Important Guidelines for Finding a Job! We want to help you understand the basic rules to follow when looking for employment. In order to make your job search as quick and efficient as possible, please follow these important guidelines. Read job postings very carefully. In order to be given consideration for a position you MUST meet the minimum hiring requirements listed in the job posting and these minimum requirements MUST be reflected on your resume. Be VERY CAREFUL to follow the instructions on HOW and WHEN to apply. When a job posting says to email your resume in WORD format and to include the position name and number, it is critical you follow the instructions carefully and do so before the deadline when the job posting closes. Don’t waste valuable time applying for positions where you do not meet the minimum hiring requirements. Companies do not “save your resume” or use it for other openings they may have at a later time. Focus your energy on finding positions that you are a good match for and where an employer would want your skills and abilities. Make your resume company friendly! List the position you are applying for clearly and show you meet the qualifications. One page resumes are always best. Network with friends, family, neighbors, schools and in your community to hear about new job openings. Not all jobs are listed in newspapers or on job boards. Your job search should include a variety of sources and you should check for postings on a weekly basis to discover any new listings. Don’t limit yourself. Be willing to relocate for a new job opportunity. Most companies have web sites where you can view their job postings for multiple locations.

Create a Winning Resume There are many versions of resumes. However, certain styles are preferred by hiring professionals due to their ease of locating specific information. We have provided helpful tips below and a link to a standard resume format.

	No cover letter is necessary! Most hiring professionals do not read cover pages. If you are applying for a particular position, put it in your objective and state your qualifications there.
	Keep objectives short. Note what position you are applying for, and state your qualifications for the job. Be sure to include all information requested in the job posting (job number or title). If a posting is requesting specific information, you may want to include it in bold type.
	Contact information should be listed at the top center of your resume.  This should include your name, address, phone numbers and email address.
	Education should be listed BEFORE your experience. Higher education or certifications relevant to the position you are applying for should be listed. High School attended should be listed and specify “Graduated” or “GED”, but do not list the year.
	Employment history should always include months and years for each employer. Stating only the year does not always tell an employer how long you were with a company.
	When compiling the body of your resume, be specific, but keep it simple! List the dates, company name, job title(s) and duties. The duties can be in sentence form or bullets, but refrain from saying I, Me, We, etc. If you held several positions within one company, list the employer once followed by the job titles that you held.
	Resume length should be held to one page if at all possible. It is not necessary to list references or hobbies. Companies prefer straight forward resumes that clearly demonstrate a candidate’s qualifications for a position. Long, disorganized resumes cluttered with irrelevant information are often disregarded by hiring managers.

Click here to download a resume template.