA EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATIONAlberta Employment and Immigration service centresare located throughout the province. They haveinformation on occupations, career options, educationprograms and funding, and finding work. Manyoffices have a career resource centre with books,newspapers, magazines, software and audiovisualmaterials. They also may have computers for Internetuse and word processing, and phones, photocopiersand fax machines to use with your work search. Youcan also talk to a career and employment consultant.These services may be offered by other agencies inyour community. Call the Alberta Career InformationHotline for the office closest to you.ALBERTA ADULT AND CHILDHEALTH BENEFITSPhone: 780-427-6848 in EdmontonToll-free: 1-877-469-5437 in AlbertaWebsite: employmentalberta.ca(click on Family Supports, then Health Benefits)Alberta Adult and Child Health Benefits helps withhealth care needs of families with limited incomes.ALBERTA CHILD SUPPORT SERVICESToll-free: 310-0000 in Alberta. Ask to be connectedto the local Child Support Services office in your area.Website: employment.alberta.ca/cssAlberta parents with low incomes can contact AlbertaChild Support Services for help to arrange court ordersand family maintenance.EMPLOYMENT STANDARDSPhone: 780-427-3731 in EdmontonToll-free: 1-877-427-3731 in Alberta.Website: employment.alberta.ca/employmentstandardsEmployment standards are minimum standards ofemployment for employers and employees in theworkplace. You can get a free copy of the EmploymentStandards Guide by phoning the office ordownloading it from the website.62© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration

WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETYPhone: 780-415-8690 in EdmontonToll-free: 1-866-415-8690 in AlbertaDeaf and hard of hearing callers with TTY unitscall 780-427-9999 in Edmonton or 1-800-232-7215in other Alberta locations.Website: employment.alberta.ca/whsCall the Workplace Health and Safety Contact Centrefor information about:• the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulationand Code• unsafe work practices and workplaces• workplace hazards, including chemicalcontaminants, noise, asbestos, machinery, and fallprotection• publications and resources to assist your health andsafety planning.There is a 24-hour access for reporting seriousincidents and workplace fatalities.YOUTH CONNECTIONSYouth Connections offices provide career andemployment service for people between the ages of16 and 24. Offices are located in communities acrossAlberta. Contact the Career Information Hotline forthe location nearest you. You can also check out theYouth Connections web link atemployment.alberta.ca/youthconnections.© Government of Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration63

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A Guide forNew Job SeekersFor youth and newcomers to the workplaceIf you are looking for your first job or you’ve been awayfrom the workforce for a long time then this book can help you !• identify your skills• complete job applications• develop effectiveresumé, cover lettersand portfolioYou’ll discover how to:• network and doinformation interviews• prepare for aninterview• stay positive!