Your Resume, Cover Letters and LinkedIn Profile Crafting them with power & impact

Transcription

1 Your Resume, Cover Letters and LinkedIn Profile Crafting them with power & impact February 3, 2016 Christine Valenza Shin 84 Alumnae Counselor Barnard Career Development 11

2 Resume, Cover Letters, LinkedIn Profile Together, they are the tools you use to present yourself effectively throughout your job search Dos and Don ts Examples Some frequently asked questions (FAQs) 22

3 RESUME Q : What is the purpose of a resume? A : To get an interview Q : About how long does a prospective employer initially spend reading your resume? A : less than 30 seconds 33

4 Resume Dos Make it achievement rather than task focused Quantify and identify scope where possible use numbers where appropriate to clearly describe your accomplishments, as in manage a team of nine sales reps or, edited a monthly newsletter with a circulation of 5,000 Edit to include the most relevant and significant elements in a single or two page document Stick to a basic, clear format that helps the reader glean information quickly and with minimal effort Make your resume a document that focuses on your accomplishments and skills Begin each achievement statement with an active verb: Plan and execute monthly donor events or Analyzed customer interaction for monthly report Use the active voice with verbs that indicate you're in charge: Represented firm at international symposium 4 Adapted from: Basic Resume Dos and Don ts on WetFeet.com

5 Resume Don ts Use vague qualitative terms such as large or many, which leave the reader with questions about specifics. Try to differentiate yourself with an unconventional format or tactics such as graphics and colored paper, unless you are applying for jobs in arts-related fields. Include reasons for leaving your jobs, salary information, or references on your resume. Make distinctions between full or part time work, or paid or unpaid work. this can help keep current activities on resume even when not employed full time. Try to portray yourself as a jack-of-all-trades in the hope that something will fit the employer s needs. Make your resume strategically focused for the field you are applying to Use your current work or phone number as contact information. This indicates that you are job searching on your employer's time, something no prospective employer will view positively. Adapted from: Basic Resume Dos and Don ts on WetFeet.com 5

6 Master vs. Application Resumes Master resume Comprehensive version for your eyes only List any and all work and volunteer experiences 67 Application resumes Customize for each job use key words and phrases from the job description Choose and order bullets that most closely match the job description develop an effective labeling/filing system name of company rather than just date, for example

7 Some examples of: Sample Resumes Dividing experience by field Can help present most relevant experience first Listing position or company first Is title or company more impressive? But: must be consistent for every entry Condensing volunteer/leadership positions, or earlier work experiences To save space and/or de-emphasize prior field 7

8 Summary of Qualifications or Headline Optional feature at the top of a resume Effective place to customize resume to a particular job description Can use paragraph style, bullet points or both Particularly helpful if you are changing to a new field, or if you have a diverse work history Focus on the skills and experiences that are most transferable to the new job or field 813

9 How to Write a Summary of Qualifications or Headline Q: How much experience do you have in this profession, in this field, or using the required skills? A: Someone staying in the field of financial management might write, I ve worked as a financial manager for a mid-sized company for the last 14 years. Translated to resume speak : 14 years as the financial manager of a company with current sales of $75 million. Q: How is success measured in the position mentioned in your statement, and how do you measure up? A: A software developer wishing to make a move into technical writing might write, Many different users have told me that my explanations are easy to understand. Translated to resume speak : Reputation for writing clear and concise explanations for technical and nontechnical users. Q: What personal commitments or passions do you have that would be valued by the employer? A: Someone wanting to lead an environmental organization might answer, "I am committed to educating people about industrial waste hazards that are endangering the environment. Translated to resume speak : Strong commitment to preserving nature through education about environmental hazards. 913

10 One page or two? Some resume FAQs One page is ideal, especially early in your career You can go to two pages if your experience warrants it Roughly 7-10 years or of experience and beyond Should Education be listed before or after Work Experience? In most cases, after recent graduates often lead with Education employers will always look at where you went to school, no matter where it is placed Can I include just and phone number when submitting my resume online? Yes, this has become accepted practice, for privacy reasons Can also protect you from address prejudice 10 Should I submit my resume as a pdf or a word document? PDF. It preserves your formatting

11 COVER LETTERS Serve as a bridge between the job description and your resume Frame how you want your resume to be viewed Can be used to address, concisely and positively, perceived or real weaknesses in your work history 11

12 Cover Letter Dos Keep it to one page Use clear, concise, and direct language Use key words and phrases from the job description Use specific examples from your past experience of the skills and attributes you are focusing on Get it right! No errors, especially in spelling and basic facts about the company or organization. No Barnard University, for example! 12

13 Introduction First Paragraph Position applying for, and where you saw it posted Why you re applying (very briefly!) For example, mention one key attribute or mission of the company or organization, and that you ll bring needed skills and knowledge to the team making that happen 13 11

14 Second Paragraph Body paragraph Choose one or two key responsibilities listed in the job description that are a good match for your resume Give one or two specific examples of when you ve performed those responsibilities in past jobs, internships, or volunteer roles 14 11

15 Body paragraph Third Paragraph Choose one or two key qualifications listed in the job description that are a good match for your experience Give specific examples of when you ve demonstrated these qualities in past jobs, internships, or volunteer roles this is a good place to focus on transferable skills, if you re applying for a job in a field that s a shift or change for you 15 11

16 Fourth Paragraph Conclusion Refer in a fresh way to why you re a good fit for the company or organization State what s going to happen next I look forward to the opportunity to meet in person to further discuss what I can bring to your team/organization. 16

17 Sample Cover Letters Connecting to the mission of the company or organization Vague vs. specific examples Passive vs. active closing 17

18 Some cover letter FAQs Who should I address it to? Person listed in the posting Person the posted position reports to Director of Human resources, if you can find her or his name Generic: Dear Sir/Madam Should I name drop? If someone connected to the company told you about the job, yes otherwise, use your discretion Can I just make my the cover letter? No, unless specifically requested to do so. Keep your submission short and to the point, and attach the cover letter as a pdf together with your resume 18

19 Your LinkedIn Profile Combines facets of both cover letters and resumes Is routinely looked at by prospective employers Not having a LinkedIn profile can be seen as lacking web/social networking savvy Opportunity to supplement your resume and cover letter 19

20 Headline Headline and Summary Similar to headline or professional summary on your resume Can be used to indicate career shift or change EX: Experienced event planner with background in public relations Summary Similar to body paragraphs in your cover letter Use it to frame how your Experience section is viewed For example, if you are shifting careers, first paragraph can be about new field, second paragraph can be about former field 20

21 Experience Similar to Experience section of your resume LinkedIn forces you into a single, reverse chronological listing of your work experience You can use bullet or paragraph style in your descriptions 21

22 LinkedIn Profile Dos Keep your language clear, concise, and direct There is more space, but potential employers are still skimming quickly Use key words and phrases that the job descriptions you ve been viewing seem to use a lot Take advantage of the recommendations feature Use the sections for projects, causes, etc. to give a fuller picture of yourself to prospective employers 22

23 Profile Example Other elements of your LinkedIn profile Activity Skills and Expertise Recommendations (given and received) Connections Groups Following Additional Information Causes, volunteer work, interests, publications, certifications, etc

24 24 Some LinkedIn FAQs Do I have to use LinkedIn? No but it has become a widely accepted tool to find and be found, and opting out may slow your job search Think about creating a web-based presence through your own blog or website What are endorsements and how should they be managed? Allows your contacts to attest to specific skills and expertise you have Recommendations are more valuable If someone endorses you for a skill/expertise you don t want to include in your profile, you can edit it out If someone endorses you, it s good etiquette to endorse them back, if you feel you can If I m suddenly more active on LinkedIn, can that tip off my manager/colleagues that I m job hunting? Yes, this can be an issue Use your privacy settings to limit who can see your activity broadcasts Privacy settings menu appears when you hover over your thumbnail in the top right corner of your profile page

25 Final Thoughts Your Resume, Cover Letters and LinkedIn profile are an essential first step in your job search/career change The initial preparation can be time-consuming once you launch your job search the process of adapting and submitting should get faster and easier freeing you up for networking: our topic next week! 25

26 26 QUESTIONS?