CAPS Job Search Handbook

CAPS
Job
Search
Handbook
Career & Placement Service

CAPS
Job
Search
Handbook
The Job Search Handbook is published by the McGill University Career & Placement
Service. The Career and Placement Service cannot accept responsibility, legal,
equitable, or otherwise for any errors, omissions, or misrepresentations in whole or in
part. All rights reserved.
First Edition, January 2004.
Career & Placement Service • Service de placement et carrières de McGill

William and Mary Brown Student Services Building • 3600 McTavish Street • Room 2200
Tel: (514) 398 3304 • Fax: (514) 398 1831 • E-mail: careers.caps@mcgill.ca
w w w. c a p s . m c gi ll. ca
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Preface vii
Introduction: About CAPS 1

About CAPS 1
Career Services and Resources 1
Career Education 1
Career Resource Library 2
CAPS Website 3
Specialized Programs 3
Program for the Advancement of Career Exploration (P.A.C.E.) 3
Peer Educator Program 3
Job Finding Club 4
Mentor Program 4
Work Study Program 4
Job and Internship Opportunities 4
Job Postings 4
Internships 5
Campus Recruitment 5
Career Fairs 5
How to Reach CAPS 6
Chapter 1: Self Assessment 7

Self-Assessment 7
Interest Inventory 8
Skills Inventory 10
Achievements Inventory 14
Values Inventory 17
People Environment 19
Working Conditions 21
Ideal Job Profile 25
Resources on Self-Assessment 27
Books available at CAPS 27
Websites 27
Chapter 2: Researching Employers 29

Getting to Know Occupations, Industries and Employers 29
Occupations 29
Industries 30
Employers 30
Where to Find Information 31
Written Information 31
Information Interviews 31
Job Shadowing 32
Exercises 33
Occupation Search Form 34
Industry Search Form 36
Employer Search Form 37
Career-Objective 39
Resources for Career-Exploration 40
Websites 41
CAPS Job Search Handbook iii

T aAbPl Se Joof bC So en at er cn ht sH a n d b o o k
C
Chapter 3: Preparing Your Career Tools 43

Writing an Effective C.V. 43
Components of a C.V. 44
C.V.’s for Specific Needs 47
Printing your C.V. 49
E-mailing your C.V. 49
Making your Scannable C.V. 49
Writing a Cover Letter 50
Making a Business Card 50
Resources on Preparing Your Career Tools 52
Websites 52
Chapter 4: Finding Job Opportunities 53

Finding Job Opportunities Through Networking 53
Expanding your Network 53
Steps to Expand your Network 54
Finding Job Opportunities Through Information Interviews 55
Identifying your Target 55
Setting up an Information Interview 55
Asking the Right Questions 56
Following Up 56
Finding Job Opportunities Through CAPS 57
CAPS Job and Internship Postings 57
Career Fairs 57
Campus Recruitment 58
Finding Jobs Through the Internet 59
Finding Job Opportunities Through Other Sources 59
Federal and Provincial Government 59
Public Career Fairs, Trade Expositions, Seminars and Conferences 59
Employment Agencies 60
Newspapers 60
Periodicals and Specialized Magazines 60
Using the Telephone Effectively 61
Telephone Etiquette 61
Dealing with Secretaries 61
Handling the Request for an Information Interview 62
Resources on Finding Job Opportunities 69
Websites 69
Chapter 5: Interviews and Job Offers 71

Interviews 71
Before You Go 74
During the Interview 75
Answering Interview Questions 76
Types of Questions 77
Closing the Interview 81
After the Interview 82
The Job Offer 84
Evaluating Job Offers 84
Resources on Interviews and Job Offers 88
Websites 88
iv CAPS Job Search Handbook

Table of Contents
Appendix A: Key Words for C.V.’s and Cover Letters 89
Appendix B: Templates 93
Cover Letter Templates 93
Curriculum Vitae Templates 95
Targeted C.V. Template 95
Untargeted C.V. Template 97
Directives pour le C.V. ciblé 99
Directives pour le C.V. non ciblé 101
Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students Seeking an Academic Career 103
Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students Seeking a Non-Academic Career 105
Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students Seeking a Research Career Outside of Academia 107
Appendix C: Samples 109

Cover Letters and C.V.’s 109
Cover letter exploring employment opportunities 109
Targeted C.V. 110
Cover letter in response to an ad in the newspaper 112
Targeted C.V. Including internship experience 113
Lettre en réponse à une annonce 115
C.V. ciblé 116
Cover letter exploring employment opportunities 118
Untargeted C.V. Including a summary of skills section 119
Cover Letter in response to an ad 121
One page C.V. 122
Cover letter further to a conversation at a career fair 123
One page C.V. for a business position 124
Cover letter for a graduate student applying for a non-academic position 125
C.V. for a graduate student seeking a non-academic career 126
Cover letter for an international teaching position 128
International C.V. for a teaching position 129
Business Cards 131
Thank You Letters 132
Appendix D: Succeeding In Your First Job 135
CAPS Job Search Handbook v

Preface
Preface
The CAPS Job Search Handbook has been created by the McGill Career and Placement Service,
or CAPS, to help students in their job search.
The handbook can be used in conjunction with CAPS workshops, the Job Finding Club, or
on its own. It covers everything students need to know to begin their career search and find
employment, including important information about job search strategies, exercises, handy
tips, as well as samples of C.V.’s and cover letters.
What’s in the Handbook

In addition to an introduction to CAPS and its wide array of services, the handbook contains
the following chapters:
¡ Chapter 1: Self Assessment
¡ Chapter 2: Researching Employers
¡ Chapter 3: Preparing Your Career Tools
¡ Chapter 4: Finding Job Opportunities
¡ Chapter 5: Interviews and Job Offers
Appendices at the end of the handbook include a list of keywords for writing cover letters and
C.V.’s, as well as templates and samples of C.V.’s and samples of cover letters, in French and
English.
How to Use the Handbook

The handbook is easy to use! It is designed to take you on a journey to your career path, from
getting to know yourself to tips for your first day on the job. There are numerous exercises and
questionnaires along the way to help you on your journey.
Acknowledgements
As Director of the McGill Career and Placement Service (CAPS), I would like to thank all the people whose
knowledge, experience and skills were utilized to produce this book. CAPS Career Advisors Manon St-Michel
and Cindy Mancuso were the primary authors. For over a year, they wrote, edited and revised the material that you
are about to read. The main editor was Johanne Cadorette assisted by the CAPS Career Resource Administrator
Salimah Janmohamed. The layout and design was done by Mohammed Sobhan who is the CAPS graphic designer
and web master.
Special thanks are also due to all the CAPS colleagues for their valuable comments and suggestions at all stages of
the production. These people include David Ainsworth, Linda Cicuta, Jean Hepworth, Eleanore McNaughton,
Jeff Osweiller, Micheline Paquin, Catherine Stace and Janice Tester.
Gregg Blachford
Director, CAPS
CAPS Job Search Handbook vii

Introduction: About CAPS
Introduction
About CAPS
This chapter contains a description of the various services available for students at CAPS. Being
Introduction
familiar with what CAPS has to offer will be beneficial to your job search and help you to
succeed in your future career. About CAPS
Career Services and
Resources
About CAPS Career Education
Career Resource
Library
The McGill Career and Placement Service, or CAPS, is McGill’s central career service. The CAPS Website
objective of CAPS is to educate and enable students to acquire the knowledge and skills that Specialized Programs
will not only help them find their first post-university job, but will also lay the foundation for Program for the
Advancement of
developing a successful long-term career. CAPS is also committed to offering full-time, part- Career Exploration
time and summer employment career-related opportunities for students by providing visibility (P.A.C.E.)
to companies on campus and promoting McGill students to employers. Peer Educator
Program
CAPS is here to assist students as of their first year at McGill. Students are encouraged to take Job Finding Club
Mentor Program
advantage of our many services, including individual advising sessions, career development Work Study Program
workshops, job listings, graduate recruiting, career resource library, career fairs, work-study Job and Internship
and internship programs, and so much more. Take advantage of CAPS and start planning your Opportunities
future today! Job Postings
Internships
Campus Recruitment
Career Services and Resources Career Fairs
How to Reach CAPS
The services and resources available through CAPS are grouped in three categories: career
education, specialized programs and job and internship opportunities. Although you may be
inclined to focus primarily on CAPS’ job and internship postings, we recommend that you look
into all of our services and resources. The knowledge you acquire will be useful throughout
your career.
Career Education
All students can benefit from the CAPS Career Education Program. Our goal is to help students
from all faculties to succeed in every step of their job search and beyond, either by getting help
on an individual basis or in a group setting. The following services are offered.
Individual Advising
If you need to rehearse for an interview with someone, information on careers and job search
methods or simply to hear some reassuring words, you can make an appointment to meet one
of our career advisors. They are here to make your job search and career planning less stressful
and more effective.
Before you make an appointment with an advisor, however, we recommend that you attend
some of CAPS’ workshops. If you are not sure about your occupational interests, you can make
appointment with a vocational counsellor from the McGill Counselling Service (398-3601).
You can also participate in the Program for the Advancement of Career Exploration.
CAPS Job Search Handbook 1
C.V. Drop-in Sessions

If you would like someone to look over your C.V., you can meet with an advisor or peer
educator. C.V. drop-in sessions typically last about 15 minutes. We recommend attending our
C.V. workshop before coming.
Career Development Workshops
CAPS offers workshops throughout the year on a variety of topics related to career development
and job search skills. Workshops last about an hour and a half.
The list of workshops changes slightly from year to year and additional workshops are regularly
added. CAPS also organizes workshops targeted to the needs of students in specific programs,
departments and faculties.
You can view the current listing and schedule on our website at www.caps.mcgill.ca. To sign up
for a workshop, drop by the CAPS office.
BASIC WORKSHOPS SPECIALIST WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS FOR
Workshops for
Basic workshops Specialist workshops
specific groups
Writing an Effective C.V. Asserting Yourself in the Job Getting a Job with Your B.A.
Rédaction d’un C.V. efficace Search Degree
Networking Your Way to the Business Etiquette Getting a Job with Your B.Sc.
Job You Want Internships and Career- Degree
Get Ready for On-Campus Related Opportunities Getting a Non-Academic Job
Recruitment Using Recruitment Firms in With Your Graduate Degree
Successful Interview Your Job Search Building a Successful
Techniques Where Will the Jobs of Research Career
How to Handle Second Tomorrow Be International Students–
Interviews Looking for Summer Jobs Adapting to the Canadian Job
Group Mock Interview (Non-Career-Related) Market
Tree-Planting Jobs Working In a Heterosexual
Work and Study Abroad: World–How Being Gay/
Guidelines for Success Lesbian/Bisexual Can Affect
First Job–Make It or Break It How You Look for Work
Nuts and Bolts of Freelance and How You Decide On a
Writing Career
Action Plan
hops:SPECIFIC GROUPS
Career Resource Library
The career resource library at CAPS contains current information about the job market, career
planning, and higher education. Whether you are looking for information about a career,
scholarships, resume writing, a program of study or contact information in the industries, the
library offers over 3000 items including books, magazines, directories, pamphlets, videos, CD-
ROMS, and university catalogues.
Take a few minutes to thumb through our many publications that have up-to-date job listings,
including Canada Employment Weekly, Jobs All Across Canada and World Wide, Artsboard: Canada’s
Monthly Employment Bulletin for the Arts and to Transitions Abroad, and The Guide to Learning, Living,
andWorking Overseas.
2 CAPS Job Search Handbook

Interested in free stuff? The grey filing cabinet near the entrance of the CAPS office contains
pamphlets, magazines, as well as information on career planning, job search, associations,
teaching opportunities abroad, school board information and much more. Help yourself!You’ll
be surprised at what you’ll find.
The McGill Engineering Career Centre (MECC) and the Macdonald Campus CAPS also have
libraries containing information targeted to the programs they offer.
CAPS Website
The CAPS website (www.caps.mcgill.ca) is a great place to access a broad range of career
information. You’ll find our job and internship listings, as well as the list and schedule of
workshops, career fairs and company presentations. The website also includes a list of all the
books available in our career resource library and a comprehensive list of career and job search
websites.
Specialized Programs
Over the years, specialized programs have been added to the Career Education Program to
provide students with additional support. These programs are offered by CAPS in conjunction
with other McGill departments, industry professionals, alumni and other students wishing to
help their peers. For more information about any of these programs, drop by the CAPS office
during business hours.
Program for the Advancement of Career Exploration (P.A.C.E.)
The Program for the Advancement of Career Exploration (P.A.C.E.) is a collaborative effort
between McGill’s Counselling Service and CAPS. At a point during your time in university, it
will become necessary for you to address your career development. However, the sooner you
“P.A.C.E. yourself ” and explore your career preferences, the sooner you can begin to make the
most of your education.
P.A.C.E. is a workshop series designed to help students make decisions related to their field
of study and eventually career path. Each workshop is two hours long. The four workshops are
spaced one week apart to allow time for vocational testing and occupational research.
Peer Educator Program
The goal of the Peer Educator Program, an essential element of CAPS, is to make students
aware of CAPS’ services. The peer educators—student volunteers—promote CAPS’ services
by giving information sessions at different clubs and departments and staffing information
tables throughout campus. They also produce the CAPSScoop Newsletter.
Peer educators are available to help other students with their general career-related needs, and
for helping students during C.V. drop-in sessions.
Job Finding Club
The CAPS Job Finding Club is a two-week program designed to teach job seekers the most
effective means of finding work in their field of interest. It consists of a group of 10 to 15
graduating students and recent graduates who are seeking employment. The students have each
other for support as well as the assistance of a facilitator and career advisors.
Mentor Program
The Mentor Program provides the framework for students to establish ties with professionals
who can provide valuable, hands-on advice about careers. The Mentor Program can be a great
way to establish a professional network. You can apply to the Mentor Program on the CAPS
website (www.caps.mcgill.ca).
Work Study Program
The Work Study Program provides full-time degree students with financial assistance through
part-time employment on campus. It is operated by the McGill Student Aid Office. The
deadlines to apply for work are usually early September, late October, and early January.
Most on-campus jobs are obtained through Work Study. To apply, students need to fill out
an application form available at the Student Aid Office or at www.is.mcgill.ca/studentaid/
workstudy/student.htm.
Job and Internship Opportunities

Whereas the career education and the specialized programs help students identify their career
goals and better prepare for their job search, the job and internship opportunities posted at
CAPS give you direct access to potential employers and job and internship opportunities.
Job Postings
Throughout the year, thousands of current full-time, temporary, part-time or summer positions
as well as internships are posted on the CAPS website (www.caps.mcgill.ca).
To make these posting available to McGill students only, a username and a password is required
to access the CAPS job listing service. To get a username and the password, you must bring
your student card to the CAPS, MAC, or MECC office and register as a new user.

Internships
Internships are an ideal way to gain experience before applying for a full-time position.
Internships provide mentors, opportunities to network, and present an environment for
learning and growth.
CAPS has many resources to help you locate internships in Canada, the United States and
abroad, including internship postings on our website and books. You can also find links on the
CAPS website.
Campus Recruitment
Every year, companies from across Canada, the United States, and abroad visit McGill for
campus recruitment (CR).These organizations recruit final-year students for full-time positions
beginning after graduation, and U2 students for summer career-oriented positions. Most firms
come during the fall semester but, school boards and firms seeking students for summer jobs
tend to recruit in the winter term. Some of these organizations make presentations to students.
Check the online Events Calendar on the CAPS website on a regular basis for up-to-date
information.
Career Fairs
McGill career fairs are events organized by CAPS, often together with faculty associations and
student groups. Career fairs provide excellent opportunities for students to meet with company
representatives from a variety of industries. Career fairs allow you to gather information
on companies, find out about entry-level positions and career paths, and perhaps, most
importantly, develop personal contacts that can be critical in your job search. We encourage
students of every year to attend these fairs to get familiar with the process of meeting potential
employers and of learning about companies that they might want to target in their last year.

How to Reach CAPS

CAPS has offices at the downtown and Macdonald campuses:
Main Office, Downtown Campus Macdonald Campus

McGill Career and Placement Service McGill Career and Placement Service
William & Mary Brown Student Service Building Centennial Centre - Student Service Centre
3600 McTavish St., Rm 2200 21,111 Lakeshore Road
Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2 Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9
Telephone: (514) 398-3304 Telephone: (514) 398-7582
Fax: (514) 398-1831 Fax: (514) 398-7610
Email: careers.caps@mcgill.ca Email: caps@macdonald.mcgill.ca
Website: www.caps.mcgill.ca Website: www.caps.mcgill.ca
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
McGill Engineering Career Centre (MECC)

Frank Dawson Adams Building
3450 University Street, Room 20
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H3A 2A7
Tel: (514) 398-8100
Fax: (514) 398-2169
E-mail: info.mecc@mcgill.ca
Website: www.mecc.mcgill.ca
Students may also take advantage of the services offered by the following centres:
The McGill Management Career Centre (MMCC)
1001 Sherbrooke Street West, Room 104 (Bronfman)
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G5
Tel: (514) 398-2996
Fax: (514) 398-2721
Website: www-mmcc.management.mcgill.ca
The Faculty of Law Career and Placement Office

Faculty of Law, McGill University
3644 Peel Street
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1W9
Tel: (514) 398-6618
Fax: (514) 398-4659
E-mail: placement@lsa.lan.mcgill.ca
Website: www.law.mcgill.ca/students/cpo-en.htm
The Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office

Faculty of Medicine, McGill University
3655 William Osler Drive
Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6
Tel: (514) 398-3519
Fax: (514) 398-3595
Website: www.medicine.mcgill.ca/careerplan/
Chapter 1: Self Assessment
CHAPTER 1 Self Assessment

Planning a career is not easy; but just like preparing for a trip, the better you plan it, the easier
it will be to get to your destination. Choosing a career path is one of the many important Self Assessment
decisions you will make in your life. If you have difficulties, don’t worry: you are not alone.
Most students are unsure about their career choice and this is why CAPS and the Counselling
Self-Assessment
Services are here to help you.
Interest Inventory
Skills Inventory
Keep in mind that: Achievements
Inventory
¡ Making a career decision does not happen in a vacuum; you must know who you are Values Inventory
and what you want to incorporate that into your vision of how you want your life to People Environment
be. Working Conditions
My Career Objective
¡ Career planning is not a one-time deal but rather a series of steps that lead you Resources on Self-
in a direction. It helps to look at career planning as a journey rather than a fixed Assessment
Books available at
destination. CAPS
Websites
¡ The career decisions that you are making are not irreversible; you can still change
your mind along the way. If you make a decision that is not right for you, look at it as
a learning experience, one more bit of information that will bring you closer to the
job that better corresponds to who you are.
¡ While some of you may choose to stay in one occupation all of your life, others may
want to explore different ones.While people used to stay in the same job or the same
company for a lifetime, they now tend to change jobs more often and even change
occupations several times.
¡ Don’t be afraid to dream and follow your passion. Don’t get caught up in what seems
to be the logical career choice. Go beyond that and listen to your heart and spirit.
In this chapter, we will help you to plan your career through self-assessment and career
exploration activities that will enable you to identify occupations, industries and employers
that correspond to your career aspirations. Finally, we will give you suggestions for career steps
that you can follow as of your first year and beyond. Good luck!
Self-Assessment
Self-assessment is the first and the most important step in choosing an occupation, planning
your career, and starting a job search. Knowing your personality and being able to articulate
your interests, skills, achievements and values is important to effectively communicate them in
writing (in your C.V.) or verbally (during an interview) to a potential employer.
The better you know yourself, the better you will be able to make a match between what you
are looking for in a job, and what an employer is looking for in you.
The exercises in this section will help you identify your interests, skills, achievements and
values. If you still feel you need some help after completing these exercises, you can make an
appointment with the McGill Counseling Service for vocational counseling and testing.

Interest Inventory
This exercise is designed to help you better understand your interests, which is clearly
necessary to have a satisfying career. On the following pages, list all activities you participate
in and have participated in during the last five years. To simplify your task, activities have been
divided into school, work, and leisure/family. Once this is done, write down everything you
liked and disliked about each activity in the appropriate column. Finally, in the last column,
write down what you have learned from participating in each activity.
Don’t be surprised if you find many similar items in the like column and in the dislike column.
Filling in the like column is the first step in identifying your skills. Usually, our talents and
skills are linked to the things that we like to do. Analyzing the like and dislike columns will also
provide you with a better understanding of your personality.
The first two rows of the school activities tables contain examples to help get you started.
School Activities (includes educational, extra-curricular, field studies)

Activity Like Dislike Learned
Teamwork
Group synergy Some people were slower at Problem solving
Team project
Learning from each other doing their part of the work Interpersonal communication
Organization
Researching potential
employers Organization
Persuading employers to Interpersonal
Setting up the room (physical
Organizing career fair participate Communication
aspect)
Publicizing events Teamwork
Encouraging students to Creativity
attend

Work Activities (includes paid work experience, volunteer work, professional memberships)
Dealing with people
Interpersonal
Sales clerk Creating displays Performing inventory
Creativity
Helping people through Communication

Volunteer at a distress line Active listening Night shift Problem-solving
Crisis intervention Interpersonal skills
Leisure/Family Activities (includes sports, social clubs, hobbies)

Building team Leadership
Coaching senior hockey team Leading group Violence on ice Communication
Giving constuctive feedback Teamwork
Discovering new places Organization
Schedule (having to wake up at
YMCA Hiking Club Exercising Interpersonal
5 a.m. on the weekend)
Meeting new people Communication

Review your like and dislike columns and list your five most predominant entries in the spaces below.
LIKES DISLIKES
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
Skills Inventory
Tip There are two types of skills: hard skills, and soft or transferable skills. Hard skills are easily
measured and are factual knowledge that is usually learned during formal training or at school.
Keep in mind, that
knowing what your
Hard skills include technical expertise, laboratory techniques, computer skills and languages.
skills are will help you Soft skills are somewhat less tangible and can be acquired in various areas of one’s life, such
to know yourself better, as school, work, or extra-curricular activities. These skills can be transferred to various work
enable you to identify the
occupations you would
situations. Soft skills that all employers, regardless of industry or discipline, look for in potential
be good at, and will be employees include:
useful when writing your
C.V. and preparing for
interviews.
Communication skills
Creativity
Initiative
Interpersonal skills
Leadership skills
Organizational skills
Problem-solving skills
In the following exercise you will rate and rank your skills.
Rate Your Skills
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.
Initiative
Self-rating (1 to 5) Want to develop (yes, no, maybe)
Initiating new ideas/projects
Making the first move in

relationships
Finding new solutions

Technical Skills
Computer skills
Conducting experiments
Managing budgets, money
Maintaining/operating
equipment
Controlling inventory
Problem-Solving Skills
Evaluating alternatives
Clarifying problems
Generating solution
Testing ideas
Determining outcomes,
consequences
Tracing problems to sources
Organizational Skills
Organizing people, events, things
Classifying information
Coordinating resources
Streamlining procedures
Researching, gathering
information
Separating important from
unimportant
Determining sequences of tasks
Setting priorities

Leadership Skills
Promoting change
Taking risks
Engendering trust
Leading groups
Building a team
Delegating authority
Overseeing work projects
Getting things done through

other people
Communication Skills
Verbal
Conversing with individuals
Exchanging ideas with groups
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

Interpersonal Skills
Managing/resolving conflicts
Negotiating
Collaborating
Persuading, recruiting, selling
Treating, healing others
Giving constructive feedback
Coaching, mentoring
Giving practical advice
Developing rapport
Demonstrating empathy
Understanding people’s
motivations
Creative Skills
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

Demonstrate Your Skills

Now that you have identified your skills and ranked them, you can list concrete situations
where you demonstrated these skills. In the table below, write your skills and examples of how
you demonstrated these skills.
Skills demonstrated Examples

Initiative, organization, Proposed and coordinated bake-a-thon for Missing Children’s
communication Network. Publicized event through newspapers and radio.
As a new senior camp counselor, proposed and led weekly
Leadership, initiative, problem-
meetings with the crew to discuss particular issues faced by
solving, communication
children.
Rank Your Skills

Look back over all the skills you have identified and in the space below, rank your five most
predominant skills.
1
2
3
4
5
Achievements Inventory
Achievements are occasions where you recognized a problem or a situation that could have
been improved and you acted on it. Achievements illustrate your abilities and skills, and are
indicative of your potential for taking initiative and solving problems. They prove that you were
successful in what you undertook.
Past performance is the best predictor of future performance; therefore, the more achievements
you can identify, the easier it will be to impress a potential employer. During interviews, you
will often be asked about your achievements.
To write your achievements in a concise manner, use the P.A.R. formula:
P: The initial problem you faced, task that needed doing, or situation that needed improving
A: The action you took to resolve the problem or task, or to improve the situation
R: The results you obtained (quantify if possible, %, $, #)
You can then use the P.A.R. formula to determine the achievement.

Here are two examples:
Example 1
P (problem): The window display at the bakery where I worked last summer was not very
creative and was not changed very often.
A (action): After getting permission from the manager, I took it upon myself to change the
display every week, featuring the special of the week. I made a backdrop with a red checkered
tablecloth, put some baskets in the display filled with bread and buns, and put the cakes on a
slant so that the customer would have a better view of them.
R (result): Many customers commented on the attractive display and sales of the weekly
special increased by 20%.
Achievement: Created a new store display, which prominently featured the weekly special,
resulting in positive comments from customers and a 20% increase in sales of the weekly
special.
Example 2
P (problem): Each September, my boss had to hire new staff members to work at the front
desk. Since it was the busiest time of the year, they received very little training, which wasted
time and caused a lot of stress for everyone. Clients also had to wait a long time to get an
answer and there was always a line up.
A (action): During the quiet summer months, I took the initiative of developing a training
manual describing the steps to follow for each task performed by the front desk staff. I also
created and included in this manual a list of frequently asked questions from clients as well as
the appropriate answers.
R (result): Received positive feedback from my supervisor as well as from my colleagues
who felt more productive and less stressed. The clients were also more satisfied and there was
rarely a line up.
Achievement: Developed a training manual for front-line staff, which increased staff
productivity and decreased level of stress, resulting in better customer service.
To help you identify your achievements, think of things you have done that you are proud of.
Then ask yourself the following questions:
Did you receive a trophy, a title or other form of recognition?
Did you identify a situation that could have become a serious problem if you had not
detected it in time?
Did you make a suggestion that was adopted by your classmates/team-members/co-
workers and/or superiors?
Did you accomplish a task using less than the usual resources?
Did you satisfy a particularly difficult client?
Did you initiate or help put together a project or complex plan?
Did you participate in a project where your influence and ideas were largely responsible
for its success?
Have you trained or taught people?
Did you volunteer to take on new responsibilities?
Did you help increase sales?

In the following exercise, identify four achievements using the P.A.R. formula. Then, rewrite each of them in one
sentence in the Achievement space as demonstrated in the previous examples.
P (problem)
A (action)
R (result)
Achievement 1
P (problem)
A (action)
R (result)
Achievement 2
P (problem)
A (action)
R (result)
Achievement 3
P (problem)
A (action)
R (result)
Achievement 4

Values Inventory
Values are beliefs we develop early in life shaped by our family, culture, education, religion, and
different socialization processes, and that we continue to maintain throughout our lives. They
make up our fundamental beliefs about what is right and wrong, good and bad.
Sometimes, we take our values so much for granted that we are not even aware of them,
and mistakenly assume that others hold the same values that we do. Behaving in ways that
are inconsistent with our values may lead to frustrations and/or depression. For example, if
Mohamed places higher value on time spent with family and friends than on the pursuit of
material wealth, but gets caught up in working impossible hours and making a lot of money,
frustration and disillusionment are the likely results. Ling, who values the pursuit of material
wealth more than time spent with family and friends, finds the same situation invigorating and
positive. If Mohamed works for Ling, it is easy to see the potential for conflict. Because our
values are so constant and enduring, and represent our fundamental beliefs, value conflicts are
among the most difficult to resolve. Therefore, it is important to become aware of one’s values
and seek environments that are compatible with them.
Identification of Values
In the following exercise you will identify, prioritize and examine your values. First, from the
following list of 34 life and work values, identify by checking off the appropriate column which
of these are:
Values you must respect or must follow at work
Values you would like to respect but are not musts
Values that are the least important to you (they serve little purpose in your life or work at
this time)
Make sure that these values are your values, and not values imposed on you by family members,
another individual, group or institution.
Least
Life values Must have Would like important
Being as healthy as possible
Helping others
Having a happy family
Feeling part of a group
Having adventure and travel
Being outdoors
Being respected by peers
Having leisure and recreation
Being at peace with myself
Growing as a person
Living by my religious beliefs
Having status and prestige
Having material possessions

Least
Work values Must have Would like important
Having challenging work
Having power or influence
Helping others
Working as part of a team
Being a leader
Being outdoor
Working independently
Having creative experiences
Having respect of peers
Earning a very high income
Having major responsibilities
Having fringe benefits, perks
Enjoying what I do at work
Doing something important
Being intellectually stimulated
Opportunities for promotion
Earning a comfortable income
Being in charge
Developing and using expertise
Having job security
Having good working conditions
Prioritizing Your Strongest Motivators

Look at your list of values and pick your top four must have life values and your top four must-
have work values. Based on how important they are to you, rank them using the personal values
summary on the following page.
Importance of Your Top Four Values
Both the nature and the quality of the work you choose will be greatly affected by your value
priorities. It is important, therefore, that you understand why you hold values that you have
chosen. Reflect on each of your top four life and top four work values, and write down the
reasons why they are so important to you in the space provided.During your job search and
interviews, this information will be especially useful to help you distinguish between jobs that
reflect and do not reflect your life and work values.

Personal Values Summary *

Life value 1
This is important to me because:
Life value 2
Life value 3
Life value 4
Work value 1
Work value 2
Work value 3
Work value 4
People Environment
J.L. Holland (1997) classifies people according to six different personality types. He also believes that different
occupations attract different personality types and that it is therefore possible to classify occupations according to
these six types. The assumption is that people will naturally gravitate to occupations that call upon their strengths,
interests, and talents.
* ACCIS, The Looking forWork Series Volume 1(1991).

Holland’s Personality Types
Type R Type I
People with athletic or mechanical ability who People who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze,
prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants, evaluate, or solve problems.
or animals, or to be outdoors.
Type C Type A
People who like to work with data, have clerical People who have artistic, innovating or intuitional
or numerical ability, and who enjoy carrying abilities, and like to work in unstructured situations,
things out in detail or following through on using their imagination or creativity
others’instructions.
Type E Type S
People who like to work with people–influencing, People who like to work with people – to inform,
persuading, performing, or leading or managing for enlighten, help, train, develop, or cure them, or are
organizational goals or for economic gain. skilled with words.
Holland’s Typology of Personality and Occupations
R Realistic I Investigative
Live in the present Analytical
Thing-oriented (as opposed to people or data) Abstract
Materialistic Rational
Conforming Critical
Stable Curious
Persistent Intellectual
Practical Introverted
Shy Independent
Genuine Cautious
Sample occupations: mechanical engineer, Sample occupations : laboratory technician,
agricultural manager, surveyer, animal caretaker, marketing researcher, food scientist, anthropologist,
chef, electrician. actuary.
C Conventional A Artistic
Conforming Expressive
Obedient Emotional
Efficient Rely on feelings
Calm Imaginative
Conscientious Impulsive
Orderly Non-conforming
Set in ways Idealistic
Sample occupations: accountant, bookkeeper, Disorderly
computer operator, proofreader, financial analyst Sample occupations: journalist, drama teacher,
advertising manager, architect, musician
E Enterprising S Social
Aggressive Sensitive to needs of others
Self confident Cooperative
Domineering Generous
Energetic Helpful
Adventurous Sociable
Ambitious Understanding
Sociable Friendly
Persuasive Outgoing
Sample occupations: purchasing agent, real estate Persuasive
salesperson, market analyst, attorney, manager Tactful
Sample occupations: interviewer, teacher, counsellor,
social worker, speach therapist

The following exercise* will help you determine what kind of people you enjoy being around.
Imagine that you are in a room in which a party is taking place. People with the same or
similar interests have gathered in one corner of the room.
1. Looking at Holland’s typology of personality and occupation, identify which corner of

the room you would naturally be drawn to.Which group of people would you most enjoy
being with for the longest time? Do not think about your shyness and/or whether you
would have to talk to them. Write the letter for that group on the line.
1st choice
2. After 15 minutes you must leave the group and move to the next group of people that
you would be drawn to the most.
2nd choice
3. Once again, after 15 minutes you are asked to move to a different group. Which group
would be your third most favorite group of people?
3rd choice
Referring to Holland’s typology of personality and occupations, list the three types of people
you would most enjoy working with (for example, R for realistic, E for enterprising and S for
social).
Working Conditions
Since we spend more than one third of our life at work, it is important to have working
conditions 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.
Rate the following criteria on a scale of –3 to +3
This is an essential component of any job This must not be a component of any job
3 I accept.
-3 I accept.
I would like this to be a component of
I would not like this to be a component of
2 any job I accept, but it is not absolutely -2 any job I accept.
essential.
This is preferable but I can live without Not very important but I could live with
1 it.
-1 it.
* Adapted from R.N. Bolles,What Color is Your Parachute? (California: Ten Speed Press, 2002), 355-56.
Size and type of organization

Local
Provincial
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
Type of industry
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, office situation, special privileges)
Having authority
Responsible for own work
Responsible for the work of others
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
Functional areas :

Geographic location
Working in the following 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

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
Now that you have been through the whole list, indicate below your four most and your four least desirable working
conditions:
Most desirable working conditions Least desirable working conditions
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4

Ideal Job Profile
Using the answers you provided in the previous exercises, fill in the tables below to determine your ideal job
profile.
Interests: List the 5 most predominant like and dislikes as identified in exercise I
Likes Dislikes
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
Skills: List your top five skills
1
2
3
4
5
Values: List your 4 most important life and work values

Life values Work values
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
People Environment: Complete the sentence.

I would like to work with people who are:
Working Conditions: List your top 4 working conditions
1
2
3
4
My Career Objective
Now that you have completed the self-assessment exercises, you are in a better position to write
down your career objective. 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 at the exploration
phase, your career objective can be as general or as specific as you want to make it. When you
are ready to write your C.V., you will have to decide if you should write your career objective
on your C.V. or not.
If you know exactly what you want to do, and you are not willing to compromise, a specific
career objective is preferable. However, it may take you longer to find a job that fits your
criteria.
Here is an example of a specific career objective:
A management trainee position in the international banking industry

An assistant editor position in the children’s 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 objective:
A junior level position in the financial services industry

An editing position in the publishing industry
A research position in a laboratory
Now, review the self-assessment exercises that you completed, and write down your own
career objective below.
My career objective
Now that you have completed your self-assessment, you should 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?
Don’t worry if you are unable to come up with a career objective at this point. The other
sections of the handbook will help you to become clearer about what you want.

Resources on Self-Assessment
Books available at CAPS
(Section 3.16)
Bolles, R.N. What Color isYour Parachute. California: Ten Speed Press, 2002.
Cyr, M., et Y. Maurais. S’orienter à partir de soi. Sainte-Foy, QC: Septembre Media, 1999.
Sher, Barbara. I could do anything if I only knew what it was. New York: Dell Publishing, 1994.
Kroeger, Otto, and J. Thuesen. Type Talk. New York: Dell Publishing, 1989.
Websites
www.careerkey.org
A great tool for analyzing and identifying professional and personal interests.
www.worksearch.gc.ca
This is a great site from Human Resources Development Canada. It offers the user
numerous exercises and information on self-assessment, job search, and career description.
(Also available in French.)
For more career related websites, consult the CAPS website at www.caps.mcgill.ca.

Chapter 2: Researching Employers
CHAPTER 2 Researching Employers

Getting to Know Occupations, Industries and Employers
Researching
Employers
Researching your desired field is as important as knowing yourself and what you have to
offer. Before you start your job search, you need to know what occupations, employers and
Getting to Know
industries are out there and which ones you are interested in. The more targeted you are, the
Occupations, Industries
more efficient and easy your search will be. and Employers
Occupations
If you are in a career-oriented program like management, nursing, engineering or teaching, Industries
your choice of careers will be more straightforward. The most important factor to consider Employers
Where to Find
will be where you want to pursue your career.
Information
Written Information
However, if you are in a more general program like history, English or anthropology, your Information
choice of occupations is vast and therefore you’ll need to focus at least equally on what you Interviews
would like to do and where you would like to do it. Job Shadowing
Exercises
Occupation Search
The following section contains resources and techniques to help you search for the right Form
occupation, employer and industry. You can also meet with a career advisor or a mentor at Industry Search Form
CAPS to discuss your career options. Moreover, you can participate in CAPS workshops Employer Search
tailored for specific groups and or to the P.A.C.E. program. Form
Career-Objective
Resources for Career-
Occupations Exploration
Books available at
CAPS
When you target an occupation, it is important to evaluate whether it matches your interests, Websites
skills, education and training, as well as the values and the working conditions that you have
identified as being important to you. By answering the following questions, you will be better
able to see whether an occupation corresponds to your ideal job profile, as described in your
self-assessment.You can write your answers in the form available at the end of this section.
What are the duties and responsibilities?
What are the educational and training requirements?
Which skills are required?
What kind of experience is needed?
What seem to be the main characteristics and values of people working in this field?
Who would be my clients if I were to choose this occupation (business people, patients, children,
students, researchers, artists, etc.)?
What are the salary range and the benefits?
What are the working conditions (hours of work, environment, etc.)?
What types of advancement opportunities and career mobility are available?
Is there a professional association that I can or have to join if I choose this occupation?
What are the present and the future prospects for this occupation?
Are there related occupations that I should consider exploring?

Industries
You might be more interested in working for an industry than in a particular occupation
because of your particular interest in its products or services (for example, communications,
entertainment, aviation). Knowing about industries will help you identify potential employers.
When an industry is growing or doing particularly well or it is facing the challenge of aging and
retiring employees, chances are that there will be job openings. Here are questions to consider
while researching an industry. You can write your answers in the industry search form at the
end of this section.
What are the career prospects in this industry?
What are the future trends for this industry?
What are the characteristics of the people working in this industry?
What are the key issues of this industry?
Which organizations are part of this industry?
What are the professional or trade associations related to this industry?
What are the different occupations that make up this industry?
Employers
It is important to find employers that match your interests and values. Before you begin your
job search, we highly recommend researching the employers in your field of interest. It is also
good practice to research potential employers before going to an interview. The following
questions will help you know more about an employer and figure out if you would fit in and
be happy working there. You can write your answers on the employer search form at the end
of this chapter.
What are the organization’s products and or services?
What positions are available?
What are the skills and qualifications that the organization values the most?
What are the characteristics of the people working there?
What type of organization is it (private, public, non-profit, NGO, ect.)?
What are the latest products or developments?
How large is the organization? How many people does it employ?
Who are the organization’s targeted clients ?
To which industry does this organization belong? What are the trends of this industry?
Where is the organization located (including its subsidiaries and branches)? Is it
international?
What are the salary ranges offered and the benefits (benefits, training, work-life balance?
Is it unionized? What are the opportunities for advancement and mobility?)
How is the organization structured: Who are the key personnel?
What is the history of the organization?
What is the organization’s mission statement and philosophy?
What is the organization’s reputation? For what is it the best known?
What is the organization’s financial situation and its potential growth?
Who are its main competitors?
What are the recruiting practices?

Where to Find Information

Beginning to look for information about occupations, industries and employers can be a bit
overwhelming. However, once you know where to look and how to proceed, you’ll find all the
information you need to make informed choices.
Although the answers to most questions about occupations, employers and industries can be
found in books and or on websites, talking to people about your field of interest will give you
a good, and sometimes better, insight. Therefore, use as many as the following methods while
doing your career exploration as possible.
Written Information
You can find a wealth of information in books and directories. The CAPS library is a great place
to start to find these resources. If you would like information on a specific occupation or
related occupations held by people with your degree, qualifications and interests, the books
in Section 4 of CAPS library will be particularly useful. CAPS also has directories related to
specific industries, (environmental, management consulting, writer’s market, school boards,
etc), as well as publications (Who’s Hiring, The Canada Student Employment Guide see section 5.3
of the CAPS library).
Professional and trade associations, schools and unions can also provide you with information
on occupations, fields of study, salaries and working conditions.To identify specific associations,
consult the Canadian Alamanac & Directory available on reserve at CAPS. Find out if the associations
you are interested in have a website or printed information that they can mail you.
Elsewhere on campus, the McGill Engineering Career Centre (MECC), CAPS at Macdonald
Campus, the McGill Management Career Centre (MMCC) and the Howard Ross Library
also have books and directories targeting the field of interests of their students. Local public
libraries are also a good place to look.
Company websites usually contain lots of information that can be useful to your research. To
find a company or organization’s website, use a search engine like Google.
Chambers of commerce can help you find an enormous amount of business

information. To identify a local chamber of commerce in Canada or the U.S., go to
www.chamberofcommerce.com.
Information Interviews
An information interview is an excellent way to find out more about your field of interest, a
particular occupation, industry or company. The goal of an information interview is to obtain
information and advice related to your career interests and job search strategies. The person
you interview does not have to be a person who hires. It can be anyone who knows about the
work you would like to do. Ideally, this person should be working in your field of interest
and in an organization or industry where you would like to work. Although reading about
an occupation, an organization or an industry can be very useful, getting information from
someone with experience is much more useful and concrete. This type of information will help
you to fine tune your career objective and very often turns up other areas of interest of which
you were previously unaware. Interviewing is also an excellent way to develop contacts in your
field of interest that can be used later to help you find a job.
At this stage of your career exploration, information interviews should focus primarily on
gathering information rather than on getting hired. You can meet with anyone who has the
information you are interested in. This can include people who work for the company, industry
or hold the occupation you are most interested in. An information interview should last 15
to 30 minutes. Later in your search, the focus of information interviews will be getting you
hired, and therefore you will target people in the organization who have the power to hire
you. For details on how to prepare for an information interview, see Chapter 4: Finding Job
Opportunities.
Job Shadowing
Job shadowing involves spending time (from half a day to two days) observing someone who
works in your field of interest. This experience will give you the opportunity to see what
the job really entails on a day-to-day basis. If relevant, you can ask someone you met for an
information interview if you can be a shadow.
Summer Jobs, Part-Time Jobs and Internships
Working part-time, doing an internship or having a summer job are valuable ways of exploring
careers, organizations and industries. It is a good idea to diversify your work experience rather
than having the same job during your whole academic journey. Take initiatives and take on new
responsibilities to explore your interest in various tasks. Identify people in the organization that
are doing jobs you are interested in and try to get information from them. Always ask yourself,
“What do I like and dislike about this job, organization or industry?” This evaluation will help
you learn more about where you’re going.
Volunteer Work
Volunteer work gives you the opportunity to try a field that interests you, develop new skills
and make new contacts. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer on and around campus
such as the CAPS Peer Educator Program, Health Peer Educator Program and the McGill
Students For Literacy, etc.
If you prefer to volunteer outside of McGill, the Volunteer Bureau of Montreal works with
more than 600 non-profit organizations searching for volunteers in various areas such as
active listening, teaching, administration, computer work, arts and the environment. Make
an appointment with one of their counsellors at (514) 842-3351. You can also find volunteer
opportunities in Montreal at benevolat.cam.org/volunteer.htm.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Getting involved in activities on and off campus will also help you know more about yourself
and your interests, develop new skills and meet people. The Student Society of McGill
University (SSMU) supports over 120 clubs, including the Writer’s Circle, Corporate McGill,
UNICEF McGill and the Students for the Protection of Animals. Attend Activities Night at the
beginning of each semester to meet representatives of all the clubs or visit SSMU website and
find clubs that matches your interests and values: www.ssmu.mcgill.ca.

Networking, Career Fairs and Company Presentations

Networking, attending career fairs and company presentations are also excellent ways to gather relevant information
about particular occupations, industries and organizations. See Chapter 4 for details.
Exercises
The forms needed for this exercise are found in the next few pages.
1. Using the occupation search form, research three occupations that interest you.
The three occupations I will research are:
2. Name two industries that you are particularly interested in and find out more about them by answering the
questions listed on the industry search form.
The two industries I will research are:
3. Target five employers that hire people with your skills and interests and visit their website. After completing
the employer search form, identify two reasons why you would like to work there.
The five employers I will research are:

Occupation Search Form
You can download the forms contained in this section from the CAPS website.
Occupation title:
Duties and responsibilities:
Educational and training requirements:
Skills required:
Experience needed:
Characteristics and values of people working in this field:
Clients (business people, patients, children, students, athletes, researchers, artists, etc.):
Salary range and benefits:

Working conditions (hours of work, environment, etc):
Advancement opportunities and career mobility:
Professional association (optional or compulsory):
Present and future prospects for this occupation:
Related occupations:

Industry Search Form
Industry:
Career prospects:
Present and future trends:
Characteristic of the people working for the industry:
Key issues:
List 5 organizations in this industry:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Professional or trade association(s) :

Employer Search Form
Employer’s name:
Contact name:
Web page address:
E-mail address:
Phone number:
Address:
Positions available:
Skills and qualifications valued:
Characteristics of the people working there:
Type of organization (private, public, non-profit, NGO, other):
Products or services/latest development/most popular products:
Number of employees:
Clients (business people, patients, children, students, athletes, researchers, artists, other):
Industry and trends of this industry:

Location including subsidiaries and branches, national or international:
Salary range and working conditions (benefits, training, work-life balance, union, ect.) for the positions I am
interested in:
Opportunities for advancement and career mobility:
Structure and key personnel:
History of the organization:
Mission statement and philosophy:
Reputation:
Financial situation and potential growth:
Main competitors:
Recruiting practices:

Career-Objective
Now that you have researched occupations, industries and employers, you should have a more
specific and informed career objective. Write your career objective below.
Keep your career objective in mind when, in chapter 3, you prepare your career tools such as
your C.V. and your cover letters.
My career objective

Resources for Career-Exploration
Occupations (Section 4)
Cartier, François, ed. Les carrières d’avenir au Québec. Montreal: Les éditions Jobboom,
2003.
Editors of VGM Career Books. VGM’sCareer Encyclopedia. Toronto: VGM Career Books,
2001.
Human Resources Development Canada. National Occupational Classification. Ottawa:
Publishing and Depository Services Communication Canada, 2001. Bilingual. Also
available on CD-ROM and online at www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca.
Pelletier, Denis. Dictionnaire Septembre des métiers et des professions. Sainte-Foy, QC: Les
éditions Septembre,1997.
U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook 2002-2003. Indianapolis: Jist
Works, 2002.
Industry (Section 5.3 on Reserve)
Franco, Guida, ed. Canadian Almanac and Directory 2003. Toronto: Micromedia ProQuest,
2002.
Gardiner, Cindy, ed. Scott’s Directories Greater Toronto Business Directory 2001. Don Mills, ON:
Southam Information Products Group, 2001.
Tiffin, Lorie, ed. Scott’s Directories Greater Montreal and Laval Business Directory 2002. Don
Mills, ON: Southam Information Products Group, 2001.
Employers (Section 5.3 on Reserve)
Duke, Douglas, ed. The Canadian Job Directory:The Ultimate Guide to Canada’s Hidden Job
Market. Toronto: SEN Publishing, 2000.
Information and Referral Centre of Greater Montreal. Directory of Community Services of
Greater Montreal Welfare-Health-Recreation 2002. Montreal: Information and Referral
Centre of Greater Montreal, 2002.
Makra, Kevin E. The Canada Student Employment Guide. Toronto: SEN Publishing, 2002.
Mediacorp Canada.Who’s Hiring 2003. Toronto: Mediacorp Canada Inc., 2003.
Pelletier, Denis. Le guide de l’emploi. Sainte-Foy, QC: Septembre Éditeur, 2003.
Yerema, R.W. ed. The Career Directory 2004. Toronto: Mediacorp Canada Inc., 2003.
Yerema, R.W. Canada Top 100 Employers 2003. Toronto: Mediacorp Canada Inc., 2003.
Most of these books and directories are re-edited on a regular basis. For the complete
collection, visit the CAPS Career Resource Centre.

Websites
www.monster.ca
Information on employers, online postings, job search information, career articles and
even salary information by occupations (geographically adjusted).
www.monemploi.com
Description of occupations and trades, recruiters and labour market information.
www.strategis.ic.gc.ca
Strategis Guide to Canadian and International Companies and Industries. Information on
industries as well as the companies and associations that are part of them.
www.wetfeet.com
Information on occupations, employers and industries in Canada and the U.S. as well as
job search information and salaries (geographically adjusted).
For more career related websites, please visit the CAPS website.

Chapter 3: Preparing Your Career Tools
CHAPTER 3 Preparing Your Career Tools

This chapter covers the concrete aspects of your job search. We’ll start with the all-important
C.V., and take you through the steps of creating your own.You will learn about the components, Preparing Your
the look, and particular cases of the C.V. (Guidelines for writing different formats of C.V.’s can Career Tools
be found in Appendix B.) Next you’ll learn about writing the perfect cover letter to accompany
your C.V., and how to design your business card. Sample C.V.’s, cover letters and business cards Writing an Effective C.V.
Components of a C.V.
are provided. C.V.’s for Specific
Needs
Lastly, this chapter takes a look at those dreaded interviews. You will learn how to prepare, Printing your C.V.
E-mailing your C.V.
what to do during the interview, and what you should do after the interview. Sample interview Making your
questions will help you understand what to expect. Scannable C.V.
Writing a Cover Letter
Making a Business Card
Writing an Effective C.V. Resources on Preparing
Your Career Tools
Books available at
CAPS
Although the terms C.V., curriculum vitae and resume are used interchangeably in Quebec,
Websites
they are usually distinct. More specifically, the C.V. or curriculum vitae is generally used for
academic positions and is much longer, as it includes publications, conferences, etc. For the
purpose of this handbook, we will use the term C.V.
Keep in mind that your C.V. is your own personal advertisement. Think of it as your own
promotional brochure. Its main purpose is to illustrate skills relevant to the type of work you
are seeking. The C.V. highlights those things about you that are the most interesting, impressive Tip
and unique, without giving away all the details. It should help employers determine whether Remember, you
your skills match their needs. It should also sufficiently impress a potential employer so that he can find out
or she invites you to an interview to learn even more. more information
about C.V.’s,
cover letters,
While there are different types of C.V.’s, this chapter focuses on the combined C.V., which is and interview
most appropriate for students. A combined C.V. highlights relevant skills and accomplishments techniques in CAPS
resource library.
while, at the same time, providing background info on a chronological framework. If you
would like to learn about the various types of C.V.’s, look through our wide array of books in
the resource library.

Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a C.V.

Do Don’t
Use good quality paper Make the text too crowded

Print your C.V. using a laser printer for Leave too much white space
more professional results Use different fonts
Use a standard font like Times New Include information like your date
Roman in 12 point of birth, gender, citizenship, marital
Make the layout visually attractive status (unless it is relevant; different
Include your name on every page countries, may however, have different
Use point form rather than long standards)
sentences and paragraphs Write “Curriculum Vitae” or “ Resume”
Be brief; your C.V. should be no more across the top of the page (it should be
than two pages in Canada, and one obvious to the reader what this is)
page in the U.S.
Use action verbs (see Appendix A for a
list)
Put relevant information first and give
it the most space
Make specific statements
Include your career objective
List a summary of your qualifications
List your achievements
Use specific examples to demonstrate
your skills and achievements
Above all, make sure that your C.V. matches the employer’s needs.
Components of a C.V.
The following are the basic components of a C.V. for students. Note that personal data, career
objective, and summary of qualifications (optional), always come first, and that the other
components can be presented in whatever order you feel is most relevant.
Personal Data
Personal data always includes your:
Full name
Current and permanent address (if you live in Montreal during the school year but are
at home in the summer, you might want to include both your temporary and permanent
addresses)
Phone number and optional fax number
E-mail address
This information always comes first and can be incorporated into a header to save space and
make the C.V. look more attractive. Use a professional e-mail address; avoid funny or strange
nicknames (for example bubblegum@hotmail.com).

Career Objective
While not mandatory, it is a good idea to include your career objective on your C.V. It should
follow your personal data on your C.V. Your career objective should outline your short-term
objective (and state the job area and field). The rest of your C.V. should focus on how your
experience relates to this objective.
Including an objective demonstrates that you have a fairly clear idea of what you want to
do. Keep in mind, that it could limit you if you are too precise or not clear enough. As an
alternative, you can mention your career objective in your cover letter.
Summary of Qualifications
Including a summary of qualifications on your C.V. is optional, unless your C.V. is electronically
scanned, in which case, it is a good idea. Use the summary to highlight your strongest selling
points and the most relevant qualifications and experience (specify duration, responsibilities
and accomplishments). These should reflect your career objective.
When writing your summary of qualifications, use keywords (nouns and adjectives, not verbs).
The summary should be three to five lines.
Languages
When listing the languages you speak, start by listing the languages that are the most relevant
to the workplace, 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, indicate “English, French.”
If you speak languages other than English and French, list them and indicate your level of
proficiency (fluent, conversational, working knowledge or basic). If you are unilingual it is
preferable to leave this section out.
Computer Skills
In this section, list the hardware, software, and operating systems, programming languages
with which you are familiar. Group them by subtitles if your list is extensive.
Technical Skills
This section is optional, depending on the job you are applying for. In it, you can list any
technique, equipment or scientific instrument you are familiar with as well as any qualifications
or certifications you may have that are relevant to the job. Use subtitles if this list is extensive.
Education
In this section, list your degrees and years of graduation. If you have not yet received your
degree, put the expected date and write ‘expected’ next to it. Include the name and location
(city, province) of the institutions where you studied, as well as scholarships and educational
awards (if you have many of these, you may want to create a separate section called Awards and
Scholarships).
You may add a brief sentence about your thesis, special projects, fieldwork, courses and or
workshops if they are relevant to your career objective. If your G.P.A. is high, you may want to
consider mentioning it.
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.
Career-Related Experience
If you have career-related experience (through paid work, non-paid work, or extracurricular
activities) use a targeted C.V. (see Appendix B for details on targeted and untargeted C.V.’s).
Your targeted C.V. will have two work experience sections: one that is career-related and one
for other work experience.
In this section:
List your experience in chronological order starting with the most recent.
Include the period of employment (season or month and year).
Specify the position titles (make one up if need be; for example, “office worker” if you had
a general position in an office environment).
Include the name and location of organization (city, province; country if not in Canada).
Describe your responsibilities and write specific examples to demonstrate soft and
transferable skills such as communication, leadership, organization.
Emphasize the elements of your previous jobs that relate to your career objective.
Write using action verbs in single lines.
Work Experience
If you do not have relevant work experience, use an untargeted C.V. (see Appendix B for details
on targeted and untargeted C.V.’s).
In this section:
List your experience in chronological order starting with the most recent.
Specify the position, name of the company and period of employment (season or month
and year).
State your responsibilities and write specific examples to demonstrate soft and transferable
skills such as communication, leadership, organization.
Emphasize the elements of your previous jobs that relate to your career objective.
Write using action verbs in single lines.
Extra-Curricular Activities, Interests, and Volunteer Experience

While these sections are not mandatory, it can be important for students. Employers may look
at it carefully, especially if your work experience is limited. Employers may use this information
to know more about your personal characteristics; and as an icebreaker during an interview.
If you worked for 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.”
Be selective about what activities you are going to include on your C.V. Avoid activities that
can be viewed as controversial or that reflect personal beliefs and values (for example, being
involved in protests or with political parties).
Briefly mention leisure activities like sports and hobbies under the title “Activities and Interests.”
If relevant, be specific, (“Elected Team Captain of community hockey team” as opposed to just
stating hockey).
Professional Associations
If you belong or have belonged to one or more professional associations that are relevant to
your career goal, list them.You may also include specific information about your role.
References
Unless you are applying for an academic position, do not include references on your C.V.
Instead you may write “References available upon request” at the end of your C.V., or you can
leave it out all together. Be prepared to provide three references to a potential employer. The
best references are supervisors or professors, or people you know from volunteer or extra-
curricular activities.
List your references on a separate sheet, using the same type of paper you have used for your
C.V.You should include the following information:
Name
Title
Connection to you
Name of organization
Address
Phone number
E-mail.
This list is to be handed to a potential employer only when it is requested, (usually at the
interview). Remember to verify that the information you provide is accurate. Always let your
references know that they might be contacted. Take advantage of this time to talk to your
references about the position so that they can emphasize the things that are most relevant.
C.V.’s for Specific Needs
There are certain cases when a special format is required for a C.V.
One-Page C.V.
The one-page C.V. is recommended when:
You are applying to consulting firms and investment banks.
You are applying for a job in the U.S.
Brevity is the rule. Employers will use your C.V. to test your ability to be concise: every word
should count.
In Appendix C you will find a sample one page C.V.

C.V. for Graduate Students

Graduate students wanting to work as academics, physicians or, professionals who have
published lectures, can have C.V.’s that are three to ten pages long. Those seeking a research
career outside of academia or a non-academic career in research should limit their C.V.’s to
two pages. In either case, your C.V. should include the following information:
Dissertation title
Research undertaken and interests
Teaching experience
Publications
Presentations
Other academic experience (organizing conferences, administrative and editing work,
etc.)
Professional affiliations
Grants and awards
In Appendix B you will find guidelines for a C.V. for an academic career, a non-academic
career and a research career outside of academia. In Appendix C you will find sample C.V.’s.
International C.V.
Few of the domestic “rules” apply to overseas employment for an international-style C.V.
An international C.V. should be used when applying to agencies, schools and organizations
outside of North America. Most organizations also require a detailed application to
accompany the C.V.
The components of an International C.V. 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 the skills that you have that are needed for the job you are
applying for. Give concrete examples.
Education. This section is the same as for the Canadian C.V.
Work experience. This section is the same as the Canadian C.V.
International experience. If you have international experience including education,
paid-work, volunteer work, and travel, group it together under this heading.You should
have two work experience sections: one for international and one for other.
Personal information. In Canada, it is illegal for employers to request this type of
information. Canada has no legal control over what international organizations may require
from a potential job candidate. International employers may want to know your:
Age
Marital status and number of dependents
Spouse’s occupation
Availability
Languages
Nationality and National Origin
For more information about the International C.V., consult the Canadian Guide toWorking and
Living Overseas, available at CAPS.
In Appendix C you will find a sample international C.V.

Printing your C.V.
Paper: Use good quality paper. White is the most adaptable color and it photocopies and faxes
well. If you insist on colour, print your documents on eggshell, pale gray, or cream.
Font: The best font to use is Times New Roman 12 pt. You can use bold but it’s best not to
use italics because it doesn’t copy or fax well and scanners won’t pick up small differences. For
example, in Italics an r followed by an n might become an m.
Page setup: The left side margin should be set from 3⁄4” to 1 1⁄2” and the right side margin from
1⁄2” to 1 1⁄4”. If you adjust on one side, adjust the other accordingly.
Presentation: The content of the C.V. should fit on one or two pages. Don’t photocopy your
C.V. on two-sided paper. If the C.V. is two pages, staple it together. The cover letter is never
stapled to the C.V. Do not fold your cover letter or C.V., always use an 81⁄2 x 11 envelope.
E-mailing your C.V.
Many employers are now asking applicants to send their C.V.’s by e-mail. There are two ways
to e-mail C.V.’s.
The preferred method is sending your C.V. as an attachment to an e-mail. However, in some
occasions, you may be asked to convert your save C.V. to ASCII format. To do so, change the
font used in your C.V. to a nonproportional 12-point, such as Courier 12. This will give you
65 characters per line, which most e-mail programs can easily read. Then save it as a text only
file with line breaks. Copy your C.V. and paste it into your e-mail message and try to format
it there as best as you can. Replace any bullets by something that can be produced by your
keyboard.
Making your Scannable C.V.
Due to the large number of C.V.’s that some companies received, they scan them to search for
“keywords.” You have to do everything possible to make sure that your resume will be easily
read by the scanner. To make your C.V. “scannable,” don’t use bold or italics or anything that
could make your C.V. harder to read. Instead, use CAPITAL letters. Also, include as many
keywords as you can. These are different than action verbs in that they are nouns, phrases, and
terminology that demonstrate some of your skills or achievements and that are known to be
valued in the position and industry (buzzwords). They are usually hard skills. For example,
some companies might screen applicants by making sure that the words bachelor’s degree,
leadership skills, Microsoft Word or buzzwords from the industry such as “transportation”
or “marketing” appear on their C.V.’s. You could also include a heading on your C.V. entitled
Keyword Summary. There you would list as many keywords as you feel are relevant to the
position in question. Books available at CAPS library such as 1500+ KeyWords will help you find
keywords for your C.V.

Writing a Cover Letter

The cover letter is your opportunity to introduce yourself and demonstrate the match between
the job requirements, and your qualifications and skills. It is intended to customize your
application to the particular position and organization.
The cover letter is very important and should always accompany a C.V. There will, however, be
occasions where a cover letter is not needed. For example, you might attend a career fair or a
company presentation where you are asked for a C.V. on the spot.
Tips
Use specific examples to illustrate how your skills and background match the
requirements of the job.
Never exceed one page.
Write a separate cover letter for every job you apply to. Avoid form letters.
Use the same font and font size as your C.V.
Use a laser printer.
Follow business letter styles.
If you have made a contact with a potential employer and are hand-delivering your C.V.
to the person in question, include a letter even if only to specify that you are giving
them your C.V. following the conversation you had.
If you have initiated contact with the employer through a telephone call, make
reference to the conversation in your opening paragraph and use the information you
gathered during the telephone call to maximize the match.
Always address the letter to a person, not “to whom it may concern.” Get the name,
title, and proper spelling of the person who has the power to hire you and address the
letter to this person. When impossible, use “Dear Sir/Madam.”
Don’t staple the cover letter to your C.V.
Send your cover letter and your C.V. in an 8 1⁄2 x 11” envelope.
In Appendix B you will find cover letter guidelines and samples in Appendix C.
Making a Business Card

A business card lists the accomplishments and strengths the job seeker can offer an employer
in just a few words. Create a card that people will remember and that gives a clear picture of
the skills you have to offer. Keep your cards on you all the time: you never know when you’ll
need them.
Your business card should contain the following:

Your name (in bold)
Your address
Your phone number (ensure that you have an answering machine with a professional
message)
Your e-mail address (preferably not a hotmail or Yahoo! account)
Your fax and web page address (if you have one)
Your degree (indicate your major/minor)
Your skills (hard skills and soft skills; computers, language, laboratory skills, etc.)

Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Business Card
Do Don’t
Do avoid abbreviations Don’t overcrowd your card
Do add value to your card by printing
on the back.You can also do a French
version.
If you chose to place a logo/graphic
make sure that it is appropriate for the
audience
In Appendix C you will find sample business cards.

Resources on Preparing Your Career Tools
C.V. and Cover Letters (Section 3)

Adams, Robert, ed. Adams Resume Almanac. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation,
1994.
Boudria, Stéphane. Le C.V. par compétences. Montreal: Editions Transcontinental Inc, 2000.
Enelow, Wendy S. 1500+ KeyWords. Manassa Park, VA: Impact Publications, 1998.
Fleury, Pierre-Eric. Les 170 lettres d’accompagnement qui marchent. Paris: Editions Generales
First, 1997.
Hansen, Katharine and Matthew Hansen. Dynamic Cover letters for New Graduates. Toronto:
Ten Speed Press, 1998.
Naficy, Mariam. The Fast Track:The Insider Guide toWinning Jobs in Management Consulting,
Investment Banking and Security Trading. New York: Broadway Books, 1997. (Section 4.6
on Reserve)
Thompson, Mary Anne. The Global Resume and C.V. Guide-Master the rules of the Global
Job Market Country by Country. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000. (Section 5.6 on
Reserve)
VGM Professional Resumes Series. Resumes for (with sample cover letters):
Communications Careers; Health and Medical Careers; Scientific and Technical
Careers; Social Services Careers; Re-entering the Job Market and more. 1998-2002.
Websites
www.canadiancareers.com
This Canadian site is one of the best career-related websites around. It contains
everything you want to know about job and career issues in Canada.
www.workingoverseas.com/sample.htm
Read Chapter 26 Interviewing for an International Job of The Canadian Guide to Working
and Living Overseas (3rd edition) by Jean-Marc Hachey online. This book is also available at
CAPS.

Chapter 4: Finding Job Opportunities
CHAPTER 4 Finding Job Opportunities

There are many different ways to find job opportunities. Now that you have gone through all
the steps, you know yourself and your job target, you have your C.V. ready and can succeed
Finding Job
at interviews, you are ready to get proactive at applying for jobs. There are different methods Opportunities
of going about this. Some of them require more work (hidden job market) but have a higher
success rate, while others that require less time and energy (visible job market) but have a lower
Through Networking
success rate. In this section, you will learn how to find job opportunities through: Expanding your
Network
Networking Steps to Expand your
Information interviews Network
CAPS Through Information
Interviews
Internet Identifying your
Other sources Target
Setting up an
Looking for a job proactively is not easy. It requires a major time commitment and lots of Information Interview
discipline. But those who persevere eventually reap the benefits, by of not only finding a job, Asking the Right
Question
but one that is satisfying and matches their individual needs. Following Up
Through CAPS
CAPS Job and
Finding Job Opportunities Through Networking Internship Postings
Career Fairs
Campus recruitment
Did you know that 80 to 85% of all jobs are never advertised? These are jobs in the hidden job Through the Internet
market. It is not necessarily the most qualified people who get the best jobs, but rather, those Through Other Sources
who know how to find them. Using the Telephone
Effectively
Most managers initially attempt to fill job needs informally, by asking their colleagues and Telephone Etiquette
Dealing with
friends if any of them know of a qualified individual. These jobs are in the hidden market. This Secretaries
method is inexpensive, quick and effective. If the manager is unsuccessful, he or she may decide Handling the Request
to use a more formal method such as contacting Human Resources, placing an ad in the paper, a for an Information
magazine, the web, at career centers or by contacting a recruitment firm.The job then becomes Interview
part of the visible job market. Resources on Finding
Job Opportunities
Books available at
Some jobs in the hidden market may not yet even be recognized as vacancies or job openings CAPS
but exist in a more elusive form, like business needs. For example, if an industry is expanding, a Websites
new organization is opens, if a new product is being developed, or a new executive is named to
a new division, it is likely that new staff will be needed in the near future.You need to be alert,
stay informed about this type of development.
The best way to access these opportunities is through networking.
Expanding your Network
Networking refers to contacting as many people as possible, in an organized manner. This

is done to gather information about the job market and to communicate your career goals,
primarily through word-of-mouth and complemented by written communication. As a
general rule, the larger your network is, the more effective your job search will be. Successful
networking involves expanding your network by creating and maintaining new relationships.

Your strategy is to be at the right places at the right times. If this sounds like a case of pure luck
to you, think again. By maximizing the number of contacts you have, you increase the odds
of being in the right place at the right time, ideally, before the manager decides to use a more
formal method of recruiting.
Develop as many contacts with potential employers as possible and maintain, develop and
nurture those relationships. Following up regularly is important, and yet so many job seekers
neglect this step. Keep in touch regularly with people who have been helpful to you by keeping
them informed of your progress. Maintaining your visibility will increase the chances that when
an opportunity arises, one of your contacts will think of you and pass on the information.
Steps to Expand your Network
It may seem intimidating to build a network from scratch. Don’t despair! Following these steps
will make it easy.
1. Build up a list of your primary or warm contacts. Using the primary contact list form
found later in this chapter, write a list of all the people you know even if you doubt
that they might be knowledgeable about your field of interest. Ask everyone on this
list of primary (or warm) contacts whether they know the name of anyone who works
in your target area or anyone who could be helpful to you in your job search. The
names they give you will be your secondary contacts. Try to maximize the number
of contacts. The more people who know you and what you are looking for, the more
chance you will have of getting a job.
2. Create new contacts. You can create your own contacts by joining a professional
association in your field, attending conferences, doing voluntary work and even
attending various social events. The more people you meet and talk too, the higher will
be your chances of meeting potential employers. Always be ready to talk about your
career objective and your skills. Keep in mind that first impressions count, so be aware
of your appearance and behaviour. Although every contact counts, you should give top
priority to those in your targeted area.
3. Make cold calls. Calling companies of interest to you directly 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 an excellent way to increase your network
of contacts. Don’t forget to get more referrals from these people. When you make
a cold call, you may be invited in for an interview, so be prepared to answer and to
ask questions. Cold calling is something that most job searchers are reluctant to do,
especially because of the fear to be rejected. Remember you have nothing to lose. See
it as an adventure and as a way to potentially get a great job. Keep in mind that you are
not begging for a job but that you are offering skills that employers can benefit from.
4. Write to the organization on your target area. Networking exclusively by mail or

e-mail is less effective than networking in person or by telephone, since it is harder
to create relationships with people. You also don’t get an immediate response.
If despite every effort you are not comfortable and articulate on the phone, consider
writing. Make sure that your letter is clearly composed with proper grammar and
syntax. Otherwise, your effort will be wasted.Writing is also a cost effective method if
you are looking for a position out of town.You can either write to ask for information
interviews or send your C.V. and a cover letter.
5. Turn up on their doorstep and ask to see them. Employers respond differently to these
approaches and what works with one may not work with another. If you are afraid of
rejection, this might be the riskiest strategy, since you don’t know how the person will
react; although, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Finding Job Opportunities Through Information Interviews

In the Career Exploration section we suggested information interviews to get more information
about the positions, organizations and industries you are interested in. At this earlier stage of
your job search, the goal of the information interview was to gather information. Now that
you are beyond this stage and have done your research, your focus should shift towards getting
hired. Now you will target and meet senior people in organizations, for example, your future
boss or the person who has the decision-making power. You will state your desire to work for
this company and the reasons why.You will also offer your C.V. and ask for referrals within the
company (instead of in the industry). Remember to send a thank-you note.
Identifying your Target
It is now time to search for the names of people you will want to interview. Some company
websites have a staff directory.You can also use directories for professional associations or phone
a specific company and ask for the name of the person in charge of recruiting in your field.
Setting up an Information Interview
Your aim is to call or to write to all your contacts and try to set up 20 minute information
interviews. You are more likely to get interviews with people whose names you obtained
through your warm contacts.
Calling is the best way of approaching contacts.You will often have to go through a receptionist
or secretary to get to your target person. Focus your request on obtaining the information you
want rather than on whether or not there are any job openings. And remember, the secretary
is potential your ally, not an enemy to be defeated! You will find later in this chapter a list of
guidelines for using the phone effectively, a sample conversation whose aim is to obtain an
information interview, as well as blank telephone record and telephone script sheets for you to
write your own text.
During the information interview, keep in mind the following points:

¡ Probe for information about the organization, its structure, mission, the industry in
general, and about the target person’s career development and ambitions.
¡ Discover who the key contacts are and ask for the names of at least two other people
who might be able to help you.
¡ Make sure you also talk about your own skills, interests and values. Give them a
picture of the way in which you work and think.
¡ Engage in a professional conversation that will leave the impression that you would
be a valuable person to work with who has skills that match the company’s needs.
¡ Establish rapport and ask open-ended questions to keep them talking.

Asking the Right Questions
The following questions are meant to help you get started on the information interview.
Others will flow from your conversation. Depending on the tone and circumstances of the
interview, these questions may be phrased less informally. Be precise and use language that
comes naturally to you. At the end of the interview, ask to be referred to two or more people
for additional information and ask permission to say that the person you have just interviewed
referred you.
How did you get into this field? (Here, you are asking for your contact’s educational
background, and career path.)
What part of your education/experience has been particularly useful in obtaining this
job?
What do think is the best educational/training program for this occupation?
What is your typical day (or week) like?
What do you like the most about your work? What do you like the least or find the most
difficult?
What skills do you find essential in succeeding in this occupation?
What type of person do you think is most suitable for this kind of position?
What are the possible career paths for someone in this occupation? Are there opportunities
for advancement?
Are you a member of professional associations? Which ones are important to belong to?
What trends do you see developing over the next five years?
Is there something else I should know about this occupation?
Do you know someone else working in this field that I can talk to? May I use your
name?
Do you know someone who works on my list of potential employers?
Can I stay in touch with you?
Would you be my mentor (if relevant)?
May I observe you for a day or two (if relevant)?
Following Up
After the interview, write down everything that was said. Write a thank-you note that reflects
the content of the meeting. If you feel the meeting went particularly well, nurture your
relationship with that contact by phoning back in 4 to 6 weeks and asking whether they know
of any new developments you should know about. Keep them informed of the progress in your
job search.
As you do more research and information interviews, you will get a clearer picture of what is
available as well as what you like and where you would like to do it.
Now you can undertake what is called a later stage information interview, which is an
information interview with a person who has the decision-making power to hire you. During
the interview, state your desire to work for this organization and your reasons why, your
reasons should be based on your research on the company, which will have helped you identify
how your skills and interests best fit the needs of that organization.

If you make a good case for how your skills can fulfill their needs, you might be considered for
new openings. At the very least, the interviewer will think of you when asked whether he or
she knows of anyone suitable for a particular opening. Networking will have worked for you.
This information is only a summary of the steps needed to get your foot in the door. For more
information, attend one of CAPS’networking workshops.
Finding Job Opportunities Through CAPS

CAPS tries to make your job search easier by posting jobs and internships as well as organizing
career fairs and coordinating campus recruiment.
CAPS Job and Internship Postings
There are many job posting sites available to you, however, what is interesting about CAPS’
online job and internship posting service is that employers using it are targeting McGill
students. Thousands of jobs and internships are posted every year. You can do a general search
or an advanced search that allows you to find a job related to your degree, your field of interest
and desired location. So make it a habit and visit our job postings regularly!
Career Fairs
CAPS organizes up to 10 career fairs per year in conjunction with student groups. Attending
career fairs is another way to network, meet potential employers and find job opportunities.
Career fairs are great opportunities for students to meet employers and vice versa. They are
useful for giving employers information about yourself so that they may remember you when
they are recruiting. Occasionally, employers will take your C.V. at a career fair. Careers fairs are
held at various times during the year. Check the CAPS events calendar on the CAPS website
to keep up-to-date.
Although employers coming to career fairs are targeting the student groups that help organize
the fair, it is still worth visiting career fairs outside your area because the companies on campus
may be considering students with other backgrounds as well. For example, an expanding
engineering firm coming to the engineering career fair may also need employees for their
Human Resources or Marketing Department. If a company that interests you is visiting campus,
whatever fair they are coming to, show up and try to talk with them about opportunities in
your field of interest. There are some things you can do to prepare for the fair and make it work
for you:
Get the list of employers coming to the career fair and decide which ones you would like
to target.
Research the companies and prepare relevant questions (for example, what are the
skills and qualities they value? What tasks are new employees are given? What training
opportunities exist?)
Prepare a 30-second summary (think of it as an infomercial) of who you are: your skills,
accomplishments, experience, qualities and goals.
Attend the workshop, prepare your C.V. and have it revised at CAPS.
Consider preparing a business card to hand out.
Attend CAPS networking workshop.
When you are at the fair:

Be curious and ask relevant questions based on your research.
Collect company information and business cards from people that interest you.
Make at least three meaningful contacts.
Never be afraid to approach employers; they are there to answer your questions.
Give short, clear answers to questions; sound focused.
Learn what the organization values in its new hires.
Be yourself.
Do not rush your visit, but do not monopolize employers.
Bring copies of your C.V. and your business cards, but keep in mind that not all
organizations collect C.V.’s during fairs.
Dress neatly, smile, make eye contact and shake hands.
Following up after the career fair

To make the most of your time at the fair, it is important to follow up. Here are a few
things you can do:
Develop a plan of action and follow up with companies that impressed you.
Make sure to remind them where you met them and make a reference to your
conversation. Be clear as to why you are contacting them: An information interview?
Tips on how to get into the organization? Referral to a hiring manager? New leads?
Always remember to thank them for their time, insight and assistance–they could be
your link to your new job.
Campus Recruitment
CR participation is for competitive students who are willing to dedicate their time and effort
to the process. If you participate, you’ll spend September through November preparing your
applications and attending company presentations, career development workshops and career
fairs, and hopefully going to interviews.
The competition is fierce during CR. For example, during the 2001-2002 Campus Recruitment
Campaign, over 6500 students applied for the 683 jobs advertised. Most of these jobs were in
the fields of management or engineering. 1140 students were interviewed and less then a fifth
were hired.
If you believe that your candidacy is strong enough to propel you to an interview and that you
can dedicate the time required to compete, we certainly encourage you to participate. We
received positive feedback from students working for these prestigious firms. Some of them
come back on campus to talk about their experience. You can also read some of their success
stories in the Career Success Series section of our website.
If you are called for an interview, ask if the employer will be holding a company briefing and
try to find out any details about what the style of interview will be (case interviews, behavioral,
technical or general). Participate in our interview workshops (first and second) and schedule
a practice interview with a career advisor. Consult our collection of books–The Wet Feet
Press series is particularly useful when applying to large organizations, consulting firms and
investment banks.

Finding Jobs Through the Internet

There are thousands of job postings available on the Internet. However, make sure you do not
spend too much time looking online; you could be using this time to make useful contacts with
real people. Use the Internet as an additional tool and not the ultimate tool to help you get a
job. There are different types of websites you can turn to in order to find work:
Corporate: Most organizations, especially large ones, advertise openings in their own web
sites, which is a fast and easy way of knowing if they are hiring in your field of interest.
Students: There are even some websites that are targeted at students only:
WorkopolisCampus: www.workopoliscampus.com
MonsterTrack: monstertrack.ca
Professional associations: Offer this service to their members searching for a job or for
employees in the field.
Although the following websites are more general and tend to ask for work experience, they
are worth looking into:
Jobboom: www.jobboom.com
Workinfonet: www.workinfonet.ca
Riley Guide: www.rileyguide.com
For more sites, check out CAPS website at www.caps.mcgill.ca.
Finding Job Opportunities Through Other Sources

Although students seekeing a job or an internship have a tendancy to mainly use CAPS services
and the Internet, we encourage you to also use these other resources.
Federal and Provincial Government
With the large number of baby boomers retiring from the government, there are lots of
openings. Federal and provincial governments are looking for new blood. While they do come
on campus to recruit, they also advertise a high number of jobs on their websites:
Public Service Commission of Canada:jobs.gc.ca

Gouvernment du Québec: www.tresor.gouv.qc.ca/ressources/emplois.htm
Placement étudiants du Québec: www.PEQ.mic.gouv.qc.ca
Public Career Fairs, Trade Expositions, Seminars and Conferences
Industries hiring lots of people organize career fairs and participate in various recruiting
activities. Where some career fairs are more general (for example Le Salon de l’emploi, held in
Montreal a few times a year), others are geared towards specific fields like technology or health
care. Attending trade shows, expositions, and professional seminars is a good opportunity for
job seekers to expand their network,meet new contacts and potential employers.
Employment Agencies
Employment agencies obtain mandates from their customers (employers) to find qualified
candidates; therefore, they are always actively searching and recruiting. When an employment
agency interviews and tests you, they may or may not have a specific job in mind. However,
they will normally keep your application in a C.V. bank and refer you to employers searching
for candidates with your background.
Although these agencies can be an additional “tool” for your search, you would be limiting
yourself if you relied exclusively on them to place you. Moreover, as they usually do not give
out the names of their clients, your C.V. may be distributed to employers you may not want to
work for.
If you are hired through an agency, the company will either pay the agency to hire you
themselves or the agency will become your employer and pay you at a lower rate than what
they receive from the company.
Before signing a contract with an executive search or an agency, read it carefuly. Look at what
your responsibilities would be, your rate, eligibility for benefits, payment schedule, contract
dates, extension conditions, disclosure clauses, possibilities and conditions under which you
may or may not take other contract work or a permanent position with the employer you are
placed with.
Newspapers
Newspapers are the most common place for people to look for jobs. Employers will receive
hundreds if not thousands of applicants, making the competition tough. General jobs are usually
listed in the classified ads section of the paper, while professional positions are advertised in the
careers section.
Although newspapers can be a good source of information, you should not make them your
only resource. Use newspapers to identify potential employers, new companies and old ones
that may be expanding. This will help you to tap into the hidden job market.
Periodicals and Specialized Magazines
Employers advertising in periodicals and specialized magazines are seeking for candidates in a
specific field, which can be an asset. However, since they too are paying lots of money for the
ads, they are usually looking to hire candidates with a high level of experience.
You can find the following periodicals and specialized magazines at CAPS:
Artsboard: Canada’s Monthly Employment Bulletin for the Arts
Canada Employment Weekly
The International Educator – TIE
International Employment Gazette
Jobs Jobs Jobs: All Across Canada and World Wide
NewsLinks (International Schools Services)
Transitions Abroad: The Guide to Learning, Living, and Working Overseas
University Affairs / Affaires Universitaires

Using the Telephone Effectively

The telephone is one of the most important tools at your disposal during a job search. Using
the telephone effectively will improve communication, save time, and ultimately increase your
chances of finding a job.
Telephone Etiquette
When using the telephone, the listener cannot rely on visual cues and non-verbal communication
like body language and facial expressions. Therefore, tone of voice, a positive attitude and voice
projection become more important.
When using the telephone:

¡ Smile–it will have a positive effect on your tone of voice
¡ Get to the point quickly
¡ Listen attentively
¡ Show enthusiasm and ask questions
¡ Show a positive attitude
¡ Treat everyone with respect and always remain polite, regardless of circumstances
¡ Keep your objective in mind: to obtain a face-to-face meeting
¡ Be ready to sell yourself
Before making a telephone call:

¡ Verify the name and title of the person to whom you wish to speak.
¡ Make sure you have all necessary documents on hand (C.V., correspondence sent or
received, etc.).
¡ Write a script and rehearse what you are going to say.
During the telephone call:

Suggest a 15 to 20-minute meeting early in the morning (8:00 or 8:15, before daily business
activities begin) or at the end of the day (4:15 or 4:30).
Dealing with Secretaries
The secretary’s job is to screen calls to prevent unnecessary work interruption. Do not treat
the secretary as your enemy. He or she can be an important facilitator in helping you reach the
person you are calling. Knowing the name of the secretary can be helpful in personalizing your
call.
Your strategy is to always stay in control of the situation. Don’t let the secretary come up with
an acceptable reason for you not to get through.This is much easier to do if the focus of your call
is on obtaining certain information, and not on whether or not there are any job openings.

Be prepared to answer the following questions in response to your query:
“What is your call in reference to?”

The best strategy to use is to be honest and positive. State what type of information you are
looking for. If someone has referred you, make sure to mention his or her name.
“The person is unavailable”.

Say that you are hard to reach and ask for the best time to call back.You do not want to be put
into a position of waiting for a call that may never come.You’re in control. Ask at what time the
person arrives in the morning. Early morning is usually the best time to call.
“Human Resources will be able to help you, I’ll transfer you.”

or “We’re not hiring right now.”
The secretary thinks that you are looking for a job opening. Emphasize that you are calling to
obtain information.
The key to getting through is persistence. If you are able to reply intelligently, logically and
confidently to the secretary’s screening statements, you will most likely eventually get through.
Studies show that it takes an average of 7 or 8 calls before reaching the intended person.
Remember to thank the secretary after every call, regardless of whether or not you get through.
Once you do get through, have your script ready. Remember that your objective is to obtain a
face-to-face meeting.
Handling the Request for an Information Interview
Once you’ve gotten through to the person you wish to reach, you must ask for an interview. A
telephone conversation aiming to an information interview might go like this:
Salutation: Greet the person by name.

Identification: Identify yourself. If you were referred, name the person who
referred you.
Objective: State why you are calling, otherwise, your listener will get
defensive and wonder what this stranger wants.
Qualify and
sell yourself: Identify where you are in your career and say something that
will catch your listener’s attention, that will impress your
listener and arouse his or her interest. (This will be a 30 second
summary.)
Question: You will most likely succeed in your objective to obtain a
meeting if you develop a rapport with the person. To do this,
you must succeed in getting the other person to talk. Ask a
question about the industry, the company, the department, the
function–any job-related question you want answered.
Dialogue: This is your chance to create a rapport. Listen attentively to

what the other person says and ask other questions.

Suggest meeting: Don’t talk for too long. Remember the person you are talking
to is probably quite busy. If you have succeeded in establishing
a rapport, it should be fairly easy to get a meeting. Suggest a
specific time, preferably before the business day begins and state
that the meeting will only take 10 to 20 minutes.
If the person cannot meet you for whatever reason, don’t give
up. Request permission to call again. Offer to send your C.V.
and follow up afterwards if you are interested in working for
that particular company.Ask for leads (names of people to
contact) and request permission to use the person’s name when
you contact these people.
Thank the person for his or her time regardless of the outcome.
Example 1:*
Operator: CJTR Radio
Student: Hello. Could you please tell me the name of your program
director?
Operator: Her name is Lee Davis.
Student: Thank you. Would you please connect my call to her office?
Operator: Good morning. Ms. Davis’office.
Student: Yes, may I speak to with Ms. Davis please?
Receptionist: May I ask what is regarding please?
Student: Yes. I am a student at McGill University, and I’m conducting
some research in the field of broadcasting. I understand Ms.
Davis might have some of the information I’m looking for.
Receptionist: Fine, I’ll put you through.
Ms. Davis: Lee Davis speaking.
Student: Good morning, Ms. Davis. My name is __________. I am a
third year Political Science student at McGill University and
I’m interested in pursuing a career in radio broadcasting. At
this point I’m trying to find out as much about the field as I can
before making any definite career decisions. Would it be possible
to arrange an appointment with you to talk about your career in
radio?
Ms. Davis: We don’t have any opening right now, but perhaps if you send in
a C.V., I can keep you in mind for future openings.
Student: Actually, I’m not looking for a position right now. At this point
* Adapted from ACCIS, The Looking forWork Series Volume 3 (1991).

I would like to find out more about the field of broadcasting in

general. Would you have about 20 minutes to speak with me
some time next week?
Ms. Davis: Sure. I’d be happy to. Is Thursday at 2:00 p.m. all right?
Student: Yes. That time would be fine. Thank you very much.
Example 2
Salutation: Hello Ms. Smith
Identification: My name is Norman Brown.
Objective: I would like to pursue a career in Marketing and am presently
researching potential employers.
Infomercial: I’ll be graduating from McGill at the end of this year and have
recently completed a consumer survey on the use of ________.
Question: I really enjoyed this experience and was wondering if conducting
market surveys is a major component of the activities in your
marketing department?
Dialogue
Suggest meeting: I would very much like to meet with you for a few minutes in
order to make your acquaintance and also to hand deliver my
C.V. Would you be available tomorrow at 9:00 for a meeting of
about 15 minutes? Or if you prefer, I could drop by towards the
end of the day, say 4:30?
If yes: If no:
Thank you very much Ms. Smith. I am May I send my C.V. in the mail and call you
looking forward to meeting you. again once you have received it? Would you
know of any other people I might contact
in the industry who might have more
information on possible career in marketing?
Thank you very much for your time.
Good-bye Ms. Smith.

Primary Contact List

(Use extra space if necessary. Remember, the longer your list, the higher your chances of success.)
People I Know From School

(University, college, high school)
Professors Company presentation
McGill advisors and counsellors Alumnies
Classmates Mentors
Extra-curricular activities Field studies, co-op programs
Career fairs Internships
Other
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 15
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
10 20
People I Know From Work

(Summer, part-time, volunteer)
Co-workers Competitors
Supervisors Professional associations
Clients Other
Suppliers
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 15
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
10 20

People I Know From Leisure/Family Activities

Family (extended) Neighbours
Sports Other
Friends Hobbies
Clubs
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 15
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
10 20
Other People
Doctors Accountants
Bankers Community business people
Dentists Religious leaders
Insurance agents Other
Lawyers Store owners
Chamber of commerce
1 11
2 12
3 13
4 14
5 15
6 16
7 17
8 18
9 19
10 20

Telephone Script
Salutation:
Identification:
Objective:
Infomercial:
(30-second
summary)
Question:
(optional)
Dialogue
Suggest
meeting:
If yes: If no:

Telephone Record
Company Name: Date:

Contact Person: Address:
Title:
Tel:
E-mail Address: Website:
Referred by:
Notes:
Next Action:

Resources on Finding Job Opportunities
Damico, Joan. How to be a Permanent Temp.Winning Strategies for Thriving in Today’sWorkplace.

Franklin Lakes, NJ: The Career Press, 2002. (Section 3.1)
Lerner, Marcy and al. Vault Guide to Schmoozing. New York: Vault Inc., 2001. (Section 3.14)
Marler, Patty and Jan Bailey Mattia. Networking Made Easy. Lincolnwood, IL: VGM Career
Horizons, 1998. (Section 3.14)
Mediacorp Canada. Canadian Directory of Search Firms. Toronto: Mediacorp Canada, 2002.
(Section 5.31 on Reserve)
Schwartz, Steven. How to Make HOT Cold Calls. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing Co., 1997.
(Section 3.14)
Youth Employment Services. Head-hunters-Directory of Greater Montreal. Montreal:Youth
Employment Services, 2001. (Section 5.32 on Reserve)
Youth Employment Services. Placement Agency – Directory of Greater Montreal. Montreal:
Youth Employment Services, 2001. (Section 5.32 on Reserve)
For more books on finding job opportunities, consult the CAPS career resource library.
Websites
WetFeet.com > ManagingYour Career > Networking www.wetfeet.com/advice/networking.asp

Read a collection of articles on networking and informational interviews.
For more links, consult the CAPS website.

Chapter 5: Interviews and Job Offers
CHAPTER 5 Interviews and Job Offers

Interviews
Interviews
and Job Offers
An interview is an exchange of information between a job seeker and an employer. For the
employer, it is an opportunity to evaluate the suitability of the job seeker for the job. For you,
Interviews
the job seeker, it is an opportunity to evaluate the suitability of the employer and the position
Preparing for an
with respect to your career objective. Interview
Before You Go
Change is inevitable in today’s work world. Most people will choose to change jobs and/ During the Interview
or careers many times in their life. This means we go through more and more interviews Answering Interview
Questions
throughout our career path.
Types of Questions
Closing the Interview
It is important that you take the time to properly prepare for this part of your job search. After the Interview
Remember, the interview is your opportunity to shine, so don’t miss it! One Last Word
Evaluating Job Offers
Is This Position Right
Employer’s Objectives Job Seeker’s Objectives
For You?
Collect relevant data about your Convince the employer that you Negotiating The Offer
Resources on Interviews
background, knowledge, skills, have the qualifications, background, and Job Offers
abilities, and career aspirations skills, and abilities required for the Books available at
Determine whether your position CAPS
Websites
qualifications are consistent with the Evaluate whether this company and
requirements of the position position represent a good fit with
Evaluate your personality, your your career aspirations.
motivation for the job, and your
communication skills
Assess your potential for future
advancement.
This section focuses on the first interview, which generally lasts approximately 30 to 45
minutes.
Other interviews, like the second interview can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. A second
interview could take the form of a panel interviews, be part of a series of interviews, include
diagnostic, skills, or technical tests, cases, in-basket exercises, company or department tours,
social situations (luncheons, etc.), and group interviews. This section covers these types of
interviews briefly, and refer you to various resources for additional information.

Preparing for an Interview*

In order to make the best match possible between your background, qualifications, interests
and career aspirations, and a given position with a given employer, it is important that you
be able to articulate knowledge about yourself as well as about the job and the employer you
are targeting. There are three simple things you should keep in mind when preparing for an
interview:
1. Know yourself
To sell yourself by talking about your skills, abilities, and interests, it is essential to take the
time to do a self-evaluation as well as a complete assessment of your background (education,
employment, extra-curricular activities, volunteer work, etc.). If you have not already done so,
do the self-assessment exercises in chapter 1.
2. Know the position and the employer

The knowledge gained from researching the position or the organization before the interview
will help you ask and respond to questions in an informed and thoughtful manner.
Often the best source of information about a position or an employer is someone who works
for or has worked for that employer, or someone that has the similar position in another
company. If you know someone (anyone at all) who works at the company you are interested
in, make it a point to contact them for information about the organization. Ask the person for
names of other people in the company that could be helpful to you.
3. Make the match
When you have a good understanding of yourself, the job, and the employer, match the
elements of your background to the requirements of the position. As mentioned earlier, the
best way to answer interview questions is to use the P.A.R. formula. For example, if a job
requires good communication skills, you could use the following experiences indicating that
you meet the qualifications:
¡ Delivered both prepared and impromptu speeches to groups of 15 to 60 people
(debating club)
¡ Wrote and presented creative marketing research paper receiving “A” grade
(McGill University)
¡ Effectively persuaded five corporate clients to adopt multidimensional advertising
approach (summer job at Ambience Advertising)

Use the following form to write down specific experiences that demonstrate that you have the
requirements for a job.
Job requirements My validating experience

Delivered both prepared and impromptu
speeches to groups of 15 to 60 people
Wrote and presented creative marketing
Example: Communication skills
research paper receiving “A” grade
Effectively persuaded five corporate clients to
adopt multidimensional advertising approach
Worked 20 hours per week while pursuing
Example: Organizational skills full-time university studies and maintaining a
GPA of 3.7/4

Before You Go
Preparing for an interview is somewhat like preparing for an exam, so remember to get a good
night’s sleep.You should review your C.V. so that you know it off by heart and you are prepared
to elaborate on it. Be ready to support everything you have written by using concrete examples.
Also, remember to brush up on your knowledge of the company.
What to Bring
Gather all the materials you intend to take with you to the interview and put them in a
briefcase.You should bring:
¡ 2 or 3 copies of your C.V. in the event that it has been misplaced
¡ Your references (at least three names)
¡ Your list of questions for the interviewer(s)
¡ Pen and paper
¡ Your portfolio or samples of relevant work (if applicable)
¡ Name and phone number of the interviewer should you be delayed for any
reason
Your Appearance
Your choice of attire should be suitable for both the occasion and the work environment.
Generally speaking, it is advisable to dress a little more formally than you would if you were
actually performing the job. If in doubt about what is suitable, dress on the conservative side.
Remember: Keep it simple and sharp!
Travel light and avoid using a backpack: stick to something a little more professional, like a
briefcase or tote.
Regardless of the job you are applying for, good grooming is essential. The following are worth
mentioning:
¡ Avoid excessive use of aftershave or perfume.
¡ Avoid smoking and eating foods that may give you bad breath.
¡ Make sure your hands and fingernails are clean.
¡ Make sure your clothes are clean and freshly pressed.
¡ Make sure your hair is clean and brushed, and you have showered and applied
deodorant.
¡ For men, make sure you are cleanly shaven or that your beard or moustache is
neatly trimmed. Wear dark dress socks.
¡ For women, avoid wearing too much make-up, flashy nail polish, and large dangling
earings. Conservative colors are preferable (dark blue, cream, grey, etc.).
¡ Avoid wearing revealing attire.
Have a Positive Attitude

Assume a positive mental attitude. Believe in yourself and in your abilities. Think about how
much fun this job would be.
If your attitude is, “I’ll probably never get this job,” “They’ll definitely pick someone with
more experience” or “I don’t know why I’m even going to this interview,” etc. you may create
a self-fulfilling prophecy. Your negative thinking will work its way into the interview and will
definitely not impress the interviewer.
Tips For a Phone Interview
To save time and or traveling expenses, some employers do a first screening on the phone.
Always be ready for this possibility.
¡ Keep your C.V. and a writing pad by the telephone.

¡ If the employer catches you in a situation that would affect your performance,
ask if you can call back and schedule a time that would be conveniant for both
of you.
¡ Inform everyone you live with that you may receive calls from employers.
¡ During the interview, follow the same rules that we described previously (only
you won’t have to dress up!).
CAPS can provide a telephone and room for you to conduct your phone interview.
During the Interview
It’s normal to be nervous during an interview. However, the following advice will help you
keep your cool and come across as competent and self-confident.
First Impressions Last
You never have a second chance to make a first impression. Some studies have shown that
interviewers decide whether they should seriously consider a candidate within the first three
or four minutes of the interview.
First impressions can be based on many subtle things: your handshake, your smile, your ability
to engage in small talk, your body posture, your clothes, your tone of voice, your enthusiasm,
your sincerity, etc. Keep all of these in mind and if you have the chance, practice.
Body Language
Communication happens on many different levels. You can communicate your confidence
through something as simple as a firm handshake, eye contact, or a smile.
To be prepared for the introductory handshake, hold things (like your briefcase) in your left
hand. Wait until the interviewer extends his or her hand to shake. If you are worried about
sweaty palms, wash your hands and sprinkle them with talcum powder. You can also keep a
tissue or handkerchief handy. After the handshake, wait to be invited to sit before you do so.
Remember to smile and make eye contact throughout the interview. Eye contact is most
important. Look into the person’s eyes while he or she is addressing you, and look periodically
in his or her eyes while you are answering questions. (Staring, however will make the
interviewer feel uncomfortable.) If you are in a panel interview, look at the person who is
asking the question, then look at all the people around the table while you are answering.

Verbal Communication
In an interview you will not only be evaluated on the answers that you provide, but on how you
deliver your answers. It is absolutely important to be enthusiastic and expressive throughout
the interview.
Your voice is an important tool in an interview. Make sure that your voice projects. This will
be easier if you are sitting up straight. Do not slouch, rock back and forth, or balance on the
back legs of your chair. Sit forward—look alert and enthusiastic.You may cross your ankles but
avoid crossing your legs. Also, be aware of nervous ticks that you might have – you don’t want
to distract the interviewer.
Equally important is the use of proper grammar, especially if you are being interviewed in your
native language. If you are being interviewed in a second language, grammatical errors are
more acceptable. Keep in mind that when an interviewer changes language, you are expected
to follow his or her cue.
If you are having an interview in French, always use “vous” even if the interviewer addresses you
as “tu” or is younger than you.
While answering the questions avoid using fillers, such as “you know”, “basically”, “things like
that”, “um”, “ok”, etc. If you are hesitant or need time to think, don’t worry about stopping for
a moment before answering. This will help you avoid these awkward fillers.
Always address the interviewer formally (Mr., Ms., Dr. etc.) unless expressly invited by the
interviewer to use his or her first name.
Never speak badly about previous employers or volunteer negative information about yourself.
Always speak in positive terms and learn to turn negatives into positives.
Last but not least, do not interrupt! This is a very common complaint from interviewers.
Answering Interview Questions
The following tips will help you answer questions effectively:

¡ Use the P.A.R. formula.
¡ Answers should be brief. If the interviewer is quiet when you have completed, you
can ask if he/she would like you to elaborate or expand.
¡ Occasionally you can repeat part of the question as you formulate your answer.
¡ If you go on a tangent, acknowledge it. You can say something like, “I’m off topic
right now, you were asking me about…” then continue to answer the question.
Or you can say, “Perhaps I’m being a little vague. Let me clarify.” This shows self-
awareness.
¡ Know when to stop. Avoid rambling or you’ll lose the interviewers’ interest.
¡ If the employer poses an unclear question, ask for clarification.
¡ If you are asked a question and you really don’t know the answer, you could say,
“I’m sorry I don’t have any experience in that area.” However, try to come up with
a solution on how you would go about finding the information. Sometimes the
employer simply wants to know if you can take initiative and think on your feet.

¡ Be honest and answer questions to the best of your knowledge. Make sure all the
information on your resume is honest. If you’re caught in a lie, your whole resume
will be questioned.
¡ Be specific. Use examples: One of the most common mistakes people make in
interviews is speaking in generalities and abstractions.There is no surer way to lose
the interviewer’s interest. Using examples, anecdotes, and relevant details serve
much the same purpose in an interview as photographs do in a news story. They
provide illustrations of what you are saying and keep the interview interesting.
Not only do examples make you more interesting, they also provide proof that you
have experienced or handled a given situation in the past; they reinforce that you
would be able to handle a similar situation again.
¡ Be positive: In interviews, avoid using the word “no” or describing yourself in
terms of what you are not. For example, if an employer asks if you have experience
using a particular software program, instead of simply saying “no,” add that you
can learn it and if it is the case, highlight the fact that you are quick at learning
new computer software or that you had to learn a new one very quickly in your
previous job.
Types of Questions
Questions are not always predictable, but if you have prepared, you shouldn’t have difficulty.
The following are categories of questions you may get:
¡ “Chit-chat” questions or ice breakers often start an interview: “I see you play intramural
hockey. How about them Habs, eh!” or “ What’s McGill like these days? I graduated from
there 20 years ago.”
¡ Behavioural questions are based on past experiences which try to get a picture of how you
will act in the future: “What was one obstacle you had to overcome in a job and how did
you do it?” or “When you had to do a job that was particularly uninteresting, how did you
deal with it?”
¡ Technical questions are questions related to the practical or theoretical knowledge you
need to do the job: “What impact do you think the EU has had on Canadian trade policy?”
“Why is the density of concrete important?” “How would you implement whole language
learning in your classroom?”
¡ Certain questions assess the level of your self-knowledge with respect to skills, interests
future targets, and past accomplishments. These could be general, like:
¡ “What do you look for in a job?”; “What are your short and long term career goals?”;
“What are your greatest strengths or weaknesses?”; “What skills did you develop in
your last two jobs?”
They could also be related specifically to their organization:
¡ “In what ways do you believe you can make a contribution to our organization?”;
“Why should we hire you?”; “How much do you know about the job for which you
are applying?”

Below is a list of typically asked interview questions. Take the time to answer them in writing.
Writing down the answers forces you to structure your response and reinforces your thinking
process.
Sample Interview Questions

Questions can serve different purposes.
1. Some questions serve to find out if you can do the job (in addition to questions specific
to your functional area):
Tell me about yourself.
Tell me about your responsibilities on your last job.
How did your responsibilities evolve or progress during your last job?
Describe the process you go through to plan and implement a project?
How long would it take you to start making a contribution to our organization /
department?
What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?
Give me an example of a time when you’ve taken the initiative on something.
In past performance reviews, which areas of your work have been singled out as
needing improvement?
What are your major strengths and weaknesses?
2. Some questions are meant to find out if you’ll fit in:

Tell me about a time when you had to work under much more pressure than
usual.
Do you think you’ve done the best work you are capable of?
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
Describe your energy level.
What will your references say about you when I speak with them?
Tell me about a difficult decision you’ve had to make.
Do you prefer working alone or in groups?
When working with a team, which role do you usually take?
In which kind of atmosphere do you work best?
What salary expectations do you have?
Undergraduate, graduate students and recent grads are typically asked questions like
these:
How did you choose your undergraduate / graduate degree?
Why did you choose your major in ________?
Tell me about your senior project / thesis / other major project?
How has your university experience prepared you for a career?
Describe your most rewarding extracurricular experience while in school.
If you had to do it over again, how would you plan your education differently?
Are your grades representative of your abilities?
What was your worst grade and how did it happen?
Which teaching styles do you learn best from?
How would your classmates or your friends describe you?

Difficult Questions
There are a few typically difficult questions that come up in interviews. It is a good idea to
be prepared to answer them.
Tell me about yourself?

If you are asked this question, it will be early in the interview, right after the small talk. If
you have not prepared for this question ahead of time, you will most likely start searching
for words, panic, and perhaps say things that are not very relevant—not a good start! This
is where you will make your first impression and set the tone for the interview.
There are different ways of answering this question. One way if to prepare a statement
about yourself that describes your personality, or the essence of who you are, and then
support this statement with specific examples. Make a match between your skills and the
skills required for the position.
Example: I am a student in Industrial relations and I will complete my degree in April

2004. Through my courses I have learned a lot about human resources, labour law and
organizational behavior. My summer position as a Coordinator at the Montreal General
Hospital has given me the opportunity to work in a unionized environment, which I believe
will be important for this position. I also had to reveal a high level of professionalism
when dealing with doctors and other health professionals. In this position as well as in my
involvement in the Arts Student Association, I have demonstrated my organizational and
my leadership skills. I am looking for a position in human resources where I will continue
to develop my knowledge and acquire experience through challenging assignments.
Another way of answering this question is to talk about your interests in terms of why
you chose your particular major, how your career has evolved up until now and end your
answer by stating your career objective.You can also incorporate an achievement or two in
your response.
What are your weaknesses?

The worst thing you can say is that you don’t have any. We all have weaknesses, but in an
interview situation, you must pick them carefully and present them realistically.
Think of weaknesses as strengths carried to the extreme. Any strength, if carried to its
extreme, becomes a weakness. For example, having a result-oriented management style
carried to the extreme becomes and autocratic management style. Being attentive to
detail to the extreme, becomes compulsiveness. Being flexible to the extreme becomes
indecisiveness.
Choose something honest, then propose that you are working on a solution. It’s the best
way of turning a weakness into strength. The most common answer is, “I’m a perfectionist”
but this is now considered to be a cliché. Try to think of something more original and
something that truly reflects your personality.
To discuss and practice responses to difficult interview questions, attend an interview

workshop and/or make an appointment for a mock interview with one of our career
advisors.

Difficult Questions (continued)
What salary expectations do you have?

When asked about salary, avoid giving a specific number. You don’t want to quote a salary
that is too high and price yourself out of a job. You also don’t want to give a salary that is
too low and undervalue yourself.
If you are applying for a position that is really difficult to get into, and are going into it for
the experience, you could say that the challenge and the experience you will gain at the job
far outweighs the importance of salary; but only say that if you really mean it, as employers
will be able to pick out insincerity.
Otherwise, you can say you expect to be compensated at the competitive salary rate or
give a wide range like upper 30’s to lower 40’s. Make sure you do some research before
going into the interview.You could then say, “According to my research, someone with that
position and my qualifications should be making around…”
At a first interview, do not bring up the subject of salary or benefits, unless the employer
asks you. If you bring up the subject of salary in a first interview, you may be perceived as
being more interested in salary than in opportunity. If the employer has not brought up the
subject of salary by the end of the second interview, it is acceptable for you to do so.
Illegal Questions
There are some questions which, by law, a potential employer may not as you. For example,
“Are you married?” or “Do you have any children?” Employers usually ask these kinds of
questions to find out if you will be able to travel. If you get insulted and respond rudely, forget
the job. You could say something like, “I’ve reviewed the job and its specifications carefully
and I feel that I can fulfill the mandate.” Read between the lines of the question. For instance,
educational boards may ask religion-related questions.
Dealing With Questions You Don’t Want to Answer

We all have areas in our pasts that we are ashamed of and would rather not talk about. These
may include poor grades, being fired from a job, personality conflicts, etc. Most people, when
asked a sensitive question, have a natural tendency to apologize and confess, and before they
know it, they dig themselves into a hole that is very hard to get out of. By anticipating and
preparing for such questions, you will be able to emphasize the positive—like what you learned
from the experience, and minimize the negative. You will leave a positive impression with the
interviewer. The key is to be prepared.

Prepare yourself by completing the exercises below.

Review your C.V. and prepare three questions that you would rather not be asked in an
interview.
1.
2.
3.
How could you answer each of these questions in an honest but positive way? Write your
answers in the space below.
1.
2.
3.
Closing the Interview
If you have the opportunity, you should summarize your qualifications for the position and
demonstrate how you could benefit the organization. Use past achievements as examples. The
closing is important as it provides an opportunity for you to wrap up and summarize your most
important points.
Questions for the Interviewer
Usually, towards the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions.
If the interviewer has answered all your questions during the course of the interview, let him or
her know that this is the case. Saying that you have no questions may be interpreted as a lack of
interest.You should always have 1 to 2 questions prepared for this moment. It is important that
you ask well thought out questions, but they should not be too long or complicated. Remember
this is not the time to ask about salary or benefits.
After having researched the organization and acknowledged what is important to you in terms
of your own needs, you should come up with a set of questions that are of genuine interest
to you. Enthusiasm has a way of showing through when it is real.The more you know about a
company, the more informed and relevant your questions will be. Asking questions will also
provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the company in addition to
providing you with valuable information that will help you in making a career choice. Don’t
ask questions simply for the sake of asking questions in order to look good or in order to
impress the interviewer. That is a shortsighted strategy and one the interviewer can usually see
through.

Following is a sample of questions* students typically ask in an interview situation. Use them as
Tip a guide, but formulate your own questions.
CAPS offers What are the potential career paths for someone starting in this position?
workshops on both How much responsibility will I be given in this job?
first and second
In what special projects might I be involved should I be hired for this position?
interviews.
Can you tell me more about your training program?
How does this position fit into the organization’s structure?
Your annual report indicates that your marketing department is twice the size it was
five years ago. Is this trend likely to continue in the next five years?
Could you tell me why this position became available?
What would you describe as the most notable strengths of your company?
What do you anticipate will be the major challenges faced by your organization?
I have read that your company has sponsored various fund-raising initiatives for
charitable organizations. Can you tell me more about this aspect of your community
involvement?
After the Interview
Consider your performance. What did you do well? What questions were you asked that you
didn’t expect? What do you have to improve? The interview self-evaluation form in this chapter
will help you.
Sending a Thank-You Letter or E-mail
If, after the interview, your interest in the position remains strong, it is a good idea to send
the interviewer a thank-you note either by post or e-mail. If a second interview is scheduled
immediately after the first one, wait until the second one to send your thank-you note.
The contents of your note may include the following:*

An expression of appreciation for the interviewer’s time
A reference to the interview date and position for which you are a candidate
A statement of how your interest in the job has been enhanced as a result of
information supplied by the interviewer
A reiteration of your qualifications, including any relevant details about your
background you neglected to mention during the interview
An indication that you are looking forward to hearing from the interviewer
Your thank-you note should be sent as soon as possible after the interview, preferably within
24 hours. It should be brief, error-free, and typed on the same quality and color paper as your
C.V.
Since few job seekers take this step, your letter will reinforce in the interviewer’s mind your
credentials and interest in the position. In a close competition, it could even be a factor in your
being chosen.
You will find samples of thank you letters in English and French in Appendix C.

Interview Self-Evaluation Form

Strongly Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree disagree
1. I emphasized my strengths.
2. I gave specific, descriptive answers to
questions.
3. I gave examples to support my statement
about myself.
4. I allowed myself to control the course of
the interview when necessary.
5. I felt relaxed.
6. I appeared relaxed (without looking laid-
back).
7. I projected confidence that I was the right
person for the job.
8. My body language (eye contact, facial
expressions, hand movements, etc.)
contributed to what I was saying.
9. I used my voice effectively to contribute
to what I was saying.
10. I projected a professional image.
11. I conveyed enthusiasm about the job.
12. I asked substantive questions.
13. The interviewer seemed to think I asked
good questions.
14. I demonstrated knowledge of the
position.
15. I demonstrated knowledge of the
company.
16. I described the contribution I could
make to the company.
17. I was attuned to what the interviewer
needed to know.
18. I made the interviewer want to hire me.
Things that I would like to improve for my next interview:

Following Up*
If you have not heard from the employer by the date indicated, do not assume that you have
been turned down. Take the initiative and call. Politely inquire as to your status regarding the
selection process. If the employer is still considering the decision, the interest you demonstrate
through your call may improve your chances of being offered the job. However, don’t overdo it:
in some cases, one phone call will be sufficient. If you feel that you are annoying the employer,
don’t call back. If you are not sure, ask the employer whether or not you may call back.
One Last Word
Preparing for, participating in, and evaluating your job interviews may seem like a lot of work
– and it is. As overwhelming as if may feel at first, remember that the process can also be a very
exciting and rewarding one and that assistance is available if you need it. Consider also, the
number of hours that you will be spending on the job. The time and effort invested in this part
of your job search will help to ensure that they are happy ones.
Handling a Rejection*
Should you be advised that another candidate has been hired, accept the information in a
gracious, business-like manner. Try to use the experience to your advantage by respectfully
asking the interviewer for constructive feedback on your performance. As a courtesy, send a
thank-you note to express your appreciation for this critique.
The Job Offer

A job offer may be communicated verbally or in writing. If, based on your post-interview
evaluation, there is no doubt in your mind that the job is right for you, inform the employer that
you are happy to accept the offer and that you are looking forward to joining the company.
In the event that you elect to turn down a job offer, express your sincere appreciation for the
interest shown in you and provide a tactful explanation for your decision.
If you have not completed all of your interviews, are waiting for the results of other competitions,
or have any reservations about the position, you may wish to ask for some time to think about
your decision. Most employers understand, as they want you to feel confident that you are
making the right choice. Reassure the employer that you are interested in the job, briefly state
your reasons for requesting the time and specify a date by which you will respond.
You need to evaluate the job to see if it corresponds to your aspirations. If it doesn’t, think of
what you might be able to negotiate to help you get closer to your expectations.
Job negotiations can be very challenging. Remember, negotiation does not start and end with
salary; there are many other things that can be negotiated. It is also important to keep in mind
that it is easier to negotiate before you accept a job offer.

What do you need to think about and how will you make your decisions? You’ll find answers
to these questions in this section, as well as tips and tools to help you assess the position and
negotiate effectively.
Is This Position Right for You?
Before you answer this question, look at the self-assessment exercise you did at the beginning of
the handbook. In that section you determined your interests, skills and values, your preferred
working conditions, and the kind of people you would like to work with. All of these are
summarized in your ideal job profile.
At the end of this chapter, you’ll find a position profile table, which will help you determine
your likes and dislikes, the skills, the working conditions and the people environment that are
a part of this position. Once you have filled this out for the position(s) you are considering,
compare the results with your ideal job profile. How many of these areas match up? What
are the areas you are willing to compromise on? What are the areas you are not willing to
compromise on?
Negotiating the Offer
It is important to remember that you are generally not in a position to negotiate money or
anything else until you have been offered the position. Negotiating is not an easy task and most
people feel that this is an uncomfortable subject.
Having been a student and/or out of the job market for a long time, the idea of having a job can
be so attractive that we often are not willing to jeopardize our chances of getting hired because
of a salary issue. Therefore, we are ready to accept any salary just to get a job or into a company.
Keep in mind that employers know this and may take advantage of the situation. Others will
simply use good negotiation strategies to minimize their costs.
You should head into a negotiation prepared with information. Research and information
are the keys to being confident in your ability to negotiate. Gather information about your
prospective employer and learn what they do, the company’s financial position, status in the
business community, successes and failures, and salary scales for the position. You also may
want to look at the potential for career growth in the company. Do they have internal staffing
policies? Are employees trained and promoted to higher positions? Perks may include company
cars, club memberships, parking, and expense accounts. This type of information can be found
on the web, at CAPS, and through professional associations.
When you are asked about your salary expectations, rely on the information you have obtained
from your research. It is always preferable to first ask what salary they have in mind. If the
employer insists that you give a number, give a salary range and then mention where you see
yourself fitting within that range without setting on a specific amount. This gives you room to
move and will keep you from underselling yourself, which indicates a lack of confidence. Being
confident and informed will earn you respect and may even increase your chances of being
hired.

Before you negotiate your salary, remember the value of benefits and perks. Some benefits
you will be able to negotiate while others are fixed. Benefits such as stock options, bonuses,
employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, vacation time, and sick leave are negotiable.
Others such as insurance plans, pension plans, sick/personal days, stock options may be
fixed. All of these benefits and perks should be weighed out along with the salary that’s being
offered.
Other Things to Negotiate and/or to Consider When Negotiating:

Insurance plan: Profit sharing
Medical Stock options
Dental Tuition reimbursement
Eye care Health club membership
Life
Accidental death Dependent care
Travel Employee assistant program
Disability insurance Parking reimbursement
Vacation Commuting cost reimbursement
Holidays Expense reimbursement
Sick/personal days Child care
401k plan (deferred retirement plan) Overtime/travel premiums/comp
Pension plan time
Keep in mind that your first job after graduation is often a stepping-stone; you don’t want to
be caught in a dead-end situation!

Position Profile
Interests: List your five most predominant like and dislikes about this position.
Likes Dislikes
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
Skills: List the top five skills required for this position.
1
2
3
4
5
Values: List the four life and work values that this position will fulfill.
Life values Work values
1 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
People Environment: Complete the sentence.

I will be working with people who are:
Working Conditions: List the top four working conditions.
1
2
3
4

Resources on Interviews and Job Offers
Books available at CAPS (Section 3)
Interviews and Cases

Allen, Jeffrey G. The Complete Q & A Interview Book. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.
Fry, Ron. 101 excellentes réponses aux questions d’entrevue. Montreal: Les Editions Reynald
Goulet Inc., 2000.
Bhatawedekhar, D. Vault Guide to Finance Interviews. New York: Vault, 2001.
WetFeet Press. WetFeet Insider Guide Beat the Street: Investment Banking Interviews. San
Fransisco: WetFeet Press, 2002.
_____. Ace your Case! Consulting Interviews. San Fransisco: WetFeet Press, 2002.
_____. Ace your Case II: Fifteen Questions. San Fransisco: WetFeet Press, 2002.
_____. Ace your Case III: Practice Makes Perfect. San Fransisco: WetFeet Press, 2002.
Porot, Daniel and Frances Bolles Haynes. 101 Salary Secrets: How to Negotiate like a Pro.
Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 2000.
Chapman, Jack. NegotiatingYour Salary: How to Make $1,000 a Minute. Berkeley: Ten Speed
Press, 1996.
Krannich, Ron and Caryl Krannich. Dynamite Salary Negotiations: KnowWhatYou’reWorth and
Get It! Manassas Park, VA: Impact Publications, 2001.
For more books about interviews and evaluating job offers, consult the CAPS career resource
library.
Websites
www.canadiancareers.com
This Canadian site is one of the best career-related websites around. It contains
everything you want to know about job and career issues in Canada.
www.workingoverseas.com/sample.htm
Read Chapter 26 Interviewing for an International Job of The Canadian Guide to Working
and Living Overseas (3rd edition) by Jean-Marc Hachey online. This book is also available at
CAPS.

Appendix A: Key Words for C.V.’s and Cover Letters
APPENDIX A Key Words for C.V.’s and Cover Letters

Use the following words and action verbs when writing your C.V. and cover letter.
Communication
Advertised Displayed Lectured Referred
Called Distributed Oriented Related
Circulated Edited Presented Showed
Coached Emphasized Promoted Translated
Communicated Familiarized Publicized Transmitted
Conferred Informed Recommended Tutored
Corresponded Instructed Redirected Wrote
Discussed Interested Represented
Leadership
Administered Delegated Governed Selected
Allocated Designated Hired Settled
Appointed Directed Led Signed
Approved Disapproved Managed Specified
Assigned Discharged Oversaw Sponsored
Authorized Encouraged Presided Stipulated
Awarded Enforced Recommended Supervised
Conducted Evaluated Regulated
Controlled Executed Required
Organization
Arranged Calculated Prepared Reported
Analyzed Coordinated Purchased Scheduled
Assembled Organized Recorded
Budgeted Planned Reorganized
Initiative
Attended Examined Maintained Shipped
Automated Expedited Monitored Solicited
Collected Founded Moved Sorted
Compiled Handled Operated Staffed
Considered Implemented Packaged Submitted
Contemplated Increased Participated Systematized
Contracted Induced Performed Trained
Delivered Inspected Processed Utilized
Discharged Instituted Provided Verified
Engaged Insured Received _
Engineered Interviewed Recruited
Established Inventoried Reviewed
Results
Accomplished Built Finshed Profited
Accounted Changed Generated Reduced
Achieved Combined Identified Repaired
Advanced Completed Improved Replaced
Altered Constructed Manufactured Solved
Answered Dismantled Marketed Tested
Attained Earned Obtained Turned around
Attracted Eliminated Predicted Upgraded
Awarded Enlarged Prevented
Benefited Expanded Produced
Interpersonal skills
Accommodated Cooperated Modified Requested
Adjusted Counselled Motivated Respected
Advised Facilitated Negotiated Served
Agreed Guided Personalized Sold
Arrange Harmonized Persuaded Taught
Assisted Influenced Provided
Consulted Mediated Reconciled
Contributed Moderates Related
Creativity
Adapted Designed Formulated Proposed
Authored Developed Initiated Researched
Composed Established Invented Revised
Conceived Estimated Investigated Studied
Created Forecasted Originated Set up
Action verbs
Acted Dissected Led Responded
Addressed Drafted Learned Restored
Anticipated Dramatized Listened Retrieved
Applied Drew Litigated Revised
Appraised Empathized Lobbied Risked
Arbitrated Energized Made Screened
Assessed/appraised Enlisted Manipulated Sensed
Audited Expanded Mentored Separated
Balanced Experimental Modeled Served
Catalogued Explained Navigated Shaped
Chaired Extracted Observed Shared
Charted Filed Offered Sketched
Checked Financed Ordered Spearheaded
Clarified Fixed Painted Specified
Collaborated Gathered Perceived Spoke
Compared Headed Piloted Studied
Computed Helped Played Summarized
Conducted Hypothesized Politicked Surveyed
Conserved Identified Prescribed Symbolized
Consolidated Illustrated Problem-solved Tabulated
Constructed Improvised Programmed Talked
Convinced Initiated Projected Team-built
Critiqued Innovated Proposed Tended
Decided Inspired Protected Traced
Decreased Integrated Questioned Trained
Defined Interpreted Raised Transcribed
Detected Introduced Realized Transformed
Determined Invented Reasoned Traveled
Devised Investigated Rehabilitated Trouble-shot
Diagnosed Involved Remembered Updated
Discovered Issued Reorganized Validated
Dispatched Judged Reported Won
Dispensed Justified Researched
Disproved Launched Resolved

Adjectives
Accurate Energetic More Significant
Active Esteemed Notable Singular
Adaptable Excellent Noteworthy Sizeable
Advantageous Exceptional Ongoing Skillful
Analytical Extraordinary Orderly Solid
Artistic Flexible Organized Solvent
Beneficial First-class Original Sound
Better First-rate Outstanding Stable
Bigger Flourishing Patient Strong
Calm Forceful Perceptive Substantial
Capable Fruitful Perfect Successful
Careful Functional Phenomenal Superb
Competent Good Powerful Superior
Complete Greater Practical Supportive
Confident Helpful Prestigious Thorough
Conscientious Humorous Productive Thriving
Considerable Illustrious Professional Top
Creative Imaginative Profitable Upbeat
Critical Important Progressive Uncommon
Decisive Imposing Prominent Unique
Dependable Improved Prosperous Unparalleled
Desirable independent Punctual Unsurpassed
Determined Industrious Reliable Uppermost
Diligent Influential Remarkable Useful
Diplomatic Innovative Renowned Valuable
Distinctive Insightful Reputable Versatile
Distinguished Larger Respected Winning
Durable Logical Responsible Workable
Dynamic Lucrative Resourceful Worthwhile
Effective Major Rewarding _
Efficient Methodical Satisfied
Empathetic Money-making Sensitive

En français
Utilisez les mots suivants pour rédiger votre C.V. ou votre lettre.
Verbes d’action
Accomplir Coordonner Former Présenter
Adapter Créer Formuler Prévoir
Administer Déclarer Fournir Prouire
Agrandir Déléguer Gérer Promouvoir
Aider Diriger Guider Recommander
Améliorer Distribuer Identifier Recueillir
Aménager Élaborer Influencer Rédiger
Analyser Engendrer Initier Réduire
Assembler Enquêter Instituer Réorganiser
Augmenter Enseigner Inventer Réparer
Bâtir Estimer Livrer Représenter
Budgéter Établir Maintenir Résoudre
Calculer Étudier Mettre en oeuvre Réviser
Chercher Évaluer Montrer Revoir
Compiler Examiner Motiver Servir
Composer Exécuter Négocier Superviser
Concevoir Expédier Observer Surveiller
Concilier Exploiter Obtenir Traduire
Conduire Exposer Ordonner Traiter
Conseiller Faciliter Persuader Utiliser
Consigner Favoriser Planifier Vendre
Construire Fonder Préparer Vérifier
Mots d’action
Accroissement Détermination Lancement Recrutement
Administration Développement Maintien Rectification
Agencement Direction Manipulation Rédaction
Agrandissement Distribution Mise en marché Redressement
Amélioration Édition Mise en oeuvre Réduction
Analyse Élimination Mise en place Regroupement
Animation Équilibre Motivation Rencontre
Approbation Établissement Négociation Renforcement
Arrangement Exécution Obtention Réparation
Atteinte Expansion Organisation Repositionnement
Budgétisation Expérimentation Participation Représentation
Classification Fermeture Planification Résolution
Collaboration Formation Présentation Restructuration
Conception Gestion Prise en charge Révision
Conduite Implantation Production Revue
Consultation Indexation Promotion Sélection
Coordination Informatisation Proposition Sommation
Correction Initiatiative Rationalisation Supervision
Création Innovation Recherche Systématisation
Démonstration Instauration Recommandation Vente
Dessin Investigation Reconstruction Vérification
Adjectifs
Actif Diligent Intuitif Productif
Adaptable Diplomate Logique Professionnel
Adroit Dynamique Méthodique Progressiste
Analytique Efficace Minutieux Prudent
Artistique Énergique Organisé Responsable
Calme Exigeant Original Sensible
Capable Faible Patient Serviable
Compétent Flexible Persévérant Souple
Consciencieux Indépendant Perspicace Spirituel
Créatif Industrieux Ponctuel Sympathique
Débrouillard Ingénieux Pratique
Déterminé Innovateur Précis

Appendix B: Templates
APPENDIX B Templates
Cover Letter Templates
Your Name
Address
Phone #
E-mail address
Date
Person’s full name

Title
Address
Dear last name:
Introduction: In your opening paragraph, state your intention as well as how you became
interested in this company. How did you find out about them? Who referred you? Where
did you see the ad? Demonstrate that you have done some research and that you are truly
interested in working for this employer.
Paragraph 2
What is special about you? How can you fill their needs? Why should they hire you?
Make the best possible match between your background, your education, your experience,
the job requirements and the company profile. Mention some specific relevant experiences,
achievements and skills that you can offer.
The order of paragraph 2 and 3 can vary
Paragraph 3
What is special about this potential employer? Why do you want to work there? For
example, this is the third largest company in Canada or it has a strong reputation for something
that is important to you (other than the salary and the benefits).
Conclusion
In the last paragraph, state your intention to follow up and/or your hope to have an interview.
Thank the employer for their consideration.
Sincerely,
(Remember to sign your letter)
Your name

Votre nom
Adresse
Numéro de téléphone
Courriel
Date
Nom du destinataire
Titre
Adresse
Madame ou Monsieur,
Introduction: Mentionnez le but de votre lettre et ce qui vous incite à postuler pour un poste
au sein de cette entreprise. Comment avez-vous connu cette organisation ? Qui vous a référé ?
Si le poste était affiché, indiquez où vous avez vu l’annonce. Démontrez que vous avez fait des
recherches et que vous êtes vraiment intéressé à travailler pour cet employeur.
Paragraphe 2
Qu’avez-vous de particulier ? Comment pouvez-vous combler les besoins de l’employeur ?
Pourquoi devrait-on vous embaucher ? Faites le meilleur lien possible entre vos compétences,
votre formation et les qualifications requises pour le poste et celles recherchées par l’employeur.
Mentionnez les habiletés, les expériences et les accomplissements les plus pertinentes.
L’ordre des paragraphes 2 et 3 peut varier
Paragraphe 3
Que trouvez-vous de particulier chez cet employeur ? Quelles sont les raisons pour lesquelles
vous voulez y travailler ? Par exemple, vous pouvez mentionner que vous aimeriez travailler pour
la troisième plus grande entreprise au Canada ou que cette entreprise a une excellente réputation
pour quelque chose qui est important pour vous (autre que le salaire et les avantages sociaux).
Conclusion
Indiquez que vous espérez avoir une entrevue et/ou que vous ferez un suivi. Terminez avec une
formule de courtoisie telle « Veuillez agréer l’expression de mes sentiments les meilleurs ».
N’oubliez pas votre signature
Votre nom dactylographié

Curriculum Vitae Templates

Targeted C.V. Template
Use this sample when you know what area you want to work in and / or have some career-related experience you
can highlight. Dates can be either on the right or left hand side.
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 two to three sentences.
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 and the type of position you are applying for, this section could also be entitled 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 Year-Year

Name of university, city, province
�� List academic awards and any subjects taken relevant to your career objective.
�� List research undertaken with results, if possible.
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline Year-Year

Name of college, city, province
High School Graduation Diploma Year-Year

Name of high school, city, province
It’s usually not necessary to include high school unless, you have studied in another language or abroad or if you went to
school in the same town you would like to work (it shows that you’re a “local”).
CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE
List all experience relevant to your career objective including your paid employment, extra-curricular activities and
volunteer work.
Position Title (in bold) Year-Year

Name of company or organization, city, province
�� Use one-liners to describe your activities and action verbs (see Appendix A).
�� Include at least one line describing an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results.
�� Consider using the P.A.R. formula.
�� Emphasize your transferable skills: leadership, organization, communication, creativity, etc.
�� Specify if the position was a contract, part-time or summer job.

Targeted C.V. Template

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 three quarters full.
Your Full Name Your Phone Number
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.

�� 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.
ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
This section includes any additional information about activities you are involved in or interests you have that are not
included above. Avoid mentioning activities such as reading, sports, films which are too general. Be creative and specific.
This is often the section where employers look to start an icebreaker conversation. You could include activities such as:
�� Sports activities (mention levels of competition and any prizes awarded in a particular sport).
�� Overseas travel (mention places traveled, length of stay and any independent trips).
�� Personal improvement (mention organizations and what you learned).
REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Do not list references. Prepare a separate list with all contact information. Be certain to contact your references in advance
and inform them of the position for which you are applying.

Untargeted C.V. Template
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. Dates can either be on the right or left hand side.

Address
Phone number/e-mail
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 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 Year-Year

Name of university, city, province
�� List research undertaken with results, if possible.
Diploma of Collegial Studies, Discipline Year-Year

Name of college, city, province
High School Graduation Diploma Year-Year

Name of high school, city, province
It’s usually not necessary to include high school unless, you have studied in another language or abroad or if you went to
school in the same town you would like to work (it shows that you’re a “local”).
WORK EXPERIENCE
List all the paid work experience you have had.

�� Use one-liners to describe your activities and action verbs (See Appendix A).
�� Include at least one line describing an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results.
�� Emphasize your transferable skills: leadership, organization, communication, creativity, etc.
�� Specify if the position was a contract, part-time or summer job.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
List the positions you have held in student and other voluntary organizations. Describe them as you would regular jobs.

Name of club, council, etc.
�� Emphasize your transferable skills and any achievements.

Untargeted C.V. Template

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 three quarters full.
List your awards, scholarships and distinctions 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.
included above. Avoid mentioning activities such as reading, sports, films which is too general. Be creative and specific. This
is often the section where employers look to start an icebreaker conversation. You could include activities such as:

Directives pour le C.V. ciblé
Utilisez ce format lorsque vous savez dans quel domaine vous désirez travailler et que vous possédez déjà une
expérience pertinente. Les dates peuvent être alignées à la marge de droite ou à la marge de gauche.
Le C.V. ne doit pas dépasser deux pages.
Votre nom en caractère gras et/ou en majuscule

Adresse
Téléphone/courriel
OBJECTIF DE CARRIERE
Indiquez votre objectif à court terme en mentionnant des critères tels le titre du poste, le département, la spécialisation et
l’industrie qui vous intéressent. Votre C.V. devrait mettre l’emphase sur votre éducation, vos expériences de travail et les
activités qui sont reliées à cet objectif. Cette section ne devrait pas dépasser 3 lignes.
LANGUES
Français et anglais (écrits et parlés)
Indiquez votre niveau de connaissance. Si vous êtes unilingue, omettez cette section.
CONNAISSANCES TECHNIQUES
Vous pouvez diviser cette section en blocs indépendants et utiliser des sous-titres tels que « Connaissances informatiques »,
« Techniques de laboratoire » ou « Qualifications en recherche ».
FORMATION
Baccalauréat en ____: Majeure, Mineure année-année

Nom de l’université, ville (province)
�� Ajoutez vos mentions d’honneur (bourse d’excellence, prix, ect.)
�� Ajoutez les recherches et les cours pertinents
Diplôme d’études collégiales en ___ (nom du programme) année-année

Nom du collège, ville (province)
�� Ajoutez les mentions d’honneur (bourse d’excellence, prix, etc.)
Diplôme d’études secondaires année-année

Nom de l’école, ville (province)
Il n’est habituellement pas nécessaire d’inclure le secondaire à moins de vouloir démontrer que :
�� Vous avez étudié dans une autre langue
�� Vous avez étudié à l’étranger
�� Vous avez étudié dans une école située dans la même ville que l’employeur ciblé
EXPÉRIENCES PERTINENTES
Donnez la liste de toutes les expériences pertinentes à votre objectif de carrière en incluant vos emplois rémunérés, vos
activités parascolaires et votre bénévolat.
Titre du poste (en caractère gras) année-année

Nom de l’entreprise, ville (province)
�� Décrivez dans une phrases chacune de vos fonctions, responsabilités et accomplissements
�� Débutez ces phrase par un verbe d’action (voir annexe A)
�� Au moins une de ces phrases devrait décrire une de vos initiatives ou un de vos accomplissements
�� Mettez l’emphase sur vos habiletés transférables : organisation, communication, créativité, etc.
�� Songez à utilisez la formule P.A.R.

Directives pour le C.V. ciblé
Votre non au complet Votre numéro de téléphone
AUTRES EXPÉRIENCES
Énumérez les autres expériences que vous avez et qui ne sont pas reliées à votre objectif de carrière, que ce soit des emplois
rémunérés, des activités parascolaires ou bénévoles.

Nom de l’organisation, ville (province)
�� Décrivez ce que vous avez fait dans ce poste
�� Mettez l’emphase sur vos habiletés transférables et vos accomplissements
MENTIONS D’HONNEUR ET BOURSES D’ÉTUDES

Si vous avez reçus plusieurs mentions d’honneur, bourses et prix d’excellence, vous pouvez ajouter cette section. Si vous en
avez quelques uns seulement ou si ils sont très prestigieux, laissez les dans la section Éducation, en dessous du diplôme au
cours duquel vous les avez reçus.
ACTIVITÉS ET INTÉRETS
Cette section devrait inclure toutes les informations supplémentaires reliées aux activités dans lesquelles vous étiez impliqué
ou les intérêts non inclus ci-dessus. Évitez de simplement faire une liste telle : «Lecture, sports, films » car ce n’est pas assez
précis.
.
�� Sports – mentionnez le niveau des compétitions et les prix que vous avez reçus
�� Expérience à l’étranger – précisez l’endroit, la durée et si vous avez voyagé de façon indépendante
�� Développement personnel – précisez le nom de l’organisme et ce que vous avez appris
RÉFÉRENCES DISPONIBLES SUR DEMANDE
N’écrivez pas vos références sur votre C.V. Préparez plutôt une liste de références que vous apporterez à l’entrevue. Assurez-
vous de parler à ces personnes avant de soumettre leur nom aux employeurs et informez-les des postes pour lesquels vous
soumettez votre candidature.

Directives pour le C.V. non ciblé

Utilisez ce format lorsque vous n’avez pas d’objectif de carrière précis et/ou lorsque vous n’avez pas d’expérience
reliée à l’emploi postulé. Les dates peuvent être alignées à la marge de droite ou à la marge de gauche.
Le C.V. ne doit pas dépasser deux pages.
Votre nom en caractère gras et/ou en majuscule

Adresse
Téléphone/courriel
LANGUES
Français et anglais (écrits et parlés)

Indiquez votre niveau de connaissance. Si vous êtes unilingue, omettez cette section.
CONNAISSANCES TECHNIQUES
Vous pouvez diviser cette section en blocs indépendants et utiliser des sous-titres tels « Connaissances informatiques»,
«Techniques de laboratoire » ou « Qualifications en recherche ».
FORMATION
Baccalauréat en ____: Majeure, Mineure année-année

Nom de l’université, ville (province)
�� Ajoutez vos mentions d’honneur (bourse d’excellence, prix, ect.)
Diplôme d’études collégiales en ___ (nom du programme) année-année

Nom du collège, ville (province)
�� Ajoutez les mentions d’honneur (bourse d’excellence, prix, etc.)
Diplôme d’études secondaires année-année

Nom de l’école, ville (province)
Il n’est habituellement pas nécessaire d’inclure le secondaire à moins de vouloir démontrer que :
�� Vous avez étudié dans une autre langue et/ou vous avez étudié à l’étranger
�� Vous avez étudié dans une école dans la même ville que l’employeur ciblé (vous connaissez donc la région)
EXPÉRIENCE DE TRAVAIL

Nom de l’entreprise, ville (province)
�� Décrivez dans une phrase chacune de vos fonctions, responsabilités et accomplissements
�� Débuter ces phrases par un verbe d’action (voir annexe A)
�� Au moins une de ces phrases devrait décrire une de vos initiatives ou un de vos accomplissements
�� Songez à utiliser la forme P.A.R.
�� Mettez l’emphase sur vos « habiletés transférables » : organisation, communication, créativité, etc.
ACTIVITÉS PARASCOLAIRES ET BÉNÉVOLAT

Énumérez les fonctions que vous avez occupées dans les associations étudiantes ou en tant que bénévole et décrivez les de la
même façon que vous l’avez fait pour vos emplois réguliers.

Nom de l’association, du comité, du groupe ou de l’organisme
�� Décrivez ce que vous avez fait dans ce poste
�� Mettez l’emphase sur vos habiletés transférables et vos accomplissements

Directives pour le C.V. non ciblé
Votre non au complet Votre numéro de téléphone
MENTIONS D’HONNEUR ET/OU BOURSES D’ÉTUDES
Si vous avez reçu plusieurs mentions d’honneur, bourses et prix d’excellence, vous pouvez ajouter cette section. Si vous en
avez que quelques uns ou si ils sont très prestigieux, laissez les dans la section Éducation, en dessous du diplôme au cours
duquel vous les avez reçus.
AUTRES ACTIVITÉS ET INTÉRETS
Cette section devrait inclure toutes les informations supplémentaires reliées aux activités dans lesquelles vous avez été
impliqué ou les intérêts non inclus ailleurs. Évitez de simplement faire une liste telle : «Lecture, sports, films » car ce n’est
pas assez précis.
�� Sports – mentionnez le niveau des compétitions et les prix que vous avez reçus
�� Expérience à l’étranger – précisez l’endroit, la durée et si vous avez voyagé de façon indépendante
�� Développement personnel – précisez le nom de l’organisme et ce que vous avez appris
RÉFÉRENCES DISPONIBLES SUR DEMANDE
N’écrivez pas vos références sur votre C.V. Préparez plutôt une liste de références que vous apporterez à l’entrevue. Assurez
vous de parler à ces personnes avant de soumettre leur nom aux employeurs et informez les des postes pour lesquels vous
soumettez votre candidature.

Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students Seeking an Academic Career
This is an example of how you could organize your C.V. to apply for academic jobs. The order of presentation will
vary according to the kind of position for which you are applying, as well as according to your skills. The length
of the C.V. varies – it could run to many pages, including your list of publications. You should always have your
supervisor review your C.V. and job application documents prior to submission.

Address
Phone number/e-mail
LANGUAGES
If you are perfectly bilingual, add “fluent written and spoken.” Describe varied levels of fluency as either: basic,
intermediate, or fluent. If you are unilingual, leave this section out.
EDUCATION
Doctor of ____, Discipline, university, city, province Year-Year

Include thesis title (if it relates to your career) and supervisor (if he/she is known in the industry).
Master of ____, university, city, province Year-Year

Bachelor of ____, university, city, province Year-Year

• List academic awards, or CGPA if it is particularly high.
AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS
List awards and fellowships here. If you have only one award per degree, then you may list each award/fellowship as
a bullet under the respective degree.
RESEARCH TECHNIQUES/RESEARCH INTERESTS
Present your existing research interests and indicate future directions for your research. Use the terminology of
your discipline, including key buzzwords. This section may also include other specialized techniques that will vary
according to your discipline. For example:
• Researchers in the life sciences may include research techniques and skills with specialized equipment.
• Software engineers should present the languages with which they are familiar, as well as their code base.
• Language students should list their level of language knowledge.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
List your publications and presentations here, citing the date of publication or presentation, the publisher or the title and
location of the event at which you presented. If you have a large number of items, then divide publications, presentations,
book reviews, etc. into different subsections. List only those publications that have been accepted by publishers.
If your publication list is extensive (i.e., more than a page), then you should present the publications at the end of your C.V.,
just before references.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
List your relevant research experience, whether it was part of your graduate studies, postdoctoral work or temporary
positions. Work experience with industry will be useful only if it contained a research component,or is relevant to the
discipline in which you are applying. If your work experience is less relevant, then you should present this in a separate
section entitled “Other Experience” at the end of the document.
Position Title, department, lab, company, city, province Year-Year

• Use “one-liners” to describe your activities and action verbs (see Appendix A).
• At least one of these should describe an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results.
• Consider using the P.A.R. formula.

Targeted C.V. for Graduate Students Seeking an Academic Career
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
List the courses you have taught. Include the name of the course, the year it was taught, the course number, and, optionally,
a one-line statement about the content of the course. If the position for which you are applying is a teaching position, place
this experience before Professional Experience, and be certain to prepare a teaching statement.
Course name and number, department, university, city, province

Semester Year
�� Provide a one-line statement about the course content.
Course name and number, department, university, city, province

Semester Year
�� Provide a one-line statement about the course content.
COURSES TAKEN/TEACHING EXPERTISE
This section provides a basis for evaluating the breadth of your knowledge. Hence you could either list the graduate courses
you took, or provide a list of the areas you could teach. If the position for which you are applying is primarily a teaching
one, then you could present this item, and teaching experience sooner in the document.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
List the committees on which you have served and the student organizations for which you have been a member.
Name of Position, department, lab, university, city, province Year-Year

�� Use “one-liners” to describe your activities and action verbs to give these more impact.
�� At least one of these should describe an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results.
REFERENCES
You will need to include at least three references, including all contact information. Contact these people ahead of time and
inform them of your application. Your supervisor must be the first reference. You can include referees from your Masters
Degree. Other non-academic employers may also be included, but you should not include more than one.

Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students Seeking a Non-Academic Career
Use this sample for career-related positions in industry, government or the non-profit sector. If you are seeking a
position as a researcher, refer to the template for Research Careers. For academic positions, refer to the template
for Academic Positions.

Address
Phone number/e-mail
SUMMARY/CAREER OBJECTIVE
Outline your short-term career objective using some of the following criteria: position title(s), department,
specialization, and industry. Use more or fewer of these depending on how specific or global an objective you wish
to present.
LANGUAGES
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Change the title of this section according to your career field. For example, for pharmaceutical careers this section
could be called either” Lab Techniques” or “Research Skills.” The following are skills that may be presented in this
section:
�� Lab techniques
�� Specialized equipment you are able to operate
�� Hardware or software with which you are familiar
�� Project management or quality control methodologies
�� Psychological assessment tools
�� Statistical tools or software packages
EDUCATION



�� List academic awards, or CGPA if it is particularly high.
�� List any subject taken relevant to your career objective.
CAREER RELATED EXPERIENCE
List your relevant experience including your graduate studies, volunteer or paid work.

�� Use “one-liners” to describe your activities and action verb (see Appendix A).
�� At least one of these should describe an initiative you took or an achievement you had with results.

Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students Seeking a Non-Academic Career
This is where you list other jobs or activities that are not directly relevant to your career objective.
Position Title, name of company or organization, city, province Year-Year

Only list those publications that have been accepted by publishers. If your publication list is extensive (i.e., more than
a page), then you should place the publications on a separate appendix. You may also choose to present only the most
prestigious publications or presentations. Unless you are applying for a research career, or your publications relate to your
career objective, you should not put a strong emphasis on this section.
List you awards and fellowships here if they are numerous. If you have only a few awards, or if they are prestigious, then you
may include them under the relevant degree program, under education.

Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students

Seeking a Research Career Outside of Academia
This is an example of how you could organize your C.V. for research jobs in industry, government or the non-
profit sector. For academic positions, refer to the template for Academic Positions.

Address
Phone number/e-mail
CAREER OBJECTIVE
Outline your short-term objective using some of the following criteria: position title(s), department, specialization, industry.
Use more or fewer of these depending on how specific or global an objective you wish to present.
LANGUAGES
TECHNICAL SKILLS
The following are skills that may be presented in this section:
�� Lab techniques
�� Specialized equipment you are able to operate
�� Hardware or software with which you are familiar
�� Project management or quality control methodologies
�� Psychological assessment tools
�� Statistical tools or software packages
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Present both your existing research interests and point to future directions for your research. Try to be as concise as
possible without sacrificing key details of your expertise.
EDUCATION



�� List academic awards, or CGPA if it is particularly high.
�� List any subject taken relevant to your career objective.
List your publications and presentations here citing the date of publication/presentation, the publisher or the title and
location of the event at which you presented. Only list those publications that have been accepted by publishers. If your
publication list is extensive (i.e., more than a page), then you should present the publications at the end of your C.V. If your
research experience is stronger than your publications, then you may move this section to after “research experience.”

Targeted C.V. Template for Graduate Students

Seeking a Research Career Outside of Academia
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
List your relevant research experience including your graduate studies, volunteer or paid work.

�� Use “one-liners” to describe your activities and action verbs (see Appendix A).
�� Emphasize the novelty of your research, the techniques you used and how the findings were used (publications,
patents, industrial techniques, policies, etc.) .
OTHER EXPERIENCE
This is where you list other jobs you have had or other activities in which you have been involved that are not directly
relevant to your career objective.
Position Title, name of company or organization, city, province Year-Year

List awards and fellowships here if you have not listed them under education. If you are applying for a research position and
you have some prestigious awards, you may place this section on the first page, after education.

Appendix C: Samples
APPENDIX C Samples
Cover Letters and C.V.’s
Cover letter exploring employment opportunities
Martin Stevenson
martinstevenson2@ po-box.mcgill.ca
_________________________________________________________________________________
June 15, 2003
Mr. Bruce Wigget

Vice President, Human Resources
ABC Company
4444 Young Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5M 5M5
Dear Mr. Wigget:
Having learned that your organization is expanding, I am writing to explore employment opportunities in the
Human Resources department in your firm. As a dynamic individual who thrives on new challenges, I believe
that I would be an asset to your department and am therefore enclosing my C.V. for your perusal.
My interest in this field has been stimulated through courses I have taken in human resources, my employment
with the Career and Placement Service at McGill University, as well as my position as Vice President of
External Affairs.
My Bachelors degree and work experience have allowed me to develop superior project management and
interpersonal skills while refining my ability to multitask and balance the needs of both employers and
students.
I will be in Toronto during the month of July, and would welcome the chance to further discuss employment
opportunities in your department for someone with my qualifications and experience. I will contact you next
week to set up a possible meeting time.
Thank your for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Martin Stevenson

Appendix C: Samples
Targeted C.V.
Martin Stevenson
martinstevenson2@po-box.mcgill.ca
SCHOOL ADDRESS PERMANENT ADDRESS
3244 Clark, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1W6 220 Lambert, Gatineau, Quebec, J8X1B1
Tel: 514-842-0000 Tel: 819-243-3888
LANGUAGES English and French (fluent written and spoken)

Spanish (basic)
COMPUTER SKILLS Windows, Microsoft Word, Power Point, Publisher,

Excel, Adobe Pagemaker
EDUCATION Bachelor of Education (5-year program) 1998-2003

McGill University, Montréal, Québec
� CGPA 3.72/4.0
� Elective courses include Human Resources,
Organizational Behaviour, Employment and Training
Vice-President External Affairs 2002 2003

McGill Education Undergraduate Society (EdUS), Montréal, Québec
� Coordinated the organization of the 2003 Education Career Fair,
which resulted in a record number of employers and students
� Recruited and managed a team of 25 volunteers
� Communicated with over 45 employers from around the world
who attended the fair
� Developed the first EdUS career fair procedure manual
� Sat on the McGill CAPS Advisory Board
Member of EducationCareer Fair Committee 1999 2002

� Helped organize the 2000, 2001, 2002 Education Career Fairs
Program Coordinator of the CAPS Peer Educators 2000-2002

McGill Career and Placement Service (CAPS), Montréal, Québec
� Developed the CAPS Peer Educator Program which resulted
in higher visibility for CAPS
� Edited, published, and distributed 4 editions of the newsletter
� Raised over $5000 by asking companies to place ads in the CAPS newsletters
resulting in high-quality publications
� Recruited and managed over 40 volunteers
� Trained the volunteers on various aspects of the job search, including
CV writing and interview skills, and created a training manual
� Organized the CV drop-in sessions, information sessions, and other
promotional and educational activities
� Managed the day-to-day operations of the program

Appendix C: Samples
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Substitute Teacher 2002 2003

Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Montréal, Québec
� Taught grades K-6 in various schools
Private French Tutor 2002 2003

Sarah Bruizer, Montréal, Québec
� Taught French as a second language to a medical school student
� Prepared her to interview patients in French
Student Teacher (4th year placement) Fall 2002

Solomon Schechter Academy, Montréal, Québec
� Assumed 100% of the teaching workload
� Taught language arts and math to a grade 3 and a grade 4 class
� Developed stimulating math lessons using the Challenging Mathematics
program for grades 3 and 4
Substitute Teacher Summer 2002

École Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Montréal, Québec
� Taught English as a second language to grades 3, 4, 5, and 6
� Assessed nearly 100 students for their final marks in English (E.S.L.)
� Invigilated the grade 5 provincial ESL written and oral exams
Student Teacher (3rd year placement) Winter 2002

Parkdale Elementary, St-Laurent, Québec
� Taught in a very multi-cultural class (over eight nationalities)
� Created a positive-reinforcement system to facilitate classroom management
� Taught the Success For All reading program and the Challenging Mathematics
program to 20 grade 1 students
� Conceptualized and implemented a hands-on unit on the solar system
Deliveries Coordinator Summer 1999

La Maison Verte, Hearst, Ontario
� Coordinated the delivery of 2 million trees
� Hired, trained, and supervised a group of eight high school students preparing tree
deliveries to forest management companies
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
Travel � Backpacked independently throughout Europe for a month (2001)

Foreign languages � Presently learning Spanish
Physical fitness � Jogging, aerobics, kick-boxing, attend the gym regularly
Cooking � Enjoy trying new recipes
References will be supplied upon request.

Appendix C: Samples
Cover letter in response to an ad in the newspaper
AMYNAH SLALJI
555 de Maisonneuve West, Apt. 22
Montreal, Quebec, H3H 3H3
Tel: (514) 555-0000 E-mail: amynahs@po-box.mcgill.ca
November 5th, 2002
Ms. Nirmala Jordan

Personnel Manager
Human Resources Department
Royal Victoria Hospital
687 Pine Avenue West
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 1A1
Dear Ms. Jordan:
Please find enclosed a copy of my resume for your review for the position of Clinical Dietitian
as advertised in The Gazette on November 2nd, 2002.
As of December 2002, I will have obtained my Bachelor of Science degree with a major in
Dietetics. My degree covers many facets including clinical nutrition, community nutrition,
biochemical and human behavioral sciences as well as research and development.
I recently completed several internships at the Royal Victoria Hospital where I performed
various tasks including nutritional assessments of diabetic patients as well as planning,
implementing and evaluating nutrition instructions of patients and families. This internship,
combined with those I have done at the Montreal General Hospital, has given me valuable
experience and has solidified my interest in the field. Moreover, my work as cook, research
assistant and food supervisor have given me the opportunity to demonstrate my leadership,
communication and organizational skills.
Hoping to be once again part of your team, I thank you for your time and consideration of my
application. Should you require any additional information, I can be reached at (514) 555-0000
or at amynahs@po-box.mcgill.ca. I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Amynah Slalji
Encl.

Appendix C: Samples
Targeted C.V. Including internship experience
AMYNAH SLALJI
555 de Maisonneuve West, Apt. 22
Montreal, Quebec, H3H 3H3
Tel: (514) 555-0000 E-mail: amynahs@po-box.mcgill.ca
EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - Nutritional Sciences 1999-2002

McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
STAGES - Dietetic Internships
Levels 3 and 4: Royal Victoria Hospital

� Performed nutritional status assessments of diabetic patients
� Planned, implemented, and evaluated nutrition instructions
of patients and families
� Recorded patient status in medical records
� Prepared chart audits for quality assurance reports
Levels 1 and 2: Montreal Childrens Hospital

� Observed support staff in food preparation area and nutrition
services.
� Implemented quality assurance and risk management
procedures as per policy and procedure manual
Diplôme dÉtudes Collégiales - Pure and Applied Sciences 1997-1999

Marianopolis C.E.G.E.P., Montreal, Quebec
COOK (volunteer) 2000 - Present

Montreal Diet Dispensary, Montreal, Quebec
� Plan menus and prepare food for Meals on Wheels recipients

� Train and supervise team of 8 cook helpers
RESEARCH ASSISTANT (part-time) 2000-2001

Kraft Foods Ltd., Montreal, Quebec
� Prepared and delivered nutrition seminars to daycare

educators in the Montreal area
� Participated in research project for processed food
advertising campaign

Appendix C: Samples
Amynah Slalji -2- Tel: (514) 555-0000
FOOD SUPERVISOR (summer and part-time) 1998 2001

Marcos and Pepes Restaurant, Montreal, Quebec
� Assisted in meal preparation for a 50-seat restaurant (approximately 500 patrons

per day)
� Kept track of inventory, reordered stock and supplies as necessary
� Recommended a new supplier for taco chips resulting in a 5% cost reduction with
no decrease in quality
� Suggested a new non-alcoholic beverage, which was used as a key component of a
promotional campaign for restaurant expansion
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
� Student Member, Ordre professionel des diététistes du Québec (O.P.D.Q.)

� Student Member, Dietitians of Canada (D.C.)
LANGUAGES
� Fluent in English and French.
Volunteer � McGill Blood Drive (2001)

� McGill Welcome Week (2000)
� Tour de lIle, Montreal, Quebec (1999)
Sports � Tennis, helicopter skiing, cycling, swimming
Recreation � Cake decorating, gourmet cooking

� Face painting, childrens entertainment activities
REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Appendix C: Samples
Lettre en réponse à une annonce
FATIMA KAMHAWI
1191, rue Crescent, suite 402
Montréal (Québec)
H2X 2B1
(514) 847-0998 Courriel : Fatimakam@po-box.mcgill.ca

______________________________________________________________________________
Le 15 mars 2003
Madame Josette Stanké

Directrice en ressources humaines
Hôpital Douglas
6875, boul. Lasalle
Verdun (Québec) H4H 1R3
Objet: Candidature au poste de travailleuse sociale
Madame,
Je désire poser ma candidature au poste de travailleuse sociale que vous avez affiché sur le site
internet du Service de placement et carrières de lUniversité McGill. La bonne réputation de votre
hôpital en matière de soins aux patients et dinnovation en santé mentale fait en sorte que jaimerais
faire partie de votre équipe.
Comme vous pourrez le constater à la lecture de mon curriculum vitae ci-joint, je termine
présentement ma maîtrise en travail social à lUniversité McGill. De plus, jai effectué diverses
fonctions dans le domaine de la santé mentale au sein dhôpitaux et dorganismes communautaires.
En outre, je suis expérimentée en relation daide individuelle, conjugale et familiale, en thérapie de
groupe, en réadaptation et réintégration du client dans la communauté. De plus, jai une facilité à
travailler au sein déquipes multidisciplinaires et avec les organismes communautaires.
Jaimerais obtenir une entrevue avec vous afin de vous parler davantage de mes compétences et de
mon intérêt à me joindre à votre équipe. Je vous prie daccepter, Madame, lexpression de mes
sentiments distingués.
Fatima Kamhawi
Montréal (Québec)
H2X 2B1
p. j. Curriculum vitae

Appendix C: Samples
C.V. ciblé
FATIMA KAMHAWI
Montréal (Québec)
H2X 2B1
(514) 847-0998 courriel : fatimakam@po-box.mcgill.ca
LANGUES Anglais, français et arabe

Connaissance de base de lespagnol
ÉDUCATION
2002-2003 Maîtrise en travail social

Université McGill
Montréal, Québec
(date prévue dobtention : avril 2003)
1995-1998 Baccalauréat en travail social

Université McGill
Montréal, Québec
EXPÉRIENCE PROFESSIONNELLE ET STAGES EN TRAVAIL SOCIAL
1999 - 2002 Travailleuse sociale
Hôpital Allan Memorial

Agir à titre de gestionnaire de cas dans une équipe multidisciplinaire
Actualiser le traitement thérapeutique par la réalisation dentrevues
individuelles, conjugales et familiales
Effectuer lévaluation clinique de linaptitude de la clientèle pour
lapplication dun régime de protection
Dépister la dépression(G.D.S. de Brink et Yesavage) et évaluer létat cognitif
(Examen 3MS)
Apporter une expertise en travail social dans les discussions de cas avec les
membres de léquipe multidisciplinaire formée de médecins et dinfirmières
Collaborer avec les CLSC, CHSLD, et les organismes communautaires
Évaluer les clients pour compléter le formulaire CTMSP
Superviser une stagiaire de troisième niveau en travail social
1998-1999 Hôpital Ste-Mary, Département de psychiatrie

Évaluer les impacts de la maladie mentale sur la personne et ses proches
ainsi que les facteurs psychosociaux renforçant ou diminuant leur capacité
dadaptation
Planifier la réintégration du client dans la communauté
Élaborer un plan dintervention multidisciplinaire pour chacun des clients
Développer des contacts avec les différentes ressources communautaires

Appendix C: Samples
FATIMA KAMHAWI -2- (514) 847-0998
1996-1997 Stagiaire en travail social

Ami Québec-Alliance pour les malades mentaux
Organiser et coordiner des conférences et des sessions dinformation
Agir à titre dagente de liaison pour lorganisme
Compiler et organiser la liste des ressources communautaires
1996 et 1997 (été) Travailleuse communautaire

Centre découte et dintervention Face à Face
Analyser les interactions du client avec les divers systèmes impliqués
Superviser les bénévoles oeuvrant dans le centre de jour
Co-animer des groupes de soutien francophones et anglophones
Sélectionner et inscrire les participants à lémission de radio Face à Face
Effectuer la mise à jour des ressources communautaires
1995-1996 Stagiaire en travail social

Offrir de la relation daide et des références téléphoniques
Intervenir auprès des clients en situation de crise
ORDRE PROFESSIONNEL
1998 - Membre de lOrdre professionnel des travailleurs sociaux du

Québec
BÉNÉVOLAT
1998 - Représentante des bénévoles (1998-1999) et Membre du Conseil

Mettre sur pied et animer des rencontres de bénévoles; réviser le
fonctionnement du programme bénévole ; participer au processus formel de
décisions affectant le fonctionnement général de lorganisme incluant
lembauche de nouveau employés
ACTIVITÉS
Sports Escalade en forêt, yoga, natation
Loisirs Lecture de biographies, peinture sur soie, théâtre et cinéma
Références disponibles sur demande

Appendix C: Samples
Cover letter exploring employment opportunities
SOPHIA MARTIN
200 Manor Avenue Rockliffe, Ontario KIM 0H4 (613) 745-0522
sophia.martin@mail.mcgill.ca
August 18, 2003
Mr. Micheal Brown

Human Resources Officer
MDS Pharma Services
St-Laurent, Quebec
H4R 2N6
Dear Mr. Brown,
The 2003 Edition of the Career Directory indicates that you recruit recent graduates with a biochemistry background
and I would like to be one of them. I am thrilled by the idea of pursuing my career as a research assistant in one of the
largest contract research organizations in the world, serving the pharmaceutical, generic and biotechnology industries.
As you will see in the attached C.V., I recently received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from McGill. I am
familiar with various laboratory techniques including DNA sequencing and analysis. Several of my professors have
highlighted my superior laboratory abilities as well as my excellent analytical skills. I was highly involved in extra-
curricular activities at McGill and was elected vice-president of a student association two years in a row. In this
position, I have demonstrated my leadership abilities as well as my capacity to meet deadlines.
During my summer job as a research assistant at the Montreal General Hospital, I showed my strong interpersonal,
organizational and communication skills. In the short period that I have worked there, I have established excellent
relationships with physicians and other members of the research team and I quickly earned their trust.
I am confident that I can make a positive contribution to your organization. I will be contacting you shortly to explore
the possibility of meeting with you to discuss my qualifications and possible career opportunities in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Sophia Martin

Appendix C: Samples
Untargeted C.V. Including a summary of skills section
SOPHIA MARTIN
200 Manor Avenue Rockliffe, Ontario KIM 0H4 (613) 745-0522
sophia.martin@mail.mcgill.ca
EDUCATION
McGill University Bachelor of Science 1999-2003

Montréal, Québec Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Management
� GPA: 3.7/4
Cairine Wilson School High School Diploma French Immersion Program 1994- 1999
� Recipient of Ontario Scholar Honor Roll (1998)
� Highest level of academic standing within my grade (1997)
SUMMARY OF SKILLS
Lab skills:
� Molecular biology techniques including PCR, DNA cloning, DNA extraction and sequence analysis
� Proficient in tissue culture techniques including DNA transfection and infection studies
� Excellent knowledge of microscope, aseptic techniques and other microbial characterization tests
Languages:
� English and Italian: fluent written and spoken
� French: fluent spoken, good written
Computer skills:
� MS Windows, Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet
WORK EXPERIENCE
Summer Research Assistant Summer 2003

Research Project on the genetic factors involved in autism
Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
� Worked with physicians and collaborators to identify participants

� Contacted patients and relatives and conducted phone interviews
� Collected clinical information and managed data using Microsoft Access
� Prepared and presented regular updates to the research team
� Filled out and maintained documentation for ethics committee
Customer Service Representative and Cashier 2000-2003

Pharmaprix, Montreal, Quebec
� Provided courteous service in a fast-paced environment

� Maintained inventory on a monthly basis
� Opened and closed the store, balanced the cashes at the end of each shift
� Received and arranged merchandise

Appendix C: Samples
Sophia Martin (613) 745-0522
Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor Summer 2000

City of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
� Hired and managed a staff of four
� Scheduled and taught swimming lessons
� Maintained equipment and purchased supplies
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES_____________________________________________________________
Vice President Internal (Elected) 2000-2002

McGill Italian Student Association
� Successfully planned and organized numerous events including an Italian play and Friday night Italian movies
� Implemented a language exchange program between Italian speaking students and others wanting to learn this
language
� Raised funds for the Italian Student Association
McGill Student Representative 2002

Mission du Grand Berger
� Initiated and coordinated McGills first food and clothing drive

� Collected over 20 boxes of food and over 10 of clothes
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Friendly Visitor 2000-2002
Palliative Care Unit
Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
� Visited patients on a weekly basis

� Developed emotional strength and empathy
Events Coordinator 1999-2000

New Hope Senior Citizens Centre, Montreal, Quebec
� Contacted and booked entertainers, purchased supplies, helped to decorate and host events
INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES
� Backpacked through five European Countries during the summer of 2002

� Avid swimmer
� Writing poetry: published in local newspaper
References available upon request

Appendix C: Samples
Cover Letter in response to an ad
Sean Lee
4567 Prince Arthur, Suite 24 sean.lee@videotron.ca

Montreal, QC, H2X 2R9 (514) 720-9900
June 15, 2003
Ms. Elizabeth Blunden

Alcatel Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1M 1H3
RE: Project Management Support
Dear Ms. Blunden:
I am writing in response to the software developer position advertised on the McGill Engineering
Career Centre website. Having recently completed my Bachelors degree in computer science at
McGill University, I believe that my education, both technical and theoretical, my work
experience, and my willingness to learn, make me an excellent candidate for this position.
I have a solid background in Java, HTML and Calculus. I also took a special project course in
which I worked as part of a four-member team to design a website that allows users to build a
personal webpage. I am proud to say that McGill University is now using the software designed
by my team.
My summer work experience has given me the opportunity to develop skills that compliment my
academic background. Working in customer service, I improved my communication, analytical,
and problem solving skills.
I am self-motivated, independent, and enjoy working as part of a team. I am keen to learn new
software applications and am available to travel or relocate. I look forward to the possibility of
meeting with you for an interview at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sean Lee

Appendix C: Samples
One page C.V.
Sean Lee
4567 Prince Arthur, Suite 24 sean.lee@videotron.ca
Montreal, QC, H2X 2R9 (514) 720-9900
OBJECTIVE A Career in Management Information Systems
SUMMARY OF SKILLS
LANGUAGES
� Fluent in both French and English
� Basic conversational Spanish
COMPUTER
� Programming: Java, C++, HTML, Fortran
� Software: AutoCAD, MATLAB
� Database: Microsoft Access, Oracle, SQL Plus
PROFESSIONAL
� Ability to work in a group
� Strong interpersonal skills
� Goal-oriented
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Major in Computer Science 1999-2003
Minor in Management Information Systems
� Computer Science Web Style Project course
As part of a four member team, designed a web site integrating Flash,
JavaScript, DHTML, with a chat room, and HTML code that allows other
users to build a personal web page (www.jayjayseanlee.com)
DEC in Pure Science

Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec 1997-1999
� Awarded Harvant-Grant Scholarship for outstanding leadership qualities
WORK EXPERIENCE
Information Technology Resource Developer Summer 2002
Avantican Information Technology Inc., Montreal, Quebec
� Led a team that installed an NT network environment for a whole department
� Made financial propositions that saved resources and increased profit for the
company
Salesperson
Subway Restaurant, McGill Metro, Montreal, Quebec Summer 2001
� Served sandwiches and drinks to customers
� Responsible for the customers satisfaction
� Took inventory and made weekly reports on profits and/or losses
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
� Football champion in the McGill Science Football competition 2001-2002
� Volunteered on week-ends to help feed the homeless 2001-2002

Appendix C: Samples
Cover letter further to a conversation at a career fair
AZIZ BELOUT
1020 Sherbrooke Street, Apt. 400, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1X8 (514) 982-1112 abelout@po-box.mcgill.ca
October 5th, 2003
Ms. Andrea Baum

Vice President
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 1004
Dear Ms. Baum,
Further to our conversation on September 26 at the McGill Management Career Fair, please find enclosed
my C.V. for the analyst position with your firm. I am particularly interested to work at Goldman, Sachs
& Co because of its reputation of being the most prestigious firms on Wall Street.
I will graduate in June 2004 with a B.A. in economics. In addition to my coursework, my summer work
experience and extra-curricular activities have given me the necessary set of skills to join your team. Last
summer I worked as a financial analyst at Fraser & Co in New York, where my responsibilities included
analyzing and researching domestic equities and markets as well as providing client coverage and stock
recommendations. I very much enjoyed my experience and would like to continue working in equities,
although I am also interested in investment banking, or asset management. Moreover, I am highly
involved in extra-curricular activities and I have been the president of the McGill Economic Association.
I believe that my superior analytical, communication and interpersonal skills would be an asset at
Goldman, Sachs and Co.
I hope to have an interview with you where I can tell you more about my qualifications in greater details.
Sincerely,
Aziz Belout

Appendix C: Samples
One page C.V. for a business position
AZIZ BELOUT
1020 Sherbrooke Street, Apt. 400, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1X8 (514) 982-1112 abelout@po-box.mcgill.ca
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, McGill University June 2004

Major: Economics, minor: Management Montreal, Quebec
Relevant courses: Investments and Portfolio Management, Money and Banking
Enrolled in the Canadian Securities Course (to be taken in September 2005)
International Baccalaureate Diploma, British International School June 2000

Ambassador for Model United Nations delegation Cairo, Egypt
Captain of the track team for two years and holder of three athletic school records
Awarded for outstanding academic achievement
SKILLS
� Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Java Programming
� Fluent in English and Arabic
Summer Financial Analyst, Equities Division: Sales & Trading Summer 2003
Fraser and Co New York, US
� Analysed and researched domestic equities and markets
� Provided client coverage and stock recommendations
� Participated in conference calls, sales calls, and roadshows
� Developed a pitch book of stock ideas for a mid-cap mutual fund
Finance Team Intern, Business Consulting Division Summer 2002

ABC International Management Consulting Montreal, QC
Participated in the implementation of a software system that provides an integrated PC
based IT solution for a major technology hardware developer
� Optimised specific financial process flows
� Prototyped the resulting processes in the software system
� Developed user reference and training manuals
Generalist Intern, Business Consulting Division Summer 2001

ABC International Management Consulting Cairo, Egypt
Participated in the development and documentation of an environmental management
system (EMS) for an electrical appliances company
� Submitted a proposal that focused on the establishment of an EMS based on ISO 1400 standards
� Evaluated the companys total quality management system
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
Operation Manager (15-20 hours per week) 2001-present

McGill Computer Store Montreal, QC
� Manage daily operations, update the accounts and prepare financial statements
� Responsible for all financial and staff related issue, including payroll, suppliers and taxes
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
� Counselor, McGill International Students Network 2001-present

� President (elected), McGill Economics StudentsAssociation 2002-2003
� Intramural Athletics Basketball, first place 2002
� Extensive travel experience across Europe and North America. Studied and worked in
Canada, United States and Middle East
REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Appendix C: Samples
Cover letter for a graduate student applying for a non-academic position
DAVID M. KAPLAN
5468 St-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1L8
Home: (514)555-0001 Office: (514)398-5674
David.kaplan@elf.mcgill.ca
August 15, 2003
Mr. Gregg Blachford

Director
Career and Placement Service
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 1Y2
Dear Mr. Blachford:
The Administrator at the Admissions Office, Mr. Georges Bruneau, suggested I contact you
regarding the position of Career Advisor-Graduate students available in your department. The
enclosed C.V. outlines my educational background as well as my relevant experience.
As a recent graduate from McGill with a doctoral degree, I am familiar with the various career
issues faced by graduate students. I have acquired relevant experience in my academic advisor
position for the Faculty of Arts at McGill University where I advised students, animated
group sessions and conducted individual advising on program selection and career direction.
Also, while pursuing my graduate studies, I worked as a coordinator for the McGill Graduate
Association of Students in Political Sciences and as course instructor and course lecturer.
These positions have given me the opportunity to demonstrate my superior communication
and public speaking skills.
I believe that I will be able to serve the career needs of graduate students as well as be an
asset to your team. I would appreciate an interview to learn about this opportunity and to
provide you with additional details of my qualifications. I will contact you next week to
explore this opportunity. If you want to contact me before then, I can be reached at
555-0001 or David.kaplan@elf.mcgill.ca. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
David M. Kaplan

Appendix C: Samples
C.V. for a graduate student seeking a non-academic career
DAVID M. KAPLAN
5468 St-Laurent Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1L8
Home: (514)555-0001 Office: (514)398-5674
David.kaplan@elf.mcgill.ca
Career Summary:
Experience advising students on career issues. Excellent communication and public speaking skills
acquired through teaching, animating workshops and presenting papers at conferences. Writing and
editing skills developed through graduate education.
LANGUAGES
� English and French (fluent written and spoken)

� German and Spanish (intermediate)
COMPUTER SKILLS
Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Stata
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Political Science, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec 2000-2003
� Dissertation : Strengthening civil society: Intra-organizational cooperation

Amongst NGOs in Oaxaca and Jalisco.
B.A. History and Political Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario 1990-1994
Awards
� National Democratic Institute dissertation fellowship 2002-2003
� Social Sciences and Humanities Doctoral Research Fellowship 2000-2003
� Organization of American States field research grant 2000-2002
Coordinator, McGill Graduate Association of Students of Political Science, 2001-2003

� Coordinated the activities of the graduate student association

� Organised elections
� Liaised with faculty members
� Managed staffing of committees
Academic Advisor, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec 1997-1999
� Advised freshman students on course selection

� Update and improve the orientation program
� Animated group session and conducted individual advising on program
selection and career direction

Appendix C: Samples
David M. Kaplan (514)555-0001
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Course Instructor, International Development Studies Seminar: Democracy and Winter 2003
Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Course Lecturer, The Politics of Latin America, Department of Political Fall 2002
Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Field Research, Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Guadalajara, Mexico 2001-2002
� Conducted archival research.

� Carried out semi-structured interviews with NGO activists.
� Conduct participant-observer research.
PUBLICATIONS
Autonomy and Assertiveness: NGO Experiences with Regional Networking and Mexico,
Journal of Latin American Studies, (Vol. 23, No. 3), September 2003, pp. 318-319.
The Strategic Language Theory of David Laitin,Working Paper, Groupe de Recherche

sur les Sociétés Plurinationaux, (GRSP), McGill University, Winter 2002.
PAPER PRESENTED
Challenge and Reaction: Regulation of the Mexican Voluntary Sector, The Voluntary
Sector in Canada and Mexico : Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks, Roundtable organised
By the North-South Institute, February 28, 2002, Ottawa, Ontario.
Context of Collaboration : NGO experiences with Regional Networking in Mexico,

Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston Marriott Copley
Place and Sheraton Boston Hotel and Towers, September 3-6, 2001.
� Travelled independently in North America, South America and Europe

� Member of Toastmaster International where I developed exceptional public speaking skills
� Enjoy international movies and attend the annual Montreal International Film Festival

Appendix C: Samples
Cover letter for an international teaching position
SABRINA PATEL
1400 Pine Avenue West, Apt. 1020, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1B1 Canada
Tel.: (514) 287-9883 Email: sabrinap@mail.mcgill.ca
September 10, 2003
Mr. Gopal Janda

Human Resources Manager
Aga Khan Foundation Canada
350 Albert Street, Suite 1820
Ottawa, ON K1R 1A4
Dear Mr. Janda,
It was a pleasure to speak with your colleague, Andrea Jamali earlier today. She advised me to contact you regarding teaching positions in
Asia through AKF. To that end, enclosed please find my CV, reference letter and evaluations in application for upcoming positions. With my
contractual employment at McGill terminating at the end of December 2003, I would like to express my interest in committing to one or two-
year teaching positions in South or Central Asia.
Honored with the dubious distinction of being the Walking Transferable Skill by my colleagues at McGill University, and the educators I have
worked with, I have the ability to bring my diverse skill set to all endeavours I have the privilege of participating in. The diversity of experience
I would bring to the AKF, combined with my ability to adapt to new situations and learn quickly, will be my greatest assets in my endeavor to
teach and live abroad.
The art of teaching involves the ability to convey often complex ideas to diverse people in a logical, creative and succinct manner, a skill I
have been able to develop through my educational training in English Literature. However, it has been my teaching-related experiences and
co-curricular activities that have given me the greatest opportunity to work with people from a diversity of life experiences and allowed me the
opportunity to get involved in positions of leadership. They also inspired my thirst for knowledge and increased my interest in international
development. Participation in the AKF and CIDA Youth Summit on International Development early in my academic career sparked my
interest in micro-lending organizations in South Asia, which I explored in a graduate level seminar course at McGill entitled Women,
Education and Development.
While browsing through your extensive website, I was particularly impressed with the diversity of development activity that AKF has initiated
throughout South and Central Asia. The idea that every lesson learned from AKF projects contributes to the sum of human knowledge is, I
believe, especially telling of the incredibly positive environment that the Foundation seeks to foster in its endeavours worldwide.
I hope to meet with you soon to explore opportunities with the Aga Khan Foundation.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Patel

Appendix C: Samples
International C.V. for a teaching position
SABRINA PATEL
1400 Pine Avenue West, Apt. 1020, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1B1 Canada
Tel: (514) 287-9883 Email: sabrinap@mail.mcgill.ca
Profile
Teaching experience Volunteer ESL Teacher for new Canadians from Central Asia
Extensive travel in India and Europe Participant, AKF and CIDA Youth Summit on International Development
Creative problem solving approaches Diverse project management experience
Education
1999 2003 Bachelor of Arts, English Literature
· Recipient of NABISCO prize for extra-curricular activities at McGill
1997-1999 Diplôme détudes collégiales (D.E.C.), Social Sciences

Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec
Computer skills
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Internet
Career-related experience
Since 2000 TESL Instructor, Aga Khan Education Board, Montreal, Quebec
· Taught English to new Canadians from Central Asia
· Created and implemented innovative learning material such as flash cards and game cards
· Developed exercises and tests to measure students improvement
Winter 2002 Teaching Assistant in English, Shalom Academy, Montreal, Quebec

· Tutored small groups and individual children in grade 1 to 4 English
· Helped individual children in story-writing
· Listened and encouraged individuals in their reading
· Collaborated with the teacher to ensure the successful functioning of the classroom
1999 2001 Private Tutor, Montreal, Quebec

· Instructed elementary and secondary students in English and mathematics
· Initiated ongoing consultations with parents
· Researched, gathered and classified information pertaining to English and mathematics
Summers 1999, 2000 Camp Director, Camp Discovery, Montreal, Quebec

· Overhauled an established five-day program for minority youth of Canada
· Recruited, interviewed and trained counsellors and administrative staff
· Selected camp site, coordinated fundraising and marketing and all aspects of program implementation

Appendix C: Samples
Sabrina Patel (514) 287-9883
Other employment experience

Since May 2003 Administrative Assistant, Career and Placement Service, McGill University
Montréal, Quebec
· Managed reception desk and career resource library; received and registered students
· Directed students to relevant job search resources and employment opportunities
· Successfully guided employers in their search for information regarding recruitment at McGill
· Devised and presented workshops to students, introducing them to the Career and Placement Service
Winter 2001 Employment Order Coordinator, McGill University Career & Placement Service
· Received and quickly processed employment orders from employers in a high-stress environment
· Liaised with employers as well as counsellors to ensure accuracy of requests
· Conceptualized and established workflow practices to increase efficiencies
Summer 1996 Salesperson and Cashier, Simon, Montreal, Quebec

· Provided courteous service in fast-paced environment
· Maintained inventory on a monthly basis
· Sorted, matched, and arranged clothing items to create new displays
· Balanced the cash at the end of the day
Summer 1995 Tree Planter, Alberta Forest Contractors, Calgary, Alberta

· Planted trees in an autonomous atmosphere under little supervision in all weather conditions
Extracurricular activities & interests

2000-2003 · Member, Editorial Collective, Fire with Water, a journal for survivors of sexual assault
2001-2003 · Poetry Editorial Staff, The Pillar Magazine
2001-2002 · Student Representative, Senate Sub-committee for Honorary Degrees and Convocations
2000-2001 · President, McGill Ismaili Students Association
Since 1999 · Member of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Leisures · Reading, swimming, and expanding my knowledge of fine chocolates and desserts
Personal data
Date and place of birth: · September 28, 1975; Victoria, British Colombia
Status: · Single, no dependent
Nationality: · Canadian
Reference letter and evaluation forms are enclosed

Appendix C: Samples
Business 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: colleent@mail.mcgill.ca
1333, rue Lacombe Téléphone : (514) 342-5987

Montréal (Québec) Téléavertisseur : (514) 987-3324
H3T 1K6 Courriel : dominiq@videotron.ca
DOMINIQUE GIACOMELI
Agronome
Bachelière en sciences de l’agriculture (Science des plantes)
Membre de l’Ordre des agronomes du Québec
Expérience en services-conseils, gestion et décontamination des sols, supervision,

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

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

Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1K3 E-Mail: Karenz@mail.mcgill.ca
MARC PETERSON
Baccalauréat en relations industrielles
Membre de l’Ordre des Conseillers en ressources humaines et

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

rémunération et des avantages sociaux. Bilingue: Français et anglais (parlés
et écrits).
2123 St-Marc, apt. 7 Tél/téléc : (514) 937-5766
Montréal (Québec) Courriel : Petersonm@mail.mcgill.ca
H3H 2P1

Appendix C: Samples
Thank You Letters
5252 Sherbrooke Street West

Montreal, Quebec
H3X 2X2
September 26, 2003
Ms. Claire Smith

Manager
ABC Company
6000 Trans Canada Highway
St-Laurent, Quebec
H2X 3X3
Dear Ms. Smith:
I wish to thank you for taking the time to see me on September 25 to discuss your
requirements for a Personnel Officer. I found our discussion very informative.
The assignment you described represents exactly the type of responsibility and challenge
I am seeking. The new human resource information system you recently installed would
provide an excellent opportunity for me to fine tune the computer skills I learned at XYZ
Company last summer. As well, my experience in preparing job description for secretarial
staff is entirely related to the job requirements you described.
It was a pleasure meeting with you and I took forward to speaking with you again in the
near future.
Yours sincerely,
Susan Dolan

Appendix C: Samples
Le 5 juin 2003
Madame Diane Labonté

Directrice en ressources humaines
Pharma Expert
3458, rue Edouard-Montpetit
Montréal (Québec)
H3T 1K5
Madame,
Je vous remercie de m’avoir rencontré en entrevue aujourd’hui afin de discuter de mes

qualifications et du poste de représentant pharmaceutique. Le poste que vous avez décrit
représente exactement le type de défi que je cherche puisqu’il me permettrait de jumeler
deux de mes passions soit les sciences et la vente.
Tel que mentionné lors de notre rencontre, j’ai beaucoup aimé les expériences de
laboratoire que j’ai eues durant mes études. Je me suis alors non seulement familiarisé
avec des techniques de recherche mais aussi avec les produits utilisés. De plus, lors de mon
bénévolat à l’Hôpital Ste-Justine, j’ai appris à communiquer efficacement autant avec les
médecins qu’avec les administrateurs du milieu hospitalier. J’ai aussi constaté que malgré
de vif progrès, il est essentiel que de nouveaux médicaments soient introduits pour traiter
certaines maladies encore incurables ou pour remplacer certains médicaments causant trop
d’effets secondaires. Mon professionnalisme et ma capacité de communiquer efficacement
autant en français qu’en anglais me permettrait d’être un excellent porte-parole et de bien
représenter votre entreprise.
En espérant recevoir une réponse positive de votre part, je vous prie d’agréer, Madame,
l’expression de mes sentiments distingués.
Martin Demers
1310 Toussaint-Trudeau
Chambly (Québec) J3L 5P1

Appendix D: Succeeding in Your Fir st Job
APPENDIX D Succeeding In Your First Job

There are many big changes that occur in a lifetime, but one of the biggest and most important
transitions is leaving university and starting to work. Many of us do not realize how big of
a change this really is until we begin our first job. Entering the professional world is a very
different experience from being in school. You will be faced with new expectations, stresses
and challenges, and although there will be uncertainties and adjustments, there are strategies to
help make this transition a successful one. The following section describes the most important
points to keep in mind when entering this new world.
More Information
If you are interested in getting more information about this topic do not
hesitate to look at the books available in the career resource library or
participate in our First Year on the Job Workshop.
Your First Job

Tips for preparing for your first day
¡ Assess your wardrobe
¡ Read company literature
¡ Complete required paperwork
¡ Know where to go on the first day
¡ Be on time
Tips for your first day

¡ Treat it as an adventure: be enthusiastic
¡ Be prepared for anything
The First Three Months
The first three months in your new job will prove to be quite important. That said, you don’t
have to impress everyone with your knowledge and skills; rather, concentrate on making a good
first impression. Get along with others, and be trustworhty, respectful, courteous and helpful.
This is a time when you should take in all the information that you can and do the best possible
job with all tasks assigned to you.
Tips for dealing with difficult situations

¡ Don’t jump to conclusions
¡ Think it through
¡ Go directly to the person involved with your problem
¡ Don’t accuse

Appendix D: Succeeding in Your Fir st Job
Tips for dealing with your boss

¡ Accept criticism, be loyal, admit your mistakes, ask for feedback
¡ Talk directly with your boss regarding problems, but bring some solutions
¡ Be humble, not defensive
A smooth transition into the professional world is possible if you plan for it. You need to be
prepared and allow adequate time for leisure and your health care. Remember that it doesn’t
matter the level of your experience every new job is tiring at first. Everything is new and there
is so much to learn, but the more you plan for this transition the less overwhelming it will be.
Do Don’t
Have realistic expectations Appear like a know-it-all

Demonstrate maturity Criticize procedures
Stay focused on learning Contribute to company gossip
Listen and observe Blame others for your errors
Ask questions Burn bridges
Familiarize yourself with our work
environment
Realize that you’re the new kid on the
block
Try to remember names
Make constructive use of time
Follow-through with your
commitments
Be enthusiastic
Show initiative

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CAPS

Career & Placement Service

Career & Placement Service • Service de placement et carrières de McGill

Introduction: About CAPS 1

Chapter 1: Self Assessment 7

Chapter 2: Researching Employers 29

CAPS Job Search Handbook iii

Chapter 3: Preparing Your Career Tools 43

Chapter 4: Finding Job Opportunities 53

Chapter 5: Interviews and Job Offers 71

iv CAPS Job Search Handbook

Appendix A: Key Words for C.V.’s and Cover Letters 89

Appendix C: Samples 109

Appendix D: Succeeding In Your First Job 135

CAPS Job Search Handbook v

What’s in the Handbook

How to Use the Handbook

CAPS Job Search Handbook vii

C.V. Drop-in Sessions

Career Resource Library

2 CAPS Job Search Handbook

Program for the Advancement of Career Exploration (P.A.C.E.)

Peer Educator Program

Job Finding Club

Work Study Program

Job and Internship Opportunities

4 CAPS Job Search Handbook

CAPS Job Search Handbook 5

How to Reach CAPS

Main Office, Downtown Campus Macdonald Campus

McGill Engineering Career Centre (MECC)

The Faculty of Law Career and Placement Office

The Faculty of Medicine Career Planning Office

CHAPTER 1 Self Assessment

CAPS Job Search Handbook 7

School Activities (includes educational, extra-curricular, field studies)

8 CAPS Job Search Handbook

Helping people through Communication

Leisure/Family Activities (includes sports, social clubs, hobbies)

CAPS Job Search Handbook 9

Initiating new ideas/projects

Making the first move in

Finding new solutions

10 CAPS Job Search Handbook

Managing budgets, money

Tracing problems to sources

Organizing people, events, things

Determining sequences of tasks

CAPS Job Search Handbook 11

Overseeing work projects

Getting things done through

Conversing with individuals

Exchanging ideas with groups

Writing business materials

Writing research papers

Creating effective learning

12 CAPS Job Search Handbook

Persuading, recruiting, selling

Treating, healing others

Giving constructive feedback

Giving practical advice

Creating new ideas, images