All the work you did in the previous three modules was to get you to this point. You have researched and identified career and job choices, and a select number of employers, who hopefully have a few job vacancies.

Now it is time to focus on the application process. Here we’ll look at:

• Completing job applications
• Customizing your resume
• Preparing a cover letter
• Putting together references

Completing Job Applications

These days, job applications can be made online or in person on a paper form. But regardless of how you do it, this is where you are going to use those skills you gained in module 3.2.

Remember all those job requirements that you figured out you already have and then identified examples from your past to demonstrate it?

What you want to do is find places on job applications where you can include that information. No need to fit everything in; select the ones you think are most important to the job, and possibly the ones other applicants may not have.

Here are some other tips for completing job applications.

• Follow the directions – Completing the application process is part of the hiring process; completing it as directed demonstrates you have key communication competencies such as:
  • Reading comprehension
  • The ability to follow instructions
  • The ability to complete workplace documentation.
• Be honest – Honesty is always the best policy; employers will quickly discover if you have exaggerated or faked anything (not only on the application but also in your cover letter and resume), especially when they talk to your references and hear a different viewpoint.
• Be detailed but stick to the important points – Answer what is being asked and provide a brief example to support it if you can. Do not go into detail about something that is not relevant.
• When completing an application on paper, print legibly – If the employer cannot easily read your writing, the application may end up in the garbage can.
• Check the job listing for an expiry date. Unfortunately, some employers do not take the time to remove listings that have been filled or discontinued. ALSO, some applications are time sensitive and need you to apply to them before a set deadline. If you apply after the deadline and ask for special consideration, the employer may decide that you are not good at time management!

Learning Activity 1: Complete a Job Application

In this learning activity, you will complete two different types of job application forms. The application forms are in Appendix A: Forms.

Instructions

1. Fill out the job application on Form 1 using the Shipper/Receiver job posting from Module 3.2 (Resource 3) as the job you are applying for. You can also use the results from your analysis of the Shipper/Receiver job posting (Form 3) to help you complete the application.
2. Find another job posting online that interests you.
3. Fill out the job application on Form 2, using the job posting you found online. Read the job posting but do not analyze the job with the Job Posting Analyzer to help you complete the application.
4. Compare the two applications and discuss as a class.
   1. Is one better than the other? Why or why not?
   2. Does one stand out from the other? Why or why not?

Customizing Your Resume

A resume is a short, written document that tells a potential employer how your skills, qualifications, and experience relate to the position they are hiring for.

After reading your resume, you want an employer to think “I need to meet this person”.

What do natural gas employers look for?
When it comes to resumes, natural gas employers generally look for:

1. Short, simple, well-organized resumes that make it easy to see your:
   1. Safety certifications
   2. Related skills and work experience
   3. Education and training

One or two pages maximum is all that is required. A good rule of thumb is one page for every 10 years of work experience.

The goal is to present the information in a way that makes your resume stand out from others and gives an employer just enough information to know that an interview with you, should be their next step.

Learning Activity 2: Customize a Resume for your Employment Plan

­­Form 3 is a template for a resume that you can use to modify your resume (or create a different version of your resume) and then use when applying for entry-level work with natural gas industry employers. ­­Resources 1 is a sample resume based on this template.

Instructions

1. Use the template to modify your own resume or create a new one.
2. Check spelling and grammar carefully.
3. Pair up with another student and review each others’ resume. Give your partner some suggestions to improve their resume.

Preparing a Cover Letter

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a short, one-page written document that:

• Indicates your interest in working for an employer
• Highlights how your skills and qualifications match what the employer is looking for
• Asks to connect with the employer.

A cover letter is intended to go with your resume. The cover letter introduces you to an employer, triggers their interest in knowing more about your qualifications, and (hopefully) gets them to read your resume.

A good cover letter complements a resume; it adds a personal touch and brings to life the data and facts listed in the resume.

A short story or an example highlighting one of your best achievements that is directly related to the position the employer is hiring for, or what is being asked for in the job posting, is the best way to entice an employer into reading your resume and ultimately asking you in for an interview.

Employers and Cover Letters
Research shows that opinions vary amongst employers and human resource professionals regarding the importance of cover letters—some ask for them, some don’t, some consider them important, others not so much. What is clear though is:

• If an employer asks for a cover letter, provide one; not doing so will likely cause your application and resume to be discarded because you did not read and follow instructions
• Employers use cover letters to screen out applicants. If the cover letter does not address what was asked for, employers may view it as the applicant did not take the time to read and respond to what was requested
• Typos can kill your chances of even getting looked at. Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, addressing the letter to the wrong person, even having a letter that is too long (more than a page) can cause many employers to simply remove you from the pool of potential candidates.

First impressions count, even on paper! Spend the time to make your cover letter a quality document that stand outs from the rest and makes your first impression a great one.

Avoid using decorative templates like ones that put flowers or colourful stripes on the page, as they are unprofessional. Keep your documents clear and concise. If you are sending your resume as an attachment in an email, give the document a logical name. Don’t call it “myresume.doc”. Your employer might get dozens of documents labeled this way and yours won’t stand out. If the job posting asks you to include a job posting number in the document name, do it. Otherwise use your first initial, last name and what the document is. For example, “P.Parker_Resume.doc” or “J.Jamieson_CoverLetter.pdf”

Lastly, using a template cover letter is fine. But the letter needs to be customized for every job you apply for.

Learning Activity 3: Create a Cover Letter for your Employment Plan

This learning activity will help you create your own cover letter for the job you have identified in your employment plan. ­­Resources 2 is a sample cover letter that will give you some ideas about what to say .

Instructions

1. Use ­­Form 4 to write your own cover letter.
2. Be sure to check spelling and grammar carefully.
3. Pair up with another student and review each others’ cover letter. Give your partner some suggestions to improve their resume.

Putting Together References

At some point in your job search, you will likely be asked to provide the employer with one or more references.

Employers talk to references to validate things you have told them that you have done (or can do); and to confirm that you did (can do) them as you described. This includes personal traits and characteristics.

Generally, employers are looking for recent work references. The trend these days is for a potential employer to speak to both, a supervisor or manager that you worked for, and a colleague that you have worked with.

Sometimes though, an employer may ask for personal references. In these cases, the employer may be looking to confirm that how you have represented yourself is the same as how you present yourself to others and how they perceive you.

Good references (work or personal) are:

• People who have positive things to say about your character, skills, and experience.
• People who know you well and have personally observed you demonstrating or gaining skills and experience over a period of time.
• People who know something about you relevant to the type of job you are seeking.

Having at least two references, from different professions or jobs, is recommended.

• If you have work experience, think of past employers, supervisors, managers, co-workers, and clients/customers.
• If this is your first job (or first job in Canada), think of teachers, coaches, group leaders, neighbours, community elders, or volunteer, religious or community leaders.

Tips for asking and confirming

• Contact the person and ask for permission each time you want to use them as a reference; ask in person, by phone, or email.
• Talk to each person to confirm their reference will be positive; no sense in having someone who cannot speak enthusiastically about you.
  • Give people a way to say “no” if they are uncomfortable by using questions like:
    “Do you feel you know my work and me well enough to be comfortable giving me a reference?”
• Give each person a little information about the job(s) that you are asking them to be a reference for; offer to send them the job description.
• Discuss with your reference what about you that you would like them to speak to e.g., specific personality traits, skills, situations that you have handled, specific accomplishments, etc.
  • Try to have each reference speak about something different.

Let your references know when they will/may be contacted so they can be prepared and available when needed.

Be sure the contact information you have for your reference is current and that they will be available to respond to email and/or phone calls.

For more information about working with references check out:

• Website 1: Alberta alis
  https://alis.alberta.ca/look-for-work/resumes-and-references/

Learning Activity 4: Create a List of References for your Employment Plan

In this learning activity, you will create a list of people who have agreed to provide references for you during your job search.

Even if you don’t plan to look for work right away, it’s a good exercise to go through because you will have to do it at some point. Plus, it always helps to have the information on hand; so, when you do need it, it will be more of an updating exercise than starting from the beginning.

Instructions

1. Identify four to six people who know your character and abilities, and who you believe would provide a good–and credible–reference for you.
   1. The goal is to get at least three – especially work references.
2. Use ­­Form 5 to record the name, contact information, and other information that you know about each person.
3. Once you have an initial list, reach out to each person, and confirm they are willing to be a positive reference for you.
   1. Use the tips on the previous page when you talk to them.
   2. Record the details of the conversation on the form.