Job Search

Your resume is a specific reflection of your relevant skills and experiences. It needs to illustrate the hard and soft skills you possess and are required for the position for which you are applying. Above all, it’s a marketing tool to persuade an employer to offer you an interview. The purpose of a resume is not to get you a job, but to secure you an interview!

Header:

• Contact information, including: name, address (optional), email, phone number, LinkedIn URL (optional)
• Use bold and a large font to make your name the most prominent word on the page
• Use your McMaster or other professional generic email address

Profile (Optional):

• The purpose of your profile is to let employers know who you are and to summarize the key competencies/qualifications you possess
  Profiles are optional. If you use one make sure it is specific and relevant to the position by highlighting the most appropriate skills and experience
• A profile should not be an objective statement outlining the type of job you want. This is outdated. Instead, it should show what you can bring to the company.

Education:

• List your educational background in reverse chronological order
• Minor (if applicable)
• Scholarships
• Technical or lab skills include ______
• Course of instruction include ______
• Major projects ( presentations, projects, thesis)

Skills:

• This section highlights skills learned through employment or volunteer experience; skills learned only at McMaster in an academic activity should be listed under Education
• Include computer skills, language skills and any other type of skills that are pertinent to the position
• Group similar skills into sections such as Laboratory Techniques or Statistical Software
• If you have a second language or exemplary computer skills, specify your ability to speak, read and/or write, and your level of proficiency

Work Experience:

• List experiences in reverse chronological order and include relevant accomplishments and transferable skills
• Aim to include 3 – 5 effective bullets under each experience
• Quantify, describe and specify. Use facts, figures and statistics where possible to clearly illustrate your contribution and skill development.

Volunteer Experience (Optional):

• List your volunteer background in reverse chronological order
• Include relevant volunteer experience as a board member or holding a leadership role in professional associations, clubs etc.

A curriculum vitae is a summary of your skills, experience and education used for job search in academia, medicine and research, as well as applications to graduate school and professional schools.

Why are cover letters important? A cover letter is used to make a first impression on an employer and to demonstrate how committed to the position a candidate is. It also helps to provide a sample of a candidate’s written communication skills and convince the employer that the candidate can do the job. Here are some tips:

• Read the job description carefully. Tailor your document to what the employer is seeking.
• Identify 2-3 skills listed in the job description that align with your strengths. Provide concrete examples of how you have demonstrated each skill in past experiences.
• A good cover letter compliments your resume. It does not simply repeat the information found on your resume.
• A cover letter is a business letter and should be written in a formal tone. However, you want to ensure that you engage the audience, therefore do not shy away from injecting personality or including a short personal story if it will help connect you with the employer and is relevant to the proposed position.
• When possible, address the letter to a specific person rather than using a generic greeting. Use the correct title, i.e. Mr. Ms. Dr. If you use a generic greeting, Dear Hiring Manager or Dear Recruitment Team, is appropriate.
• Do not highlight the qualifications or skills you are lacking.
• Use the same header on both your resume and cover letter.
• Do not repeat your contact information in the concluding paragraph of your cover letter if it is included in your header.
• Your cover letter should be one page, and properly formatted.
• Check spelling, punctuation and grammar, mistakes will not be accepted.
• Create your own email signature.

Having a professional and polished email script is essential if you want to contact people to network or inquire about job opportunities. Establishing initial contact through email can be challenging. You want to convey respect and interest and saying the right words can sometimes be hard. Here are some tips:

• Keep the email short and straight to the point. The three main things you want to get across are:
  • Who you are and the purpose of the correspondence
  • Your interest in the person’s research or occupation and your relevant skills.
  • Suggest a length of time that you could meet or call to speak with them. This shows that you are extremely interested in the field and are anticipating some sort of response back.
• Make sure you display a working knowledge of the person’s research or position.
• Thank them for their time at the end of the email. Also include an email signature which consists of your name, level program and university.
• Maintain a balancing act between being too formal and informal.