Career CenterBT 125

A summary of education, skills, and experiences

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME?

To get the interviewer to read your resume and call you in for an interview

One page if little experience – 2 pages maximum

Well organized, easy to read, and provides support for your objective

Use proper grammar and punctuation- PROOFREAD and have someone else proofread it

Make sure your resume is visually appealing with the most important information on top half of the resume.

Begin with the most recent dates and work backwards.

ERROR FREE

Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address

Summary or profile of your strengths and skills and a description of the type of position you are seeking

Qualifications: your credentials and a description of the modalities you are qualified to practice

Employment history: name and location of previous employers, dates of employment and the name of your job

Education and training schools (if you have graduated from college, there is no need to list your high school), and workshops or other training that is relevant to the type of position you are seeking

Any awards or professional affiliations that a prospective employer might be interested in (your AMTA Professional Membership, for example)

If most of your experience is unrelated to the career you want to begin, summarize it briefly and accurately.

Say in your summary/profile section that you are seeking to begin your career in massage therapy, and place emphasis on your education, training and affiliations to highlight your qualifications.

Translate Experience into SkillsTranslate Experience into SkillsFind ways to show how previous jobs make you a desirable massage therapy employee. 

Use the value of your student massage clinic work to qualify as job experience.

For example:As a student intern, I provided more than 175 massages to clients through a supervised student clinic. I developed a 20 percent rate of return clients, compared with the class average of 10 percent.

Specific statement for an advertised position

A brief, concise statement about the job you are seeking and your skills and experience

General statement for an unknown position -best used for a job fair

Written from the employer’s perspective

Objective: Looking for a job that is flexible to my school schedule where I can learn new skills.

Objective: Seeking a rewarding position in business administration.

Objective: Seeking a customer service position which utilizes my strong communication and computer skills

SummaryHighlights

Skills

Describe your strengths and skills. Include computer skills, foreign language, # of

years of experience, personal attributes, top three skills the employer needs.

Highlight different techniques or specialties here Develop brief statements describing your

experience with your top three skills Bullets or paragraph format

Use the words: duties, responsibilities Use I, we, the Use Incorrect verb tense List reason for leaving, address or phone

numbers, supervisor’s name

REFERENCES

Do not include in your resume Include on a separate sheet of paper (if

requested)

3- 5 people (no family and friends) Ask references for permission before listing

them

Writing a Cover LetterWriting a Cover LetterLetters are among the most important tools you can use in your job search, and they should always accompany your resume when you apply for a job. Your cover letter reflects your personality, professionalism and experience, and allows you to attract the prospective employer's interest. Tailor your cover letter to fit each opportunity.

Three Parts of a Cover LetterThree Parts of a Cover LetterEvery cover letter includes an introduction, a body and a close.

◦ 1.The introduction is where you introduce yourself and catch the reader's interest.

◦ 2.The body of the letter describes how you are suited to the job. Motivate the reader to want to meet you by describing how your skills can help the prospective employer's business.

◦ 3.The close is your final paragraph. The end of the letter expresses your appreciation for the reader's time and interest, and promises future contact.

Grab the Attention of Your Prospective Grab the Attention of Your Prospective EmployerEmployerPersonalize your introduction to the particular place of business or person to whom you're writing, and avoid starting with "to whom this may concern." If a friend or associate referred you, include this information in the first paragraph. Or write something like, "Your business attracted my interest because I admired the volunteer chair massage you sponsored at the Special Olympics last month.“

Follow Up with Personal ContactFollow Up with Personal ContactA cover letter does not take the place of personal contact. In your final paragraph, tell the prospective employer that you will call next week to request an appointment for an interview, and then be sure to write this commitment on your calendar.

Sample Cover Letter

 

Palm Beach State College Online Career Center Website

Jobs Career Information Upload your resume Talk to a Career Consultant Use the Job Agent -  Receive emails or

texts when new jobs related to your current search criteria are posted

Preparing for a Massage Job Preparing for a Massage Job InterviewInterview

•Preparing for a massage job interview, or any job interview for that matter, actually begins well in advance, even before you apply for the position.

•Practice your massage skills whenever possible, so you are always ready to confidently give a demonstration when asked to do so. Also have a list of questions to study that might be asked during an interview.

•This list can be added to after each interview when question come up that are asked that weren't already on your list.

• To prepare more specifically for your interview, you will want to have clothing ready that is similar to that worn on the job in the location you are interviewing in. You will also want to have all your documents ready, including both personal and professional references.

• Go over your massage interview questions several times, so you will be ready to answer confidently.

• The day before the interview, research the company, do a drive by and get a good nights sleep.

First ImpressionsFirst Impressions•Arrive for your interview a few minutes early. Not too early, but don't be late or you could lose the position on that count.

•Announce yourself to the receptionist and follow instructions about whether to have a seat to wait or be taken to the interview room. Be sure to give a genuine smile and be courteous to everyone you encounter during the entire interview process.

•When the interviewer enters the room, stand up, greet him or her and introduce yourself with a smile and a firm handshake.

• Massage interview questions are very likely to cover such things as your knowledge of specific techniques, pathology and kinesiology.

• Following the massage interview questions, you may be asked to give a demonstration of your abilities as a massage therapist.

• It would be wise to be ready to give a complete, full body massage, though that might not be requested of you. You might be asked to demonstrate a specific technique for just a few minutes.

• For the massage itself, you want to use firm pressure. Concentrate on your technique.

• Don't stop until instructed to do so or until it has been about an hour.

• Once you have finished your demonstration, clear away the towels and drapes properly and wash your hands again.

• Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to be interviewed, shake his or her hand firmly and leave the room with an air of confidence as though you already got the job.

• Remember, the key to answering the massage interview questions is to have the knowledge needed for the work and be confident in your answers.

By following these guidelines you will ace your massage job interview.