Health and Human Services Professional Development

To Whom it Concerns…Please Read My Cover Letter by   Jill Bowers   on   July 1, 2013   There are no second chances with a cover letter. It is often the first thing that employers glance at. Some may actually read cover letters. Others will skim them. Regardless, if something they do not like jumps out at them, your file will likely be tossed to the bottom of the pile…or worse yet, the trash. Thus, the cover letter is crucial. Some red flags include typos/grammatical errors, too long, rambling, repeating what is on your resume or CV, not addressing important points (e.g., the skills you possess that qualify you for the job), or using the same action words (best to avoid repetitive use of the same words). For more information, see  6 Secrets to Writing a Great Cover Letter ,  8 Cover Letter Tips for Graduates with No Job Experience ,  5 Things Your Cover Letter Must Cover , and  Action Words for Your Cover Letter...

Start Planning for Grad School by   Jill Bowers   on   August 6, 2013   If you are a junior or senior, you have probably started thinking about whether or not you want to go to graduate school or what programs you may want to apply to. If you are just beginning your undergraduate studies, graduate school may not be on your mind at all yet being proactive NOW will ensure you have good options later…AND many of the things you can do now to start preparing for applying for graduate schools are similar to activities that will help you on the job market! Whether or not graduate school (for example, getting a Master’s Degree or PhD) is right for you depends on your career goals, your major, and many other factors. Many individuals want to pursue graduate school because it gives them greater earning power and more opportunities to advance their career, allows them to switch career paths, buys them time to think more about what they want to do after their academic...

Preparing for Interviews by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013 The article, “ 4 Ways to Prepare for an Interview ,” on experience.com provides strategies on preparing for job interviews. This article offers tips for dressing appropriately, being prepared for talking about what is on your resume, doing your homework on the employer or business to which you are applying, and planning for unexpected turns in the interview process. To read the article on experience.com:  http://www.experience.com/entry-level-jobs/careers/jobs/4-ways-to-prepare-for-an-interview/ *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Know your Audience by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013   Similar to preparing to present at a conference or workshop, it is important to know your audience in an interview…or at least be able to read some of their cues and get a rough idea of what type of personality you are dealing with. Read more at  The Undercover Recruiter . Infographic from http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/job-interview-101/ *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Types of Interviews by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013   Although you may generally think “Office” when you think of getting an interview, there are actually several types of interviews in which you could be asked to participate. For example, your interview could be over the phone or at a restaurant. How you dress and need to prepare may vary depending on the type of interview. See The Undercover Recruiter for  6 Interview Types you Must Know as a Candidate . Source:   http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/6-interview-types-you-must-know-candidate/ *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

The Resume: It Could be the First and Only Impression by   Jill Bowers   on   June 3, 2013   Although you need to have a good idea of what you SHOULD include on a resume, it may be equally important to know what to AVOID. Because the resume may be your first and last opportunity to make an impression, you want to avoid things like typos or grammatical errors, falsifying information on your resume, or disclosing too much personal information. See more tips in the article,  Ten Things to Avoid on your Resume , on  The Job and Career Connection of Connecticut website. Source:  http://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/jcc/viewarticle.asp?intArticle=24 Infographic from http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/lying-on-resumes/ *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Future PhD’s Success Guide         by   Jeremy Kanter, Guest Author   on   May 12, 2014           Many underclassmen don’t realize all of the necessary steps involved in applying for a PhD program, and research training is just one of those steps. Many of us use our first couple of years just to get acclimated to undergraduate life and focus on “the now.” I recently read,   Publish and Prosper , by Nathaniel Lambert, highly recommend if you are pursuing a PhD, and wanted to share some of the guidelines I followed.         Find out what interests you.   This is the greatest place to start. It is VITAL to understand what ignites your passion and find the research questions you want to answer or areas you want to study in graduate school. This can be done by reviewing classes you have taken and topics you have enjoyed learning about. Obviously, as an undergraduate, you will n...