Easy Resumes and Cover Letters Using Microsoft Word

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Easy Resumes and Cover Letters Using Microsoft
Word
Jane Morgan Memorial Library, Cambria October
8, 2009
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MATC Libraries Research Guide

• http//libguides.matcmadison.edu/workers

• Links to
• Job sites
• Resume/cover letter tips and templates
• Job fairs and expos
• Career advising and statistics
• Tax implications of job loss, and more

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Why a good resume is important.

• Its your personal marketing piece
• Its purpose is to get you an interview

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Successful resumes.

• are tailored for each occupation or job of
  interest
• focus on employers needs
• show how your qualifications/skills fit
  requirements of job
• highlight specific achievements, increases in
  responsibility, work-related skills
• include quantifiable results, where possible

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Resume Basics

• Your resume should be
• concise (preferably 1 page)
• clear and easy to read
• free of spelling/grammar errors
• targeted to specific job

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Organization

• Chronological
• Organized around jobs youve held
• Use if you have steady work history
• Functional
• Emphasizes skills not than job history
• Use if you have employment gaps or previous jobs
  dont relate to job youre applying for
• Combination

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Chronological
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Functional
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Appearance

• Standard font (e.g. Times New Roman)
• Readable font size (12 point)
• Headings for separate sections
• White space
• Ample margins (1 inch)
• Single spacing, space between sections
• Not too long
• One page, if possible (2 pages max)
• References on separate sheet
• Use laser printer

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Language and style

• Professional/formal language
• Consistent style throughout
• Use action/power verbs (see next slide)
• Include language from job notice/ position
  description, if possible
• Use spell check
• Check grammar
• Have several people proofread

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Examples of action / power verbs

Administered Analyzed Budgeted Collaborated Commun
icated Compiled Completed Conducted Consulted Cont
ributed Coordinated Created Demonstrated Designed
Developed
Planned Presented Prioritized Produced Researched
Reviewed Scheduled Shared Supervised Supported Tra
ined Updated Worked Wrote .
Distributed Documented Enhanced Established Expedi
ted Facilitated Generated Improved Implemented Ini
tiated Investigated Led Managed Organized
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What to include.?
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Or not to include.?
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Ask yourself

• What information about me is most relevant to
  the job Im applying for?

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Save time and effort by.

• Creating a basic resume which you can then modify
  to suit the specific situation

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Resume basics include

• Identifying information
• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address

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Resume basics include

• Objective (optional)
• Concise statement specifying position, field of
  work, or skills to be used on the job
• Near top of resume
• Example Receptionist position using my
  customer service, administrative, and
  communication skills.

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Resume basics include

• Education
• Relevant training, certifications, schooling
• Start with most recent
• For each school, list name, location, diploma/
  certificate/degree earned, date of completion
• If not completed, use expected plus date, or
  in progress

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Resume basics include

• Work/Experience
• Names and locations of organizations
• youve worked for, starting with most recent
• Years worked there
• Job title
• Main duties performed, results achieved
• Relevant volunteer activities, internships,
  projects (especially if little paid experience)

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Resume basics include

• Relevant skills / abilities (optional)
• If you have specific computer, foreign language,
  typing, or other technical skills (e.g. equipment
  operation), consider listing these in a separate
  section

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Resume basics include

• Activities / associations (optional)
• Include participation in organizations,
  associations, student government, clubs, or
  community activities, especially if related to
  position youre applying for

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Resume basics include

• Awards / honors (optional)
• Any formal recognition youve received
• Professional or academic awards (if not listed in
  education or work experience section)

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Resume basics include

• EITHER References available upon request
  statement
• OR separate document with references listed

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Using Word 2007 for resumes

• Be sure you know which version of Word youre
  using
• Word 2007 has different look and feel
• SAVE OFTEN
• Use Save as. option for saving
• Save in multiple formats (locally, email, flash
  drive)

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Choosing a Word Template

• Click Office button and select New
• Select Installed Templates or
• Select Resumes category from list under
  Microsoft Office Online
• Choose style that fits your needs
• Job specific? Chronological? Situation specific?
• Click to open category
• Select preference, click download button

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Troubleshooting

• If you get a warning to install Active X, go
  ahead and install
• If the template wont open, make sure it is
  compatible with your version of Word. You may
  need to select another template.

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Creating your Resume from a Template

• Templates
• easy to use, professional look, help with
  formatting and layout BUT
• can be tricky to edit or rearrange preformatted
  options, so choose layout thats close to what
  you want
• Most have placeholder text
• Click within the bracketed areas and replace text
  with your own information

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Hands-on Time - Resumes

• Up Next Cover Letters

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Cover Letters
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Appearance

• Match font used in resume
• Readable font size (10-12 point)
• One page or less
• Paragraphs (opening, body, closing)
• Use laser printer
• Send along with resume OR as the body of an email
  or as an attachment

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(No Transcript)
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Cover Letter basics include

• Your contact information
• Recipients contact information
• Date
• Salutation
• Paragraphs
• Opening
• Body (sell skills/qualifications)
• Closing (request for action)
• Signature
• Enclosure

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Cover Letter specifics

• Tailor to job for which youre applying
  different letter for each application
• Discuss your qualifications for particular
  position
• Use letter to demonstrate your communication
  skills
• Dont simply repeat resume, expand on it --
  additional information relevant, noteworthy
  accomplishments
• Let job notice be your guide (see example next
  slide)

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Make use of language in the job notice

• LibraryDirector of the Todd Wehr Memorial
  Library.Description  The Todd Wehr Memorial
  Library of Viterbo University is seeking to
  evolve into an academic center for the 21st
  Century. The Director will provide strategic
  leadership for all functions of the library in
  collaboration with other academic units and in
  support of the mission of the University.  The
  Director serves as primary advocate for the
  library and must be able to articulate and
  implement a vision for the future of an academic
  library. The Director provides leadership in the
  Libraries mission to support the educational,
  research, and service missions of the University.
  She or he is responsible for all areas of library
  administration and operations, including
  strategic and policy planning, fiscal management,
  library services and collections, and supervision
  of personnel, facilities, and equipment.  The
  Director will understand electronic and
  multimedia resources, instructional technology,
  collaborative learning through creative learning
  spaces, and a learning commons philosophy while
  maintaining the bulk of the print and archive
  resources.Qualifications  Viterbo University
  seeks a visionary leader who understands the
  learning styles of current students and trends in
  higher education, academic libraries, and
  information technology, and who will be able to
  take the lead in establishing the library for the
  21st Century. The Director should have a
  demonstrable ability to generate excitement for
  an emerging new vision for the library, develop
  and hire staff open to innovative ideas, work
  with the entire University community, and devise
  an efficient operational plan. The Director must
  have an energizing, persuasive, and collaborative
  leadership style and respect the learner-centered
  philosophy of the campus.
• Evidence of progressively responsible
  administrative experience within an academic
  library environment.
• Practical knowledge and experience in the role
  and impact of current and emerging technologies
  in an academic library environment.
• The ability to foster an open, creative, and
  collaborative environment in the libraries
• The ability to work productively with faculty and
  university administration.
•  A commitment to a student-centered service
  philosophy.
• Academic qualifications include a degree or
  degrees in a liberal arts discipline and a
  master's degree in library and information
  science from an ALA-accredited program.
  Additional graduate degree in a liberal arts
  discipline is desirable. The director reports to
  the Academic Vice President.Terms of
  Appointment  The Director is an 12 month
  administrative appointment with faculty rank,
  non-tenure track.To ApplyIn addition to a
  letter of application, a CV, and the names,
  addresses and telephone numbers of three
  references, please submit a statement describing
  a 21st Century  library and how to integrate it
  with instructional technology, undergraduate
  research, and the learning styles of today's
  students. Applications should be submitted

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Hands-on Time Cover Letters
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Questions?
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Thank you. Good luck with your job
search!