Write the Right Stuff for the Job

1
Write the Right Stuff for the Job

• Preparing a Professional Resume, Cover Letter,
  Reference List, and Thank You Note

2
Resume Formats

• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination

3
Qualities of Attention-Getting Resumes

• Attractive Layout
• Choose a font style that is conservative.
• Use the chosen font style consistently and
• avoid excessive changes in its appearance
• such as adding distracting colors, greatly
• changing its size, or using too many features
• such as bolding and italics.

4
Too Much Pizzazz

• 1743 Elm Street
• New Helium, PA 12345
• frmatthews_at_yahoo.com
• 724-222-1634

Franklin R. Matthews
5
Much More Acceptable

• Franklin R. Matthews
• 1742 Elm Street
• New Helium, PA 12345
• frmatthews_at_yahoo.com
• 724-222-1634

6
Effective Organizational Plan

• Purposeful information relevant to the career/job
  of choice Quality
• Sufficient information for an employer to make
  the decision to invite you to an interview
  Quantity
• A resume language that is clear of errors and
  flows Parallel Structure

7
A resume language that is clear of errors and
flows Parallel Structure

• Can you depend on your word
• processing softwares language and
• spelling features to catch all errors?
• Is it alright to use acronyms?
• What in the world is parallel
• structure?

8
What in the world is parallelstructure?

• Example of non-parallel structure
• Assisted patients with their daily-living skills
• Responsible for ambulating patients
• Planned, shopped for, and cooked patients meals
• Documented changes in patients behaviors and
  attitudes

9
Purposeful information relevant to the career/job
of choice Quality

• 1. What specific knowledge, skills, and
• abilities will you include on your resume
• that relate to the career/job you are
• seeking?
• 2. How can you convey that you are
• prepared to do the job or to learn the
• responsibilities of the job quickly?

10
Sufficient information for an employer to make
the decision to invite you to an interview
Quantity

• What can you add to, or eliminate
• from, your resume?
• How many pages will make up your
• resume?
• Can you have more than one version
• of a resume?

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Resume Example

• Leonard Esterhold 123 Charbough Lane Moon
  Township, Pennsylvania 15108
• [phone]
• lesterhold_at_yahoo.com
• Summary Industrious and personable college
  graduate with a strong interest in becoming an
• exemplary pharmaceutical sales representative.
  Possesses knowledge of principles and methods for
• showing, promoting, and selling products and/or
  services. Speaks and writes with clarity and
• confidence. Learns materials and procedures
  quickly. Experienced when dealing with external
• customers. Understands the value of building
  relationships, following up with information, and
  being
• accountable through proper documentation. Gained
  competencies with Microsoft and Mac software
• applications. Background in Italian and Spanish
  languages. Detail oriented and highly
  dependable.
• Key Transferable Skills include
• Listening for Details Gathering Information
  Analyzing Data Making Decisions/Solving
  Problems
• Being Socially Perceptive Using Time Wisely
  Thinking Critically Communicating Effectively
• Work History

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Resume Content

• Personal information such as your name, address,
  home phone, cell phone, and email address
• Education and training information that includes
  any degrees, courses, classes, or seminars you
  completed (on and off the job).
• Certifications/licensures you possess.
• Accomplishments and awards that present your
  character and contributions to society, an
  employer, and/or an institution.
• Experience that is measurable (skills that can be
  evaluated in quantifiable terms).

13
Cover Letter

• States that you are interested in the job and
  encourages an employer to read your resume and
  invite you to an interview.
• Gives you another opportunity to sell yourself to
  the employer.

• Excerpt
• I am very interested in qualifying for an
• interview for the Job Search Coach Position
• that you have posted in the Beaver County
• Times. My resume is enclosed for your
• review and evaluation.
• Throughout my career history, I have gained
• invaluable experience helping individuals
• pursue meaningful employment. Most
• recently, I was contracted to assist
• dislocated workers from Lockland Airways
• with preparing resumes, interviewing with
• confidence, and exploring alternative career
• paths. I received exemplary written
• appraisals of my services and possess a
• letter of recommendation from the manager
• who hired me for the contract.

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Cover Letter Insights

• Avoid the To Whom It May Concern Greeting.
• Find a balance in the amount of information you
  include in your cover letter.
• Check it over, as with your resume, correct all
  errors.
• Customize your cover letter to the job/career you
  are seeking, taking an opportunity to expand the
  information already included in your resume.

15
Reference List

• Your references will be listed on a separate
  document.
• The best individuals to use as references are
  former supervisors/managers and/or
  teachers/counselors.
• Coworkers can also provide good information about
  you as a worker.
• Sometimes, you may have to provide personal
  references who can address your character. These
  individuals can be neighbors and/or members of
  social/school organizations.

16
Reference List Structure

• Individuals Name
• His/Her Title
• Business Name
• City, State, Zip Code
• Business Phone Number
• Cell Phone Number (optional)
• Email Address (optional)

17
Sample References

• John H. Slasterby
• Manager
• Taco Bell
• Monaca, PA 15061
• 724-775-0000
• jhslater_at_hotmail.com

• Mary S. Carver
• Student
• Albert's Career Center
• Jibberish, PA 12452
• 412-143-2197 (Cell)
• 412-487-4442 (Residence)

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Reference Insights

• Contact your references and ask for their
  permission to list them.
• Keep your references informed of the positions
  you are seeking.
• Give a copy of your resume to your references.

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Thank-You Notes/Letters

• Send them out as quickly as possible.
• Keep your correspondence short and sincere.
• Use this opportunity to add more information if
  you forgot to say something in the interview.
• Compliment the employer for spending time with
  you (during the interview and/or on a facility
  tour).
• Restate your interest in the position.

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Sample Thank-You Note

• Dear Mr. Frankle
• I appreciated the time you devoted to interview
  me for the Job Coach Position. It
• was especially rewarding to tour your facility
  and meet with the staff and clients. My
• conversation with Bert Smith, your computer lab
  monitor, was very informative.
• You have an excellent program for helping
  dislocated workers prepare for reemployment,
• and I feel prepared to contribute to your
  job-search team.
• In closing, I thank you again for taking the time
  to discuss my qualifications. I sincerely
• wish to work for your organization and welcome
  any further questions you may have that will
• increase my candidacy for the position.
• I hope to hear from you in the near future.
• Best regards,
• Beth E. Ruman

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Write the Right Stuff for the Job

• The heading (letterhead) for each of these
  documents will be the same format.
• Keeping your documents in the same style/format
  will present a professional portfolio to
  potential employers.

22
Acknowledgements

• This Job-Search Seminar was presented by Job
  Training for Beaver County, Inc.
• Please visit our website at www.jtbc.org to learn
  more about our organization and mission.
• We thank you for your interest and participation
  in this specialty event.