Complete Resume and Job Search Book for College Students : The A-Z Career Guide for College Students

by Bob Adams; Laura Morin

• ISBN13: 9781580621366
• ISBN10: 1580621368
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-03-01
• Publisher: Adams Media Corp

Summary

Specially written for college students and recent grads, this book is designed to give new job seekers the competitive edge that will make their resume -- and them -- stand out from the crowd.

Table of Contents

Introduction Read this first	7	(2)
What Every College Student Needs to Know Now About Job Hunting	9	(1)
What to expect---Standing out from the pack
What Are Employers Really Looking For?	10	(3)
Commitment---Maturity and confidence---Professionalism---Adaptability and growth---But that's not all!
Where to Start	13	(3)
Taking inventory of your interests and abilities---Considering the daily tasks---Making a good match---Other important considerations---Being realistic
The Best and Worst Ways to Find Jobs	16	(5)
On-campus recruiters---Internships---College career planning and placement offices---Job counseling services---Professional employment agencies---Community agencies---Public employment service---Newspaper ads---Direct contact---Networking
Making a Job-Search Plan	21	(3)
Choose a career path---A job-hunting plan for your senior year---How many students land a job before they graduate?---A job-hunting plan for after graduation---How much effort and energy should a job search take?
Avoiding Common Pitfalls	24	(2)
Following the pack---Relying on employment agencies---Using employment marketing services---Calling 900 numbers---Running low on energy
Contacting Companies Directly	26	(6)
Mass mailings and phone calls---What kinds of companies should you contact?---Sources of company information---The best way to contact small and large companies---Following up with a phone call---What should a follow-up phone call sound like?
Networking Your Way to a Job	32	(5)
Is networking an appropriate tool for college grads?---The key to networking---Tracking down leads---Name-dropping---What does a networking conversation sound like?---Overcoming uneasiness about talking to strangers over the telephone---The informational interview---Send a thank-you letter
How to Get That Extra Edge Over the Competition	37	(4)
Starting early---Reading the trade literature---Adhering to your plan when appropriate---and reevaluating it when appropriate---Getting tips from other job-hunters---Using old newspaper ads---More networking?---Contacting the same firms twice---When all else fails---What's next?---Sample letter for contacting the same firm twice
Writing Your Resume	41	(5)
Resume length---Paper size---Paper color---Paper quality---Typesetting---Computers, Word Processing, and Desktop Publishing---Typing---Printing---Proofreading is essential---Types of resumes---The chronological resume---The functional resume---Which type of resume is best for recent grads?---What comes first?---Show dates and locations---Avoid sentences and large blocks of type---Highlight relevant skills and responsibilities---Education---Should you include a job objective?---Personal data---References---Resume content
The Resume Worksheet	46	(13)
Resume worksheet---Sample resume
Resume Make-Overs	59	(11)
Five so-so resumes transformed into job-winning resumes!
Cover Letters	70	(2)
When to send a cover letter---Length of cover letter---Paper size---Paper color---Paper quality---Pre-printed stationery---Typing---Proofread your cover letter---Avoid messy corrections
The Cover Letter Worksheet	72	(5)
Cover letter worksheet---Sample cover letter
Sample Resumes and Cover Letters	77	(93)
Over forty sample resumes with their corresponding cover letters
Before the Job Interview	170	(5)
Job search focus---Company research---Dressing for success---Have the obvious answers ready---Be prepared to ask questions---Practice interviewing---Overcoming nervousness---Interview strategy---Talk with previous interviewees---Arrive on time
At the Interview	175	(5)
The crucial first few moments---Greeting and small talk---Structured or unstructured?---Being so positive that it hurts---Handling impossible questions---Answering questions that require commitment---Asking your own questions
Commonly Asked Interview Questions---and Their Answers	180	(8)
The finishing touch for interview success!
After the Interview	188	(3)
Writing your follow-up letter---When to call---What's next?---Handling rejection---Sample follow-up letter
The Job Offer	191	(3)
Important factors to consider---Money---Benefits---Career progression---Work environment---Do your homework---The art of negotiation---Making your final decision
Any Questions?	194	(7)
Loads of questions that college students commonly ask about job-hunting---and their answers
Conclusion	201	(1)
Appendices
A. Great Jobs for College Grads	202	(30)
Job options, descriptions, and requirements for grads of all majors
B. Online Job-Hunting Resources	232
Using the World Wide Web to your advantage