Search: My Union
Results
Resumes & Applications
Whenever you apply for a state examination or transfer opportunity, you’ll need to complete a state application. You can usually obtain this form (STD 678) at your personnel office. Read the announcement to determine if a resume or supporting documents are required.
Writing a Cover Letter
A potential employer does not usually interview everyone who applies for the job. You must convince the employer that you are one of the applicants who should be interviewed. The cover letter is the means by which you sell yourself to an employer. The cover letter is in many cases the first impression the employer has of you. You want that impression to be a good one. Your cover letter must be typed, neat, organized, and grammatically correct. It should be printed on good quality bond paper in either ivory or white. (Use the same type of paper for your resume, so the two match.)
DOs & DON’Ts for Resume Writing
Resume Writing DOs
- Review your resume carefully for spelling and grammatical errors.
- Present your information in a neat, organized and professional manner.
- Outline specific duties for each position listed.
- Include individual accomplishments for each position.
- Detail your responsibilities for each position.
- Use action words; avoid weak or passive language.
- Maintain consistency throughout the entire resume with display techniques, punctuation, verb tense, dates and spacing.
- Use bullets to describe
Resume Formats
Chronological resume
The chronological resume is designed to present your employment information by date, beginning with the most recent position.
This resume style stresses the positions you have held and the companies where you have worked. The chronological resume format is most appropriate for people who can demonstrate an employment history with no large gaps between jobs. This type of resume is also good when you are not making a dramatic change in career direction.
Qualifications Appraisal Panel (QAP) Interviews
(From "You and Your QAP Interview," Department of Rehabilitation, October 2002)
One of the most common types of exam plans is the QAP interview. A panel consisting of two or three people will ask you some pre-determined job-related questions. All questions used in the exam have been developed by subject matter experts familiar with the classification.
Questions for the QAP interview are patterned so that every applicant hears exactly the same question. The panel cannot rephrase or clarify any of its inquiries; however, it can repeat the question.
Writing a Resume
A resume is a summary of your experiences, skills, achievements and successes which are relevant to the field of work you would like to enter. By highlighting your accomplishments, a resume “advertises” to a potential employer that you are qualified for the job you are seeking, and is a means of introducing yourself. Often, an employer will only spend 30-60 seconds scanning your resume to determine your qualifications and decide if they are interested in you. It is important to remember that a resume is not intended to be a biography or complete history of everything you have done.
Handling Illegal Questions
All questions should be job-related. Questions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, birthplace, age, or physical disability may not be asked. If you are asked an illegal question, evaluate the interviewer’s intent; trust your instincts and respond in a calm tone by saying:
“My qualifications for this job seem to meet your needs. How does this question relate to my ability to do the job?”
Writing a Thank You Letter
After you have finished an interview, you cannot just relax and wait for a job offer. You need to start thinking about a thank you letter the minute the interview is finished. Do not make the mistake of thinking the thank you letter’s only purpose is that it is the “nice thing to do”. It’s not! It serves the purpose of promoting yourself one final time as a potential contributor to the company. Write a thank you note within 24 hours of your interview!
Interviews
Preparation
Preparation is key to making a good impression. Here are suggestions from the California State Personnel Board.