Learn from the industry professionals on Professional Perspective, where they share their insights regarding various employment related topics!

In this issue, Zain Ali, Human Resource Manager at Domo Gasoline Corporation Ltd., is back to answer today’s question. Zain’s professional perspective comes from an accumulation of his personal experience as an international student and his professional work experience within various industries, and now as a Human Resource Manager.

Today’s question is:

When you are reviewing applications, what do you want to see in a cover letter?

Zain’s Professional Perspective

A cover letter is the first impression you create for the potential employer you are trying to meet with. It is something that makes a candidate stand out from the rest of the applicants who are trying to get the job. So, make sure to write an impressive and effective cover letter.

What to include in the cover letter?

Before you start writing a cover letter, read the job description and understand what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate and what the duties of the job are. Use this information to match the employer’s needs with your skills.

Begin writing: 1st paragraph

• Start by explaining how you found out about the job, whether through an advertisement or by word of mouth.
• Introduce yourself by including a line or two about your background, like what program you graduated from and the role that you want to play in the industry.

Continue writing: 2nd paragraph

• Express the most outstanding skills that relate to the job that you are applying for.
• Generate interest by elaborating on your skills, explaining how your experience and skills can be very beneficial to the organization.
• Remember, this is a cover letter, not a copy of your resume.

Finish writing: 3rd paragraph

• Professionally request an interview with the employer and provide the best way to reach you.
• Mention that you are attaching your resume and other documents that they specifically ask for such as copy of transcripts or references.
• Thank the reader for their time

End with a professional closing, “Sincerely” and your name two lines below that.

As a hiring professional, I look for cover letters that:

• Are tailored – Show me why you think you would be a good fit for the position.
• Are concise – Avoid long paragraphs, use active voice and stay within a single page.
• Show enthusiasm – Sound confident and excited for the opportunity to meet and talk about what you can bring to the organization.

My pet peeves? Cover letters with these characteristics:

• Generic
• Don’t focus on skills and how they would help my team
• Overuse “I”
• Long
• Unprofessional
• Contain spelling mistakes
• Repeat the resume
• Don’t show appreciation

For more information on writing cover letters, contact Student Employment Services to book an appointment with an Employment Advisor at 204.632.3966 or JobCentre@rrc.ca.

You can also click here for more resources on cover letters:
Online Employment Resources – Job Search Preparation

Welcome back to Professional Perspective where industry professionals share their insights regarding various employment related topics!

Zain Ali, Human Resource Manager at Domo Gasoline Corporation Ltd., is back to answer today’s question. Zain’s professional perspective comes from an accumulation of his personal experience as an international student and his professional work experience within various industries, and now as a Human Resource Manager.

Today’s question is:

As a human resources professional, what do you look for in a resume?

Zain’s Professional Perspective

A resume has about 10 seconds to get the recruiter’s attention. If there is nothing that stands out or at catches my attention, I move onto the next one. Here are 4 general things that I look for in a resume:

1. Education – training and certifications

The education an applicant lists provides me with an idea of what kind of person the candidate is – their knowledge, skills, learning attributes, vision and commitment to the field.

2. Experience – employment, internships and volunteering

I look for work related experiences – including both the duration and the organization. Duration denotes commitment and efficiency while the organization shows ambition and capability to handle jobs for different organizations and their products and services.

3. Responsibilities – detailed description

To understand how your experiences have prepared you for the job you are applying for now, I need you to make the connections for me. Your explanation will also tell me whether you are enthused about your previous jobs or otherwise.

4. Format – uniformity and professionalism

Use a good font (Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial or Georgia) and easy to read layout. Black and white is ideal. Adding colour isn’t bad, but the print quality shouldn’t compromise the uniformity or professionalism of your document.

And when it comes to resumes, I have my own pet peeves. As a final tip, don’t get caught having a resume with these:

• Information written in pen
• Coffee stains or other marks
• Improper grammar
• Photos and overly creative designs
• Incorrect information and inflated titles
• Third-person writing
• Long resumes
• Out-dated personal information 

For additional tips on how to develop your resume, visit Student Employment Services’ Online Employment Resources.

Everybody is unique – book an appointment with an RRC Employment Advisor at 204-632-3966 or JobCentre@rrc.ca for personalized supports!

Welcome to the first edition of Professional Perspective where industry professionals share their insights regarding various employment related topics!

Answering today’s question is Zain Ali, Human Resource Manager at Domo Gasoline Corporation Ltd. Zain’s professional perspective comes from an accumulation of his personal experience as an international student and his professional work experience within various industries, and now as a Human Resource Manager.

Today’s question is:

Even though students have just started their 2016 academic term, what would you encourage them to do now to increase their chances of securing employment upon graduation?

Zain’s Professional Perspective

Starting a program can be challenging at times. From getting used to schedules, to knowing the classrooms, staying on top of your notes and assignments, adjusting sleeping patterns to getting groceries. You are likely in a time of many transitions and to help you with this transition and to plan for your future careers, I have listed below some basic ways to get ahead in securing employment right from the beginning.

1. Organization

Organization is the key to succeeding in almost every aspect of life. Every student should begin organizing their schedules and be on top of their academic curriculum. Read up on your program, in detail. Pay extra attention in class, read up on the chapters ahead so that when the Instructor is explaining to you some part of your course, you are well versed.

2. Know your surroundings

It is very crucial for every student to know what their surroundings are like, because sometimes what we are looking for the most may be just around the corner.

For example: What locality do you live in? Does it have a school, hospital or retail stores nearby? Or do you have any organizations or outlets that are related to your program? Are they hiring?

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