Effective Resumes and Cover Letters

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Effective Resumes and Cover Letters For
Computer Science Joan McCurdy-Myers Director
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AS YOU WAIT, PLEASE

• Discuss the strengths weaknesses of Robert
  Woods resume with the person next to you

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WORKSHOP GOALS

• To show how to effectively market yourself in
  resumes and cover letters
• How? By understanding the following
• Needs of employer (RESEARCH)
• What you have to offer employer(Relevant
  SKILLS EXAMPLES)
• How to highlight that you have theyre
  looking for (FORMAT)

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FROM THE EMPLOYERS VIEWPOINT

• How long does an employer spend looking at a
  resume the first time through?
• Survey question When considering an
  application, which document do you pay more
  attention to?
• resume?
• cover letter?
• Weigh both equally?

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DEBRIEF OF ROBERTS RESUME

• What did you think of Roberts resume?
• What were its strengths? - What could be
  improved? (content and format)

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COMPONENTS OF A RESUME

• What are they?- Common resume components -
  Other sections Note The order and contents of
  your resume may change depending on the position
• For more info Click on Resume Cover Letter
  Toolkit,
• Prepare Content- Resume and Cover Letter
• http//www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/toolkit.html

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HOW TO TAILOR YOUR RESUMEAND COVER LETTER

1. KNOW what the EMPLOYER WANTS- List the key skill
   sets sought
2. KNOW what YOU have to OFFER- What are your
   relevant strengths?
3. MAKE THE MATCH between 1 and 2- Select 3-5
   skills provide concrete examples and focus on
   accomplishments

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EMPLOYERS SAY..

• Employers of new grads were askedWhich do you
  place greatest importance on
• Paid Experience?
• Volunteer extra-curricular experience?
• Weigh paid and unpaid experience equally?

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SKILLS
Employers of new grads want evidence of skills
i.e. what you can do for them because you did it
somewhere else (paid, unpaid, course work) Give
concrete examples in your resume and cover letter
as proof of your skills
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SKILL SETS

• Kinds of skills
• technical/specific e.g. computer, lab,
  languages, program-specific
• transferable e.g. written verbal
  communication, organizational, analytical,
  problem-solving
• self-management/personal e.g. initiative,
  flexible, confident, self-motivated

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP IDENTIFY YOUR SKILLS

• Online and print resources available through
  the Career Centre- Careers by Major info.,
  Career Centre website (Under Explore Careers
  Tab)
• www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/careers_by_major.html
• Individual career counselling appointments
• - Skills card sort and other self-assessment
  tools

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ROBERTS 2ND RESUME

• 20 sec test
• What are the specific strengths of Roberts 2nd
  resume compared to his 1st resume?- Look at both
  format and content
• How does it market Robert for the Software
  Developer position?

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ACCOMPLISHMENT-BASED RESUMES

• Go beyond listing duties to include
• HOW you performed your tasks (to demonstrate
  skills)
• RESULTS you generated (increased profits,
  positive evaluations, solved a problem)
• The SCOPE of your responsibilities (through the
  use of s)

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ALWAYS REMEMBER

• Start bullets with ACTION WORDS
• AVOID saying DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITES included
• Give PROOF of your SKILLS
• Use ACCOMPLISHMENT-BASED statements
• ORDER points based on importance/relevance

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LOOK AT YOUR OWN RESUME

• Identify 2 changes could you make
• Once youve revised your resume, sign up through
  UTM Career Centre website for an individual
  resume critiqueSame day only.

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COVER LETTEREFFECTIVE MARKETING

• Marketing tool that shows your RELEVANT skills
  and accomplishments
• Links to employer NEEDS
• Uses a FORMAT which highlights the match
• Persuasively answers the question
• WHY SHOULD THE EMPLOYER CONSIDERYOU FOR
  THIS POSITION?

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COVER LETTERS

• Take a quick look at Roberts cover letter
• Identify some strengths and weaknesses of this
  cover letter.

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EMPLOYERS WERE ASKED

• When considering an application, employers pay
  more attention to which document?
• Resume 53
• Cover Letter 6
• Weigh both documents equally 41
• Advice To an employer, your cover letter
  demonstrates your written communication skills
  and conveys your personality!

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COVER LETTER FIRST PARAGRAPH

• Why writing? Why would the employer be
  interested in you?
• Clear thesis statement indicating what you have
  to offer the employer
• Refer to job ad or type of work
• Ask yourself What are the three things that I
  want the reader to remember about me?
• Need to be RELEVANT to the position

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COVER LETTER 2nd 3rd PARAGRAPHS

• Give examples of the relevant strengths (skills,
  experience, academics) identified in thesis
• Focus on what you can contribute i.e. how you
  meet what employer needs (posting research)
• Make relevant reference to organization

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COVER LETTER CLOSING PARAGRAPH

• Thank you
• Propose action (request interview) provide
  contact info. (phone/email)
• Can also reiterate fit for the position

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RESEARCHING AN ORGANIZATION

• Why research?
• How to research
• Job posting
• Organizations website
• Web resources
• Networking talk to people!

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RESEARCHING AN ORGANIZATION

• What to research?
• What are the activities/services/projects of the
  organization?
• What is their philosophy/mission statement/
  values?
• Who are their clients?
• What are their accomplishments and also failures,
  challenges, future goals of the department?

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ROBERTS IMPROVED COVER LETTER

• Read through improved cover letter
• What did Robert do differently to make this cover
  letter more effective?- List at least 3 things
  that make his improved cover letter better than
  the first one
• What 2 things could you do to improve your cover
  letter?

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WRAP UP

• UTM Career Centre Resources
• Our website Resume and Cover Letter Toolkit -
  Additional RCL samples, Electronic Resumes, Top
  10 Resume and Cover Letter Tips and more
• Online sign-up for individual critiques starts
  at 9am. Spaces fille very quickly.

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• Evaluations Please ?
• We appreciate your feedback.
• Thank you!