Transcript Résumés and Letters of Application What is a résumé? • A personal data sheet • Short summary of important facts about you • Will determine whether.

Résumés
and Letters of Application
What is a résumé?
• A personal data sheet
• Short summary of important
facts about you
• Will determine whether or
not you get the interview
Sections of the Résumé
• The Heading
• Objective
• Education
• Work Experience
• Extra-Curricular
Activities
• Special Skills
The Heading
• Includes:
 Full Name
 Complete Address
 Telephone Number
 E-mail Address
Objective
• Express your objective in the fewest
possible words. One sentence is all that is
needed.
• Focus on what you can do for the
company.
• Don’t get specific.
• State EXACTLY the job title you seek.
Education
• Reverse order of education:
 Most recent first
• Place at beginning of résumé.
Work Experience
• If you have no experience, then
brainstorm on what experience you
have had (e.g., volunteer, no pay,
relatives).
• Readers are usually wary of résumés
without work experience.
• List in reverse chronological order:
 Most recent first
Extra-Curricular Activities
• Inform your reader of your
accomplishments.
• This is where you can shine!
 Show leadership
 Awards
 Involvement in school and
the community
Special Skills
• Other things at which you are good:
 Experienced in Publisher, Word,
PowerPoint, etc.
 Good communication skills
 CPR certified
 Anything extra that pertains to
the job for which you are
applying
Layout
• One page in length
• Bold or Underline section headings.
• Use either Times New Roman or Arial type
font.
• Traditional is usually more acceptable
and professional than fads.
Length of Résumé
• Use only one page.
• The only time you would want to add an
additional page would be if you had
extensive work experience or information
that relates to your career.
Personal Information
• Employers, by law, cannot be concerned
with personal characteristics such as
weight, sex, or age. Do not worry about
this information.
• NEVER attach a photograph to your
résumé. Employers are interested in the
skills you possess and the contributions
you can make to their organization.
Grammar and Spelling
• Typos and poor grammar
are signs of carelessness
and lack of professionalism.
• Make sure you have
someone else proofread it.
• NO cross-outs or
handwritten parts
Printing the Résumé
• Use good, quality paper.
• White, ivory, or off-white
• Each copy of your résumé
should be crisp and clean;
no bent corners, ink smudges,
blurs, marks, or ink streaks.
Leave Out
• Availability
• Reason for leaving
 This will be asked in an interview.
• References
 They will be expected later.
 Use a separate sheet of paper.
• Salary
• Weaknesses
Letter of Application
• It should:
 Answer the question
of why to hire you.
 Grab the employer’s
attention.
 Point out why you
should be contacted
for an interview.
Letter of Application
• It should:
 Look professional—no errors, block style,
appropriate format (personal business).
 Avoid sentences that begin with “I.”
 Be printed in black ink; no colored ink.
 Be free of spelling, grammar, or punctuation
mistakes—these are out of the question!
Letter of Application
• 3 paragraphs:
 1st—Tell why you are writing, how you found
out about the position, and the position for
which you are applying.
 2nd—Tell why you are qualified. Highlight
experiences and qualities. Use examples.
 3rd—Refer to enclosed résumé, tell the best
way to contact you, and request an interview!
It’s your
future, and
it is
important
to you!