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Articulate and communicate strengths, knowledge, and experience persuasively to potential employers. Demonstrate the transferability of your skills and knowledge to diverse employers. Adapt communication style and terminology for specific organizations to demonstrate fit.听听

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Jump to section:听Understanding Applying & Interviewing | Cultivating Applying & Interviewing | Quick Guide to CV Writing听| Quick Guide to Cover Letter Writing听| Quick Guide to Job Interviews听| Taking Action | Resources | References

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Understanding Applying & Interviewing

Once you have found a position you are interested in, you will need to prepare your application materials. These materials will vary depending on the industry and specifics of the position you are applying听to, but听will typically consist of at least a CV and a cover letter.听Your CV is a quick overview of your experience, background, and skills which helps a potential employer decide if you are a good candidate to invite for an interview.听^[]听Your听cover letter is about fit: highlighting the reasons why you are a good candidate for this particular position, and identifying the match you see between your skills and the employer鈥檚 needs.听^[]听If your application materials are successful, you may be invited in for a job interview where the employer will assess your suitability for the position. The interview is also an opportunity for you to assess whether the position is a good fit for you.听
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Why does it matter?

Managers and HR professionals look at hundreds of applications during the hiring process and thousands of applications throughout the duration of their career. Consequently, they are able to tell very quickly if a candidate has tailored their application materials to the unique qualifications of a position.听Consider that your application materials are the first impression you will make to an employer who is contemplating investing in听you for the next 3-5 years.听Making an effort to articulate your skills and experience in a way that is explicit and specific to the details of a position shows an employer that you are worth investing in.听Taking the time and care to submit high-quality, custom materials at the beginning of your application process will also help you to articulate who you are and what you have to offer in preparation for a potential job interview.听听

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Cultivating听Applying & Interviewing

Writing Your CV听

CV formatting is an art in itself, with different requirements for various jobs and industries.听However, there are some key factors to keep in mind while preparing any CV. Firstly, keep things short and concise.听Your CV is generally a听1-2 page听document that provides a potential employer with a quick 鈥渁t a glance鈥� summary of the skills you possess relevant to the position you are applying for. Use action verbs to describe your activities and experiences in 4-6 bullet points per experience, and be sure to include any relevant accomplishments, volunteer experience, or community service.听听听

Secondly, tailor the information included in your CV to each individual job application.听To make customizing your CV easier, consider compiling a 鈥渕aster CV鈥� that includes all of your past activities, experiences, and accomplishments.听This comprehensive record of your skills and experience is something which you can periodically update and refer to for future job applications.听^[]听听

Lastly, make sure that the most relevant information is towards the beginning of your CV and if you are using an old CV template, check that all of your contact information is听up-to-date.听For more CV writing tips, see the quick guide below or consult the听CaPS听How to Write a CV听Guide.听
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Writing Your Cover Letter听

If your CV is an outline of your experience and qualifications, your cover letter should bring them to life!听^[]听Before you sit down to write your cover letter, ask yourself what you would like the employer to know about you, why you want this job, and why you think they should hire you.听^[]听Then, focus on integrating these key points in your cover letter.听

Your cover letter is a听one page听document consisting of 3-4 paragraphs.听Your first paragraph provides a catchy picture of who you and what you want, linking yourself directly to the needs and interests of the employer in 1-2 phrases. Your second and third paragraphs explain why you are the perfect candidate for this position using specific examples from the skills and experience summarized in your CV.听^]听Your final paragraph expresses why you want to work for this employer and how your interests and values align with their mission, goals, services, and/or products. Finally, conclude your letter by thanking the reader for their time and consideration.听^]听For more cover letter writing tips, check out the quick guide below or consult the听CaPS听How to Write a Cover Letter听Guide.听

The Interview听

If an employer is impressed with you on paper, they may invite you to an interview to further assess your qualifications, experience, personality, motivation, communication, and interpersonal ^[]听While every job interview will be slightly different, the kind of questions you will be asked will generally fall into one of听 four categories: broad questions to help听get the conversation started, questions about your skills and ability to do the job, questions about your fit with the team and/or work culture, and questions about your motivation and desire to fill this position. Some interview contexts will also include case questions which are designed for you to showcase your听problem solving听skills in action.听^[]听Keep these categories in mind while preparing yourself for an interview and brainstorm ways you can incorporate specific examples into your responses. For more tips on interviewing, check out the quick guide below or consult the听CaPS听How to Interview听Guide.听

An additional consideration for the 21st century job seeker is the ways in which technology is becoming incorporated into the application and interviewing process. Many employers now use software programs to screen their CVs, hold interviews via skype, or even google potential candidates prior to their interview.听 Social media platforms, in particular, are becoming increasingly important when looking for work听^[]听and professional profiles such as LinkedIn have become an essential part of any job search, equal to having a CV and cover letter prepared.听In fact, in the world of recruitment, LinkedIn is now recognized as the single best online platform for employers to find candidates.听^[]听Check out the听听for more information about how to leverage your LinkedIn profile for the contemporary job听market, and听incorporate some time in your application process to ensure that your digital presence is representative of the person you want employers to see.听

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Quick Guide to CV Writing

1. Find your style:听instead of forcing your content into a particular template, try to find a format and style that highlights your experience and strengths.听The order and emphasis of your sections should also reflect the level of priority of your reader.听
2. Look through their eyes:听put yourself in the shoes of your reader - can they easily find the information they are looking for? Is it clear why you would be a good fit for the job?听听
3. Use concrete examples:听what exactly did you do or accomplish? Describe your experience.听
4. Be clear and consistent:听ensure your content is professionally presented with coherent style and formatting relevant to the position/company/field you are applying to.听
5. Do your research:听demonstrate knowledge of the employer and what they are looking for. Be intentional and informed to set yourself apart from other applicants.听听听
6. Know your length:听in Canada, outside of academia, your CV can be up to two pages. There are a few exceptions, including the management/business sector, which tends to prefer one page. Ask听CaPS听if you are unsure about norms for your particular field/geographic area.
   
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Quick Guide to Cover Letter Writing听

1. Keep it simple:听limit your letter to one page that highlights the key elements of your application.听
2. Customize:听avoid writing one generic cover letter for use in all your applications. Employers can tell.听Tailor your letter to each position, employer, or industry.听
3. Express yourself:听aim for a confident, factual tone. Highlight your achievements and experience using specific examples and don鈥檛 be afraid of sounding excited about the opportunity.听听听听
4. Write to a real person:听if it is not clear who to address your letter to, contact the receptionist or HR department to see if they can provide you with the name of the appropriate person.听 If this information is not available, start your letter with a salutation such as 鈥淒ear Sir or Madam,鈥� 鈥淒ear Hiring Committee,鈥� or 鈥淭o Human Resources.鈥澨�
5. Proofread, proofread,听proofread:听nothing says carelessness a typo in your cover letter. Ask a friend or colleague to take a quick look at your application materials before you submit them.听
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Quick Guide to Job Interviews听

1. Know yourself:听consider what you would like the interviewers to know about you and how you want to convey this information verbally.听Think of specific examples which highlight your skills, qualifications, and achievements, and demonstrate the match between your skillset and the employer鈥檚 needs.听
2. Know the employer:听brush up on your knowledge of the employer before your interview to demonstrate your enthusiasm, commitment, and professionalism. Research on the industry, employer and position can also help you anticipate the type of questions you may be asked during your interview.听听
3. Plan ahead:听(re)connect with your references before your interview to let them know which positions you are interviewing for and that they may be contacted in the near future.听Anticipate the kinds of questions you may be asked based on this employer鈥檚听needs, and听think about how you will answer them. Also, take some time to prepare which questions you would like to ask the employer.听
4. Practice:听practicing will help you feel more poised and听confident, and听ensure that you are communicating clearly. Ask a friend to run through sample questions with you; book a mock interview with a Career Advisor at听CaPS.听
5. Aim for a positive first impression:听on the day of the interview arrive 10-15min early with extra copies of your CV, references, and portfolio (if applicable). Dress as the most polished and professional version of yourself possible, taking into account industry and location norms.听Be respectful and friendly to everyone you meet.听
6. Follow-up:听send a thank you note within 24hrs of the interview - thank the interviewers for their time, mention anything you found particularly interesting, indicate your continued interest in the position.听Follow up with the interviewers and inquire about the status of your application if you have not heard from them within the agreed time frame.听

Taking Action

Professional Development & Training听

• Check听听for upcoming workshops and programs by searching for events tagged with this category: applying & Interviewing听
• Consult听CaPS听Event Calendar听for听a full listing of career workshops and events听听
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Gaining Experience听

• Create your account with听听to practice interviewing.听to practice interviewing.听
• Participate in听career fairs听and talk with diverse employers, and talk with diverse employers.听
• Schedule a mock interview听at听CaPS听
• Search and apply听for jobs through听

Resources

Websites听

• McGill Career Planning Service 鈥� Job Search听Toolkit: This site offers job skill information 鈥� CV, cover letter, networking, salary negotiation and more.听
• :听Offers career tips and advice 鈥� Q&A videos, interview preparation, company reviews and rankings听
• : This site offer resources on resumes, interviewing, and finding job openings听
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Books & Articles听

• Baur, J. (2013).听The essential job interview handbook: A quick and handy resource for every job seeker.听听
• Bolles, R. N. (2013).听What color is your听parachute?:听A practical manual for job-hunters and career-changers.听听
• DeLuca, M. J., & DeLuca, N. F. (2001).听More best answers to the 201 most frequently asked interview questions. New York: McGraw-Hill.听听
• Kennedy, J. L. (2012).听Job interviews for dummies. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.听听

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References