Resumes/Cover Letters

--Resumes--

A resume is a marketing tool, designed to positively present you to a potential employer. As a snapshot of your unique experience, skills and qualifications, it provides a glimpse into who you are and what you have to offer. There is no "one way" to write a resume, but there are some important parts to include, and some particular ways to present yourself will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Resume Samples--

Accounting	Computer-Tech	Internship 2	Sample 2-page
Art-Media	Curriculum Vitae	Marketing	Science
Athletic-Sports	Electronic	Music to Business	Science 2
Basic Entry-Level	ESL	Nursing	Seasoned Professional
Basic Resume Principles	Event Planning	Psychology	Social Services
Business Analyst	Finance	Recruiter	Teaching
Business Experienced	International	References Sample	TESOL
Business Experienced 2	Internship	Sales	Tesol 2

How to Focus a Resume
Focus on a specific job objective and present those aspects of yourself that are most relevant to that objective. Present yourself at your highest level of competence, emphasizing your strengths and playing down any limitations. Link your skills and objectives to the needs of a potential employer.

--Why Write a Resume?

• To advertise yourself
• To be considered for an interview
• To create a first impression when you cannot meet face-to-face
• To leave as a calling card after face-to-face contact
• To make a personal statement reflecting the uniqueness of you
• To define your experience and education in relation to a particular position

--What's in a Resume?

Heading

• Name (avoid nicknames)
• Address (street address, city, state, zip)
• Telephone (and area code)
• Email Address

Make sure employers can reach you, someone, or an answering machine at the number you have indicated. If necessary, include both present and permanent address and phone.

Objective

• What you want to do
• Where you want to do it and/or what skills you want to use

This acts as a thesis or statement for your resume. All other information will support this statement. It must be as specific as possible without pigeonholing yourself. Avoid vague or unrealistic statements which do not identify the job you want to do, and make sure it is geared toward the position you want now, not future goals.

Demonstrated Expertise

• Skills statements identifying proven aptitudes which directly support the objective
• Develop from the intersection of your skills and the job description

Education

• Institution
• City/State
• Degree, major, and date awarded or to be awarded
• G.P.A. if it is high (major G.P.A. only if substantially higher)
• Foreign study, if applicable

List course work if employer requests it or if indicating it will substitute for lack of work experience related to a specific position. You may also include course work different from that within your major if relevant to a particular positions. For example, a psychology major who took business courses and is applying for a management trainee position may want to include those courses. Do not include high school information.

Experience

• Job title
• Name of employer
• City, State of employer
• Description of skills used in position

With the exception of your current position, start each phrase with a past-tense action verb to describe experience. Include scope and numbers wherever possible. Avoid beginning descriptions with the phrases/terms, "I," "responsible for," "assisted," and "duties included." Include internships, practicums, and volunteer experiences that support your objective.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Position title or a descriptive title the interviewer will understand
• Organization name
• Dates of participation/membership
• Description of skills used in position

Highlight activities in which you have truly been active and developed your skills. Use past-tense action verbs as in EXPERIENCE section. Describe religious, and political affiliations with sensitivity to how they might impact an employer's view of your ability to do the job.

Specialized Skills

• Computer skills: hardware, software, programs, Internet
• Language Skills: specify languages and level of fluency
• Additional skills that are relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Awards/Honors

• Award title
• Purpose awarded for
• Date awarded
• Organization awarded by

(Do not include need-based scholarships)

Other

• Job titles

Use this section to list briefly the titles of all other jobs you have held that do not directly relate to your objective, but that you want to include to show you've previously held responsible positions. See attached Erica E. Example resume.

--How is a Resume Presented?

Format
Resumes can be either functional or chronological. A Functional resume is designed to outline and emphasize transferable skills relevant to the position for which you apply. Functional resumes are recommended for the graduating college student whose work experience or education is not extensive enough to demonstrate abilities and/or achievements. A traditional chronological resume emphasizes employment history rather than specific skill categories and is designed for the person with experience in the workforce. When using the chronological format list experience in order from most recent, back.

Categories
All resumes do not contain the same categories. Choose or create categories that best fit your experience. For example EXPERIENCE may also be titled EMPLOYMENT, INTERNSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, etc.

Order
Place categories in the order that best supports your objective, i.e., if your experience is better evidence of your ability to do the job in your objective, place it before education, or vice versa.

Language
Omit all personal pronouns, I, we, my, etc.

Length
Anything over one page runs the risk of not being read. New college graduates should limit their resumes to one page. Brevity is critical, use action verbs to begin short descriptive statements.

Layout
Methods of highlighting important information include use of various type fonts, underlining, bolding, and use of white space. Be careful to avoid using more than one accentuator at a time. Use white space also to separate sections and new information.

Fonts
Use clear, easy-to-read, traditional styles of type.
Always use laser printer.

Paper
Choose high quality heavy bond paper in a color appropriate to the culture of the profession you are pursuing. Conservative employers prefer white, or off- white.

Cover Letter
Unless you are personally handing a resume to an employer, you must always include a cover letter. See COVER LETTER handout.

References
Make the names, titles, addresses, and phone number of your references available on a separate sheet of paper entitled "REFERENCES", not on your resume.

Print out a copy of your references on the same type of paper used for your resume and cover letter. Do not send it with your resume in the mail, but make it available during an interview or upon request.

Be sure and ask permission to use someone as a reference before you give a potential employer their name and address.

Final Questions Before Submitting a Resume

• Did I ask my references if I could use them, and have I provided them with a copy of my resume?
• Upon first glance, do I want to read this resume?
• Is this resume relevant to my career objective?
• Does the resume answer the question, "How am I qualified for THIS position?"
• Is my resume organized to point out my strengths at first glance?
• Do I emphasize my skills through examples of my accomplishments in using them?
• Do the descriptions contain specific information with action verbs?
• Is the resume free of typographical errors?
• Does the resume include everything I have done relative to this position?
• Is this resume brief, informative, concise, clear and focused?

--How to Write an Electronic Resume

By Joyce Lain Kennedy, author of Electronic Resume Revolution)

Learn to Think Nouns, Not Verbs
Action words like accelerated, arbitrated and launched are out. In scannable resumes, nouns are dominant. Computers search for descriptive words such as Human Resource Assistant, Editorial Assistant, or Management Trainee.

Use Labels or Keywords
Keywords are an extension of the noun concept and are also called buzzwords or descriptors. Keywords are words employers search for when trying to fill a position. They are the essential characteristics required to do the job: education, experience, skills, knowledge and abilities. The more keyword marketing points you present about yourself, the more likely you are to be plucked from an electronic resume database now or in a year from now.

Less is More
Avoid decorative, uncommon or otherwise fussy typefaces. Don't underline - it may muddy up into a blob in a scanner's eye. Stick to white or beige paper. Steer away from italics.

Keep the Design Simple
Avoid graphics and shading -- the equipment is set to read "text" not "graphics." If you use complex tables with leader dots (...), computers may trip over them.

Minimize use of Abbreviations
Except the more common ones like BA (Bachelor of Arts). Do, however, maximize the use of industry jargon.

Put Name First and Contact Information on a Separate Line

Use White Space
Computers like white space. They use it to recognize that one topic has ended and another has begun.

Use Common Language
Not all systems have a full-fledged synonym table so try to maximize the "hits" between a position search and your resume by using words everyone knows.

A One Page Resume is No Longer a Hard and Fast Rule
Three pages, maybe four, are about the maximum an electronic resume should be. Here are some benchmarks: new graduates - one page; most people - one to two pages; senior executives - two to three pages.

Send Your Resume in the Body of an Email- Not as an Attachment
Attachments run the risk of virus infection. Email your resume directly! Employers prefer this to snail mail.

For more on electronic resumes

• See http://www.rileyguide.com/letters.html
• Electronic Resume Revolution by Joyce Lain Kennedy
• Career Xroads 2000 by Gerry Crispin

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--Cover Letter--

 

A cover letter is written with a specific task in mind - to introduce yourself and sell your qualifications to an employer. It lets the employer know that you are aware of their needs, interests and direction, and that you have the skills, abilities and experiences that will meet their needs. A cover letter must accompany your resume wherever it goes, except when you personally hand it to someone. In that case you yourself act as the cover letter.

Since a cover letter is written to a specific person for a specific purpose, it can be written for a variety of reasons: in response to an advertised position, as a follow-up letter after a networking meeting, as a targeted marketing tool to specific organizations, or in response to a referral from a friend. An effective cover letter will:

1.     Get Attention
Your cover letter is the key to getting someone to read your resume and allows you to demonstrate to an employer how your skills and experience relate to the specific position or organization. If the letter is effective, it will convince the employer not only to turn the page and read your resume, but to also contact you for an interview.

2.     Advertise
Your cover letter gives you opportunity to introduce yourself to the employer, and so must be carefully crafted to create a lasting impression, not only of your skills and experience, but also of your enthusiasm, personal qualities, and interest in the organization or position.

3.     Turn Interest into Opportunity
Employers are always looking for quality people, so writing an effective cover letter can open doors of opportunity by letting employers know that you are available and have the experience and skills needed.

Your cover letter and resume can be the link connecting you to a functional work area and let an employer know how they can hire someone like you.

4.     Be Professional in Appearance

• Use a professional, business-letter format.
• Each copy must be an original, not a photocopy.
• Use the same paper, and preferably the same type font as your resume.
• Carefully check spelling, grammar, and typing. One spelling or grammar error can get your letter and resume tossed out.
• Be sure your letter is signed, that your resume is included, and that the address on the envelope matches the address on the letter.
• Everything a potential employer receives from you - resume, cover letter, follow-up and thank-you letters - must project professionalism.

5.     Content
Always include:

• A description of the position or title of the position you seek.
• Name of person who referred you to the organization (if applicable).
• A specific, brief summary of your most desirable qualifications that would meet their needs.
• A request for an interview, and an established time when you will follow up with a phone call or visit. Be sure to follow through on any commitment you make.
• Always address your cover letter to the person who is responsible for initiating the hiring process or for making the hiring decision. Avoid sending letters "To Whom It May Concern," "Dear Sir or Madam," or "Personnel Director."

5.     Remember

• Pick out a few employers, research them and target them with personalized cover letters. You will be more likely to obtain a response.
• Don't think it will be effective to send the same cover letter with just the names changed to a variety of employers. Employers can spot a generic letter of this type a mile away.
• Keep a copy of your letter along with any information you may have on the job.

--COVER LETTER OUTLINE--

Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code



Date



Mr. or Ms. Employer
Title
Organization/Company Name
Street Address
City, State and Zip Code

Dear Mr. or Ms. Employer:

Opening paragraph: State why you are writing, name the position or kind of work for which you are applying, and mention how you heard of the opening (if appropriate).

Middle paragraph(s): Refer to research you have conducted on the position and employer, identifying exactly what they are looking for in the ideal candidate. Indicate the skills you have that would meet their needs. Detail specific examples from your experience and/or education that support your skills. Do not refer the reader to your resume. It is your responsibility to highlight the best evidence you have of your qualifications in this section.

Closing paragraph(s): Indicate the action or steps you will take next to initiate an interview date.

Sincerely,



(Your signature)

Your Name Typed

Enclosure (This indicates that your resume is included)

-- SAMPLE COVER LETTER--

 

345 Main Street
La Mirada, CA 90639
(562) 903-6199

October 10, 2001

Ms. Belinda Ramirez
District Manager, Western Region
Athletic Gear
6792 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90007


Dear Ms. Ramirez,

In researching companies for an Organizational Psychology project, I came across an article in the Orange County Register that sparked my interest in your company. I am writing to inquire about employment opportunities in your management-training program. I am interested pursuing a career in retail management.

My undergraduate degree in Psychology from Biola University will be completed in May 2002. In researching this position, I have discovered that you are looking for someone who has proven ability to work as a member of a team, can solve problems through creative brainstorming, and has a familiarity with the athletic wear industry in general and the needs of customers.

In assessing my own skills, I believe I bring the experience and education to meet your needs. As a member of the Biola Forensics team, I motivated its members by giving consistent feedback and encouragement which culminated in a second place award in the recent District Competition. Additionally, I worked part-time as an administrative assistant in an office setting and learned about time management, goal setting and problem solving. In my Organizational Psychology class, I was able to research and write a paper on management styles and their impact in motivating employee performance. As far as my athletic interests, I enjoy running 10 k races and hope to train for a marathon someday!

I am convinced that I can offer my consistent track record in teamwork, creativity, and my commitment to athletics. My plan is to call you the week of November 4th to discuss the possibility of learning more about your management-training program. If in the meantime you would like to contact me, please feel free to call me at (562) 903-6199.

I look forward to speaking with you!

Sincerely,



Ann Example



Enclosure

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