Impact Careers
Writing a Cover Letter and Resume That Gets Noticed
Your resume and cover letter are your response to the job applications duties and responsibilities. It’s not easy, however, to present your skills, knowledge and characteristics in writing so that a recruiter invites you for an interview – especially when they may have many applications to choose from. This session will provide you with practical and creative tips to increase your success in being selected for an interview. You will also understand why the cover letter is so important and how to make it stand out.
Expected Outcomes:
- Understand the unique expectations of a government vs. a private sector application
- Understand the purpose and benefits of functional vs. chronologic resumes
- Learn how to effectively and creatively present several similar jobs, numerous short-term or seasonal jobs, or a gap in your work history
- Highlight your “value proposition”
- Write effective accomplishment statements
- Understand the role of the cover letter and how to customize it for each job application
Acing The Interview
In this session, you will learn on how to prepare for an interview using the job ad and specifications. You will learn what types of interview questions to expect and how to frame responses to behavioural-based questions using a 3-step technique. Finally, you will understand how to add both depth and detail so you effectively reflect your level of skill. You will practice how to showcase your unique skills, knowledge, and attributes related to the position you are applying for.
Expected Outcomes:
- Understand Behavioural-Based Interviews
- Use a Three-Step Process to Succeed in an Interview
- Review types of interview questions
- Use STAR/PAR technique to prepare responses to behavioural-based questions
- Learn specific tips to improve your “story” and delivery
- Know what to expect during the interview
- Learn techniques to manage stress
Planning a Competition and Screening Applications (For Hiring Managers)
As a hiring manager, you may receive countless applications for every job posting, but of course you have limited time to screen them to find the most promising candidates. The good news is that there are strategies and best practices that can ensure that you are effectively promoting the role and choosing the best candidates to proceed to an interview.
Expected Outcomes:
- Improve competitions with a clearly developed recruitment plan
- Identify competencies required to succeed in the role and understand the importance of identifying “must have” and “nice to have” qualifications
- Write a job posting that clearly defines who the organization is and how the role contributes to its success
- Establish a process to screen applications based on the job criteria
- Understand recruiting best practices to run a fair and transparent competition
- Learn strategies to avoid implicit basis in hiring
*Recommended Follow-up Training - Planning The Interview for Hiring Managers
Planning The Interview (For Hiring Managers)
Managers assess employees for new opportunities in the organization or for hiring external candidates to meet organizational staffing needs. This session helps managers plan an effective, fair and transparent hiring process with a variety of assessment methods and to write effective behavioural-based interview questions to hire the most qualified candidate for the job.
*Recommended Prerequisite Training - Planning a Competition and Screening Applications for Hiring Managers
Expected Outcomes:
- Plan a step-by-step hiring process from determining assessment methods to performing background and reference checks
- Identify a variety of assessment methods, including options for remote hiring
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of the many different interview formats so you can choose the most suitable format for your competition
- Understand how to comply with legal hiring practices
- Understand different types of interview questions and design questions to learn about a candidate’s key competencies and accomplishments
- Develop rapport and trust with each candidate during the interview so they are comfortable to openly share their experience, skills and aspirations
- Understand recruiting best practices to run a fair and transparent competition
- Learn how to effectively document competition results
