Creating Resumes and Cover Letters

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Creating Resumes and Cover Letters
Written by John Wilkinson To accompany Georgia
Lesson 01012-13.1 and Georgia Lesson
00000-0.0 Georgia Agriculture Education
Curriculum Office May 2007
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What is a Cover Letter?

• A cover letter is what you mail along with your
  resume
• A letter of application should be mailed with an
  application for a job to tell more about
  yourself.
• Many people complete a combination cover letter
  and letter of application.

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Goals of a good cover letter

• Introduce yourself
• Get you noticed
• Convey special info
• Highlight accomplishments
• GET EMPLOYERS, AWARD JUDGES AND SCHOLARSHIP
  COMMITTEES TO READ YOUR RESUME

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Helpful Hints in Cover Letter Writing

• Be assertive the first 20 words ar the most
  important
• Value to employer tell your story in relation
  to how you can be of value to the employer
• Use simple and direct language and grammar
• Let your letter reflect your individuality
• Send it to someone by name
• Get it right spell recipients name right
• Be friendly, not pushy
• Target your letter tell your reasons for
  sending the letter (that you want an interview).

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Goals of a good resume

• Convey information
• Show who you are
• Distinguish yourself
• Look good!

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Writing a Combination Cover Letter and Letter of
Application

• First paragraph reason for writing
• Second paragraph point out qualifications
• Third paragraph call attention to resume
• Fourth paragraph ask for appointment

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Cover Letter and Resume-your ticket to riches and
fame

• Who are you?
• What are you looking for?
• What kind of job/college do you want?
• Where are you going?
• Be yourself!

• What is your message?
• What have you done?
• Where did you do it?
• What can you do?
• Whats the product?
• How to sell it?

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BASIC PARTS OF A BUSINESS LETTER

• THE WRITERS ADDRESS AND DATE LETTER WAS WRITTEN
• THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PERSON WHOM THE
  LETTER IS BEING SENT
• THE SALUTATION (DEAR ____)
• THE BODY OF THE LETTER
• COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE AND SIGNATURE OF THE SENDER
• OTHER ADDITIONS - REFERENCE INITIALS, ENCLOSURE
  NOTATIONS, COPY, AND POSTSCRIPT

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Your street address Your town, state,
zip code Telephone number Date Manager
/Personnel Director (including Mr./Mrs./Ms.) Name
of company Company address Town, State, Zip
code Greeting Paragraph 1 - state the purpose
of the letter and request the employers
consideration. Paragraph 2 - contain a brief
summary of your personal data and work
experience. Paragraph 3 call attention to
resume Paragraph 3 - explain your interest in
the company and in arranging an interview. Ask
for an appointment Sincerely, Your
signature Your name
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EFFECTIVE LETTERS SHOULD PERFORM TWO BASIC
FUNCTIONS

• CARRY A MESSAGE
• PROJECT THE DESIRED IMAGE OF THE WRITER OR
  BUSINESS
• TWO TYPES OF BUSINESS LETTERS INCLUDE
• BLOCK STYLE - ALL LINES STARTS ON LEFT SIDE OF
  MARGIN, NO INDENTATIONS
• MODIFIED BLOCK STYLE - USES INDENTATIONS, EACH
  PARAGRAPH IS INDENTED AS WELL AS BEGINNING
  INFORMATION AND CLOSE

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TIPS ON LETTER WRITING

• USE GOOD GRAMMAR
• USE CORRECT SPELLING
• DO NOT USE SLANG
• BE BRIEF, BUT COVER THE SUBJECT
• STICK TO THE POINT OF THE LETTER
• MAKE SURE LETTER IS LEGIBLE
• PROOFREAD BEFORE SENDING LETTER
• ASK FOR HELP, IF NEEDED
• KEEP THE LETTER BRIEF, DISCUSSING THE PURPOSE
• STRIVE FOR NEATNESS (PERSONALITY)
• ALWAYS INCLUDE A TITLE OF RESPECT (DR., MR.,
  MRS., ETC.)
• BE SURE TO INCLUDE A RETURN ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE

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Writing a Resume

• Step one Brainstorm
• Write a list of all of your achievements,
  activities, etc.
• Step two Organize
• Categorize your achievements
• Place in Experience, Education and Others
• Include School related honors and activities
  under education Publications, scholarships,
  offices and organizations

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Writing a Resume (cont.)

• Step Three Produce
• Format your resume to highlight the big stuff
• Use bold or underlines to offset your name,
  schools and places of employment
• Use bulleted points over narrative
• Use Italics to make something special stand out
• Make the resume appealing
• Clutter makes it hard to read and hard to pick
  out the good stuff

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Resume Personal Information Age 18 years Pete
Farmer Height 5 feet 11 inches Route 2, Box
4680 Weight 190 pounds Farmtown, GA
39876 Health Excellent Phone (404)
555-6530 Job Objectives I wish to secure a
position as mechanic of farm equipment, which,
through experience and training, will lead me to
a position in management of a farm equipment
service shop. Education High School Farmtown
Valley High School will graduate in ____
(year) Major Vocational Agriculture and Farm
Mechanics Technical Skills Repair and service of
farm equipment Leadership Activities FFA
President, Football Team Captain Work
Experience Big Truck Repair Shop, Farmtown, GA
Student Worker January 2005 December 2007
John Farmers farm (father) since childhood,
farmhand References
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General Advice for Cover Letters and Resumes

• Cover Letters
• Try not to begin paragraphs with I
• Use the standard business letter format
• Be brief
• Make sure it conveys the connection

• Resumes
• Show off
• Reflect useful information
• Be succinct
• Make it personal
• Dont ever, ever lie