11 Resume and Cover Letter (1)

Prepared by: NARESH VERMA

Lecturer-cum-TrainerBusiness CommunicationWebsite: www. icbm.ac.in

email: [email protected]

1. Persuasive Résumé2. Job application3. Follow-up letters4. Interviewing techniques

1. Preparing for employmentA. Identifying your interestsB. Evaluating your qualificationsC. Choosing a career path

2. The persuasive RésuméA. Résumé styles- chronological, functional,

combinationB. Parts of a Résumé

3. Writing persuasive letter of applicationA. AIM technique

4. Follow up and other employment letters

The Job Search The Job Search 1. Preparing for employment

A. Identify your interests. B. Evaluate your

qualifications. qualifications. C. Choose a career path.

Do I enjoy working with people, data, or things ?

How important is it to be my own boss ?

How important are salary, benefits, and job stability ?

How important are working environment, colleagues, and job stimulation ?stimulation ?

Would I rather work for a large or small company ?

Must I work in a specific city, geographical area, or climate ?

Am I looking for security, travel opportunities, money, power, or prestige ?

How would I describe the perfect job, boss and coworkers ?

What computer skills can I offer ?

What other skills have I acquired in school, on the job or through activities ? How can I demonstrate these skills ?

Do I work well with people ? What proof can I offer ? Consider extracurricular activities, clubs, and jobs ?extracurricular activities, clubs, and jobs ?

Am I a leader, self-starter, or manager ? What evidence can I offer ?

Do I speak, write, understand another language ?

Do I learn quickly ? Am I creative ? How can I demonstrate these characteristics ?

Do I communicate well in speech and in writing ? How can I validate these talents ?

Visit your campus career centre

Search the web

Use your library

Take a summer job, internship, or part-time positions in your fieldfield

Interview someone in your chosen field

Monitor the classified ads

Join professional organization in your field.

The Job SearchThe Job Search

2. The persuasive Résumé

A. Résumé styles:I. chronologicalII. functionalII. functionalIII. combination

B. Parts of a Résumé

A. Résumé styles:

CHRONOLOGICAL

• Lists work history job by job, starting with most

FUNCTIONAL

• Focuses on a candidate’s skills rather than past

COMBINATION

• Combines the chronological and functional styles.with most

recent position.

than past employment.

styles.

Microsoft Word Document



prefer bullets

Choose CHRONOLOGICALCHRONOLOGICAL if you have work experience and/or training that is RELEVANT to the job you are applying for.

Use FUNCTIONALFUNCTIONAL if you don’t have a lot of work experience and/or training that is consistent for the job. Summarize your skills by listing your accomplishments.

Main heading Career objective EducationWork experience or employment history Capabilities and skills Capabilities and skills Awards, honours, and activities Personal data References

Include your full name with the best contact info

DO NOT include your work phone if you have one.

Keep your OBJECTIVE short and specific to the job

you are applying for:Marketing Supervisor vs.

Marketing

The most recent firstAdd simple info about your duties but HGHLIGHT your

accomplishments.

21

The most recent firstAdd certificate, degree, or

major under the name of the institution.

Community Service or Volunteering is important.

Don’t add Hobbies

Heading and Objective

List your name, address, and phone.

B. Parts of a Résumé B. Parts of a Résumé

address, and phone. Include a career

objective customized for a targeted job.

Summary of Qualifications

Provide 3 to 8 bulleted statements.

The Customized Résumé The Customized Résumé

statements.

List your most impressive qualifications: experience, skills, education, awards.

Customize the statements to fit the requirements of the targeted job.

Education

Name your degree, date of graduation,


Name your degree, date of graduation, and institution.

List your major and overall percentage/grade.

Give information about your studies, but don’t inventory all your courses.

Work Experience

List your jobs. Start with the most recent. Include employer's name and city, dates of


Include employer's name and city, dates of employment (month, year), and most significant title.

Salesperson, Kmart, Dayton, Ohio. April 2007 to May 2008. Manager, Fleet Equipment, Kettering, Ohio. June 2008 to present.

Tax Preparer, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). March 2008 to present. Sinclair College, Dayton, Ohio.

Work Experience

Use action verbs to describe your experience.


Prepared state and federal tax returns for individuals with incomes under $25,000. Conducted interviews with over 50 individuals to elicit data regarding taxes. Determined legitimate tax deductions and recorded them accurately.

Summarize your achievements and skills relevant to the targeted job.

Capabilities and Skills

Highlight your technical skills. Mention word processing, database, spreadsheet, and Internet proficiency.


Emphasize your nontechnical skills. Give

Organized holiday awards program for 1200 attendees and 140 awardees. Praised by top management for enthusiastic teamwork and achievement.

Emphasize your nontechnical skills. Give evidence of communication, management, and interpersonal skills. Employers want more than empty assurances. Try to quantify your skills.

Awards, Honors, and Activities Show that you are well-rounded.


List awards and extracurricular activities, especially if they activities, especially if they demonstrate leadership, teamwork, reliability, loyalty, initiative, efficiency, and self-sufficiency.

Final Tips

Omit references unless specifically required.


Look for ways to condense your data. Look for ways to condense your data.

Double-check for parallel phrasing.

Project professionalism and quality.

Final Tips

Avoid personal pronouns.


Use quality paper and a quality printer. Use quality paper and a quality printer.

Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.

Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!

Use action words in your descriptions

Poor Résumé Poor Résumé RÉSUMÉ OFJENNIE JENKINS

3320 Lafayette Street, #12San Leandro, CA 94561

(415) 781-5592OBJECTIVE: An entry-level position where my proven communication,

accounting, and administrative skills could be utilized in a path leading to advancement into management eventually.

DEGREE from San Francisco State University. Broadcast Communication Arts. Bachelor of arts. 3.2 in major.

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCEApprentice KPFA - 94.1 in Berkeley, CA. Duties included scheduling studios. Also

recruited staff. Some paperwork. Often given responsibility to act as production manager. 10/06 to present.

Pacifica HousePosition for financial manager. Duties included payroll and benefits for employees of shelter. Was responsible for the books, also for cash trans-actions. Took care of some donations. Expected to help raise funds. I prepared all payroll reports. Also petty cash. Chaotic environment, underfunded.

Spring, 2006 Worked for one spring with Renaissance Rainbow, which is a performing arts troupe operating out of San Francisco. My duties included scheduling interviews with print and broadcast journalists. Was responsible for volunteers and publicity.

Other temporary positionsManpower, Inc. San Francisco. Worked at many different places as a temp. 2004-06. Dohring Company. File clerk, receptionist, general duties. Other places. Good Earth Restaurant - server 2003-2005.

PersonalSelf-starter, can finish jobs without supervision.Self-starter, can finish jobs without supervision.Marital status: single Birth: 6/15/83Health: Excellent Hobbies: Knitting, singing, like to readFirst Baptist Gospel Choir Awards: Spirit Award, Oakland High

SchoolDean's List, college, 2 semesters

Improved Résumé Improved Résumé Jennifer Marie Jenkins

3320 Lafayette Street, #12San Leandro, CA 94561

(415) 781-5592Objective: Administrative position involving

Payroll Accounting Employee Benefits Customer Service

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS• Two years' experience in responsible administrative and accounting positions• Disciplined self-starter; able to work without supervision• Proficient with PCs including Word, Excel, and Internet• Can be counted on to follow through on every detail, until a task is successfully

completed• B.A. degree, San Francisco State University

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

10/06 to Apprentice, Radio Production, KPFA - 94.1, Berkeley, CA present

• As production manager, schedule studios, recruit support staff• Process scripts, permissions, and logs involved in weekly productions

2004-07 Financial manager, The Pacifica House (shelter), San Francisco, CA• Used computer to manage payroll and employee benefits for a staff of 26• Completed all projects on time, despite chronically chaotic environment• Managed agency's cash flow, involving funder reimbursements, in-kind donations,

and fund-raising• Processed all accounts payable and receivable, monthly, and quarterly statistical reports for local, state, and federal funding agencies; oversaw petty cash

• Designed a flow chart to track success of a $25,000 fund-raising project

Improved Improved Résumé contd. Résumé contd.

• Designed a flow chart to track success of a $25,000 fund-raising project

Spring Publicity coordinator, Renaissance Rainbow2004 (performance arts troupe), San Francisco, CA

• Scheduled all media interviews and supervised volunteers• Coordinated publicity mailings for African-American Performance Arts Festival

2002-04 Temp positions, Manpower Temporary Services, San Francisco, CA• Developed customer service skills as telephone interviewer for DohringCompany

• Maintained files, routed incoming telephone calls, input employee progressjournals,

• prepared interoffice memos, recorded accounts payable checks, keyboardedaccounts payable correspondence, learned e-mail systems in variousassignments

EDUCATION

Improved Improved Résumé contd. Résumé contd.

EDUCATIONB.A. in Broadcast Communication Arts, San Francisco State University , 2005

3. Writing persuasive letter of application

A. The AIM technique

Gain ATTENTION build INTEREST MOTIVATE actionGain ATTENTION build INTEREST MOTIVATE action

Get an opening that gains attention

AttentionAttention

Write a body that builds interest

InterestInterest

Close in a way that motivates action

MotivateMotivate

The Customized Cover LetterThe Customized Cover LetterGaining attention in the Opening

Address the letter to an individual by name. For advertised jobs, name the source;

include job title, date, and publication.include job title, date, and publication. If someone referred you, name that person. Tell how your qualifications fit the job

specifications, show knowledge of the reader’s business, or describe how your special talents will be assets to the company.

Gaining attention in the OpeningRavi Singh, a member of your customer service department, told me that IntiPlex is seeking an experienced customer service representative. The attached summary of my qualifications demonstrates my preparation for this position.

Anita Sharma, placement director at Osmania University, told me that DataTech has an opening for a technical writer with knowledge of web design and graphics.

Your advertisement in section C-3 of the August 20, The Times of India for an accounting administrator greatly appeals to me. With my accounting training and computer experience, I believe I could serve Quad Graphics well.

Because of my specialized training in computerized accounting at Delhi University, I feel confident that I have the qualifications you described in your advertisement for a cost accountant trainee.

Building interest in the Body Demonstrate how your background

and training fill the job requirements.

Summarize your principal assets

The Customized Cover LetterThe Customized Cover Letter

Summarize your principal assets from education, experience, and special skills.

Avoid repeating specific data from your résumé.

Refer to your résumé.

Building interest in the Body

Courses in business communication, report writing, and technical writing have helped me develop the research and writing skills required of your technical writers.

Because you seek an architect’s apprentice with a proven ability, I submit a drawing of mine that won second place in the ability, I submit a drawing of mine that won second place in the Inter College drafting contest in Hyderabad last year.

As you will notice from my resume, I will graduate in June with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Motivating action in the Closing Ask for an interview. Consider

hooking the request to a statement reviewing your strongest points.

The Customized Cover LetterThe Customized Cover Letter

reviewing your strongest points. Make it easy to respond. Tell when

you can be reached (during office hours). Some recruiters prefer that you call them.

Motivating action in the ClosingI hope this brief description of my qualifications and the additional information on my resume indicate to you my genuine desire to put my skills in accounting to work for you. Please call me at 044-5674643 before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to arrange an interview.

Next week, after you have examined the attached resume, I will call you to discuss the possibility of arranging an interview. to discuss the possibility of arranging an interview.

With the experience and qualification I have acquired in the field of teaching, I strongly believe that I can make a positive contribution to ICBM-SBE. I am looking forward to an interview on the date and the time convenient to you. Please call me on 044-4343434 or write to me on [email protected].


A. Reference requestB. Application request letterB. Application request letterC. Application follow-up

letterD. Interview follow-up letterE. Rejection follow-up letter

Sample reference request :

Dear Professor Verma:

Recently I applied for the position of administrative assistant in the Human Resource Department of Daksh International. Because you kindly agreed to help me, I m now asking you to write a letter of recommendation to Daksh.

The position calls for good organizational, interpersonal, and writing skills, as well as computer experience. To help you review my skills and training, I enclose my résumé. As you may recall, I earned a distinction in your business communication classes; and you commended my long project report for its clarity and organization.

Please, send you letter before October 1 in the enclosed stamped, addressed envelope. I’m grateful for your support, and I promise to let you know the results of my job search.

Sample application request letter:

Dear Mr. Kumar:

Please send me an application form for work in your Human Resource Department. In October I will be completing my studies in psychology and communications at ICBM-SBE, Hyderabad. My program includes courses in public relations, psychology, and communications. I am looking forward to beginning a career in personnel management.

I would appreciate receiving this application by September 20 so that I may complete it before making a visit to your office in October.

Sample application follow-up letter:

Dear Mr. Khan:

Please know I am still interested in becoming an administrative support specialist with HSBC.

Since I submitted an application in July, I have completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management and have also worked as summer trainee for Wipro. This experience has honed my word summer trainee for Wipro. This experience has honed my word processing and communication skills. It has also introduced me to a wide range of office procedures.

Please keep my application in your active file and let me know when I may put my formal training, technical skills, and practical experience to work for you.

Sample interview follow-up letter:

Dear Mr. Yadav:

Talking with you Saturday, august 23, about the graphic designer position was both informative and interesting.

Thanks for describing the position in such detail and for introducing me to Ms. Sharma, the senior designer. Her current project designing the annual report in four colours on a Macintosh sounds fascinating as well as quite challenging.challenging.

Now that I’ve learnt in greater detail the specific tasks of your graphic designers, I’m more than ever convinced that my computer and creative skills can make a genuine contribution to your graphic productions. My training in Macintosh design and layout ensures that I could be immediately productive on your staff.

You will find me an enthusiastic and hard-working member of any team effort. I’m eager to join the graphic staff at your Rajendra Nagar Office and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sample Rejection follow-up letter:

Dear Mr. Malhotra:

Although I’m disappointed that someone else was selected for your accounting position. I appreciate your promptness and courtesy in notifying me.

Because I firmly believe that I have the technical and interpersonal skills needed to work in your fast-paced environment, I hope you will keep my résumé in your active file. My desire to become a productive member of résumé in your active file. My desire to become a productive member of your Sony staff remains strong.

I enjoyed our interview, and I especially appreciate the time you and Mr. Nayak spent describing your company’s expansion into international markets. To enhance my qualifications, I’ve enrolled in a course in International Accounting at NIIT.

Should you have an opening for which I am qualified, you may reach me at 040-3573543. In the meantime, I will call you in month to discuss employment possibilities.

www.collegerecruiter.comwww.collegerecruiter.com

www.developercareers.comwww.developercareers.com

www.writinglettersandresumes.comwww.writinglettersandresumes.com

www.professionalwww.professional--resumes.comresumes.com

www.1stresumes.comwww.1stresumes.com

FreeFree

www.a1resumes.netwww.a1resumes.net

www.10minuteresume.comwww.10minuteresume.com

www.crsresume.comwww.crsresume.com

www.resumeservice.comwww.resumeservice.com

NotNotFreeFree

1. Preparing for employmentA. Identifying your interestsB. Evaluating your qualificationsC. Choosing a career path

2. The persuasive RésuméA. Résumé styles- chronological, functional, A. Résumé styles- chronological, functional,

combinationB. Parts of a Résumé

3. Writing persuasive letter of applicationA. AIM technique


11 Resume and Cover Letter (1)

Documents

Transcript of 11 Resume and Cover Letter (1)