Nipissing’s Top Tips for Getting the Job

From cover letters to interviews, get the best advice for how to nail each step in your job applications.

Are you trying to get a part-time job while you study or during your school breaks? Or are you close to graduating and want to start your career? Wherever you are in your job hunt journey, you’ll need to go through the same process of applying to jobs. With these tips from Nipissing University, you can nail each part of the application process!

Cover letters

Your cover letter is one of the first things that potential employers will look at. A cover letter is a personalized letter that helps people get a better understanding of who you are outside of your resumé. Make sure you keep these tips in mind when writing your cover letters:

• Keep your letter to one page maximum
• Make your cover letter brief
• Highlight a few key points about yourself that are relevant to the job you’re applying to. The rest will be covered in your resumè and interview
• Include your interest in the position and brief knowledge of the company
• When possible, include the name of the manager or supervisor when addressing the cover letter

Resumé

The next thing that most employers will look at first is your resumé. Writing an effective resumé is a seriously important skill. It can make or break your chance at getting an interview for a job you really want, no matter how perfect you are for the role. So, follow these tips to ensure your resumé makes a positive impact on employers:

• Keep your resumé to two pages maximum
• Include bullet points to keep content easy to skim
• Don’t use a generic resumé for several different employers — include the specific skills each one is looking for
• Only list relevant information to the job — don’t include your DZ drivers license for an office role
• Spell check!

Still unsure about what to do next? We’ve teamed up with resume.com to make resumé writing easier. Check out different industry resumés, formatting, and layouts to find the best option for you.

Video resumés

A video resumé is a short video created by you and uploaded to the internet or emailed to a hiring manager. Your video resumé could look different depending on what is asked of you: candidate talking to the camera, animated, whiteboard, stop-motion, etc. The main goal of a video resumé is similar to a written one — you share detailed information about your skills and experiences for employment purposes.

Here are some things to keep in mind when creating your video resumé:

• Keep it professional — this is a marketing tool
• Prepare what you want to say. You’re pitching yourself, what you can bring to the organization, your goals, skills, work history, and accomplishments
• Be creative. Think outside of the box, be unique, and be yourself
• Keep the video between 30-90 seconds. Remember attention spans are short and this is your elevator pitch
• Seek feedback from those you trust and make edits accordingly

This is an optional tool for you. For those folks looking to break into visual or creative fields, this can be a valuable tool to highlight your skills and personality. This can include, but is not limited to acting, teaching, presenting, client facing roles, etc.

If the role you are applying to is not overly visual, then really think about if this would be beneficial or not.

Online job applications

Nowadays, most job applications will be done online to help employers easily sort through candidates. They may even have a software to help weed out the most relevant applicants (which is why it’s good to mention the skills they’re looking for in your applications). So, here are some best practices to do when submitting your application online:

• Always include a cover letter, even if they don’t ask for one
• Use the job title or reference number in your email subject line, and in the body of your email, include your name and what documents you have attached
• Follow the instructions exactly
• Send applications electronically in a format that can be universally opened, like PDFs

Interviews

Congratulations! If you’ve secured an interview, it means the tips you’ve followed our tips and impressed the employer with your cover letter and resumé. Now’s the time to get to know more about the position and if your skillset is the right fit. Check out our tips for nailing your interview:

• Prepare for an interview by doing some practice questions with a friend or family
• Arrive no more than 15 minutes early for an interview
• Always dress professionally
• Research the organization and role expectations
• Prepare a few questions of your own for the employer
• Do not bring up salary in the first interview — it’s common to have multiple interviews for one role

Remember, interviews aren’t just for the employer to see if you’re a good fit for them. It’s also a good time to see if the company is a good fit for you!

Applying to jobs can take some time, but the effort you put in to catering each application to the different roles will pay off. If you want some more help with the application process then consider booking an appointment with a Career Services Coordinator.