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Prepare for a Job Search
It is important to build effective job search skills and to enhance current employment and recruiting knowledge to meet your career and job search goals. By learning how to target potential employers, negotiate salaries, draft and edit superior resumes or cover letters, and interview well, you will increase your opportunities for the future.
Meet with one of our career consultant to discuss your job-search process and get your questions answered about resumes and cover letters, interviewing, salary negotiation and networking. Walk-in consulting is available Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm & 1-5pm. Summer drop in consulting is 1-3pm. Appointments are also available if more time is needed (call 202.994.6495).
A resume is a marketing tool written to persuade a specific employer that you have the experience, skills, abilities, education, personal qualities or potential to fill a particular position. An effective resume displays your achievements, experience, and attributes to the best advantage while minimizing any possible weaknesses.
The average first reading of a resume is 30 seconds, so your resume must be brief, targeted and easy to skim, while highlighting your skills. Despite the popularity of word processing resume templates, it is recommended that you create your own format and headings to best customize your resume to the needs of the employer.
Career Center's UNDERGRADUATE Resume Handout
Career Center's GRADUATE STUDENT Resume Handout
Resume Basics Workshop
Thursday, September 10, 2009
530-630pm
Career Center Room 208
RSVP in the GWork Events Calendar
Can't make this workshop? Click to watch the online version:
Resume Basics!
Resume Critique Day
Thursday, November 5, 2009
10am-12noon & 1-5pm
Our consultants will be available in the Career Center during these times to review and critique resumes--no appointment is necessary. This session will be particularly helpful for those attending the Idealist Nonprofit Career Fair (November 10).
Use this convenient service to have your resume and cover letter critiqued by an experienced career consultant. You may submit your resume and/or cover letter by stopping by the Career Resource Room with a copy of it, or by filling out the online request form.
After two business days, your critiqued resume will be available for pick up in the CRR, or it can be electronically scanned and e-mailed back to you. Please note that critiques can only be scanned and emailed back to GW email accounts. Please supply your GW email address at the time of submission.
NOTE: All students and alumni in GWSB and CPS, and all graduate students and alumni in ESIA, SPPPA, GSPM & the School of Law should consult with their respective school's specialized career centers for resume assistance.
ALUMNI: There is no charge for a resume critique for the first year following your graduation. A fee of $20.00 per resume critique will be charged past one year.
*Please note that if you submit the resume after 4pm on any certain weekday, the critiqued version will not be ready until two business days after the next business day. For example, if it is received after 4pm on a Monday, the resume will be ready on the following Thursday; after 4pm on Tuesday, it will be ready on Friday; after 4 on Wednesday - Monday, Thursday - Tuesday, Friday - Wednesday.
Job search letters are the primary communication tools between you and a potential contact or employer. An effective letter should promote an important commodity—you—by achieving the following results:
The types of job search letters vary based on their intended purpose. You may write to promote yourself to an employer, to gather career-related information or to pursue a referral. The following tips are imperative when writing your letters:
Career Center’s Cover Letter Handout
Resume Critique Day
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
10am-12noon & 1-5pm
Our consultants will be available in the Career Center during these times to review and critique resumes and cover letters--no appointment is necessary. This session will be particularly helpful for those attending the Fall Career Fair (September 23).
Creating Cover Letters Workshop
Monday, September 14, 2009
630-730pm
Career Center Room 208
RSVP in the GWork Events Calendar
Can't make this workshop? Click to watch the online version:
Creating Cover Letters
An interview is your opportunity to articulate to the potential employer your skills, abilities and accomplishments that best match the attributes that s/he is seeking in an ideal candidate. Advanced preparation, practice, targeted research, and understanding the interview process are keys to success.
Interview preparation begins with research about yourself and potential employers in order to find the organizations and companies that will help you meet your short and long term goals.
Learning more about the interview structure, types of interviews, what to expect on the day of the interview, and guidelines for dress will help you be prepared and confident for the day of the actual interview. Practice answering interview questions in advance to best prepare for any interview, and be ready to ask the employer questions as well.
Preparing for an interview is essential for success. Before meeting potential employers, know what they do, how they do it, their financial state, their expectations of employees and what you can offer them.
While interviews are not identical in structure, most follow a standard format.
There are different styles of interviews utilized by employers. Know the various styles and types of interviews to help you to be prepared and to maintain confidence during the interview. The most common interview types are listed below.
Taped mock interviews are available with one of the Career Center's career consultants. Interviews are approximately one hour. The actual interview will take up the first half of the hour, which is then followed by a review and coaching by the consultant to round out the rest of the hour.
To participate in a mock interview, complete and submit an online request form, or call the Career Center directly at 202.994.6495 to schedule a mock interview appointment. Please note that we require at least two (2) business days notice to schedule the session.
Ace Your Interview Workshop
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
630-730pm
Career Center Room 208
RSVP in the GWork Events Calendar
Can't make this workshop? Click to watch the online version:
Ace Your Interview!
The job search process includes negotiating a starting salary. With a basic knowledge of negotiation, your anxiety will be reduced and your success rate will increase. There are several resources to make the process more effective for you.
Request a program about salary negotiations for your group, class or department.
Networking is an important and positive part of a successful job search. You should consider any social interaction a networking opportunity. Networking can occur in different ways, either spontaneously or in more formally scheduled meetings. Take advantage of each and every opportunity to interact with professionals to develop your growing knowledge base regarding careers and job opportunities.
Your network includes people from all aspects of your life: professional colleagues and employers (past and present), friends, acquaintances, referrals and people you may meet in unstructured settings (i.e. on an airplane, waiting in line, in public gatherings, at parties, etc). To develop a solid network of contacts, consider the following:
Request a program on networking for your group, class or department
F.R.E.E Four-Year Career Action Plan
Attend Career Center Networking workshops and other special programs and events sponsored by the Career Center. Consult our calendar on the homepage for specific dates and times.
Can't make it to a workshop? Click to watch the online version: