Job Discussion Forums

[Jetgirly]

I just want to clarify what sorts of things I would put in a resume/portfolio that I would drop off at potential employers. I figure I should definitely include:

- Cover Letter (in Canada I always address my cover letter to the specific employer, however when I'm travelling around dropping off applications all over the place I might not have regular access to a computer... is a generic cover letter okay?)
- Resume
- Copy of university diploma
- Copy of CELTA certificate
- Two photos showing I'm a gorgeous, very white woman (I was thinking of using both my university grad photo and my high school grad photo which is only three years old... my passport photo is so boring (and black and white))

Anything else?

Should I get the copies of my university degree notarized? Should I get the stamp on the front or back of the paper? What about my copies of the CELTA certificate? I don't really want to include my university transcripts because my grades are so... random... some semesters my GPA was above 3.5 and others it was close to 2, and due to a mass of transfer credits many of the courses I took don't even have grades shown for them.

Is it LEGAL in Canada to photocopy your university degree and have it notarized? My school charges $15.00 per copy... it seems like photocopying could be considered a breach of copyright or something... seeing as they make so much money off them.

[Jetgirly]

I also plan to get a letter of reference from one of my employers before I leave, and hopefully I will do well in the CELTA course and they will write me a letter too... so I will enclose copies of those.

[Glenski]

Don't know about other countries, but in Japan your package of stuff would be overkill, and you would probably have wasted money in photocopies of so many things unless the employer is advertising.

If you MUST cold call like this, just leave a cover letter and resume. The resume should have your photo embedded on it already. This photo should be a professional pose and attire, from the shoulders up, much like a passport, with a neutral background.

Obviously, it is better to customize cover letters (and even resumes) to individual employers. If you're going to take the shotgun approach, at least find out SOMETHING about the employer before you shoot.

Forget about GPA. Employers in Japan don't even know what it is, and the grading system is probably different for many countries. You might want to have a copy on hand in case an employer wants to see them later, though. Don't bother getting the degree copy notarized.

[Jetgirly]

I hadn't considered that my blind applications and applications in response to advertisements would be different... but now I have!

[Glenski]

One basic rule of thumb:

You don't want a form letter in return. Employers feel the same way about getting a form letter when you inquire.