RESUMES & COVER LETTERS. Samples Worksheet Checklist

Transcription

1 RESUMES & COVER LETTERS Samples Worksheet Checklist

2 PURPOSE OF A RESUME SUMMARIZE skills experience training APPLY job selective programs transfer schools graduate programs PERSUADE the hiring manager to bring you in for an interview

3 SAMPLE RESUME HEADER SUMMARY* { EDUCATION { EXPERIENCE *May use alternate heading OTHER HEADINGS as needed

4 HEADER NAME Make it easy to say and remember. If your name is long or difficult, maybe best to omit your middle initial ADDRESS Unless you are applying for jobs all over the world, no need to add USA. (Only add the country for jobs outside of the U.S.) Jane Washington 123 Main Street Centerville, MD PHONE NUMBER Use ONE phone number. Do not include phrases cell, work, or home. Format the number like this , no need for parentheses. Do not use your current work phone number Use a professional address from a current internet provider (not Earthlink or AOL). Do not use a work . Only use your name and/or numbers in your address. Example: Jane.Doe3454@gmail.com

5 SUMMARY TIPS Summary/introduction statement may assume different formats and headings bosee examples In general, be concise and summarize List goals and/or skills, qualities, and accomplishments Highlight your strongest areas by listing them first Identify traits that make you unique Do not use Objective

6 EDUCATION For each school include: School name Location Degree & major (earned/pursuing) Honors, awards, dean s list, scholarships and related course work Dates of attendance (actual or anticipated graduation) Overall or major G.P.A. if it is above 3.0 Use white space to organize your resume. Information must be easy to find in a quick scan Education University of Kansas, Wichita, KS May, 2016 B.S., Computer Science Member of ABC Honor Society The Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD February, 2014 A.A., General Studies 3.97 overall G.P.A. Dean s List Spring & Fall 2013 Demonstrate that you are progressing to the work world. Once you finish college, be selective about what college activities you include. Likewise, once you start college, omit high school information (unless it is outstanding) Use consistent date format CCBC should be spelled out List each school attended in reverse chronological order. Beginning with the most recent

7 EXPERIENCE For each job include: Company name & location Job title Dates of employment Prioritize your job duties. List duties that are more relevant to the job you are applying. Place less emphasis on tasks you do not want to do again Work Experience Target Corporation, Wichita, KS Lead Sales Associate Create a Supervise a team of six sales associates bulleted list { Handle daily cash deposits of $20,000+ of job duties Monitor store surveillance system performed Respond to customer questions and complaints to for each job ensure complete customer satisfaction January, present Demonstrate what you have accomplished with facts and numbers. This demonstrates responsibility and experience Begin each job duty with an action verb, instead of I { Riverside Golf Course, Wichita, KS March, 2008 December, 2009 Groundskeeper Oversaw golf course membership database Managed inventory of golf course supplies Generated usage reports for golf course supervisor Watch your tense! Use present-tense for present jobs (that you are currently performing). Use past-tense for past jobs List each job in reverse chronological order

8 OTHER HEADINGS Expand acronyms Training and Certificates Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) June, 2010 Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD) May, 2009 Cisco Networking Associate (CNA) June, 2008 Cisco Networking Training May, 2006 May, 2007 Other headings to consider Honors and Awards Volunteer Activities Technical Skills Military Service Memberships Include a date for each item and list in reversechronological order

9 ADDITIONAL RESUME TIPS Tailor your resume to the job description. Do not use a one size fits all resume Be concise! Limit the resume length to one page or two Be consistent with typeface and size. Body type may be 9-12 point, headings may be 14 point Increase readability by limiting the use of fancy fonts, bold, underlining or capital letters Use resources such as O*Net or the Occupational Outlook Handbook for help describing tasks Emphasize either Education or Experience by re-ordering these sections depending on your strengths Do not use resume templates, tables, color, headers/footers; they cannot be read by applicant tracking software FYI! There are two other resume formats: Functional and Combination These may be used to emphasize skills

10 SAMPLE REFERENCE LIST HEADER Use the same header used on the resume REFERENCE ENTRIES Name/title Company name Address Phone TIPS Create a reference page like this and take it with you to the interview. Omit the phrase References available upon request at the end of your resume List people who can verify and elaborate on your professional experience Be sure you have obtained permission from each reference listed Include a brief statement about how you know this person and why they are relevant

11 PURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER INTRODUCE & SUPPORT YOU and your resume ESTABLISH rapport with the reader before meeting in-person INCREASE the odds of getting an Interview (if well written and researched)

12 SAMPLE COVER LETTER APPLICANT INFORMATION Your name and address DATE RECIPIENT INFORMATION Find the name of the hiring manager so that you can avoid addressing the cover letter using To Whom it May Concern, or Dear Sir/Madam Applicant Name Address Phone Date Company Name Recipient Name, Title Address Jane Washington 123 Main Street Centerville, MD BODY OF LETTER Identify the position Customize your letter for a specific position Describe what makes you a strong candidate and how you will benefit this company Connect your experience/skills to the job description Highlight relevant experience, tasks, or similar environments Demonstrate knowledge and interest in the company Close with your contact information and that you will follow-up within a week

13 ADDITIONAL COVER LETTER TIPS Use the cover letter to accompany your resume Do not repeat content detailed in the resume Limit your cover letter to one page of no more than three to five paragraphs Customize! Generic letters are less persuasive Be cognizant of the employer s needs (do not mention your needs) Research your prospective employer. Learn more about their values, mission, and strategy Glassdoor Vault Facebook LinkedIn Watch this cover letter tip video

14 PREPARE PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTS Use consistent formatting and typeface on all of your documents (RESUME, COVER LETTER, LIST OF REFERENCES) Use suggested fonts including: Arial, Verdana, Calibri, Times New Roman, Georgia, Tahoma, Baskerville Unite all of your documents by using the same Header Edit all of your documents to be sure they are error-free Carefully review: spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting. Have a trusted reader review your documents (do not depend on spellcheck) Save your documents in.doc format as this is most easily opened If ing your documents, the cover letter may be the body of the and the resume included as an attachment Get expert help if you need help writing or organizing Cover Letter Resume Reference List

15 REMEMBER, HONESTY IS Use verifiable job titles, dates, and educational information. You may be asked to sign an acknowledgment that false information may result in dismissal. Hiring managers will check! Tell the truth! You will be more relaxed during the interview. You won t have concerns about the application and resume information agreeing Even Chief Executives of companies have been forced to step down if inaccuracies are found. In May 2012, Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson had to step down when it was learned that his degree was in accounting rather than computer science (as he had claimed on his resume) Resume Fraud Statistics THE BEST POLICY More examples

16 CONTACT Career counselors are available to help you! CCBC Career Centers CCBC Catonsville SSRV Suite CCBC Dundalk SSRV Suite CCBC Essex SSRV Suite