Guidelines: Resumes and Cover Letters

Transcription

1 Guidelines: Resumes and Cover Letters Resumes and cover letters are two documents that you need for a job search. Resumes and cover letters are designed to get you an interview. They need to be short, concise, and error-free. They must look neat and professional. A Resume is a summary of your experiences and qualifications for the position you are seeking. It includes education and work experience, and may also include other types of experience. A resume lists your qualifications and a cover letter both introduces your resume and also tries to convince the reader that you are perfect for the position. A Cover letter is a business letter that explains why you are sending your resume and why you think you meet the qualifications for the job. While you can send the same resume to most employers, creating a specific cover letter for each employer is strongly recommended. What is a resume? 1. Your first impression on the hiring manager. 2. To sell yourself: your abilities, accomplishments and qualifications. 3. A brief account of your professional or work experience. 4. The tool that opens doors to an interview. Show employers what your accomplishments are and how your qualifications "match" the responsibilities of the job. The employer wants to know how you can meet their needs, and an excellent resume will accomplish this. Your resume is your first contact with the potential employer, so it has to be excellent. Other applicants have applied for the same position. They are your competition, and you have to stand out from the crowd. We will help you learn to do that. Resume Sections These resume headings will separate your resume into sections that make it easier to follow. This way, the hiring manager can quickly locate the keywords or information they are seeking. Required Sections Contact Information Personal Statement Education Professional experiences Skills Optional Sections Related experiences (can show your qualities or skills) Honors and Awards Professional Associations/affiliations Volunteer Experience

2 Resume Writing Tips: The Dos and Don'ts DO 1. DO use spell check every time you update your resume. One simple typo can ruin your chances of getting hired. DON'T 1. DON'T use personal pronouns (I, me, my) 2. DO ask someone to proofread your work. 3. DO substitute passive words with action words. 4. DO use a dictionary to look up words if you are unsure of their meaning. 5. DO spell out words instead of using abbreviations. 6. DO be consistent: If you capitalize one section heading, capitalize them all. If you use bold font for one job title, use bold for all job titles. If you double space between the first two jobs, double space between the second and third, and so forth. 7. DO tailor your resume to the specific position you are applying for. For example: If you are applying for a management position, make sure the content of your resume is related to management. 8. DO focus on accomplishments and successes, not 2. DON'T include personal information (race, age, marital status, or hobbies). 3. DON'T type the words References available upon request. If the employer wants references, they will ask you for them. 4. DON'T use words you cannot define or pronounce. 5. DON'T exaggerate or lie. Tell only truth or fact. 6. DON'T include salary information. 7. DON'T proofread your own work. Ask someone to proofread it for you. just duties and responsibilities of your current and past employment. 9. DO be 100% honest. Never lie or stretch the truth. 10. DO update your resume on a regular basis.

3 Reverse Chronological Resume: Sample Name: Eva CARNALI Permanent address: 42 Hampstead Rd London NW3 Telephone: 44 (0) Education The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London London, Great Britain BA (Honors), Major in Business Management University of London London, Great Britain Professional Experiences 2013 Project Coordinator: Sustainable Solutions (NGO), Kenya (6 months) Worked in an international team to increase awareness of sustainability in Kenya Communications Officer: University College London (1 year) Represented University College London at a series of event conferences Completed two-week management training course Related experiences/volunteer work Mountain biodiversity project in South America (12 months) Researched and planned group mountain expedition in the Andes, Argentina Achieved aims of researching in the central part of the Southern Patagonian ice cap 2013 Greenpeace Active Member (5 years) present Organized a campaign against nuclear power Skills Languages Computer Skills Italian (mother tongue), English (fluent), Japanese (upper intermediate) Full command of Microsoft Office Suite Cover Letters: Essential! Cover Letter Format Basics:

4 No more than one page long: List three to five main skills or qualities essential for the job positions. Proper grammar and punctuation are critical: This is the first impression on the employer about your qualities & skills. If you mail Do not staple cover letter to your resume. Just place it on top of the resume as you fold the documents to fit into the envelope. Use the same good quality stock paper as your resume: Acceptable colors are white, pale, or ivory. Always Sign your name above your typed name on cover letter. If you the subject line should include the title of the job you are seeking. Attach your resume in a Microsoft Word document and pdf at the same time. Place your contact information at the bottom, instead of at the very top of the letter. Cover Letter Format Your address City, State, Zip Code Phone Number Date Name of Hiring Manager/Recruiter Job Title Company Name Company Address City, Country, Zip Code Dear Mr./Mrs (or job title) Last name, Sincerely (Your full name)

5 A template for a cover letter Dear Mr./Mrs. Last name: The opening Paragraph should be 1-2 sentences in length. Identify the position you are applying for and how you discovered the opening (e.g. in the newspaper, on the company's website, etc.) You may also mention the name of the organization and express the reason for your interest in that particular organization. The middle paragraph is the body of the letter and tells the employer why you are qualified for the position. This paragraph will change each time you write a cover letter to match the job you are applying for. Choose 2-3 examples that highlight your skills and experience that relate to the target job. Refer to relevant aspects of the job description when identifying your qualifications. This is the longest paragraph and you may break it into two paragraphs if it looks too lengthy. The final paragraph is the closing paragraph. It refers to the enclosed resume, requests a meeting or interview, and tells the reader what will happen next. Thank the reader for his or her time and for considering you for the position. Include a phone number at which the employer can reach you. Sincerely, Your full name Enclosure: Resume

6 Sample Cover Letter # 1: the most common cover letter and is used to apply for a specific, advertised job W. May Lane San Diego, CA (619) October 18, 2014 Mrs. Cath Johnson Operations Manager CXC Corporation 123 S. Oki Street Taichung, Taiwan, ROC Dear Mrs. Johnson, Please accept the attached resume as evidence of my interest in applying for the benefits manager position as advertised on your website. My resume clearly shows that I have qualifying skills and abilities that perfectly match a position such as this. They are: Extensive experience in all aspects of benefits administration, 8 years of experience managing teams of up to 20 employees, An innate ability to coordinate benefits programs while ensuring 100% compliance to the standards of an organization. Thank you very much for taking the time to review my resume. I would like to meet with you to discuss my sincere desire to contribute to the continued growth and success of your company. I will call you next week to arrange a meeting. Should you have any questions, please contact me at (042) I look forward to speaking with you in the near future. Sincerely, Lisa Smith Lisa Smith Enclosure: Resume

7 Sample Cover Letter # Fountain Street Chicago, IL (847) July 18, 2014 Mrs. Bernard Robinson Customer Service Director WAX Corporation 456 S. Line Street Hualien, Taiwan, ROC Dear Mr. Robinson, Last evening, I was researching career opportunities in my area that had a customer service focus. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that such opportunities exist at WXY Corporation. I have spent the last five years in a supervisory role and have advanced customer service skills. I have a sincere desire to provide a superior customer experience in every interaction. I have led multiple projects, taught Advanced Customer Service Skills classes, and developed and implemented new policies and procedures. I am currently looking for a challenging opportunity that requires the use of customer relations skills, while allowing me to develop and advance within the organization. I have enclosed my resume for your consideration. I sincerely believe that once you have reviewed my experience and qualifications, you will agree that my skills and experience can easily benefit your organization. I would welcome the opportunity to introduce myself and discuss my credentials with you in a personal interview. Please expect my telephone call in the coming week to arrange such a meeting or you may call me anytime at (035) Sincerely, Steve Benson Steve Benson Enclosure: Resume