The Career Planning and Placement Center actively assists undergraduate and graduate students of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business (JHJ) as well as alumni in the career planning process.

The Center provides an array of activities to prepare those students and alumni with tools that will enhance their ability to secure rewarding employment and entrepreneurial roles in the global marketplace.

Resume Assistance

Professional Development Seminars

Other Services

The Center’s objective is to provide information/resources on career development and job searching techniques that will increase the student’s chances of obtaining employment in today’s leading industries. One of the main focuses of the Center is to research and identify emerging industries that represent employment opportunities. Employment opportunities through the Center, such as internshipsa, part-time and full-time positions are available with leading corporations.

For further information please contact:
Yolonda Gaines, Director Career
Planning and Placement, Room 331
Jesse H. Jones School of Business
Texas Southern University
3100 Cleburne Avenue
Houston, Texas 77004
(713) 313-7734 (phone)
(713) 313-7722 (fax)
gaines_yg@tsu.edu

COVER LETTERS

The format of your cover letter is important to the overall appearance and effectiveness. A well-written cover letter informs recruiters about the qualifications of a candidate, thus enticing them to review the candidate’s résumé.

Some things to consider when writing your cover letter:

• It should be addressed to the person responsible for the position or the Human Resources Manager.
• It should be one page in length and should be printed on the same stock paper as used for the resume.
• It should contain the following information:
  • Which position the candidate is pursuing and how he/she learned of the employment opportunity
  • Reveal the skills and experience that are closely related to the job requirements
  • Outline an action plan in setting up an interview
• It should be free of ERRORS.

COVER LETTER STRUCTURE

1st Paragraph

Briefly state the reason you are writing while clearly communicating your objectives.

Example:

I am writing in response to the Administrative Assistant position posted in the Houston Chronicle the week of October 5, 2004.

2nd Paragraph

State your qualifications and skills that are related to the position. State skills that the employer would benefit from in hiring you.

Example:

In relation to my previous work experience, I am very confident that my strengths in marketing, research and project building are of potential value. In addition, I have led the development of three strategy-building projects that resulted in an increase of 10% in annual revenues.  I have strong oral and written communication skills.  I have exemplary time management and organization skills 

3rd Paragraph

Identify your next step; to win an interview. Be specific on the action steps you will take in contacting them to set up an interview.

Example:

I will contact you by telephone within a week to arrange an interview at a mutually convenient time. If in the interim you have questions, please call me at ...or e-mail me at...

Sample Cover Letter

WRITING YOUR RÉSUMÉ

The résumé is a tool with one specific purpose: to win an interview. Your résumé is a sales tool that should be written to illustrate your skills. It should be a concise and factual document that outlines and summarizes your qualifications and experience. Résumé are generally viewed within 30-60 seconds; therefore, you must capture your reader’s attention and sustain it – ERROR FREE.

TYPES OF RÉSUMÉ

Chronological The chronological résumé lists work and experiences in chronological order (most recent first) and is the most common type of résumé.

Functional The functional résumé lists skills developed through work experience. This type of résumé is used for individual’s who desire to showcase their expertise in a certian area. Places of employment are listed last on the résumé and including company name, job title and dates of employment.

Scannable The scannable résumé is constructed to be scanned and read by a computer. Scannable résumés should not contain bold headings, borders, underlining, italic, or graphics. This type of résumé should contain “keywords” that can be used for skill searches. For example, if an employer is looking for individuals who are “analytical”, they can input this word and the computer will search all résumés that have the word analytical in it.

KEY ELEMENTS OF A RÉSUMÉ      

Personal Data
Objective 
Summary of Qualifications 
Education 
Experience/Accomplishments
Associations and Affiliations
Note:  References should be typed or on separate page and presented with résumé.
                                                    

Personal Data
Contain name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (optional)

Objective
Career Objective should:

• State the level of the position you are seeking (i.e., senior accountant, internship, buyer, entry level, executive, management, etc.)
• State the functional area (marketing, finance, management, accounting)
• State your strengths (planning, administrative, organizing, developing)
• State the results you expect to produce

Summary of Qualifications
Summary of qualifications should include bullet statements of your work experience, strengths, knowledge, and skills.  This is your 30-second commercial.  It will contain most of the "keywords" listed above and should be tweaked for the job you are applying. 

Education
List highest degree first, followed by the university or college and dates in chronological order. Training, certificates and educational achievements should also be stated.

Experience
Job experiences should include the name of the company, your most recent position, location timeframe you were employed, and a brief description of the job. List any accomplishments that achieved results.

Associations and Affiliations
Include memberships in professional organizations, community organizations, volunteer activities, etc. Avoid mention of religious or political affiliations.

CAREER COUNSELING

The center provides one-on-one counseling to discuss jcareer options and what the student need to do to "build" their resume for future opportunities. In addition, the Center’s library can be used for a variety of resources on topics of interest and developmental material.

INTERVIEWING (MOCK/VIDEO)

The CP&P center offers "mock" interviews for students to better prepare them for interviewing for internships and full-time employment opportunities. In addition, the center has a "computer" generated interview program with the capabilities of videotaping your responses to an interview.  You can select types of interviews based on employer criteria or on experience level.

INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES

Getting an interview is the next step to getting the job. You should have knowledge of the position you are seeking so that you can tailor your "responses" to the background and interests that the company has to offer. The purpose of the interview is to allow the employer to see and talk with the prospective applicant.

Types of Interview Questions

Fact-based Questions
Interviewer solicits factual information about your skills and qualifications.
Example: What duties did you perform on your previous job?

Behavioral Questions
Interviewer solicits how you would respond in a particular situation. Most questions are based on career field knowledge and critical thinking.
Example: When supervising others, how would you motivate them?

• Arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled interview.
• Dress professionally – usually the first impression is the last.
• Know the name of the person you will be interviewing with and relay this information to the person who will greet you.
• Be prepared to fill out an application (have the necessary information, pen, employment dates/teltphone numbers, resume, etc.).
• Body language is very important (smile, show enthusiasm, firm handshake, eye contact, etc.).
• Show confidence by speaking clearly with a strong voice and proper grammar.
• Know information about the company, industry, and position.
• Always thank the interviewer for his/her time. Send a thank-you note.

• Lack of confidence or overconfidence
• Sloppy resume
• Lack of courtesy, maturity or tact
• Lack of interest in job
• Personal appearance
• Inarticulate, poor grammar, vocabulary, diction
• Too aggressive
• Lacking knowledge of work field
• Gum chewing
• Poor academic record

Interviews are based in part on the answers to the questions asked by the interviewer. Companies are looking for applicants who are confident, show enthusiasm and who can articulate their abilities. Showing self-confidence in what you know will give you a better chance of a successful interview.

PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE

It is very important that your attire for the interview is appropriate and professional. The purpose of the interview is to allow the interviewer to see and talk with the applicant. Presentation is very important and will either win or lose you the job opportunity.

TIPS ON PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE

For the Interview - Women

Suits
Women should wear dress suits, preferably black or blue.
Skirts should be no more than one inch above the knee.
Suits should fit properly and be comfortable.
No trimming or zippers on suit attire.

Shoes
No flat or open toe shoes, pumps are preferred; black or blue. Pantyhose should be skin tone color.

Jewelry
Should be moderately worn, no body piercing or tattoos.

For the Interview – Men

Suits
Men should wear suits, preferably black or blue. White shirt with conservative tie. 
Suits should fit properly.

Shoes
Dark color shoes, preferably lace-up shoes.
No rubber soles or boots.

Jewelry
Should be moderately worn, no earrings or tattoos.

• Your dress will speak for you 90%
• Interviewers take applicants serious when they are dressed professionally
• Accessories make up 30-50% of the total dress
• Bright colors should be avoided for the interview
• Personal grooming should be neat and compliment your attire
• Heavy make-up and strong perfumes/cologne should be avoided

“The first impression is usually the last.”

JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES

The Career Planning and Placement Center assists students with preparing, exploring, searching and managing career plans. The Center promotes the utilization of online information by providing online strategies in posting resumes, researching company information, researching industry careers, and posting online applications.

The CP&P Center offers a Job Search Strategy workshop/seminar to assist students with planning for their careers and hands-on experience in utilizing online job search techniques.

CAREER FAIRS

The Jesse H. Jones School of Business participates in the campus-wide career fair. The Career Fair is held each October and focuses on bringing in diverse industries to meet the needs of the diverse majors at Texas Southern University.

INTERNSHIPS/EMPLOYMENT

The Career Planning and Placement Center’s main focus is to provide “on-going” internship opportunities with leading companies throughout the U.S. that will provide the work experience necessary to ensure success. Whether paid or unpaid, we look to provide our students with internships that will prepare them to be leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.

Our internship program provides students with hands-on experience in their academic major, along with introduction to the corporate environment. We provide spring, summer and fall internships for juniors and seniors.

Students seeking internships or part-time/full-time employment should register with the CP&P office - JHJ Room 331 for an employment listing.

CORPORATE INFORMATION SESSIONS

Informing students of career opportunities in leading companies can prepare them in career planning and making sound career choices. We encourage companies to conduct information sessions in order to promote job opportunities within their firms. Corporate information sessions can offer firms the chance to recruit and promote, and allow students to explore career fields.

Previous Corporate Information Session Participants:

CAREER DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS