JOB CLUB: COVID 2021 EDITION - RESUME FORMATS & WHEN TO USE THEM + WORKING SESSION MAY 3, 2021

JOB CLUB: COVID
                   2021 EDITION
RESUME FORMATS & WHEN TO USE THEM
               + WORKING SESSION
                      MAY 3, 2021

                 Lisa MacNeil, Career Services
          Scott Daniels, Co-operative Education

Current students: visit https://healthymindsns.ca/
for TAO Self-Help, an online mental health library with interactive
modules to help you understand and manage how you feel, think and act.

Resume Formats/Potential Headers

          Accomplishment Statements

TODAY’S   LinkedIn and Online Portfolios
AGENDA
          Cover Letter Tips

          Working Session

THREE MOST COMMON RESUME FORMATS
   Chronological                       Functional                     Combined
§Most common resume type              §Focuses on skills and        §Ideal for more experienced
                                      experiences                    professionals with a diverse range
§Lists most recent experience first                                  of experience
§Usually most common format           §Often used when gaps in      §Highlights relevant skills while
 used for candidates who are          employment or those who may    providing chronological work
 applying for a position similar to   be changing careers            history
 their prior experience
                                                                    §Mix of chronological and
                                                                     functional

RESUME FORMATS
COVID-19 JOB SEARCH                      'REGULAR' JOB SEARCH
(Outside your field of study)            (In your field of study)
• Functional format (focus: skills)       • Chronological
• Consider 1-2 page format                • 2-page format
                                            (usually recommend including references)
• Add references with 2-page format       • Online presence (LinkedIn, online portfolio)
• Online presence (LinkedIn, online       • Cover letter also helpful to stand out
 portfolio) more important than ever
• Cover letter can be helpful to stand
 out

POTENTIAL HEADERS FOR RESUME
§ Summary of Skills
§ Education
§ Professional Work Experience (can customize more specific to job by
  using ‘Customer Service Experience’ or ‘Marketing Experience’
§ Volunteer Experience
§ Leadership Activities
§ Certifications
§ Relevant Course Work *if limited work experience

ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS
What experience or transferrable skills would employers value from my
past jobs or volunteer involvement? 4-6 bullet points under each section
                   Action + the 'What' + Results/Outcome

Designed and coordinated print and social media materials for Leaders in Tourism, a
fundraising event that attracted 700 supporters
Processed food orders quickly and accurately, working in a team of six
Implemented daily group activities that encouraged youth ages 6 to 12 years old to
become physically active

Job seeker benefit: identify   Employer benefit: search specific   Having a strong LinkedIn profile
   target organizations or           skills or backgrounds          can be a differentiator in a job
individuals and contact them                                                   interview

 LINKEDIN

LINKEDIN CHECKLIST
Professional Profile Photo
Concise, impactful Headline
Polished, approachable About section (the
'Why' or 'What I do' side of you)
Upload or link presentations/videos/websites to
Feature section
Well-constructed Background, Skills &
Endorsements
Optional: collect recommendations from co-
workers, peers & references
Involvement in field-specific LinkedIn groups
                     Larsen, S. (2019, july 19). Inspiration to create a rock star linkedin summary. Linkedin.
                  Https://www.Linkedin.Com/pulse/inspiration-create-rockstar-linkedin-summary-sara-larsen

LINKEDIN TIPS
DOs                                   DON'Ts

üShare/publish/comment on content     • Discuss politics, religion or
 regularly *notifications              potentially divisive topics
üEstablish 'thought leadership'       • Use LinkedIn as a dating site
 among your network                   • Use LinkedIn like Facebook or
üBuild 'what you're about'             Instagram – this is your professional
üConnect with leaders/innovators in    network, not personal circle
 your field

ONLINE PORTFOLIOS?                 • You're a NSCC graduate and would like
OPTIONAL IF...                       to post your portfolio online
                                     (caution: consider information privacy and
                                     identity theft)
• Your field values visual         • You create a lot of professional-
  representation (e.g. business,     level content (e.g. podcasts, blog
  marketing, public                  posts, YouTube)
  relations, communications)
                                   • You're willing to learn new platforms
• Your field is emerging             and you'll update your online portfolio
  (e.g. science communication,       regularly
  lifelong learning)

Squarespace                                    https://www.squarespace.com/pricing
Personal/CV templates, trendy
WordPress                                      https://wordpress.com/pricing/
Flexible design options but requires time to
learn
Weebly                                         https://www.weebly.com/ca/pricing
User friendly
Strikingly                                     https://www.strikingly.com/s/pricing#
User friendly, simple webpage formats
Wix                                            https://www.wix.com/students
Student format, design knowledge best          https://www.wix.com/upgrade/website

  5 ONLINE PORTFOLIO PLATFORMS

COVER LETTER TIPS
1. Hook your reader’s attention in the first paragraph by sharing something that interested you
in the role.

2. Select 2-3 key themes from the job posting and discuss how you have demonstrated those
skills/abilities. Connector sentences like “These skills would assist me when…”

3. In the closing paragraph, indicate you're available for an online/telephone interview Take
a helper or problem-solver approach

  "I understand some of the pandemic challenges [organization] might be facing right now, and I'm willing to
  help with [2 or 3 tasks from job description]."
  "These have been uncertain times for many organizations. In the [job title] position, I understand getting back
  on track or introducing new initiatives might be important for [organization]."

RESOURCES
msvu.ca/careerplanning
Left menu: Students/Job Search Resources
 • MSVU Resume and Cover Letter Handbook
 • Action verbs
 • Resume formatting checklist
 • Transferrable skills
McGill University C.V. and Cover Letter
https://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/prepare/cv

THANK YOU!
Questions? careerplanning@msvu.ca

          Lisa MacNeil, Career Services
   Scott Daniels, Co-operative Education