You’re Hired!!Tips for 1st Time Job Seekers

Brent White9.20.19

Still in High School? Graduating High

School?Looking for Part-

time or Full Time Job But Don’t Have Lots of Job Experience?

If this sounds like you, then you will find the “TIPS” on the following pages incredibly helpful.

❖Example resume even if you don’t have actual job experience.

❖Example of Posting for a Job at Target

❖Example cover letter when applying for this job

❖TIPS on how to write an effective cover letter and how to format your letter

Meet Elyse HainesShe Wants to Find for a Job at Target She has a Resume but needs to Write a Cover Letter

Resume + Cover Letter Job $$$

Here’s An Example Resume

Guest Advocate – Customer Service

Conscientious, highly motivated self starter seeks to obtain a part time customer service position in the food industry where I can apply my interpersonal and communication skills to help the business delight customers and increase sales. (BETTER)

Key Strengths

EDUCATION

First High School, Anytown, Virginia Graduation May 2018 • College Placement Diploma (GPA 3.2)

• Principal’s List for earning a GPA above 3.5 in Fall Semester

• Top 10% of graduating class

Elyse J.HainesAnytown, IL 12345 804.6xx.xxxx elysejhaines636@gmail.com

• Communication • Planning • Ability to learn rapidly

• Interpersonal skills• Extremely organized• Punctual

Customer Service – Food Industry (Use Job Posting Title)

The objective below lets the company know that Elyse would be a great employee (motivated,etc) and that she could useher skills to help the company grow and bycreating satisfied customers and thus increasing sales. 1.

2.

ResumeHeading

Summary & Objective

Your Strengths

3.

4. Education

EXTRACURRICULAR EXPERIENCE

Prom Planning Committee, Marketing Chair Spring 2014

• Work with student committee to plan the 200 person event

• Responsible for posters, web site content, and ticket sales

• Create a timeline for marketing distribution

• Attend weekly planning meetings

Varsity Volleyball Fall Semester 2013/2015

• Received the Most Improved Player award in 2013-2014 season

• Participate in daily practices and weekly games

• Assist with drills during JV practices

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

First Public Library Yourtown, Virginia 6/2013 – 8/2013

• Restock books using the Dewey Decimal System

• Catalogue new books into the library computer system

• Help library visitors find books and utilize the computer

First Elementary School Anytown, Virginia 5/2012-8/2012

Math Tutor

• Taught third grade students multiplication and division

• Explained math concepts in a variety of ways

• Tutored one to three students at a time

5. Your Experience& Accomplishments!(School Related)

6. Volunteer or Experience OutsideOf School

IF YOU HAVE JOBEXPERIENCE THENINCLUDE THIS HERE

Meet Elyse HainesHow Does She Get Started On Her Cover Letter to Send with Her Resume for the Target Job? Even if She Has Never Had a Paying Job?

The Target Job - Guest Advocate (Cashier or Front of Store Attendant) – What You Will Do

As part of our collaborative and guest-obsessed team, you help us create an experience that makes guests say I love Target!

• As a Guest Advocate, no two days are ever the same, but a typical day will most likely include the following responsibilities:

• Create a welcoming experience by authentically greeting, every guest every time.

• Make a connection with guests by engaging in friendly and genuine conversation throughout each transaction; asking open ended questions about the guests shopping experience and using those questions to assess, understand, and determine how to tailor your approach.

• • Welcome guests into self-checkout and provide assistance as needed.

The Target Job - Guest

Advocate -What Skills

They Want You to Have

• WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• We might be a great match if:

• We work efficiently and as a team to deliver for our guests

• Providing service to our guests that makes them say I LOVE TARGET!

• You enjoy interacting with guests, solving concerns and making the guests day better/

But there are a few skills you should have from the get-go:

• Communicating effectively, including using positive language and attentive to guests needs

• Welcoming and helpful attitude toward guests and other team members

• Attention to detail while

• Willing to educate guests and sell products and services

• Work both independently and with a team

Notice How Elyse’sSkills &

Accomplishments Overlap withTarget’s RequirementsFor the Position.

Step #1- What should be

included in a cover letter?

• A cover letter should include three paragraphs:

Introduction: First Paragraph

• The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you saw the listing. Include the name of a contact, if you have one.

Dear Hiring Manager, (Insert name of person if known)

Are you seeking someone who can make sure guests who leave the store will say “I Love Target!”?

As a highly motivated and dedicated student who learns quickly and enjoys working with people, I am applying for the position of Guest Advocate.

Step #2 What should be

included in a cover letter?

• Body/Selling Pitch: Middle Paragraph

• The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Make strong connections between your qualifications and the position requirements. Mention specifically how your skills and experience match the job you are applying for. Use several shorter paragraphs or a bulleted list of your qualifications rather than one large block of text. This will make it easy for the reader to quickly scan and absorb this important information.

As a student I have been extensively involved in my school as well as my community, which has allowed me to develop strong interpersonal skills, customer service and communication skills.

Here are the reasons why I would be a great addition to the Target Team:

• Work Independently and with a Team: I have worked closely with my peers. whether participating on committees to plan school events or playing on the high school volleyball team.

• Communicating Effectively: I have tutored elementary school students in math and am great at explaining ways to solve problems.

• Customer Service: As a volunteer at the library, I have helped visitors locate books and use the computers. I also had to pay attention to detail when shelving books.

• Positive, Helpful Attitude: Whether tutoring students, teaching younger players volleyball skills, participating on committees, or helping library members, I am patient, courteous and always do my very best to assist them.

Step #3 -What should

be included in a cover letter?

Conclusion: Final Paragraphs

• Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow up if you have the contact information for the hiring manager to do so.

I enjoy working with others and believe the skills listened above will ensure that I can meet the expectations of this role.

I am aware that you will receive many applications for this job, but I would very much appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate my capabilities to you in person.

I believe that I have a lot to offer your organization. I am keen to develop my job skills and look forward to discussing my application with you at an interview. I have enclosed a copy of my resume for your consideration.

Thanking you in advance for your time,

• Elyse Haines

What Else should be

included in a cover letter?

What Else to Include in Your Letter

• The rest of letter is important, too. You will need to include your contact information, which is listed at the top of the letter in a written letter or below your signature in an email cover letter.

• Your letter also needs to include a professional greeting, a professional closing, and your signature. You will sign your name on a printed cover letter. If you upload or email your cover letter, your signature will be your typed name.

For more detail see: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/cover-letter-paragraph-guidelines-2062303

What else do you need to

know about a cover letter?

• What is important about font, font size, and the use of graphic elements like italics and underlining on an employment cover letter?

• For more detail see: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/cover-letter-font-and-font-size-2060181

• Choose One Simple Font

• Using a simple font will ensure that your cover letter is easy to read. Basic fonts like Arial, Courier New, Calibri, Verdana, and Times New Roman work well. Limit yourself to one font in your cover letter; it's best not to mix several fonts in one document.

• There is no need to use different styles in a cover letter. Avoid underlining or italicizing. Use boldface text only when emphasizing quantifiable achievements that need to “pop” on the page.

• Pick an Appropriate Size

• Depending on how much content you have in your letter, select a 10- or12-point font size.

• It's best if you can format your cover letter so it fits on one page, with margins that are no larger than 1” and no smaller than .7”.

• If your letter includes a heading with your name and contacts information, you may choose to make this font slightly larger.

What else do I need to know about a cover

letter?

Additional TIPS - Several resources said to make your cover letter a narrative of your best features, but how narrative should it be?

• Keep the cover letter simple and keep it to one page with easy to read paragraphs. When you discuss your qualifications, use several shorter paragraphs or a bulleted list of your qualifications rather than one large block of text. This will make it easy for the reader to quickly scan and absorb this important information.

Here are the reasons why I would be a great addition to the Target Team: • Work Independently and with a Team: I have worked closely with my peers. whether

participating on committees to plan school events or playing on the high school volleyball team.

• Communicating Effectively: I have tutored elementary school students in math and am great at explaining ways to solve problems.

• Customer Service: As a volunteer at the library, I have helped visitors locate books and use the computers. I also had to pay attention to detail when shelving books.

• Positive, Helpful Attitude: Whether tutoring students, teaching younger players volleyball skills, participating on committees, or helping library members, I am patient, courteous and always do my very best to assist them.

What else makes a great

cover letter?

Additional TIPS -What is the most effective way to incorporate soft skills in a cover letter without sounding cliché?

• When you are stating your soft skills, it is best to provide an example of how you have used this skill in a situation.

• Weak Statement: “I have great communication skills”.

• Stronger Statement: I have strong written communication skills and received an A in for the year in my English composition class.

• Weak Statement: I have great leadership skills.

• Stronger Statement: I have great leadership skills and was selected as a co-captain of the football team.

What is the best way to research a company to learn

the hiring manager's name and title in order to customize the

cover letter?

• There are several approaches:

• You can call the company, let them know that you are submitting a resume and cover letter and then ask for the name of the person who is hiring.

• You can see if you (or your friends, relatives, etc.) know someone who works at the company. This person may be able to find out the hiring manager’s name.

• LinkedIn.com – If you join LinkedIn.com, then you can search for people at that company. You may at least be able to find the name of the Human Resources Manager who often does the hiring.

• If you do get their name, you will want to get their email address. So, how do you know the address. One great source is hunter.io (Google it). At this site, you can put in the name of the company and this site will give you the email format.

• For, example, you know John James is the Hiring Manager at Target, but you don’t know his email address. Go to hunter.io and in the box type Target Corporation and click submit. The site will then give you the email address of some people who work there. This way you know you should use john.james@targetcorp.com and not jjames@target.com

About Peoplefocus

Brent White, founder of Peoplefocus, spent over 35 years in the world of sales and sales management and held senior leadership positions at Taylor, Nelson, Sofres, one of the world’s leading market research firms. Over the years he has been a mentor to many young talented professionals by providing career advice. “I realized early on that people are responsible for the success of abusiness. I have spent my career focusing on hiring, developing and retaining the most talented people. “I enjoy sharing what I have learned about identifying career paths and conducting successful job searches with those seeking exciting and fulfilling career opportunities.”

Brent is based in Chicago.

He can be reached at brent.white@peoplefocus.net

4.14.16