Resume and Resume and Cover Letter Cover Letter

WorkshopWorkshop

Purpose of a ResumePurpose of a Resume The resume alone will not get you the job, but it can The resume alone will not get you the job, but it can

get you an interviewget you an interview..

Will distinguish you from someone competing against Will distinguish you from someone competing against you.you.

Allows you to Allows you to sell your skills and abilitiessell your skills and abilities..

Designed to help a future employer easily spot your Designed to help a future employer easily spot your strengths.strengths.

Helps manager ask you questions during the interview.Helps manager ask you questions during the interview.

First opportunity to make a good impression and First opportunity to make a good impression and shows that you are organized and prepared.shows that you are organized and prepared.

Shows a future employer the quality of your work.Shows a future employer the quality of your work.

Tips for Preparing Tips for Preparing ResumeResume Attempt to obtain the job description and target your Attempt to obtain the job description and target your

resume to show that you have the skills and resume to show that you have the skills and experience the employer desires. experience the employer desires.

Write your resume using your own words. If someone Write your resume using your own words. If someone is helping you, make sure you understand and can is helping you, make sure you understand and can address the statements they are making. address the statements they are making.

Be honest about your background, work and Be honest about your background, work and educational experience. educational experience.

Omit personal information such as age, martial status, Omit personal information such as age, martial status, height, weight, gender, and Social Security Number. height, weight, gender, and Social Security Number.

Minimize jargon and abbreviations.Minimize jargon and abbreviations.

Tips for Preparing Tips for Preparing ResumeResume

ContinuedContinued Type all resumes with non-decorative typefaces in Type all resumes with non-decorative typefaces in

a font size of 10-14 points (examples- a font size of 10-14 points (examples- Times New Times New RomanRoman, , Arial, Arial, Courier NewCourier New). Avoid- ). Avoid- Monotype Monotype Corsiva, Corsiva, Comic Sans MS,Comic Sans MS, etc. etc.

Keep your resume limited to one page, two if Keep your resume limited to one page, two if absolutely necessary. absolutely necessary.

Check the resume for spelling, punctuation and Check the resume for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.grammatical errors.

Use white or off-white 8 ½ x 11 inch resume paper Use white or off-white 8 ½ x 11 inch resume paper (24#).(24#).

Sections of a ResumeSections of a Resume Contact InformationContact Information

Name, mailing address, telephone Name, mailing address, telephone number/message phone,number/message phone,

e-mail addresse-mail address

Job ObjectiveJob Objective: A brief statement specifying what : A brief statement specifying what type of work you are seeking.type of work you are seeking.

Summary of Qualifications/HighlightsSummary of Qualifications/Highlights: These are : These are the key skills (4-5 skills) that you possess and the key skills (4-5 skills) that you possess and want to highlight to the employer to show that want to highlight to the employer to show that you are a perfect fit for the position.you are a perfect fit for the position.

Sections of a Resume Sections of a Resume ContinuedContinued

Work Experience/HistoryWork Experience/History: Include your work : Include your work experience listing the most recent first and work experience listing the most recent first and work backward. For each work experience include: backward. For each work experience include:

Title of positionTitle of position Name of organization and location of work (city, Name of organization and location of work (city,

state)state) Dates of employment (month and year, e.g. Dates of employment (month and year, e.g.

January 1995-June 2001)January 1995-June 2001) Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis

on specific skills and achievements. Describe on specific skills and achievements. Describe what you contributed to or accomplished on the what you contributed to or accomplished on the job. job.

Use action verbs to describe job duties. Use action verbs to describe job duties. (Constructed, Assembled, Maintained, Inspected, (Constructed, Assembled, Maintained, Inspected, or Organized)or Organized)

Go back far enough to demonstrate to the Go back far enough to demonstrate to the employer that you have the necessary experience employer that you have the necessary experience to do the job you are looking to fill.to do the job you are looking to fill.

Sections of a Resume Sections of a Resume ContinuedContinued

EducationEducation: List your highest education first. : List your highest education first. Include adult education, college, high school, Include adult education, college, high school, seminars, special training or course work.seminars, special training or course work.

List school, city and stateList school, city and state On separate line, list degree and majorOn separate line, list degree and major List any professional certifications or List any professional certifications or

licenses you have attained.licenses you have attained.

ReferencesReferences: Available upon request. A : Available upon request. A separate reference sheet must be prepared.separate reference sheet must be prepared.

Resume FormatsResume FormatsChronological: This style presents your work

experience in a traditional by-date format, listing the jobs you’ve held and describing the activities and accomplishments of each job in a single paragraph, with the most recent job appearing first.

Advantage- If you are staying in the same field and have an unbroken employment history.

Functional: This style presents your work experience by listing the most important skills you’ve used and then describing a number of activities and accomplishments (drawn from ALL your jobs and life experiences) to document each of those skills.

Advantage- Can be used if you are making a career change. change. Especially useful if your relevant skills (the skills required by the Especially useful if your relevant skills (the skills required by the new job) are not particularly obvious when an employer looks at new job) are not particularly obvious when an employer looks at your chronological work history.your chronological work history.

10 Steps for a 10 Steps for a GREATGREAT ResumeResume

From From The Damn Good Resume GuideThe Damn Good Resume Guide by Yana Parker by Yana Parker1.1. Choose a job target/job objective.Choose a job target/job objective.

2.2. Find out what skills, knowledge, and experience are Find out what skills, knowledge, and experience are needed to do that target job.needed to do that target job.

3.3. Make a list of your strongest skills or abilities (3-4 skills) Make a list of your strongest skills or abilities (3-4 skills) that make you a good candidate for the job.that make you a good candidate for the job.

4.4. For each key skill, think of several accomplishments For each key skill, think of several accomplishments from your past work history (paid or unpaid) to illustrate from your past work history (paid or unpaid) to illustrate that skill.that skill.

• What What ProblemsProblems existed in your workplace? existed in your workplace?• What What ActionsActions did you take to resolve the problem? did you take to resolve the problem?• What were the beneficial What were the beneficial ResultsResults of your action? of your action?

PARPAR5.5. Describe each accomplishment in a simple, powerful Describe each accomplishment in a simple, powerful

action statement that emphasizes the results that action statement that emphasizes the results that benefited your employer.benefited your employer.

10 Steps for a 10 Steps for a GREATGREAT Resume ContinuedResume Continued

6.6. Make a list of the primary jobs you’ve held, in Make a list of the primary jobs you’ve held, in chronological order. Include any unpaid work chronological order. Include any unpaid work that fills a gap or shows you have the skills for that fills a gap or shows you have the skills for the job.the job.

7.7. Make a list of your training and education that is Make a list of your training and education that is related to the new job you want.related to the new job you want.

8.8. Choose a resume format that fits your situation - Choose a resume format that fits your situation - either chronological or functional.either chronological or functional.

9.9. Arrange your action statements according to the Arrange your action statements according to the format you chose.format you chose.

10.10. Summarize your key points at or near the top of Summarize your key points at or near the top of your resume.your resume.

Cover LettersCover Letters A cover letter is a short (one page), typed letter that A cover letter is a short (one page), typed letter that

is used to introduce yourself and explain why you are is used to introduce yourself and explain why you are sending your resume.sending your resume.

It should make an employer interested in you so they It should make an employer interested in you so they will read your resume and interview you.will read your resume and interview you.

ALWAYS mail a cover letter with your resume.ALWAYS mail a cover letter with your resume.

Use standard business letter format on the same Use standard business letter format on the same quality of paper as your resume. The font size should quality of paper as your resume. The font size should be 10-14 point and match your resume style.be 10-14 point and match your resume style.

Address the letter to the contact person or to the Address the letter to the contact person or to the Human Resources Director. Ensure that you sign the Human Resources Director. Ensure that you sign the letter at the bottom of the page.letter at the bottom of the page.

Check the letter for spelling, punctuation and Check the letter for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.grammatical errors.

Paragraphs of a Cover Paragraphs of a Cover LetterLetter

Paragraph IParagraph I:: Identify the position for which you are applying.Identify the position for which you are applying. State how you learned about the position.State how you learned about the position. State why your are interested in the position or organization.State why your are interested in the position or organization.

Paragraph IIParagraph II:: This is your opportunity to let the employer know that you are This is your opportunity to let the employer know that you are

well qualified for the position. well qualified for the position. Target the job description and discuss how your skills relate Target the job description and discuss how your skills relate

to the job requirements.to the job requirements. Highlight one or two of your accomplishments, positive Highlight one or two of your accomplishments, positive

characteristics, or past experiences that illustrate how you characteristics, or past experiences that illustrate how you will benefit the organization.will benefit the organization.

Paragraph IIIParagraph III:: Thank the person for considering your resume and offer to Thank the person for considering your resume and offer to

provide additional information.provide additional information. Include your phone number where you can be reached.Include your phone number where you can be reached.

Questions???Questions???