Focus on the Future. Effective Resumes and Cover Letters for Academic Libraries

Transcription

1 Focus on the Future Effective Resumes and Cover Letters for Academic Libraries By Giao Luong Baker April 2018

2 Before you begin. Read the job description VERY carefully Be cognizant of the due date for applications and know exactly what is expected in the application process Do research on the position and organization, this will help you tailor your CV and cover letter to the position

3 Resume v. Curriculum Vitae Resume Emphasizes skills Used when applying for a position in industry, non-profit, and public sector Is no longer than 2 pages, with an additional page for publications and/or poster presentations if highly relevant to the job After 1 year of industry experience, lead with work experience and place education section at or near the end, depending upon qualifications Curriculum Vitae Emphasizes academic accomplishments Used when applying for positions in academia, fellowships, and grants Length depends upon experience and includes a complete list of publications, posters, and presentations Always begins with education and can include name of advisor and dissertation title or summary. Also used for merit/tenure review and sabbatical leave Source: UC Davis Internship and Career Center

4 The Basics Content Essentials Notes Contact Information Full name, address, current phone number and , web address Make sure this section is free of errors. Do not include your address or phone number if you are posting the document online. Education Relevant Experience Name of school, degree earned, major & minor, graduation dates. GPA is not included on CVs. Job title, company name, dates of experience, describe job responsibilities, accomplishments, and contributions. Possible to include volunteer, leadership, research experience related to the position. Experiences should be listed in reverse chronological order. List your highest degree first, followed by the others. Can include paid and non-paid positions, internships, and military duty. Source: UC Davis Internship and Career Center

5 Sample CV Education Work Experience

6 Sample CV Education Work Experience

7 Sample CV Education Work Experience Publications Presentations

8 Sample CV Education Work Experience Publications Presentations Programs Grants

9 Sample CV Education Work Experience Publications Presentations Programs Grants Library Service Workshops, Lectures, & Presentations Community Service Consulting Professional Development

10 Sample CV Education Work Experience Publications Presentations Programs Grants Library Service Workshops, Lectures, & Presentations Community Service Consulting Professional Development Foreign Language Technical Skills Professional Affiliations Honors & Achievements

11 Sample CV Education Work Experience Publications Presentations Programs Grants Library Service Workshops, Lectures, & Presentations Community Service Consulting Professional Development Foreign Language Technical Skills Professional Affiliations Honors & Achievements Acknowledgements References

12 The Cover Letter An opportunity for the search committee to get a sense of who you are beyond the resume. If there are gaps in your resume, the cover letter is a chance to address those gaps in a positive manner. Speak on your accomplishments and interests (as it relates to the position). Showcase your knowledge of the position, the organization, etc. Convey your excitement for the job, organization, and institution.

13 Sample Cover Letter Format your document using 1-inch margins Use 12 point font Always spell out the month and include the entire year Type the person s name that you re submitting your application to. Include the title and address.

14 Sample Cover Letter For an entry-level position, cover letters should range in length from one to oneand-a-half pages. Don t go beyond 2 pages. Use the language of the job posting in your letter.

15 Suggestions Your first paragraph should include the title of the position. Your second paragraph should address the library that you re applying to. Do research on the organization. Incorporate their mission statement or strategic goals in this section. The next paragraphs should address different job specifications and how your experiences meet those requirements. If you lack certain qualifications, you may want to reframe those qualifications as areas you d like to develop. After this, sell your skills to the library. Apply certain soft-skills to the job as you understand it. Always thank the committee for their consideration of your application. Source: NMRT Footnotes from ala.org

16 Thoughts on CVs and Letters Don t be sloppy. Make sure to proof read your materials. Ask someone else to read your materials. Speak about each qualification listed on the job description and how your experience relates to it. Be forward thinking include some ideas about possible projects in your letter as it pertains to the organization s goals and strategic plan. Be aware of your letter s tone. Try to strike a balance between confidence and deference.

17 More thoughts on CVs and Letters Make sure to send a PDF and not a Word document. Word documents do not always look the same across different computers AND it may be possible for the viewer to see your revisions. Let your references know ahead of time that you listed them in the application and send them the job description.

18 Sources A. (2017, July 19). The Top of the Pile, or How to Avoid Having Your Application Thrown in the Trash. Retrieved from ab/topofthepilenov06 Internship and Career Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from

19 Questions?