2020 Career English / Résumés and Cover Letters

You will learn about business communication, especially focusing on

proper techniques and current theories about producing résumés and cover letters in English.

You will write a targeted résumé/cover letter for this class. “Targeted” means the contents are aimed directly at a specific audience in hopes of gaining a job interview for a specific job.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, you must present your résumé/cover letter in MSWord format for “peer review” to 2 or 3 other students.

You must then submit your assignment to me in MSWord format attached in an email (parkerkeimyung@gmail.com) by 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

This assignment serves as our midterm exam.

A. General Business Communication Successful writers are similar to successful business people in one way: they sell what they want to sell (writers “sell” their ideas) by understanding and persuading the audience/customers. This means we need to understand the cultural expectations of our audience. “Customers” who enjoy reading about sports do not want dry, boring academic writing; people who want poetry do not expect business letters; academic readers will not accept the strategies of a newspaper editorial. In other words, there are different forms and different rules for different writing purposes. The audience for this assignment is expecting form, content and language that is consistent in American English business communication. CULTURE AFFECTS BUSINESS COMMUNICATION This is also the way of the world, especially in business. There are different rules for presenting name cards, depending upon which culture we are operating in. There are different cultural rules for greeting people, for conduct (or even seating arrangement) during business meetings, for expressing disapproval or disagreement, even for giving gifts. So of course there are different rules for business writing as well: a Korean résumé doesn’t look anything similar to an American résumé, and Asian business letters are arranged differently compared to Western letters (even though they look similar). We will start by looking at basic ideas about American business writing, including the basic “block letter” form and writing business-related emails. (Note: the email form and message you send when you submit your assignment is also part of the overall evaluation!) During the fall semester, we will build upon this foundation by learning how to do an American-style résumé and a specific type of letter, the “cover letter,” or the letter that must accompany the résumé.

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COMMUNICATION STYLES 1. Get to the point immediately (don’t waste the reader’s time). Remember when I said Asian business letters are arranged differently from Western ones? Many Asian cultures are “high-context” cultures, and the communication styles reflect this. Many Western cultures are “low-context” ones, and they communicate differently. Have you ever been upset or offended by a Western foreigner because they said something so directly, so bluntly, or disagreed so openly with something? We’re not trying to offend; that’s the way we talk with everyone. In Korea, most business letters, even emails, have an opening sentence similar to this: “The days are growing warmer but the nights are still cool. Please take care of your health and avoid catching a cold…” How does this affect the Western reader? First of all, we are likely to think it is insincere (“You don’t even know me; you don’t care if I’m sick or not!”) even though Western business communication also includes some insincere signals. Mostly, however, we think it’s odd, because that’s not the way we do business in our cultures. So remember, if you’re writing to a Korean person, by all means include the customary type of greeting; it is expected. But for an American business contact, remember this simple rule: your first sentence should clearly express the main idea of your message. If you’re applying for a job, your first sentence should say that (and exactly which position you are applying for). If you’re making a complaint, your first sentence should (politely) let the reader know that you have a problem. If you’re making an invitation to attend a conference, or if you’re thanking someone for helping you, your first sentence should express that. 2. Your overall language should be clear, concise, and include the proper level of formality. These are problems for people who are second-language speakers! “Clear” means direct and specific; don’t expect your audience to guess what you’re talking about. “Concise” means saying exactly what is necessary, but no more than that. Don’t repeat ideas, don’t wander, don’t try to build suspense – the business audience is in a hurry, and they will throw your letter away without reading it if they think you are wasting their time, or if they can’t easily understand what you are trying to say. A business letter should almost always be one page or less. “Proper formality” means not being too friendly, but not overly formal. You don’t want to wear blue jeans and a tee shirt to a job interview, but you don’t want to wear a wedding tuxedo, either. We will discuss some specific examples of this in class. 3. Simple language errors may not be as bad as “style” errors. Let’s be clear here: if you are doing business communication, it’s probably important, so you should try to be as correct as possible. But remember this: an American business person is not an English teacher. He or she will not mark your errors, send the letter

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back to you, and expect you to correct it. The American business reader who gets a message from a South Korean will understand that English is not your first language, so he or she will be willing to overlook a few minor errors. However, the typical American audience will not understand that Koreans have different “style” rules. If your English is perfect, but you send a business letter where the first sentence is “The cherry blossoms are beautiful, and I hope you are enjoying good health,” they won’t understand. If you send a Korean-style résumé in English to an American, the first reaction will be “that’s NOT a résumé!” before they throw it into the trash. “FORM” CREATES THE FIRST IMPRESSION The overall shape and appearance (“form”) of business writing is perhaps the most important concern. As I said earlier, your résumé may go into the trash before the reader starts to read it if the reader immediately thinks it isn’t a “proper” résumé. Whenever I collect business writing assignments from my students, I can see some immediate mistakes in form, even if I’m looking at it upside-down. I’m not reading it yet; I’m just looking at it. 1. Use “block” or “modified block” style for all letters and emails. We have already seen the difference between the “block paragraph” and the “indented paragraph;” we will explain the complete “block” and “modified block” form a little bit later. 2. All business communication should look “clean” and “professional.” Start by thinking black-and-white: black ink on white paper. Use a proper text font. There are hundreds of font styles, but we can divide them all into two types: text fonts for reading, or display fonts for getting attention. The basic rule is that if the font is too pretty or too fancy, it’s not a text font. I recommend the font I’m using in this book (Cambria), but Times New Roman is probably the most common business font, along with Georgia, Bodoni, Century Schoolbook, and many others are quite acceptable. Avoid Papyrus, Comic Sans, Chalkdust, Herculanum, and other “display” fonts. Letters should have only one font and only one size (10,11, or 12). Another point about “professional” appearance is the quality of printing. Sometimes I “cheat” a little bit when the ink level on my printer is low; I’ll print something out that looks gray instead of black and I’ll think, oh, that will work to make copies for class handouts. I understand when students hand assignments to me that have been poorly printed. For business purposes, however, it should look crisp and clean. And if you print the letter and then find a mistake, you can’t just put correcting fluid over it and write in the proper word – you need to open the file, correct the mistake there, and print it out again. 3. “Templates” make concerns about form much, much easier. Templates for business letters, résumés, invoices, memorandums, etc. can be found on many Internet sites. (I will show you some in class.) Remember that these templates will automatically show you the correct form (including font style and size). However, I hope you will also remember that the Internet is a dangerous,

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dangerous place. You should only download from sites that you can trust. I recommend using “office.microsoft.com/en-us” because it is mostly trustworthy. FOLLOW THE WRITING PROCESS We haven’t really discussed “the writing process” in this class, but the basic idea (which is very important here) is that you cannot simply sit down at the computer, download a template, quickly write your letter, print it and mail it. Even native speakers should not do this. Remember the rule about “clear, concise, and properly formal”? This requires planning and consideration. You must provide the important information, but you don’t want to say too much, and you need to say everything in one page or less – this requires planning (the first step of the writing process). Of course you want to be careful during the actual typing of the letter; you need to worry about vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, etc. However, too many mistakes are made because people finish typing and hit “print” (or even more dangerous, “send” if writing an email) immediately. Proofread, proofread, proofread! BASIC “BUSINESS LETTER” FORMS On the next two pages I will you a sample business letter from a Korean to an American in two different formats: the “block” format, which is the most common style, and the “modified block” style. Most of the letter is written in Latin, because I want you to pay attention to the form of the letter. As you can see, there is very little difference between the two forms. Both styles use the “block” paragraph style, where each paragraph is separated by an extra line of white space instead of an indentation like the paragraphs I am writing. The only difference is that block style requires each part of the letter to be “flush left,” which means everything starts on the far left side. In the modified block style, the first part and the last part of the letter are pushed more than halfway toward the right margin. That’s it; it’s that simple. I recommend the block style over modified block because it’s simpler: you don’t have to remember which parts get pushed over and which parts don’t. Also, in modified block, you have to make sure that the first and last parts are pushed over exactly the same. So if you want to use modified block, it is perfectly acceptable – but block is easier.

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SAMPLE BUSINESS LETTER (BLOCK STYLE) March 15, 2020 Republic of South Korea, Daegu Gwangyeok-shi Dalseong-gun Dasa-eup Daesil-yeok buk-ro 38 204-dong, 2307-ho 42912 Wynne Dawson, coordinator Summer Intern Program Western Kentucky University Drama Department 1906 College Heights Blvd. Bowling Green, Ky. USA 42101 Dear Wynne Dawson: I would like to apply for a position in the 2015 Summer Intern Program at Western Kentucky University. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum. Thank you for considering my application. I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely,

Bobby Park Park Kyung-Ho (Bobby Park) Enclosure: Résumé

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SAMPLE BUSINESS LETTER (MODIFIED BLOCK STYLE) March 15, 2020 Republic of South Korea, Daegu Gwangyeok-shi Dalseong-gun Dasa-eup Daesil-yeok buk-ro 38 204-dong, 2307-ho 42912 Wynne Dawson, coordinator Summer Intern Program Western Kentucky University Drama Department 1906 College Heights Blvd. Bowling Green, Ky. USA 42101 Dear Wynne Dawson: I would like to apply for a position in the 2015 Summer Intern Program at Western Kentucky University. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat facer possim assum. Typi non habent claritatem insitam; est usus legentis in iis qui facit eorum claritatem. Investigationes demonstraverunt lectores legere me lius quod ii legunt saepius. Claritas est etiam processus dynamicus, qui sequitur mutationem consuetudium lectorum. Mirum est notare quam littera gothica, quam nunc putamus parum claram, anteposuerit litterarum formas humanitatis per seacula quarta decima et quinta decima. Eodem modo typi, qui nunc nobis videntur parum clari, fiant sollemnes in futurum. Thank you for considering my application. I hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely,

Bobby Park Park Kyung-Ho (Bobby Park) Enclosure: Résumé

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SIX ELEMENTS OF A BUSINESS LETTER There are six basic parts, or elements, to a business letter. Like the paragraphs in the body of the letter, these elements are separated by one line of white space. It is important to perform each part accurately, and each part has some problems because of cultural differences. 1. The return address. The first element of a business letter is usually called the return address. It is your address, the address of the sender. It also includes the date that the letter was written (not the date you expect the reader to read it). What is the cultural problem here? Different countries use different address systems. For example, South Korea’s postal system is a “largest-to-smallest” system, but the USA uses a “smallest-to-largest” style. My advice is very simple: use your system for your address. The American reader doesn’t know what –gun, -dong, or –ho mean anyway, and they don’t care – they will just copy the address exactly the way you gave it to them. I can tell you from my own experience that if Americans are sending mail to South Korea, it’s much more efficient to use the proper Korean address style. OPTION 1: The date should be included, but sometimes there is a space between the date and the return address; and sometimes the date comes before the address and sometimes it comes after the address. I’m showing you the way I usually do it. OPTION 2: I was taught that your name should not be a part of the return address, because your name will be at the bottom of the letter. However, many modern templates include the sender’s name at the start of the return address. Either style is acceptable. 2. The internal address. The second element of the letter is the internal address, which includes the name of the person you are sending mail to, that person’s job title, the name of the company, and the mailing address. What’s the cultural problem here? Again, different address systems. This time, use the proper system of the country to which the mail is going. It’s not that important on the letter (the address on the envelope is, however, really important), but the person who is reading the letter will certainly notice if you show their address backwards. Another cultural problem is that Koreans are sometimes very careless with American names. I know, I know – Americans are often careless with Korean names, too – but the important point here is that a person’s name is really important to that person. Make sure you get it right. My advice here is to copy the name, title, and everything else exactly the way you saw it on the advertisement, the business card, the web site, or wherever you found the address. Copy it exactly, and then be sure to check it after you type it, and be sure to check it again after it is printed.

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I’m serious about this. If one of my students sends me a letter addressed to “Danilea Park,” I’ll be slightly annoyed but I’ll think, “Ah, stupid student,” and that will be the end of it. But if I’m a businessperson and you do that to my name, I will throw your letter into the trash can. OPTION: What if you don’t know the person’s name and title? The answer: do your best to find out. Mail that is addressed to a company without a specific name on it is often seen as “junk” mail. Business is important. Success requires some work. 3. The greeting. This is sometimes called “the salutation,” which is simply another word for greeting. Let’s keep this simple: “Dear full name of the person:” will work every time. Don’t include the person’s title this time. If you are absolutely, positively, 100% sure the person is male, you can use “Mr.” in front of the name. If you are absolutely blah-blah sure the person is female, you can use “Ms.” instead of Mr. And if you are sure the person is a medical doctor or a PhD academic, you can use “Dr.” in front of their name. What’s the cultural problem? Here, there are two problems. If you are sending mail to “William Smith,” you can be mostly (but only mostly!) sure that this is a male. You can be mostly sure that “Elizabeth Smith” is female. But so many American names are not gender-specific. My brother has three children: December, Dakotah, and Dallas. Which is female? Which is male? Are you sure? In the sample letter, is Wynne Dawson a male or a female? If you’re not 100% sure, avoid Mr./Ms. and just use the person’s full name. It’s perfectly proper. The second cultural problem is, as said earlier, people are often careless with the names of people from other cultures. What’s my name? Okay, you know I’m male, so if you are talking to me, sending me mail, or sending me email, you can call me Mr. Parker, Mr. Daniel Parker, Mr. Daniel T. Parker (very formal), Daniel Parker, Daniel T. Parker, or you can even use “Professor” or “Prof.” instead of “Mr.” Here is a short list of things you cannot call me: “Parker” (which is incredibly rude in your culture and in mine), “Daniel” (which improperly suggests that you are my friend), or “Parker Professor” (simply because it is incorrect word order in English). And don’t spell my name wrong! OPTION: A few people will say that “Dear ___________” is improper because it is not honest; “dear” suggests a close relationship. To me, it’s just like saying, “It’s springtime in Daegu and I hope you can enjoy the cherry blossoms” at the start of a Korean letter. Yes, it is insincere, but it is also very, very traditional. In a business situation, if you call a stranger “Dear Dallas Parker,” I promise you that Dallas Parker will not think you are writing a love letter. (But if you say “My dear Dallas Parker” then you have made a mistake!) I think it is okay to take “Dear” out of the salutation if you really feel bad about it, but I also think this is not one of the important things you should be worrying about. 4. The body. This is the actual message of the letter, the part that you really need to plan carefully. Use block paragraphs and separate them with one line of white

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space. How many paragraphs? It really doesn’t matter – but unless it’s a really short letter, more than one paragraph. What’s the cultural problem? We’ve already talked about it: be clear, concise, and properly formal. Language itself is the cultural problem here. OPTION: Not really an option – some of you already know about the “formal” paragraph or the “academic” paragraph, which includes a topic sentence and proper supporting details. Business communications don’t care about this kind of paragraph. We can loosely say that there should be some logical break between paragraphs, but there are no specific rules (literature and most common writings in English also do not worry about the “academic” paragraph structure). 5. The close. I strongly suggest “Sincerely,” or “Sincerely yours,” as a very proper close to your letter. Perhaps you are not being sincere, or perhaps you write a lot of letters and you get bored saying “sincerely” all the time, but your reader really doesn’t care. What’s the cultural problem? Okay, maybe there is no cultural problem here. OPTIONS: There are a few acceptable options to “Sincerely,” but make sure you know the options are proper in business settings. Avoid using any kind of religious or political message, or any close which is indeed too personal. 6. The signature and name. After the close, hit “return” or “enter” four times and then type your name. Why so much white space? After you print the letter, you will take a black ink pen and write your signature or “autograph” between the close and your printed name. What’s the cultural problem? Again there are two. First, people in Asian cultures often don’t understand the importance of the signature. In Korea, you use your own individual do jjang (red ink rubber stamp) to prove who you are. In the West, our signature proves who we are. Other Americans usually cannot “read” my signature, and that’s the point. That’s why we print our name beneath the signature. But if you send a business letter to a Western reader without a signature, it will look wrong, wrong, wrong. Another cultural problem is how to Westernize a Korean name. For example, take our imaginary writer of the sample letter, a Korean named 박경호. That is his name, but it has to be converted at least to the English alphabet. So… is his name Park Kyung Ho, or Kyung Ho Park? Should 경 be spelled Kyeong or Kyung? Should his individual name be Kyung Ho, or Kyung-ho, or Kyung-Ho? I cannot give you any definite answers to those questions, but I can give you some important advice. First of all, never write your family name in all capital letters. My name is Daniel T. Parker, but never Daniel T. PARKER. All capital letters suggests you are shouting at the reader. Also, if you put your family name first, do not put a comma after it. Maybe your name is Park Kyung Ho, but it is

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not Park, Kyung Ho—a comma is not part of your name. Finally, if you have a passport, then you already have an official document where your name is printed in English—maybe it is best to spell your name exactly as the passport spells it (maybe!). The most important thing is to be consistent. Don’t show your name as Park Kyung Ho on one letter and Kyung Ho Park on the next, then Bobby Park on the third. That’s just going to confuse people. OPTION: Do you want to use an English nickname? Trust me, it’s completely up to you. My wife doesn’t have an English nickname, and my family and American publishers we contact are perfectly fine with that. If you want to use your English name, the sample letters show you how I suggest you should do so. WRITING BUSINESS EMAILS All forms of business communication are important, and should be done properly. Writing a business email is completely different from sending an email or text message to your friend. However, business emails are easier than business letters, because we don’t need to worry about the return address, internal address, or the signature. The salutation, the body, and the closing elements, however, should be done following the business letter rules above. The “message line” of your email is important, because it is the first thing your audience will see. Remember proper communication styles—be concise! Also, be properly formal, and avoid names (yours or your audience’s). It is important to remember that yes, I am your professor, and we know each other and have communicated with each other before—but for this assignment, I am not Daniel Parker your beloved professor, but an unknown Daniel Parker who may or may not think you are professional enough to earn a job interview.

B. Résumé? Or CV? Let’s start by looking at some confusing terms. What’s the difference between a résumé and a CV? What is “chronological” format, or “functional” format, or “hybrid” format? What is the difference between a “basic” and a “targeted” résumé? For people in the USA, there is a difference between a résumé and a CV, but for British English speakers, the two words mean basically the same thing. In the USA, a CV (short for Latin words curriculum vitae which means “life history”) means a very professional/academic/scientific/technical résumé—one which may be several pages long and which includes very specific information. “Chronological format” means arranged in reverse-time order (most recent is first, oldest is last). Many professional résumés follow this format, and this format once was the only acceptable format. The chronological format always started with job experience as the leading information.

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The “functional format” is a more modern invention and was designed especially for recent college graduates, people who are changing their profession, or people who have long gaps in their employment (for example, mothers who took five years off to have a baby and now want to get back into their profession). The functional format means that the first “life history” information you present will be the most interesting/relevant to the job you want. “Hybrid” means a blend, and so the hybrid format means that the different sections of the résumé are arranged in functional order, but the information inside each section is presented in reverse-time order. I recommend the “hybrid” form for college graduates, and especially for this assignment. Finally, the “basic” résumé is what everyone should have saved on their computers, but a “targeted” résumé is one where you carefully consider the specific audience, and either take out or add information (or even rearrange sections) depending on how relevant it is to the job you are applying for. One more common confusion to clear up—many people think that the “purpose” of the résumé is to get a job. Not quite… the purpose of a résumé is to provide objective information about your skills, education and work experience; and to work together with the cover letter in hopes of getting a job interview. A good résumé, by itself, will not be enough to win the job. REQUIRED ELEMENTS There are four separate sections that should be on every college graduate résumé or CV: (1) Your contact information, (2) a “summary” of relevant skills or qualifications, (3) your academic history and (4) your job history. These sections should be clearly separated from each other and should have a “title” or “heading.” Contact information—This section will include your name, your postal address, your telephone number and your email address. For the North American business audience, you should not include any “personal” information (such as age, gender, race, marital status, etc.). You should also not include a photograph of yourself, unless you are applying for a job where appearance is obviously relevant to your ability to perform (such as a modeling job or a television announcer). Skills summary—This is definitely the most difficult section to write, for you must summarize all relevant skills or qualifications you have acquired during the recent years of your life. Building your portfolio and practicing “benefit statements” should help you understand what skills/qualifications you can claim, but you also need to understand the position you are applying for in order to realize how relevant these skills or qualifications may be. All other sections of your resume may be the same on every résumé you write, but this section may need to be revised (targeted) for different types of jobs.

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Academic history—For the North American résumé, this section should only include information about your university education, not high school or private academy (unless your high school or academy was directly related to the job you are applying for). You should include the name and general address of your school or schools, beginning with the school you have graduated from (or will graduate from), your degree, your major and your minor area of study. You may also list any classes you had that are directly relevant to the job; your GPA (if it is well above-normal) and any scholarships you received. If you attended any other schools, you should list them below your main school, along with the time you attended those schools and any relevant education you received there. Employment history—list, in reverse chronological order, any jobs you have had. Provide the job title, the name of the company, and the starting and end dates of your employment. Provide a brief description of your responsibilities, especially if they are relevant to the job you are applying for. Do not include “volunteer” work, but do include any intern positions and/or military service. If you have never had any jobs, remove this section from your résumé—do not have an “empty” section, because it will look like you forgot to finish your résumé! OPTIONAL ELEMENTS There are three sections that may be seen on other sample résumés, but they provide very little relevant information to your audience. Do not include any of these sections if they make your overall résumé more than one page in length! A “special” section—If you have skills or achievements that were not included in your skills summary (because they are not relevant), you may add one or two extra sections at the bottom of your résumé. Each section should have at least 2-3 items (in other words, if you have only one “certificate,” do not create a section just for that one item). Objective—Here, the word “objective” means your immediate job goal. This information is not necessary because you will be including it in your cover letter. However, if it makes your résumé look longer, you may consider adding it. If used, this section will always be titled “Objective” and will always be placed between the “Contact Information” and “Skills Summary” section. References—This section will always be at the very bottom of your résumé and will be titled “References.” Under the title you should write five words: “References are available upon request.” (If the company you are applying to has already requested references, you should provide this information on a separate sheet of paper.

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SAMPLE RÉSUMÉ 1

Ling S. Wu

1234 Eastside Dr., Okemos, MI 48864 • cell 517.555.0912 • wu8ling@msu.edu

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a summer 2020 Colonial National Historic Park Internship through the SCA

SKILLS PROFILE

• Presented to groups of up to 100, successfully communicating life and safety skills, and camp protocol; certified in CPR and basic First Aid • Experienced in researching historical information using electronic, archival, and library

resources • Completed advanced coursework in Revolutionary and Antebellum history and culture • Studied interpretive services and visitor information systems theory and practice • Working knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel ,and Adobe Acrobat Professional

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts, History May 2021 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

• Member of Honors College, Phi Beta Kappa; GPA: 3.8/4.0 • Study Abroad: History/Social Sciences in the United Kingdom, Summer 2010

EXPERIENCE

Riding Instructor Summer 2018 Camp Linden, Girl Scouts of the Huron Valley Council, Linden, MI

• Instructed campers in barn safety, horse care, and riding • Evaluated campers’ riding skills and placed them in appropriate groups • Presented to groups of up to 30 about horses, safety and camp history • Supervised safety and well-being of over 500 children ages 7 to 12

Volunteer January 2018–present Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center, Lansing, MI

• Worked one-on-one with special-needs riders to improve balance and control • Handled horses calmly and confidently in new and diverse situations • Used shared interest in horseback riding as means of connecting with people of different

abilities Server August 2017–present Soup’s On Café, Okemos, MI

• Quickly learned procedures for preparing food in proficient and safe manner • Improved communication skills through interaction with customers • Monitored register drawer and cash box, and processed daily bank deposits • Trained new employees for opening, middle and closing shifts

ACTIVITIES

• Volunteered for Michigan Women’s Historical Center’s Annual “Picnic on the Lawn” fundraiser

• Ten (10) years of active involvement as member of Irish dance companies • Eleven (11) years of horseback riding experience, including English Hunter/Jumper, some Western, and experience as instructor • Experienced in campsite preparation and set-up, outdoor cooking over open fires and using propane camp stoves, and trail creation and maintenance

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SAMPLE RÉSUMÉ 2

Paige Turner

CURRENT: 3130 Green Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823 • (517) 555-1234 PERMANENT: 999 Snowy Lane, Escanaba, MI 49829 • (906) 555-7890

turner9p@msu.edu

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science, Zoology May 2019 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

• Additional concentrations in zoo and aquarium science and Japanese • Dean’s List (5/6 semesters)

Study Abroad: Advertising in Asia Summer 2018 Japan and China

• Studied interactive advertising management theory and practice in Tokyo, Beijing, and Hong Kong; visited 9 advertising firms and gained insight into creative, sales, and management practices in major Asian markets

• Completed team advertising project using digital media and gaming for cell phone distribution and presented to panel of advertising and business executives

EXPERIENCE

Assistant Manager Sept. 2018–present Sparty’s Deli, East Lansing, MI

• Supervised, trained, and created weekly schedule for serving staff of 10 • Developed handbook for new employees including frequently asked questions, policies,

and procedures • Ordered $7,000 in weekly supplies and inventory and reduced waste by 5% over first si

x months • Increased sales by 10% during tenure as assistant manager

President Aug. 2018–present Zoology Club, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

• Organized and supervised work of 3 subcommittees • Allocated annual budget exceeding $5,000 • Interacted with university, city, and state officials in service and lobbying projects • Led creation of organization blog and marketing team; increased membership by 23% d

uring presidency Sales Associate Summer 2017 Sports Unlimited, Escanaba, MI

• In charge of direct sales of athletic shoes, accessories, and apparel • Determined product display placement and arrangement • Selected and ordered products based on understanding of consumer demand • Involved in most aspects of managing a retail store including: scheduling, store security,

customer relations, opening and closing, as well as coaching employees to increase sales results

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Skilled in MS Word, electronic research systems, and blog management • Proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PhotoShop • Working knowledge of MS Access, Adobe Dreamweaver, and Illustrator

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BASIC FORM GUIDELINES The “recent university graduate” type of résumé should be only one page long, but it should “fill” the page as much as possible (this is why some résumés include an “Objective” and/or a “References” section. It should look both modern and professional, but, for most jobs, should not be colorful or overly decorated. Choose professional-looking fonts, and use at least two font styles—this could be two different fonts that match each other well, or it could be the using the regular and the bold versions of a font. Your name and the individual section headings can be slightly larger than the actual information, but nothing should be larger than 14-point size. Overall consistency in form is very important. BASIC CONTENT GUIDELINES With the possible exception of some information in the “Summary of Skills” section, the information you present on your résumé should be as objective as possible. (You may provide subjective information in your cover letter.) You should never lie on a résumé, nor should you include negative information in your résumé or cover letter: for example, do not provide a GPA if it is not above normal, and do not say negative comments related to your job experiences. As stated before, information in the “Contact Information,” “Academic History” and “Work Experience” may be the same on all résumés for any jobs, but you should revise the “Summary of Skills” information to make sure you are providing the most relevant information possible. Finally, always try to consider what your audience is looking for—including key words—and provide it if at all possible. USE THE WRITING PROCESS You should carefully consider what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Make an outline (and revise it!) before you start to type on the computer. Expect to make several different drafts (versions) of your résumé and cover letter, and proofread very carefully before you print and mail them. Always remember: the résumé and cover letter may be the most important writing you do in your entire life!

C. The Cover Letter The cover letter (sometimes called “job application letter”) is the partner to the résumé or CV. While the résumé’s focus is on objective information about your history, the cover letter allow you to provide subjective information about your past, your present, and even your future. A good cover letter will do four things:

1. Directly announce which specific job you are applying for and, if possible, where you learned about the job opening.

2. Briefly mention the most relevant information on your résumé so your audience can focus on that part first.

3. Provide subjective information, such as why you want this particular job or why you wish to work for this company. If there are subjective skills that you could not mention on the résumé, you can mention them here.

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4. Directly request a job interview or at least some kind of personal contact. You can also provide your preferred form of contact—for example, if you prefer a telephone call instead of an email, or if there are certain times when talking on the telephone is not possible.

The tone of your letter should always be polite, professional, and positive. I think it is always a good idea to say “thank you” to your audience because they are taking their time to read about and to consider your abilities. Never make negative comments about yourself or others, and always remember that your audience does not want to feel sorry for you (so don’t beg for a job). Remember the importance of being “concise.” Stay focused—do not “ramble” and do not repeat information that has already been said. Finally, even though English is your second language, do not “copy” sentences from sample cover letters—the mixture of your English and a native speaker’s English will confuse your audience and will make them think you did not actually write the letter. BASIC FORM GUIDELINES You should use the “block” or “modified block” format that we have already studied. Your cover letter should be no more than one page long and, unlike the résumé, there is no need to “fill” the page. The letter’s appearance should be neat, clean and professional, with black ink on white paper, and you should use only one font style and size. Do not send a copy of a cover letter—always send an original printed letter.

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SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPHS OF A COVER LETTER

Your Name (Optional)

Your Address-Line 1

Your Address-Line 2

Your Address Line 3 (optional)

Date of Writing

Audience’s Full Name and Title (if short)

Title (if full name and title are too long)

Company Name

Street Address

City, State (postal abbreviation) Zip Code

Dear (Audience’s full name but not the title)

I am writing in response to your advertisement for a secretary in the July 10, 2019

edition of the Elm Street News. It would be a pleasure to meet with you so that I

might demonstrate how my abilities fit your needs precisely.

As you’ll see from the enclosed resume, I am proficient in a variety of computer

software programs as well as in stenography. I am experienced in handling general

office duties and answering phones cordially and courteously.

What my resume does not reveal is my professional demeanor and appearance. In a

business environment, these qualities are of the utmost importance in dealing with

clients as well as co-workers. In me, you’ll discover a reliable, detail-oriented, and

extremely hard-working associateone who will serve as a model to encourage other

staff members to demonstrate the same high standard of professionalism.

If you will contact me at (425) 555-0198, we can schedule an appointment.

Sincerely,

Your name in English

Enclosure

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MY FOUR-PARAGRAPH “RECIPE” Please understand that this is only a suggestion (and you will see that the “sample cover letter body paragraphs” do not follow my directions exactly). First Paragraph—Immediately say which specific job you are applying for and, if possible, where you found information about the opening. Do not say you want “any” job—that means you are asking your audience to make the decision you are responsible for. Second Paragraph—Provide focus on your résumé by mentioning the most relevant objective information you have presented there. And don’t worry—many cover letters from recent graduates only mention their recent graduation. However, it would be perhaps more effective to rely on your “summary of skills” for more relevant information. Third Paragraph—Present subjective information that cannot be found on your résumé. Think about your journal work—you could talk about how this job perfectly fits your personality, or how this position will help you to achieve your future goals. If you cannot think of anything else, you may refer to your “benefit statements” to help fill this section. Fourth Paragraph—Politely request further contact from your audience and possibly repeat your interest in the job. If necessary, provide specific and preferred contact information (but don’t simply repeat your telephone number or email address from the résumé). Finally, close your message with a polite “Thank you for considering my application” or similar thought. USE THE WRITING PROCESS You should carefully consider what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Make an outline (and revise it!) before you start to type on the computer. Expect to make several different drafts of your résumé and cover letter, and proofread very carefully before you print and mail them. Good luck!