Resume Writing

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Resume Writing Cover Letters

• Physical Therapy
• September 9, 2008
• VCU University Career Center
• Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment
  Services
• Virginia Commonwealth University

2
Agenda

• Resumes
• Purpose
• Formats
• Content
• Organization and Appearance
• Cover Letters
• Purpose
• Format
• Content

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Purpose of a Resume

• Goal ?
• an interview
• A resume is a strategic personal marketing tool
  to sell your relevant experience, education,
  skills, accomplishments and qualifications to
  potential employers

4
Resume Formats

• Resume
• Chronological Resumes
  
• Functional Resumes
• Combination Resumes
• Curriculum Vitae

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Resume Content Use the categories that fit you

• CORE CONTENT AREAS
• Name and Contact Information
• Objective or Professional Interest Statement
• Education
• Experience
• Scholarships/Honors/Awards
• ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES
• Certification/Licensure
• Selected Coursework/
• Projects/Presentations

• Research Experience
• Publications Presentations
• Professional Organizations
• Computer/Technical Skills
• Skills Summary
• Additional Experience
• Professional Development training, professional
  organizations, workshops, conferences
• Student Organizations
• Community Service/Volunteer
• Foreign Languages

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Name and Contact Information

• Do not write Resume or Curriculum Vitae on
  your resume
• On top of page
• Name slightly larger font size (14 or 16)
• Contact information legible font size (11 or
  12)
• Address
• Phone number(s) (cell screen calls,
  professional voicemail)
• Email address (remove hyperlink, professional)

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Name Contact InformationExamples

• Jamie T. Student
• 907 Floyd Avenue ? Richmond, VA 23284 ?
  804.123.4567 ? studentj_at_vcu.edu
• __________________________________________________
  _____________
• Jamie T. Student
• Current Address 907 Floyd Avenue ? Richmond, VA
  23284
• Permanent Address 123 Lovely Lane ? Fairfax, VA
  32145
• 804.123.4567 ? studentjt_at_vcu.edu
• __________________________________________________
  _____________
• Jamie T. Student
• Current Address
  studentjt_at_vcu.edu Permanent Address
• 907 Floyd Avenue
  804.123.4567 123 Lovely Lane
• Richmond, VA 23284 Fairfax, VA 32145

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Objective

• Optional
• If you have one, be specific
• Avoid clichés or general statements
• Focus on how the employer would benefit, not on
  how they can help you
• Consider targeting your objective for each resume
  you send out

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ObjectiveExamples

• OBJECTIVE
• To obtain a position as a Pediatric Physical
  Therapist.
• OBJECTIVE
• Seeking an acute care Physical Therapy position
  through the assistantship program offered by VCU
  Health System.
• OBJECTIVE (PROFILE)
• Recent physical therapy graduate with interest
  in sports medicine and experience as a certified
  athletic trainer seeking orthopedic resident
  position.

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Education

• List all degrees in reverse chronological order
• MCV/VCU
• Abbreviating degrees is appropriate writing them
  is preferred
• GPA optional for graduate or professional school
• Indicate graduation with honors
• Do not include high school graduation

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EducationExamples

• EDUCATION
• D.P.T., expected May 2008
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU),
  Richmond, VA
• (in the tradition of the Medical College of
  Virginia)
• B.S. in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, May
  2005
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute State
  University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA
• EDUCATION
• Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond,
  Virginia
• Doctor of Physical Therapy Expected 05/2008
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute State
  University Blacksburg, Virginia
• Bachelor of Science 05/2005
• Major Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise
• GPA 4.0

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Experience

• Focus on relevant experience
• Include clinical experience and other relevant
  experience
• Focus on type of clinical experience and any
  specializing (e.g., spinal cord injuries)
• Demonstrate well rounded clinical experience
• Can include unpaid experience, internships or
  volunteer work
• Begin descriptions with strong action verbs
• Include complete but succinct descriptions
• Avoid the use of personal pronouns
• Focus on skills and accomplishments rather than
  including a comprehensive list of job duties
• Quantify accomplishments whenever possible

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Action Verbs

• Use strong, descriptive action verbs to describe
  your experience
• If it is a current experience, use the present
  tense
• If it is a previous experience, use the past
  tense
• Avoid gerunds (-ing)
• Vary your action verbs (refer to action verb list
  in resume guide)
• Avoid duties include or responsible for
• Refrain from using handled or dealt with when
  referring to people

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Physical Therapy Skills/Action Verbs

• Implement
• Refer
• Supervise
• Diagnose
• Manage
• Collaborate
• Plan

• Evaluate
• Consult
• Communicate
• Document
• Examine
• Teach
• Assess

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Examples of PT Experience Descriptions

• Developed patient education handouts that are
  used by all nine PTs in the clinic
• Initiated and headed up PT Month activities for
  the hospital that included a community health
  fair and local radio spots
• Completed a clinical research project that
  resulted in a 37 increase in patient
  satisfaction
• Developed a program for measuring continued
  competency
• Increased revenue by 25 through direct marketing
  efforts to physicians
• Taught inservice programs on documentation for
  staff PTs that resulted in fewer reimbursement
  denials
• Revamped the clinics documentation forms to be
  consistent with the Guide to Physical Therapist
  Practice
• -taken from The American Physical Therapy
  Association website

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ExperienceExample

• RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
• VCU Health System Richmond, VA
• Student Physical Therapist May-July 2006
  
• Completed an acute care rotation.
• Evaluated and treated patients in various
  intensive care units including neuroscience,
  surgical, and medical

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Honors

• Honor Societies
• Scholarships awarded
• Other awards
• May separate into undergraduate and graduate if
  you have many items
• Alphabetical or reverse chronological order
• Include graduation with honors in Education
  section (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum
  laude)

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HonorsExample

• HONORS
• MCV Alumni Association of VCU Scholarship,
  awarded 2006
• Mary T. McGuire Scholarship, awarded 2005
• Phi Beta Kappa, inducted 2005
• Order of Omega Honor Society, inducted 2004
• Golden Key International Honour Society, inducted
  2003
• Virginia Tech Deans List, all semesters

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Organizations

• Focus on relevant organizations
• Highlight leadership positions
• Include memberships in professional organizations
  and student organizations related to field
• Include years of membership
• Can be combined with Honors or another section
• List in reverse chronological order or
  alphabetically

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OrganizationsExample

• ORGANIZATIONS
• Student Conclave, Staunton VA (2006)
• American Physical Therapy Association (member
  since 2005)
• Virginia Physical Therapy Association (member
  since 2005)
• Virginia Tech Student Government Association
  (2001-2005)

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Community Service/Volunteer

• Include relevant volunteer experience or
  community service
• Consider elaborating on this experience organize
  just like experience section

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Community ServiceExample

• COMMUNITY SERVICE
• 1st Annual VCU Department of Physical Therapy
  Golf Tournament, Bottoms Bridge, VA
• Coordinator/Volunteer, April 2007
• Planned and organized golf tournament to raise
  money for The Foundation of Physical Therapy
• Camp Bruce McCoy, Chesapeake, VA
• Volunteer, May-June 2006
• Took an interdisciplinary team approach in
  working with campers with traumatic brain injury
• Adapted activities for a variety of functional
  levels
• Habitat for Humanity, Newport News, VA
• Volunteer, July 2005
• Collaborated on a team to build affordable homes
  for low-income families

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Resume Organization and Appearance

• Consistent organization is critical to an
  effective resume
• The appearance and organization of the resume is
  just as important as the content
• Skim
• in less than 10 seconds

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Resume Organization

• Avoid templates
• Consistent organization
• Use horizontal space
• Balanced page
• Fill the page
• White space in between sections and entries
• Use tabs, not space-bar to indent
• Use print preview
• Resumes should be one page in most cases
• A second page is justified if it includes
  relevant, significant information
• If you use more than one page, make sure you
  include Name, Page avoid stragglers on all
  subsequent pages

• Use bold, CAPS, italics and underlining
  strategically and sparingly
• Be consistent with heading style and margins
• Use one font style and size (except for your name
  and/or headings)
• Font Times New Roman or Arial
• Font Size no smaller than 10 in Arial or 11 in
  Times
• Margins at least 0.5 inches
• Avoid paragraphs
• Use bullets, not dashes
• Avoid numbering your secitons

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Resume Appearance - Proofread

• Use all periods or no periods at the end of
  sentences
• Dashes used in dates consistent size,
  consistent spacing
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors
• Spellcheck does not check words in all caps
• Avoid personal pronouns and personal information

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Resume Appearance - Final Copy

• Avoid graphics, pictures, color ink
• Print on laser printer
• Use high quality, 100 cotton paper in white or
  off-white
• Dont staple or fold
• Dont print on both sides of paper
• If mailing, use large envelope

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References

• List 3-5 professional references on a separate
  document following the resume
• Copy and paste your contact information at the
  top of the page
• When listing references include name, title,
  organization/institution and department, business
  address, phone number, and email
• Dont write References available upon request
  on your resume
• ALWAYS ask permission from person giving you the
  reference
• Offer your references a copy of your resume
• Inform your references of the positions youre
  applying for so they are prepared

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ReferencesExample

• REFERENCES
• Judy Smith, PT, PhD
• Assistant Professor
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• School of Allied Health Professions
• Department of Physical Therapy
• P.O. Box 980224
• Richmond, Virginia 23298-0224
• Phone [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• jsmith_at_vcu.edu

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Cover Letters

• Why write one?
• Purpose
• Introduce yourself/your resume
• Indicate the position you are seeking
• May take the place of the objective
• Highlight your qualifications
• Tailor letter to the job

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Cover Letter Format

• Business letter format
• (Left justify everything)
• Your address
• Todays date
• Employers name, title, organization, address
• Greeting
• Body
• Closing (Sincerely, Yours truly)
• Your signature
• Your typed name
• Enclosure(s) resume, application, references...

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Cover Letter Format

• Simplified format
• Leave off greeting and closing
• Use this option when you are not writing to a
  specific person
• Allows you to avoid generic greetings (To whom it
  may concern Dear Sir or Madam)

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E-mailing a Cover LetterTwo options

• 1. Your e-mail is the cover letter, attach your
  resume
• Leave off return address, date and employers
  address
• Follow basic cover letter writing guidelines for
  the body of your e-mail
• E-mail cover letters should be briefer than
  traditional cover letters
• Spell check and proof read your e-mail prior to
  sending

• 2. Write a brief e-mail, attach your cover letter
  and resume
• Follow traditional cover letter writing
  guidelines
• Spell check e-mail and cover letter prior to
  sending

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Content First Paragraph

• Introduce yourself and state why you are
  contacting the organization
• Indicate the specific position of interest and
  how you learned of the position
• Include degree you are seeking and when it will
  be awarded
• You may wish to quickly summarize your
  experience/qualifications in one sentence

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Content Body Paragraphs

• Explain why you are interested in this position
  and this organization demonstrate that you have
  done your research
• Address each skill or qualification in the
  position description and explain how you meet the
  organizations needs be specific
• Provide examples that demonstrate your skills
• Do not just repeat your resume

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Content Concluding Paragraph

• Reiterate your interest
• Invite the employer to contact you and repeat
  your contact information (it should already be
  listed at the top)
• Indicate how and when you will follow up (if you
  have the contact information to do so)
• Thank the employer for their time and/or
  consideration of your application

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Cover Letters

• Other information to include
• Request information or interview
• Explain gaps in employment, why you are
  reentering the job market, or why you are
  changing the focus of your career
• If you were informed of the position by an
  employee of the company, include their name

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Tips For A Stellar Cover Letter

• Address letter to a specific individual, when
  possible
• Be specific when discussing your career goal and
  qualifications
• Give supporting evidence of your skills
• Try not to start many sentences with I
• Write no more than 3 or 4 paragraphs
• Write simply and clearly
• Cover letter should complement, not repeat your
  resume
• Let your personality come through

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Resources

• Resume Guide http//www.students.vcu.edu/careers/
  documents/ResumeHandout.electronic.allpages.pdf
• Cover Letter Guide http//www.students.vcu.edu/ca
  reers/documents/CoverLetterHandout.pdf
• OR
• Go to www.students.vcu.edu/careers
• Scroll down and click on Resume Guide and
  Cover Letter Guide on the left side of the page

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VCU University Career Center

• Jeanette Waterman
• ejwaterman_at_vcu.edu
• University Student Commons
• Monroe Park Campus
• www.students.vcu.edu/careers
• Hours Monday Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m.