Job Hunter’s Tool Kit
Table of Contents
SECTION A: PGA Employment Services
· PGA JobFinder 2
· PGA Employment Center 2
· Career Information and Tips 3
· Résumé Critiquing 3
SECTION B: Résumé Writing
· Cover Letter Tips 4
· Résumé Writing Tips 6
· Reference Page Tips 10
SECTION C: Job Loss - A New Opportunity
· The Road to New Opportunities 12
· Job Transition 15
· Networking Tips 16
· Keys to Careering 17
SECTION D: Interviewing Tips and Questions
· Interviewing Tips 18
· Interview Questions 20
SECTION A: PGA Employment Services
PGA JobFinder (Teaching Positions, Assistants, Reps, etc.)
PGA JobFinder is the PGA professionals’ online job- and résumé-posting service found on the PGA Professional-only website PGALinks.com. This employment networking service proves beneficial for both PGA employers and employees alike. Features include the following:
§ Job and Resume Posting. PGA professionals can post non-management level jobs or resumes and choose the PGA Sections in which they would like their postings viewed.
§ Any Golf Course Positions. PGA Professionals can post golf course service positions for their facility that appear to the general public on PGA.com. Positions may include entry-level shop help, starters/rangers, golf car mechanics, food and beverage managers, bag room assistants, and administrative help. Positions appear to the general public on the PGA.com/ Employment.
§ Resume and Job Posting “Counters”. Resume and job posting “counters” allow PGA Professionals to know how many times their job or resume has been viewed.
§ Resume “Links”. PGA Professionals have the ability to click on a “link” and send their personal “JobFinder resume / cover letter” directly to an employer.
· Resume Posting Options. Post your “PGA JobFinder Resume” to be viewable for 90-days in general PGA JobFinder searches or post your “PGA JobFinder Resume” confidentially to allow you to apply for positions that you choose.
PGA Employment Center
The PGA Employment Center is located on PGA.com and can be accessed through http://www.pga.com/employment. The Employment Center was developed to serve as the golf industry’s hiring resource. Those who are interested in working in the golf industry can view jobs and post their resume. Employers who are interested in hiring a PGA Member for management positions are provided with the Employment Services Consultants’ phone numbers and regional locations.
Online Career Information and Tips
Employment Services provides the following Career and Employment information online
q Negotiating
q Résumé Writing
q Sample Resumes
q Sample Cover Letters
q Interviewing Tips and Sample Questions
q Compensation Information
q Wage and Hour
q Sample Contract Information
q Sample Job Descriptions
q Sample Evaluation Forms
q Business Planning
q Networking Tips
Résumé Critiquing
PGA Regional Employment Services Consultants are available to provide suggestions for your résumé. PGA Professionals can have their résumé critiqued.
SECTION B: Résumé Writing
Cover Letter Tips
Cover letters are as important as the resume itself. In fact, some employers regard cover letters as more important because they give an indication of the applicants writing ability and personality. Prepare your cover letter carefully, and take the time to write a new cover letter for each position for which you may apply.
Key Elements of a Cover Letter:
· The first impression you will make on most employers will be with the resume cover letter. Remember first impressions are lasting impressions
· A cover letter is a business letter transmitting information to prospective employers. It should generate sufficient interest on the part of the employer to warrant reading the resume
· Should include an introductory paragraph that indicates your interest in the job and in turn, generates the reader’s interest
· A paragraph that highlights your key strengths and ability to add value to the facility
· A statement that briefly shows the relevance of your education and experience to the position
· A statement that calls for follow-up action
· A statement of appreciation
Characteristics of a Poor Cover Letter:
· Poor overall appearance
· Misspelled words, or poor grammar and punctuation
· Rambling text; lack of focus
· Bland or boring writing
· Gross exaggeration
· Over-aggressiveness
· False modesty; self-depreciation
Cover Letter Guidelines:
Employers expect applicants to make strong, clear, positive, statements about themselves in both a cover letter and résumé. In theory, employers will decide to call you for an interview based on how well you match the stated job qualifications. The following is a checklist to help you accomplish formatting a cover letter that will achieve the ultimate goal of such an interview.
· Develop a cover letter that will be a word-based snapshot to help an employer picture you in the job they will need to fill.
· Make strong, clear, positive statements.
· Add balance to your cover letter. Balance between "Features" and "Benefits." Features are the specifics you bring to the job: experience, training, awards, skills, abilities, and so on. Benefits entail emphasizing on what your features mean to the employer. Close the gap between the skills and abilities you offer and what that means for an employer.
· Respond to stated known facts about the job first (desired competencies, requirements and expectations), then elaborate on special abilities only you can offer.
· Highlight experience and skills—adding any results and accomplishments. Do not use your cover letter to re-cap every point in your resume.
· Do not hesitate to quote a compliment, cite an award, or share concrete results that illustrate who you are and the work you are capable of delivering.
· Do not imply you will accept any position available. Employer will interpret as desperate. Do not state you can start immediately. Employer will translate this to mean you are unemployed or unprofessional enough to quit an existing job without notice.
· Always put your return address on the cover letter and include a phone number convenient to reach you.
· Use appropriate titles and correct spelling of persons and facilities to which the cover letter is being sent.
· Be concise. Keep cover letter focused in a 2-3-paragraph form. Many cover letters will consist of a lot of flash but little substance. Focus on presenting your skills in the clearest, most persuasive way without adding unnecessary "fluff."
Resume Writing Tips
An employer's first impression of you will usually come from your resume. For most jobs today, employers will receive large numbers of resumes, and will normally take 20-24 seconds to review each one. It is critical to carefully prepare a professional-looking resume that highlights your skills and qualifications to impress the employer and meet the goal of being selected for an interview.
There are basically three types of resumes: Chronological, Functional, and Combination.
· Chronological -- most frequently used format-begins with most recent position and proceeding in reverse order
· Functional -- this type emphasizes skills and accomplishments before you list your actual employment experience. This format allows you to highlight talents and abilities that are directly related to the job opening
· Combination -- combining the chronological and functional styles
Key Elements of a Resume:
· Personal Data -- your name, address, zip code, and phone number at the top. Do not include date of birth, height, weight, and hobbies
· Objective/Summary -- defines the type of position you are seeking and summarizes your experience and career expertise. The objective should target the job description
· Profile Summary/Qualifications -- prepare in a bullet (o) form or in paragraph form, presenting your qualifications with the requirements of the job you are seeking
· Experience -- describe your employment experience as clearly as possible. Focus on achievements along with special responsibilities-try to use as many numbers and statistics as possible
· Educational background -- list formal education (degree), PGA education and training
· Extracurricular activities --listing some activities outside the job may enhance your resume
· Tournament achievements -- be careful, listing a lot of involvement may cause the employer to wonder when you have time to work. Choose only a few top finishes
· Military Service -- some employers view military service as an indication of discipline in an applicant
· Professional memberships -- in addition to golf-related associations, memberships in professional organizations outside of the golf world indicate balance in your life.
· Community service activities --- many facilities want their golf professional involved in community activities. Include those that seem appropriate for the position.
Tips on Preparing your Resume:
· Decide on the format that best highlights your abilities
· Include the standard information in your heading
· Be specific and always keep the job requirements in mind
· The heart of the resume is work experience. Make sure you communicate your achievements
· Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities, and be specific and quantify your achievements
· Tie in skills and experience to job objective
· Describe the facility you worked at. Avoid long paragraphs-be concise with descriptions
· Eliminate use of pronouns such as I, me, my, myself
· Consider using "bullets" to call attention to special responsibilities
· Use as many hard numbers as possible to show results, such as cost reductions, revenue increases and profitability
· Omit reason for leaving previous employer
· Never include salary requirements
· Highlight significant events and achievements in your career, separate them from the job description so they stand out
· Include any industry awards
· Mention professional classification and memberships
· Follow this format when listing education: college/university, city, state, degree in major, minor, academic honors
· Pay attention to details, margins, overall appearance
· Insert a header or footer that includes your name and page number every page but the first
· Have someone proofread your resume-no misspelled words or grammatical mistakes
· Don't use stationary with embossing or artwork, except on the resume cover
· Include 4 or 5 references on a separate page, making them readily-available for the employer
· Never photocopy -- send only fresh copies targeted to the position
· Consider sending it Certified Mail-return receipt requested
Most Common Faults Found in Resumes:
· Misspelled words and poor grammar
· No objective stated
· Poor organization and layout
· Too long or short
· Poor punctuation
· Dishonesty
· Irrelevant information
· Failure to adequately describe accomplishments and achievements
· Use of "I"
· Including negative statements
· Failure to number pages
· Too much or too little white space
****Always proofread (check and double check) cover letter
and résumé for grammar and spelling errors.
Page | 1
Job Hunter’s Tool Kit
Use Action Words!
Using action words in your resume is a big key to the success of your format. Action words are verbs. There are two ways to identify a verb—if you can put an “ed” at the end of it and make it past tense, or use “I “ in front of it. Mentally put an “I” in front of any of the following sample verbs written in past tense form and see if it fits a specific action or accomplishment of yours.
Page | 1
Job Hunter’s Tool Kit
Accomplished
Achieved
Acquired
Adapted
Addressed
Administered
Advised
Analyzed
Anticipated
Applied
Appraised
Approved
Arranged
Assembled
Assessed
Assisted
Assumed responsibility
Attained
Billed
Budgeted
Built
Calculated
Carried out
Channeled
Checked
Coached
Collected
Commanded
Communicated
Compared
Compiled
Completed
Conceived
Conceptualized
Concluded
Conducted
Consolidated
Constructed
Contacted
Contracted
Converted
Corrected
Coordinated
Counseled
Created
Cut
Dealt
Decided
Defined
Delegated
Designed
Determined
Developed
Directed
Displayed
Distributed
Diverted
Doubled
Drafted
Documented
Earned
Edited
Educated
Eliminated
Encouraged
Enforced
Engineered
Enhanced
Enlisted
Ensured
Established
Evaluated
Exceeded
Executed
Exhibited
Expanded
Expedited
Facilitated
Financed
Fixed
Followed
Formalized
Formulated
Functioned as
Gathered
Generated
Guided
Handled
Headed
Helped
Hired
Identified
Illustrated
Implemented
Improved
Improvised
Increased
Influenced
Initiated
Inspected
Installed
Instituted
Instructed
Insured
Integrated
Introduced
Invented
Inventoried
Justified
Launched
Led
Located
Maintained
Managed
Manufactured
Marketed
Measured
Mediated
Mentored
Met with
Modified
Monitored
Motivated
Negotiated
Nominated
Observed
Obtained
Officiated
Operated
Orchestrated
Ordered
Organized
Oriented
Originated
Overcame
Oversaw
Participated
Perceived
Perfected
Performed
Persuaded
Piloted
Pinpointed
Pioneered
Planned
Played
Predicted
Prepared
Presented
Presided
Procured
Produced
Programmed
Projected
Promoted
Proposed
Proved
Provided
Published
Purchased
Raised
Rated
Realigned
Received
Recognized
Recommended
Recorded
Reduced costs
Referred
Reinforced
Reorganized
Repaired
Reported
Represented
Resolved
Restored
Restructured
Reviewed
Revised
Satisfied
Scheduled
Secured
Selected
Served as
Served on
Serviced
Set-up
Shared
Simplified
Sold
Solved
Sorted
Specified
Spoke
Streamlined
Structured
Succeeded
Suggested
Summarized
Supervised
Supplied
Supported
Systematized
Tabulated
Targeted
Taught
Tested
Trained
Transferred
Transformed
Treated
Troubleshot
Tutored
Undertook
Unified
United
Updated
Upgraded
Used
Utilized
Verbalized
Verified
Was promoted
Weighed
Won
Worked
Wrote
Page | 1
Job Hunter’s Tool Kit
Reference Page Tips
At some time during your job search, you’re likely to be asked to provide your potential employer with references. References are usually requested when you are seriously being considered for a position; however, they can be requested at any time, even prior to your first interview. It is a good idea to include a separate reference sheet with your resume.
Employers regard reference checking as a very important part of the selection process, and will, in most cases, have a prepared list of questions to pose to your references. Experienced reference checkers look for positive as well as negative responses. Any negative response, no matter how subtle, can cost you the job offer. For that reason, your time is well spent preparing a list of qualified and impressive references.
Employers will usually contact two or three of your references and inquire about the following:
· Verification of dates of employment
· Verification of academic degrees
· Job duties and responsibilities
· Job performance
· Strengths and weaknesses
· Relationship with coworkers
· Possibility of being rehired
With planning and preparation you can ensure that your references will be strong, convincing and effective. Use the following guidelines:
Choosing Your References
Identify several individuals who might be willing to give you good references. In general, you should select references that have known you in a working relationship for at least one year, and can attest to your job performance. You should consider former supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates. Ideal references are those who were in a position to evaluate your job performance. You should also consider the demographics of the search committee and possibly add references with that consideration in mind.
Reference List
Once you have determined who your references will be, prepare an attractive, typed reference list. Include the reference’s name, job title, company name, work telephone number, and home telephone number, if appropriate. A reference outside the golf industry, such as bank or credit reference may also be used. Always make sure the information about your references is accurate and current.
Requesting Permission
Always ask your reference for permission to use their names. Explain that you’ll tell them when you actually use their name and who may be calling them. Describe the position you are applying for and provide them with information they will need to respond appropriately to questions.
Reference Letters
A reference letter is a very positive statement describing your accomplishments and recommending you for the open position. You might want to prepare your own reference letter and ask your references if they would be willing to review it, make any changes and sign it. Most people would be pleased that you have saved them the time and research needed to write an effective letter.
Note: It has become increasingly difficult for employers to obtain substantial reference information from companies. Most company policies limit the information to job title and length of employment. They do not want to risk legal problems by providing performance commentary on previous employees. If companies agree, however, to give out information regarding previous employees, they are limited by law to providing only truthful, factual, and job-related information. They cannot comment on personal life, habits, or medical information.
SECTION C: Job Loss -- A New Opportunity!