Effective Resumes and Cover Letters
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Transcript Effective Resumes and Cover Letters
Presented by Renee Burrell
Career Counselor
Overview of Resumes
Resume Purpose and Function
Resume Components
Resume Content
Resume Formats
Resume Do’s and Don’ts
Resume Purpose and Function
Summary of relevant experience, education,
and skills
Utilized for a variety of reasons, but
typically to apply for a job
An opportunity to interest an employer,
introduce yourself, and get an interview
Marketing tool tailored to each position
Resume Components (required)
3 sections must be included:
Contact Information
Education
Experience
Resume Components (optional)
Several optional sections can be included
Most popular for college graduates:
Objective
Skills or Summary of Qualifications
Extracurricular Activities
Contact Information
Name, address, phone number, and email
Can use local and permanent address
Make sure voicemail and email are
professional
Can include LinkedIn profile, Twitter, Blog
if appropriate
Located at top of resume
Education
Include degree, degree awarding
institution, and expected graduation date
Include GPA if over 3.5
Can include study abroad experience,
special coursework, thesis and honors and
awards
Do not include high school, community
college is optional
Experience
Include job title, name of company,
location, dates of employment, description
of responsibilities & results produced
Doesn’t have to be paid experience
Unpaid internships, volunteer experience, class
projects, student organization work
Include information that supports job
objective – be specific
Experience cont’d
Use accomplishment statements to describe
experience: P.A.R. (Problem-Action-Result)
Did you:
Achieve same results with fewer resources?
Improve a task, function or process?
Initiate a new undertaking?
Surpass accepted standards?
Accomplishment Statements
Emphasize accomplishments related
to target job
Action verb + Object + Context+ Results Produced
Quantify whenever possible
Ex: “Improved service efficiency and customer
satisfaction by 20% by streamlining responses to
customer requests”
Ex: “Managed $3,500 budget for Associated
Students group for 2006-2007 academic year,
resulting in 20% increase in events offered to
students.”
Objective
Concise and specific
Include position and organization
Can mention a few qualifications
Not necessary if job objective is obvious
Locate under contact information above
education
Ex: To obtain a network consulting internship with
a major telecommunications company, utilizing my
programming skills, Internet experience, and
creative talent.
Skills
Most common skills listed Computer and
Languages
Languages : Specify language and degree of
fluency (Fluent, Conversational or Basic)
Computer: Name both hardware and software
and skill level (Proficient, Intermediate or Basic)
Skill section located at bottom of resumes
Summary of Qualifications Content
Typically a list of qualifications describing
training, years of relevant experience, and
projects developed related to objective
Located at top to draw immediate attention
to relevant skills
Resume Formats
3 Types of formats
Chronological
Functional
Hybrid
Chose a format that best highlights relevant
qualifications for position
Chronological
Lists experience in reverse chronological order:
most recent position to least recent
Highlights accomplishments within each
position
Works best when experience related to
objective
Not recommended for individuals with
employment gaps or lack of experience
Recruiters/employers often prefer this format
Functional
Experienced grouped under skill headings
Accomplishments are listed in order of
relevance rather than chronological
Draws attention to accomplishments rather
than job titles
Good choice for career changers or gaps in
employment history
Work history is listed at the bottom
Hybrid
Combination of Chronological and Functional
format
Experience described in reverse chronological
order under Skill Heading groups (Teaching,
Counseling)
Works well if there are themes to experience
Employers can easily identify relevant skill sets
Resume Do’s
Use active verbs to describe accomplishments
(initiated, coordinated)
Target your resume to each position
Use BOLD, underline, italics and bullet points
to highlight areas to emphasize
Limit your resume to one page if a new grad or
if limited experience
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! – check for
grammar or spelling mistakes
Resume Don’ts
Don’t include personal information (social
security number, marital status, citizenship, etc.)
Don’t include hobbies (unless relevant), political,
or religious affiliations
Don’t include references (use a separate page)
Don’t include salary history
Don’t use a difficult to read font style and size
Don’t make margins too small. Skinny jeans are
in, but skinny margins are NOT!
Cover Letter Overview
Purpose and Function
Content
Format
Purpose and Function
Supplement and clarify your resume
Demonstrate how your experience fits the
specific job description – Target! Target!
Target!
Exhibit your enthusiasm and knowledge of
the company
Content
3-4 Paragraphs with the following:
Opening Paragraph: include position, how you
heard about opening, and summary of interest
in company and how you make a good fit
Middle Paragraph(s): Describe 2-3 of most
relevant accomplishments. (use examples)
Final Paragraph: Reiterate your interest, thank
them for consideration, request an interview,
and include contact information
Middle Paragraph
To ensure you have highlighted most
relevant qualifications in the middle
paragraph(s) create a list like this first:
Company Needs
2 + years agency and/or Corporate PR
experience
B.A. in Public Relations or
Communications
Strong research and writing skills
Relevant media knowledge
My Qualifications
Over 2 years PR agency experience with
Graham and Associates and Wunderman
San Francisco
B.A., Communications May 2010
Researched and composed 25+ press
releases and 6 byline articles per year
Created and maintained highly successful
media relationships (print, web, radio,
TV): Fast Company, Red Herring, MIT,
Technology Review, NPR, KGO, KFOG,
Yahoo.com
Format
1 page in Business Correspondence format
Contact information at top
Date of letter
Employer name, title and mailing address
Salutation Line w/Dear Mr. or Mrs_________ or
Dear Hiring Manager or Members of the Selection
Committee
Your signature at the bottom or typed name if
electronic correspondence
Cover Letter Don’ts
Repeat verbatim the information in your resume.
Hint that you are interested in virtually any job with that
organization.
Give a summary of your life, values, goals, etc. longer than
50 words.
Describe, what the company can do for you
Overuse the pronoun “I”.
Explain why you left your last job or want to leave your
present one.
Use a form letter and just change the company name.
References
On a separate piece of paper type the names,
addresses, phone number, and email address of
your references.
DO NOT include this page with your resume- you
will provide this when employers request it.
It is also a good idea to give your references a
current copy of your resume.
Always obtain permission from potential
references before giving out their names