Professional Employment Program Writing effective resumes and cover letters: telling your story...
If you can't read please download the document
Professional Employment Program Writing effective resumes and cover letters: telling your story through written applications Presenter: Olivia Doyle Career
Professional Employment Program Writing effective resumes and
cover letters: telling your story through written applications
Presenter: Olivia Doyle Career Practitioner, Centre for Career
Development 15 September 2014
Slide 2
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Telling your story through written applications: 2 Seminar
objectives: Students will gain an insight into key features of
written job applications: -Resumes -Cover letters and emails
Slide 3
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Tell your story to stand out from the crowd 3 Most jobs require
written applications to assist recruiters to identify the
candidates to short list for interview You need to ensure ALL
aspects of your written application tell your story in the most
effective manner to market you as a qualified, talented individual
who matches the employers selection criteria (often essential and
desirable) required for the vacant job
Slide 4
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
A key document for job applications is your resume What is a
resume? A marketing/sales tool - a brochure that tells your story
and QUICKLY promotes your skills and achievements A document that
presents you as a professional Maps why you are a match to the job
on offer AND to the organisation The key to gaining an interview
4
Slide 5
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
How long does it take for a recruiter to assess a resume? Often
less than 20 seconds So what makes a good resume? 5
Slide 6
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Common mistakes in written graduate applications 6 -Bland
applications - candidate does not stand out from the crowd -No
obvious links to the job the reader has to join the dots -Not
addressing selection criteria -Poor written communication skills --
Spelling -- Grammar -- Expression -- Presentation -Expression
Slide 7
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
7 What makes for a winning resume? Content -Matches the
requirements of the employer -Uses short, clearly written phrases
and paragraphs to demonstrate your skills & experience Layout
-Clear and easy to scan -Uncluttered -Appropriate format -Adequate
margins and whitespace white space
Slide 8
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
-Make the rsum as simple and easy to read as possible -Consider
type styles and font size (eg Times New Roman, 12) -Avoid font
mania - use only one plain font Arial or Times New Roman set at 11
or 12 point in size -All indents are in alignment (use Tab &
indent settings NOT spacebar) -Use bold / italics / boxes (borders)
wisely -Avoid italics or underline as they dont fax or scan into a
database well -Dont OVERCAPITALISE -Use page breaks so lists and
paragraphs are not split Resume Layout / Presentation
Slide 9
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Vital resume content Targeted to the requirements listed in the
advertisement Use of key words Highlights the strengths of your
brand Tell a positive story Achievement focused Concise Honest
Slide 10
Swinburne Its a crowded market! Source: The Recruiters Lounge
The average time a recruiter spends looking at a resume is 5.7
seconds On average 250 resumes are received for each job position
76% of resumes are ignored if your email address is unprofessional
The first applications are received 200 seconds after a job is
posted
Slide 11
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Recruiters often short list job applications into three categories
Which pile will your story end up in? 11 YES MAYBE NO
Slide 12
Swinburne Resume Styles -Reverse Chronological Arranges your
experience and education in reverse chronological order (from most
recent to least recent) -Functional Headings relate to your
relevant skills and competencies rather than time-line order
-Creative Using the resume as a tool to demonstrate your
design/creative skills using colour and images etc
Slide 13
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Resume builder & example resumes -Sam Chronology template 13
-Access SwinEmploy at
www.swin.edu.au/careerswww.swin.edu.au/careers
Slide 14
Resume content sample headings Contact Details Education /
Qualifications Associations / Memberships Professional Development
Extra Curricular Activities Demonstrated Skills Summary Employment
History Project Work/Industry Projects RefereesHobbiesVolunteer
Work Career Objective/Career Profile NOTE: Not all of these
headings are required for all resumes.
Slide 15
Resume content irrelevant information Date of birth / age Place
of birth Nationality Ethnic origin Marital status Number of
children Religion Political persuasion Health Height / weight
Photograph WHY?
Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Australia 17
Professional profile / career objective (optional) EXAMPLE IT
professional with substantial experience in commercial software
development Highly experienced in: HTML5 CSS3 JavaScript J Query
C#.NET Skilled in translating client requirements into effective
end products Targeting senior development role within a commercial
environment
Slide 18
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Professional profile / career objective (optional) EXAMPLE Cisco
specialist (CCNA) with eight years experience, providing:
First-level help desk technical support and troubleshooting on IT
network Installation, configuration and administration of Cisco IT
infrastructures: Cisco switches, routers, VOIP telephony, QoS,
security applications, firewalls and network protocols.
Slide 19
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Education 19 Provide a detailed insight into your studies Dont just
list qualification title and university Include: - Key or relevant
study areas - Highlight good results - Exchanges / study abroad
tours / internships - Awards or scholarships
Slide 20
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
EDUCATION 2011 PresentMaster of Information Technology Swinburne
University of Technology, Melbourne Key areas of study: Network
Design and Security Web Applications Development Distinction
average results achieved to date 2008 2010 Bachelor of Information
Systems (Software) Ho Chi Minh University, Vietnam High Distinction
results achieved ** Do not need to include your secondary school
education if completed overseas Education EXAMPLE
Slide 21
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Additional headings Professional Development - seminars, short
courses, conferences RELATED to the position you are seeking
Industry specific headings Eg Endorsements / Certifications /
Software Licences Industry Projects / Capstone Projects
Slide 22
Swinburne Certifications -2013 CCNA Cisco Routing &
Switching -2012 Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician
Academic Awards -2014 Swinburne University Deans Award for
Outstanding Results in Networking Major Academic Projects -2013
Networking Design Proposal for Davis Jells Pty Ltd involving review
of organisational requirements, budget and preparation of detailed
design proposal -2013 Internet Security Project for Tiger Toys Pty
Ltd on-line shopping cart involving infrastructure and programming
in C++ Additonal headings EXAMPLES
Slide 23
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
2013 CurrentStudent Member Australian Computer Society 2013
CurrentStudent Member Australian Institute of Management (Gym
Membership is NOT a professional membership) Professional
memberships
Slide 24
Swinburne Employment history A chance to demonstrate how your
brand differs from others Present in reverse chronological order
Include dates and duration Do not include any position beyond 10
years (unless highly relevant) Document Responsibilities and
Achievements Consider separating relevant employment / experience
from other experience (this is especially useful when your most
relevant experience is not necessarily your most recent)
Slide 25
Swinburne -Promotions -Increasing sales figures or improving
efficiencies - quantify -Being part of a team that.(what your team
did) implementing or designing systems or processes -Winning an
award or prize even a trivial one -Employee of the month / year
-Customer service / quality awards Use of achievements
Slide 26
Swinburne PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT Jun 2010 PresentWeb Designer
Colours Media Pty Ltd, St Kilda (Specialist web designers for print
media) Responsibilities: - Liaise with clients to determine design
specifications - Design web pages using ASP> NET, MySqul -
Intranet development using Java Servlets, JSP, Taglibs
Achievements: - Development of award winning website
www.surfshow.com.auwww.surfshow.com.au - Consistently receive
positive feedback from customers regarding my excellent customer
service focus Dec 2007 May 2008Software Programmer / Analyst
Arayeh-Nullah Co, Tehran, Iran (Largest software developer in Iran)
Responsibilities: Employment history EXAMPLE
Slide 27
Swinburne Other Employment (or Casual Employment) June 2008
PresentCrew Member McDonalds, St Kilda Responsibilities: - Customer
service - Food preparation - Working in team of approximately 10
people - Handling cash and balancing tills - Following OH&S
practices - Training new staff members Achievements: - Crew Member
of the Month on two occasions - Regularly exceeded sales targets
Employment history cont.
Slide 28
Swinburne EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 2011Manigrida Shire Northern
Territory Trainee Engineer As an employee of the council I worked
as part of a design team consisting of three members Mr C. Vill, Mr
D. Sign and Ms N. Inear. We developed extensive computer models for
local drainage networks which are very important to this part of
Northern Australia. I also had the opportunity to analyse the
various models and to present recommendations to council. I was
also requires to design and prepare costing for various culverts
according to Australian Standard Design codes. I had much
opportunity to liaise with many people both within and outside teh
organisation. I was also very fortunate in being given some on site
experience at local construction sites and took part in the
management of contractors who worked on the project. EMPLOYMENT
HISTORY Engineering Experience Dec 2010 Dec 2011 Trainee Civil
Engineer Manigrida Shire Council, NorthernTerritory
Responsibilities : Team member in design department Designed
computer models Prepared detailed costings Supervised project
elements Liaised with council staff and clients Achievements:
Promoted to Project Supervisor after 12months 28 Employment history
- layout comparison
Slide 29
Swinburne Demonstrate relevant industry projects or case
studies you have been involved in: -Relevant capstone university
projects -Team projects -Final year projects Industry engaged
learning
Slide 30
Swinburne Industry engaged learning EXAMPLE 2014Recruitment
Campaign for Whizz Telemarketing 2nd Year Human Resource Subject
This university project focussed on the development of a
recruitment campaign for 20 telemarketers. This involved:
Development of position descriptions and selection criteria
Identification and costing of appropriate advertising Writing a job
advertisement Specification of screening and selection criteria
Preparation of behavioural interview questions Achieved a High
Distinction 30
Slide 31
Swinburne Skills summary Opportunity to match yourself to the
job and to convince employer of your potential Highlight 4-5
professional skills that you can offer an employer which are
relevant to the position you are applying and match the selection
criteria Give two examples of how you have demonstrated the skills
Focus on providing strong examples that highlight your capacity and
that differentiate you from other applicants
Slide 32
Swinburne Skills summary EXAMPLE 32 Information Technology
Skills Databases MS Access, SQL, Oracle Publishing Adobe Acrobat,
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, MS Publisher Web HTML, Java
Script, Java Beans, Flash, Dream weaver, Fireworks MS Office Word,
PowerPoint, Publisher, Visio, Excel, Outlook, Project, Access
Operating Win 2003 server, XP, UNIX/Solaris, Linux, MAC Systems
Installation, configuration, monitoring and optimisation of the
above Hardware PC Maintenance, troubleshooting and upgrading
modems, sound and video cards, digital Cameras, scanners, printers
Network Admin Managing LANs over different platforms, including;
Linux, Novell and Windows 2000/XP Miscellaneous Development,
testing, documentation, implementation and training of a number of
non-commercial software
Slide 33
Swinburne Skills summary EXAMPLE Communication Skills Highly
developed interpersonal skills strengthened through four years of
customer service experience as a Supervisor at Coles Supermarket.
Excellent written communication skills successfully demonstrated in
university assignments and in preparation of position descriptions
and training manuals at Blue Chip IT
Slide 34
Swinburne Leadership (Initiative and Enterprise) -Proactively
taken leadership roles during group projects, leading and guiding
teams into meeting deadlines and providing effective solutions to
problems. -Actively managed, organised and co-ordinated team
workload and tasks, set due-dates and deadlines for components of
system design and implementation for university projects and
assignments. -Ensuring involvement and support of team members as a
critical part of working as a team to ensure productivity while
allowing the expression of individual talents. -Undertaken
leadership camps and teamwork courses provided by the co-op
scholarship program with companies such as Operation Challenge and
Oxygen Learning. Planning and Organising (Organisational)
-Prioritised daily, weekly, monthly tasks to meet university
deadlines. -Effective at managing time and balancing full-time
study with part-time work, as evidenced by handing in all my
assignments on time.
Slide 35
Swinburne Problem Solving -Undertook and solved many
information technology and business-related problems by undertaking
real and simulated projects during undergraduate studies at
Swinburne University. -Working as an IT Help Desk Technician, I was
required to conduct a thorough analysis of the email software in
order to identify potential errors. I was then required to make
recommendations to improve the system. -Projects include systems
analysis, design and implementation; evaluating systems results and
making appropriate recommendations based on analysis on information
technology management issues. -Transformed and translated
organisational processes and procedures into written documents to
assist business line competencies in streamlining or automating
current processes such as the Business Performance Management
process at Microserve.
Slide 36
Swinburne Interests Employers are always interested in you the
person and your potential fit to the organisation They are curious
to know about your hidden talents or interests especially if they
relate to the profession you are seeking to enter into the
organisation Make sure you highlight a wide range of interests
Clubbing, swords, surfing the net, Facebook, meeting new people and
hunting are NOT appropriate on resumes
Slide 37
Swinburne Referees No matter how good your application and
interview were if your referees do not give positive feedback you
may not get the job. No one is obliged to give a positive reference
make sure you choose someone with whom you had/have a good rapport
Should be work or study related (i.e. ideally someone you have
reported to who can comment on your performance) Show your referees
the courtesy of asking for their permission and notifying them when
you apply for jobs Make sure their details have not changed Provide
at least 2 referees Always include Full Name, Position, Company,
Address, Phone Number and Email Address
Slide 38
Swinburne Questions & Answers any questions?
Slide 39
Swinburne Writing effective resumes and cover letters: Cover
Letters
Slide 40
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
What is a cover letter? A formal letter of introduction States your
interest in the position or organisation why do you want to work
for the organisation and your skill match Provide an overview of
your qualifications Outline your employment history or relevant
experience Match your skills to those required for the job
technical and generic Great indication of your communication
skills
Slide 41
Swinburne Written specifically for each application refer to
criteria outlined in the job advertisement Shows reference number
and position where you saw the job advertised Demonstrates your
skills and knowledge provide examples as proof Tell the employer
what you have to offer not the reasons why they shouldnt give you
the job. Demonstrates your knowledge of the company One page NB:
work out if the job is advertised through a recruitment agency, if
it is, you will be working for their client, NOT for the
recruitment agency! 41 Cover letter useful tips
Slide 42
Swinburne Amanda Kaur 22 Henderson Rd Epping Vic 3071 Ph: 9878
4456 Mob: 0432 907 123 Email: [email protected] 26 th August 2013
Mr Robert Brown General Manager C & E Pty Ltd 26 Smith Street
Thomastown Vic 3074 Dear Mr Brown, Re: Book Keeper and Office
Assistant Please accept my application for the position of Book
Keeper and Office Assistant with C & E as advertised on the
Seek website on the 5th July 2013. I believe my skills and relevant
experience would enable me to make a significant contribution to
C&E. I am undertaking a Bachelor of Business majoring in
Accounting at Swinburne University of Technology (TAFE) and am
looking forward to utilising the skills I am gaining in my course
to join a company devoted to environmentally friendly car care
products. This course is providing me with the knowledge and skills
to efficiently work in an accounting and office administration role
and the assignments have strengthened my ability to process
accounts payable and receivable; update customer accounts records;
produce a variety of financial records; and enhanced my office
administration and keyboard skills. I am a confident internet user
and familiar with MYOB and the full MS Office suite. This can be
supported by my referees who will also be able to confirm my
enthusiasm and ability to problem solve client and financial
discrepancies. Utilising my good organisational skills I have
balanced full-time study with part-time employment with Mumbai
Property Exchange. My duties include reception and general office
administration. As Mumbai Property Exchange is a market leader in
the area, I was expected to demonstrate high level communication
skills, professional standards and client confidentiality. At
times, I am in charge of the office so I am very capable of dealing
with high volume customer service and a wide range of client
enquiries. Enclosed is my resume for your consideration. I look
forward to discussing the position and my application further and
can be contacted on 0432 907 123. Yours sincerely, Amanda Kaur Your
name and address Date Employer or agency name, title, address
Salutation (eg Dear Mr Brown or Dear Sir / Madam) Reference line
Paragraphs Yours sincerely / Yours faithfully Sign and type your
name
Slide 43
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Online applications -Often used in graduate recruitment and are a
vital component of selection criteria -Ensure you research the role
and company -Address key selection criteria and provide specific
examples of how you have demonstrated skills -Follow the
instructions -If possible, type responses in MS Word then copy into
online document
Slide 44
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Cover emails 44 Most applications are submitted via email also
require a short cover email Tips - Mention the job title and
reference number - Express interest in the position highlighting
you possess relevant qualifications and experience - Refer to
attached cover letter and resume - Ensure your written expression,
spelling and grammar are perfect or the attachment will not get
opened!
Slide 45
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Selection criteria -Separate document often used for government and
academic positions -Cut and paste the key criteria and these become
your headings -Demonstrate your skills by providing specific
evidence of your past experience in relation to the criteria -Can
use examples from study, part time jobs, extra curricular
activities etc 45
Slide 46
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Additional Swinburne resources to assist you 46 Resumes -Resume
builder -Developing your resume handout -Resume podcast -Cover
Letters - Cover letter handouts - How to write a cover letter
podcast -Selection Criteria - Online applications and selection
criteria handout -Access at
www.swin.edu.au/careerswww.swin.edu.au/careers -
Slide 47
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
References 47 Resumes that Get Shortlisted Jim Bright and Joanne
Earl (2008) Brilliant Graduate CV Jim Bright, Joanne Earl, David
Winter (2013)
Slide 48
Transition to Graduate Employment Conference REGISTER NOW 19
Sept swinburne.edu.au/careers/conference For science, engineering
and technology students in their last 2 years of study Network with
recruiters and employers Improve your career readiness Refine your
employability skills Look at future workplace trends Swinburne
University of Technology CRICOS Provider 00111D
Slide 49
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
Career Seminars Semester 2 49 Future workplaces 25 Sep The global
worker 1 Oct International student visa information 2 Oct Personal
branding 8 Oct Key employability skills 9 Oct LinkedIn14 Oct
Transitioning to the workplace23 Oct International student job
search intensive24 Nov PLUS MORE check out www.swin.edu.au/careers
for detailswww.swin.edu.au/careers
Slide 50
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
50 Centre for Career Development We are here to help you with
career management assistance and advice Your professional career
starts NOW let us help you with your career journey All services
are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL
Slide 51
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
51 Services -Career counselling -Job search assistance -Interview
skills -Resume builder -Employer information and on campus
presentations -Going Global international job search data base
-Career conferences, workshops and webinars -Range of handouts /
podcasts: -Interviews- What can I do with my qualification
-Resumes- Networking -Cover letters- Job search -LinkedIn profiles-
Assessment centres etc
Slide 52
Swinburne SCIENCE | TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | BUSINESS | DESIGN
52 Location. Monday to Friday 8.30 am 5 pm Level 2 The George
Building, Hawthorn Campus Tel 9214 5360 Email
[email protected]@swin.edu.au Web
www.swin.edu.au/careerswww.swin.edu.au/careers