JOB Search Handbook: The Complete Guide To Finding Your Ideal Job

Career Planning Service
Service de planification de carrire
Extend
ed
the 3rd Ed
JOB
ition
SEARCH
HANDBOOK
The complete guide to finding your ideal job
Preface
The CaPS Job Search Handbook has been created by the McGill Career Planning Service (CaPS)
to help you conduct an effective job search.
The Handbook can be used in conjunction with the CaPS Job Finding Club, CaPS workshops,
in individual advising sessions or independently. The following chapters cover the entire job
search process, from self-assessment to your first year on the job, and include important job
search strategies, useful tips and information, exercises, additional resources and samples of
C.V.s and other job search tools.
What is Inside the Handbook?

In addition to an introduction to CaPS and our services, the Handbook also contains an intro-
duction to how we think about careers, and the following chapters:
Chapter 1: Self-Assessment
Chapter 2: Explore Employers & Occupations
Chapter 3: Find Job Opportunities Through Networking
Chapter 4: Write a C.V.
Chapter 5: Write a Cover Letter
Chapter 6: Prepare for the Interview
Chapter 7: Job Offers and Your First Year on the Job
How to Use the Handbook

The Handbook was primarily designed to be worked through in order, from self-assessment to
interviews to your first year on the job, but you can also dip into it and focus only on the spe-
cific areas you feel you need to work on. It is very user-friendly, with numerous exercises, tips
and resources to guide you through every step of the job search process.
Enjoy the journey!
Preface 1
2 Preface
Table of Contents
Introduction - I. About CaPS
Our Vision...................................................................................................................................5
Our Mission................................................................................................................................5
Our Services................................................................................................................................5
Specialized Programs.................................................................................................................7
Contact Us..................................................................................................................................8
Introduction - II. About Careers
Chapter 1 - Self-Assessment
Values........................................................................................................................................12
Interests and Experiences..........................................................................................................14
Skills.........................................................................................................................................17
Achievements...........................................................................................................................22
People Environment.................................................................................................................24
Working Conditions.................................................................................................................26
Summary: Ideal Job Profile.....................................................................................................29
Career Objective(s)...................................................................................................................30
Resources on Self-Assessment..................................................................................................31
Chapter 2 - Explore Employers & Occupations

The World of Work...................................................................................................................33
Where to Find Information......................................................................................................35
Get to Know Occupations, Industries and Employers..............................................................39
Career Objective(s)..................................................................................................................44
Additional Resources on Exploring Employers & Occupations..............................................44
Chapter 3 - Find Job Opportunities Through Networking

Understand the Hidden Job Market.......................................................................................45
Get Comfortable with Networking: Concrete Steps to Expand Your Network....................46
Find Job Opportunities Through Information Interviews....................................................52
Information Interview Stages..................................................................................................54
Cold Calling and Telephone Etiquette.....................................................................................56
Preparing Networking Tools...................................................................................................59
Final Word: Its all about building relationships!....................................................................61
Resources on Networking.........................................................................................................61
Appendix - Sample Information Cards...................................................................................62
Chapter 4 - Write a C.V.

Take an Inventory and Find a Suitable Employer.................................................................63
Choose the Right Format.........................................................................................................64
Write Your C.V..........................................................................................................................65
Customize Your C.V..................................................................................................................72
Resources on C.V. Writing........................................................................................................74
Table of Contents 3
Appendix - Sample: Untargeted C.V........................................................................................75
Appendix - Sample: Targeted C.V............................................................................................77
Appendix - Example: Targeted C.V. for Undergraduate Students......................................79
Appendix - Example: Targeted C.V. for Student in Professional Program.............................81
Appendix - Example: Targeted C.V. for Graduate Students..................................................83
Appendix - Action Verbs..........................................................................................................85
Chapter 5 - Write a Cover Letter

Elements of a Cover Letter........................................................................................................89
Format and Proofread..............................................................................................................91
Send Your Letter and Follow Up.............................................................................................91
Checklist...................................................................................................................................92
Resources on Cover Letter Writing..........................................................................................93
Appendix - Cover Letter Example A........................................................................................94
Appendix - Cover Letter Example B........................................................................................95
Appendix - Cover Letter Example C........................................................................................96
Chapter 6 - Prepare for the Interview

Interview Formats....................................................................................................................97
Know Yourself...........................................................................................................................98
Know the Employer..................................................................................................................98
Prepare, Practice and Polish.....................................................................................................99
The Interview Day..................................................................................................................106
Follow Up................................................................................................................................108
Resources on Interviews........................................................................................................111
Chapter 7 - Job Offers and Your First Year on the Job

Evaluate the Offer...................................................................................................................112
Negotiate the Offer.................................................................................................................114
Your First Year on the Job: A Short Primer for Post-Graduation Workplace Success....115
Resources on Job Offers and Workplace Success...................................................................117
Appendix A
7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey............................................................118
Appendix B
Notes...........................................................................................................................119
4 Table of Contents
Introduction I. About CaPS
The McGill Career Planning Service (CaPS) assists students in their career development and
search for permanent, part-time, summer jobs and internships by providing workshops, indi-
vidual advising, a comprehensive job posting service and an extensive Career Resource Centre.
We serve all full-time students, including graduates, up to one year after the end of their stud-
ies. In addition to the downtown CaPS office, we have a second office at Macdonald campus in
scenic Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue.
Each year over 6,000 students and graduates look to us for assistance in their search for per-
manent, part-time and summer jobs and internships. We offer over 5,000 jobs and internship
opportunities to students annually.
Our Vision
Our vision is to see all McGill students fully engaged in their career exploration in a manner
that enhances their student life experience; helps them to see the relevance of their education
to their career development; and enables them to achieve their career goals and make a positive
contribution to society.
Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire McGill students in the exploration of their career options and to in-
crease their employability through the development of lifelong career management skills by:
1. Creating an energized student-centred environment that makes career education accessible

to all;
2. Leading the integration of career development and experiential education into McGill life
and promoting their benefits to students;
3. Delivering high quality career and job search programs, resources and events; and
4. Developing a supportive network of McGill faculty and staff, as well as local, national, and
international employers and alumni.
Our Services
Individual Appointments and Mock Interviews
Our qualified and experienced Career Advisors are available to assist you in your career choices,
help you stay motivated and focused in your job search, provide tips on preparing for an inter-
view, and look over your C.V., cover letter or graduate school application. CaPS is here to make
your job search and career planning less stressful.
Career Development Workshops

Workshops are offered throughout the academic year on a wide range of topics, including Inter-
viewing Techniques, C.V. Writing, Networking and Summer Jobs. They are designed to increase
your employability and job search savvy. A complete schedule and detailed descriptions are
available on our website.
Introduction - About CaPS 5

C.V. and Advising Drop-In
During daily designated times, you can drop by the CaPS office to have your C.V. reviewed or to
ask a quick career-related question. Drop-In times are listed on our website.
Career Resource Centre

The Resource Centre offers a wide array of print and electronic resources on career planning,
job search, industry reports, scholarships, graduate programs and more. If you are not sure what
to look for, or are having trouble finding anything, do not hesitate to ask our Resource Librar-
ian.
The McGill Engineering Career Centre (MECC), the Management Career Centre, and the Mac-
donald Campus CaPS also have resource centres targeted to the programs they offer.
CaPS Website (www.mcgill.ca/caps)

Our website is the main gateway to services and information available at CaPS. It contains:
A comprehensive overview of the job search process

A listing of our services and programs
Information for students applying to graduate studies or professional school
Links to countless online resources
Up-to-date announcements and events
myFuture (http://caps.myfuture.mcgill.ca)
myFuture is CaPS job search and career tools suite. Using myFuture you can:
Search hundreds of full-time, part-time and summer jobs/internships

Register for CaPS events and workshops
Browse career resources such as employment periodicals and weeklies
View announcements and alerts
View employer profiles
Career Fairs
Career Fairs are organized throughout the year in conjunction with student associations. They
provide excellent opportunities for you to meet company representatives from a variety of sec-
tors. Check our website for information on current and upcoming fairs.
On-Campus Recruitment
Every year companies from Canada, the U.S. and abroad, visit McGill to recruit students direct-
ly. More information on campus recruitment can be found on our website under the Services
and Programs section.
Professionals on Campus
A wide range of professionals come to campus to participate in panel discussions, special events,
and career cafs, and to deliver company info sessions. These networking and information
events are a great resource for exploring your career options and increasing your knowledge and
contacts in your field.
6 Introduction - About CaPS

Specialized Programs
P.A.C.E. (Program for the Advancement of Career Exploration)
Unsure what to do with your degree after you graduate? P.A.C.E. is an interactive four-work-
shop series designed to help you explore career options and preferences, personal goals, values,
interests and skills, as well as develop job search strategies. Each workshop is around 2.5 hours
long, and the four workshops are spaced one week apart to allow time for vocational testing
and occupational research. This program is a joint initiative of McGill Counselling Service and
CaPS. Participants are required to pay a nominal fee to cover the cost of the vocational testing.
Mentor Program
Having a hard time meeting professionals in your field? The McGill Mentor Program connects
students with working McGill alumni who can offer valuable advice about career alternatives,
job requirements and career-life balance. To apply, please select your mentor by filling out the
online application at www.caps.mcgill.ca/ci2
Peer Educator Program

Peer Educators student volunteers promote CaPS services throughout campus by organiz-
ing outreach activities, and also help students during C.V. drop-in sessions. To get involved,
please email [email protected].
Job Finding Club

This two-week program for newly-graduated students is designed to teach job seekers the most
effective means of finding work in the field in which they want to be employed. The group of
around 10-15 students have each other for support as well as the assistance of a facilitator and
the career advisors. The program is offered several times a year, usually during the spring and
summer.
Introduction - About CaPS 7

Contact Us
CaPS has offices at the Downtown and Macdonald campuses:
McGill Career Planning Service - Downtown Campus

William and Mary Brown Student Services Building
3600 McTavish St., Suite 2200, Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2
Telephone: (514) 398-3304; Fax: (514) 398-1831
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mcgill.ca/caps; myFuture https://csm-caps.mcgill.ca/
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
McGill Career Planning Service - Macdonald Campus

Centennial Centre - Student Service Centre
21,111 Lakeshore Road Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9
Telephone: (514) 398-7582; Fax: (514) 398-7610
Website: www.mcgill.ca/caps
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Below are faculty-based career centres on campus, which offer career services to students from
those faculties:
Engineering Career Centre

Frank Dawson Adams Building
3450 University Street, Room 22, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A7
Tel: (514) 398-8100; Fax: (514) 398-2169
Website: www.mecc.mcgill.ca
Management Career Services

Desautels Faculty of Management
1001 Sherbrooke Street West, Room 650, Montreal, QC, H3A 1G5
Telephone: (514) 398-2996; Fax: (514) 398-2721
Website: http://www.mcgill.ca/desautels/career/
Faculty of Law Career Development Office

New Chancellor Day Hall
3644 Peel Street, Rm 416 Montreal, QC, H3A 1W9
Telephone: (514) 398-6159; Fax: (514) 398-2025
Website: http://www.mcgill.ca/cdo/
Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office

3655 Sir William Osler Drive, Montreal, QC, Canada H3G 1Y6
Telephone: (514) 398-5557; Fax: (514) 398-3595
Website: http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/careerplan/
8 Introduction - About CaPS

Introduction II. About Careers
Planning your career is a little like planning for a backpacking adventure. Prior to your trip
you would want to consult relevant guidebooks and travel websites, talk to friends and ac-
quaintances who have visited before and ask for recommendations, and find out about current
conditions in the areas you would like to visit. You would need to know about any visa or entry
requirements, obtain the dates of any must-see events, and if necessary, visit a travel medical
clinic prior to departure. You would search online and through travel agents for the best pos-
sible transportation and accommodation deals and book some of them before you leave. When
travelling, advance research and preparation can go a long way towards an enjoyable and stress-
free journey!
But you would also likely spend a lot of time daydreaming and considering the possibilities for
places to visit, and asking yourself what you want to get out of the trip, what is really important
to you. And once you are on your way you will likely revisit and subsequently change some of
your preconceived plans as you meet fellow travelers, hear about new and interesting places to
visit and gain greater knowledge of the kinds of experiences that truly matter to you. Your trip
might turn out to be very similar to what you had in mind, or it could be vastly different, filled
with sights and experiences you would never have been able to imagine beforehand.
It helps to think of your career as a journey, rather than a fixed destination. As with any jour-
ney, planning and researching is highly recommended: consulting career guides and websites,
researching different occupations, talking with those who work in areas you are interested in
and finding out about current labour market trends, job requirements and qualifications can all
help you get a sense of your options and the parameters influencing your search.
But while this advance planning, research and thought will definitely make the process much
smoother, it is also important to recognize that from where you stand right now, as a university
student or recent grad, there is no way that you could possibly have all of the information you
will need along the way. That will come over time as you grow and develop as a person, experi-
ence new things, meet new people and further refine your sense of who you are, what you value,
what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. At various points in your career path you will
likely stop to reflect on where you are going and what you want your next step to be. Career
planning is a constant series of steps and decisions as you learn more about yourself and further
refine your direction. Your career may turn out to be exactly what you had expected, or you may
work in fields and occupations that do not even exist now!
A few additional points to keep in mind:
If you do not currently know what you want to do with your entire life, that is ok. It is
actually more than ok, it is quite normal at this point. The key is to be actively involved
in your career journey, to think about and research possibilities, to try out different op-
tions and to learn about yourself in the process.
Very few if any career decisions are irreversible; you can still change your mind along
the way. If you make a decision that turns out not to be right for you, look at it as a
learning experience, one more piece of information that will bring you closer to a job
that better corresponds to who you are.
Many people will have an opinion (solicited or not!) on your career direction, from
family, friends and partners, to professors, advisors and even this guide. Seeking out the
guidance, expertise and support of others along the way can be extremely helpful and
Introduction - About Careers 9

informative, but remember that you are the ultimate expert on yourself, and the respon-
sibility for determining what you want and need out of a career, and the best path to
follow, ultimately rests with you.
When considering career options, give yourself permission to dream a little! There is
a whole wide wonderful world out there to be a part of and contribute to time spent
imagining all of the possibilities is well invested, as career decision-making is not a
solely logical/rational process. Your heart, your spirit and your passion matter hugely. It
takes a great deal of courage and strength to honour your dreams and listen to what you
really want out of your life and career. But why spend your time on anything else?
10 Introduction - About Careers

Chapter 1 Self-Assessment
Starting the job search and career planning process can sometimes feel overwhelming so it helps
to begin with the most important variable in the whole process you!
Self-assessment refers to self-awareness and self-knowledge, particularly regarding your person-

al and professional values, your interests, achievements, skills and personality. It is challenging
to conduct an effective job search without a clear understanding of who you are and an ability to
articulate this knowledge to potential employers.
Take the time to do a thorough self-assessment. You can start by asking yourself the following
questions:
What wakes you up? What makes you feel alive?

What matters to you? What are you interested in?
What are you good at? What are you proud of?
What makes you tick? What roles currently define you?
What would you regret not trying? What kind of life do you want to create for yourself?
Even if you do not have all of the answers just yet, keep these questions in the back of your mind
as you work through the self-assessment exercises in this chapter. These are designed to help
you clarify and focus your self-knowledge as the first step to conducting an effective job search.
What do you want to be when you grow up?!

To get started with self-assessment, take a moment to reflect upon the different answers you
have had to this question over time. In the space below, quickly jot down all of the things you
wanted to be when you grew up, from as far back as you can first remember, right up until the
present day. (Yes, even those embarrassing and seemingly irrelevant ideas from your kindergar-
ten and grade school years!) Some of you may list just a handful of titles; others may run out of
space.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Even if your list at first appears somewhat random, look more deeply and you will likely find
some common threads: values, themes and interests which have remained relatively consistent
over time. Ask yourself if these still hold true for you today and keep them in mind as you com-
plete the rest of the activities in this chapter.
Chapter 1 - Self-Assessment 11
Values
Values are the fundamental, deeply held beliefs and ideas we consider important. They shape
how we view the world and what we consider right and wrong, good and bad. Some values are
maintained throughout our lives, while others may change and become more or less important
over time.
We sometimes take our values so much for granted that we are not even aware of them and may
overlook them during the job search process. However, finding a position that fits with your
values is absolutely intrinsic to your long term career satisfaction. Behaving in ways which are
inconsistent with basic values may lead to frustration, disillusionment and even depression. A
crucial part of self-assessment, then, involves becoming aware of ones values and seeking envi-
ronments that are compatible with them.
The seeds of our values are often developed fairly early in life and shaped by family, friends, cul-
ture, education, religion etc. When you do the following exercise, make sure to focus on those
values which are truly important to you, personally, not the ones which you think should be
important to you or that others have told you should take priority.
Workplace Values Exercise

This is a 3 step exercise aimed at helping you to identify your workplace values. Be sure to
be honest with yourself as no one is judging, nor scoring, your results.
Step 1
Rate the degree of importance that you place on each of the following workplace values us-
ing this scale:
1 = Very important to me
2 = Reasonably important to me
3 = Somewhat important to me
4 = Not important to me at all
I am interested in jobs and careers that include:
Creating/building things
Mental challenge/mentally demanding/problem-solving
Physical challenge/physically demanding
Opportunity for balance between work life and family life
Flexibility in work structure
Intellectual status, an acknowledged expert in a given field
Order and structure
High degree of competition
Integrity and truth
Rewarding loyalty and dependability
Having self-respect and pride in work
Stability and security
Strong financial compensation and financial rewards
Being recognized for quality of work in a visible/public way
12 Chapter 1 - Self-Assessment
Having a positive impact on others and society
Using creativity, imagination; being innovative
Variety and a changing work pace
Professional development and on-going learning and growth
Friendships and warm working relationships
Teamwork and work groups
Glamour, prestige, respect, or a level of social status
Predictable work projects
Deadlines and time demand/pressure challenges
Clear advancement tracks/opportunities for advancement
Tranquility, comfort, and avoidance of pressure
Dealing with the public/day-to-day contact with the public
Using cutting edge or pioneering technologies or techniques
Opportunities for leadership, power, influence
Making decisions, having power to decide courses of action
Respect, recognition, being valued
Autonomy, independence, freedom
Precision work with little tolerance for error
Adventure and excitement
Other: __________________________________
Other: __________________________________
Step 2
Try to identify the 10 most important values to you from the list above and circle them.
Step 3
Narrow down your list of 10 to the 5 core values you hold most sacred - that you cannot live
without in your job/workplace - and place them below:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
Your core group of workplace values can help determine your level of satisfaction with your
job and your career path - and can be used to judge the level of fit with any future job,
company or career change.
Ask yourself: How well do your core values fit with your current career path and goals? And
what, if anything, are you going to do about these results?
Interests and Experiences
One of the best ways to determine your work-related preferences and interests is to try things
out, to participate in part-time and summer work, internships, volunteering, extracurricular
activities, etc.
On the following pages, list all activities you currently participate in, as well as those from the
past five years. Once this is done, make a note of all of the aspects you liked and disliked about
each activity in the appropriate column, as well as what you learned. Taking an inventory of
your preferences in this way will provide you with a deeper understanding of your personality
and will also help you to identify your skills.
Interests and Experiences Inventory

School Activities (includes education, extra-curricular and field studies)
Activity Like Dislike Learned

i.e. Team Project Group synergy Some people were To work with a di-
Learning from each slower at doing their verse group
other part of the work To express my
opinions clearly and
compromise when
necessary
i.e. Organizing Ca- Researching poten- Setting up the room About the job
reer Fair tial employers (physical aspect) market, the world
Persuading employ- of work, and the
ers to participate structure and
Publicizing events organization of the
Encouraging stu- University
dents to attend To be tolerant and
work well with oth-
ers
Work Activities (includes paid work experience, volunteer work, professional member-
ships)

i.e. Sales Clerk Dealing with people Performing inven- To remain profes-
Creating displays tory sional under pres-
sure
To deal with the
general public
Volunteer at a dis- Helping people Night shift To listen carefully for
tress line through active important informa-
listening and crisis tion
intervention To help people clari-
fy their concerns
To brainstorm solu-
tions and alternate
ideas
Leisure/Family Activities (includes sports, social clubs, hobbies)

i.e. Coaching senior Building team Violence on the ice How to motivate a
hockey team Leading group group
Giving constructive To break down com-
feedback plex skills in to their
component parts
i.e. YMCA Hiking Discovering new Schedule (waking To be open and flex-
Club places up at 5am on the ible to new places
Exercising weekend) and people
Meeting new people
Once you have completed the tables, review your like and dislike columns and list your
five most prominent entries in the spaces below:
Likes Dislikes
Skills
Skills are usually divided into two main types: hard skills and soft, or transferable, skills.
Hard skills are concrete, and easily measured, and consist of factual knowledge pri-
marily learned at school or during other formal training. Examples include technical
expertise, computer skills, first aid knowledge, and laboratory techniques.
Soft skills on the other hand are somewhat less tangible and can be acquired in various
areas of ones life, from school, work, volunteering and extra-curricular interests and
activities. They include interpersonal and communication skills, organization, problem-
solving, leadership, creativity, initiative, professionalism etc. These skills are deemed
transferable as they come with you from one experience or position to the next, and
all employers, regardless of industry or field, look for a range of soft skills in potential
employees.
The following inventory sheet will help you rate your current level of competency and comfort
in a variety of skill areas.
Skills Inventory
Rate your current competency in each skill listed below on a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being the
highest skill level). Also, identify those skills you would need to develop to reach your career
goal.
Want to develop (yes,

Organizational Skills Self-rating (1 to 5)
no, maybe)?
Organizing people, events, things
Classifying information
Coordinating resources
Streamlining procedures
Researching, gathering information
Separating important from unimportant
Tip
Determining sequences of tasks
Identifying our own Setting priorities
skill set can be a chal- Total: _____/40 = _____%
lenging endeavour. You
may want to ask trusted
family and friends for Leadership Skills Self-rating (1 to 5)
no, maybe)?
feedback on what they
see as your particular Promoting change
strengths. Taking risks
Engendering trust
Leading groups
Building a team
Delegating authority
Overseeing work projects
Total: _____/35 = _____%

Problem Solving Skills Self-rating (1 to 5)
no, maybe)?
Evaluating alternatives
Clarifying problems
Generating solutions
Testing ideas
Determining outcomes, consequences
Tracing problems to sources
Total: _____/30 = _____%

Communication Skills Self-rating (1 to 5)
no, maybe)?
Verbal
Conversing with individuals
Exchanging ideas with groups
Communication Skills Self-rating (1 to 5)
no, maybe)?
Making presentations
Listening
Debating
Written
Writing correspondence
Writing business materials
Writing research papers
Teaching
Demonstrating ideas through examples
Instructing/tutoring individuals
Creating effective learning environments
Total: _____/55 = _____%

Initiative Self-rating (1 to 5)
no, maybe)?
Initiating new ideas/projects
Making the first move in relationships
Finding new solutions
Total: _____/15 = _____%
Technical Skills Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes,

no, maybe)?
Computer skills
Laboratory skills / Conducting experi-
ments
Managing budgets, money
Maintaining /operating equipment
Controlling inventory
Total: _____/25 = _____%
Interpersonal Skills Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes,

no, maybe)?
Managing/resolving conflicts
Negotiating
Collaborating
Persuading, recruiting, selling
Treating, healing others
Giving constructive feedback
Coaching, mentoring
Giving practical advice
Developing rapport
Interpersonal Skills Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes,
no, maybe)?
Demonstrating empathy
Understanding peoples motivations
Total: _____/55 = _____%
Creative Skills Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes,

no, maybe)?
Creating new ideas, images
Inventing new products
Designing projects/systems
Designing learning materials
Improvising with existing resources
Finding new solutions
Composing music
Playing musical instruments
Writing novels, short stories, plays,
poems
Drawing, painting, sculpting
Acting, dancing
Finishing, restoring
Total: _____/60 = _____%
Your 5 Top Skills:
_______________________, _______________________, _______________________,
_______________________, and _______________________.
Skills Exercise
List concrete situations where you demonstrated the skills listed above.
Situations Skills demonstrated

Proposed and coordinated bake-a-thon for Miss- Initiative, organization, leadership,
ing Childrens Network. Publicized event through communication
newspapers and radio.
As a new camp counsellor, proposed and led Leadership, initiative, problem-
weekly meetings with the crew to discuss par- solving, teamwork
ticular issues faced by the campers.
Situations Skills demonstrated
Tip
Employers use your
past performance as an
indication of your likely
future performance, so
they are very interested
in hearing about your
successes and accom-
plishments.
Achievements
What are you proud of? Can you think of occasions where you really felt like you accomplished
something?
Achievements are actions which improve a situation. They illustrate your abilities and are in-
dicative of your potential for taking initiative and solving problems. The following activities will
help you to identify your achievements and think about how you might communicate them to
prospective employers.
The questions below can be used to help trigger your memory of past achievements:
Did you receive some form of recognition (award, title, trophy, etc.)?
Did you intervene in a situation that could have become a serious problem had you not
detected it?
Did you make a suggestion that was adopted by your classmates, team or coworkers?
Did you accomplish a task using fewer resources than usual?
Did you satisfy a particularly demanding client?
Did you initiate something?
Have you trained or taught people?
Did you participate in a project where your influence and ideas were largely responsible
for its success?
Once you have identified some key achievements, use the S.T.A.R. formula to write them out
clearly and concisely:
Situation
Provide a brief overview of the situation.
Task
Outline the specific task you were assigned to do, responsibility you undertook or
problem you faced.
Action
Explain the action you took and why, step by step.
Result
Describe the positive result or outcome of your actions using numbers or percent-
ages if possible.
S.T.A.R. Example
Situation
The window display at the bakery where I worked last summer was not very creative
and was not changed very often.
Task
After getting permission from the manager, I took it upon myself to change the
display every week, featuring the special of the week.
Action
I made a backdrop, put some baskets in the display and filled them with bread and
buns. I put the cakes on a slant so that the customer would have a better view of
them. I changed the display weekly in order to feature the weekly special.
Result
Many customers commented on the attractive display and sales of the weekly spe-
cial increased by 20%.
Use the S.T.A.R. formula and the chart below to write out four of your achievements. These will
come in handy when composing your C.V. and cover letters, and when preparing for interviews.
S(ituation): _______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
T(ask): ___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
A(ction): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
R(esult): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
S(ituation): _______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
T(ask): ___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
A(ction): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
R(esult): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
S(ituation): _______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
T(ask): ___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
A(ction): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
R(esult): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
S(ituation): _______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
T(ask): ___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
A(ction): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
R(esult): _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
People Environment
A job is not just about what you do; it is also about who you work with. Each workplace has an
environment and culture of its own and you will find some are a better fit for you than others.
The following exercise will help you determine which kind of people you enjoy being around.
Scenario: Reception Dinner
You have been invited to attend a reception dinner this evening where, for some reason,
people of similar interests have clustered together in different areas of the room (see dia-
gram). Putting aside any questions of shyness or social abilities, which group would you
instinctively be drawn to first, knowing that these might be the people you spend the entire
event with? Write the letter for that group here: _____
After the appetizers have been served, your entire table politely excuses themselves to attend
another event. Of the remaining groups, which would you be drawn to next? Write the let-
ter here: _____
After the main course, the entire table again gets up to leave. Where would you sit now?
* Adapted from Bolles, Richard N. What Color is Your Parachute? California: Ten Speed Press, 2008, pp. 308-311.
The six groups described above are based on work done by J.L. Holland (1997), who classi-
fies people and environments into six main types:
R Realistic I Investigative A Artistic

S Social E Enterprising C Conventional
Referring to Hollands typology, list the three groups of people you would most enjoy work-
ing with (for example, Realistic, Enterprising and Conventional):
___________________ ___________________ ___________________
Working Conditions
Since we spend more than one third of our life at work, it is important to have working condi-
tions which motivate and satisfy us. Although we have to show some flexibility, there are certain
working conditions that are absolutely essential for each of us to be happy and productive.
The following list will help identify and rank various working conditions. Use the following
scale of 3 to +3.
3 This is an essential component of any job I accept.
2 I would like this to be a component of any job I accept, but it is not absolutely essen-
tial.
1 This is preferable, but I can live without it.
-1 Not very important, but I could live with it.
-2 I would not like this to be a component of any job I accept.
-3 This must not be a component of any job I accept.
Working Conditions Inventory
Travel
Overnight travel
Extended travel
Once or twice a month
Once or twice a year
Work Environment
Indoor
Outdoors
Fast pace environment (high pressure)
Slow pace environment (little pressure)
Modern facilities and equipment
Work safety
First aid resource
Formal dress code
Informal dress code
Uniform
Own office versus sharing or having a cubicle
Office with a window versus an office without
Size and Type of Organization

Local
Provincial
Size and Type of Organization (continued)
National
International
Canadian subsidiary of American parent
Profit-oriented
Non-profit
Product-oriented
Service-oriented
Less than 500 employees
Between 500 and 5000 employees
More than 5000 employees
Unionized environment
Position Characteristics
Opportunity for advancement
Challenge (skills tested in a variety of situations)
Opportunity to learn new things
Opportunity to take initiative
Work alone
Work with others
Being part of a small team
Being part of a large team
Prestige (job title, special privileges, etc.)
Having authority
Responsible for own work
Exposure (to clients, customers, outside agencies, media)
See a project through from start to finish
Contribute to a larger project completed by others
Variety of tasks
Project-oriented work
Following established procedures
Solve problems creatively
High level of change
Geographic Location
Working in a particular city
Working within Quebec
Working within Canada
Working internationally
Spending less than half hour commuting from home
Spending less than one hour commuting from home
Spending less than two hours commuting from home
Type of Supervision
Work closely monitored
Work autonomously with weekly or monthly program checks
Authoritative boss
Democratic boss
Casual boss
Formal boss
Set own schedule
Hours Worked
Regular working hours
Flexible working hours
Shift work
Paid overtime
Unpaid overtime
Company scheduled vacation
Employee scheduled vacation
Opportunity to work from home
Salary and Benefits

Financial security
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Life insurance
Salary insurance
Pension plan
Child care
Financial support for continuing education
Company car
Wellness program
Employee assistance program
Look at your completed list of working conditions and indicate below your four most
and least desirable working conditions.
Most desirable working conditions Least desirable working conditions
Summary: Ideal Job Profile
Using the answers you provided in the previous exercises, fill in the blanks below to
come up with an ideal job profile which summarizes all of your self-assessment work.
Values
The top five values I cannot live without in the workplace are:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
Interests
My most predominant likes and dislikes:
Likes Dislikes
1. _______________________ 1. _______________________
2. _______________________ 2. _______________________
3. _______________________ 3. _______________________
4. _______________________ 4. _______________________
5. _______________________ 5. _______________________
Skills
The top five skills I would like to use in the workplace:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
People Environment
I would prefer to work with people who are:
1. _______________________ 2. _______________________
Working Conditions
Working conditions which I deem essential are:
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
Career Objective(s)
Now that you have completed your self-assessment, you likely have a better idea of what sort
of work you would like to do and in what areas. Do you want to work as an assistant editor in
book publishing in Toronto? As a management trainee position in the international banking
industry or a researcher in biochemistry in a university? Use these ideas to compose your career
objective(s). Pay special attention to your ideal job profile, which summarizes those elements of
a job that are the most important to you. Since you are still in the exploration phase, your career
objective can be as general or as specific as you want to make it.
Here are examples of specific career objectives:
Specific Career Objectives

A management trainee position in the international banking industry
An assistant editor position in the childrens book publishing industry
A biotechnology research position in a university laboratory
If you are open to different possibilities, it may be better to have a general career objective. Here
are a few examples of general career objectives:
General Career Objectives

A junior level position in the financial services industry
An editing position in the publishing industry
A research position in a laboratory
Review the self-assessment exercises that you completed, and write down your own career ob-
jectives below.
My Career Objective(s)
1. _______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2 Explore Employers & Occupations
Once you have a solid sense of yourself, of who you are and what you are looking for in a career,
the next step is to get a handle on how the world of work operates and to research your desired
field in detail. Before you launch your job search, you need to know what occupations, employ-
ers and industries are out there and which ones you are most interested in. Thorough research
will help you target your applications to specific employers and show how you can contribute to
a particular organization or company, thereby increasing your chances of success.
Take the time to do your research in order to:
Develop a list of potential employers;

Discover what opportunities exist which suit your qualifications and interests;
Know what skills and qualities the employer is looking for in potential employees;
Acquire more details about the companies and positions in order to produce more
targeted applications;
Prepare for a possible interview; and
Garner insight into your potential happiness and satisfaction in the job.
If you are a graduate of a general program such as History, English, Biology or Anthropology,
your choice of potential occupations is vast. Thus, your research will focus on both what you
would like to do and where you would like to do it.
If you come from a more career-oriented program such as Nursing, Management, Education
or Engineering, your choice of occupation is more straightforward so you will be focusing your
research on where you want to pursue your career.
The World of Work

The following diagram provides an introduction to the world of work and it illustrates aspects
you need to know to help you with your research. The World of Work can be organized into
five categories:
Type of Organization
Industry Sector
Mission (or purpose) of the Organization
Departments
Job Titles
As you study the diagram, think back to your Career Objective(s) from Chapter 1. See if you
can further refine your career objective by selecting options from each category that you are
already sure about. You can start at any point on the diagram
You may already know which options from each category interest you or you may need more
information about some areas. Use these findings to guide your research efforts.
For example, you might start with the Department category because you know you want to
work in Sales and Marketing as a Brand Manager. You know you are interested in large, pri-
vate, organizations with international scope, but you are not yet sure on the industry sector
you would like to work in, and do not have a strong preference regarding the mission of the
organization. You would therefore want to focus most of your energy on investigating different
industries of interest to help you in your job search.
Chapter 2 - Explore Employers & Occupations 33

Chapter 2 - Explore Employers & Occupations

THEWORLDOFWORK

Understandingtheworldofwork,andwhereyoufitin,isachallengeformanygraduatingstudents.Uptonow,moststudentsonlyknowwhattheyhavebeenexposedtoandcannotimagine,or
comprehend,whatelseisoutthere.Thefollowingdiagramprovidesanoverviewofhowtheworldofworkworks.Thevariousaspectsoftheworldofworkareclassifiedinto5categories.

Inordertoidentifywhereintheworldofworkyouwanttobe,youshouldselectanoptionfromeachcategory.Itdoesnotmatterwhichoneyoustartwith,norifyoucannotselectoneforevery
category,butkeepinmind:thebetteryourefinewhereyouwanttowork,theeasieryourjobsearchwillbe.Yourchoiceswilldependonyourinterests,values,skills,andfuturegoals.

TYPEOFORGANIZATION INDUSTRYSECTOR PURPOSE OFTHEORGANIZATION DEPARTMENTS JOBTITLES
Thesizeandownershiprights Thecategoryortradeofthe Thegoalormissionofthe Thedivisionswithinthecompany Theroleyouhavewithinthe
organization organization thatmakeitrun organization

A.Ownership Agriculture,Forestry &Oceans Construction&Installation
Sales&Marketing Accountant
Public Arts,Entertainment,& Distribution Procurement Architect
Private Recreation
Management&Operations ResearchandDevelopment Attorney
NonProfit Defence Manufacturing CustomerService Biologist
Education,Culture&Training Scientific&TechnicalServices
Finance Consultant
B.Size Environment (e.g.Laboratory,Computational) InventoryandWarehousing Designer
Small Finance&Insurance
Research&Development InformationTechnology Engineer
Medium FoodProduction&Development
ProfessionalServices HumanResources Paralegal
Large Health&Welfare EducationalServices PublicRelations Pharmacist
...etc

Information&Communication QualityControl&Assurance PhysicalTherapist
C.Scope Technology Legal Physician
Local Infrastructure&Construction Communications Programmer
National Legal&Judicial Maintenance ProjectManager
International Pharmaceuticals&Biotechnology
...etc Psychologist
PublicAdministration Teacher
RealEstate ...etc
Resources:Minerals,Metals,
Mining,Oil&Gas
Travel&Tourism
SocialAssistance

Transport
etc

EXAMPLEOFONESTUDENTSCHOICES

TYPEOFORGANIZATION INDUSTRYSECTOR MISSIONOFTHEORGANIZATION DEPARTMENT JOBTITLES

A. Private Environment Manufacturingofrecycledbags SalesandMarketing ProductMgr
B. Large
C. International

34
Where to Find Information
CaPS Resource Centre
The CaPS Resource Centre contains over 3,000 items spanning the career exploration process, Tip
which can help you research occupations, industries and employers.
CaPS employs a full-
For general guides to occupations, section 4.101 contains books that survey a variety of careers. time Career Resource
Check out Best Jobs for the 21st Century, 100 Fastest-Growing Careers: Your Complete Guidebook Consultant, who will
to Major Jobs with the Most Growth and Openings, 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs, Guide to Your be pleased to help you
Career and Top 100 Careers for College Graduates. research employers and
industry trends.
The Careers for and Great Jobs for... series in sections 4.12 and 4.13, respectively, present pos-
sible careers according to personality type and major. These are great quick reads to get you
started.
Sections 4.2 through 4.9 hold print resources for careers in the liberal arts and communications;
social sciences; education and sports; engineering, architecture and urban planning; business,
economics and finance; law, government and military; health; and the natural sciences. In these
sections you will also find books from the Opportunities in series, which describe potential
career paths within a specific field.
Consult our directories to identify potential employers and get their contact information. Sec-
tion 5.3 holds Qubec, Canadian and U.S. directories in industries ranging from pharmaceu-
ticals to theatre. Popular titles include the Canadian Environmental Directory, The Canadian
Hidden Job Market Directory, the Qubec dans le monde series, Directory of Community Services
of Greater Montreal, Contact Toronto and Best Entry-Level Jobs.
Finally, CaPS has print and digital weeklies available through myFuture and in the Resource
Centre for job postings in various sectors around the world. These include:
Artsboard
Canada Employment Weekly
Current Jobs in the Liberal Arts
International Career Employment Weekly
The International Educator
Online Resources
Researching Occupations
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code

http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2006/OccupationIndex.aspx
Brief job descriptions and alternate job titles with cross-references. Identify the occupa-
tional code to search other career exploration websites, such as Working in Canada and
Career Cruising.
Working in Canada
http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca/
Detailed and Canada-specific occupational information, including local salary informa-
tion, job demand, skills requirements, job opportunities and more.

Career Cruising
http://www.careercruising.com/Default.aspx
Interactive career exploration site. Gives in-depth occupational profiles, including inter-
views with professionals. Take the Career Matchmaker test to find suitable career paths.
*See the CaPS front desk for username and password information.
Service Canada: Labour Market Information

http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca/
Excellent resource for job descriptions, employment prospects, wages, potential em-
ployers, and industrial profiles.
Emploi Qubec: Labour Market Information

http://imt.emploiquebec.net/mtg/inter/noncache/contenu/asp/mtg941_accueil_
angl_01.asp
Comprehensive site that includes occupational descriptions, an employer directory,
study and training programs, and industry descriptions of Quebec.
Researching Industries and Employers
Statistics Canada: North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/subjects-sujets/standard-norme/naics-scian/2007/list-liste-
eng.htm
Gives brief industry descriptions. Identify the industrial code to search specialized web-
sites and databases such as Industry Canada.
Industry Canada Information by Industry Sector

http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/ic1.nsf/en/h_00066e.html
Offers resources related to industry sectors. Search for industry profiles by sector or
category. Type of information available varies with each sector.
Vault Career Guides (McGill Network)

http://www.library.mcgill.ca/cdroms/Restricted/vault.html
Popular series of career guidebooks available for download in PDF format. Over 70
titles available, including: CV, interview, internship, industry and top employers.
Howard Ross Library of Management Subject Guides (McGill Network)

http://www.mcgill.ca/library/library-findinfo/subjects/management/
Listing of business databases useful for researching companies and industries.
Scotts Directory (McGill Network)

http://www.scottsinfo.com/scottshome/default.aspx
Profiles of over 150,000 Canadian companies. Searchable by a variety of criteria includ-
ing NAICS code, location, number of employees, etc. Gives detailed contact informa-
tion, including the names of key persons.
Factiva (McGill Network)

http://global.factiva.com/sb/default.aspx?lnep=hp
Source for news articles, news wires, company press releases and industry reports.
Marketline (McGill Network)

http://www.marketlineinfo.com/library/Default.aspx
Search profiles on specific international markets. Also includes news and commentary.
36 Chapter 2 - Explore Employers & Occupations

Corporate Affiliations (McGill Network)
http://www.corporateaffiliations.com/subscriber/quickSearch.asp
Who owns whom. The inquire search allows for natural language queries.
Yahoo! Finance
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/category-earnings
Offers current information on specific companies and industries.
Google Directory
http://directory.google.com/
Free resource. Can browse by category or search. Use category Regional to narrow
down potential employers in a certain area and industry.
Additional Research and Job Search Resources
myFuture
https://csm-caps.mcgill.ca/students/
CaPS online career centre. Search for jobs and internships; upload documents and ap-
ply for jobs directly through the site; register for workshops and career fairs; and access
library resources.
The Bridge
https://www.myinterfase.com/nec/student/
Music job listings. *See CaPS front desk for username and password information.
Going Global (McGill Network)

http://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspx
International job and internship listing updated daily. Includes employer directory,
country guides and U.S. city guides.
Devex International Development Premium Job Board (McGill Network)

http://www.devex.com/en/welcome/mcgill
International development jobs and network site.
Eluta - Career Directory Online

http://www.eluta.ca/search-new-grad
Search jobs in Canada; includes a search option for entry-level jobs for recent gradu-
ates.
Emploi Qubec Online Placement

http://placement.emploiquebec.net/mbe/login/portail/portcherc.asp?CL=english
Post your CV and search for jobs. All student jobs with the provincial government are
posted here.
Idealist.org
http://www.idealist.org/
Job, internship and volunteer opportunities in the non-profit sector. Includes an em-
ployer directory, handbooks for download, and other resources.
Commission des normes du travail Qubec: Labour Standards

http://www.cnt.gouv.qc.ca/en/home/index.html
Information on standards for wages, leaves and absences, end of employment and other
points all workers should be familiar with.

*For more information, contact [email protected] or call 514-398-3304 x00950. You can
view our entire catalogue at http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/services/resource-centre/cata-
logue/ .
CaPS Website (www.mcgill.ca/caps)

The Explore Careers section of the CaPS website (www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/
explore/) contains links to a number of resources that can help you research industries, occupa-
tions or employers of interest, including:
What can I do with my major?

A compilation of handouts, books and websites to assist you in thinking about what you
can do with your major.
Company Websites
Most companies and organizations now offer a wealth of information on their websites and you
are expected to consult them in depth.
Professional or Trade Associations

You may wish to consult the literature of professional organizations, business councils and other
relevant websites to find out about salary scales, working conditions and current market trends.
To identify specific associations, consult the Associations Canada available on reserve at CaPS.
Handouts through the What can I do with my major? feature on the CaPS website (see above)
also list relevant professional associations.
Associations Canada Rpertoire des associations du Canada (VPN is required)

http://circ.greyhouse.ca/search/quicksearch?clear=1&customer=mcgi1001&database=AS
Canadian organizations and international groups including industry, commercial and
professional associations, registered charities, special interest and common interest
organizations.
Information Interviews
Another excellent way to gather information is to conduct information interviews with individ-
uals currently working in the sector, organization, or position of interest. Information inter-
views provide you with a chance to informally ask questions about the work and market condi-
tions in a particular field, and are also a great way to develop contacts in your field of interest.
Tip For details on how to prepare for an information interview, see Chapter 3.
Many professional as- McGill Mentor Program

sociations have dis-
counted memberships The McGill Mentor Program connects students with working McGill alumni who can offer
for students and new valuable advice about career alternatives, job requirements and career-life balance. It is also an
graduates. You may wish excellent tool for getting more information about a particular industry or organization.
to consider joining one.
You can find out more information about the Mentor Program and fill out an application online
at http://caps.mcgill.ca/ci2/

Get to Know Occupations, Industries, and Employers
Research the Occupation/Position
There are many aspects to consider when targeting particular occupations. Evaluate how they
match your values, experiences, achievements and interests, as identified by your self-assess-
ment, by considering factors such as duties and responsibilities, working conditions, opportuni-
ties for advancement and salary ranges. By answering the following questions, you will be better
able to determine whether an occupation/position corresponds to your Ideal Job Profile.
What are the duties and responsibilities?

What are the educational and training requirements?
What kinds of skills and experience are needed?
What are the primary characteristics and values of people working in the occupation/
position?
Who would be my clients in this position (business people, students, artists etc.)?
Does the salary range and benefits correspond to my needs and lifestyle goals?
What are the working conditions (hours of work, amount of travel etc.)?
What opportunities are there for advancement and career mobility?
Is there a professional association connected with this occupation?
What are the present and future prospects for this occupation/position?
Are there related occupations/positions I should be exploring?
Exercise
List three occupations of interest below and then research them using the Occupation
Search Form at the end of the chapter: 1. _______________________
2. _______________________ 3. _______________________
Research the Industry

You might be more interested in working in a particular field rather than for a specific employer
or organization. Researching the industry will help you to identify potential employers and
provide you with important background information so you can speak knowledgeably about
the industry and the companys area(s) of business. Consider the following questions when
researching an industry.
What are the career prospects in this sector?

What are the key issues and future trends for the industry?
What characteristics or qualities do people need in order to succeed in this industry?
What are the different occupations that make up the industry?
Which companies, organizations, and professional or trade associations are related to
the industry?
Exercise
Name two industries which you are particularly interested in and find out more about them
by using the Industry Search Form at the end of the chapter:
1. _______________________ 2. _______________________

Research the Employer/Organization
Researching your target employer before applying will help you become more familiar with
the organization, its values and its services. Keep the following questions in mind in order to
determine if the goals and values of a prospective employer fit with your own and if you would
be happy working there.
What type of organization is it (public, private, non-profit etc.)?

What are the organizations goals and values?
What are the major products and services provided by the organization? Who are its
clients?
Who are the organizations major competitors?
What positions are available?
How is the organization structured?
Where is it located (including subsidiaries and branches)?
What kind of reputation does the organization have? For what is it best known?
What is the history of the organization?
What are the organizations community interests and involvement?
Exercise
Target five employers who hire people with your skills and interests. List them below, then
research them thoroughly and fill in the Employer Search Form at the end of the chapter.
1. _______________________ 2. _______________________
3. _______________________ 4. _______________________
5. _______________________

Occupation Search Form
Occupation title: ___________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Duties and responsibilities: __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Educational and training requirements: ________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Skills and experience required: _______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Characteristics and values of people working in this field: _________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Clients (business people, students, artists etc.): __________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Salary range and benefits: ___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Working conditions (hours of work, amount of travel etc.): ________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Advancement opportunities and career mobility: ________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Professional associations (optional or compulsory): ______________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Present and future prospects for this occupation: ________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Related occupations: _______________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Employer Search Form
Employer name: ___________________________________________________________
Contact name: ____________________________________________________________
Website: __________________________________________________________________
E-mail: ___________________________________________________________________
Phone number: ____________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Type of organization (public, private, non-profit etc.): ____________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Goals and values: __________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Major products and services: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Clients: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Major competitors: _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Positions available: _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Organizational structure: ___________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Number of employees: ______________________________________________________
Location including subsidiaries and branches: __________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Reputation: _______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

History: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Community interests and involvement: ________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Industry Search Form

Industry: _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Career prospects: __________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Key issues and future trends: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Characteristics of people working in the industry: _______________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Occupations which make up the industry: ______________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Five organizations in this industry:
1. _______________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________________________
Professional or trade association(s): ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Career Objective(s)
Following your research, you will likely find that your career objective has become more specific
and informed. If this is the case, write your new career objective below and keep it in mind as
you work through the following chapters.
My Career Objective(s) Revisited

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Additional Resources on Exploring Employers & Occupations

For the complete Resource Centre catalogue and regularly updated lists of relevant websites,
please visit http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/services/resource-centre/catalogue/
For a regularly updated list of relevant websites on exploring employers and occupations, please
visit http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/employers/

Chapter 3 Find Job Opportunities
Depending on the sector, at least 75%, and as high as 95% of all available jobs are never publicly
advertised. These jobs are located in what is called the hidden job market and are primarily
accessed through networking.
This chapter explains the importance of networking and how to effectively integrate network-
ing techniques into your job search in order to access this hidden job market. It is divided into
three steps:
1. Understand the Hidden Job Market

2. Get Comfortable with Networking: Concrete Steps to Expand Your Network
3. Find Job Opportunities Through Information Interviews
It also includes additional information and tips on:
Cold Calling and Telephone Etiquette

Preparing Networking Tools
Understand the Hidden Job Market

Scenario: Imagine that you have recently moved to a new city/neighbourhood and you are in Tip
desperate need of a haircut. Or maybe you are just unhappy with your current hairdresser and
are looking for a change. How would you go about finding a good salon and stylist? The CaPS Resource
Centre contains many
You could reach for the nearest Yellow Pages and scan the ads, or maybe you could stop in at a directories and guides
few of the salons in your neighbourhood. But most of us will likely turn first to friends, family, to help you access the
coworkers and acquaintances to ask if they can recommend anyone good. Despite, or maybe hidden job market and
because of, the proliferation of advertising, there is something very reassuring about a personal research potential em-
recommendation or referral. And it does not even seem to matter if the person giving the infor- ployers, including The
mation is not a very close friend. If your best friends aunts neighbour just got a great haircut, Canadian Hidden Job
you will likely happily call up that same salon when you need a comparable service, even if you Market Directory.
have never actually met the neighbour in question.
This same scenario plays itself out over and over again in other areas of daily life: when you
are wondering where to go for dinner or what movie to watch this weekend, or when you need
the services of a dentist, financial planner, plumber, counsellor, or piano teacher. But for some
reason, when looking for a job, we often forget this principle and instead of reaching out to our
network we hole ourselves up at our computers, endlessly (and often fruitlessly) searching the
online job listings and classified ads - a strategy which pays off for only a very small percentage
of job seekers.
How do employers find and connect with potential employees?

For most employers, publicly advertising a job is a strategy of last resort, used only when other,
more informal methods of hiring, have failed to pay off. Put yourself in the shoes of a typical
employer and imagine you are the manager of a small communications company. One of your
team of four technical writers has just told you they are moving to Toronto next month. As
manager this is not positive news: you are a busy person and you do not have a lot of time and
energy to spend finding someone new, but you also cannot afford to leave the position unfilled.
What then would be the cheapest, most efficient, painless and ultimately most successful way
Chapter 3 - Find Job Opportunities 45

for you to fill this vacant position?
You could post an ad online, but this will cost you valuable time and money and you will have
to expend a great deal of energy writing and gaining consensus on the job description and then
sifting through hundreds of C.V.s, many from blatantly unqualified applicants. Conversely, it
will cost you only a few seconds to send an email to your team asking them to spread the word
and recommend any prospective candidates they know of. The other members of your techni-
cal writing team are perfectly positioned to do this as they know what the job requires and
they almost certainly know other technical writers from previous jobs or school or professional
development events. Members of your team will also be sure to recommend people they think
would fit in with the company. In the meantime you will also mention the open position to
friends, family, acquaintances, and others in your network. Additionally, you may take a brief
look at the pile of C.V.s you have received from job seekers over the past few months, people
who have sought out the company proactively, and maybe give a few of them a call. You will
likely only post the position publicly several weeks or even months later if you have been unable
to find someone suitable through your network.
So, if the above scenario is indicative of how the majority of employers prefer to operate, what
does this mean for you as a job seeker? Read on to find out...
Get Comfortable with Networking

Networking is about people helping people; about actively creating and maintaining mutually
beneficial relationships with others, particularly those in your fields of interest. As a general
rule, the larger your network, the more effective your job search is likely to be. By expanding
your network you increase your chances of hearing about job openings like the technical writ-
ing position described above before the manager decides to use a more formal, public method of
recruitment.
Commonly Cited Barriers to Effective Networking

Sheer Terror! I am much too shy/introverted to do this!
Tip If you are not a naturally extroverted person, the concept of networking can seem massively
intimidating. It helps to remember that networking is not primarily about you, it is about
For networking tips the other person. Skills like listening attentively, asking good questions and showing an
for introverts, consult interest in others are key. And if the idea of making cold calls day after day or attending self-
the following article proclaimed networking events ranks among your worst nightmares, there is no rule that
at: http://www.mcgill. says you have to network this way. Focus on creating and fostering relationships in ways
ca/caps/publications/ that work for you, be that community involvement, referrals from friends, or talking with
scoop/grads/2008-2009/ professors.
articles/#art2.
I dont like schmoozing/using people networking seems rude/aggressive to me.
Done poorly and with the wrong attitude, networking can indeed come across as aggres-
sive and inconsiderate. Good networking, however, is about seeking out mutually beneficial
Tip relationships - its a two-way street. Never assume that you can use someone and then just
move on: reputations spread quickly within organizations and fields and you want to build
Attitude is everything a reputation as a giver not a taker. Show respect for your contacts time by doing your
here. Neediness, selfish- homework prior to any meeting. Do not try and push someone to do more for you than
ness and desperation they are willing and make sure to show your appreciation by following up with a simple
repel others; kindness, thank you note or email.
generosity and genuine
interest in people attract.
46 Chapter 3 - Find Job Opportunities

I dont like asking for help or imposing on people wont that seem desperate?!
The idea of the truly independent individual, the self-made man/woman is often held up
as an ideal in North America culture, but whether this exists in reality is doubtful. People
influence and help us out in our lives and careers in a myriad of different ways and like
having the opportunity to do so. When you are just starting out in your career there is no
way that you could have all of the answers and information that you need to make fully in-
formed choices. Rest assured that anyone you talk to will have received help from someone
somewhere along their career path and they will likely be quite pleased to give back a little.
By asking for help you are giving others the opportunity to give and share their knowledge,
wisdom and passion for their field. It can be a genuine pleasure to talk about your career
path and interests with an eager listener.
Tip
If I get a position through networking, will I be qualified enough to do well in the posi-
tion?
As a job seeker it is natu-
Only in the rarest of cases does networking get you the job in and of itself that is your re-
ral to feel somewhat vul-
sponsibility. In an interview or when you meet with someone from an organization, you will
nerable and powerless
still have to earn the job yourself and be judged on your own merit. Even if you come highly
at times consciously
recommended by a dear friend of the Human Resources Manager, you are going to have to
remind yourself that
prove that you have the skills, background and attitude to fit in with the company and do
you have a lot to offer
the job well. The advantage of networking is that it opens up many more opportunities to do
others, be it your time,
just that.
enthusiasm, knowledge,
contacts, advice, skills, a
Getting a job through networking is somehow not as valid as getting it myself.
listening ear, etc.
Networking is sometimes viewed as taking the easy way out. Remember that it is hard work
to network well. Building and maintaining meaningful relationships takes time and energy
and investment on your part and requires much more of a proactive approach to the job
search than simply scanning online postings day after day. Tip
I dont know anyone in my field or know very few people. Remember that good
Perhaps counter-intuitively, research indicates that more often than not, it is not your family networking is NOT
or close friends who provide you with job leads, but rather acquaintances and more distant only about you. It really
referrals. The power of friends of friends of friends lies in the fact that these people likely is not. It is about the
move in quite different circles from you. They tend to know different people and have more relationships you build
range than those closer to you. If your primary contact list does not yield anyone in the and what you can do for
field(s) you are interested in, ask them for referrals to secondary (and then tertiary) con- others.
tacts. Also focus more on becoming active in your field through professional associations
and volunteering.
This will take so much time, and I need a job NOW! Tip
This could be a problem because building and maintaining meaningful relationships takes
time and commitment and you never know when a meeting or a contact may lead to a Instead of focusing on
potential job opportunity. Networking is thus a career-long, life-long skill. Ideally you will what you need from an
employ a combination of strategies in your search, including networking, researching and interaction, relax and
approaching employers directly and using job listings. Any one of these strategies could start really listening to
be the one that ultimately leads to a job, but in terms of priorities, networking should take the other person. Find
precedence over the others as statistics consistently show that the majority of job seekers out what makes them
hear about employment opportunities from family, friends and acquaintances. Networking tick, where their pas-
is simply the most effective way to search for a job. sions lie. Pay attention
to what their needs are
I am terrible at selling myself and thats what networking is all about right? and figure out how you
The metaphor of the job search as a sales campaign is a highly pervasive one, but also very might be able to help
problematic for many job seekers who struggle to sell themselves to potential employ- them. Give first, and give
ers. However, as Cathy Keates points out in her book Not for Sale! Why We Need a New Job often, the rest will tend
Search Mindset (2009), the process of finding work isnt about selling and buying, but it is to take care of itself.

about people and organizations connecting and finding a fit. Employers do not necessarily
require job seekers to sell themselves, but they do desire clarity from an applicant. As a job
seeker, it is imperative that you are able to clearly communicate your skills, the fit between
you and the organization and what you would contribute if hired. Networking is all about
communication, forging connections and building relationships - NOT about selling.
Concrete Steps to Expand your Network

Tip 1. Create a list of primary contacts. Start with the people you already know, from family and
close friends, to former coworkers, classmates, professors and community acquaintances.
Be proactive in seek- Make a list of all these primary or warm contacts, regardless of whether or not you think
ing out the information they may be knowledgeable about your field of interest. If it has been a while since you
which would be helpful spoke, get back in contact with these people, find out how they are, let them know what you
to you in your job search have been doing lately, and ask if they know of anyone working in your target area who you
and would increase could talk to. If they give you names, the people they refer you to are known as your sec-
your knowledge about ondary contacts. If you have recently finished your degree, many people will ask you: What
your field. The more are you going to do now that you have graduated? Take the opportunity to have a conver-
people who know about sation with them about the areas you are interested in and the questions you still have about
you and the kinds of your career path.
positions you would be
interested in, the better 2. Meet your secondary contacts. Actively seek out new relationships within your chosen
your chances. field(s). Start by getting in touch with the secondary contacts referred to you by family and
friends. Be prepared to talk about your career goals, skills and experiences. You may want to
ask your secondary contacts whether they would be willing to have an information inter-
view (see #5) with you.
3. Create new contacts. You can also create your own contacts by joining professional asso-
ciations and organizations (many have discounted rates for students/new grads), attending
career-related conferences and events and by volunteering or doing an internship in your
area of interest. Making cold calls (see below) is another good way of expanding your con-
tact base.
4. Make cold calls to target organizations. Calling companies and organizations of interest
and attempting to meet with the person who has the decision-making power to hire you, or
with someone who is knowledgeable about the field, is a great way to expand your network.
If you are extremely uncomfortable making cold calls, you can also write to the organization
or company. However, networking by email is often much less effective than networking in
person or over the phone. Additional tips on cold calling can be found later in this guide.
5. Arrange information interviews. Information interviewing involves meeting someone

currently working in a field, for an organization, or in an occupation of interest, in order to
increase your knowledge of your target career. It also helps grow your contact base in the
field. You can have an information interview with a primary contact, secondary contact or
someone you met through a cold call. More information about this simple, and extremely
effective tool, can be found later in this guide.
6. Follow up! The importance of nourishing and maintaining relationships cannot be over-
stated, as many people neglect this step. It can be very awkward or difficult to get back into
contact with someone you have not talked to in years and ask a favour of them when you
have done nothing to maintain the relationship in the meantime. Keep in touch regularly
and follow up with those who have been helpful to you. Let people know if you followed
their advice, met with someone they referred you to, or found a resource they recommend-
ed useful. Keep them informed of your progress in your job hunt, share your successes and
remember to give back when you can.

Primary Contact List
People I know from school:
Professors/Teachers: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Classmates: _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Alumni: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Mentors: ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
McGill Advisors and Counsellors: _______________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Other: _____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
People I know from work:
Co-workers: ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Supervisors: ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Clients: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Suppliers: __________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Professional Associations: ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Other: _____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
People I know personally:
Family/Extended Family: ______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Friends: ____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Neighbours: ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

People I know from...
Internships: _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Career Fairs: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Company Presentations: _______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Extracurricular Activities and Clubs: _____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Sports: _____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Church/Temple: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Community (i.e. doctors, dentists, store owners, bankers, electricians etc.): _______
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

Find Job Opportunities Through Information Interviews
Researching and reading about your field is a great way to start your job search, but at some
point you will likely find it useful to get information and advice directly from someone with
concrete experience in the area. Information interviews can help you fine tune your career
objective(s), to discover additional possibilities or areas of interest, and to develop contacts and
potential mentors in your field.
An information interview is a meeting between two people: someone (you) who wishes to learn
more about a particular career and someone who works in that field. An information interview
is NOT primarily about getting a job from your interviewee; it is about getting to know people
in, and increasing your knowledge of, the career you are researching and targeting. You can
interview anyone who knows about the work you would like to do, ideally someone employed
in your field of interest or in an organization or sector where you would like to work.
Who Should I Contact for an Information Interview?

Interview people whose perspectives will help you make decisions about the career path you
Tip wish to take. There are several ways to go about finding interviewees, including:
Remember that most Approaching primary and secondary contacts: Start by connecting with those people
people are willing to already in your network. These include your family, friends, peers, professors, co-
help and love to talk workers, previous employers, alumni and anyone else you can think of. You might find
about themselves and potential interviewees among your primary contacts; but what is more likely is that
their work. your extended network will know of a potential interviewee (i.e. secondary contact).
Approaching organizations of interest (cold calling): Choose a relevant company/or-

ganization and contact a person in a position that interests you. Sometimes you can find
names easily on the companys website. However, if that does not work, call the main
line of the organization and ask for the name and extension number of the head of the
department you would like to target.
Approaching new contacts: These could include speakers from on-campus career
panels and events, those you meet at career fairs, or even inspiring individuals you read
about in the news and would like to talk to.
But Why Would They Want to Talk to Me?

It is important to remember that an information interview is about information and advice. It is
not about calling someone up and asking them for a job. This approach is both more intriguing
and less intimidating for both the interviewer and the interviewee. Many people and organiza-
tions respond very positively to the initiative and courage it takes to ask for an information
interview. It is a compliment to be asked for your advice and opinions by someone who respects
what you do, and if you enjoy your career, it is actually quite pleasant to talk about it to an eager
listener. Many people also enjoy the opportunity to help out a student or recent graduate, to do
some informal mentoring and give back a little. Yes, some of the people you ask may say no, of-
ten for reasons (such as an overly full schedule) that have nothing to do with you. But you have
nothing to lose. If even one person says yes, you will be farther ahead than where you are now.

Questions to Ask at an Information Interview
The key to a successful information interview is your enthusiasm, preparation and ability
to communicate clearly. Before you go to an interview, think about the type of information
that would be helpful to you. Revisit your self-assessment exercises and come up with some
questions that will help you determine if this type of career is a good fit with your interests
and your personal and professional values.
The following questions are meant to help you get started at an information interview. Oth-
ers will naturally flow from your conversation once you get going. Focus on the areas and
concerns of most relevance to you and respect anything your interviewee does not want or
is not able to talk about. Always remember to thank them for their time and ask if there is
anyone else they would recommend you speak with.
Questions about their career path/training:
How did you get into this field?

What has your career path been like to date? Is it representative of most people in
this kind of position?
What kind of education/training do you have?
Are you a member of any professional orders or associations? Which ones do you
feel are the most important to belong to?
What are the future prospects in this field? What trends do you see developing over
the next few years?
If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself?
Questions about their current position and responsibilities:
What does a typical day/week in your job look like?

What do you enjoy the most about your job? The least?
What skills have you found essential for success in this occupation?
Could you tell me about one of the main challenges you face in this position?
Questions about working conditions:
How many hours do you work in a typical week?

How much autonomy do you have in terms of what you focus on at work?
What kind of supervision did you have when you were starting out? Now?
How is your performance evaluated?
What kind of professional development opportunities are available?
Additional questions:
What advice would you have liked to have heard when you were starting out?
How would you recommend I try out this line of work (i.e. through a summer job,
internship, volunteering)?
What other fields or jobs would you suggest I research before making a final deci-
sion?
Is there anyone you would recommend I talk to next? When I call them, may I
mention that you referred me?

INFORMATION INTERVIEW
Early Stage Later Stage
Focus: To gather information about the Focus: To gather information about the
industry in general. company and/or about a specific position.
Target: Anyone who has the information you Target: The head of the department of which
are interested in an employee at your level you wish to work (your future boss, or the
or higher. person who has the decision-making power
to hire you).
Time: 20 minutes Time: 20 minutes
Content: Gather information about the Contact: Gather information about the
company, its structure, philosophy, mission; company, its structure, philosophy, mission;
about the industry in general; what are the about your target persons career develop-
employers look for in candidates; about the ment, why he or she chose this company.
target persons career development; ask for State your desire to work for this company
advice and insight as how you can fit into and reason why.
this industry.
Ask for referrals within the industry. Ask for referrals within the company.
Ask if this person knows anyone who works
at any of the companies on your employer
list.
Offer to keep the person informed of your Offer to keep the person informed of your
progress. progress.
CV: Do not leave it behind unless you are CV: Offer your CV
requested to do so.
Thank you: Send a thank you note. Thank you: Send a thank you note.

Following Up
You may want to take some notes during the information interview, but do so sparingly, so as
not to interrupt the flow of conversation. Then, after the interview, expand your notes and write
down all of the main points and pertinent details covered. You might also want to note down
your impressions of the organization the general vibe, dress norms, etc.
Send a thank-you note or email within 24 hours of the interview. This does not have to be long, Tip
but should express your appreciation and reflect the content of the meeting.
Ask for your intervie-
Nurture and maintain your relationships with the people you have interviewed. Keep them wees business card so
informed of your progress and any action you have taken based on their advice. If they referred you can follow up with
you to someone who was also helpful or recommended a book, website or professional organi- them in the future.
zation which you subsequently followed up on, let them know that. Once you make a decision
about your career path or land the position you were hoping for, inform them of this as well and
thank them for their role in your journey. And remember, good relationship building is recipro-
cal: if you read an interesting article they might enjoy, forward it on; if you hear about a success
they have achieved or an award they have received, send a congratulatory note.
Sample: Thank You Email

Re: Information Interview Last Week
Dear Mrs. Newman,
Thank you so much for agreeing to have an information interview with me last week. I really
appreciated you taking the time out of your busy schedule to tell me about your fascinating
and varied career path and to bring me up to speed on the latest developments in the field of
Speech-Pathology.
I learned a great deal from our discussion, and it has left me more excited than ever about
entering the profession. I also greatly appreciated your referral to your colleague in private
practice, Mr. Johnson. I spoke with him yesterday and we will sit down for an information
interview later this week.
I will be sure to keep in touch and let you know how my career plans develop. Thank you
again for your time, your enthusiasm and your suggestions.
Sincerely,
Linda Green

Cold Calling and Telephone Etiquette
Cold calling refers to making direct contact with potential employers who do not know you.
Used in conjunction with information interviewing, it can be an excellent way to make inroads
at a particular organization or industry.
Cold calling can be used to gather information about jobs and organizations, schedule informa-
tion interviews and develop a network of contacts. Using the telephone successfully in your job
search requires gumption, planning and practice.
Dealing with Potential Barriers

You may encounter barriers or difficulties when trying to get through to the person you wish
to reach. The first person you speak with at a company will most likely be an administrative
assistant or receptionist whose job includes screening and filtering calls and answering general
information questions. These people are not your enemies; they can be important facilitators
and sources of information about the person you are calling.
You should be prepared to respond to questions/statements like those below:
What is your call regarding?

In responding to this question, be honest and positive. State the type of information
you are looking for and mention if someone has referred you.
The person is unavailable.

Instead of leaving a message, ask for the best time to call back. Try to avoid being put in
the situation where you are waiting for a call that may never come.
Human Resources will be able to help you. I will transfer you now. or We are not hir-
ing right now.
The receptionist thinks that you are looking for a job opening. Emphasize that you are
calling to obtain information, not employment.
Tip Ultimately, the key to getting through to the person with whom you wish to speak, is persis-
tence. If you are able to reply intelligently, logically and confidently to the receptionists screen-
Remember to thank the ing questions, you will eventually get through. In order that you come off as polished and
receptionist or admin- professional, practice what you would like to say before you try the real thing.
istrative assistant at the
end of every call, regard-
less of whether or not
When You Get Through
you get through.
Once you successfully get through to the person you wish to reach, you will want to:
Greet the person by name and address them professionally (i.e. Mr., Ms., Dr., Professor)
Identify yourself and let them know if you were referred
State why you are calling (otherwise you risk the person getting restless)
Identify where you are in your career and say something that is likely to arouse your
listeners interest (see Mini Introductions)
Get to the point quickly and do not monopolize their time
Keep your objective in mind: obtain a face-to-face meeting with your contact, gather
information, etc.
If you are successful in arranging an information interview, suggest a specific time to meet,

preferably before the business day begins, and let them know that the meeting will only take 20- Tip
30 minutes. If the person cannot meet you for whatever reason, do not give up. Ask for other
referrals or request permission to call again at a later date. When speaking on the
telephone, remember to:
Sample Scenarios/Scripts
Smile
Below are a few sample scripts illustrating scenarios/responses you are likely to encounter when Listen attentively
making cold calls. Use them to practice possible responses and generate other ideas of possible Show enthusiasm
scenarios. In general, the more confident you feel and sound and the clearer you are about the and ask questions
purpose of your call, the easier it will be for you to get through. Be positive
Be polite
Thank the person at
Sample A the end of the call
Front Desk: Good morning, Widgets Inc. How can I help you?
You: Hello, I would like to speak to a marketing specialist please.
Front Desk: Certainly, Ill transfer you to Bob Smiths office.
You: Thank you.
*You could also call back the next day and ask to speak to this individual then.
Bob Smith: Bob Smith speaking.
You: Good morning Mr. Smith. My name is Sally Green and I recently graduated from
McGill. I am looking to pursue a career in marketing and am trying to find out as much
as possible about the field before making any definite decisions. I have heard very positive
things about you and your work from my neighbour, Jim Philips, and am very interested in
finding out more about what you do. Would it be possible to arrange a short appointment to
talk about your career path to date?
Bob Smith: Thats an interesting idea. Certainly. How is Monday at 3pm?
Sample B
Secretary: Good morning, Bob Smiths office, how can I help you?
You: Good morning. My name is Sally Green. May I please speak with Mr. Smith?
Secretary: What is your call regarding?
You: I am a recently graduated student from McGill currently researching the field of biore-
source engineering, and I understand that Mr. Smith might be able to offer me some infor-
mation and advice.
Secretary: One moment please.
Bob Smith: Bob Smith speaking.

Sample B (continued)
You: Good morning Mr. Smith. My name is Sally Green and I recently graduated from
McGills Engineering program. I am looking to pursue a career in bioresource engineering
and am trying to find out as much as possible about the field before making any definite
decisions. I understand you are the Director of Research and Development and I am inter-
ested in speaking with you about the work you do. Would it be possible to arrange a short
appointment to talk about your career path to date?
Bob Smith: Im sorry but we dont actually have any openings right now, but perhaps if you
send me your C.V. I can keep you in mind for future positions.
You: I am not actually looking for a position right now. I am researching career options and
would like to find out more about the field of bioresource engineering in general. I would be
interested in speaking with you for about 20 minutes if you have some time to discuss your
career path and answer a few questions. Id be happy to come by whenever is convenient for
you.
Bob Smith: While Im flattered you would like to speak to me, Im afraid this time of year is
extremely busy and I wont be able to meet with you at present.
You: I understand and thank you for your time nonetheless. Would it be alright if I called
you back next month? Or perhaps there is someone else you could recommend I speak to?
Sample C
Secretary: Bob Smiths office, good morning!
You: Good morning. My name is Sally Green. May I please speak with Mr. Smith?
Secretary: Im sorry but Mr. Smith is not currently available. Would you like to leave a mes-
sage?
You: No thank-you, I can call back another time. Could you let me know some generally
good times to reach Mr. Smith?
Practice Good Telephone Etiquette

Be prepared before making a call. Be sure to verify the name of the person you wish to speak
with and ensure that any relevant documents (i.e. C.V., recent correspondence) are organized
and close at hand.
Practice, practice, practice. Ask a friend to play the role of the potential employer. Practice what
you would like to say until it sounds and feels natural.
Remember the person you are talking with will pick up on both verbal and non-verbal cues
your tone, attitude and voice projection are all important.

Preparing Networking Tools
Mini Introductions Tip
Communication and conversation skills are critical to successful networking. Employers natu-
The sample scripts out-
rally prefer candidates who know themselves and what they have to offer and who can express
lined here are designed
this clearly and compellingly. As you develop relationships within your target field you will need
to get you thinking
to introduce yourself to many people and be able to make the most of these opportunities.
about what you want
to communicate in any
In such situations a little preparation goes a long way, especially if talking about yourself and
given situation - use
your achievements does not come naturally to you. Start by identifying your strengths as a po-
them as a place to start
tential employee: your relevant skills, experiences, achievements, interests and goals. Then think
and a way to help struc-
about the organization or industry or individual you are targeting and consider which factors
ture your thoughts.
directly contribute to a good fit between you and them. Thirdly, be clear on what your goals are
for the interaction. What are you hoping to learn?
Finally you want to try to put all of this together into a mini introduction that might take sev-
eral possible forms.
a) Sound Bite: An abbreviated introduction best used when time is short, as a lead-in to a tele-
phone conversation for instance. Mention your name, educational background, and the purpose
of making the contact.
Sample: Sound Bite

Hello. My name is Danielle Ferguson and I am in my final year in McGills English pro-
gram. I am currently researching potential career options after graduation and the publish-
ing sector is an area of particular interest to me. I understand you have held many different
positions in this field, I am interested in finding out more about your career path. Would I
be able to conduct an information interview with you sometime this month?
b) Infomercial: A longer version of a sound bite, more along the lines of a verbal business card.
In addition to your name and educational background, mention relevant experience and skills,
knowledge of the organization and the information or position you are seeking.
Sample: Infomercial
Continue with: Last summer I completed an editing internship at H & R Publishing in To-
ronto where I especially enjoyed collaborating closely with writers. I would like to continue
to gain editing experience, but am also interested in finding out more about the marketing
side of the publishing business. I know that your company, NewBooks Plus, has recently
expanded its marketing operations. Could you tell me more about these developments?
c) Commercial: The longest version describes your background, qualifications, skills and
achievements in more detail and would be used in situations where you are able to have a more
extensive conversation with someone.

Sample: Commercial
Continue with: Over the course of my degree I have taken numerous business and mar-
keting electives along with my core English and literature courses. I have a thorough un-
derstanding of Canadian literature and writers and would enjoy collaborating with local
authors to promote their new works. I have several questions regarding the qualifications
and experience necessary to break into the field, and am very interested to hear what you
have to say about this.
Tips:
Your conversation partner will almost certainly have questions and responses to vari-
ous aspects of your introduction. Prepare for this by thinking about what you might be
asked and considering relevant points you would like to bring up in your answers.
You are the ultimate expert on yourself. No one can be more informative than you in
describing your skills, expertise and experience. A passionate, confident introduction is
what tends to impress.
Business/Information Cards
A business card or information card can be an effective and useful tool when used to comple-
ment a conversation or relationship. The card makes an appearance after you meet someone,
not as the introduction or the entire interaction. Attending a networking event and rapidly
distributing as many cards as possible to as many people as possible, without actually pausing
long enough to learn a little about them, is next to useless. You will come across as abrupt and
harried at best.
Give your business card to friends and family to pass on to secondary contacts and to new
contacts at the end of a discussion or meeting if they would like to get in touch with you. Bring
them to professional events, career fairs and panels and carry a few extra in your wallet just in
case.
Tip When you receive or ask for cards from others, take a moment to jot down any points about
them you would like to remember. Make a note of anything you have said you will do (i.e. fol-
You may also wish to low up, send your C.V., pass on a referral).
include the following in-
formation on your card: Your card should contain the following:
Languages you Your name and current contact information, primarily phone and email.
speak A professional webpage, MySpace or LinkedIn profile if appropriate.
Key hard and soft Your degree, indicating your major/minor if relevant.
skills Any titles or certifications (i.e. Psychologist, Pianist, IT specialist).
Experience high-
lights As with other career tools, keep it clear, professional and uncluttered.

Final Word: Its all about building relationships!
Remember that good networking is really about being friendly and interested in others, being
an active and attentive listener, and treating people with courtesy, respect and generosity. Smile,
make eye contact, approach each interaction with an open mind and a positive attitude and you
never know what may happen. Do not be shy to ask for help and be confident that you have a lot
to give and offer in return. Actively seek out new contacts, follow up with those you meet, and
put in the effort to maintain and build upon these initial contacts and you will be well on your
way to success.
As Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker and author, noted: You can get everything you want in life,
by helping enough other people to get what they want.
Resources on Networking
Books available at CaPS:
Keates, Cathy, Not for Sale! Why we Need a New Job Search Mindset, Kingston, ON:
Career Considerations, 2009.
Hansen, Katherine, A Foot in the Door: Networking your Way into the Hidden Job Mar-
ket!, Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press, 2000.
Marriner, Mike, Gebhard, Nathan, & Gordon, Joanne, Road Trip Nation: A Guide to
Discovering Your Path in Life, New York: Ballantine Books, 2006. (This team of three
friends conducted US-wide information interviews with all kinds of interesting people
from the CEO of Dell to a lobster fisherman in Maine.)
please visit http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/services/resource-centre/catalogue/.
For a regularly updated list of relevant websites on networking, please visit http://www.mcgill.
ca/caps/students/job-search/networking/.

Appendix - Sample Information Cards
Colleen Templeton
Bachelor of Science (Anatomy)
McGill University-2003
Laboratory experience (Molecular biology, Cell biology, Chemistry)

Computer literate (Word, Excel, SPSS, Powerpoint)
Bilingual (English & French)
1234 Peel Street Tel.: (514) 842-9876

Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B3 E-mail: [email protected].
ca
1333, rue Lacombe Tlphone : (514) 342-5987

Montral (Qubec) Tlavertisseur : (514) 987-3324
H3T 1K6 Courriel : [email protected]
DOMINIQUE GIACOMELI
Agronome
Bachelire en sciences de lagriculture (Science des plantes)
Membre de lOrdre des agronomes du Qubec
Exprience en services-conseils, gestion et dcontamination des sols, supervision,

recherche et dvelopement. Trilingue : Franais, anglais et italien.
Possde un permis de conduire et une voiture.
Karen Zeiling
Bachelor of Arts in English
McGill University - 2004
Experience as an editor and writer

Effective oral and written communication skills
Superior research skills
Critical and analytical thinker
3333 Cte-des-Neiges Tel.: (514) 997-5453

Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1K3 E-Mail: [email protected]
MARC PETERSON
Baccalaurat en relations industrielles
Membre de lOrdre des Conseillers en ressources humaines et

en relations industrielles du Qubec
Connaissances en recrutement, droit du travail, formation, gestion de la

rmunration et des avantages sociaux. Bilingue: Franais et anglais (parls
et crits).
2123 St-Marc, apt. 7 Tl/tlc : (514) 937-5766
Montral (Qubec) Courriel : [email protected]
H3H 2P1

Chapter 4 Write a C.V.
Your C.V. is a job search tool designed to introduce and promote yourself, your skills and your
experiences to a potential employer. It highlights some of the interesting, impressive and unique
things about you, and outlines skills and experience relevant to the type of work you are seek-
ing. Your C.V. should make it easier for a potential employer to determine whether your skill set
matches their needs and should motivate them to invite you to an interview to learn more.
Although the terms C.V. (curriculum vitae) and resume are used interchangeably in Quebec,
they are distinct documents. More specifically, a C.V. is generally used for academic positions
and is much longer, as it includes publications, conferences etc. A resume is shorter and only
contains information that is relevant to a particular position. For our purposes, however, C.V.
will be used as a general term throughout this chapter and this handbook.
Keep in mind:
Writing a C.V. is an art, not a science! There are many different types and formats pos-
sible; the key is to choose one that works for you and fits with your skills and experi-
ences.
Put yourself in the shoes of your reader and do your research! It is important to tailor
your C.V. to each type of employer you send it to. Generic C.V.s are far less effective.
Make sure any C.V. you send is clear, consistent (in terms of formatting), professional,
and free of typos and grammar/spelling mistakes.
Be concise. In Canada, most employers and industries prefer that your C.V. be no lon-
ger than 2 pages. One page is usually the norm in the U.S. and in the financial sector.
There are five main steps to writing an effective C.V.:
1. Take an inventory of your skills and experiences

2. Find a suitable employer
3. Choose the right format
4. Write your C.V.
5. Customize your C.V. for each application
Remember that there are many resources at CaPS to help you prepare your C.V., including
books with examples from a wide variety of fields and industries to give you ideas. You can also
attend our daily C.V. Drop-In times or make an appointment with an advisor to receive more
detailed feedback.
Take an Inventory and Find a Suitable Employer

Self-assessment is the first and most important step in choosing an occupation, planning your
career and starting a job search. It is also a very important step to take when you sit down to
write your C.V.
Revisit the self-assessment work you did in Chapter 1 and ask yourself which specific skills,
experiences, achievements and interests you want to showcase to a potential employer.
Then consider the types of employers you are applying to. Research them thoroughly using the
tips outlined in Chapter 2 to determine whether they represent a good fit for you. Find out what
they stand for, and what they are looking for in a potential employee. What are their needs and
how do your interests, skills and experiences match up?
Chapter 4 - Write a C.V. 63

Choose the Right Format
C.V.s can be either targeted or untargeted and formatted in three distinctive ways: chrono-
logical, functional or combined. The most important factor is that your C.V. highlights your
accomplishments and abilities, as well as your personal career objectives.
Targeted or Untargeted
An untargeted C.V. is used when you do not have a clear idea of what job you are seeking or do
not want to limit your application; whereas a targeted C.V. is used when you know what area
you want to work in and/or have some career-related experience you can highlight. A targeted
C.V. often includes a Career Objective (described in Step 4).
Examples of targeted and untargeted C.V.s are provided in the Sample C.V. section of this publi-
cation.
Chronological
This type of C.V. organizes employment and volunteer experiences chronologically with the
most recent information first. This format is good for demonstrating growth in a single profes-
sion: job titles and organizations are emphasized, and responsibilities and accomplishments are
described in detail. This format is suitable for individuals with continuous work experience
who have not had frequent job changes or prolonged periods of unemployment. It is not always
the best choice for students right out of school.
Functional
The functional C.V. highlights the skills you have developed over the years and their application
to the job for which you are applying, and focuses less on job titles and employment history.
The attention is always on the skill acquired and less on the context of its acquisition.
For any C.V. to be effective, it should be composed with a target industry or position in mind,
but this is especially true for functional C.V.s. This format clusters skills and qualifications un-
der specific headings. For example, you may include headings such as Communications Skills,
Leadership Skills, Project Management, Teamwork, etc. What is critically important when writ-
ing a functional C.V. is to match your skill and qualification clusters with the employers needs.
This format is suitable for individuals who want to emphasize skills gained in non-paid experi-
ences (volunteer, extra-curricular) or the classroom. It may be particularly effective for indi-
viduals entering a new field in which they have little direct experience.
Combined
More often than not, the combined C.V. is the format of choice. It has flexibility that comes
from combining both the chronological and functional formats. This format stresses your skills
and accomplishments, but also provides a chronological work history.
The combined C.V. is particularly suitable for students because it lists your relevant work expe-
rience, but also highlights your abilities and transferable skills that may have been learned in the
classroom or non-paid environments.
64 Chapter 4 - Write a C.V.

Which format is best?
The format of your C.V. depends on a variety of factors. Refer to your compilation of interests, Tip
skills and achievements from Step 1 and consider the chart below:
If you are still unsure
Chronological Functional Combination which format suits you
best, you may want to
Emphasizes relevant Highlights skills not ap- Highlights both skills make an appointment
work experience, parent in job descriptions and experiences with an Advisor or con-
continuity and career or acquired in other ways Most detailed and com- sult our numerous books
growth Good for beginning or prehensive format
Pros
in the Career Resource

changing career paths Good for targeting a Centre.
A way to bring together specific job or industry
disjointed employment
experiences
Exposes gaps in em- Fails to provide support, Can be confusing if not
ployment history with specific sources, for well written
Cons
Skills may not be read- the skills highlighted Can lose focus
ily apparent Does not represent a
clear career path
Write Your C.V.

Your C.V. is your own personal advertisement so what you choose to include and how you sell
your skills and experience will determine whether you are asked for an interview.
The following are the basic components of a combined C.V. for students. Note that your contact
information and career objective and/or summary always come first. The other sections can be
presented in whatever order you feel is most relevant to the position for which you are applying.
A) Contact Information
Contact information includes your: Tip
Full name Make sure your con-

Current and permanent address (if you live in Montreal during the school year but are tact information is
at home in the summer, you might want to include both your temporary and perma- up-to-date. Nothing is
nent addresses) more frustrating for an
Phone number employer than outdated
Email address contact information. If
Optional website address your contact informa-
tion changes, be sure to
Your contact information always comes first and can be incorporated into a header to save space submit a new C.V. to the
and make the C.V. look more attractive. Also ensure your voice mail message and e-mail ad- employer and request
dress are professional; avoid funny or strange nicknames (ex. [email protected]). that the old one be dis-
carded.
B) Career Objective or Summary
The Career Objective or Summary sections is a fast, effective way to hook the reader into look-
ing at the rest of your C.V. It gives your C.V. focus so the employer does not have to sift through
all the sections to find out what position you would be good for. The Career Objective or Sum-
mary should follow your contact information.

Tip A Career Objective should outline your short-term goal; the rest of your C.V. should focus on
relating your experience to this goal. A Career Objective is:
Include a Career Objec-
tive if you have a fairly one or two sentences which summarizes the career direction you hope to take; and
clear idea of the depart- should answer one or all of these questions: what, where, with whom and at what level
ment or position you are of employment?
interested in.
Including a Career Objective indicates that you have a fairly clear idea of what you would like
If you are not sure, or do to do. Keep in mind that it could limit you if your application is too precise or not clear enough.
not want to limit your
application, a Summary As an alternative, you can mention your Career Objective in your cover letter and leave it off
of Qualifications might your C.V.
be better.
Example Career Objectives

To utilize my education and experience to enhance organizational effectiveness and
client relations as a Financial Administrator.
To combine my degree in English Literature with my reputation as a creative indi-
vidual to launch my career as a talented Writer and Editor.
A Summary of Qualifications, on the other hand, highlights your strongest selling points and
the most relevant qualifications and experiences (specifying duration, responsibilities and ac-
complishments). A Summary is:
three to five sentences summarizing your qualifications; and

includes skills and experiences you have to offer to the organization.
Including a Summary is also a good idea if your C.V. is going to be electronically scanned.
Example Summaries of Qualifications

Dynamic motivator and problem-solver with excellent organizational skills look-
ing to pursue a career in the area of Public Relations, Marketing and Broadcasting.
Proven administrative capabilities and experienced in training and project coordina-
tion.
Bilingual Environmentalist with a solid education in the areas of waste management
and impact assessment. Excellent written and oral communication skills with strong
knowledge of environmental regulations and federal policy planning.
C) Languages
When listing the languages you speak, start with those that are the most relevant to the work-
place, even if they are not your mother tongue. If you are fluently bilingual, specify Fluent
English and French (written and spoken). If you are not fluent in French but can get by, indi-
cate English, French without mentioning your level of proficiency - you can save that for the
interview.
If you speak languages other than English and French, list them and indicate your level of pro-
ficiency (fluent, conversational, working knowledge or basic). If you are unilingual, it is prefer-
able to leave this section out.

D) Education
For students entering the workforce for the first time, and who have less work-related experi-
ence, this section is extremely important and deserves a lot of attention. In it:
list your degrees and years of study in reverse chronological order (if you have not yet
received your degree, you can put the expected date with expected next to it or to Tip
present;
include the name and location (city, province/state, country) of the institutions where If your G.P.A. is high,
you studied, as well as scholarships and educational awards (if you have many of these, you may want to con-
you may want to create a separate section called Awards and Scholarships); and sider mentioning it.
include any specialization (major, minor), authorships, thesis, or honours work if rel-
evant to the job for which you are applying;
include relevant courses or electives and any official study abroad/exchange experi-
ences.
If you are working on a post-secondary degree, it is not necessary to list your high school unless
the school is prestigious, you studied in another language relevant to the job, or you want the
employer to know what city or country you grew up in.
After you have listed your schooling, you may wish to consider listing any other educational
training you have received, including certifications, workshops or seminars attended, licensures,
etc. under the subheading Certification and Additional Training or Professional Develop-
ment.
Education
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Civil Laws date-date (expected)
McGill University, Montral, Qubec
Bachelor of Arts; History Honours, Minor in Political Science date-date

McGill University, Montral, Qubec
Graduated with First Class Honours and a cumilative GPA of 3.7/4.0.
Certification and Additional Training

Diploma in Graphic Design date-date
Maisonneuve College, Montral, Qubec
E) Skills (optional) Tip

This section summarizes the information you gathered in Chapters 1 & 2 of this handbook and Remember, relevant
reinforces your Summary of Qualifications. It indicates the relevant skills you possess and can skills may include both
offer to the employer. In this section: the hard skills and soft
skills you have acquired
highlight relevant skills and how you have acquired them; and through work, volunteer,
choose only those skills that are important for the job for which you are applying. extra-curricular, intern-
ships and school experi-
ences.

Example 1:
Communication Skills
Facilitated small group discussions as a Teaching Assistant.
Created weekly e-bulletins for McGill students as a Publications Assistant.
Worked with students to improve their cover letters and C.V.s as a CaPS Peer Edu-
cator.
Computer Skills
Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Dreamweaver).
XHTML and CSS.
Example 2:
Skills
Laboratory Techniques:
Assisted in gel electrophoresis as a Research Assistant.

Used Western blotting to detect specific proteins within tissue samples.
Measured the mass-to-charge ratio of ions using mass spectroscopy.
Computer Skills:
Microsoft Office.
Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator)
AutoCAD.
F) Career-Related Experience
Tip A Career-Related Experience section is included in a targeted C.V., which is normally used
when you know what area you would like to work in and/or have career-related experience you
You can change Career- can highlight. Your targeted C.V. will then have two experience sections: one that is career-
Related Experience for related and one for additional experience.
a more targeted heading,
such as Teaching Ex- In this section:
perience, Professional
Experience, Research List your experience in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent.
Experience, etc. Include the period of employment (season, month and/or year).
Specify the position titles (create one if need be; ex. Office Worker if you had a general
position in an office environment).
Include the name and location of the organization (city, province, country if not in
Canada).
Describe your responsibilities and achievements and write specific examples to demon-
strate your soft and transferable skills such as communication, leadership and organiza-
tion. (You may want to refer back to the work you did in Chapter 1.)
Emphasize the elements of your previous jobs that relate to your career objective.
Write using action verbs preferably in single lines.

You may combine entries where appropriate. For instance, if you worked for the same company
for the past couple of summers, but held different positions, you can bring them together under
one entry. This will save space, but also highlight career growth within the organization.
Career-Related Experience Tip

McGill Career Planning Service, Montral, Qubec You may organize the
Graphic Designer and Desktop Publisher date - present components of your
career-related and work
Produce brochures and booklets for distribution to students. experience differently.
Administer monthly career e-bulletins to the McGill community. For example, if you feel
Consult with Career Advisors regarding graphic-related projects. that your job title will
have more impact on the
Raven Truck Accessories, Edmonton, Alberta date-date reader, you may want to
Marketing Assistant (date-date) list it first. If, however,
the employers name is
Led a marketing team with the goal of increasing sales. relevant, you might want
Maintained and updated company website. to list it first.
Oversaw production of company catalogue.
What is important is
Corporate Development Assistant (date-date) that you are consistent.
Do not alternate be-
Assisted the V.P. of Corporate Development in developing strategies to improve tween these formats on
company growth and sales. one C.V.
Developed and implemented companys privacy and health policy.
Launched companys intranet.
Additional Work Experience

RBL Warehouse, Edmonton, Alberta
Accounts Payable Clerk date-date
Matched invoices with shipping receipts.

Inputed payable amounts into computer system.
Mailed cheques.
G) Work Experience
A general Work Experience section is usually included in an untargeted C.V. Format this sec-
tion like the Career-Related Experience described above.
Work Experience
Groundskeeper date
Jagre Ridge Golf Course, Edmonton, Alberta
Groomed golf course each morning for its clients.

Worked as a member of a large team of 12.
Proposed and implemented a more efficient process for watering the greens.

H) Extra-Curricular Activities, Interests and Volunteer Experience
While these sections are not mandatory, they can be very important for students. Employers
may look at it carefully, especially if your work experience is limited. They may also use this in-
formation to learn more about your personal characteristics and may use this knowledge as an
icebreaker during an interview. These sections can also demonstrate that you are a participating
member of your community.
If you participated in student clubs or did community work, describe these in the same way
you would for paid work (remember to use action verbs and achievements) and place them in a
separate section under the title Extra-Curricular Activities and/or Volunteer Experience.
Under the title Activities and Interests, briefly mention your leisure and/or additional activities
if you have something substantial to mention. Be specific. For instance, state Elected Team
Captain of community hockey team as opposed to just stating Hockey.
Volunteer Experience
Tip
Peer Educator date-date
These sections can be ti- McGill Career Planning Service, Montral, Qubec
tled in a variety of ways.
You can break them up Met with students to review and offer feedback on their C.V.s and cover letters.
into themed headings Organised classroom presentations to promote CaPS activities and services.
like on the right; or you
could group ideas under Conference Organizer date-date
one main heading, such Canadian Constitutional Affairs Conference
as Activities. Subse-
quent sub-headings Designed and maintained Conferences website.
could include:
Extracurricular Activities
Sports
Academic Involve- Stage Actor date-present
ment
Community In- Performed in over 12 plays throughout high school and university.
volvement
Leisure Activities
Dedicated member of Ultimate Frisbee team for three years.
I) Possible Additional Sections

Honours and Awards
If you have been recognized for excellence or for an important contribution you may include
an Honours and Awards section. However, be selective in putting down awards: they should
be significant, relevant and current. Another option is to create a sub-section. For example, in
Education you could include a sub-section that lists your academic honours.

Honours and Awards
Deans Honour List date-date
Chamber of Commerce Business Award date
Rutherford Scholarship (value $2500) date
Professional Associations
If you belong or have belonged to one or more professional associations that are relevant to your
career goal, list them. Your participation in an association demonstrates your interest in and
commitment to the field. You may also include specific information about your role.
Professional Associations
Vice-President date-date
Canadian Federation of Medical Students
Publications
In this section, list books and/or articles you have written and published. Include the name of
the publisher, co-authors (if applicable), title, journal, date and relevant page numbers. Indi-
viduals who have published their thesis or dissertation may also include the title of their work.
Publications
Statistics Canada (Summer 2007): Payday Loans in Perspectives on Labour and Income,
Volume 19, No. 2, pp. 16-24.
J) References
Unless you are applying for an academic position, or the job posting requests it, do not include Tip
references on your C.V. Instead, you may write References available upon request at the end
of your C.V. Be prepared to provide three references to a potential employer if requested (they Remember to verify that
will likely only ask for references at the interview stage or when they are considering offering the information you
you a job). The best references are supervisors or professors, or people you know from volun- provide is accurate. Al-
teer or extra-curricular activities. List your references on a separate sheet, using the same type ways let your references
of paper and font face you have used for your C.V. know they might be
contacted. Take advan-
You should include the following information: tage of this time to talk
to your references about
Name the position so they can
Title emphasize the things
Connection to you which are most relevant.
Name of organization
Address
Phone number
E-mail

Customize Your C.V.
Congratulations! You have now prepared a basic C.V., but there is still work to be done. You
cannot send the same C.V. to each employer. Rather, it is important to take the time to cus-
tomize your applications. An employer will most likely spend only 20-30 seconds scanning
your C.V. In that time you need to convince the reader you are a candidate with the skills and
background suitable for the job being offered and deserve an interview. Your C.V. should be
well-organized and visually appealing.
Here are some suggestions you should keep in mind when preparing your C.V. for a particular
employer:
Content
Make sure your C.V.s content is targeted towards your specific employment objective.
Do not include extraneous or irrelevant material.
Review, review and review. There should be no spelling or grammatical mistakes. (Do
not rely solely on spell check because a word may be spelled correctly, but used incor-
rectly.)
Use action verbs to describe your skills, accomplishments and responsibilities.
Keep your statements short. Do not use lengthy sentences or descriptions.
Be concise! Eliminate fluff, such as responsibilities include...
Be positive - do not include negative information.
Update your C.V. regularly as you acquire new skills and experiences.
Organization and Layout

In Canada, your C.V. should be approximately two pages in length. The first page is the
most important so present your most compelling information first. If the reader is not
convinced you are a strong candidate by the end of the first page, they have little reason
to continue reading.
Organize your sections in an order that best supports your employment objective. If
your education is your strongest selling point, put it first; if your work experience is
your strongest selling point, put it first instead.
Include your Contact Information at the top of the first page. Include your name and
phone number in the top corner of each subsequent page.
Format and Design

Your C.V. should be cleanly formatted. Use a common type face (Arial, Verdana) and
do not change fonts throughout the body of your C.V. (it decreases readability). Use a
legible font size (preferably 11 point).
Section headings should stand out: use capital letters, a bold type face or underline
to emphasize section headings.
Your header can be formatted in a different font and should be larger than the body
text, but be tasteful in your choice!
Presentation
Printed
Your C.V. should be laser printed on good quality 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Avoid using pat-
terned paper, which may decrease readability. If you choose to use a colour other than

white, use a neutral tone (avoid dark or brightly coloured paper because it does not fax Tip
or copy well).
Do not print your C.V. double-sided. Staple your pages together instead of using a Some employers will
paper clip. Do not staple your cover letter to your C.V. photocopy your C.V. for
Avoid folding your C.V. Mail or drop it off in a large envelope. members of the hiring
committee. If your C.V.
Email is double-sided, you risk
losing the back page.
Many employers request that your C.V. be emailed. The preferred method is as an attachment
(Word or PDF).
Scannable
Some employers, particularly big firms, may scan the C.V.s they receive. If you know that your
C.V. is going to be scanned, you should keep the following guidelines in mind:
Use as many keywords as you can: these are different from action verbs in that they are
nouns, phrases and terminology that demonstrate some of your skills or achievements
and are known to be valued in the industry (buzzwords). They are usually hard skills.
You could include a section on your C.V. titled Keyword Summary and list as many
keywords that you feel are relevant.
Do not use italics; instead, use capital letters to designate section headings.
Other C.V. Styles

C.V.s for Graduate Students
Graduate students wanting to work as academics, physicians or professionals can have C.V.s that
are three to ten pages long. Those seeking a research career outside of academia or a non-aca-
demic job should limit their C.V.s to two pages. In either case, your C.V. should include some
additional information, including:
Dissertation title
Research undertaken and interests
Teaching experience
Publications
Presentations
Additional academic experience (organizing conferences and administrative and edit-
ing work, etc.)
Grants and awards
The CaPS office keeps samples of C.V.s for graduate students, including those seeking an aca-
demic position, a non-academic job or a research position. Come by the office and ask for one
or download one from www.mcgill.ca/caps.
One-Page C.V.
There are certain instances where a one-page C.V. is recommended, namely when applying for
a position in the U.S. or applying to consulting or investment banking firms. In these instances,
brevity is the rule. Employers will use your C.V. to test your ability to be concise: every word
should count.

International C.V.
When applying to schools, agencies and organizations outside of North America, different con-
ventions apply when writing a C.V. The components of an international C.V. often also include:
A Career Objective: you should address the geographic setting, field of work and level
of entry
Personality traits: tell the employer what type of person you are, your qualities and your
strengths
Professional skills: include your skills that are relevant to the job. Give concrete ex-
amples
Education
Work experience
International experience: if you have international experience including education,
paid-work, volunteer work, and travel, group it together under this heading.
Most organizations will also require a detailed application form to accompany the C.V.
In Canada, it is illegal for employers to request personal information; however, Canada has no
control over what international organizations may require from potential job applicants. Inter-
national employers may want to know:
Age
Marital status and number of dependents
Spouses occupation
Availability
Language
Nationality and national origin
For more information on international C.V.s, consult the books and samples in the CaPS Re-
source Centre.
Resources on C.V. Writing

Books available at CaPS include:
VGM Professional Resumes Series, New York: McGraw Hill.

Includes: Resumes for First-Time Job Hunters, Resumes for Communications Careers,
Resumes for Environmental Careers, Resumes for Sales and Marketing Careers and
more!
Real-Resumes Series, Fayatteville, NC: Prep Publishing.
Includes: Real-Resumes for Jobs in Nonprofit Organizations, Real-Resumes for Social
Work and Counseling Jobs, Real Resumes for Human Resources and Personnel Jobs
and more!
Thompson, Mary Annew, The Global Resume and C.V. Guide. New York: John Wiley &
Sons, 2000.
For a regularly updated list of relevant websites on C.V. writing, please visit http://www.mcgill.
ca/caps/students/job-search/cv/.

Appendix - Sample: Untargeted C.V.
Use this sample when you do not have a clear idea of what job you are seeking or do not want to limit your application.
Your Name in bold and/or large

Address
Phone number/e-mail
LANGUAGES
Describe varied levels of fluency according to the following: Fluent, Intermediate, Basic. If you are unilingual, leave this section out.
English and French (Fluent)
SKILLS
Depending on your skills, this section could also be entitled or subtitled Computer Skills, Technical Skills, Laboratory Skills, or Research Skills. Include all
software and hardware knowledge, lab techniques, equipment and specific methodologies you are familiar with.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of ____: Major area of study, Minor area of study date - date
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
add academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective
add research undertaken with results if possible
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline date - date

Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec
High School Graduation Diploma date - date

* Its usually not necessary to include high school unless:
it shows that you have studied in another language or you studied abroad or you went
to school in the same town where you would like to work (i.e. youre a local)
WORK EXPERIENCE
List all the paid work experience you have had.
Position Title (in bold) date

Name of company or organization, City, Province
use one-liners to describe your activities and action verbs to give more impact
at least one of the one-liners should describe an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results
consider using the S.T.A.R. formula (situation, task, action, result)
emphasize your transferable skills : leadership, organization, communication, creativity, etc.
you should specify if the position was contract, part-time or summer
News Editor (summers) date - date

The McGill Daily McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Oversaw and planned the news section
Researched and compiled news leads, and conceived story ideas
Edited articles and instructed reporters on effective writing techniques
Wrote general and investigative articles concerning todays health issues

Appendix - Sample: Untargeted C.V. (continued)
WORK EXPERIENCE (continued)
Field Research Assistant date

N.B. Mammal Institute, St. Andrews, New Brunswick
Researched marine mammals on-site
Analyzed the results of the oceanographic factors of the field study
Studied the biology, taxonomy and social aspects of marine mammals
Communicated all findings to the research team and participated in group discussions
(Add other positions if applicable)
EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

List the positions you have held in student and other voluntary organizations. Treat them like regular jobs.

Name of club, council, etc.
describe what you did in this position
emphasize your transferable skills and any achievements
Committee Member date - date

Students Society of McGill University (SSMU)
Organized social activities and fundraising events
Responded to student needs at the front desk and via telephone
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

List your awards, scholarships and distinctions here if they are numerous. If you have only a few awards or if they are prestigious, you may include them
under the relevant degree program, under education.
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

This section will include any additional information about activities you are involved in or interests you have that are not included above. Avoid reading,
sports, films which is too general. Be creative and specific. This is often the section where employers look to start an icebreaker conversation. Some
activities could include the following:
Sports Activities mention levels of competition and any prizes awarded in a particular sport.
Travel Overseas mention places traveled, length of stay and any independent trips
Personal Improvement mention organizations and what you learned
(Add other activities if applicable)
REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Do not list references, but prepare a list with all contact information. Be certain to contact your references in advance and inform them of the position for
which you are applying.
Note: Depending on your combined education, experiences and activities, your C.V. can either be one or two pages in
length. Be sure your second page is at least 2/3 full.

Appendix - Sample: Targeted C.V.
Use this sample when you know what area you would like to work in and/or have some career-related experience you can
highlight.
Your Name in bold and/or large

Address
Phone number/e-mail
CAREER OBJECTIVE
Outline your short-term career objective using some of the following criteria: position title(s), department, specialization, and industry. Your C.V. should
focus on how your education, experience and activities relate to this objective. This section could be anywhere from 2 to 3 lines.
LANGUAGES
English and French (Fluent)
Describe varied levels of fluency according to the following: Fluent, Intermediate, Basic. If you are unilingual, leave this section out.
SKILLS
Depending on your skills, this section could also be entitled or subtitled Computer Skills, Technical Skills, Laboratory Skills, or Research Skills. Include all
software and hardware knowledge, lab techniques, equipment and specific methodologies you are familiar with.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of ____: Major area of study, Minor area of study date - date
add research undertaken with results if possible
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline date - date

Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec
High School Graduation Diploma date - date

* Its usually not necessary to include high school unless:
it shows that you have studied in another language or you studied abroad or you went
to school in the same town where you would like to work (i.e. youre a local)
CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE
List all experience relevant to your career objective including your paid employment, extra-curricular activities and volunteer work.

Name of company, organization or club, City, Province
use one-liners to describe your activities and action verbs to give more impact
at least one of these should describe an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results
consider using the S.T.A.R. formula (situation, task, action, result)
emphasize your transferable skills: leadership, organization, communication, creativity, etc.
you can specify if the position was contract, part-time or summer if you like

Appendix - Sample: Targeted C.V. (continued)
CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE (continued)
News Editor (summers) date - date

The McGill Daily McGill University, Montreal Quebec
Oversaw and planned the news section
Researched and compiled news leads, and conceived story ideas
Edited articles and instructed reporters on effective writing techniques
Wrote general and investigative articles concerning todays health issues, eg. The Link between Hot Dogs and Memory Loss
Created first International News section resulting in a twenty percent circulation increase
OTHER EXPERIENCE
List other jobs, extra-curricular activities and volunteer experience that are not directly relevant to your career objective in this section or under separate
headings if there are many to include.

Name of company or organization, City, Province
describe what you did in this position
emphasize your transferable skills
AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

List your awards, scholarships and distinctions here if they are numerous. If you have only a few awards or if they are prestigious, you may include them
under the relevant degree program, under education.

This section will include any additional information about activities you are involved in or interests you have that are not included above. Avoid reading,
sports, films which is too general. Be creative and specific. This is often the section where employers look to start an icebreaker conversation. Some
activities could include the following:
Sports Activities mention levels of competition and any prizes awarded in a particular sport.
Travel Overseas mention places traveled, length of stay and any independent trips
Personal Improvement mention organizations and what you learned
(Add other activities if applicable)
REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Do not list references, but prepare a list with all contact information. Be certain to contact your references in advance and inform them of the position for
which you are applying.
Note: Depending on your combined education, experiences and activities, your C.V. can either be one or two pages in
length. Be sure your second page is at least 2/3 full.

Appendix - Example: Targeted Undergraduate C.V.
Anna Robertson
5454 Saint Urbain [email protected]
Montreal, QC, H2W 1V6 (514) 555-5555
CAREER OBJECTIVE
To apply my knowledge of psychology and my extensive research and database management
experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator.
LANGUAGES & SKILLS
x Fluent in English and French

x Computer Skills: Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Internet, SPSS
x Assessment Skills: Knowledge of many neuropsychological, cognitive, career and
personality assessment measures.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts: Major in Psychology 2006-2009

McGill University, Montreal, QC
x McGill Entrance Scholarship
x Included, in addition to core courses, anthropology, sociology and literature courses
Diploma of Collegial Studies: Creative Arts 2004-2006

Dawson College, Montreal, QC
x Obtained Honour Roll status in all four terms
CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE
Database Developer 2008-2009

McGill University, Department of Education and Counselling Psychology, Montreal, QC
x Created and managed MS Access database to store data collected for ongoing research
projects in the department
x Interpreted research questions and developed queries to extract and transform data for
statistical analysis
x Trained graduate students on the functions of the database
Research Coordinator 2007-2009

McGill University Department of Psychology, Montreal, QC
x Coordinated several research projects investigating hormones, mood and cognition
x Assisted graduate and undergraduate students to design and execute their projects
x Conducted individual interviews, mood and cognitive assessments of participants
x Developed data collection procedures using MS Access and performed data analyses
using SPSS
x Designed and edited advertisements for recruitment, and information packages for
participants
Anna Robertson (514) 555-5555

Page 1 of 2

Appendix - Example Targeted Undergraduate C.V. (continued)
Clinical Research Coordinator/ Assistant 2005-2006

Bone and Mineral Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, QC
x Assisted and coordinated several research projects investigating treatments for
osteoporosis
x Successfully recruited hundreds of study participants, using various advertising techniques
x Liaised between patients, investigators, hospital staff, and sponsoring companies
x Designed and provided information and resources for patients diagnosed with
osteoporosis
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Video Clerk 2002-2006

Westmount Video, Montreal, QC
x Provided video reviews and recommendations for customers
x Efficiently served 50+ customers at peak times (within 2 hours)
x Assisted and soothed irate customers
x Designed and created window displays to attract new customers
x Arranged and catalogued new videos
Camp Counsellor Summer 2003, 2004

AMAC Day Camp, Montreal, QC
x Supervised and interacted with a group of 16 children aged 6 to 10 years
x Developed weekly activities and agendas for campers
x Created and led local outings, for example: to Botanical Gardens
x Prepared and administered work schedule for all counsellors

Physical Activities
x Yoga, swimming and hiking
x Currently renovating a 120-year old house
Travel
x Backpacked independently in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Portugal, Israel,
Britain and Australia
x Keen interest in cultural diversity
Arts
x Appreciation of visual arts, especially theatre and international film
References Available Upon Request
Anna Robertson (514) 555-5555

Page 2 of 2

Appendix - Example: Targeted C.V. for Student in Professional Program
Sally Green
123 Lala Street CITY Quebec H9X 2E6
[email protected] 514-123-4567
OBJECTIVE
To apply my clinical experience and my passion for working with children in the position of Clinical
Dietician at the Cree Board of Health
LANGUAGES AND SKILLS
Language Skills
x English and French (fluent), Spanish (intermediate)
Computer skills
x MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint; MassLynx and ProteinLynx; SPSS
Clinical skills
x Extensive skill and understanding of a wide variety of lab instruments and procedures used for
health purposes as well as general analyses.
x Knowledgeable of food systems and industry on microbiological, chemical, and physical levels.
x Attained Specialties: Geriatrics, Surgery, Gastrointestinal Disease, Nutrition Support,
Cardiovascular Disease, Clinic, Endocrinology
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science: Dietetics 2006-2009
x CGPA: 3.71/4.0
Diploma of Collegial Studies: Pure and Applied Sciences 2004-2006

John Abbott College. Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec.
x Honour Roll (>85% average) in final 3 semesters
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: McGill Dietetic Internships
Dietetics Intern (level 4) Winter 2009

Wampanoag Rehabilitation Center, Saint Helen, Quebec
Lakeshore General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
James Brown Long Term Care, Montreal, Quebec
x Ensured residents received proper diets and modified diets as needed
x Performed comprehensive Food Safety Inspection at Lakeshore hospitals kitchen
x Independently supervised kitchen production
x Gave a 1 hour seminar on food safety to hospital kitchen staff employees
x Developed and conducted a case study presentation to various members of the
interdisciplinary medical team
x Initiated, conducted, and designed lay out for a successful trial run of two choice menu
Dietetics Intern (level 3) Fall 2008

SAMC Long Term Care, Montreal, Quebec
Outpatient clinic - Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
x Planned, implemented and evaluated nutrition interventions for residents
x Performed nutritional assessments on all new residents
x Collaborated with nurses, occupational therapist, social worker and physician to ensure proper
implementation of nutritional goals
x Established a new protocol on modified textures for dysphagic patients and presented to the
professional staff at three long term care centers.
x Researched and authored a modified texture handout as a reference for staff.
x Practiced ethically and with empathy to ensure optimal quality of life for residents

Appendix - Example Targeted C.V. for Student in Professional Program (continued)
Dietetics Intern (level 1 & 2) 2007-2008

Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
x Performed nutritional status assessments of patients with renal and liver disease.
x Planned, implemented, and evaluated nutrition instructions.
x Recorded patient status in medical records.
x Evaluated and assessed need for new equipment in kitchen.
x Performed quality assurance duties, food safety analyses, and evaluated patient satisfaction.
McGill International Student Buddy 2007-Present

International Student Services, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec.
x Assist and advise new international students
x Communicate with new McGill students from abroad prior to their arrival
x Introduce them to the campus and surrounding area
x Be available for consultation during their entire first year
Fitness Consultant 2007-2008

MacDonald Campus Sports Complex, Montreal, Quebec
x Motivated and encouraged McGill students to reach and maintain fitness goals.
x Served as a resource for fitness and nutrition related questions.
Sales Clerk/Cashier 2002-2006

Healthy Times Grocery, Montreal, Quebec
x Provided organic produce information and recommendations for customers
x Scanned and bagged groceries, worked cash register
x Efficiently served 50+ customers at peak times (within 2 hours)
x Designed and created weekly flyers to attract new customers
Special Needs Camp Counsellor 2002, 2003

ABC Camp, St-Adele, Quebec
x Supervised and interacted with a group of 16 children aged 6 to 10 years
x Developed weekly age-appropriate activities and agendas for campers
x Created and led local outings, for example: to the waterslides
x Prepared and administered work schedule for all counsellors
CERTIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
x Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 2008

x Dietitians of Canada (Qualifying Member) Since 2008
x Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) 2007
x l'Ordre professionnel des dittistes du Qubec (Student Member) Since 2009
x Arts: Writing short stories and novels, reading literary fiction, being creative in the kitchen,
making homemade wine and mead.
x Physical: Hiking and camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, alpine skiing.
x Travel: Ireland, visiting places of historical or natural significance, experiencing different
cultures and languages, exploring places off the beaten trail.
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Sally Green [email protected]
Page 2 of 2 514-123-1234

Appendix - Example: Targeted Graduate C.V.
Sarah Smith
519 City Street CITY Quebec H9X 2E6
QUALIFICATIONS
x English and Mandarin (fluent), French (intermediate)
x MS Office suite, SPSS, Adobe Illustrator, ProteinLynx, MassLynx
x Worked successfully with 3 multidisciplinary teams in diverse work settings
x 3 years of project management and report writing experience
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
x Extracellular recording from brain slices, including use of ion-selective microelectrodes
x Wholecell patch clamp recording in isolated neurons and brain tissue slices,
x Confocal fluorescence imaging in neuronal cells
x Primary neuronal and glial cell culture
x In vivo models of cerebral schemia in both rats and gerbils
x Cerebral microdialysis and HPLC amino-acid analysis
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy: Neurological Sciences 2006

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Qc
Master of Science: Neurological Sciences 2001

Bachelor of Science: Biology 1998

Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Doctorate Research 2001-2006

x Examined effects of pH on hypoxic neuronal injury and spreading depression in rodent hippocampal
slices
x Monitored field potentials and extracellular shifts in selected ions during hypotaxia
x Studied changes in evoked responses in post-ischemic gerbil hippocampal slices
x Supervised 2 undergraduate honours theses projects
x Trained graduate students in use of laboratory equipment, such as _________
x Collaborated with 2 teams of researchers in separate laboratories to produce a published manuscript
Research Biologist 1998-2001

Fancypants Laboratory, Wuhan, P. R. China
x Studied structure-function relationships of human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
x Used sitedirected mutagenesis to generate cDNA variants. Expressed recombinant tPAs in cultured
mammalian cells
x Performed in vitro and in vivo assays to detect modified enzyme activity or half-life
x Presented findings in oral and written reports to project leaders and directors monthly

Appendix - Example Targeted Graduate C.V. (continued)
Teaching Assistant 2002-2007

Cellular Biology (NEUR310) Fall 2002, Winter 2003, Fall 2004
x Created new marking scheme, evaluated students' competence, reports and exams
Free Radical Biomedicine (NEUR550) Fall 2006, Winter 2007
x Developed course content and teaching material, implemented novel assignment options
Editor 2005 Present

New Science Advances Magazine, Montreal, Qc
x Select, proofread, and edit articles for the promoting scientific advances to the general community
x Delegate monthly duties to staff of 10 volunteers
x Successfully obtained financing from 30+advertisors
Student Representative 2006 Present

McGill Graduate Neuroscience Association, Montreal, Qc
x Initiated Graduate committee to ensure graduate student representation the department
x Stimulate fundraising as well as events for students and faculty
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS (additional references available)
Smith, S., Weigand, N. (2002) Corticosterone accelerates hypoxia- and cyanide-induced ATP loss in
cultured hippocampal astrocytes. Brain Research, 482:153-158.
Smith, S., Hong, S., Anderson, R, and Weigand, N. (2004) Corticosterone exacerbates hypoxic and
hypoglycemic hippocampal injury in vitro: biochemical correlates and a role for astrocytes. Journal of
Neurochemistry, 48:139-148.
3 conference presentations:
x Society for Neuroscience 2003 and 2005
x International Brain Research Organization World Conference of Neuroscience 2005
AWARDS & AFFILIATIONS
x National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship 2004-2006

(valued at $20,000/annually)
x Society for Neuroscience, member 2001-present
x International Brain Research Organization member 2005-2006
ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS
x Arts: Attending live theatre performances and music festivals.

x Physical: Cross-country skiing, pilates, skating and long-distance running.
x Travel: Central Europe, Russia, Mongolia and China, experiencing different cultures and languages,
exploring places off the beaten trail.
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Sarah Smith [email protected]

Page 2 of 2 514-123-4567

Appendix - Action Verbs
Communication
Advertised Called Circulated Coached
Communicated Conferred Corresponded Defined
Discussed Displayed Distributed Drafted
Edited Emphasized Explained Extracted
Familiarized Informed Instructed Interested
Interpreted Issued Learned Lectured
Listened Lobbied Mentored Oriented
Perceived Politicked Presented Promoted
Publicized Questioned Reasoned Recommended
Redirected Represented Referred Related
Responded Showed Spoke Summarized
Talked Transcribed Translated
Transmitted Tutored Wrote
Initiative
Acted Applied Attended Automated
Collected Compiled Conserved Considered
Consolidated Contemplated Contracted Delivered
Detected Devised Discharged Discovered
Dispatched Dispensed Engaged Engineered
Established Examined Expanded Expedited
Founded Handled Helped Implemented
Increased Induced Inspected Instituted
Interviewed Introduced Inventoried Investigated
Launched Maintained Manipulated Monitored
Moved Offered Operated Packaged
Participated Performed Problem-solved Processed
Proposed Provided Received Recruited
Reviewed Risked Shipped Solicited
Sorted Staffed Submitted Systematized
Trained Troubleshot Utilized Verified
Interpersonal Skills
Accomodated Adjusted Advised Agreed
Arranged Assisted Collaborated Consulted
Contributed Cooperated Counselled Empathized
Facilitated Guided Harmonized Influenced
Mediated Moderated Modified Motivated
Negotiated Personalized Persuaded Provided
Reconciled Related Requested Respected
Screened Sensed Served Shared
Sold Taught

Appendix - Action Verbs (continued)
Results
Accomplished Accounted Achieved Advanced
Altered Answered Attained Attracted
Awarded Benefited Built Changed
Combined Completed Constructed Convinced
Critiqued Decreased Dismantled Earned
Eliminated Enlarged Expanded Finished
Generated Identified Improved Integrated
Involved Justified Made Manufactured
Marketed Obtained Ordered Predicted
Prevented Produced Profited Protected
Raised Realized Reduced Rehabilitated
Remembered Repaired Replaced Reported
Reorganized Resolved Restored Retrieved
Revised Separated Solved Tested
Turned around Transformed Traveled Updated
Upgraded Validated Won
Leadership
Administered Addressed Allocated Anticipated
Appointed Approved Arbitrated Assessed
Assigned Authorized Awarded Balanced
Chaired Conducted Controlled Decided
Delegated Designated Directed Disapproved
Discharged Encouraged Enforced Enlisted
Evaluated Executed Gathered Headed
Inspired Governed Hired Led
Managed Oversaw Presided Recommended
Regulated Required Selected Settled
Signed Spearheaded Specified Sponsored
Stipulated Supervised Team-built Trained
Organization
Arranged Analyzed Assembled Budgeted
Calculated Compared Coordinated Charted
Checked Clarified Determined Disproved
Filed Organized Planned Prepared
Purchased Recorded Reported Scheduled
Technical
Appraised Audited Catalogued Computed
Diagnosed Dissected Experimented Financed
Fixed Hypothesized Judged Litigated
Modeled Navigated Observed Piolted
Prescribed Programmed Researched Served
Surveyed Tabulated Traced

Appendix - Action Verbs (continued)
Creativity
Adapted Authored Composed Conceived
Created Designed Developed Dramatized
Drew Energized Established Estimated
Forecasted Formulated Illustrated Improvised
Initiated Innovated Invented Investigated
Originated Painted Played Proposed
Researched Revised Shaped Sketched
Studied Set up Symbolized
Adjectives
Accurate Active Adaptable Advantageous
Analytical Artistic Beneficial Better
Bigger Calm Capable Careful
Competent Complete Confident Conscientious
Considerable Creative Critical Decisive
Dependable Desirable Determined Diligent
Diplomatic Distinctive Distinguished Durable
Dynamic Effective Efficient Empathic
Energetic Esteemed Excellent Exceptional
Extraordinary Flexible First-class First-rate
Flourishing Forceful Fruitful Functional
Good Greater Helpful Humourous
Illustrious Imaginative Important Imposing
Improved Independent Industrious Influential
Innovative Insightful Larger Logical
Lucrative Major Methodical Money-making
More Notable Noteworthy Ongoing
Orderly Organized Original Outstanding
Patient Perceptive Perfect Phenomenal
Powerful Practical Prestigious Productive
Professional Profitable Progressive Prominent
Prosperous Punctual Reliable Remarkable
Renowned Reputable Respected Responsible
Resourceful Rewarding Satisfied Sensitive
Significant Singular Sizeable Skillful
Solid Solvent Sound Stable
Strong Substantial Sucessful Superb
Superior Supportive Thorough Thriving
Top Upbeat Uncommon Unique
Unparalleled Unsurpassed Uppermost Useful
Valuable Versatile Winning Workable
Worthwhile

Chapter 5 Write a Cover Letter
Do I really need to write a cover letter?
Short answer: Yes.
A cover letter is your opportunity to customize your application even further, to provide more
details on particularly relevant skills and experience, and to demonstrate the match between
you and the organization. It also allows you to showcase your writing and communication skills
by expressing your ideas effectively.
As with C.V. writing, before you even start typing, you need to know yourself what you have
to offer the employer and you need to know the organization you are applying to what are
their needs and what makes you a good fit for the company?
Elements of a Cover Letter

Your cover letter should contain the following elements in the suggested order:
A) Your Contact Information

Your contact information includes: Tip
Full name You may wish to provide

Current address your contact informa-
Telephone number tion in a header that
Email address matches your C.V. to
make your application
look professional and
B) Date
cohesive.
Place one line of space before the date.
C) Recipients Contact Information

Place two lines of space before the recipients contact information, which includes:
Recipients full name

His/her title and/or department
Organizations name
Organizations address
D) Reference Line
Place one line of space before the reference line. Including a reference line (ex. Re: or Sub-
ject:) indicates the purpose of the letter. For a job application, your letter may include the
job title or the competition number. For a networking letter, it may include the position about
which you are inquirying or Potential employment opportunities.
Chapter 5 - Write a Cover Letter 89

E) Salutation
Tip Place one line of space before the salutation. It is always preferable to address your application
and letter to a specific individual. If you have been in contact with someone who is in a position
Never make assump- to hire you, address it to him/her. Alternatively, if you have been referred to someone else in the
tions about an indi- organization, be sure to ask for the persons name, their title, mailing address, telephone number
viduals gender. If you and email address so you can address your letter appropriately.
are unsure, avoid using
Mr. or Ms. If you do not have a contact in the organization, contact the receptionist or Human Resource
department. They may be able to provide you with the name of the appropriate individual and
his/her contact information. Ask for the correct spelling of his/her name.
As a last resort, you may address your letter using Dear Sir or Madam or To Whom It May
Concern or Dear Hiring Committee.
F) Introductory Paragraph
The opening paragraph of your cover letter should answer the question: who are you and why
are you sending the letter?
If you are applying to a specific position, refer to it here. Mention the job title or
competition number, if applicable, and how you learned about the opening. If some-
one referred you to the posting or the organization, you may mention their name. For
example, I was recently speaking with Mr. Owen Thomas in your department who
recommended I apply for the Graphic Design position.
If you are writing a letter of inquiry, indicate the position, department and/or industry
you are seeking and inquire about its availability and information on the job descrip-
tion.
G) Body Paragraph(s)
The body of the cover letter should consist of one or two paragraphs. It should answer the ques-
tions: why are you a good candidate and why do you want to work for the employer?
In this section, select your key skills, experiences and achievements and convincingly illustrate
how they can be an asset to the employer. Be sure to draw connections between your back-
ground and the job description. Throughout, incorporate references and information that
reflects your knowledge of the industry, the organization and pertinent issues.
Do not restate the content of your C.V. Pull out the most relevant information. For example, if
a job posting does not mention post-secondary education as a requirement, do not waste space
explaining your program of study, awards, etc. (after all, that information is still contained in
your C.V.). Instead, expand on the points the employer has identified as important (ex. cus-
tomer sales experience).
H) Concluding Paragraph
Conclude your cover letter by describing if and how you will follow up on your application,
whether by telephone or email, to schedule an interview or to discuss your background. If you
indicate you will follow up, be sure to do so. This relieves the employer of the responsibility.
State where and when the employer can reach you and express your willingness to be inter-
viewed. Finally, thank the reader for his/her time and consideration.
90 Chapter 5 - Write a Cover Letter

I) Closing and Signature
Use Sincerely, Truly, or Regards to close your letter. Leave three lines of space and type
your name. If your letter is in hardcopy, sign neatly within the blank space.
J) Enclosure(s)
Indicate any enclosures by writing Encl. below your typed name if you are including other
documents, such as a C.V., application form and/or letters of reference.
Format and Proofread

Your cover letter should be no more than a page in length and be formatted like a typi- Tip
cal business letter.
Text should be aligned to the left and be cleanly formatted. Use a common type face You could proofread
(i.e. Verdana) that matches the type face of your C.V. Use a legible font size (preferably your letter from bottom
11 point). to top. This technique
You may wish to include a stylized header that matches the one on your C.V. helps identify errors
more easily.
It is critical your cover letter be error free. Review, review, review! Spelling, grammatical and
formatting errors will make your cover letter stand out in a negative way and will not create a
favourable impression. You may wish to have a friend or colleague proofread your letter for
errors.
Send Your Letter and Follow Up

Hardcopy
Print your cover letter on the same quality paper as your C.V. and use a laser printer.
Do not staple your cover letter to your C.V.
Do not fold your cover letter and C.V. Mail them in an 8 1/2 x 11 envelope.
Electronically
Attach your cover letter and C.V. separetely in an email in Word or PDF format.
Write a brief email indicating your cover letter and email are attached.

Tip Example of an Email
It is recommended that Subject: Graphic Designer Position

you not copy and paste
your cover letter into the Dear Ms. Thomas:
body of your email. The
employer may want to Please find attached my application for the Graphic Designer position you advertised on the
print off your applica- McGill CaPS website. I have enclosed both my C.V. and cover letter.
tion and if your cover
letter is in an email for- If you encounter any difficulties, or require further information, please do not hesitate to
mat, it will be unattract- contact me at 514-987-6543.
ive compared to other
applicants letters. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Max Richards
Once you start to send out job applications, it is important you follow up with the organizations
Tip you have contacted. You might want to devise a system for keeping track of what you have sent,
when you sent it, and when you indicated you would follow up. For example, if you indicated
You may wish to keep you would contact an employer regarding an interview the week of April 11, it is critical you do
hard or soft copies of so. Furthermore, you should keep track of what you said in each letter so your follow-up with
your cover letters and the employer is accurate.
applications. This
method will help you You may need to follow up with an employer more than once (i.e. to thank him/her for an inter-
keep track of details and view or to accept or decline a job offer).
will ensure you have all
your letters for future
reference.
Checklist
Be sure you have written the most dynamic and powerful cover letter possible by using this
recommended checklist:
Appearance and inclusion of vital information
Is it an original letter rather than a mass-produced copy?

Is the letter in a standard business letter format?
Is it clear where the employer can reach you during business hours? Have you ensured
that either a person or your voicemail will take the employers call if you are not avail-
able?
Is the letter neat, attractive and reader-friendly?
Is it no longer than one page?
Have you signed your name boldly and confidently?
Writing style
Is your spelling, grammar and syntax correct?

Does the letter tell the employer why you are writing, as well as grab his/her attention in
the first paragraph?
Have you used action verbs?
Is the letter concise and to the point? Have you avoided needless detail and autobio-
graphical ramblings?
Does it avoid clichs and have you minimized the use of phrases such as I feel and I
believe, which tend to weaken and dilute the statements you make about yourself?

Tone appeal to the reader
Is it interesting? Have you read it from the employers perspective?

Does it project the image of a person the employer would like to get to know better? Is it
confident without being arrogant?
Enhancing the value of your cover letter
Have you quantified and given examples of accomplishments that demonstrate your
skills wherever possible?
Have you demonstrated your knowledge of the organization you are writing to?
Have you made the most of your university experience and relevant extra-curricular
activities?
Have you ensured that your letter is not too skimpy and depend too much on your C.V.
to do the work for you?
Avoiding major cover letter mistakes
Is it addressed to a named individual (unless it is a response to a blind ad)?

If it is a response to a blind ad, is the salutation non-gendered?
Have you left out everything negative?
If it is a response to an ad, does the letter speak to the requirements of the position?
Have you told the employer what you can do for the organization rather than what the
organization can do for you?
Have you requested action or told the employer you will call for an appointment?
Have you used caution with willing to learn statements so the employer is not remind-
ed of training time and expenses?
Have you avoided pleading for favours or sounding desperate and willing to do any-
thing?
Have you avoided rewriting/rehashing your C.V. in your cover letter?
Resources on Cover Letter Writing

Hansen, Katherine & Hansen, Randall, Dynamic Cover Letters: How to Write the Letter
that Gets You the Job, Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 2001.
Kennedy, Alain, Lettres doffre de service: Comment se vendre auprs dun employeur,
Outremont, QC: Les ditions Quebecor, 2006.
Noble, David F., Gallery of Best Cover Letters. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2007.
For a regularly updated list of relevant websites on cover letter writing, please visit http://www.
mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/cv/.

Appendix - Cover Letter Example A
Sally Green
123 Lala Street CITY Quebec H9X 2E6
August 7, 20xx
Ms. Kate Jordan

Personnel Manager
Human Resources Department
CREE BOARD OF HEALTH
203 Main Street
Mistissini, Quebec G0W 1C0
Re: Application for Clinical Dietitian position
Dear Ms. Jordan,
As a recent Bachelor of Science graduate of McGills Dietetics program with a particular interest
in working with an aboriginal population, I was immediately drawn to your advertisement on the
CaPS myFuture website. I am confident that the combination of my academic background, my
clinical experience in hospital settings and my passion for working with children make me an
ideal candidate for this position.
During the course of my degree I have pursued a number of electives in First Nations and Inuit
Studies and would welcome the opportunity to work directly with an aboriginal population and
make a difference within the Cree community. My Dietetics degree covered many facets
including biochemical and human behavioral sciences, clinical nutrition, community nutrition
and research development, and included a strong practical component which allowed me to put
my skills and knowledge to use in a variety of clinical settings.
Three of my recent internships were in Hospital settings, where I gained valuable experience in
providing clinical services to individuals suffering from various medical ailments. In addition to
my clinical duties I assessed food safety. I also completed additional internships in long term
care and rehabilitation. In these settings I developed my compassion and patience for working
with patients with ongoing special needs, several of whom were aboriginal.
I would welcome the opportunity to apply my skills and experience with the Cree Board of
Health. I thank you in advance for your review and consideration of my application, and please
do not hesitate to contact me should you require any additional information. I look forward to
your response at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Sally Green

Appendix - Cover Letter Example B
John B. Neufeld
555 Durocher, #8
Montreal, QC H3H IAI
(514) 123-1234
[email protected]
July 29, 20xx
Mr. Kurt Comran

Principal, Muncton Elementary
1234 St-Laurence St.
Collingwood, ON XIX IAI
Re: Application for Grade 4 Teaching Position
Dear Mr. Comran,
As a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Education program at McGill University, it is with great interest
that I apply for the Grade 4 position as advertised in the Gazette. My training in the core areas of the
curriculum combined with an intermediate specialization in Mathematics have prepared me well to
assume the responsibilities of this position.
My commitment to teaching is genuine, and the success and welfare of each student is my overriding
concern. During my recent student teacher placements, I regularly put in additional hours to tutor students
in difficulty, coming up with innovative ways of explaining challenging concepts. I was consistently
commended by my supervisors for my work ethic and creativity. As well, having been involved after
school as a basketball coach and director of school-wide plays, I am confident of my ability to work
effectively with other staff members to support the whole range of school activities. You will notice on
my C.V. that my interests and additional related experience are quite varied. For example, I have worked
as a Mathematics Tutor, volunteered in reading short stories to children in public libraries, and organized
after school arts and outdoor activities for a multicultural community centre.
Your location in Collingwood is also very appealing for several reasons. I have friends in the area and am
an avid hiker and mountain biker, so would enjoy living in a rural environment to pursue my outdoor
interests.
I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you to discuss in more detail my suitability for this
position. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
John B. Neufeld
Enc.: C.V.

Appendix - Cover Letter Example C
Allie MacBean
555 Hutchison, #8 Montreal, QC H3H 1A1
Tel: (514) 123-4567 [email protected]
August 10, 20xx
Mr. Howard Rich

Director, Human Resources
CompuHouse Inc.
123 Bloom St.
Toronto, Ontario T5D 4A1
Re: Opportunities for Computer Programmers
Dear Mr. Rich,
I was recently speaking with Mr. Jess MacBean about opportunities in the computer programming
industry and he recommended that I contact you. I will be graduating this spring from McGill University
with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and I am interested in working for your company as a
Computer Programmer.
As you will see from my C.V. I have a well-rounded academic and employment background. I have
gained valuable practical experience through several summer and part-time jobs as an IT Specialist and
Research Associate at McGill. I am very proud of my involvement in many extracurricular activities,
including participation in McGill clubs such as the Computer Science Students Society and team sports
like basketball and ultimate frisbee. In addition, I volunteer regularly at the Yellow Door, teaching seniors
to use computers and the internet, and recently received a prestigious award for my community work.
I am confident that my courses at McGill University in software engineering and applications

programming, coupled with my work experience, will prove particularly useful for the position of
Computer Programmer at CompuHouse Inc. Although I am presently living in Montreal, I am willing to
relocate in order to pursue my career.
I am very motivated to begin my career at CompuHouse and would welcome the opportunity to speak
with you further regarding available positions. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Allie MacBean
Encl. Allie MacBean C.V.

Chapter 6 Prepare for the Interview
The interview is in many ways the final stage in the job search process and an extremely impor-
tant aspect to focus on. Your C.V. and cover letter are designed to lay the groundwork of your
application and secure you the interview, which allows you a chance to really shine and impress
your potential employer. If you have been offered an interview, the employer views you as hi-
rable on paper, and now wants to meet you in person to further evaluate your qualifications and
experience and assess your personality, motivation and communication/interpersonal skills.
Your job is to convey a good sense of who you are and what you have to offer and to discover if
the job and organization mesh well with your values, interests and skills. For the employer, it is
an opportunity to:
Collect data about your background, skills and qualifications

Determine whether your qualifications are consistent with the requirements of the posi-
tion
Evaluate your personality, your motivation for the job, and your communication skills
Assess your potential for growth, development, and future advancement
Thus, an interview is a forum for two-way communication between you and your prospective
employer.
This chapter is designed to help you prepare for an interview so that you can go into it feeling
polished and confident. If you have additional questions or would like further practice, you can
schedule a mock interview with one of the CaPS advisors.
Interview Formats
There are different settings and styles of interviews that can take place, depending on the
employers preference as well as what needs to be discussed. The setting of an interview could
be: one-to-one, with a panel of interviewers, in a group with other applicants present, during
a meal, over the phone, at a job fair, or even while being given a company tour. The format
of the interview could be behavioral (where the questions are mainly based upon past experi-
ences), case style, technical (where the questions are more specific to the position and the skills
required), testing based (where there are no actual questions asked; instead a test is adminis-
tered to assess your knowledge and to determine your overall suitability) or a mixture of several
formats.
This chapter will focus primarily on the behavioural interview as it is currently the most com-
monly used format during the hiring process. Case, technical or testing interviews are often
used following the behavioural interview as the next step in selecting and determining the most
appropriate applicant.
Traditional and Behavioural-Based Interviews

Traditional interviews ask you about your goals, experiences and background. The behavioural-
based component is predicated on the premise that past performance is the best indicator of
future performance. They require you to draw on your past experiences to showcase the skills
in question. There is a list of sample questions in the following pages.
When answering questions, make sure you understand the question being asked. If you do not,
ask for clarification. If you are still having difficulty answering the question and find you do not
have any experience on which to base your answer, admit you have never experienced such a
Chapter 6 - Prepare for the Interview 97

situation, but hypothetically explain how you would handle it.
Case Interviews
Case interviews are most commonly used by consulting firms, but other industries sometimes
use them as well. The case interview format allows interviewers to see how you solve problems
and how you might respond to certain situations that may arise. Case questions may be specific
or broad. For example, some may ask you to formulate a long-term policy while others may
require you to perform a specific task, such as developing promotional pricing for a product.
Critical thinking, analytical ability, creativity and presentation are often more important in a
case interview than arriving at the right answer. Interviewers are looking at your ability to
analyze, synthesize information, handle pressure and be creative.
Know Yourself
As always, self-assessment is key. Revisit the work you did in Chapter 1 and review the inter-
ests, experiences, values, skills and achievements you want to highlight. Consider how you will
verbally convey this information to a potential employer:
Which of your skills are most relevant for the position for which you are applying?
How can you best highlight these skills based on your past experiences and achieve-
ments?
The S.T.A.R. technique discussed in the Achievements section in Chapter 1 is helpful in allow-
ing you to draw parallels between your past experiences and skills which you may be asked
about. Choose appropriate examples and talk honestly about yourself and what you have ac-
complished.
Know the Employer

At this stage in the job search and application process, you have hopefully already spent time
researching the employer, but it is important to review your notes again before an interview.
Being well prepared and knowledgeable reflects well on your enthusiasm, commitment and
professionalism.
Research the Industry

Tip Researching your desired field is as important as knowing yourself and what you have to offer.
Before you research the specific organization, acquaint yourself with the larger industry. You
When researching an may wish to consult the literature of professional organizations, business councils and other
industry or organization, relevant websites to find out about salary scales, working conditions and current market trends.
you may wish to consult:
Another excellent way to gather information on an industry is to conduct information inter-
Annual reports or views with individuals currently working in that sector. Information interviews provide you
stockholder reports with a chance to informally ask questions about the work and market conditions of a particular
Prospectuses industry.
Trade magazines
Websites Research the Employer
Doing research on the organization before your interview is an important step of the interview
process. The better you know the organization, its values and its services, the better you will be
98 Chapter 6 - Prepare for the Interview

able to show how you will fit in. Communicating how you can contribute and add value to
the particular organization or company should be the main goal of any interview.
Most companies and organizations now offer a wealth of information on their websites and you
are expected to consult them in depth.
When researching the organization, consider how your skills and values fit with the stated goals
and structure of the organization. This will help you respond to interview questions and help
you formulate questions for the interviewers. Be aware that you may be evaluated as much by
the quality of the questions you ask, as by your responses.
Research the Position

Researching the position for which you are applying can help you anticipate the type of ques-
tions you will be asked in your interview. You should be able to communicate your interest in
the job and its impact on your career goals. In preparation:
Research the general tasks and responsibilities of the position

Research other aspects of the job that will have an impact on your decision (i.e. travel,
overtime, shift work)
Research salary ranges and other benefits
Prepare, Practice and Polish

According to polls, most job candidates spend less than an hour preparing for their interviews.
Not unsuprisingly, unprepared candidates often give poor interviews. Thorough preparation in
the lead-up to your interview will improve your performance and reduce your anxiety on the
day of your interview.
Responses to Questions
Spend some time preparing answers to possible interview questions. This will help you feel
more confident, keep you organized and focused, and reduce your stress leading up to the in-
terview. You should be able to communicate your knowledge and experiences clearly, concisely
and cogently. Consider asking a friend or a Career Advisor to conduct a mock interview with
you. This will help you practice your answers, voice projection and eye contact.
Your answers should be complete, truthful and concise. Avoid rambling and getting off topic.
Answer the question you have been asked. When confronted with a question, ask yourself why Tip
the interviewers have chosen that question so you can provide the best answer possible.
It is always best to
Interviews are essentially about communicating your skills and qualifications for the position. pause and collect your
In order to be successful, you need to be both a good listener as well as a good speaker. Do not thoughts than to ramble
try to guess what the next question will be and listen to the entire question before answering. a muddled answer.
Your syntax and grammar are important. You should use full sentences and avoid using slang
and unnecessary ums and ahs. If you think this is an area you need to improve on, spend
some time practicing your answers in a mock interview.
As the interview progresses, you should feel that a dialogue is developing between you and the
interviewers. You may be asked to provide further details and the interviewers may give you the
opportunity to ask questions.

It is natural to be a little nervous in an interview; in fact, it is healthy, as it shows you care about
the position. However, being too nervous, jittery, shy and tense may impede your success. Do-
ing a mock interview beforehand is a great way to reduce your stress levels in a real interview: it
gives you a sense of the format and questions you can anticipate. It may also be helpful to think
of an interview as a conversation or dialogue; this is your chance to find out more information
about the organization and whether you really want the job.
Your overall attitude should be positive and attentive. Good posture and presentation is es-
sential to conveying confidence and optimism. Always be conscious of non-verbal communica-
tion and the impression you are giving through your body language.
Sit up straight
Make good eye contact
Speak clearly
Avoid nervous mannerisms and ticks
Questions to Expect
The questions you can expect in an interview will depend largely on the position for which
you are applying, the industry and the skill set the employer is looking for. Take the time to
anticipate the kind of questions you might be asked and how you will answer them.
Typically, you will receive two phases of questions. Firstly, the interviewers will ask you gen-
eral questions pertaining to your experiences, background and work habits. These general
questions are followed by questions relating to specific qualifications.
General Information
There are some common questions that will invariably arise in every interview.
Tell me about yourself.

What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
Why do you want to work for us?
Why should we hire you?
What are your long-term career goals?
What do you know about our organization?
Have you worked in this field before?
Work History and Experiences
Remember that behavioural-based interviews are designed on the premise that your past ac-
tions are the clearest indications of what you will do in the future. Therefore, employers are
keen to learn about your work history and experiences. Be honest and portray yourself in a
positive manner with a string of successes.
Describe your duties in [this particular position].

Of which of your past accomplishments are you most proud?
Tell us about a difficult problem you encountered in one of your previous jobs and
how you handled it.
What skills have you learned in your previous jobs and how will they be applicable
in this position?
In your experience, what are your ideal working conditions?

What lessons have you learned from your past experiences?
Explain the transitions between the items on your C.V.
If I were to call your last employer, what would they tell me about you?
Writing and Communication Skills
It does not matter what job you are applying to: communication skills are the foundation of
any position. Interviewers are sizing up your ability to effectively communicate, both orally
and in writing. Your oral communication skills will be on display from the moment you
enter the interview room. Be eloquent, concise, polite and thorough.
Do you have any experience speaking in public? In your opinion, what makes a
successful public speaker?
How do you ensure that your written work is error-free?
Have you ever had a misunderstanding with one of your co-workers? How was it
resolved? How could it have been avoided?
How do you persuade someone you are right?
Responsibility, Judgement and Leadership
Interviewers are alert to indications that you are self-sufficient, creative, productive and that
they can rely on you to carry out your duties and responsibilities. They also want to know
that you are taking the application seriously and are going to stay in the position if hired.
In what situations and in what circumstances have you been a leader?

Do you prefer to have a lot of supervision or do you work better independently?
How do you make important personal decisions? Work decisions?
How do you deal with setbacks in your work?
How do you motivate people?
Name two management skills you think you have. What characteristics are most
important to you in a leader? How have you displayed them?
Give an example of a difficult decision you had to make. How did you handle it?
What is the ideal working relationship between an employee and his/her supervi-
sor?
Creativity and Flexibility
Most jobs in todays workplaces require individuals to be flexible and creative. Employers
want to know that you can think outside of the box; that you are going to add value to the
organization, regardless of the position. Chances are your new job will require you to un-
dertake and complete a variety of tasks. Employers do not want to hire someone who is too
rigid in their work habits. Being able to come up with a solution to a problem is an impor-
tant part of any job.
Tell me about a time when your ideas or suggestions helped improve some aspect of
your workplace.
Your job requires you to keep track of multiple tasks. Is this a problem?
How do you feel about working extra hours on occasion?
Sometimes our department offers support to [department x]. Would you be com-
fortable working with them?

Analytical Thinking
Employers are looking to hire someone who can think through a problem in a methodical
manner. Interviewers may ask you questions designed to highlight your thinking process.
Take the time to assess what they are asking you and do not rush into an answer. A carefully
thought-out response is better than a hurried and muddled one.
If you were hiring someone for this position, what attributes would you look for?
Why?
Tell me what your perfect job would be within this organization.
What has been your greatest intellectual challenge so far? How did you overcome
it?
How do you define success in your personal life? How should an organization
define success?
Planning and Organization
Planning and organization are paramount in any job. Employers want to ensure that you
recognize the importance of details and well-thought-out plans. In answering these ques-
tions, remember to draw upon your past experiences and how you organized your approach
to a specific problem or planned to achieve a certain goal.
If you were in charge here, what would be your long-term goals for the organiza-
tion?
What does it mean to be organized?
Your job involves keeping track of many details. How would you ensure that noth-
ing is overlooked?
What are your short-term career goals? What are your long-term career goals?
Are you a naturally organized person? If not, how do you keep yourself organized?
How do you see yourself growing in this position?
Interpersonal Skills
The degree of interpersonal skills required by a candidate will naturally depend on the job
description. For positions where you deal with customers or the general public or work
closely with a team, employers will be looking for good interpersonal skills.
What are you willing to do to make a client happy? Where do you draw the line?
Have you ever encountered a really difficult client? How did you resolve the situa-
tion?
What do you like most about working with others? What do you like least?
Tell us about a time when you worked in a team. What was your role?
Work Ethic
Hardwork: all employers are looking for dedicated employees who are willing to get the job
done.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? How did you achieve it?
How does it make you feel if you do not complete a task?
What does hard work mean to you?

Teamwork and Cooperation
Teamwork and cooperation are essential in all entry-level positions where you will often
be a cog in a larger machine. This means you will have to sacrifice some of your personal
needs, desires and credit for the greater good of the team. Interviewers are probing to see
whether you can be a team player.
Do you work well with others?

Tell us about a time you were a member of a team. Was it rewarding? Frustrating?
Is personal recognition important to you?
Tell us about a time you had to sacrifice your personal needs for the larger good of a
team.
What would you do if members of your team were not doing their fair share of the
work?
Trustworthiness
Most organizations deal with delicate information in one form or another. Interviewers
want to know that you can be trusted to keep information confidential.
Have you ever been trusted with sensitive information?

Tell us about a time that you were required to be loyal to someone even though it
was difficult.
Would your friends consider you someone who can be relied upon?
Skills and Qualifications
All jobs require specific skills and qualifications, whether it is being able to use a word
processor or being a member of a particular professional association. Depending on what is
required, the interviewers may want you to show a portfolio or examples of your past work.
They may ask you about situations where you applied your skills.
Tell me about a time when you used [technology x] to improve your communica-
tion skills.
Describe your experience with [technology x].
Why do you feel you are qualified for this job?
Case Questions
Brain Teasers
Many consulting firms give their applicants brain teasers to test their creativity and anlayti-
cal skills. You may be given a time limit so do not become bogged down.
A company has ten machines that produce gold coins. One of the machines is pro-
ducing coins that are a gram too light. How do you tell which machine is making
the defective coins with only one weighing? [taken from Vault Guide]

Guesstimate
Tip
Firms that are looking for somone with good technical and mathematical abilities may ask
CaPS has copies of the
you to answer a question like, How many golf balls fit into a 747? The right answer is not
Vault Guide and the
what is important, but rather your thought process. The interviewer is trying to see if you
WetFeet Insider Guide on
can think logically.
reserve. These publi-
cations can help you
How many new cars were purchased in Quebec last year?
prepare and practice for
How many gallons of white housepaint are sold in Canada each year?
a case interview.
Project
Our office has resources
in the Career Resource
These kinds of questions are designed to flex your creativity and ingenuity. Try to relate
Centre to help you pre-
your answer to the position for which you are applying. In other words, if you are applying
pare for a case interview
for an engineering position, talk about design or engineering aspects of the project.
and you can book an ap-
pointment with a Career
Design the ideal toaster.
Advisor to have a mock
case interview.
World Issues and Global Awareness
Interviewers may ask you about current events to test your ability to think through complex
socio-economic problems.
What are the most pressing issues facing the Prime Minister today? What would
you do, if you were Prime Minister, to address these issues?
Responses to Tough Questions
Tip One common challenge faced by all interviewees is addressing questions that deal with your
shortcomings, such as What are your weaknesses? When responding, it is important to put a
For other strategies on positive spin on your answer. Try to:
how to answer tough
questions in a particular Turn your weakness into a potential strength or explain how you have overcome or
industry, you may want compensated for the weakness
to ask for advice from Avoid mentioning any personal qualities that may hamper job performance, such as
your mentor or a work- bad temper, dishonesty or laziness
ing professional. Select an example where you can show that you are improving
Avoid clichs (i.e. I work too hard.)
Another difficult question concerns salary. A lot of embarrassment and awkwardness can be
avoided if you do your research beforehand and are knowledgeable about typical salary ranges
in the industry and profession. What is important is to give a foundation, or reason, for the sal-
ary you mention, and not to just blurt out a number. For instance, you could say:
After doing some research on average salaries for individuals in this profession, I am
hoping for a starting salary somewhere between the range of [x] and [x].
Ideally I am looking for something between the range of [x] and [x], but am flexible
depending on the compensation and benefits package your organization offers.

Handling Illegal Questions
Various laws regulate the questions a prospective employer can ask you. An interviewers ques-
tions must be related to the job you are applying for. By law, employers are not permitted to ask
you about your citizenship, your age, your martial status, your affiliation with organizations, or
your criminal record. If you are asked an illegal question you have three options:
You can answer the question. However, if you choose to answer the question, you are
giving information that is not directly related to the job. In fact, you might be giving
the wrong answer, which could harm your chances of getting the job.
You can refuse to answer the question, which is within your rights. If you choose this
option, be careful how you phrase your refusal so you do not come across as confronta-
tional and uncooperative.
You can examine the question for its intent and respond with an answer as it might ap-
ply to the job. For example, the interviewer may ask you, Are you a Canadian citizen?
You could reply, I am authorized to work in Canada.
Questions to Ask the Employer

All interviewers will provide you with the opportunity to ask them questions. Treat this as an
excellent chance to demonstrate genuine interest in the position and the organization. Care-
fully crafted questions will show that you have been paying attention and can reinforce positive
character traits. The best questions should:
Make a positive impact on the interviewers

Provide insight into your background and qualifications
Help you determine if this is the job you want
Potential Questions to Ask Tip

About the Position Do not ask questions
that have already been
What would be my primary duties initially? How will these change over time? covered in your inter-
What do you consider to be the most challenging aspects of the position? view. Try to formulate
What are the expectations of the supervisor? questions based on the
What is a typical day like? interviewers statements.
Why did the previous person in this position leave? This shows you were ac-
tively listening through-
About the Organization out the interview.
How does this position contribute to the larger organizational structure?

What are the departments current projects?
What are the companys values and how do you incorporate them into your busi-
ness practice?
What makes this organization unique?
What are the areas of anticipated growth for the company?
About Education and Training
Does the company have an orientation program for new employees?

Are there opportunities for professional development and training?
Are employees encouraged to be active in professional organizations?

About Evaluation and Advancement
Tip
How will my performance be evaluated?
Salary is best negotiated
How often are performance reviews given?
after the position has
What opportunities are there for advancement in the organization?
been offered to you.
Does the organization typically promote from within?
About the Hiring Process
What would the next step of the hiring process entail?

When will you be making your decision to fill this position?
Touch Base with Your References

It is a good idea to remind your references that they might be contacted preceding or follow-
ing your interview. You may wish to provide them with a copy of the job description or discuss
the specific details of the position with them so they can provide the interviewer with the most
relevant information that supports your application.
The Interview Day

Dress for Success
When you go to an interview, it is important to remember that you are not being evaluated
solely on what you say, but also on how you present yourself. First impressions matter. Here are
some tips to keep in mind:
Dress for the occupation

Dress conservatively
Pay close attention to personal grooming on the day of your interview (hair, nails, teeth,
breath, etc.)
Be certain all your clothes are clean, well pressed and tucked in
Make sure your shoes are polished
Avoid excessive make-up and heavy fragrances
Bring a briefcase or portfolio
Do not wear white socks
Be Prepared
When you arrive at the interview, you should be prepared to provide the interviewers with any
documents they have requested. If they have not requested anything, you may wish to bring:
Extra copies of your C.V.

List of references
Career portfolio or samples of past work (if you have them)
Letters of recommendation
Pen and paper
Copy of your transcript
Business card
Arrival

Be Punctual
Arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to the interview. Being early reflects positively on you: it
shows you are organized, interested in the position and prompt. If for some reason you can-
not make the interview or become delayed, call as soon as possible and explain the situation.
Apologize to the interviewer and see if he/she is willing to reschedule.
Be Friendly and Respectful
From the moment you walk into the organizations offices, the interview has started. Be friendly
and respectful towards everyone you meet. Interviewers may ask receptionists and other em-
ployees their opinion based on their interactions with you.
Interview Structure
Greetings
An interview usually begins with a few minutes of small talk, giving you the chance to exchange
pleasantries with the interviewers. This is a good opportunity to establish a rapport with them
and show that you are confident and at ease.
Here are some tips:
Greet the interviewers by their formal titles, until instructed otherwise

Shake hands - firmly, not limply
Make direct eye contact
Smile
Wait to be seated until asked to do so
Introduction
After you have exchanged pleasantries, interviewers will often provide you with an overview of
the position and the organization. They may also indicate the structure of the interview. Pay
attention and show an interest in what they are saying.
Interview Questions
This is the core of the interview where interviewers will ask you questions and will be evaluating
your answers and suitability for the position. When answering, provide the information re-
quested, demonstrating you have the skills and qualifications necessary for the job. If you have
done a good job preparing, you should be comfortable and at ease.
Closing
Be sensitive to signs that the interview has drawn to a close. Stay positive even if you feel it has Tip
not gone well. The interviewers may simply be testing your reaction to adversity. At the end,
the interviewers will usually explain the next steps in the hiring process and offer you one last At the end of the inter-
chance to ask questions. view, you may want to
ask the interviewers for
Before leaving, ensure you thank the interviewers for their time. Above all else, it is important their business cards.
you leave the interviewers with a lasting impression that you are qualified for, and enthusi- This gives you their con-
astic about, the position. tact information so you
can follow-up with them
in the future.

Follow Up
One of the biggest mistakes made by candidates after an interview is failing to follow up with
the organization. It is important to remind the interviewers of your interest in the days and
weeks following the interview.
Thank-you Note
Tip Within a day or two of the interview, send a thank-you note to the interviewers.
Depending on the situ- This simple but powerful gesture allows you to thank them for their time; to indicate your con-
ation, your thank-you tinued interest in the position; and if need be, to mention any interview afterthoughts, points
note can be in the form you forgot to mention during the interview.
of a business letter,
thank-you card or email. Even if you do not get the position, your interviewers can be potentially valuable contacts. They
Use your judgement. may refer you to another opening in the organization or keep you in mind for future positions.
Never burn your bridges.
Sample: Thank-you Email

Subject: Yesterdays interview to join ABCs Human Resources Team
Dear Mr. Hunter,
Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me yesterday regarding the Human
Resources position at ABC Company.
I was extremely impressed by the positive and innovative environment you have nurtured at
ABC and am more convinced than ever that my energy, initiative, and extensive experience
in the field would allow me to make immediate contributions to your dynamic HR team.
I very much look forward to learning of your decision soon. Please feel free to contact me if
you have any further questions, and thank you again for meeting with me.
Sincerely,
Susan Keys

Sample: Thank-you Email (with afterthought)
Re: Follow-up to Mark Nelsons interview this morning
Dear Ms. Ouakinine,
I would like to thank you once again for meeting with me this morning regarding the
Clinical Psychology Research Assistant position at Hospital JKL. I am very excited about
this position and convinced that both my academic background and my extensive hospital
volunteer experience have equipped me well for this position.
I meant to mention during the interview that I recently attended a two-week intensive
seminar on advanced SPSS techniques. I know the job description requires a high level of
competence with SPSS and wanted to ensure you knew that I am very comfortable working
with this software and am quite up-to-date with the latest uses.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions. I look forward to
hearing from you soon and thank you again for meeting with me.
Sincerely,
Mark Nelson
Sample: Thank-you Email for Building Strength

Id like to thank you for talking with me about the research assistant position in your physi-
ology Lab. I truly appreciate all the time and care you took in telling me about the job and
learning more about me.
Im so pleased that you agree that my senior research project in physiology provides me with
excellent experience for this position. I am eager to bring my passion for physiology to the
research-assistant position, and I am convinced the knowledge and experience Ive already
cultivated make me the best candidate for the job.
I very much look forward to learning of your decision soon. Please feel free to contact me if
you need more information about my qualifications.
Thank you again for the exhilarating interview.

Sample: Thank-you Email for Damage Control
Thank you for the time you took to interview me for the animator position.
After our interview, Im convinced that I have three ingredients youre looking for in your
workshop animators. You expressed some concern at the interview that I have not worked in
a career planning department. I want to stress, however, that I have participated significantly
in the hiring process for my sorority and have a solid record of achievement in my industrial
relations courses.
As for your requirements for public-speaking experience, my experience as a leader of new

student orientation at my university for two years as well as high grades in public-speaking
classes qualify my nicely.
Finally, I have enclosed some writing samples to further demonstrate the third requirement,
my communication skills.
Thank you again, Ms. Smith, for this wonderful opportunity to interview for the workshop
animator position. I wont let you down if you give me the chance to show what I can do. I
eagerly await the next step in the process.
Sample: Thank-you Email that Restates an Understanding of the Next

Step in the Process
It was such a pleasure to meet with you Monday about the marketing position at Cirque du
Soleil. I thank you most sincerely for your time in getting to know me and answering all my
questions about this exciting position.
Our meeting confirmed to me that this is the right position for me and that I have a great
deal to offer your company. My marketing major and French literature minor, combined
make me the ideal candidate.
My understanding from our meeting is that the next step is for me to meet with your Vice-
President for Marketing, Mr. Tremblay. I can meet with him at any time is convenient and I
am very much looking forward to speaking with him.
Mr. Chambord, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to meet with you, and I look forward
to hearing from you soon about a meeting with Mr. Tremblay.

Sample: Thank-you Email After an Interview at a Career Fair
Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me at the McGill Management
Career Fair yesterday. I certainly appreciate your time and attention in the midst of so many
students seeking jobs.
You were extremely thorough in explaining Boston Consulting Groups Management trainee
program. Now that I have a better idea what the position entails, I am even more certain
that I would be an outstanding member of your team. My solid education in management
and the fact that I have worked my way through college show a strong work ethic and deter-
mination, two qualities you said were essential to success at Boston Consulting Group.
I would like to take the opportunity to visit the Boston Consulting Groups headquarters
and speak to you further about the management trainee program. Ill contact you early next
week to arrange an appointment to talk further.
Ms. Barley, thanks again for your time and attention.
Resources on Interviews and Thank-You Letters

Allen, Jeffrey, G., The Complete Q & A Job Interview Book (4th edition), Hoboken, NJ:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004.
Cosentino, Marc P., Case in Point: Complete Case Interview Preparation (5th edition),
Needham, MA: Burgee Press, 2007.
Hansen, Katherine. Dynamic Cover Letters For New Graduates. Ten Speed Press, 1998.
Berkeley, CA:
Landry, Sylvia I., Ditch the Flip-flops: Ace your Job Interview Fresh Out of College, Win-
netka, IL: Keystone Three LLC, 2007.
For a regularly updated list of relevant websites on interviewing, please visit http://www.mcgill.
ca/caps/students/job-search/interviewing/.

Chapter 7 Job Offers and Your First Year on the Job
It is a wonderful moment when all of your hard work assessing your skills and values, re-
searching organizations and positions of interest, writing targeted C.V.s and cover letters, con-
ducting information interviews and preparing for job interviews finally comes together and
someone makes you an offer!
Soafter you pump your fists in the air, jump up and down and call everyone you knowwhat
comes next?
Well, you say yes of course! Or do you?!
You may feel pressure to accept the job offer immediately, particularly if it is communicated in
person. If you have evaluated the job and the organization carefully, feel that the position is the
right one for you at this time, know all that you need to about the job conditions (salary, ben-
efits, start date, length of contract/commitment, hours, who you will be reporting to) and are
enthusiastic and happy to accept, then by all means inform the employer on the spot.
It is completely acceptable, however, to request time to evaluate the offer and ask any questions
you may still have. If you do this, be sure to clearly communicate your concrete interest and
enthusiasm for the position when you ask for time to think it over, to reassure those on the hir-
ing side. You also need to clearly indicate when you will get back in touch with your potential
employers (i.e. within 12 hours, first thing Monday morning). And then make sure you follow
up within the agreed-upon time frame.
Evaluate the Offer

Is the position right for you?
As you get to know the organization and position through research, networking and the appli-
cation/interview process, you will likely start to get a sense of the fit (or lack thereof) between
you and the organization, and whether or not you could be happy and productive working
there.
Here are some other questions to keep in mind when evaluating an offer:
Job description and workload
Will I enjoy the day to day duties? Have they been clearly defined and understood?
Will I be challenged?
Is this the level of responsibility I am looking for?
Will I work well with my boss and coworkers? Who do I still have to meet?
Will this job suit my lifestyle or do I have to make changes? (ie. travel requirements,
working hours, commute time)
Do I find the companys field, product or purpose interesting?
Can I do this job well and with pride?
Career goals and future objectives
Do I see myself doing this long term?

Does this fit in with my future goals?
112 Chapter 7 - Job Offers and Your First Year on the Job
Is there training? Promotion possibilities? Potential career growth?
Will I learn new skills?
Is there job security and stability?
Am I settling? Am I putting my ideal future goals on the back burner?
Company culture and reputation
Is the organization in good financial health and stability?

Do they have high turnover?
Why is this position open?
Are their corporate values in line with mine?
Where do I fit in with the organizations goals and values?
Are they empathetic, loyal and appreciative of their employees?
Do they have established policies and procedures?
Does the overall working style of my supervisor, colleagues and department match
mine?
Will I feel like part of the team?
If you are in the position of evaluating multiple job offers, fill out a Position Profile for each and
then refer back to your self-assessment work from the first chapter, particularly your Ideal Job
Profile, to remind yourself of your main criteria, and how well each position satisfies these. Pay
particular attention to the match between the job and your personal values set how well does
it fit with the five core values you identified in Chapter 1?
Position Profile
Values
The top personal values this position fulfills are: ___________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Interests
My most predominant likes and dislikes about this position:
Likes Dislikes
1. _______________________ 1. _______________________
2. _______________________ 2. _______________________
3. _______________________ 3. _______________________
4. _______________________ 4. _______________________
5. _______________________ 5. _______________________
Skills
The top five skills I would be using in this position are:
1. _______________________
Chapter 7 - Job Offers and Your First Year on the Job 113
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
People Environment
I would be working with people who are: ________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Working Conditions
The important working conditions present at this organization are: ____________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
It is rare that any job will completely match with your ideal situation. Reflect on your priorities
at this stage of your life: which ones are you willing to compromise and which are non-negotia-
ble?
Try to avoid reaching the job offer stage if you have known since the outset that you are not
able, or willing, to take the job. If you realize during the interview stage that there are certain
aspects that just do not fit and never will, it is more professional and considerate to let your in-
terviewers know at the time. If you through the entire process, are offered a job by an employer
who really wants you, and then tell them that you will not be taking the position due to a factor
you have known about all along, they are likely to feel you have deliberately wasted their time
and misled them about your intentions. It is not worth burning bridges this way at the begin-
ning of your career!
Negotiate the Offer Tip

Studies consistently show that the majority of us do not negotiate. Why not?
Salary is only one of
many aspects of a job of-
Fear. Fear of what? Of the employers perception of us. Of conflict. Of the employers power. Of
fer which can be negoti-
losing the job offer
ated. Consider negotiat-
ing the overall benefits
And yet it turns out the majority of employers actually expect potential hires to negotiate and
and compensation pack-
feel it is absolutely appropriate to do so as long as you negotiate professionally. Employers are
age, especially if there is
not going to withdraw their offer the minute you mention money.
no room to talk about
salary. What about vaca-
A successful negotiation requires planning and preparation. You need to know your interests
tion time? Health care?
what you want to negotiate and why. Collect as much information as you can. Consider any job
A parking spot or bus
duties you may be expected to perform in addition to those listed in the job description, and
pass? Spousal or family
any experience and/or skills you possess over and above what they are looking for. Know salary
benefits? Professional
levels and ranges for professionals in comparable positions with comparable organizations. If at
development opportuni-
all possible you want to provide data and justifications for what you are asking for.
ties?
Just as with networking, everyone has their own individual style of negotiating. In general, how-
ever, a collaborative tone tends to work best.
Tips:
Clearly communicate your enthusiasm for the company, the position and your interest
in coming to a mutually satisfactory agreement.
Be confident and do not be afraid to start the negotiation process. When you do this, it
is more likely the discussion will focus on your priorities.
Ask lots of questions to identify your employers interests and priorities. Focus on the
interests of BOTH parties, not just yours.
Know what you can compromise on and be prepared to concede these points if neces-
sary.
Come prepared with multiple offers that you would be happy with.
Remember that if the negotiation is successful, you will soon be working with these people on
a regular basis. It pays to keep your tone collaborative and positive and to focus on building
relationships and coming to a mutually satisfying solution.
Your First Year on the Job:

A Short Primer for Post-Graduation Workplace Success
As a recent graduate, your focus as of late has naturally been on the job search itself on identi-
fying and finding what and where you would like to begin your career. But, inevitably once this
effort pays off, you are faced withdrum roll pleaseyour new workplace, a world which you
may have had very little experience with up to this point. Even if you have extensive work expe-
rience under your belt from summer work, a year off, part-time jobs during the academic year
etc., making the transition from a student to an employee is a substantial one. It means more
money yes, but also often more structure, less freedom and likely less frequent evaluations. The
following tips are designed to get you thinking about how you will navigate this new world and
some of the qualities which are essential to long-term career satisfaction and success.
Preparation
Assess your wardrobe. Remind yourself what your interviewers were wearing and what
you noticed others wearing. Buy a few things to get you through the first day or so and
then go shopping as needed.
Figure out how to get there. Then add some extra time so as not to arrive late and/or
frazzled.
Review any company literature or information provided by your new employer.
Fill out any required paperwork or forms. These are often necessary to process your
first paycheque, so you dont want to be late with them!
Your First Day

Be prepared for anything. Literally. From being taken out to lunch and introduced to
the whole office, to an introductory meeting with your boss, to LOTS of solitary read-
ing at your desk, to Oops, we forgot you were starting today! Approach your first day
as an adventure, remain positive and flexible, take it all in stride and make the best of
whatever situation you are presented with. Recognize that while your first day on the
job is a huge day for you, its a fairly regular day for everyone else with business pro-
ceeding as usual.
Be on time. Early even.
Be on time. Early even. (This is not a typo, it bears repeating!)
If you have not been assigned any particular tasks just yet, ask your co-workers and the
admin staff if you can help out in any way. And then do so.
Take the initiative to introduce yourself to those you cross paths with. Do not just wait
for them to do so, they might not.
If you are faced with a relatively unscheduled day, take advantage of the opportunity to
do some relevant reading or research or to organize/decorate your office it may turn
out to be the last free day you will have for a while!
The First Few Months

Be enthusiastic and keep a positive attitude. Remember how pleased/relieved/thank-
ful/excited you were to get this job? Keep that in mind, even when doing uninteresting
tasks. It is a fact of working life that not everything you do will be fascinating. There are
boring and tedious aspects to even the best jobs, there just are. If you can do even these
tasks brilliantly and with a positive attitude others are much more likely to be impressed
with you and deem you competent to take on additional responsibilities.
Continue to take the initiative to introduce yourself to others, and get to know as
many people in the office/organization as you can, including, actually, especially, ad-
ministrative assistants and secretaries. More often that not, these are the people who
really keep the place running smoothly and know exactly what is going on. They can be
some of your best allies in the workplace, it does not pay to be anything but polite and
helpful to them.
This hopefully this goes without saying, but get to know your boss. Part of your role is
supporting this person, so the sooner you find out what motivates him/her and figure
out how you might make her/his life easier, the better!
ASK QUESTIONS and clarify expectations, on everything from how to work the cof-
fee maker, to performance evaluations, to dress codes, unwritten office rules and more.
It is much, much easier to do this early on when you are the new person than later on
when people assume or expect you to know everything.
Additional Advice
Build and cultivate relationships. Your short and long term career success will rest
substantially on your ability to do this, to get along and work well with others and to
communicate successfully. Start now.
As on your first day, be consistently on time. Early even. Do not be the first out the door
at the dot of five or the second your shift ends. And definitely, do not call in sick unless Tip
you are sick. Period.
Build goodwill and demonstrate your positive attitude early-on! Say YES to things It is a good idea to keep
others ask of you, volunteer for tasks/assignments, cheerfully fill in for co-workers at a spare business outfit
home sick, swap shifts when you can. Pay it forward when you are the new person and and extra shoes in your
get your positive, team-player reputation on solid footing. office you never know
Sweat the small stuff introductions, manners, email and phone etiquette, typos etc. what opportunities
matter. Pay attention to the details, as others definitely will. might come up and you
Learn as much as you can about your job, department, company, profession and indus- want to be prepared!
try. Yes, even if that means reading on your own time to stay up to date.
Build and maintain a professional image and reputation. A professional appearance
counts you are now a representative of the company/organization/business and you
need to demonstrate that your professionalism is up to the task. You want to be known
for your ideas, not your wardrobe, so follow the old adage of dressing for the job you
want. Figure out your relationship to money. You need to have a sense of how much it
costs to be you. Determine what your monthly costs are for necessities like rent, food,
utilities, transportation, insurance, etc. Factor in any loan repayments and important
regular expenses like work clothing, phone bills etc. and then see what you are left with
for more discretionary purchases. Get in the habit of putting a little aside each payday.
Even small deposits such as $20 a month add up over time.
On the subject of money, remember that a new job often involves start-up costs for
things like appropriate clothing and transportation. Budget for these, and resist the
urge to blow your first few paycheques on fun stuff. If you can, put off making large
discretionary purchases for at least the first few months until you have built up a bit of a
cushion.
While at work you want to look and act like the professional you are becoming, but it
pays to continue to live like a student during your first year of work. Consider hang-
ing on to your bicycle for your commute, continuing to live with a roommate, organiz-
ing potlucks rather than fancy dinners, etc.
Resources on Job Offers and Workplace Success

Workplace success:
Freedman, Elizabeth, Work 101: Learning the Ropes of the Workplace without Hanging
Yourself, New York: Bantam Dell, 2007.
Pink, Daniel H., The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide Youll Ever
Need, New York: Penguin Books Ltd., 2008.
Salazar, Marcos, The Turbulent Twenties Survival Guide: Figuring Out Who You Are,
What You Want, & Where Youre Going After College, Oakland, CA: New Harbinger
Publications, Inc., 2006.
Negotiating:
Pinkley, Robin L, & Northcraft, Gregory B., Get Paid What Youre Worth: The Expert
Negotiators Guide To Salary And Compensation, New York: St. Martins Griffin, 2003.
Selected websites:
Career Cruising (ask at CaPS for account information)

www.careercruising.com
Canada Jobs Workers Training and Careers
www.jobsetc.ca
Job Futures
www.jobfutures.ca
Salary.com
www.salary.com
For a regularly updated list of relevant websites on job offers and workplace success, please visit
http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/first-year/.
Appendix A - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Summarized from Covey, Stephen R., The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, New York: Fireside, 1990.
The first three habits deal with moving from dependence to independence (i.e. self-mas-
tery).
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Take initiative by realizing that your decisions, and how they align with lifes principles,
are the primary determining factor for effectiveness in your life. Take responsibility for
your choices and the subsequent consequences that follow. Get things done.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Self-discover and clarify your deeply important character values and life goals. Envision
the ideal characteristics for each of your various roles and relationships in life. It is always
better to try and foresee situations. Predict outcomes and then think of worst case sce-
narios. This will help you come up with informed decisions.
Habit 3: Put First Things First

Plan, prioritize, and execute your weeks tasks based on importance rather than urgency.
Evaluate if your efforts exemplify your desired character values, propel you towards goals,
and enrich the roles and relationships elaborated in Habit 2. Prioritization is the key to
success in business and in life. Being proactive rather than reactive leads to success
The next three have to do with interdependence (i.e. working with others).
Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Genuinely strive for mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships.
Value and respect people by understanding a win for all is ultimately a better long-term
resolution than if only one person in the situation had gotten their way. Everyone will feel
inclusive and involved, and a better environment of trust and loyalty is established.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Use empathetic listening to be genuinely influenced by a person, which compels them to
reciprocate the listening and take an open mind to being influenced by you. This creates
an atmosphere of caring, respect, and positive problem solving, and can avoid misunder-
standings. It is a good idea to listen twice as much as you talk since we have two ears to
listen and one mouth to talk!
Habit 6: Synergize
Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals no one
person could have done alone. Encourage meaningful contribution, and model inspira-
tional and supportive leadership to yield the most prolific performance out of a group of
people. Everyone is a master of something and not everything. Positive potentials can be
put together to achieve better results.
The last habit relates to self-rejuvenation.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

The balancing and renewal of your resources, energy, and health is necessary to create a
sustainable long-term effective lifestyle. This involves constant improvement of ones self
in order to be a better human being and to sharpen ones skills in order to achieve better
results.
Notes
Notes
Career Planning Service
Service de planification de carrire
McGill Career Planning Service (CaPS)

Brown Student Services Building, 3600 McTavish St., Suite 2200
514-398-3304 - [email protected] - www.mcgill.ca/caps
2011 Content: Jan Bottomer, Linda Cicuta and Owen Ripley

www.mcgill.ca/caps 2011 Cover Design: Tom Acker

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What is Inside the Handbook?

How to Use the Handbook

Enjoy the journey!

Introduction - II. About Careers

Chapter 2 - Explore Employers & Occupations

Chapter 3 - Find Job Opportunities Through Networking

Chapter 4 - Write a C.V.

Chapter 5 - Write a Cover Letter

Chapter 6 - Prepare for the Interview

Chapter 7 - Job Offers and Your First Year on the Job

1. Creating an energized student-centred environment that makes career education accessible

Career Development Workshops

Introduction - About CaPS 5

Career Resource Centre

CaPS Website (www.mcgill.ca/caps)

A comprehensive overview of the job search process

Search hundreds of full-time, part-time and summer jobs/internships

6 Introduction - About CaPS

Peer Educator Program

Job Finding Club

Introduction - About CaPS 7

McGill Career Planning Service - Downtown Campus

McGill Career Planning Service - Macdonald Campus

Engineering Career Centre

Management Career Services

Faculty of Law Career Development Office

Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office

8 Introduction - About CaPS

A few additional points to keep in mind:

Introduction - About Careers 9

10 Introduction - About Careers

Self-assessment refers to self-awareness and self-knowledge, particularly regarding your person-

What wakes you up? What makes you feel alive?

What do you want to be when you grow up?!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Workplace Values Exercise

I am interested in jobs and careers that include:

Interests and Experiences Inventory

Activity Like Dislike Learned

Activity Like Dislike Learned

Activity Like Dislike Learned

Want to develop (yes,

Want to develop (yes,

Want to develop (yes,

Want to develop (yes,

Technical Skills Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes,

Interpersonal Skills Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes,

Creative Skills Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes,

Your 5 Top Skills:

_______________________, _______________________, _______________________,

_______________________, and _______________________.

Situations Skills demonstrated

R Realistic I Investigative A Artistic

___________________ ___________________ ___________________

3 This is an essential component of any job I accept.

1 This is preferable, but I can live without it.

-1 Not very important, but I could live with it.

___________, _, _____________,

_, and _.

_________ _ ___________