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Career Advising Services

Columbia College Career Services offers a variety of employment services to our students and graduates. All learners are encouraged to meet with a career advisor to clarify their career direction or to determine occupations of interest. Career Advisors will initiate discussions around strengths, personal interests and career aspirations. From these conversations, the learner and career advisor will work together to develop a career plan.

Please note: All in-person appointments have been suspended at this time. We are offering services remotely. To book a Microsoft Teams video appointment or telephone, please email careerservices@columbia.ca or call 403-235-9300.

Career Services

 

Career Services is the first stop for job search support. As a Columbia College graduate, you have access to career readiness support and resources for up to 1 year after graduation. We provide the tools necessary to make meaningful connections with employers and increase your employability skills.

One month after graduating, a Career Advisor follows up with our graduates to inquire about employment and/or further education. Unemployed graduates are offered individualized job readiness supports to assist them secure meaningful employment in their field of study.

Job Search

The Columbia College Career Services team is committed to assisting our learners and graduates develop their job search skills to secure meaningful employment within their field of training. From resume and cover letter critiques, to interview preparation and a wide variety of services in between, we are committed to our student and graduate success. If you require support, please contact us at careerservices@columbia.ca or 403-235-9300.

Please access the Columbia College Job Board as well as our Career Services LinkedIn page to access part-time and full-time job opportunities and information on local career events. Our job board advertises up-to-date career opportunities that can link current students and graduates to their next step.

FAQ's

Career Advisors help students and graduates by providing them with resources and coaching that foster confidence and build the necessary skills required in a successful job search. Where possible, students and graduates will be linked to job openings, hiring events, career fairs, job search bootcamps and/or informational interviews.

Absolutely. Support is available to graduates up to 1 year post graduation.

Due to the increase in COVID-19 numbers, the College is open; however, students, graduates and guests must have an appointment to visit the College.

Students and graduates can schedule an appointment with a career advisor by emailing careerservices@columbia.ca or by calling 403-235-9300.

Resume & Cover Letter Writing Tips

The purpose of a resume is to secure an interview. A targeted resume communicates relevant skills, education and experience to a potential employer. Having a “perfect” resume is unlikely because of the differing opinions on what “the perfect” resume looks like; however, the following is a set of tips to keep in mind as you begin to create your targeted document.

Please remember the importance of customizing your resume for all jobs that you apply for. It is no longer common practice or effective to use one resume for all job applications. By using the job posting to target your resume, you are significantly boosting your chances of getting noticed and securing an interview.

Join us on January 18, 2024 for an exclusive Online Resume Workshop

Unlock the secrets to a standout resume and land your dream job with our exclusive Online Resume Workshop – a live event that puts you in the driver's seat of your career journey! Join us as we dive into the latest industry trends, guiding you on how to craft a targetted resume that not only catches the eye but lands you that coveted interview. Don't miss out on this opportunity to master the art of targeting your resume using real job postings – your ticket to success in the competitive job market awaits!

An organized, uncluttered and easy-to-read resume will help create a positive first impression. Here are some tips:

  • No more than 2 pages.
  • Keep the section formatting consistent: font style and size, upper or lower case headings, bullets, section spacing etc.
  • Protect the white space. Wherever possible, keep the margins between 0.5 – 1 inch and use bullets instead of paragraphs. White space makes a resume easy to read.
  • Font should be an average size of 11-12.
  • Choose a font that is easy to read. Examples include Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, Helvetica, Palatino, Tahoma, Times New Roman or Verdana.
  • Add months to employment dates ex. November 2019 to June 2020 vs. 2019-2020. The second example is unclear and could mean that you worked anywhere from 1 to 12 months.

Content

  • A targeted resume gets noticed. Use the job advertisement and information found on a company’s website to market your transferable (soft) skills.
  • Replace ‘Objective’ with ‘Summary of Qualifications’ (SoQ). Objectives are outdated, they’re all about what you want. A SoQ focuses on what the employer is looking for.
  • Accomplishment statements make a resume stand out. Today’s employers expect to see skills and results. Wherever possible, include numbers, percentages and transferable skills. List numbers numerically.
  • Start each bullet point with an action verb (supervised, directed, developed etc.). Jobs done in the past are described in past tense, present jobs using present tense. For ideas, please review our list of Action Verbs.
  • Be honest and accurate about your accomplishments.
  • Spelling and grammar mistakes speak to a candidate’s attention to detail. They highlight weakness, rather than focusing on strengths.
  • Make your resume skimmable. Use bullet points and short sentences rather than paragraphs.
  • Always tell the truth.

In general, references are separate from the resume and taken to the interview with the applicant. The exception to this rule occurs if the job posting asks for the resume and references to be submitted as one document. The reference document should have the same look as the cover letter and resume. For example, the font, spacing, setup of the contact information etc. should all be identical.

To create your reference list:

    • Think of 3 strong professional references. It is recommended that personal references be avoided whenever possible.
    • Contact these references to ask for their permission to use their name and their contact information.
    • Ask if they will provide a positive reference about you, your skills and abilities.
    • Share information about the jobs you are applying to.
Sample References Template

Reference Sheet Template

There are an increasing number of large and medium sized companies using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). An ATS is a tracking software that sorts and screens resumes. It saves recruiters valuable time by quickly screening out unqualified resumes and highlighting top candidates.

Approximately 75% of applications are screened out by an ATS. To help increase your chances of getting through an ATS system, follow these tips:

  • Avoid using resume templates and fancy formatting. Although your resume will look nice, most ATS software cannot read resume templates, graphics, shading, columns, tables, or headers.
  • Carefully review job advertisements for key words and include them in your resume.
  • Use ATS “friendly” section headings. Make your resume easily parable by using common headings ex. Work Experience vs. Professional Experience and Education vs. Education and Training
  • If you anticipate or know that a company is using an ATS, consider uploading your resume in a Word or Plain text format.

Consider using jobscan.co. Jobscan is a web tool that analyzes how well a resume is tailored to a specific job posting. The goal is an 80%+ match. Simply paste your resume and the job description in the boxes provided. Jobscan scans the information and tells the you how well your resume matches the job advertisement. Suggestions on ways to increase match rate to the job posting are also offered on the site.

Cover Letter Writing Tips

The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself and your resume to the hiring manager/panel. A strong cover letter shows your interest in the organization and the advertised position that you have applied for, draws attention to your resume and motivates the reader to schedule an interview.

Opening Paragraph: Answers the question, “why are you writing?” “Why do you want to work for this organization?” Reference the company’s values, mission statement, and/or community involvement to help demonstrate your interest.

Paragraph 2: Tells the reader, “the skills that you have to offer.” These are the skills that you have that match the job posting.

Closing Paragraph: Discuss next steps.

Things to Consider

  • Keep your cover letter short, simple and precise (no more than one page).
  • Address a specific person; avoid using, “To whom it may concern”. Please note, you may need to research the company to find this information or contact them directly.
  • The correct spelling of the hiring manager’s name and job title are VERY important.
  • Write formally, however avoid using language that doesn’t sound like you.
  • Limit the number of “I” statements. Hiring managers are looking for the best person for the role, they are not interested in why this job would benefit you.
  • Be compelling; avoid repeating information that can be found in your resume. Originality and showing interest in the job you are applying for are key.
  • Match the skills described in your cover letter to the skills found in the job posting.

Job Search Tips