Job Search - SUNY Erie · The following sites can be used to job search, post resumes, research regional and ... 6 LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking site,

Job SearchH A N D B O O K

Career Serviceswww.ecc.edu/crc

2

3

Employment ResourcesThe following sites can be used to job search, post resumes, research regional and national job statistics, and to gather important career guidance information.

Purple Briefcasehttp://bit.ly/2bDzgn1

LinkedInwww.linkedin.com

Indeedwww.indeed.com

O*Net OnLinewww.onetonline.org

WNY Jobswww.wnyjobs.com

Buffalo Job Finderhttp://jobs.buffalonews.com

CareerBuilderwww.careerbuilder.com

NYS Civil Servicewww.cs.ny.gov

Erie County Civil Servicewww.erie.gov/employment

Federal Jobswww.usajobs.gov

US Department of Labor Job Bankwww.careeronestop.org

Do you need career guidance? Visit our website www.ecc.edu/crc to take the Focus 2 career assessment. This tool will help you pick a college major and assist with your career planning. The access code is KATS. Call any of our offices to schedule an appointment if you’d like to discuss your results.

4

Company ResearchIt is important to research the company you would like to work for before sending out a resume, cover letter or attending a job interview. This will allow you to demonstrate that both you and the company have similar goals and values and that you are a good fit for the position and the organization. Visit the company’s website and try to answer the following questions:

Questions to research:

v What are the organization’s mission, value and vision statements?

v What services or products does this organization provide?

v How long has the organization been in business?

v Who are the organization’s target clients?

v What are the skills and characteristics the organization is looking

for in their employees?

v How are you a good fit for the organization?

Job ApplicationsHere are some basic guidelines to follow when filling out an application:

v Respond to all questions, and write “N/A” if the item does not

apply to you

v Never write, “See Resume” on the application instead of filling it out.

Your application and resume are two distinct documents and they

both must be completed.

v If an application requests information about sex, marital status,

race, creed, religion, age, or other factors on which it is illegal to base

hiring decisions, you are not required to supply it.

(http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/index.cfm)

v Dress appropriately and arrive alone if applying in person

v Make sure your resume is neat, complete and error free

5

Sample Resume Template:

Jordan A. Jobs1234 Main Street • Buffalo, NY 12345 • (716) 123-4567

[email protected]• www.linkedin.com/jordanjobs1234Education

College/University Name City, StateDegree name Month/Year of GraduationAwards/honors

Professional Experience

Company Name City, StateJob Title Month/Year-Month/Yearv List your experience in reverse chronological order (start with most recent job)v Resumes should be 1-2 pages long (most will be 1 page)v Use 3-5 bullet points for each job to clearly describe your job duties, skills, and accomplishmentsv Never use personal pronouns including I, me, or my

Company Name City, StateJob Title Month/Year-Month/Yearv Use present tense if you are still in the position, use past tense if you are no longer therev Use action verbs to begin your statements (managed, organized, assisted, prepared)v Do not include your references or the phrase “References Available Upon Request”v Do not use abbreviations or jargon

West End Catering Buffalo, New YorkCaterer March 2016-April 2019v Assisted with organizing and planning catering events for local businessesv Prepared tables with appropriate silverware, dishes, linens, and center piecesv Set up buffets and ensured buffets stayed stocked with foodv Washed and sanitized dishes, cleaned linens, and loaded equipment into trucks for transportv Ensured guests had pleasant dining experience

Volunteer Work

Company Name City, StateJob Title Month/Year-Month/Yearv Additional sections you may want to include are: volunteer work, internships, additional skills, certifications, trainings, additional languages and leadership experiencev Do not forget to include dates, your role, and the organization’s name and location

CertificationsCompany Name City, StateCertification Month/Year

6

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking site, with over 600 million members worldwide. It can be used to find jobs and internships, to network with professionals, to research companies, and to stay informed about your industry.

Fast Facts about LinkedIn:

v It is free to join!v LinkedIn profiles with photos get 21x more views and 36x more messages. Make sure your photo is professional!v Members with 5 or more skills listed are contacted up to 33x more by recruiters and other LinkedIn members, and receive up to 17x more profile views.v Add your location because more than 30% of recruiters will search based on location. v Add a summary of at least 40 words about your experience, your interests and your goals. Use key words for your industry, which will make you more likely to show up in a recruiter’s search.v Download the app to access it from your phone and to build your profile.

Create an account today! www.linkedin.com

Need assistance? Make an appointment with career services.

Get hired on LinkedIn:

7

Purple Briefcase has TONS of career preparation tools specifically designed for students, including a smartphone app, custom short-form career videos, and a fun and exciting way to connect with and follow employers.

v Local connections: Most job postings on our Purple Briefcase site are from WNY employers looking to hire SUNY Erie students and grads! v Customized searches: Search for and filter jobs by your SUNY Erie major/programv Gain experience: In addition to jobs, students can search for internships, volunteer work, and career eventsv Stay organized: Upload your resume and keep all your career- related information easily accessible

Directions to create an account:

v As a student or alumni, you can access Purple Briefcase for free through the SUNY Erie Career Services page at www.ecc.edu/crcv Click on “New Student” or “New Alumni”v Enter your first name, last name, and SUNY Erie email addressv If your account isn’t found, create a pending account

Need assistance? Schedule an appointment with Career Services!

8

The Cover LetterSome employers will request a cover letter in addition to your resume. Your cover letter should be a simple introduction that compels the employer to look at your resume. Your cover letter should clearly state why you would be a good candidate for the job. Make sure you do not just repeat what you already have in your resume.

Dos:v Address your letter to a specific person when possiblev Let the employer know which job you are applying for and how you heard about it v Make your letter specific to the job you are applying forv Keep it brief (3-4 concise paragraphs)v Proofread for mistakesv Use action verbs (e.g. provided, supervised)v Be sure the employer can reach you (correct phone number, address)

Don’ts:v Don’t send the same generic cover letter to different companiesv Don’t allow typos, misspellings, or errorsv Don’t include letters of recommendations or references, unless requestedv Don’t tell employers what they can do for you; tell them what you can do for themv Don’t say anything that you cannot back upv Don’t give a specific salary requirement, unless requested. If requested, prepare ahead of time by researching the average entry level salary for the position on www.glassdoor.com.

9

Sample Cover Letter Template:

Your Name Your Address

Date

Employer’s Name Employer’s Title Company Name Company Address

Dear Hiring Manager:

The first paragraph of your letter should identify which job you are applying for and how you heard about it. It can also include a statement about why you want to work for the company. The first paragraph should be about 3 sentences long.

The second paragraph should explain why you are qualified for the job. You should tailor this section to the job posting. Identify how your skills and experience match the qualifications and require-ments the company is searching for. Each cover letter you write should be unique to the job you are applying for. This paragraph can be your longest, but try to be clear and concise.

In the final paragraph you should formally request an interview. Thank the employer for their time and make sure that they have your phone number by including it again.Sincerely, Your Name

Tipsv Try to find out the hiring person’s first and last name. Use Mr. or Ms. when addressing them. If that is not possible, use Dear Hiring Manager.

v If you are mailing your cover letter, leave room to sign it. If you are submitting it electronically, you do not need to sign it.

10

Sample References Page Template:

Jordan A. Jobs1234 Main Street • Buffalo, NY 12345 • (716) 123-4567

[email protected]• www.linkedin.com/jordanjobs1234

Professional References

Name of ReferenceJob Title

Company/Organization Name Address

Phone number Email

Name of ReferenceJob Title

Company/Organization Name Address

Phone number Email

Name of ReferenceJob Title

Company/Organization Name Address

Phone number Email

Tips v Your reference page should be on a separate page from your resumev Always ask your references for permission before giving their contact information to an employerv Provide your references with a copy of your resume along with information about the job you are applying forv Use past or present supervisors, coworkers, faculty members or colleaguesv Maintain a relationship with people who you want to use as your reference.

LinkedIn is a great way to stay in touch.

11

Interview Preparation

Dress professionally

v Wear clean, professional clothing and proper footwear

v Avoid excessive perfume, cologne and jewelry

v Practice good hygiene and bathe prior to the interview

Be prepared

v Research the company and the job prior to your interview

v Practice your “elevator speech” and research common interview

questions ahead of time

v Prepare 2-3 questions to ask your interviewer

v Bring a pen and a folder with extra copies of your resume

v Ask for a business card

Arrive ahead of time

v Write down the date and time of your interview

v Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early for the interview

Practice your people skills

v Make eye contact and smile

v Use and remember the name(s) of your interviewer(s)

v Have a firm handshake

v Be confident and attentive

v Be polite to everyone who you meet at the business

v Turn your cell phone off prior to entering the business

12

After the InterviewIt is recommended that you follow up with the employer within 24 hours of the interview. The best way to do this is to send a short thank-you email reiterating your interest in the position. Make sure to thank them for their time. Don’t forget to double check for any spelling or grammatical errors before you send your email!

Salary and BenefitsOnce you have been offered the position, it is okay to ask about salary and benefit information. Do not ask about this during the interview.

It is important to have reasonable expectations for what an entry-level salary is for someone working in your field, with your level of experience and education. You can use websites like www.glassdoor.com to research company and industry standards.

It is okay to ask the employer for a day or two to think about the offer. If you decide to decline the position, you should still thank them for their time and interest.

13

We need problem solvers who can defy convention.

WE BUILD LENDING SOFTWARE AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE AUTO MARKET.

defıSOLUTIONS.com/careers info@defıSOLUTIONS.com1-800-926-6750

14

Stay in Touch with SUNY Erie’s Alumni Office!• Network with other SUNY Erie alumni• Access to benefits and services• Stay connected through our Alumni Magazine• Exclusive programs and events

Follow us! @sunyeccalumniFoundation OfficeCity Campus • 121 Ellicott St., room 201 • Buffalo, NY 14203716-851-1999 • www.ecc.edu/alumni

15

Career ServicesSouth CampusMary O’BrienMentor4041 Southwestern Blvd. Building 5, room 5207 Orchard Park, NY 14127 Phone: 716.851.1683 Fax: 716.270.2829

City CampusKatie Marshall DirectorRenee SillsSr. Technical Assistant45 Oak St., room 150 Buffalo, NY 14203 Phone: 716.851.1183 Fax: 716.851.1193

North CampusJoseph P. Abbarno Coordinator6205 Main St.Gleasner Hall, room 161-G Williamsville, NY 14221 Phone: 716.851.1484 Fax: 716.851.1483

www.ecc.edu/crc