Careers with Dogs. Kim Campbell Thornton
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If you’re calling someone you don’t know well or “a friend of a friend” whom you’ve never met, start by telling the person who you are and how or by whom you were referred, then explain that you are looking for a job in his or her field. Offer the most pertinent details about your education or experience. Mention that you’ve researched the company and are interested in the work it does. If there were no job openings on the Web site, say you didn’t see any jobs posted but would appreciate being kept in mind if something comes up. You may also ask if there is anyone else in the field to whom he or she can refer you.
Your Résumé and Cover Letter
A résumé details your experience, skills, and education. In conjunction with the cover letter, your résumé is your first chance to make a good impression. You can find many books on the art of creating résumés and writing cover letters, but the following tips will get you started.
Résumé
Use a professional template when constructing your résumé. Write down your skills and experience. In addition to any jobs you’ve held, list activities that have given your valuable and relevant skills—training your dog, volunteering at an animal shelter, or participating in animal visitations at the local nursing home.
Tailor your résumé to the job. If you are applying for an event-planner position at a dog-related company, include your experience coordinating your breed club’s annual show or professional organization’s conference. Write a succinct summary statement, focusing on what you want to achieve and showcasing your strengths. This is especially important if you are changing careers. Use it to show employers what you can offer.
The editor of Dog World magazine, Jackie Brown (seen here with her Miniature Poodle, Jäger), advises job hunters to be “direct and honest” during an interview. That’s good résumé-writing advice too!
Another tip if you’re changing fields: include some details about previous companies you’ve worked for, not just their names. Employers in your new field may not be familiar with your previous employer. Telling them that it’s a national business with 500 employees gives them context.
If you have experience in a particular field, include information about how your career progressed. If you held only one or two positions over a long period at a previous job, use promotions, awards, and other professional accomplishments to beef up your job description. Highlight any experience relevant to the job for which you’re applying, even if it was twenty years ago. This is especially important if you’re changing careers.
Include a section outlining your experience with dogs. This can include membership in or offices held with breed clubs, professional associations, or dog-sport organizations; titles you’ve put on your dog; pet-related volunteer work, litters you’ve bred, or any other dog-related information.
Cover Letter
Even if you are submitting a résumé electronically, a cover letter is still essential. It’s your introduction to the employer, and writing a standout cover letter can give you a serious edge. Many people don’t send one, so doing so puts you ahead. The other advantage of a cover letter is that you can tailor it to a particular job even more so than you can a résumé.
KISS OF DEATH
Typos, misspellings, and poor grammar in a résumé or cover letter can be the kiss of death. Ask a language-savvy friend to read them over for you. If you mention any breed names, be sure to double check the spellings.
If possible, find out the name of the person who will be receiving your cover letter and résumé. It’s always best if you can address it to an individual rather than the generic “Dear Sir or Madam,” but that will do if you don’t have a name. Don’t use a breezy “Hey there!” or other informal greeting.
Explain why you are writing—in response to a job posting or because you were referred by someone, for instance. Follow by describing why you are a good candidate, with details to show you are familiar with the company and industry. Make the cover letter about how your skills can benefit the company, not about your goals.
The cover letter is a good place to highlight qualities or experiences that don’t fit well in a résumé format, as well as specific achievements. Telling a story about your background, such as how you grew up in a family that was passionate about dogs and learned how to train and care for them at your mother’s knee, can personalize your background.
Close your letter with a promise to follow up and thank the person for taking the time to consider your application, followed by “Sincerely” or “Cordially” and your name. If you’re sending the letter by e-mail, your printed name is fine, but always sign a piece of correspondence sent by snail mail or fax. You can double your chances of an interview by following up an e-mail submission of your cover letter and résumé with a hard copy sent by regular mail. Include a handwritten note saying that it’s a second submission and that you’re very interested in the position.
Your Interview
Books have been written on mastering the interview process and making a good impression. The important points are summarized in the tips below.
Show up with time to spare. Being late can ruin your chances. Give yourself plenty of time in case you run into traffic or get lost.
Dress appropriately. It never hurts to be overdressed, but dressing too casually will work against you. Wear a business suit.
Don’t tell stupid jokes. It’s easy to offend someone when you aren’t familiar with that person’s sense of humor, and it makes you sound nervous.
Be polite to the receptionist. You may not realize it, but he or she is the first person interviewing you. In fact, be polite to everyone you meet.
State your credentials and experience simply. Elaborate on, don’t just repeat, what is in your résumé. Use this information to lead into what you could do for the company and why you would be a good fit.
Explain how your education and dog experience relate to the company and the job.
Be prepared to answer certain questions. Many interviewees will ask how you dealt with a challenging work situation, what you consider your biggest failure, or what your greatest regret is. Make your answers real.
Be sure to answer all questions thoroughly. Answer without talking too much or too little. Be “direct and honest,” says Jackie Brown, editor of Dog World magazine.
Read up on the company and the industry beforehand. “Establish that you did some research about the company and its needs,” says Peter Kraatz, who often makes hiring decisions at EMC Corporation and frequently lectures to college students on interview techniques. “All good hiring managers want to see if people can put forward concrete ideas for getting things done, working on a problem, or making more money.” And ask concrete questions about the position. It shows you are thinking about the realities of the job, Brown says.
Never bad-mouth your current employer, and never claim to be a victim. If asked why you left your previous job, talk about your desire for new opportunities and challenges and your interest in the company you are interviewing with.
GETTING THE JOB RESOURCES