1 Cover Letters, Resumes, and Interviews

2 My Job Search Action PlanObjective Will Complete By What I Need to Do Identify what technical, transferrable, and personal skills I have. End of workshop. Make a list of my technical skills, my transferrable skills, and my personal skills. Determine what kinds of jobs I would be interested in applying too. End of day. Make a list of “dream” jobs. Think of jobs I have had in the past and make of list of what I liked/didn’t like about those jobs. Work with my counsellor to identify jobs that I may not have thought of that I would be qualified for. Update/work on cover letters, resume, and practice interview skills. End of week. … On This Slide: In the last workshop, youth developed a “Job Search Action Plan”. In that workshop, as a group, everyone agreed to the same first 3 objectives (see above). The first two should have been completed in the last session and today, the group will focus on completing objective #3: Update/work on cover letters, resume, and practice interview skills. Things to Note: Make sure that youth have their MY Job Skills worksheet from the last session with them. They will be referencing this worksheet as they work to “revamp” their resume and develop a cover letter for the jobs that they would like to apply too.

3 TED Talk: Regina Hartley – Why the Best Hire Might Not Have the Perfect ResumeOn This Slide: Start this workshop by watching Regina Hartley’s TEDTalk, Why the Best Hire Might Not Have the Perfect Resume. In this video, Regina, an HR representative, talks to other employers about giving those with the not-so-perfect resume a shot as it has been shown that these people are often more resilient, dedicated, and driven employees. Things to Note: Lack of confidence in youth living with mental health issues is one of the most frequently referenced challenges by counselors when these youth are looking to gain employment. As noted in the last workshop, many of these youth struggle to identify their strengths, skill sets, and to talk about themselves in a positive way. The purpose of this video therefore is to give the youth hope and understanding that while they may not have the most perfect resume, they still have a lot to offer a company as an employee as a person with many valuable skills and life experiences.

4 Let’s get started… RESUMESResumes are a way to highlight your skills, abilities, and accomplishments in a way that is easy for an employer to read. On This Slide: Having a resume that highlights a person’s skills, strengths, and job experiences is key to being successful during the job application process. For this reason, this workshop is designed to work with your clients, helping them develop a strong resume template which they can use and modify for jobs they are interested in applying too. Discuss as a group any advice they have received re: resumes in the past. Questions to Ask: What advice have you received in the past that has helped you build a good resume? What have you found most challenging when trying to develop a resume? Do you have any questions about what should be included on a resume?

5 Resume DOs: Resume DON’Ts:Modify your resume for each position you are applying too Include an OBJECTIVE – stating which position you are applying to List experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent appearing first) Use action words and give specific examples of your demonstrated skills List all languages you are fluent in List all computer programs you are proficient in Resume DON’Ts: Include a casual or unprofessional address List your age, date of birth, or social insurance number Lie, exaggerate, or inflate your actual skills, education, or experience Write long sentences or paragraphs Use acronyms or short forms Have a resume that is longer than 2 pages On This Slide: Review with the group the basic Dos and Don’ts of resume writing. Ask the group if they have any other dos and/or don’ts of resume writing they feel should be added to the list and discuss why each of these “rules” are important to consider when writing a resume. Do they find any of these “dos” and “don’ts” surprising or contradictory to past advice they have been given? Things to Note: The next few slides will guide youth in building strong resume that will really highlight the strengths and skills that each youth has for any job they are applying too.

6 Always keep your objective SIMPLE and TO THE POINT.Step #1: Creating a Job Objective Your objective is a simple, specific statement that states the position you are applying for and should help focus/strengthen your resume. Must include: The field/area you want to work in The title of the level of position you are applying for The field/area of job specialization you are interested in Always keep your objective SIMPLE and TO THE POINT. On This Slide: As employment counselors you understand the importance of having a strong resume. As you would tell all your clients, a job objective is the first thing that an employer sees when they look at a resume, which is why it is important that is clear and concise in its statement. It is important to note that job objectives will need to be tailored to each job that a youth is applying too.

7 ___________________________________________________________My Job Objective is: ___________________________________________________________ On This Slide: Have youth take out the job postings that they were to bring to this session for positions would like to apply too. Have them create a job objective for one or two of these. If they did not bring in any job postings, provide them with a sample job positing or two for them to use as a sample/for them to practice with. Give them time to complete the exercise and have them share one of their objectives with the group, having the whole group give feedback on what they thought worked well and how it could be made stronger. Resources to Distribute: As some youth may not have had the time or may have forgotten to bring in job postings be sure to have a few sample job postings for youth to use throughout this workshop. If possible, try to have job postings for a few different types of jobs. These postings can be pulled from any job board.

8 Step #2: Create your Summary of QualificationsYour Summary of Qualifications gives employers a quick “snapshot” of the qualities and qualifications you have for the job you are applying too. Things to include: Number of years of experience you have working in the field Any relevant/important certifications you have Any experience with programs or technical equipment that you would use in the job Any personal qualities that you think are important to have in this role Any other languages that you speak On This Slide: The next step in writing a resume is to develop a Summary of Qualifications. As noted in the slide above, this section of the resume gives youth the opportunity to really showcase the experiences, skills, and strengths that they have that make them the perfect candidate for the position they are applying too. Like the job objective, this section of ones resume should be tailored to each job they are applying too. Have the youth choose one of the jobs they just created an objective for in the previous activity and have them develop a Summary of Qualifications for that job. Once complete, have them share their Summary of Qualifications with a partner and encourage them to give feedback to one another. Things to Note: Having a lack of work experience and/or many periods of unemployment are two resume challenges that are common in youth living with mental health issues. Having a strong summary of qualifications is important for these youth as it is their opportunity to highlight their skills, strengths, and experience to an employer before they look to the main section of the resume. At YES it has also been found that the process of developing a Summary of Qualifications is extremely helpful for these youth as it forces them to identify skills that they have and relevant experience that they can speak to in an interview – giving them confidence in their abilities and their suitability for the role. Sample Summary of Qualifications 4 years experience working as a Customer Service Representative Certified in Standard First Aid and CPR “C” Have demonstrated accuracy in completing cash, debit, and credit transactions Am a reliable and punctual employee with a sales oriented attitude Fluent in English and French

9 Step #3: Create your ResumeFunctional, Chronological, and Combination Resumes are the three most commonly seen styles of resume in the job market. Functional Resumes This style of resume highlights your skills, strengths, and/or accomplishments, and downplays a lack of work experience. Chronological Resumes This is the most traditional style of resume that lists your work experience by date; in reverse chronological order (most recent job experience always appearing first). Combination Resumes This type of resume combines the two styles and includes one or more skills lists, followed by a chronological listing of work experience. On This Slide: The next step for all youth is to build the main “body” of their resume. Unlike the Job Objective and Summary of Qualifications, this section of the resume, if well written, may only require a few small modifications for each job they are applying too. In the employment sector, there are three types of resumes that are widely accepted by employers, they are: functional resumes, chronological resumes, and combination resumes. Please take the time to review each type of resume and discuss when it is best to use which style. Things to Note: At YES we have found that a functional resume is most often best suited to youth living with mental health issues as they often experience or have many gaps in their employment history. For this reason, the following slides will review how to write a functional resume, but if another style is better suited it is highly encourage that you work with the youth to develop it instead.

10 Let’s Write a Resume. Using a Functional Resume.Functional resumes are a great way to highlight your skills and strengths when you are looking for your first job, lack work experience, or have many gaps on your resume. This style of resume allows you to emphasize all of the skills and abilities that you have to offer but maybe have not yet had the opportunity to showcase in a workplace environment.

11 Your Name On This Slide:12 – 456 Queen Street West, Toronto ON, M6R 2K8 ▪ Objective: A position as a ………. Highlights/Summary of Qualifications Years of experience in the job Languages Spoken (if more than one) Special skills Personal Characteristics Skill Heading Work History Company Name Job Title Years Employed Education School Name Degree Received Year Attained References Available Upon Request On This Slide: On this slide is a very basic template of what a functional resume would look like. Each Skill Heading should be followed by two or three bullet points giving examples of a time when that skill was used – can be in a work, volunteer, or school environment. Each bullet point should begin with an action word – this will be reviewed in the next slide. It is extremely important to remind and encourage youth to review job postings and to take note of the skills/strengths that are commented on. Use these observations to determine which of their skills should be included in their resume.

12 Resume Action Words! Highlight your skills and experiences by starting all bullet points with an action word that will draw your employers attention and showcase your areas of strength. Achieved Adapted Completed Contributed Doubled Established Expanded Implemented Improved Increased Introduced Maintained Managed Opened Proposed Provided Revamped Reviewed Revitalized Saved Simplified Sold Solved Stimulated Streamlined Strengthened Structured Succeeded Supported Transferred Unified Upgraded Widened Won On This Slide: As mentioned in the previous slide, it is important that each Skills Heading is followed by two or three examples of when/how this skill was used. Today, it is highly recommended that all bullet points following a skills or job heading start with an action word to capture the attention of the employer by clearly stating how an skill was used or what strengths were required in a particular job. Example: Customer Service Experience Supported customers in their shopping experiences, assisting them in finding items that they were looking for and recommending similar products that they may be interested in. Maintained a high level of professionalism at all times and promoted the store culture by showing up to each shift with a positive, enthusiastic, and sales oriented attitude. In pairs, have the youth take two or three of their skills headings or job experiences and develop two or three strong bullet points for each with their partner. During this time be sure to walk around and support each pair in their development of strong action focused statements. Have some youth share their statements with group as it may give others ideas for similar skill headings that they may have. Things to Note: Breaking down resume writing into these small steps and completing them as a group is important for youth with mental health issues. At YES, many clients commented on how overwhelming they found the resume writing task to be and frequently requested additional support in completing this task. Through this workshop, you as the facilitator are doing just this, supporting them in creating a strong resume but also facilitating their independence in doing so by getting them to work in pairs and independently under your supervision.

13 Next step… COVER LETTERSA cover letter is your chance to sell yourself to a potential employer as the best candidate for the job. Cover letters are different than your resume and should not repeat the same information. Cover letters should focus on your intentions, what you can bring to the job and why you are the best candidate for the position. On This Slide: Now that the group has a strong understanding of how to write a great resume, it is time to move on to the cover letter. It is important that the group understands how the cover letter is their first opportunity to “sell” themselves to an employer and how cover letters should be used to as the tool through which they express their interest, enthusiasm, as well as ability to do the job they are applying for. Cover letters are ones opportunity to showcase the many ways in which they are the perfect candidate for the position. Things to Note: At YES we have found that counsellors often become the “cover letter” for the clients, with the counsellor reaching out and “selling” the youth candidacy for the position. Spend time reviewing cover letters as it is important for youth to know and understand, but as the counselor for these youth be aware of the reality that you will be the advocate for these youth, contacting employers and “selling” them as a candidate for the position.

14 Cover Letter DOs: Cover Letter DON’Ts:Highlight strengths and achievements Use specific examples Use key works and qualifications listed in the job ad Show genuine enthusiasm Indicate when you will follow-up Cover Letter DON’Ts: Mention salary or wage (unless requested) Discuss why you left your last job Discuss availability Disclose accommodations or potential health related needs On This Slide: Review cover letter “dos” and “don’ts” as a group. Ask the group if they have any other dos and/or don’ts of writing cover letters that they feel should be added to the list. As a group discuss the reason one writes a cover letter and the importance of it. As a person living with mental health, what are some of the benefits of writing a cover letter? What are some of the challenges of writing a cover letter? Things to Note: As the facilitator emphasize how a cover letter can act as an advocate for them when first reaching out to an employer. A cover letter is a space where they can speak to their strengths, their interest in a position/company, and speak to experiences that make them an ideal candidate for the job.

15 Cover Letter Check List:One page in length 3-5 targeted paragraphs that focus on employers needs Address/write to someone specific (use full name and job title if available) Close the letter formally (eg. Sincerely or Yours Truly) Use same formatting, font, and paper as your resume Edit and use your computer’s spell check Have a peer, friend, or counselor review, if possible Indicate when you will follow up and be sure to do so! On This Slide: Review as a group all of the features of a cover letter. A sample is provided on the next slide.

16 Your Name On This Slide:12 – 456 Queen Street West, Toronto ON, M6R 2K8 ▪ Date Employer Name (if known) Employer Job Title (if known) Company Name Company Address Fax Number if faxing Resume Dear Mr./Mrs. _ (if name of employer not known use: To Whom It May Concern), Paragraph 1 - Introduction Introduce yourself State your interest in applying to the position you are applying for (include position name) and where you found the posting *If you found out about this position through a personal contact/networking, include the name of the person here Paragraph 2 - Why this company or career? From your research, tell the employer why you want to work for them Write about how their company culture and what experiences, values, etc. you have that would make you a great company fit Have a sentence or two that discusses how working for this company and having this particular role aligns with your career path Paragraph 3 - Your accomplishments Write about what you can bring to the job. Name the skills, related education and/or training completed, achievements and experience that you have, referencing the desired qualifications that were included in the job ad Paragraph 4 - Closing Restate the title of the position you are applying and reaffirm your interest in it Indicate that you will follow up and when Thank them for their time and consideration Sincerely, On This Slide: After reviewing the cover letter checklist. Walk the group through this cover letter template and distribute the Cover Letter Template resource for them to refer too. Encourage them to use this resource whenever they are writing a new cover letter for a job. Resources to Distribute: Cover Letter Template (Appendix G:1)

17 Most importantly, remember to… SELL YOURSELF

18 Okay… now, let’s go! (Computer Time)On This Slide: The group should now have all of the resources and information needed to write a strong resume and cover letter. If possible, take the group to a computer lab and have them find one or two job postings they are interested in applying too. Have them write a resume and cover letter for these positions. Alternatively, if time is more limited, take the group to a computer lab to only work on writing a resume, using all of the information and resources they just received. As the facilitator, be sure to take the time to support each youth with the writing of their resume (and cover letter), giving feedback where needed. Things to Note: At YES, the individualization of resume writing and the importance of giving individual support to each client is seen as one of the key factors to success for youth living with mental health challenges. These youth often requested (and needed) additional support in focusing, tailoring, and writing their resumes so please be sure to allocate time to do so – whether it be during, between, or after this workshop. If a computer lab is not available. You could break this workshop into two sections here, sending them off to work on their resumes and cover letters on their own, with the next workshop starting with a resume/cover letter review and then continuing on to interview skills. It is important that you encourage youth to now start applying for positions they are interested in, using the information and skills they have gained regarding resume and cover letter writing in this session. If they are seeking further support, set up a time to work with those youth one-to-one soon after this workshop is complete.

19 … and we’re back!

20 Preparing for the Interview…An interview, much like your cover letter, is your opportunity to sell yourself as the ideal candidate for a job, but this time face-to-face with the employer. It is important to remember that the interview is not a “test” but rather a meeting where the employer is taking the time to talk to you because THEY believe that you may have something to offer. During the interview the employer is hoping to learn more about your skills, experiences, and personal qualities that may make you the ideal candidate for the job. On This Slide: Review the slide above as a group. Have a few members of the group, if comfortable, share past interview experiences OR their thoughts on the interview process. Questions to Ask: What has been your experience with interviews in the past? What has gone well? What have you found challenging? What are you most nervous about when entering an interview? What do you do to prepare for an interview? How do you think you could prepare better for interviews in the future? Things to Note: Interviews are often noted as the most challenging part in getting a job, especially for youth living with mental illness. Many youth struggle with an extremely high level of nervousness and lack of confidence when it comes to interviews. Preparing them properly for an interview is one of the biggest keys to employment success for these youth. With this being said, please make sure that you give the time required to go through this portion of the workshop as it should not be rushed. If needed, this portion of the workshop has been built to stand alone and can be completed as a separate session. *If starting this as a new workshop, begin the session by asking the group about their job application progress. Do they have any questions about resume or cover letter writing? Have they applied to any jobs? Encourage all youth to apply to at least two positions before the next session.

21 Let’s brainstorm… Things to do BEFORE the Interview:On This Slide: As a group, develop a list of things that should be done before an interview. Encourage them think about ways they have prepared for interviews before: what steps did they take? What were some steps they used to make them feel well prepared for the interview? A sample list of things to do before the interview is available on the next slide. Things to Note: If applicable, bring up the topic of disclosure with the group. While it is often not recommended that a youth disclose about their mental health in an interview, discuss how they would speak to their mental health in an interview should it arise. It is important that youth are prepared to speak about their mental health in an interview, while it is encouraged that youth do not bring up their mental health, should the topic arise they need to be prepared to discuss their mental health in a positive way – a way which shows the employer that even if challenges may arise that they would still be able to do their job successfully.

22 Things to do BEFORE the Interview:Have a professional and working voic as well as address. Frequently monitor your voic s and s, promptly retuning employers messages. Compile your list of references and notify them of any jobs they may be called to be a reference for. Have your resume, a pen and pad of paper close to the phone at all times. Be sure to always answer the phone professionally and if the call is for an interview, take detailed notes on: who, what, when, and where. Research the company and who you are meeting with. Use resources such as Google Maps to locate where you have to go for your interview and how much time it will take to get there. Dress professionally and bring several copies of your resume and reference list in a professional folder, as well as a pen and pad of paper to take any notes on. Prepare by developing answers to potentially tricky interview questions you may be asked (see resource). On This Slide: Review all that were not mentioned by the group. Talk about why they are important and how doing these things will help them feel better prepared and more confident walking into an interview. Questions to Ask: How do you prepare for an interview? What are you most nervous about when walking into an interview? What are some ways that you can prepare to help with this?

23 Things to do on the DAY OF the Interview:Arrive to the interview minutes early. Greet the employer by shaking their hand and introducing yourself. During the interview: posture is important! Sit up straight, look alert, be enthusiastic, maintain confidence, and be sure to have appropriate/natural eye contact. On This Slide: Distribute the How to Ace the Interview resource and review. The resource includes some commonly asked questions as well as some more challenging questions youth may be asked and gives a guide on how to potentially answer them. Take the time to ask the group if they have had any questions in previous interviews that they have been unsure how to answer and together, as a group, develop potential answers. Things to Note: As it has been noted before, confidence is something that a lot of youth living with mental health issues lack and need additional support with. Reminders of how to act in an interview and how to appear/be confident in an interview need to be reinforced with these youth. As the facilitator allocate a good amount of time for youth to ask questions about interviews, how to answer certain interview questions, how to best prepare for interviews, and to practice “interviewing” with their counselor, peers, friends, etc.

24 Illegal Interview QuestionsIllegal questions are personal and discriminatory in nature, and are related to the ones sex, race, ethnicity, and/or disability. The Canadian Human Rights Act forbids employers from discriminating again any person based on these things. Employers thus only have the right to ask information about employees skills, abilities, and experiences. It is important to understand that in refusing to answer an illegal question during an interview, while you are completely in the right to do so, it may cost you the job. On This Slide: Some youth may be concerned that employers will ask questions about their mental health or disability. Before walking into an interview it is important that the youth understand what questions they have a right to not answer but also how to answer these questions if asked (see next slide). Review the slide above and ask youth if they have had any experiences with this and/or if they have any questions about the information above.

25 4 Ways to Answer Illegal QuestionsIgnore the question and focus instead on the intent behind the question. Use language such as “I think what you are saying is…” and then answer the question with information that you are comfortable sharing/wanting the employer to know. Answer the question by saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand the relevance of this question, could you try rephrasing?” Answer the question without any reference to it’s inappropriateness. Politely say that you do not wish to answer the question as you feel it is not relevant/appropriate at this time. On This Slide: Talk through some different ways that youth could answer a question they are uncomfortable answering in an interview. 4 examples of ways to answer questions are provided above, but feel free to brainstorm more and add to the list! The more prepared they feel, the more capable they will feel at navigating those challenging questions!

26 Types of Interviews One-on-One Interviews Group InterviewsWhat the employer will look for: Skills, experience, and education related to the position. Your ability to fit within the company and in this role What to expect during the interview: Interviewer will likely be a future supervisor Have your resume out and refer to it for examples that demonstrate specific skills when answering interview questions Group Interviews What the employer will look for: Interpersonal skills Leadership abilities What to expect during the interview: Team-spirited atmosphere Group demonstrations and tasks *TIP: Do not be shy about answering questions and participating in activities! Show your leadership skills and how awesome of a team member you can be! Telephone Interviews What the employer will look for: Voice – tone, clarity, enthusiasm, and articulation Communication skills – concise, to the point, and organized answers What to expect during the interview: Formal interview that could last as long as a typical in-person interview On This Slide: One-on-one interviews will be the most common type of interview offered to youth but it is important that they are aware and feel prepared for all types of interviews that could be offered to them. Take the time to review each one, focusing on how they can best represent/sell themselves in each type of interview and why a certain type of interview may be chosen over another. Things to Note: The importance of reviewing types of interviews again is to help these youth with confidence. The more information they have about interviews and the more prepared they feel walking into an interview the more confident they will be. By reviewing the different types of interviews they may be asked to take part in, they will have a better idea of what to expect – easing anxiety and helping them focus on how they will sell themselves to the employer. Other, but less common, types of interviews you may encounter: Personnel Interview Panel Interview Written Interview Stress Interview

27 Sample Thank You LetterThings to do AFTER the Interview: Send a thank you note within 48 hours of the end of the interview. Doing this will make you appear thoughtful and show your interest in the position. Sample Thank You Letter Dear Mr./Mrs. _ , It was a pleasure to meet and talk with you about the sales position available at your company. I really appreciated you taking the time to discuss the role and company culture with me. I truly believe that my experience in sales and customer service make me an ideal candidate for the position you outlined. As noted in the interview, my diverse experience in different customer services roles has given me the skills to be able to work with a wide variety of people and to have a customer service, solutions oriented approach. I am extremely excited to know that I am being considered for this opportunity and, after having spoken with you, know that this is the ideal opportunity for me. Again, thank you for your consideration and time. Sincerely, Your Name On This Slide: Sending a thank you note after an interview can make all the difference. In sending a thank you note, youth are showing the employer their interest in the position, reinforcing the ways in which they could benefit the company, and demonstrating strong relationship management/communication skills (which are both skills often required/wanted by an employer no matter what the position).