Career Services University of La Verne

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1 Career Services University of La Verne Master of Business Administration (MBA)/ Master of Science, Leadership and Management (MSLM) Resume & Cover Letter Guidelines rd Street La Verne, CA Campus Center, 2 nd Floor laverne.edu/careers (909) ext FAX (909)

2 Career Services Mission Statement Our mission is to provide guidance and resources to support career decisions, develop job search strategies, and pursue experiential opportunities and employment. Career Services Vision Statement Career Services achieves excellence in service by committing to provide first-rate career services to every University of La Verne student and alumna/alumnus. We offer industry specific, individualized and supportive career counseling and resources to meet our clients diverse and changing needs. Our ability to do so depends on our view of our administrative, classified, undergraduate and graduate student staff as professionals. We hold each to a high level of professionalism and support his or her education and development. We value each staff member s unique contributions. We further strive to promote faculty involvement in the career development process through collaborative relationships, classroom presentations, and in building employer, community and campus partnerships to create career opportunities. We pride ourselves on being integral to the educational experience and promoting student retention and life-long learning at the university.

3 WHAT IS A RESUME? A resume highlights the best and most related aspects of your professional and educational qualifications. It is designed to give a potential employer a positive first impression of you. In essence, your resume is your best marketing tool. The purpose of a resume is to tell an employer the specific skills and experience you have that directly relate to each job you are applying for. BEFORE STARTING YOUR RESUME A well-constructed and effective resume requires that background work be done before you begin writing. Begin by taking a personal inventory. Examine and define your skills, interests, accomplishments and experiences. These include professional, academic, volunteer, and internship experiences. FORMAT While there is no one right way to write a resume, the most useful format for students and new professionals is CHRONOLOGICAL. This format is a listing of your relevant work experience, beginning with your most recent job first and listing your experience in reverse order. Functional/Combination- This format groups your work experience in skill-related categories, with job titles listed at the bottom of the resume. When to Use a Functional/Combination Resume: you are a seasoned professional (you have 12+ years of employment) you have worked in a variety of unrelated fields and settings you are making a career change you are returning to the workforce and/or have gaps in employment you want to draw attention to transferrable skills and not job titles Be concise and specific. Your resume should say the most about you in the fewest words. One page is best, though two or more pages are acceptable if you have enough pertinent experience. Include only pertinent information. There should be a reason for everything in your resume. Leave out personal information including age, race, and marital status. Do not feel that you need to summarize your entire job history- the purpose is to focus on the most impressive and relevant experience. Use telegraphic style. Omit personal pronouns such as I and We. Example: Designed promotional campaign to alert community of changes in regional voting guidelines. Use skill and ability verbs. Begin each statement or phrase with a descriptive verb that indicates what you accomplished in the position. Get feedback. Have a counselor in the Career Services Center help you in designing your resume and be sure that you proofread it! RESUME COMPONENTS 1. Heading: At the top of the page, include your name, address, zip code, telephone number and address. Be sure that your address is professional! If necessary, create a free account through gmail or yahoo just for job search purposes. If you live on campus, you may want to include both your campus address and a permanent address. Your phone number is very important. You must be able to be reached during the day or have a message machine to answer your calls.

4 2. Career Objective (optional): Employers often state that they skip over reading a career objective, so we normally advise clients not to include one. However, if you really believe it is crucial in applying for a specific position, be sure that it detailed and specific. It should lead the reader and direct him/her to the position you are interested in. It should include a) the action you want to do, b) the areas in which you want to do it, and c) the skills you have to contribute to that position. The rest of your resume should give concrete examples or backup your career objective. 3. Summary of Qualifications (optional)- 3-5 bullet points that summarize the relevant experience that the employer is looking for. 4. Education: Unless you have been in the field for a number of years, the education component will precede your work experience. List your current degree, major, and year of graduation, even if you have not yet graduated. On the next line, list the college's name and location. Do not include your high school experience. You may also list your GPA here if it is above a 3.5, as well as any merit-based scholarships (i.e. Dean s List, honors program, etc.) 5. Related Coursework (optional): If you are lacking in job or internship experience, a relevant coursework section can help demonstrate your skills in a specific field. List up to three classes and give a short description of the work you completed in them. Original research is especially impressive. 6. Related Experience: List the most recent information first. Indicate your job title, the name of the organization, location (city and state), and dates of employment. Next, describe the specific abilities and responsibilities you assumed and acquired in bullet format. Focus on the skills that directly relate to the new position. This is where you can include on-campus involvement, volunteer and internship experience; remember, it does not have to be paid in order to count! The below list of questions will help you in creating your bullet points. Did you do something faster, better, or cheaper? Did you increase membership, participation, or sales? Did you save your organization any money or eliminate waste? Did you identify and/or help solve any problems? Did you institute any new methods, procedures, services or products? Did you reorganize or improve an existing system? Did you coordinate any event or project? Did you train another person? What were the results? Did you tutor anyone? Did his/her grades improve? 7. Additional or Optional Headings: Your resume should be individualized to you and best highlight your specific experience. See below for other possible headings. Place here any school or community activities that don t fit in your related experience section above. Volunteer Experience Community Service Professional Affiliations/Memberships On-Campus Involvement/Activities Publications and Presentations Honors

5 8. Other Skills: List your computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office programs or any other pertinent computer programs. You can also list language abilities (i.e. working knowledge of Spanish) and certifications, including First Aid and CPR. 9. References: Do not use the phrase "Available Upon Request." It is understood that you will provide references when you interview or when requested. References must also be professional: use professors, advisors, and previous employers for references rather than friends and family. When using someone as a reference, always get their permission first and give them a copy of your resume and job description so they are aware of your objective and direction. If you are asking faculty members to be a reference for you, you should ask the faculty member in the beginning to middle of the semester. Do not wait until the end of the semester to request a written reference from a faculty member.

6 Avoid making bullet points sound like you took them directly from the job description. Instead, pack them full of accomplishments and supporting evidence. This helps employers know how you went above and beyond in your job. For example- Before: Wrote reports After: Consistently called on by department manager to organize monthly reports in easy-to-read language for general public Successfully completed projects Created proposal for new program to meet needs of underrepresented population, which was immediately implemented by director of outreach efforts High level of interest in international relations Excelled in 3 courses on the Middle-East culture and conflict with combined GPA of 3.6 Managed books Provided customer service Closed books within three days of end of month for first time in company s history Used diplomacy and programmatic knowledge to transform dissatisfied customer base, resulting in 96% referral rate Filed documents and created new forms Implemented standardized filing system with electronic forms to assist over 200 employees in timely processing of documents Managed internship program Developed internship program employing 50 high school students per year, improving company image and community relations Led trainings and presentations Delivered presentation on summer research project to key lead faculty and staff; department chair described project as innovative and enlightening

7 RESUME DO S 1. Use high quality paper. When you mail your resume or when you bring it to an interview, use resume quality paper (this is available for free in the Career Services office).you may use either off white, gray, or very light beige. Avoid pastels or bright colors. Be sure to use matching paper for your cover letters. 2. Use professional font styles. Suggested fonts include: Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica. Do not use smaller than 10/11 point font or larger than 12 point font. 3. Be consistent in your layout and composition. Do not switch from sentences to phrases. Be sure that related headings are consistent in underlining, capitalization, and spacing. 4. Verb tense. Use past tense for jobs or experiences you have completed, and present tense to describe ongoing or current employment. 5. Bullet points. Arrange information in bullet points, not in paragraph form. Large dots are effective in drawing the employer s attention to competencies, accomplishments, or achievements. 6. Limit your resume to one page, unless a second page is absolutely necessary. You should be able to get all pertinent information on one page! 7. Proof read your resume- spelling and grammatical errors are unacceptable! Even one mistake can lead an employer to discount you for a position. Ask several people to review your resume for both content and grammar/spelling. If there is something they do not understand or they think needs more explanation, then there is a good chance an employer will not understand it either. RESUME DON TS 1. Don t use italics or fancy scripts. 2. Don t include photographs. 3. Don t put in fancy binders or folders. 4. Don t include the complete address of prior employers. 5. Don t include salary information or expectations, unless specifically requested. 6. Don t include lengthy periods of unemployment. 7. Don t exaggerate or embellish your experience. 8. Don t use slang or conjunctions.

8 SKILL AND ABILITY VERBS Management Skills: Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired Contracted Consolidated Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Evaluated Executed Improved Increased Organized Oversaw Planned Prioritized Produced Recommended Reviewed Scheduled Strengthened Supervised Communication Skills: Addressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Corresponded Developed Directed Drafted Edited Enlisted Formulated Influenced Interpreted Mediated Moderated Motivated Negotiated Persuaded Promoted Publicized Reconciled Recruited Spoke Translated Wrote Research Skills: Clarified Collected Critiqued Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Extracted Identified Inspected Interpreted Interviewed Investigated Organized Reviewed Summarized Surveyed Systematized Technical Skills: Assembled Built Calculated Computed Designed Devised Engineered Fabricated Overhauled Programmed Remodeled Repaired Solved Trained Upgraded Teaching Skills: Adapted Advised Clarified Coached Communicated Coordinated Developed Enabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Guided Informed Initiated Instructed Persuaded Set goals Stimulated Financial Skills: Administered Allocated Analyzed Appraised Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Computed Developed Forecast Planned Projected Researched Creative Skills: Acted Conceptualized Created Designed Developed Directed Established Fashioned Founded Illustrated Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Originated Performed Planned Revitalized Shaped Helping Skills: Assessed Clarified Coached Counseled Demonstrated Diagnosed Educated Expedited Facilitated Familiarized Guided Referred Rehabilitated Represented Clerical or Detail Skills: Approved Arranged Catalogued Classified Collected Compiled Dispatched Executed Generated Implemented Inspected Monitored Operated Organized Prepared Processed Purchased Recorded Retrieved Screened Specified Systematized Tabulated Validated

9 Resume Template Insert contact info into a heading NAME Current Address*Permanent Address (if applicable)*phone Number* address Only bold your degree info Education (Degree) Ex. Master of Business Administration (Specialization) Ex. Supply Chain Management School, City, State GPA (only if 3.5 or higher) Related Coursework: List a few relevant courses, projects, and or original research Any additional degrees completed Awards/Honors List Award- explain award s purpose Month/Year Related Experience Title Month,Yr Month,Yr Company Name, City, State List all job accomplishments starting with powerful action verbs. Try to stay away from Responsible for Assisted with or Maintained... These are very common phrases and communicate that you did less impressive work than you probably did. Do not use more than 5 bullet points. Internship Experience Title Company Name, City, State If you have not graduated yet, put the month/year you will obtain your degree Reverse chronological, recent to oldest Month, Yr Month, Yr Other Work Experience Any other work experience that may not be relevant, but demonstrates transferable skills, i.e. communication skills, interpersonal, research & planning, organization, etc. On Campus Involvement Title Club Name Be sure to describe the club if the title is not self-explanatory Include transferrable skills you learned in this position Volunteer/Community Service Title Company Name, City, State Month,Yr Month, Yr Additional Headings Professional Affiliations Leadership Professional Licenses Certifications Training & Development Specialized Skills Certifications (only if directly related or applicable to the job you are applying to) Additional Skills Computer skills (Proficient in Microsoft Work, PowerPoint, Excel) Language skills (Fluent in Spanish

10 JANE M. SMITH (123) W. Central Road, Apt. C La Verne, CA EDUCATION Master of Business Administration May 2012 Concentration: Marketing University of La Verne, La Verne, CA Bachelor of Arts, Political Science September 2004-June 2009 Concentration: Spanish Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, GA Brand Analyst, Coca-Cola Global Strategic Marketing June 2011-June 2009 Developed Excel based reporting tool to quickly identify global brand health trends Initiated annual survey of global Christmas marketing programs. Presented results and an enhanced seasonal strategy to field based marketing managers Consulted to international markets on local creative development and incorporation of corporate strategy to encourage consistent usage of brand icons Monitored and reconciled a $2.5 million consumer communications and department overhead budget. Made quarterly overhead reductions of over 5% through continuous project review Led cross-functional team of information technology and marketing managers to overhaul the Coca-Cola Strategic Marketing intranet web site, the key vehicle for sharing brand strategy and best practices with local marketing managers Co-created database of over 400 advertising persuasion and brand equity tests with advertising research team to determine the most persuasive television executions of the Always campaign Senior Administrative Specialist, Global Advertising September 2002-August 2004 Supported Director, Advertising Management, Advertising Manager, Asia, and Interactive Communications Manager, simultaneously Conceived reporting template for advertising production status report resulting in reduced compilation time by 25% Reviewed Cherry Coke web site user feedback with agency of record and recommended site revisions and improvement Coordinated extensive international travel and meetings for Atlanta and field based managers CERTIFICATIONS Advanced Sales Manager Certification April 2003 The Certified Business Management Expert October 2002

11 Tom Brooks 1524 Flower Ave La Verne, CA Education Master of Science, Leadership and Management May 2010 University of La Verne La Verne, CA Relevant Coursework: Accounting Fundamentals, Business Management, Analysis of Business Operations Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration January 2008 University of La Verne La Verne, CA Honors/Awards Dean s list, Eastman-Rice Persuasive Speaking Competition-First place, Service Merchandise Business Scholarship Related Experience Management Assistant January 2010 Present S & L Associates Ontario, CA Implement computerized accounting and recall systems for optometric practice, increasing accounts receivable by $9,000 and appointment recall by 30% Author computer and specialty software user s manual Train and supervise staff in computer usage and troubleshooting methods, saving practice 10 staff-hours and $100 in materials monthly. Calculate prospective co-payment schedules International Market Research Assistant May 2008 January 2010 Sellers Advertising & Marketing La Verne, CA Conducted online and telephone research to identify new international business prospects Identified 15 German-based companies that could save 35% in advertising costs Created prospective client database for company to target Internship Experience Demographics Intern August 2007 January 2008 Strong Demographics Riverside, CA Designed and presented demographic software demonstrations Researched customer income and spending, indentifying high-growth markets for clients Delivered presentation on summer research project to key lead faculty and staff Other Work Experience Administrative Assistant August 2005 May 2007 DLT Finance Riverside, CA Answered calls for five staff members and routed calls using a ten line phone system Created and implemented streamlined electronic filing process, eliminating departmental use of paper files Scheduled and confirmed over 30 weekly appointments for three staff members Additional Skills Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

12 Curriculum Vitae What is a Curriculum Vitae? Also called a CV or vita, the curriculum vitae is an overview of your life's accomplishments, most specifically those that are relevant to the academic realm. In the United States, the curriculum vitae is used almost exclusively when one is pursuing an academic job. The curriculum vitae is a living document, which will reflect the developments in a scholar/teacher's career, and thus should be updated frequently. How is a CV different from a resume? The most noticeable difference between most CVs and most resumes is the length. Entry level resumes are usually limited to a page. CVs, however, often run to three or more pages. For individuals with extensive experience the vita may be longer; the content determines the length. Remember, however, that length is not the determinant of a successful CV. You should try to present all the relevant information that you possibly can, but you should also try to present it in as concise a manner as possible. A more subtle but equally important distinction is that whereas the goal of a resume is to construct a professional identity, the goal of a CV is quite specifically to construct a scholarly identity. Thus, your CV will need to reflect very specifically your abilities within your discipline or industry. What should I include? Your CV should include your name and contact information, an overview of your education, your academic and related employment, your research projects (including conference papers and publications), and your departmental and community service. You should also include a reference list, either as part of your CV, or on a separate page. Also, if you have a dossier containing confidential references available, you should mention that on your CV as well. What comes first depends both on your background and on the job for which you are applying. Typically, the first item on a CV for a job candidate directly out of grad school will start with the candidate's education listed in reverse chronological order. Frequently the title and even a brief description of the dissertation will be included in this portion. After that, you will want to determine both what the jobs that you are interested in require and where your strengths lie. When determining what comes after your educational credentials, remember that the earlier in your document a particular block of information comes, the more emphasis you will be placing on that block of information. Thus, the most important information should come first.

13 Possible Sections To Include In Your C.V. Heading Name, address(es), and phone number(s), including area code(s) Education Listing of academic degrees beginning with the degree in progress or most recently earned. Include: name of institution; city and state; degree type (B.A., B.S., M.A., etc.) and area of concentration; month and year degree was (will be) received. Note: You may wish to include the title (using the format appropriate to your particular academic field) of your thesis. If you are an undergraduate and your GPA is 3.5 or higher, it is appropriate to include it. You may also include Relevant Coursework under this heading. Certifications List all relevant certifications and the year received. Honors and Awards Relevant Experience Other Experience Grants Received Professional Associations Publications Presentations Receipt of competitive scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships; names of scholastic honors; teaching or research awards. Listing of positions (part-time, full-time, volunteer, temporary and permanent) related to the work sought. Include: department, firm, agency, or organization; complete name; city and state; job/position title; dates; also include a brief description of your activities/duties, using strong action verbs. List these in reverse chronological order. Groupings of other experiences (including volunteer work and/or internships) can enhance your C.V. Your experience can also be broken into other categories such as: Teaching, Counseling, Administration, Volunteer, Community, Internship, etc. Entries within each section should be in reverse chronological order. Include name of grant; name of granting agency; date received, title or purpose of research project, etc. Memberships in national, regional, state, and local professional organizations should be listed. Also list significant appointments to positions or committees in these associations. Student memberships in professional associations are appropriate. Give bibliographic citations (using the format appropriate to your particular academic discipline) for articles, pamphlets, chapters in books, research reports, or any other publications that you have authored or coauthored. In fine arts areas, this can include descriptions of recitals and art exhibits. Give titles of professional presentations (using the format appropriate to your particular academic discipline); name of conference or event; dates and location;

14 if appropriate in your discipline, also include a brief description. Presentations should be listed in reverse chronological order. Recent/Current Research Institutional Service Courses Taught Community Involvement Educational Travel References Qualifications or Skills Personal Information Description of research projects recently conducted or in progress. Include the type of research and a brief description of the purpose. List institutional committees you have served on, including offices held, student groups you have supervised, or special academic projects for which you have assisted. List the names of courses you have taught, institution and dates where taught, and brief course descriptions. Appropriate and relevant volunteer work, church work, community service organizations, etc. Names of countries, dates, purpose (typically, only include if relevant to the position/grant for which you are applying). Optional to end vita with statement "Available upon Request." If you are responding to an advertisement that asks for references, include those requested on a separate addendum sheet. A summary of particular or relevant strengths or skills which you want to highlight. Typically, this is not included as a separate section, but addressed in other sections. Occasionally, however, it may be appropriate to list special computing or language skills. Do not include marital status, age, ethnicity, race, religion, place of birth or citizenship Other Categories: Professional Competencies, Experience Summary, Academic Experience, Research Experience, Administrative Experience, Related/Other Experience, Consulting Experience, Faculty Leadership, Committee Leadership, Volunteer Work, Departmental Leadership, Professional Activities, Research/Scholarly Activities, Editorial Activities, Professional Development, Scholarly Presentations, Conference Leadership, Special Training, Technical/Specialized Skills, Scholarships/Fellowships, Academic Awards/Honors, Distinctions, Graduate Fieldwork, Graduate Practica, Grants, Reviews, Articles Under Submission, Foreign Study, Travel Abroad, Language Competencies, Professional Highlights

15 Rena Sanchez 1257 Wheeler Street, Pomona, Ca (714) EDUCATION Master of Business Administration May 2012 University of La Verne, La Verne, CA Master s Thesis: Factors Contributing to Work Stress Among New Financial Analysts Bachelor of Science, Business June 2008 California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, Ca TEACHING EXPERIENCE Graduate Assistant Fall Business Department, University of La Verne, La Verne, Ca Taught an introductory undergraduate business course to over 40 students per course Utilized group work as well as field experiences to promote student learning Graduate Assistant Spring Human Services Department, University of La Verne, La Verne, Ca Facilitated an introductory course to undergraduate human services students Developed new curriculum that emphasized several in-class activities RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Graduate Research Assistant May 2008-Decemeber 2009 Business Department, University of La Verne, La Verne, Ca Collaborated with faculty on an approved grant in obtaining funds to create an entrepreneurial class Conducted research on the positive factors that contributed to the success of small businesses HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE Workshop Coordinator May 2007-June 2008 Women s Center, University of La Verne, La Verne, Ca Partnered with the director of the center to organize and arrange workshops on finance Developed marketing materials to promote workshops among college campus resulting in a 15% increase in workshop attendance Created and presented various workshops on business finance Resident Advisor September 2006-June 2007 California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, Ca Served as an administrator in a residence hall for first year students Enforced college policies and developed and presented educational programs to residents Participated in leadership training and in the recruitment and selection of new Resident Assistants College Representative January 2007-May 2008 Upward Bound, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, Ca Served as a college representative to various local high schools Promoted higher education among diverse at risk high school students Developed and facilitated various informative college presentations Provided students with needed resources to attend college INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE Business Intern Human Services Department, City of Chino, Chino, Ca January 2008-May2008

16 Rena Sanchez 1257 Wheeler Street, Pomona, Ca (714) Provided financial advising and case management to diverse clients Worked collaboratively with director to promote awareness of services provided among Spanish speaking residents Created a support group for 25 Spanish speaking single mothers Managed a case load of forty to fifty cases Business Intern September 2007-Decemeber 2007 Una Nueva Vida, Orange, Ca Worked directly with Spanish speaking women and their children who were victims of domestic violence Facilitated Spanish speaking group counseling sessions Provided awareness of community resources for victims of domestic violence Created and facilitated various workshops focused on basic life skills Health Educator January 2007-May 2007 Healthy Minds, Long Beach, Ca Worked among different communities to promote awareness of health and well being among single mothers from diverse ethnicities Developed and presented various workshops on the importance of well being Provided local resources for single mothers PRESENTATIONS Sanchez, R. (2007). Factors of Stress Among New Professionals in Business. Presented at the Women s Health Regional Conference, Los Angeles, Ca. Sanchez, R. (2007). Barriers to Health and Well Being Among the Latino Community. Presented at the Latino Health Conference & Resources Fair, Los Angeles, Ca. HONORS/AWARDS Walter B. Pillsbury Award, California State University, Fullerton May 2008 Awarded to one graduate student in recognition of outstanding research performance in the field of health and well being Presidents Psychology Scholar Award, California State University, Fullerton May 2008 LANGUAGES Fluent in Spanish CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS Vice-President Fall 2007-Spring 2008 Business Association, California State University, Fullerton Peer Mentor September 2006-December 2007 Women s Center, California State University, Fullerton Peer Mentor Student Diversity Program, California State University, Fullerton Summer 2006, 2007

17 Tips for a Great Cover Letter Make sure it is well-written and meaningful: employers will use a cover letter to measure your writing ability. Include the heading from your resume and references page for a uniform look. Address the letter to a specific person. If you don t know their name, call the company and ask for it (be sure you get the correct spelling and gender). If no one can provide it for you, address your letter as Dear Title (i.e. Dear Director of Marketing or Dear Finance Manager ). Tailor each cover letter to each company: show the employer why you want to work specifically for them. Back up every statement with concrete evidence. Show that you know the skills you have to offer - and that these skills match exactly what the employer is looking for. Keep it simple and to the point-1 page only! Ask for action.

18 Company Name Address Name 475 Stanford Dr., Arcadia, CA (909) Dear (name of hiring supervisor), As a current Master of Business Administration student with experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, I demonstrate the skills needed to contribute to the success of (Company Name). I am writing to express my interest in the position of Financial Advisor because of my knowledge of your company s success in (address the company s mission or goals). Financial Background: My strong academic background in finance and management allowed me to excel during a year-long internship for one of my hometown credit unions. During the internship, I was excited to be able to apply many of the qualitative and quantitative methods acquired in school to real world financial situations. In addition, as part of my degree coursework, I also studied the interrelationships among the various functional business disciplines, including how to analyze cash flows, acquisitions and mergers and international financial systems. Communication Skills and Negotiation: As a result of two years of experience working with consumers via phones and s, and negotiating with consumers as well as supply manufacturers, my communication and negotiation skills have been strengthened and sharpened. As an intern and previous Sales Associate, I became adept in developing alternative language and resolving disagreements during negotiations with customers, partners, and vendors. Thank you for the consideration and taking your valuable time to review my resume. I ll follow up with you in a few days to answer any preliminary questions you may have. A. Why write a cover letter? A resume only explains all of your previous academic training and professional skills. A cover letter: 1. Summarizes how that academic training and professional skills will directly benefit them. 2. Explains desire- why you want the job. B. Employers often only skim the first paragraph. Be sure to include a summary of: 1. What you bring to the table (education & experience) 2. Why you want the job (desire) C. Back up your first paragraph with detailed evidence of your claims. Give 1-2 specific examples of where you earned/demonstrated these skills. D. Be sure to state skills that are especially pertinent to each employer. Use the job description to help you understand what employers are looking for in each position. It is your job to convince an employer why they need you. E. Isn t this a long letter? A cover letter can be 1-4 paragraphs. A briefer letter would only include the first and last paragraphs. F. Do employers really read cover letters? Yes! The real question isn t if but when do employers read cover letters? Think about how you sort through a stack of information. First, you d probably skim the resume and first paragraph of the cover letter to sort candidates into yes, no and maybe piles. The second time through, you d read everything closely to whittle down your yes pile to 3-5 strong candidates to invite to interview. G. Will a cover letter really make a difference? Yes, because it makes your argument about how you can contribute to their organization. Those without cover letters have to hope that the employer can figure that out. A cover letter proves that you know what you have to offer and that you can communicate it! Sincerely, Name

19 Hope Full 555 Main Street Los Angeles, CA July 8, 2012 Frank Burns, Vice President Widgets Inc. 425 Outskirts Road Home Town, IL Dear Mr. Burns: With the competition in the widget industry more intense than ever, it has become increasingly clear that the businesses which survive will be those who can maximize the effectiveness of their business processes, procedures, policies and information systems. That is what I would like to do as a business analyst for Widgets Inc. In addition to certification by the International Institute of Business Analysis, I will bring to the position stellar communication skills and a 10-year track record of successful work within the industry. As a consultant with Blidgets Inc., I helped the organization increase the efficiency of its manufacturing division, reducing down time by 5 % and increasing productivity by 8%. At Flidgets Manufacturing, I guided the company through institution of a flexible work schedule, which reduced absenteeism by 15% and improved retention by 20%. For the Spidgets Group I re-designed the company's reporting systems, eliminating costly over-runs in the Triplicate Department and saving the organization $75,000 annually. Thanks to my familiarity with the industry and my systems-wide approach to problem solving, I am well positioned to help Widgets Inc. realize significant cost savings and take advantage of new market opportunities, such as the growing interest in a solar widget. I would like to schedule an appointment with you to share my analysis of your strategic position and discuss how I might be of assistance in helping Widgets Inc. pursue its corporate vision. Please feel free to contact me by at or hopefull@laverne.edu. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Hope Full

20 Richard M. Cash, CPA 1700 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA (617) June 15, 2012 John Smith, Manager of Personnel Massachusetts Education Association Kenndy Plaza, Suite 1800 Boston, MA Dear Mr. Smith: My experience includes 22 years in financial management, with proven expertise in administering financial policies and procedures, investing and cash management, computer systems, budgeting, tax compliance and financial reporting. I am pleased to have the opportunity to apply for your position as Chief Financial Officer. Highlights of my experience include: Managed the accounting, tax, cash management, data processing, risk management, records, payroll and administrative services functions. Administered human resource needs including salary administration, selection, training and evaluation for staff of 35. Developed customized software applications for improved budgeting, investment analysis, revenue and expense accrual, and cost-accounting. Designed and implemented accounting procedures and controls for cash processing, investments and computer systems. My ability to be an effective communicator in dealing with employees, management, and outside parties is the strength of my financial leadership. My experience and skills will enable me to make a valuable contribution to the Massachusetts Education Association as Chief Financial Officer and it would also be gratifying to be able to support and be a part of the Massachusetts public school system. Having attended Massachusetts public schools through graduation from high school, and having four children enrolled in the Brighton School District ranging from kindergarten to grade twelve, I have firsthand knowledge of the importance and quality of our public school system. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss in greater detail the contribution I would make to the Massachusetts Education Association. Please contact me at (617) or cashrich@aol.com to arrange a meeting. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Richard M. Cash, CPA

21 References NAME Current Address Permanent Address (if applicable) Phone Number address REFERENCES Name Title Company City, State Phone Number Name Title Company Address City, State Name Title Company City, State Phone Number