Craft Supplies Store Resume

							        Questions to Ask

How is the training program
    structured? Time/format
I read company is planning
    expansion into Mexico
    …could you tell me about
    plans and opportunities for
    international placement?
        Questions to Ask


Average time it takes to reach
   _________ position?
Could you describe the
   employee evaluation
   system? How often will I
   receive a formal evaluation?
        Questions to Ask

What opportunities are there to
  move from one functional
  area to another if I see an
  opportunity in which I am
  interested?
Cover Letter – 1st Paragraph

Reason for letter – use company
 knowledge
Specific position or work type
How you learned of company or
 position
  Cover Letter – 2nd Paragraph
    (Specifics/Value Selling)


Why you are interested
Academic background match
 with the company/position
Specific achievements or unique
 qualifications
Do not repeat resume info.
  Cover Letter – 3rd Paragraph
         (Value Selling)


Refer reader to resume
Can discuss coursework that
 helps qualify you
  Cover Letter – 4th Paragraph
     (Appreciation/Action)


Indicate desire for personal
 interview
Flexible time/place
Repeat phone #, email
Statement or question that
 encourages response
  Thank You Letter
Most recruiters say email thank you is fine –
 must be professional/formal
  Subject line should say “Interview Follow-
   Up” or “Thank you for the Interview”
Refer to interview date/place and say thank
 you for opportunity
Express desire to work for company
Reiterate qualifications
Close with phone number, email and action
      On-Site Interview

Separate interviews
Group interviews
Testing
Social skills
Assessment center activities
       On-Site Interview

BIG MISTAKE
 Lack of extensive company/
 industry research
Research people, too
 Contact individuals
More situational interviewing
        On-Site Interview

Focus on team skills
Courtesy to all
Most desired job, tell them
Demonstrate how committed
you would be (one/two minute
commercial)
Job Offers
Get offer in writing
Set decision date
Questions
 Frequency of salary and
  performance review
 Promotional opportunities
 Professional development
Job Offers
Total compensation
 Base salary
 Benefits
  % of base salary
  Compare benefits across
   companies – start dates
www.datamasters.com/
Job Offers
Negotiating salary
 Leaverage other offers
 Moving expenses
 Signing bonuses
Acceptance letter
Decline letters
Acceptance Letter

Say you accept and repeat the
 offer details
Discuss why you are a good
 match for the company….make a
 commitment
Close with thanks and follow-up
 details
Decline Letter


Thank for offer and time
Difficult decision but decline and
 tell why
Keep the door open
      The Merchandising
          Portfolio


      From Oklahoma State
           University
  Portfolio Examples Courtesy of
       MSU and OSU Interns
Shiretta Ownbey, Associate Professor
Why Use a Portfolio?

           Differentiates
            you from other
            job candidates
           Highlights your
            skills, abilities,
            and experiences
 Why Use a Portfolio?

Makes your interview
 interesting
Allows you to direct
 some of the interview
 conversation
Demonstrates you
 are a professional
 Case Recommendations
Buy nice quality portfolio or
 presentation case
 Black or brown cases are preferred
 Use acetate sheets to protect
  contents
 Smaller size cases are best for
  merchandising portfolios
 Think About This!

Professional portfolio, not a
 scrapbook
What does employer need or
 want to know about applicant?
Pages should illustrate an ability,
 skill, or experience desired or
 needed
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Use cover page
Introduce a theme
 and/or look
Include name and
 contact info
State degree, major,
 and minor
Include college or
 university name
Portfolio Example
Portfolio Example
Tips
Insert resume
 after cover page
Use resume
 paper that
 coordinates with
 portfolio look
Proofread
 resume carefully
Example Categories to
Highlight in Portfolio
Communication       Internship
 skills               experiences
Training others     Networking
Technology          Creative skills
Visual              Customer service
 merchandising       Market experience
Management skills   Promotional
Leadership           experience
Tours and trips     Special event
                      coordination
Portfolio Example
Tips
Highlight industry field
 trips/tours
Brief, concise caption
 and title
2 photo edges are
 shaped (left)
Background mats add
 color
1 photo is cut within
 image (right)
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Highlight
 internship
Caption focuses on:
  Project goals
  Project activities
  Project
   outcomes
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Highlight education
 through a field trip
Caption focuses on:
  global industry
  industry
   networking
Note photo cuts
May cut shapes from
 art paper for visual
 interest
Portfolio Example
Tips
Evidence of
 experience
 related to
 technology is
 valuable
Cut photos in
 various shapes
 Portfolio Example
Tips
Leadership in the
 community
 demonstrates
 initiative, character,
 and work ethic
Communicate
 important aspects of
 experience in
 caption
 General Recommendations
Start collecting materials and ideas
Search for, retrieve, and store ideas
Use good craftsmanship
  Center items correctly
  Measure
  Cut straight
  Proofread resume, titles, and captions
  Attach materials cleanly
 General Recommendations
Buy good resume-quality paper
Choose professional looking paper
 designs
Use colored art paper for accents
 and photo mats
Use professional lettering
Choose appropriate adhesives for
 different materials
 General Recommendations
Plan page layout before laser
 printing or attaching materials to
 expensive paper
Test it first on regular paper!
Get feedback from other people
 first!
Ask an expert to read captions
 first!
 How to Get Inspiration
Take a field trip to an art store
 and notice supplies
 Colored pens, X-acto knives, rulers,
  reprographic film, transfer lettering,
  decorative tapes, etc.
Visit a craft store, notice
 supplies
 Scissors for unique edges, stickers that
  look professional, etc.
 How to Get Inspiration
Visit a stationery store
 Consider letter-writing paper as
  accent paper behind visuals
 Consider using an envelope on a
  page with a visual “rising” from it
 Consider textured papers for
  surface interest
 Consider laser-printable border
  papers
 How to Get Inspiration

Review page layouts in
 magazines /adapt good ones
Find interesting quotes to
 illustrate your philosophy and
 use them as “pull quotes”
Search the Internet, looking for
 great ideas
Content Recommendations

Develop a look or theme
Use the look or theme
 throughout
Include variety of visuals
Vary page layouts for
 interest
Content Recommendations
Take many photos to ensure
 having a few good ones
10-15 pieces is average number
 20 pieces is good maximum
Focus on your skills, abilities,
 and experiences
Develop brief, concise captions
 Think “impact statements”
Let’s Examine Some
 Portfolio Examples
Portfolios of:

Angela Schroeder, Apparel merchandising senior
   Internship - Polo-Ralph Lauren Shop, Tulsa
Keri Cain, Apparel merchandising senior
   Internship - Target, Tulsa
Nicole Shores, Apparel design/production senior
   Internship - Vanity Fair Intimates, Atlanta
Kelly Norvell, Apparel design/production senior
   Internship - Anna Sui, New York
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Extensive travel can
  show experience,
  knowledge of other
  cultures, and
  additional education
 Focus on professional
  aspects of such travel
 Notice “Harrods” store
  was cut around image

                           Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example

Tips
 “Watermarks” can be
  laser printed as
  background
 This portfolio has a
  “Leadership” theme
 Pull quote is used on
  side of page
 Captions were laser
  printed
 Great action shots
                          Keri Cain
            Portfolio Example

            Tips
             Leadership in
              promotion of fashion
             Notice “framing” of
              photo with solid strips
              cut from art paper




Keri Cain
                Portfolio Example

                Tips
                 May include Table of
                  Contents (optional)
                 No page numbers
                  needed
                 Notice use of hand
                  sketches, “star”
                  stickers, and gold tape
                  for framing


Kelly Norvell
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight activities
  you coordinated
 Take action photos
 Student should appear
  in some photos
 Note background mats
 Use color scheme
  throughout portfolio
 Note edge on mats
 May overlap photos
                          Angela Schroeder
                   Portfolio Example

                   Tips
                    Highlight trips to
                     market or other
                     examples of real
                     experience in business
                     or industry




Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight leadership in
  student or community
  organizations
 The caption mentions:
   Officer leadership
   Oral presentation
     on internship
   Doing on-campus
     display for her club
                            Angela Schroeder
                   Portfolio Example

                   Tips
                    Highlight internship
                     experience
                    Photos show displays
                     student designed
                    Notice unique framing
                     of photos




Angela Schroeder
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlighting front
  window displays
  completed during
  internship
 Note overlap of
  photos
 Note use of art paper
  in background
 Note vertical caption

                          Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight campus
  leadership outside
  your department
 Cite an actual activity
  or event you helped
  coordinate




                            Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlight campus
  leadership outside
  your department
 Use your caption to
  indicate the skills you
  developed
 Note the pull quote
 Note frame on photo


                            Keri Cain
            Portfolio Example

            Tips
             Highlight internship
              experiences
             Focus on
              merchandising or
              retail functions that
              are important to
              employers
             Communicate
              important aspects of
              experience in caption
Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlighting retail
  experience from
  internship
 Use a variety of
  visuals such as floor
  layouts, as
  appropriate




                          Keri Cain
Portfolio Example

Tips
 Highlighting creativity
  session led by intern
 Caption focuses on
  creative techniques
  used and presentation
  board developed




                            Nicole Shores
What Other Categories Can
You Suggest for Inclusion
   in a Merchandising
        Portfolio?