Transcript Voice and Vision for Career Education Center at Simmons

Developing an Effective Resume and
Cover Letter
Andrea Wolf, M.Ed., CMF
Director, Career Education Center
Agenda
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Writing an effective resume today
 Resume
musts and resume myths
 Resume sections/format
 What’s new and what’s next?
 Best practices
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Creating a cover letter
What is the purpose of a resume?
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Used to spark curiosity and
interest in you
A marketing tool
Know your product (YOU)
Know your customer (Employer)
 Land an interview
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Resume MUSTS
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Identify your value to the employer
Highlight accomplishments vs. tasks
Use terminology pertinent to social work
Be easy to skim and error-free read
Be the foundation of online profile in LinkedIn
Resume MYTHS
There are no rules such as:
 Must be 1 page
 Must be 2 pages
 Must have an objective or summary
 Must be chronological
 Should always be “functional for new grads or
career changers
The answer is, “It depends”
Resume sections and format
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Contact Information
Education
Licensure
Experience
Additional Experience
Skills—computer/language
Professional Development
Professional Affiliations
Community Service
Reality today: Applicant Tracking Systems
Resumes must:
 Include the right keywords
 Use standard headings for each section
 Use a simple format
Advice:
 Write a MS word file to be emailed and printed
 Convert to plain text for clients to upload in
automated systems
Contact information
Compare:
Reza May
118 Satterlee, #23, Boston, MA 02115
Home: 617-930-2492, Cell: 617-547-6312, Fax: 781-242-6547
Email: Reza.May@ hotmail.com
To:
Reza May
[email protected]
http:/www.linkedin.com/in/rezamay
Greater Boston, 617-547-6312
Writing A Summary Profile
It is an optional section after your contact information.
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It is your branding statement as it highlights your
professional identity, qualifications and summarizes
key strengths.
It helps the reader quickly grasp who
you are and find the most relevant information to
determine if you are a good fit.
Summary Profile
MSW candidate with strong background in counseling at-risk
juveniles and families, as well as direct practice experience with
children and families in an intensive pediatric hospital. Excellent
client evaluation skills and the ability to locate and promote
appropriate community services for clients. Proven ability to
quickly establish excellent working relationships with clients.
Recognized by colleagues for creative problem-solving and
making astute contributions in treatment team meetings.
Writing Accomplishment Statements
C = Challenge you faced
(problem or opportunity)
A = Actions you took
(intervention)
R = Results you achieved
(outcomes or actions attained)
Tell your accomplishment story
C = Need to develop treatment plans for adolescents in a
hospital outpatient psychiatry department
A= Worked on team to develop
R=
Completed 10
Accomplishment/bullet:
 Collaborated with a treatment team of clinical social workers,
psychiatrists, psychologists and rehabilitation counselors to
develop and write 10 thorough treatment plans.
Accomplishment statements
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Led daily psychotherapy groups using multi-modal
approaches including cognitive therapy, dialectical
behavioral therapy, psycho-educational, and expressive
arts.
Provided individual and group psychotherapy services
in Spanish to culturally diverse adolescents diagnosed
with anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
Recognition Accomplishments
Written to recognize how you stood out.
Recognized by supervisor for excellent client evaluation skills
and ability to locate and promote appropriate community
services.
 Recognized by director for astute evaluation skills and ability to
quickly engage clients in the therapeutic process.
 Demonstrated ability to manage and defuse crises situations.
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Write one accomplishment statement
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Start with an action verb
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Attempt to quantify
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Show the benefit of what you did
Bonus: CAR’s work at Interviews, too!
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Interviewers remember stories.
It helps you be prepared and confident if you
have your stories already practiced ahead of
time.
What’s new and what’s next?
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Contact information is decreasing
Home address is optional
One phone number, one email address
Links to additional information is increasing:
LinkedIn, web portfolio, QR codes to mobile business
cards: http://visibility.com
Tighter, leaner writing
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Pare down content and emphasize key words
Eliminate unnecessary detail
Say more with less
Lessons from:
Twain: Sorry I wrote you such a long letter as I did not have time
to write a shorter one
Hemingway: Trim it down to the essence
Springsteen: Find the right words
What will differentiate you?
Cover Letters
What is the purpose of a cover letter?
When do you send them?
Key Points: Tailor not boilerplate
Take time to write well
Be concise
Before Writing the Cover Letter –
Analyze the Job Description
“T Bar”
Employer’s Needs
Bullets from job
description.
Your Qualifications
Your knowledge, skills,
experience and
accomplishments
(CAR).
Match then write!!
Cover Letters: The Body of the Letter
3- 4 Paragraphs:
1.
Introduction: Explain what you are applying for,
how you found the opening, and why you are
interested in specific job and organization.
2.
Interest Builder: Answer to how your work
experience and training qualifies you for this job
and provide examples of skills that match their
requirements.
3.
Conclusion: Indicate that your resume is enclosed
and reiterate your interest in the position. Thank
them for their time and consideration.
NETWORK!
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70 to 80 % of jobseekers get jobs through contacts!
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Connect with
everyone you know
and meet!
Powerful Networking Tools
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Online Social Networking
Over 120 million members
LinkedIn
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Informational Interviewing
Resources
Networking
Career Education Center: SSW Career
Coaching and Resources
Resume/Cover Letter Reviews
 Job Search Strategy
 Mock Interviews
 Informational Interviewing
 Career Transitions
 CEC website:www.simmons.edu/cec
 Beatley Library SSW Career Guides
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4 appointments per year as alumni
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CEC Website Resources
www.simmons.edu/cec/
QUESTIONS
?