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RESUMES
COVER LETTERS
&
Samples Worksheet Checklist
APPLY • job
• selective programs
• transfer schools
• graduate programs
SUMMARIZE • skills
• experience
• training
PERSUADE the hiring manager to bring you in for an interview
PURPOSE OF A RESUME
SAMPLE RESUME
HEADER
SUMMARY*
EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
OTHER HEADINGS as needed
{
{ *May use alternate heading
HEADER
NAME Make it easy to say and remember. If your name is long or difficult, maybe best to omit your middle initial
ADDRESS Unless you are applying for jobs all over the world, no need to add “USA.” (Only add the country for jobs outside of the U.S.)
Jane Washington 123 Main Street
Centerville, MD 21200
123-456-7890
PHONE NUMBER Use ONE phone number. Do not include phrases
“cell,” “work,” or “home.” Format the number like this 123-456-7890, no need for parentheses. Do not use your current work phone number
Use a professional address from a current internet provider (not Earthlink or AOL). Do not use a work
email. Only use your name and/or numbers in your email address. Example: [email protected]
SUMMARY TIPS • Summary/introduction statement may assume different formats and headings bosee examples
• In general, be concise and summarize
• List goals and/or skills, qualities, and accomplishments
• Highlight your strongest areas by listing them first
• Identify traits that make you unique
• Do not use “Objective”
EDUCATION
Education
University of Kansas, Wichita, KS May, 2016 B.S., Computer Science • Member of ABC Honor Society
The Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD February, 2014 A.A., General Studies • 3.97 overall G.P.A. • Dean’s List – Spring & Fall 2013
For each school include: • School name • Location • Degree & major (earned/pursuing)
List each school attended in reverse chronological order. Beginning with the most recent
Use white space to organize your resume. Information must be easy to find in a quick scan
Demonstrate that you are progressing to the work world. Once you finish college, be selective about what college activities you include. Likewise, once you start college, omit high school information (unless it is outstanding)
• Honors, awards, dean’s list, scholarships and related course work • Dates of attendance (actual or anticipated graduation) • Overall or major G.P.A. if it is above 3.0
CCBC should be spelled out
Use consistent date format
Work Experience
Target Corporation, Wichita, KS January, 2010 - present Lead Sales Associate • Supervise a team of six sales associates • Handle daily cash deposits of $20,000+ • Monitor store surveillance system • Respond to customer questions and complaints to
ensure complete customer satisfaction
Riverside Golf Course, Wichita, KS March, 2008 – December, 2009 Groundskeeper • Oversaw golf course membership database • Managed inventory of golf course supplies • Generated usage reports for golf course supervisor
EXPERIENCE
Demonstrate what you have accomplished with facts and numbers. This demonstrates responsibility and experience
Create a bulleted list of job duties performed for each job
For each job include: • Company name & location • Job title • Dates of employment
{
{ Begin each job duty with an action verb, instead of “I”
Prioritize your job duties. List duties that are more relevant to the job you are applying. Place less emphasis on tasks you do not want to do again
List each job in reverse chronological order
Watch your tense! Use present-tense for present jobs (that you are currently performing). Use past-tense for past jobs
OTHER HEADINGS
Other headings to consider • Honors and Awards • Volunteer Activities • Technical Skills
Training and Certificates
• Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) June, 2010 • Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD) May, 2009 • Cisco Networking Associate (CNA) June, 2008 • Cisco Networking Training May, 2006 – May, 2007
Expand acronyms
Include a date for each item and list in reverse-chronological order
• Military Service • Memberships
ADDITIONAL RESUME TIPS
• Tailor your resume to the job description. Do not use a “one size fits all” resume
• Be concise! Limit the resume length to one page… or two
• Be consistent with typeface and size. Body type may be 9-12 point, headings may be 14 point
• Increase readability by limiting the use of fancy fonts, bold, underlining or capital letters
• Use resources such as O*Net or the Occupational Outlook Handbook for help describing tasks
• Emphasize either Education or Experience by re-ordering these sections depending on your strengths
• Do not use resume templates, tables, color, headers/footers; they cannot be read by applicant tracking software
• FYI! There are two other resume formats: Functional and Combination These may be used to emphasize skills
• Create a reference page like this and take it with you to the interview. Omit the phrase “References available upon request” at the end of your resume
• List people who can verify and elaborate on your professional experience
• Be sure you have obtained permission from each reference listed
• Include a brief statement about how you know this person and why they are relevant
HEADER Use the same header used on the resume
SAMPLE REFERENCE LIST TIPS
REFERENCE ENTRIES • Name/title • Company name • Address • Phone • Email
PURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER
ESTABLISH rapport with the
reader before meeting in-person
INTRODUCE & SUPPORT YOU and your resume
INCREASE the odds of getting
an Interview
(if well written and researched)
RECIPIENT INFORMATION Find the name of the hiring manager so that you can avoid addressing the cover letter using “To Whom it May Concern,” or “Dear Sir/Madam”
SAMPLE COVER LETTER
• Identify the position • Customize your letter for a
specific position • Describe what makes you a
strong candidate and how you will benefit this company
• Connect your experience/skills to the job description
• Highlight relevant experience, tasks, or similar environments
• Demonstrate knowledge and interest in the company
• Close with your contact information and that you will follow-up within a week
BODY OF LETTER APPLICANT INFORMATION Your name and address
DATE
Applicant Name Address Phone Date Company Name Recipient Name, Title Address
Jane Washington 123 Main Street
Centerville, MD 21200
123-456-7890
ADDITIONAL COVER LETTER TIPS
• Use the cover letter to accompany your resume
• Do not repeat content detailed in the resume
• Limit your cover letter to one page of no more than three to five paragraphs
• Customize! Generic letters are less persuasive
• Be cognizant of the employer’s needs (do not mention your needs)
• Research your prospective employer. Learn more about their values, mission, and strategy
• Glassdoor • Vault • Facebook • LinkedIn • Watch this cover letter tip video
PREPARE PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTS
Resume
Reference List
Cover Letter
• Use consistent formatting and typeface on all of your documents (RESUME, COVER LETTER, LIST OF REFERENCES)
• Use suggested fonts including: Arial, Verdana, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia, Tahoma, Baskerville
• Unite all of your documents by using the same “Header”
• Edit all of your documents to be sure they are error-free Carefully review: spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting. Have a trusted reader review your documents (do not depend on spellcheck)
• Save your documents in .doc format as this is most easily opened
• If Emailing your documents, the cover letter may be the body of the email and the resume included as an attachment
• Get expert help if you need help writing or organizing
An FBI study found that approximately half a million people falsely claimed to have college degrees!
REMEMBER, HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY • Use verifiable job titles, dates, and educational
information. You may be asked to sign an acknowledgment that false information may result in dismissal. Hiring managers will check!
• Tell the truth! You will be more relaxed during the interview. You won’t have concerns about the application and resume information agreeing
44% LIED about work experience
23%
LIED about credentials or licensure
LIED about education
41%
23% Lied about credentials
41% Lied about education
44% Lied about work experience
• Even Chief Executives of companies have been forced to step down if inaccuracies” are found. In May 2012, Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson had to step down when it was learned that his degree was in accounting rather than computer science (as he had claimed on his resume)
http://www.statisticbrain.com/resume-falsification-statistics/
Resume Fraud Statistics
More examples
CONTACT
Career counselors
are available to help you!
CCBC Career Centers
CCBC Catonsville SSRV Suite 166 443-840-4435
CCBC Dundalk SSRV Suite 102 443-840-3131
CCBC Essex SSRV Suite 103 443-840-1732
