Deadlines: June 30, 2013 and November 15, 2013.

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Do:

• If you are applying for a specific job that is currently available, always send a cover letter, even if the advertisement doesn’t ask for one. Even if they don’t read it, it will help you stand out.
• Use the same font that you used in your resume. Many people will use their name, phone number, and email address as a header on both the resume and the cover letter. It’s like your own personalized stationary, and if your documents get separated, they are easily identifiable.
• Use perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Proofread it before sending it to anyone, and have a friend, family member, or Specialist in the Bellevue College Career for Career Connections proofread it before sending it to an employer! If you need help with grammar, visit the BC Writing Lab: http://bellevuecollege.edu/writinglab/

Don’t:

• Do not send a generic cover letter. Employers can spot a generic cover letter from a mile away, and they don’t like it. If it’s going to be effective, you need to tailor it to each new job for which you apply.
• Do not use more than one page, unless the ad says you can. Most experts say that at most, your cover letter should be two to three paragraphs and under 150 words. The idea is that your cover letter should not be any longer than one computer screen in length.
• Do not simply repeat what you have written in your resume. Instead, sum up what you have to offer for the specific job, and use this opportunity to bring your resume to life. Let it serve as your introduction to the reader. In simple direct language, demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm by telling why you are uniquely qualified for the job. A successful cover letter highlights and enhances the information on your resume, and targets it toward the prospective employer.
• It’s okay to let your letter reflect your individuality, but do not be aggressive, overbearing, familiar, or cute, and don’t write your life story. Use the interview as a chance to show your personality and go into more detail about your experiences. This is just a chance to get the interview. You want to stand out by having professional, mistake‐free, visually appealing documents.

What you need to do right now

Be proactive – contact the representative you interacted and thank them for attending the fair. Don’t forget to mention your interest in the company, your qualifications, and your availability for future projects. See our article – The Job Fair Tips that get you in the center of the attention for details.

Research the positions – aligning your interest and company needs, is essential. Make sure that the positions that the company advertised are in line with your future career path. Also, these entry level positions are a great jump start for future opportunities within the company, or industry so take that in consideration. See the list of advertised positions at the fair, and also make sure to research their websites/LinkedIn for openings.

Bellevue College Annual Job & Networking Fair is quickly approaching, and with that in mind we would like to give you some tips and tricks to better prepare for this exciting event.

Before the Fair

Research: Many people go to job fairs just to see who’s there and are not prepared to interview. You can get a huge edge on the competition by being prepared. Get a list of the companies attending the fair and do some research. Make sure you know what each company does and what they value.

Resumes: Bring a lot of resumes to the fair – at least two for each company that interests you. If you have multiple interests or objectives, make sure you bring copies of each version of your resume. For tips on writing a resume, read our Resume Essentials Guide, which can be found on our web site.

Portfolios: Career experts emphasize the importance of portfolios. A portfolio gives a visual survey of your work history and accomplishments. It should include your resume, a list of references, and samples of your best work.

Attire: Business casual attire is essential. Know the expected attire of your profession and dress accordingly. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

During the Fair

Strategy: You’ve already done the first step by researching the companies that interest you. The second step is seeing if any new companies have registered when you arrive. The third step is surveying the layout of the fair and determining the order of your approach. Some experts suggest meeting with your top choices first, talking with the other companies next, and then returning to your top choices at the end of the event to thank them again for their time.

Interviewing: You may only have a few minutes to market yourself to the company representative, so you need to make the most of your time. Many experts suggest that you develop a one-minute “commercial” that highlights the key benefits that you can offer the organization. Also remember the three keys to all interviews: make eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and show enthusiasm. You should also prepare answers to interview questions just as you would any employment interview. The most common question you will face is something along the lines of “what are you here for today?” Make sure you also have some questions ready for the representative. A great concluding question for you to ask is, “What do I need to do to obtain a second meeting with your firm?” Finally, make sure to avoid poor communication bad habits, such as fidgeting, rocking, chewing gum, etc.

Intangibles: There are several other things you can do to help make your job fair experience a success.

• Don’t waste your time meeting with companies you have no desire to work for; do make sure to interview with all the companies you do want to work for.
• If you did not prepare for a company you want to interview for, try eavesdropping on several of the interviews ahead of you so you can better prepare; do also try to get some company literature from the booth before getting in line so you can read about the company while waiting; don’t just stand in line doing nothing.
• Extend common courtesies, such as offering to get the recruiter a beverage or snack; don’t be upset if the recruiter has to take a break before your interview.
• If your ideal company is looking for computer technicians and you want to work in accounting, do still interview with the company at the fair, being sure to leave the interview with the contact information of the person responsible for hiring in that area; don’t be discouraged and walk away.

Networking: Job fairs are all about networking. Of course, you are building a network with the recruiters – this task is your most vital goal. However, you can also network with your fellow job-seekers in terms of sharing information about job leads, companies, and their recruiting strategies and styles. There may also be professional organizations or employment agencies on hand at the fair, which are also good sources for networking.

After the Fair

Follow-up: You would be surprised at how few job-seekers actually take the time to follow-up their job fair interviews, thus when you do it, you will get an edge over the many others who do not. There are two main methods of follow-up. Some experts suggest actually calling the recruiter the evening of the fair and leaving a voicemail message thanking the recruiter again for his/her time that day. A more concrete and traditional method is to write a thank you note and mail it the next day to the address on the recruiter’s business card. In the letter, thank the recruiter for his/her time, restate your interest and qualifications for the position, reiterate your interest in a second interview, and make a promise to follow-up the letter with a phone call (and then make sure you do in fact call). You probably should enclose another copy of your resume to be sure.

Additional Tips

• Avoid starting every sentence with “I” – turn the focus to what you can do for them. For example, change “I have expert knowledge of Photoshop” to “Your marketing department would benefit from my expert knowledge of Photoshop.”
• Prove that you have soft skills (like communication) by saying what you did that necessitated that skill.
• Use industry buzzwords. Because your cover letter may be filed into a database, using critical keywords will enhance the likelihood that your cover letter and resume will be retrieved in a search for qualified candidates.
• Address any weak spots in your resume, but remember – don’t get too personal.
• We don’t recommend that you say you’ll call them in a week, especially if it’s a large company. They most likely don’t want you to call, unless it’s a really aggressive sales position.
• Read the letter out loud to help you catch mistakes and/or identify any awkward sentences. Have a friend or family member (or Career Specialist) proofread it for you. There is no excuse for spelling errors!
• If sending your documents as an attachment, name the documents appropriately, such as “Jane Doe Cover Letter.doc” ‐ Make sure they can identify the document on their computer without having to open the document.

Ask Yourself These Questions

• Knowing only what is on your resume and cover letter, would you hire you?
• Do you clearly qualify for the position?
• Is it obvious that you value this job and this company?
• Do you stand out in a stack of 100 cover letters?
• Is everything perfect? This is a test of your writing skills, as well as your ability to pay attention to details.

Don’t Disqualify Yourself

Read and re‐read the application instructions, and make sure you’ve done everything they requested. The number one way people disqualify themselves is by not following instructions.

The deadline for these scholarships is April 5, 2013

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Technical Skills

Degree: Employers will first check to see that you graduated from a reputable nursing school and have some clinical exposure. This will confirm that you’re technically competent, and it’s the easiest part of your resume. During the hiring process, your skills may be validated through testing, and this will continue throughout your nursing career.

Grade Point Average: Management usually doesn’t get to see your transcripts. So if you did well in school, put your GPA on your resume. Most people consider 3.5 and above to be a good GPA.

Behavior & Character

Nurse Managers want to know if you’re capable of completing tasks, but they also want to know how you will do the job. Your challenge when writing your resume (and interviewing) will be to communicate how you demonstrate:

• Critical thinking, creativity, & problem solving – The hospital work environment is complex, high-stress, and ever-changing. Hospitals need people who can think on their feet when a crisis arises. They’re also looking for people who can really add value to the organization. They’re not just looking for warm bodies.
• Maturity, ownership, leadership, & responsibility – They’re placing human lives in your hands. They need to know that you can take charge when needed and that you’ll do the right thing. When people are afraid to speak up, mistakes happen. When mistakes happen, people get hurt.
• Interpersonal communication and the ability to not blame, whine, or over-react – Patients and co-workers can be difficult to communicate with at times. You’ll need to handle high-stress situations calmly and gracefully.

Don’t worry about your lack of clinical experience. Just focus on what you can contribute. Think about your past jobs, volunteering, and other experiences. What skills did you develop that are transferable to the nursing field? Focus on the qualities listed above. Don’t just give a list of duties. Explain how you demonstrated these skills.

Accomplishments

Resumes in every field should emphasize accomplishments. This is how you show the employer that you are an achiever. Here are some achievements that are related to clinical projects, but you could write about any past job in the same manner.

• Recognized a need and created a patient-focused brochure on diabetes treatment for cancer patients
• Led a team that achieved a high customer satisfaction rating
• Job-shadowed the department Director and Manager; helped with inventory and budgets; created an employee contest that helped raise awareness about the cost of supplies
• Initiated a hand-washing surveillance program and created educational posters with hand-washing data

Portfolios

Magnet nursing facilities usually require a portfolio, which is brought to the interview and updated yearly with continuing education information. It includes a philosophy statement, honors/awards, and professional achievements. Even if you aren’t applying for a job at a magnet facility, you may want to have a portfolio to show employers. This will show that you are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Behavioral Interview Questions

When you get to the interview stage, expect lots of situational/behavioral questions. They will want to know how you have acted or would act in certain scenarios. Find a way to prove your maturity, level-headedness, critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, and energy.

Here are some example questions.

• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Tell me about a coworker who was difficult to work with. Describe how you approached that relationship.
• Scenario: You see two hospital employees getting into an argument in the hallway of them Critical Care Unit. What do you do?
• Scenario: You walk in your patient’s room and overhear the patient telling his daughter that you have not been in the room enough today. He feels neglected and feels he is not getting good care. How would you respond to this patient?
• Describe a work situation in which you felt there was an ethical dilemma or where you felt your principles may be compromised.

Qualification Summary Tips:

1. Write your Qualifications section last, since it’s a summary
2. Tailor it for each position, and use words that are in the job announcement
3. Focus on 4 – 8 key skills, areas of knowledge, or accomplishments
4. Include Power Words to start each bullet and avoid personal pronouns
5. Be clear and concise, and quantify with numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts whenever possible
6. Don’t list too many “soft skills,” such as problem solver, team player, and good communication skills
7. Describe your skills in functional terms using action verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to express your key accomplishments and relevant experience.
8. Don’t keep repeating the same words over and over.

Formula:

Here’s a formula you can use. Remember, different circumstances may require a different approach.

Combo Example

Here’s an example of a Tag Line / Skill Set / Qualifications combo for a web design position that requires some programming skills:

Still, some people argue that it’s essential to know that your goals match the company’s needs, and they’re looking for that quick Objective statement right off the bat. You may want to consider using a more modern approach, such as a Tag Line and/or Skill Set.

Tag Line

Instead of an Objective, consider using a Tag Line: your professional title or the title of the job you’re targeting. This should, of course, be the same or very similar to the position for which you are applying. For example: Certified Public Accountant, Mechanical Engineer, Nurse Midwife, Customer Service Representative, Database Administrator, etc. You can use this in combination with a Skill Set and/or Qualifications section.

Skill Set

A Skill Set is a list of your core competencies as they relate to your targeted career goal. Use one or two words (not sentences) per skill. For example, a business student may have this skill set:

Marketing | Advertising | Sales | Event Planning | Public Relations

If you use an Objective, make it good:

1. Keep it short. If you launch into a lengthy description of yourself and your hopes and dreams for your future, you’re going to lose the reader from the get-go. Use one or two sentences maximum.
2. Don’t be generic. This is the first thing on your resume, so take advantage of the opportunity to sell yourself. To really stand out in the crowd, you should tailor your Objective to each new position for which you apply. Use the position description as a guide, and use the specific position and company name. When you customize your Objective, the hiring manager (or decision maker) sees instantly that you are a potential fit for the position and that you care enough about first impressions to go that extra step.
3. Don’t make it all about you. Everyone wants good pay, a chance for advancement, and respect. This isn’t the place to talk about that. The employer’s main concern is what you can do for them. Your objective needs to meet their needs. Mention the #1 way you can contribute.
4. Make sure it’s true. If your Objective says you’re looking for a full-time job and you’re applying for a part-time internship, you will likely be disqualified immediately.

Examples:

A general formula you can use is: “To apply my _____ skills as a _____ at _____.” Here are some examples:

• To apply my strong analytical and organizational skills as an Administrative Support Intern at XYZ Corporation.
• To find a position as a Java Software Intern developing n-tier applications.
• Seeking an Advertising internship at XYZ Corporation which allows me to expand my current abilities and contribute to XYZ’s mission of worldwide environmental sustainability.

If you’re writing a general resume for posting online or distributing at a career fair, you can use a more general Objective, such as:

Seeking a full-time position that will utilize my outstanding communication skills and years of experience in sales and computers.