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
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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