Develop the Professional Resume

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Develop the Professional Resume Cover Letter

• Brought to you by
• Career Services Center
• Indigo House
• Coastal Carolina University
• http//www.coastal.edu/career

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What is a Resume?

• A resume is a personal summary of your
  professional history and qualifications.
• It includes information about your career goals,
  education, work experience, activities, honors,
  and any special skills.
• A resume is actually your personal marketing tool

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Purpose

• Used when applying for
• Employment
• Co-op or internship
• Graduate school
• Leadership position in particular organization
• A resume does not usually land you the
  position, but instead, it can open the door that
  allows you to personally demonstrate your ability
  to positively impact a company or organization.

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Format and Content

• Professional in Appearance
• Use quality paper (white, cream, beige color)
• Print on a laser printer
• Use a font size of 10 to 12 points
• Choose one typeface and stick to it.
• Clear and Concise
• Easy to read
• Use action verbs
• Error Free - check your grammar spelling
• Layout - equal margins
• Be consistent

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Getting started...

• Reflect on your overall qualifications and career
  goals In what ways are they typical? Unique?
• Research the job market.
• How do your SKILLS, ABILITIES, and INTERESTS
  relate to the position that you are seeking?

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Organizing Your Resume

• The most common resume styles are
• Chronological resume
• Lists specific experiences in order by dates
• Functional or Skills-based resume
• Documents skills, knowledge, abilities, and
  accomplishments without emphasizing dates.
• Combination resume
• Work history and skills and accomplishments are
  emphasized equally. Retains reverse chronological
  order on education and experience sections.

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Content of Your Resume

• Contact Information
• Objective (or)
• Summary of Qualifications
• Education
• Honors / Achievements / Leadership
• Work Experience
• Skills
• References

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Contact Information

• Full name
• Complete Address
• Campus
• Permanent
• Telephone number
• Email address

Susan Sample 777 North Main Street Conway, SC
29526 ssample_at_coastal.edu [phone]
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Objective

• Emphasize key qualifications, skills and/or goals
• Help your readers find what they need to know
  quickly
• Sets the tone for your resume and indicates the
  type of work you are seeking

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Objective Statement

• The objective tells potential employers what you
  want to do
• Be specific about the job you want
• Tailor it to each employer / job you target
• Concise, focused, and positive

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Career Objective Hint

• Do not tell an employer what you expect from them
• - To secure a position that will lead to a
  rewarding career with upward mobility.
• - A challenging management position in a
  results-orientated company where I can rise to my
  full potential.

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Career Objective Hint

• Tell the company what you can do for them
• - Business graduate seeking to utilize my
  education and experience in an entry level
  position in Hotel Management, where upward
  mobility is based upon demonstrated performance.

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Q Is this a good objective statement?

• An internship allowing me to utilize my knowledge
  and expertise in different areas

• Well-written, but raises too many questions
• For example What kind of internship? What
  knowledge? What kinds of expertise? Which areas?

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A good objective statement answers questions

• 1. The level or position
• 2. Where you fit within the company or
  department
• 3. Interests, knowledge, or skills you can
  incorporate in your work
• Examples
• - Recent graduate athlete seeking an entry level
  position in recreation with a particular interest
  in sport management.
• - Sports management student seeking an internship
  to gain hands-on experience in the field of
  recreation.

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Summary of Qualifications

• Summarize and emphasize skills you possess
• Highlights your accomplishments
• Examples
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Energetic self-starter with excellent
  organizational and creative skills
• Self-motivated leader with banking and management
  experience
• Proficient in Spanish and conversational French

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The Education Section
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Where should you place this section?

• Above or below your experience section?
• It depends
• Which is stronger, your education or your work
  experience section?
• How much relevant work experience do you have?
• Generally, most recent college graduates list
  their education after their objective statement
  because this is their most recent and prestigious
  accomplishment

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Education Section

• Your most recent educational information is
  listed first.
• Name of School
• Location of school(s)
• Date of graduation, actual or anticipated
• Degree(s) earned or pursued
• Major / Minor
• Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Related Coursework

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Education Example

• Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC
• E. Craig Wall Sr., College of Business
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• 2004 - present (funded 100 of schooling)
• Major Management Minor Spanish GPA
  3.3
• Expected graduation May 2008

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Experience

• List positions that highlight your business and
  interpersonal skill set
• Position / Title
• Name and location (city, state) of employer
• Dates employed (month/year month/year)
• Description of responsibilities
• Brief statements or bulleted lists
• Use power verbs / action verbs
• Quantify experience, skills achievements
• Vary appearance (use BOLD, italics, font size)

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Getting started

• List your present, then past experiences.
• Include
• Full part-time employment
• Internships
• Volunteer positions
• Research projects
• Self-employment

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Developing your descriptions

• Use action words to describe experiences
• Answer the questions
• Who?With whom did you work?
• What? What duties did you perform?
• Where? Where did your job fit into the
  organization?
• Why? What did you accomplish?
• When? What timelines were you working under?
• How?... Did your efforts affect the companys
  profits?
• Leadership?...Did you supervise or provide
  training?
• Originality?...How did you demonstrate creative
  ability?

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Developing your descriptions

• SAMPLE
• Before
• Planned activities
• Questions asked What kind?, How?, When?, For
  Whom?
• After
• Planned arts crafts activities and weekly
  exercise program for physically-challenged
  children

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List your work experiences in a professional
manner

• UNDERSTATED
• Answered phone
• Wiped tables
• Called customers on telephone
• PROFESSIONAL
• Acted as liaison between clients and professional
  staff
• Created healthy environment for customers and
  maintained positive public image
• Initiated new customer contacts by frequent and
  systematic telephone cold-calling in order to
  present special sale promotions

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EXPERIENCE EXAMPLE

• Central High School Conway, SC
• Athletic Trainer Intern Fall 2006
• Worked with football team consisting of 70
  athletes in grades 10 through 12
• Gained experience in injury rehabilitation
  programs, first-aid applications, practice
  supervision, and facility maintenance
• Served as fitness trainer for mens tennis team

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Experience Example

• Best Financial Corp Myrtle Beach, SC
• Marketing Representative 9/07-present
• Performed 24 market research studies in the
  Carolinas
• Correspond with 600 clients regarding monthly
  sales promotions
• Prepare bi-monthly reports detailing 4M in sales
  activity

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Honors Achievements Leadership Positions

• Extracurricular activities
• Deans List, Presidents List
• National Honor Society
• Sport award recipient
• Memberships in professional clubs and
  organizations
• Volunteer activities
• Team captain, Youth leader

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Why bother?

• Provides additional evidence of your
  qualifications value to the organization
• Give employers a sense of who you are outside of
  school and work

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Skills

• Include skills that make you unique (computer
  skills, foreign language skills, or technical or
  organizational skills)
• Be specific in describing your special skills
  name computer programs in which you are competent

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References

• List 3-5 professional references
• Employers - Professionals
• Professors - Clergy
• Include the name, title, address, phone numbers,
  and e-mail address.
• Always ask permission before you include names on
  your reference sheet.
• Consider giving your references a copy of your
  resume so they will be better prepared to talk to
  employers.

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Reference Example

• Dr. Stuart Smith, Assistant Professor
• Management, Marketing, Law
• Coastal Carolina University
• PO Box 26083
• Conway, South Carolina 29528
• [phone]
• ssmith_at_coastal.edu

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Proof read with a magnifying glass

• Triple-check for accuracy
• One typo could cost you an interview!
• REALLY!

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ResumeDoctor.comRecruiters Resume Pet Peeves

• Spelling errors, typos, poor grammar
• List job descriptions, not accomplishments
• Dates not included or not accurate
• Contact info missing or inaccurate,
  un-professional e-mail address
• Poor formatting boxes, templates, tables,
  colored lines, misalignment
• Functional as opposed to Chronological
• Resumes too long (2 page maximum)
• Use of long paragraphs, prefer bullet-points
• Unqualified job applicants

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More Pet Peeves

• 10) Non-relevant personal information
• 11) Missing employer information
• 12) Lying about dates, titles, or education
• 13) Meaningless objective statement
• 14) Poor font choice or style
• 15) Sent in PDF, zip file, faxed, or web page
  resume, not sent as a WORD attachment
• 16) Adding pictures, graphics, URL links
• 17) Gaps in employment
• 18) Burying important info in the resume

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Computer-Friendly Tips for Electronic Resumes

• Focus on keywords, not verbs
• Employer databases search for keywords
• Keep it simple
• gt Use 10 12 point font size
• gt Avoid italic text, script, and underline
• gt Avoid graphics and shading
• gt Avoid horizontal and vertical lines
• gt Your name should be the first readable item
  on each page

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Typical Questions

• Which format should I use?
• Include GPA?
• Length of resume?
• Include high school information?
• Previous colleges?
• Include personal information?
• Font choice?
• Type of paper?

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Resume Writing Guides

• Wall resume template on Wall Center for
  Excellence website (for business majors)
• Optimal Resume Chants JOBLINK on Career
  Services website
• CollegeGrad and Yahoo Careers websites

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What Is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter expresses your interest in, and
qualifications for a job or internship to the
potential employer. A cover letter should
accompany any resume that is not hand delivered
that includes those delivered by email!
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Cover Letters

• A cover letter is an introduction, a sales pitch,
  and proposal all in one
• It highlights the aspects of your background that
  will be most relevant to the reader
• It demonstrates you can organize your thoughts
  and express yourself clearly and appropriately
• It reflects your communication skills
  personality
• 1 page, 3-4 paragraphs
• Tailored to specific employer / job title
• Address it to specific person never To Whom It
  May Concern
• Proof read and have it critiqued
• Left block style, no indents, space between
  paragraphs, sign it!

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What Should My Cover Letter Accomplish?

• Your cover letter should introduce the main
  points of your resume.
• It should also help you to sell your
  qualifications to the potential employer.
• Demonstrates your ability to communicate clearly
  and effectively in writing.

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Cover Letter Format
Your address City, State Zip Current Date (4
spaces) Employers Name title Employer Address C
ity, State Zip (double space) Dear
______ (double space) Paragraphs 3-4 with no
indents and double space between (double
space) Sincerely, (3-4 spaces for signature) Name
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Introductory Paragraph

• Tell why you are sending this letter
• Name the position for which you are applying
• Tell how you became aware of the position
• Name person who referred you
• Mention their name if you met them previously

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Goals of the Body Paragraphs

• Highlight your strongest qualifications for the
  position for which you are applying.
• Explain how these qualifications will benefit the
  employer.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the company (must
  research the company).
• Refer employers to your enclosed resume.

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Closing Paragraph

• Short to the point
• Call for action (who should make the next
  contact)
• Take the initiative
• Include phone number and email address where you
  can be reached
• Thank them for their time and consideration

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Cover Letter Checklist

• Be sure to address your letter to a specific
  person, and double check for spelling
• Follow up by phone within one week
• Use high quality paper, same as resume
• Do not fold cover letter/resume
• Send in large size envelope. 8 x 11

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Mailing Your Letter With Your Resume

• Coordinate the design of your cover letter with
  the design of your resume. (font, style, etc.)
• They both reveal different kinds of information
  about you.
• Creates great first impression

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For More Help Developing Your Resume

• Drop by for a 15 minute Resume Review and
  Critique available daily from 10am to 12 noon.
• OR
• Contact the Career Services Center
• at
• 349-2341
• To schedule an appointment.
• www.coastal.edu/career