CV and Cover Letter writing_Across the Spectrum

Transcript CV and Cover Letter writing_Across the Spectrum

Brian Rybarczyk, Ph.D.

Director, Academic & Professional Development The Graduate School UNC Chapel Hill

• LinkedIn Lab – Oct 14, 3:30-5pm • Teaching Statement – Oct 22, noon-1:30pm • Interviewing for Academic Positions – Oct 28, 3:30-5pm • Career Symposium – Sat. November 1 • Masters/PhD Career Fair – Nov 20 • Etiquette Luncheon – January 2015

• Learn about structures and conventions of application materials • Compare resumes and CVs • Analyze job ads to help structure cover letters • Increase your confidence in applying for non academic positions - transferable skills • Tailor your own CV and cover letter

Source: Wendler, C. et al. (2012) Pathways Through Graduate School into Careers. Educational Testing Service.

Job Position

CV/resume

Other Application Materials References/letters

Cover Letter

A) 30 seconds B) 2-3 minutes C) 20 minutes D) throughout the hiring process

• • • • •

Communication Skills Experience Productivity Specific skill set based on position Other qualifications specified in job ad

Academic

• • • • • Area of research/scholarship Productivity: pubs & presentations Teaching Grant writing Fit with potential colleagues

Non-Academic

• • • • • • • • • Critical thinking Team work/collaboration Communication skills Business acumen Project management Application to new situations Experience Creativity Organization

Resources Capabilities Strategy Development Process to Achieve Competitive Advantage Distinctive Competencies – Differentiation Advantage Or Cost Advantage Strategy Value Creation What do you have to offer that they want?

Activity 1: What’s your Differentiation Advantage?

http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/competitive-advantage/

Either you have it

OR

You can translate the experience you have to the job you’re applying to

Supervision Skills:

•

Scheduling and monitoring groups

•

Managing conflict

•

Train, coach, coordinate events

•

Develop new ideas, solutions

Interpersonal and Communications: • Public speaking, professional presentations, lectures • Writing, editing • Performance feedback to students • Mediation, counseling, collaboration

• • • • • • Research and Planning skills: Creating new ideas Problem-solving Identifying resources, synthesizing information Analysis, program development, outcome evaluation Documentation Research

• • • • • Who and what you know – connect with others working outside of academia Networking is crucial, most jobs found through contacts, not blanketing job ads Reframe education (transferable skills) Convince expert (hiring manager) and nonexpert (HR person) to move your application along Keywords, targeting works

• • • I don’t have a lot of publications?

• Explain type of research/project • Describe progress of the project I don’t have the right skills to match job?

• Seek out opportunities to gain experience • Think about projects differently • May not be the right job for you I have experience in other areas… • Highlight transferable skills • Management skills, project development, teaching, organization

Action

• • Address properly Match materials to correct position • • Address all aspects of the job description Stretch your fit for the position • Missing/Generic letter • •

Message

Know your audience Detailed and organized • • Can do all that is required Non selective, may not be able to fulfill responsibilities • Not serious about THIS position

• • May require a resume instead of CV Determine the position’s priorities – reorder CV/resume • • Translate skills learned to position (in cover letter) Reframe research and teaching to match industry you’re entering…strong communication skills, complex

problem solving

• • • • • • • •

RESUME

Selective entries Related experience Work experience Skills Outcome based (results) Quantify Publications & presentations to highlight communication skills (selective) Summary – highlights of experience pertaining to job description, not necessarily goals. • • • • •

Lists everything All academic experience Research/teaching Skills Task/descriptive based • Pubs & presentations to highlight scholarly productivity (comprehensive)

Education

Ph.D. English & Comparative Literature – A.B.D., expected 2015 Large Research University, City, State Dissertation title: Advisor: B.A. English Literature, minor Art History – Cornell University 2010

Teaching Experience

Instructor, ENG250 – Spring 2014 Instructor, ENG322 – Fall 2013 TA for English 101 – Spring 2013

Teaching Experience

Large Public University, City, State, Graduate Instructor, 2013 present ENGL 102 – Grammar and Structure ENGL 101 – Essentials of Language

Teaching Experience

Instructor, Large Public University, City, State Grammar and Structure (undergraduates, Spring 2014) Essentials of Language (undergraduates, Fall 2013) Teaching Assistant, Small School, City, State Introductory Writing (undergraduates, Fall 2012)

PUBLICATIONS

Your name, author 2, author 3. Year. Title. Journal, Issue.

GRANTS

Title of grant, funding agency, duration, amount (role: PI) Exploration of North Carolina’s Water Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, 2010-2013, $10,000 (role: Director, PI: Dr. Smith)

EXPERIENCE Research Experience Pubs, grants, presentations Teaching Experience Work Experience

Experience

• • • • Research Assistant, UNC Chapel Hill, 2010-present Directed two research projects focused on the development of new technology to enhance drug delivery to cancer tissue Supervised five undergraduate students, each with unique projects, over three years Published three papers in top science journals Awarded $30,000 in research funding from American Cancer Society

What would your Experience entry look like?

• • • • • • • • • Know your audience – need to tailor documents for position and place Describe experiences to illustrate marketable skills Highlight results and accomplishments – not just tasks Quantify and qualify Break up long sentences Be consistent – dates, formatting, etc Absolutely no mistakes allowed – Proofread!

Importance is shown by order (top to bottom, left to right)

reverse chronological order

Use text formatting to make information easy to find (i.e. bold, underlines, bullets), and headings but do not overdo it

• • • • • • Forget to seek assistance Length • • CV’s 3-5 for early career, 15-20 for senior scholars Resume 1-2 pages Include unnecessary information - i.e. interests, hobbies, martial status, age, race, and religious affiliations, astrological sign, kids names, etc.

Be humorous or cute Be careful of CV advice from UK websites Pad

• • • Ensure consistency Dangers of what is public – think about transition from grad student/trainee to professional • Blogs, Facebook LinkedIn – (more resume like than CV) • Summary important – who, what, why unique http://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelesterline show that you’re connected, you know field

The Chronicle’s CV Doctor http://chronicle.com/article/The-CV-Doctor-Is-Back-/49086/

• Write down and commit to at least TWO follow-up action steps you will take in the next 2 weeks related to developing your resume, cover letter, job search, career development