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HOW TO WRITE A TARGETED RÉSUMÉ & COVER LETTERBethany Kilgore
Professional Development Coordinator
Why Have a Targeted Résumé & Cover Letter?
I don’t want you to end up like this:
A Cavalcade of Crappy Video résumés
Résumés - Myth or Fact?
� The more designs/colors/fonts, the better!
MYTH
� Employers only pay attention to paid experiences. � Employers only pay attention to paid experiences.
MYTH
� Employers love résumés templates.
MYTH
Bad Résumé Example
BILL BUSINESS1515 Victory Dr.Ithaca, NY 14850
OBJECTIVETo get an internship in business to showcase my exceptional skills.
EDUCATIONIthaca College, Ithaca, NYGPA: 3.8
WORK EXPERIENCEWORK EXPERIENCEAssistant Food and Beverage Manager, Ithaca Country ClubResponsible for staff and special events; was serverReport writing and web
Student Assistant 2008 – presentAdmissions Office, Ithaca, NYTours, events, data entryHelp with special events
Lifeguard 2006 – 2008Two Ville YMCAGard pool patrols
COMPUTER SKILLSMicrosoft Office
PERSONAL INFORMATIONAge: 21 Height: 6’ 2” Weight: 200 lbs.
REFERENCES: Available upon request
Résumé Don’ts
� No résumé wizards
� Absolutely no spelling or grammatical errors
� No abbreviations (state abbreviations OK)
� Omit “References Available Upon Request”
Good Résumé Example
William Business1515 Victory Dr. • Ithaca, NY 14850
607-555-5555 • [email protected]
OBJECTIVESummer management internship with Waldorf Astoria Hotel
EDUCATIONBachelor of Science in Business Administration May 2013Concentration: ManagementIthaca College, Ithaca, NY• Dean’s List - 2009• GPA: 3.3
EXPERIENCEAssistant Food and Beverage Manager May 2009 –Present Ithaca Country Club, Ithaca, NY• Promoted from server to current position after only 6 months of employment• Supervise, schedule and train 15 part-time banquet staff• Coordinate menus and beverage service for special events• Prepare profit reports for private parties and club functions• Maintain department’s website and customer database
Student Assistant August 2008 – Present Ithaca College Admissions Office, Ithaca, NY• Assisted with coordination and marketing of large recruiting events upwards of 300 prospective students• Provided campus tours to groups of high school students and parents• Entered confidential student and applicant records into ARGUS reporting system
Lifeguard Summers 2006 – 2008 Ithaca YMCA, Ithaca, NY• Monitored pool area for safety; CPR and first-aid certified• Administered youth and aquatic instruction to children and adults
COMPUTER SKILLS• Adobe PageMaker• Dreamweaver
Résumé Guidelines
� Honest and accurate
� Industry-specific language
� Left format vs. center
� Consistent formatting (structure and language)
� Preferred format: reverse chronological
Guidelines – Continued
� Easy to scan but with good content� Bulleted statements rather than paragraphs
� Start each bullet with a verb
� Descriptive yet to the point
� Accomplishment focused� Accomplishment focused
� Important to set yourself apart from other candidates� Accomplishments
� Leadership
� Unique Experiences
One sizes does NOT fit all
Look at the Position Description
Break it down into three parts:
� Look at employment requirements; make sure you are eligible to apply
� Underline job requirements of the position that relate to you
� Circle the skills and/or job duties they’re seeking that most related to you
Example of a Position Posting
Job Duties
� Play a role as an intern in PwC's core tax practice, as they provide services to clients.
� Participate in select phases of tax compliance engagements.� Participate in select projects; demonstrate creative thinking and
individual initiative.� Contribute to collaborative teamwork, through working effectively as a
team member: understanding personal and team roles; contributing to a positive working environment by building solid relationships with team members; proactively seeking guidance, clarification and feedback.
� Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
Opportunity Type: Internship
Contact: Laura Sobocienski
Status: Full-time
Job Locations: New York, New York
Job Function: Accounting/Auditing, Tax
Period of Employment: Winter � Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
potential conflicts to a supervisor.
Job Requirements
� A desire to pursue a career in Tax.� Ability to interact with various levels of client and firm management
through both written and verbal communications.� Demonstrated self-motivation and has a desire to take responsibility for
personal growth and career development.� Pursuing a Bachelor degree in Accounting or a Masters of Accountancy
or Taxation with a commitment to satisfy the required minimum number of hours for CPA licensure per respective state regulations.
� To learn more and to formally apply to this position, please copy and paste this link into your browser:https://sjobs.brassring.com/en/asp/tg/cim_jobdetail.asp?partnerid=25163&siteid=5277&AReq=11052BR&Codes=
NOTE: your application to the position is not complete until you apply via this link
Compensation Type: Paid
Application Qualifications: No application qualifications have been set for this job.
Cover Letter Required: No
Writing Sample(s) Required: No
Other Document(s) Required: No
Application Method: Online - email applications at end of application period
Employer will make application decisions: Offline
Email to Receive Applications: [email protected]
Step 1: Look at employment requirements
Job Duties
� Play a role as an intern in PwC's core tax practice, as they provide services to clients.
� Participate in select phases of tax compliance engagements.� Participate in select projects; demonstrate creative thinking and
individual initiative.� Contribute to collaborative teamwork, through working effectively as a
team member: understanding personal and team roles; contributing to a positive working environment by building solid relationships with team members; proactively seeking guidance, clarification and feedback.
� Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
Opportunity Type: Internship
Contact: Laura Sobocienski
Status: Full-time
Job Locations: New York, New York
Job Function: Accounting/Auditing, Tax � Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
potential conflicts to a supervisor.
Job Requirements
� A desire to pursue a career in Tax.� Ability to interact with various levels of client and firm management
through both written and verbal communications.� Demonstrated self-motivation and has a desire to take responsibility for
personal growth and career development.� Pursuing a Bachelor degree in Accounting or a Masters of
Accountancy or Taxation with a commitment to satisfy the required
minimum number of hours for CPA licensure per respective state
regulations.
� To learn more and to formally apply to this position, please copy and paste this link into your browser:https://sjobs.brassring.com/en/asp/tg/cim_jobdetail.asp?partnerid=25163&siteid=5277&AReq=11052BR&Codes=
NOTE: your application to the position is not complete until you apply via this link
Period of Employment: Winter
Compensation Type: Paid
Application Qualifications: No application qualifications have been set for this job.
Cover Letter Required: No
Writing Sample(s) Required: No
Other Document(s) Required: No
Application Method: Online - email applications at end of application period
Employer will make application decisions: Offline
Email to Receive Applications: [email protected]
Step 2: Underline job requirements
Job Duties
� Play a role as an intern in PwC's core tax practice, as they provide services to clients.
� Participate in select phases of tax compliance engagements.� Participate in select projects; demonstrate creative thinking and
individual initiative.� Contribute to collaborative teamwork, through working effectively as a
team member: understanding personal and team roles; contributing to a positive working environment by building solid relationships with team members; proactively seeking guidance, clarification and feedback.
� Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
Opportunity Type: Internship
Contact: Laura Sobocienski
Status: Full-time
Job Locations: New York, New York
Job Function: Accounting/Auditing, Tax
Period of Employment: Winter � Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
potential conflicts to a supervisor.
Job Requirements
� A desire to pursue a career in Tax.� Ability to interact with various levels of client and firm management
through both written and verbal communications.� Demonstrated self-motivation and has a desire to take responsibility for
personal growth and career development.� Pursuing a Bachelor degree in Accounting or a Masters of Accountancy
or Taxation with a commitment to satisfy the required minimum number of hours for CPA licensure per respective state regulations.
� To learn more and to formally apply to this position, please copy and paste this link into your browser:https://sjobs.brassring.com/en/asp/tg/cim_jobdetail.asp?partnerid=25163&siteid=5277&AReq=11052BR&Codes=
NOTE: your application to the position is not complete until you apply via this link
Compensation Type: Paid
Application Qualifications: No application qualifications have been set for this job.
Cover Letter Required: No
Writing Sample(s) Required: No
Other Document(s) Required: No
Application Method: Online - email applications at end of application period
Employer will make application decisions: Offline
Email to Receive Applications: [email protected]
Step 3: Circle skills and/or job duties
Job Duties
� Play a role as an intern in PwC's core tax practice, as they provide services to clients.
� Participate in select phases of tax compliance engagements.� Participate in select projects; demonstrate creative thinking and
individual initiative.� Contribute to collaborative teamwork, through working effectively as a
team member: understanding personal and team roles; contributing to a positive working environment by building solid relationships with team members; proactively seeking guidance, clarification and feedback.
� Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
Opportunity Type: Internship
Contact: Laura Sobocienski
Status: Full-time
Job Locations: New York, New York
Job Function: Accounting/Auditing, Tax
Period of Employment: Winter � Flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; and communicating
potential conflicts to a supervisor.
Job Requirements
� A desire to pursue a career in Tax.� Ability to interact with various levels of client and firm management
through both written and verbal communications.� Demonstrated self-motivation and has a desire to take responsibility for
personal growth and career development.� Pursuing a Bachelor degree in Accounting or a Masters of Accountancy
or Taxation with a commitment to satisfy the required minimum number of hours for CPA licensure per respective state regulations.
� To learn more and to formally apply to this position, please copy and paste this link into your browser:https://sjobs.brassring.com/en/asp/tg/cim_jobdetail.asp?partnerid=25163&siteid=5277&AReq=11052BR&Codes=
NOTE: your application to the position is not complete until you apply via this link
Compensation Type: Paid
Application Qualifications: No application qualifications have been set for this job.
Cover Letter Required: No
Writing Sample(s) Required: No
Other Document(s) Required: No
Application Method: Online - email applications at end of application period
Employer will make application decisions: Offline
Email to Receive Applications: [email protected]
Creating Your Targeted Résumé
� Start with your objective statement� Short, to the point
� Desired position
� What you have to offer employer
Seeking a ______ position utilizing my ____, ____, and ___ skills.
Example: A summer 2010 internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers
utilizing my creative thinking, analytical and communication skills
Résumé Construction - Experience
� Full and part-time work
� Internships
� Class projects
� Volunteer work (if related to objective)� Volunteer work (if related to objective)
� Leadership positions
Creating Your Targeted Résumé
EXPERIENCEYour Title, Month Year – Month YearCompany Name, City, State� Beginning with a verb, create detailed, yet concise statements
sharing not only what you did in this position, but any sharing not only what you did in this position, but any experiences you gained that relate to the kind of job for which you are applying.
� Use action words to describe accomplishments, leadership opportunities, skills developed, unique experiences, and anything you are especially proud of.
� Use industry jargon and key words from internship description� Quantify whenever possible� Rank your bullet points, with your most important/relevant
bullets at the top of the list and the least at the bottom.
Creating Your Targeted Résumé
LEADERSHIP
Vice President of Reporting, August 2009 – PresentBeta Alpha Psi (BAP)- Mu Chapter, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
• Attendee at Atlantic Coast Regional Meeting and Leadership Conference
CreativeThinking
• Attendee at Atlantic Coast Regional Meeting and Leadership Conference
• Participate on a 10-member board to create and coordinate programs for
the honors society
• Prepare and submit reports through the BAP intranet and comprehensive
annual report for the Ithaca College School of Business
• Lead the Chair of Membership and the membership committee in
developing ideas to promote BAP to potential candidates
Creating Your Targeted Résumé
EXPERIENCE
Barista, May 2007 – August 2009Starbucks Coffee Company, Binghamton, NY
Service to clients/ build relationship with team
Starbucks Coffee Company, Binghamton, NY
• Displayed leadership on a team of partners providing a high level of
customer service
• Underwent an intensive training program to become a certified Barista
• Assisted in training new employees
• Report concerns to management staff as needed
• Processed sales transactions and balanced cash drawer at the end of each
shiftCommunication skills
Creating Your Targeted Résumé
� Optional Sections; MUST relate or do not include!� Related coursework (under Education section)
� Honors
� Activities
Professional Affiliations� Professional Affiliations
� Service/Volunteer Experience
� Computer and language skills
� Work History
Résumés – A Final Thought
Résumés are a continual working draft:
� Edit your résumé each season/semester
� Add organizations joined; leadership positions held
� Relevant coursework� Relevant coursework
� Group projects:� developing a skill
� related to overall work experience
� Create a “master résumé”
� Résumés as a writing process
Creating a Targeted Cover Letter
� Hook, Line and Sinker approach� Hook: First paragraph- “hook” the reader.
� How did you find the opportunity?� Share name of referral, if appropriate
� Line: Second paragraph- explain your interest � Line: Second paragraph- explain your interest � Take 1-2 experiences from your resume and elaborate� Be detailed and use the “STAR” approach
� DO NOT use same line/verbiage from resume
� Sinker: Closing paragraph – Restate interest � Share how the mission/vision align with your own
experience/goals� Provide email and phone so recruiter can follow up
The “Hook”
William Business1515 Victory Dr. • Ithaca, NY 14850
607-555-5555 • [email protected]
October 6, 2010
Dear Mrs. Sobocienski,
State how you found Dear Mrs. Sobocienski,
It is with great interest that I submit my application for the PricewaterhouseCoopers summer internship. I was referred to the position by Professor Patricia Libby who shared this opportunity me during a recent advising meeting. This internship is highly intriguing to me as I am interested in a career in tax and often utilize the strong communication, creative thinking, and team-oriented skills you’re seeking.
you found position
Be specific!
From job requirements
The “Line”
My experience thus far has affords me the opportunity to pursue an internship with
PricewaterhouseCoopers. I’ve had the great fortune of utilizing effective
communication skills through my leadership as the Vice President (VP) of Reporting for
Beta Alpha Psi and current work experience as a Barista at Starbucks Coffee
Company. Serving as the VP allows me to hone my communication skills with my peers
and learn how to lead effectively. Working as a Barista, I have interacted with aand learn how to lead effectively. Working as a Barista, I have interacted with a
variety of people from customers, team members, and managerial staff.
Additionally, I have proven my motivation and creative thinking skills through my
leadership role with Beta Alpha Psi. I created a two-year plan of enrollment for our
honors society to bolster membership and led an initiative to induct honorary members,
often alumni, to our group. Doing so created many opportunities for our members to
connect with alumni but also raised our membership 25% in one semester.
Taken from job description
The “Sinker”
I hope to bring my skills and experience to your team. Like PricewaterhouseCoopers,
I measure personal success by those that I serve. I would sincerely enjoy an opportunity
to further discuss my credentials for the summer internship experience. Please feel free
to contact me at (607) 555-5555 or [email protected]. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Bill Business
Link to company’s mission
Questions?
Career Services 101 Muller
(607) 274-3365
Bethany KilgoreProfessional Development
Coordinator –School of Business
121 Park Center
www.ithaca.edu/career
Walk-InsMonday – Friday
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
121 Park Center
(607) 274-3680
Walk-InsTuesday & Thursday:
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
