Resume and Cover Letter

Workshop

Resume Facts and Purpose

• A resume has only 15 to 30 seconds to get a hiring manager’s attention

• The resume is your sales pitch• To generate employer interest and secure an interview

• To list your qualifications for future positions, not simply a work history

• Have reasonable expectations for what a resume can do

• Put as much effort into creating and updating a resume as doing a job

Work History

• Assemble a Work History Document• Name of company• Dates worked

– Include information that you will put on an application

• Company address• Company telephone number• Supervisor name• Hourly pay rate (starting and ending)• Reason for leaving

Skills Worksheet

• Name of the skill• Importance to your career

– 1-5• 1 being not important• 5 being very important to your career

• Personal rating– 1-5

• 1 –concerned about your strength in the skill• 5 – confident in your strength in the skill

Informative Tools

• Directory of Occupational Titles www.onetonline.org – Accountant– Administrative Assistant– Medical Assistant

• Google– Job descriptions or job duties– Example resumes

Resume Types• Chronological

– Applying to highly traditional fields– Staying in the same field– Past job/leadership titles are noteworthy– There is a consistent work history

• Skills (or Functional)– Skills you have developed are your greatest strengths– Lack formal work experience– Gaps in work history

RESUME TIPS AND HINTS

Your Resume What To Do and What Not To Do

• DO NOT LIE!

• Proofread, proofread, proofread!!!!

– Use proper grammar, correct spelling and proper tenses

• Have a clean and concise resume

• Keep at least 1” margins unless absolutely necessary

• Use clean font: Arial or Times New Roman for example

• Make sure section heads and job titles stand out

• Use regular bullet points (keep bullet points brief)

• List everything in reverse chronological order

• Assemble a “Master Resume”

Words Overused Phrases Action Verbs

•Highly qualified •Created

•Hard worker •Increased

•Team player •Reduced

•Problem solver •Improved

•Flexible •Developed

•People person •Researched

•Self-starter •Accomplished

•Dynamic •Increased

•Duties included •Generated

•Knowledgeable in •Prepared

Your Resume What To Do and What Not To Do

• List current contact information

• Keep resume relevant/current

• List certifications, awards and training (only list hobbies if applicable)

• Do not list:

– Personal information

– Salary information

– “References available upon request”

RESUME: STEP BY STEP

LETTERHEAD

Relevant Coursework

EDUCATION

WORK EXPERIENCE

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

FINAL RESUME

MARY SUE SMITH Warren, OH 44484 ● 330-555-0100

MSSmith@fakeemail.com

RELEVANT COURSEWORK

Microsoft Office 2007 o Word o Excel o Access o PowerPoint

65 wpm QuickBooks Professional 2010 Payroll Records and Accounting Intermediate Accounting

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Business in Accounting June 2011 Trumbull Business College, Warren, OH

G.P.A. 3.94 RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Sears Department Store, Niles, OH March 2008 – Present Sales Supervisor Direct and supervise 25+ employees Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing positions Tracked sales receipts and cash expenditures Achieved 20% increase in sales for 3rd Quarter, 2012

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE Office Max, Niles, OH December 2003 – February 2008 Customer Support Specialist Performed register sales transactions Assisted data integrity process by identifying low stock levels and inventory discrepancies

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

American Cancer Society May 2005 - Present Relay For Life Team Captain Recruit team members for annual Relay For Life event Coordinate creative fundraisers to help team raise money Set team fund-raising goal for each year Achieved a 30% increase in funds raised from 2005 to 2013

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dean’s List Member of honorary fraternity Tau Beta Chi CPR Certified

Cover Letters

The Purpose of Cover Letters

• Your introduction to an employer

• Demonstrate your unique ability to add value to the organization

• Focus on qualifications for the position

• Provide an example of your writing abilities

• Convey interest in the position

Cover Letter

• A good cover letter should compliment a resume• Never use a form cover letter• Cover letters have a more flexible format than resumes• Use block or modified-block business letter format• Two ways to send a cover letter and resume

– Snail mail (United States Postal Service)– Email

Cover Letter• Generally three paragraphs is standard for a cover letter

– Paragraph 1:• Purpose of the letter• Anticipated position• Where you heard about the position

– Paragraph 2:• Describe qualifications relevant to the employer• Specify how your qualifications match the job description• Discuss skills and qualities not readily apparent on resume

– Paragraph 3:• Mention the position again• Thank the employer for their time• State time and method of follow up

REFERENCES

MARY SUE SMITH 123 Hawthorne Ave. Warren, OH 44484

330-330-3300 MSSmith@gmail.com

REFERENCES

Karen Dolan Human Resources Manager

XYZ Company 144 North Avenue Warren, OH 44484

(330) 555-1234 kdolan@xyzcompany.com

Georgette Browning

Administrative Manager BDL Company

166 South Avenue Youngstown, OH 44512

(330) 555-6789 gbrowning@bdlcompany.com

John Dunning

Personnel Adminstrator 123 Company

987 West Avenue Howland, OH 44101

(216) 555-0001 jdunning@123company.com

Example of Tracking Spreadsheet