Brought to you by the Career Development Office

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Brought to you by the Career Development Office
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Resume Cover Letter Writing
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Cover Letters

• Always send a cover letter along with an
  application or resume to an employer
• Its purpose is to introduce you and show how your
  background fits the job, internship, research
  position, etc.

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Cover Letters

• Use the cover letter to expand on points from
  your resume that you feel are especially
  noteworthy or relevant
• For example, let the employer know you are
  willing to relocate if that is a relevant issue
  or that you have a mutual acquaintance
• Demonstrate that you have done your homework on
  the organization and know how you can be an asset
  to them

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Cover Letters

• Prepare an original cover letter for each job
  NOT a form letter
• Similar to the preparation that goes into
  customizing a resume for a position you should
• Research the organization see how your skills,
  abilities, and values match up
• Analyze the job description look at the
  responsibilities and qualifications, match these
  as much as you can
• If the description is vague, draw from research
  of similar jobs
• Analyze your background consider courses taken,
  classroom projects, volunteer and work
  experience, summer jobs, internships,
  extracurricular involvement

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Cover Letter Dos

• Use paper that matches your resume
• Use the same or similar font on your cover letter
  as on your resume
• Write an original cover letter for each position
• State in the first sentence why you are writing
• Show that you know your career goals and how they
  relate to the position and organization
• Demonstrate originality and enthusiasm
• Make your points concisely every point should
  support your application

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Cover Letter Dos

• Proofread for typos and accuracy of contact
  information
• Run Spell Check but remember that it cannot
  detect the wrong from of the word or a homonym
• Keep copies of all materials for your records
• Follow up with the employer if you hear nothing
  after a couple of weeks. Inquire if any further
  information is needed and reiterate your interest.

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Cover Letter Donts

• A typical cover letter for a job should not be
  more than one page
• Use generic, all-purpose cover letters never
  copy yours or someone elses. Sometimes certain
  elements from another of your cover letters can
  be reused, but never the entire letter.
• Exaggerate your skills or experience

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Resume Writing
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Resume Components

• Identifying Data
• Name
• Street Address
• Email Address
• Phone or Message Number
• Personal webpage (if you want it seen)

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Resume Components

• Education
• Name of School
• Major
• Degree Received or Pursuing
• Graduation Date or Projected Graduation Date
• Include any course titles relevant to the
  position
• Honors and GPA are optional, include if strong
• If you attended more than one college list most
  recent first
• You can list an Associates degree and school but
  you do not have to
• Do not list high school

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Resume Components

• Experience/Work History
• Include Paid and Volunteer Positions
• Job Title
• Employing Organization
• Dates of Employment (month year is sufficient)
• Emphasize tasks, skills, abilities and
  accomplishments
• Present achievements, contributions and results
• Quantify if possible

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Optional Components

• Job Objective
• One-line description of the type of position you
  want
• Use only if you have a specific statement about
  your interests
• Skills Abilities
• Foreign languages, computer skills, office
  skills, lab techniques, or transferable skills
  not mentioned elsewhere.
• Languages
• If you are fluent or have conversational level of
  a language

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Optional Components

• Activities Interests
• List student activities/organizations,
  committees, community involvement, and volunteer
  activities you have participated in
• List any offices held with skills and tasks
  involved
• Can go under Experience instead if it is a
  substantial activity
• Honors
• Can include academic honors, honor societies, and
  scholarships
• List under Education section or separately

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Optional Components

• Research and Publications
• Briefly describe relevant research projects
• List published articles, papers or books
• Travel
• Include if your career involves travel or
  knowledge of other cultures

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Optional Components

• References
• NOT necessary to end resume with, References
  Available on Request but it is the best place to
  state Portfolio and/or writing samples available
  on request, if relevant.
• Create a separate page for references, include
• Names
• Titles
• Contact information
• Include formers employers, volunteer project
  supervisors, and faculty
• Do not use relatives or friends
• Make sure you ask permission from references
  before including them

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Developing a Resume

• Analyze the type of position you are interested
  in
• What are the typical qualifications and
  requirements for doing this kind of work do
  your research
• Analyze experiences for relevant skill areas
• List work, volunteer, class projects and other
  experiences you have and start identifying skills
  you demonstrated in those activities
• Write descriptive phrases
• Take your list and start converting it into short
  descriptive phrases (use your action verbs)

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Developing a Resume

• Start shaping this into a generic resume
• It does not have to be perfectly formatted, it
  can be longer than one page
• You will shape it and cut it down as needed for
  each job you apply to

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Customizing a Resume

• Take the generic resume or list of experiences
  you have and tailor it to the specific position
• Because you will ultimately have different
  versions of your resume and application materials
  it is important to keep track of what you have
  submitted
• Keep a binder or some sort of file
• Have a copy of the job description, the exact
  version of your resume you submitted, cover
  letter and any other materials for each position

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Customizing a Resume

• Analyze the job description
• Highlight the required and preferred, skills,
  abilities and qualifications in the description
• Analyze experiences for relevant skill areas
• Review your experiences, identify the skills you
  used that fit the position(s) for which you are
  applying
• Write descriptive phrases
• Write short phrases to describe what you did that
  illustrates each skill be concise and specific
• Arrange the phrases in order of relevance to the
  position you are applying for

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Resume Dos

• Use good quality (at least 20lb. bond) paper
• Use a readable font and print on a high
  resolution printer (laser is best)
• If you use an objective, make it specific
• Emphasize results produced, significant
  achievements and recognition from others
• Quantify when possible and use specific examples
• First or second year students can include
  accomplishments and experience from high school

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Resume Dos

• Check the spelling of every word make sure
  grammar and punctuation are correct
• Have someone proofread your resume
• Get feedback from several people
• Begin phrases with action verbs such as
  developed, initiated, etc.
• Be truthful about your accomplishments
• Keep your resume to one page unless you have
  extensive experience related to your job objective

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Resume Don'ts

• Use resume templates that come with word
  processing software
• Begin phrases with I or use complete sentences
• Include personal information such as marital
  status, social security number, age, or national
  origin
• Use flashy graphics or colored paper
• Mention controversial activities or associations
• By your third year in college you should strive
  not to include high school accomplishments

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Resume Donts

• List unrelated, minor duties such as opened
  mail or filed documents
• Exaggerate your experience
• Use meaningless words or phrases such as seeking
  a challenging position or seeking a position
  working with people
• Start phrases in the experience section with My
  responsibilities (or duties) included
• Use abbreviations

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Resume Formats

• There are many different resume formats
• Chronological and skills or a hybrid
  chronological/skills are the most commonly used
• Select which format will best present your skills
  and experience

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Resume Formats

• Chronological
• Lists your experiences in reverse chronological
  order
• Works best when your work, volunteer, and
  academic experiences directly relate to the job
  you are seeking
• Skills
• Focuses less on where and when you obtained
  skills
• Job titles, employers, and dates of employment
  are listed at the bottom of the page
• Hybrid of Chronological/Skills
• Most start with a brief skills summary followed
  by a list of experiences with description in
  reverse chronological order

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Resume Checklist

• Is the resume pleasing to the eye easy to read
  font, good layout?
• Are your name, address, city, state, zip code,
  phone number and email at the top of the page?
• Does your objective (if used) state clearly the
  functional areas in which you seek employment and
  the level of job you want?
• Did you use bullets, bold, all capitals, and
  underlining to highlight key strengths?
• Is information listed in order of importance and
  relevance to the position?

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Resume Checklist

• Does the resume avoid generalities and focus on
  specifics about experience, projects, products?
• Did you check the spelling of every word and make
  sure the grammar and punctuation are correct?
• Do most phrases begin with action verbs such as
  developed, initiated, etc.?
• Have you been truthful about accomplishments
  rather than overly modest or hyping too much?
• If you were the employer, would you call for an
  interview?

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Questions?