Job Hunting Documents: Credentials,

Applications, Portfolios, Recommendations

By Helen Nafziger, NCCC
Career Services Director
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg , Virginia

 

An application packet includes the following items:

•  Cover letter;

•  Resume;

•  Application; and

•  Copies of documents supporting your application for this specific job.

Application packages will be used to “screen in” applicants for interviews. An application packet eliminates the need for “credential, placement and professional” files.

During the interview, a candidate could use a portfolio, if available, to support skills and give visual evidence of work/teaching/projects/art work.

Sometimes an agency will initially request, “only a cover letter and resume at this time.” Respect their request. You will be notified when they choose to see more information. Don't let that stop you from following up with a phone call, unless of course they are also specific about “no phone calls.”

What is Meant by Supporting Documents?

Documents supporting your application might include three or four letters or final evaluations of internships, student teaching, or work evaluations. Where required, as in teaching positions, it might also include a transcript and Praxis scores.

Do not try to impress the reader with paper work from lots of people saying nice things about you. Send only a select few documents (three or four) that give strongest support to the job to which you are now applying. Keep the originals; send photocopies.

Recommendations / References

Collect evaluations and letters of reference from people who are in a position to know your skills. Keep collecting them throughout your career. Select people to write references who can speak articulately about the skills for which you hope to be hired.

References (letters, evaluations) speak of skills, capabilities, and work habits - not only what a nice person you are. The letters or evaluations should come from persons who would be in a position to know your capabilities and the needs of the field you are entering, such as supervisors, professors, or summer employers.

Parents, roommates, and clergy are not the best references. It is expected that they almost always say nice things about you.

Once references are about five years old they lose some of their effectiveness. An employer wants to know about your current work habits and skills.

An example of an exception to the five-year guideline would be if you had good student teaching evaluations and haven't taught since then but now want to re-enter teaching. The student teaching evaluations would be some indication of your abilities even if they might be from an earlier time. Hopefully

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

Career Videos