Resumes and Cover Letters for Graduate Students

Transcription

1 Resumes and Cover Letters for Graduate Students Dianne Hull, Associate Director Career Services 1 Agenda Resume basics Common components/sections of a resume Objective Summary Education Experience Additional Sections Formats/Layouts - dos and don ts Resources Become a resume reviewer Resume essentials summary 2 Creating a Resume Yes, we have found the one we are searching for at last! 3 1

2 Resume basics A resume: Is a summary of the aspects of your education and experience paid and unpaid -- that qualify you for future jobs or internships Is used when job searching for positions in business, non-profit, and government organizations. For someone in the early stage of a career, the resume should be 1 to 2 pages max. Is not all-encompassing; it is an ad for your qualifications, not an autobiography. For jobs in fields where aesthetics/visual skills are crucial, your resume should make a strong visual impression. 4 Resume speed Recruiters may only spend 30 seconds reviewing resumes If your qualifications aren t obvious, you may not make the cut Many resumes are now scanned electronically for keywords before being reviewed If your resume doesn t include the keywords that companies are looking for, it won t be seen by the hiring manager Creating an effective resume takes time You will have multiple resumes each one specifically tailored for each job you apply to 5 First steps to creating an effective resume Identify jobs of interest/posted job announcements Research the organization and the general requirements of that position Look on the company s website; look at their mission Read news about the company & trends in the industry Become familiar with the language they use Use your network: speak to people in the know Look at similar positions at related organizations Read, re-read, and read the job advertisment Highlight the key requirements and skills that the employer is looking for 6 2

3 Common components/sections of resumes Contact information* Objective Summary or profile Education* Relevant coursework Technical skills Specialized skills *required/expected Relevant experience* Leadership activities Service/volunteering Honors and awards Languages Other experience Order can be tailored to the job that you are applying for, and each resume may look slightly different 7 Sections of a resume contact information Contact information should include: Name (in bold or larger font) Preferred mailing address Phone Number(s) Personal Web Site: (if appropriate) JANE DOE 4645 Osage Avenue Philadelphia, PA jdoe@design.upenn.edu 8 Contact information sample 2 Name in bold and in larger font size Dianne S. Hull 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA dhull@upenn.edu; Save space by having address on one line, and phone/ on another needs to be professional generally your name or some variation 9 3

4 Sections of a resume - objective (optional) Targeted statement clearly stating type of job you want Not To get a challenging position utilizing skills and experience with the opportunity for advancement Good objectives are very specific: Seeking position in management consulting company requiring outstanding verbal, analytical & team-work skills To obtain internship in with a focus on neighborhood revitalization, downtown redevelopment and economic development. To work with design & development of new computer systems with special interest in microprocessor application Position in public opinion polling or consumer product market research using skills in survey design & statistical analysis 10 Sections of a resume summary (optional) Summary of Qualifications/Skills or Profile A summary of relevant skills, knowledge and accomplishments. Tailor this section to the job to which you re applying. List 2 or 3 core strengths or accomplishments This section can help an employer focus on the highlights of what you offer as a professional: Master s candidate with two years of experience serving as liaison between community groups and government agencies. Familiarity with budget preparation and administration. Skilled at public speaking and negotiating working relationships between public and private sector organizations. 11 Summary sample 2 Summary of Qualifications: Fluent in Spanish and Mandarin Adapt easily to new environments and culture having lived overseas more than 9 years: Shanghai, China (8 years); Madrid, Spain (1 year); Mexico City, Mexico (2 summers) Excellent interpersonal, public speaking, writing, analytical, and research skills developed through doctoral studies, research and prior work experience Strong time management and organizational skills developed from balancing demanding coursework and jobs 12 4

5 Sections of a resume - education Education Include degrees, expected date of completion if you have not finished, relevant coursework, and honors and awards (placed under the appropriate degree). Can include information about activities. For degrees, only include the date granted. For any coursework that didn t lead to a degree, include inclusive dates. 13 Sample education section, Master of Environmental Studies (Expected) May 2017 Current GPA: 3.97/4.0 (with Distinguished Class Performance) Paper on Climate Change accepted for poster presentation at the Ecological Restoration Mid- Atlantic Conference Concentration in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Temple University, Beasley School of Law, J.D. January 2015 Dickinson College, B.A., Psychology and History May 2010 Departmental Honors Awarded conference travel funding by school wide student assembly Note: you can have a separate section for awards if you want to highlight them 14 Sections of a resume - experience Experience Think in terms of experience, not limited to employment or work history. Include internships and unpaid positions if relevant. Be concise in descriptions of what you did. Do not use Responsibilities included or Duties were ; use active verbs to describe your duties and responsibilities. List experiences in reverse chronological order. You may wish to create multiple experience sections such as: Research Experience, Fundraising Experience, Additional Experience, etc. 15 5

6 Experience = skills in action Your resume will need to: Articulate the match between you and the position Sell your relevant skills, by illustrating them in action Use this formula when talking about experiences: Situation (conference) Skill (effective team management) Outcome (highest attendance) Coordinated activities of executive and program committees to attract 15 prestigious speakers, resulting in highest attendance (300 people) at conference Formula can also be: Problem, Action, Result 16 Experience = skills in action Be skill & Good teamwork and management skills outcome specific add quantifiable elements to make Worked with team on research projects your experiences believable Oversaw progress of team towards completing research Oversaw 5-person team working on research Oversaw 5-person team comprised of researchers from 3 departments by developing action plans for research project, resulting in effective completion of project ontime and under budget. 17 Try: Experience - teaching as an example Teaching Assistant, Taught botany twice a week to class of 25 students Developed and delivered presentations on a variety of complex topics for audiences ranging from people Designed website that contained links related to course material, including help on conducting literature reviews Chaired group discussions that aired ideas and reached consensus on changes to introductory botany curriculum Supervised 50 students working on lab-based research projects Counseled 20 students on their academic progress *Note the Action Verbs 18 6

7 Sections of a resume additional components Community activities/leadership Professional memberships Skills: specific or general (good for keyword searches) Technical/computer skills/languages (e.g., C, C++) Languages Academic Projects Awards/Honors Additional Information Hobbies? 19 Community Activities - sample Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity 2013, 2015 Coordinated project outreach by communicating with local residents, resulting in 12 additional volunteer sign-ups Helped to manage efforts of volunteer groups by creating & disseminating specific daily project goals to accomplish 20 Skills Section - example Skills - can be a mix of specific professional, technical and personal skills: Strong critical thinking skills and prudent judgment Ability to collaborate with and inspire colleagues Excellent leadership, communication and management skills Unusual ability to swiftly address complex and abstract problems Comfort with a diverse range of building materials and artistic mediums Proficiency with Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Flash), ArcGIS, Spanish fluency 21 7

8 Language skills Italian: Complete fluency in spoken Italian. French: Fluency in spoken and written French. Russian: 5 years of college instruction. Japanese: 2 years of college instruction OR Language skills: Fluent Italian & French; conversational Russian; basic Japanese 22 Resume formats and layout - do s and don ts Choose a format which shows your qualifications to greatest advantage, as long as your presentation looks well organized Use reverse chronology (the most recent position is your first entry) to organize each section (education, experience). Consider placing your Experience section first, particularly if you have significant work experience. Use formatting techniques judiciously and consistently. In most cases, include dates on the right-hand side. Begin each bullet point with a verb. Avoid using fonts smaller than 10 point and fonts that are hard to read be aware of problems with color fonts. Don t use complete sentences 23 Resources to help you create your resume Look at other resumes to see how they are written. A resume and cover letter guide are on the Career Services website at: Some professional associations may have sample resumes on their websites. Proofread your resume and ask others to do the same. Come to Career Services for a critique. Call to schedule an appointment or to find out about walk-in hours. 24 8

9 Do not distribute without permission - Career Services 25 Resume essentials summary Research the skills and qualifications sought by employers. REMEMBER: One size does not fit all - there is not one way or a right way to do a resume Choose headings and organize your information to present your most relevant experience first. If you cannot explain an experience in terms of the job you want, consider cutting it. Use action verbs when you describe your skills, achievements, and experiences, AND BE 100% HONEST! Make sure your formatting is clear, your usage consistent, and your content concise; convert to PDF before sending. Proofread, proofread, and PROOFREAD! Make an appointment at Career Services if you need additional help with your cover letter and resume!

10 What is a cover letter A type of personal introduction Imagine meeting employer in person and explaining why you are talking with them. First impressions count The things the You need to cover : employer will Why you are getting in contact want you to do Who you are or similar things What your qualifications are How you have been effective at doing things in the past Why you experiences are advantageous for employer Why you want to work for them all in one page 28 Their details, if available Date Your name & contact details Dear (or Hiring Manager/Search Committee/etc.), - Why you are getting in contact - Who you are - Broad summary of your qualifications - How you have been effective at using skills relevant to employer in the past use specific illustrations - Why these experiences are beneficial for the new employer why do they make you a good candidate - Explain why you want the job in the context of working with that specific employer - Ask if you can send additional information and specify any next steps Sincerely, 29 Focus on benefit your skills, experience, & knowledge bring to employer Focus on mutual benefits and shared interests Their details, if available Date - Why you are getting in contact - Who you are - Broad summary of your qualifications Your name & contact details Dear (or Hiring Manager/Search Committee/etc.), - How you have been effective at using skills relevant to employer in the past use specific illustrations - Why these experiences are benefcial for the new employer why do they make you a good candidate - Explain why you want the job in the context of working with that specific employer - Ask if you can send additional information and specify any next steps Sincerely, 30 10

11 Cover letters and resumes Anything mentioned in the cover letter should be echoed in resume Cover letters provide you with the ability to tell a story about your skills in action Use narrative approach to provide specific illustrations Illustrate those skills most relevant to employer Pick illustrations with evidence of successful outcomes Weave in other key skills into illustration and add quantifiable descriptors (e.g., amount of money, number of people in classes, surveys, conferences, etc.) Cover letters must convince the reader that they want to read more, so that they will investigate resume 31 COVER LETTER SAMPLE from Career Services Website Do not distribute without permission - Career Services 32 Do not distribute without permission - Career Services 33 11

12 Resources Make an appointment at Career Services if you need additional help with your cover letter and resume! View our guided resources for putting together an effective cover letter and resume Checklist.pdf er_checklist2010_ pdf 34 12