Joanna DiStefano Career Services Counselor

Glenville State College

Résumés ◦ Description & Purpose

◦ Style

◦ Structure & Elements

Cover Letters ◦ Description & Purpose

◦ Style

◦ Structure & Elements

What to Expect After Submission

• Promotes you

• Highlights relevant qualifications and accomplishments

• Serves as a reflection of your best qualities and strengths

• Should be well-organized, factual, clear, eye-catching, easy to read, and truthful

• Used by employers as a screening tool

Gives the employer an initial idea of ◦ Who you are

◦ What you know

◦ What you have done

Helps the employer paint a picture of your

POTENTIAL as an employee.

Professionals o Honest, confident, motivated, conscientious

Clear communicators

Informed decision makers

Creative problem solvers

Effective conflict managers

Dynamic lifelong learners

Passionate & loyal supporters

Enthusiastic & empathetic co-workers

1 - 2 pages in length

Use bullet statements

Use vivid action verbs, descriptive adjectives,

and accomplishment statements

Begin with most important material first

Quantify your experience

Avoid personal pronouns

Be neat and error free

Proofread for grammar, punctuation, spelling

Be consistent in formatting: ◦ numbers and dates

◦ uniform margins

◦ tabs & headings

Use quality printer and neutral bond paper

Coordinate color paper for your resume,

cover letter, envelopes

Use a single font or 2 complimentary fonts

Be consistent

Do not use scripty or flashy fonts, wordiness, or

long, dry language

Leave out personal information

Only abbreviate states

Re-think full justification option for text

Take it easy on UPPERCASE LETTERS,

underlining, and italics

Do not over-emphasize or emphasize what

does not exist - be truthful!

Unclear objective Generic, unfocused, or complicated

language Irrelevant experience or education Job descriptions vs. accomplishments Incoherence Time gaps Dishonesty Misspellings, poor grammar Poor reproduction Busy, empty, or condensed layout

Chronological ◦ Reverse chronological order ◦ Most important information listed first

Functional ◦ Highlights skills, strengths, and abilities over

experience

Combinational ◦ Include employment history chronology &

accomplishments with a summary of marketable skills

◦ Listed in reverse order ◦ Should account for time without gaps

Personal contact information

Career Objective (optional)

Qualifications Summary (optional)

Education (degree, major, special training) ◦ Study abroad

◦ Relevant paid or unpaid work experience

Professional Experience/Employment History

Community Engagement/Service Learning

Affiliations, Interests (optional)

References/Portfolio

Concise, targeted statement; can also be addressed in your cover letter

Examples: ◦ Enthusiastic candidate for summer Marketing

internship with Cool Place Resort ◦ Seeking Network Administrator position with Tech

Cops ◦ Newly certified secondary science or math teacher

eager to be considered for full-time position and interested in coaching basketball or volleyball.

◦ Candidate for a Police Officer position at Martinsburg Police Department.

Bulleted snapshot that relates your strengths directly to the job description

Can include ◦ Accomplishments/recognitions/results

◦ Key talents/special knowledge related to target job

Technical skills

Certifications, licenses

Language skills

◦ Years of experience in the field

Showcase your best qualities! ◦ Leadership

◦ Supervisory Experience

◦ Teamwork

◦ Project/Task Management

◦ Communication & Organizational Skills

◦ Tech Savvy

◦ Approachability

◦ Networking Potential

Work directly from the job description

Ex: ◦ Proven project leader, task manager, and organizer

◦ Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills

◦ Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Certification (Certified Nonprofit Professional)

Degree Type (ok to abbreviate)

Field(s)

Concentrations, Minors

Institution(s)

Location(s)

Dates

Other certifications, endorsements, licenses

Include high school only if it is relevant

Anything else that might distinguish yourself from other grads ◦ Honors

Graduated Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude GPA above 3.0 or class rank above 3.5%

Merit scholarships or institutional/departmental awards

◦ Extra-curricular, athletic, and leadership activities ◦ Service activities ◦ Study-abroad

Example: ◦ B.A., Biology, Glenville State College, Glenville, WV, anticipated May 2013

*3.5 GPA, Beta Beta Beta

*President, Student Teachers of Glenville

Job title, employer, location (city, state), dates

Most recent first

Include relevant paid and volunteer experience (FT, PT, summer): internships, administrative, childcare, camp counselor, tutor, volunteer ◦ Significant volunteer experience may warrant a

separate heading

Relate accomplishments, not simply tasks

Describe with action verbs/industry jargon in specific achievement oriented terms (past tense)

Quantify – use numbers Evidence with concrete examples ◦ Problem-Action-Result statements

Ex: “Streamlined cumbersome mail in registration process using latest event management web-interface, generating additional $XX in revenue (or XX% increase in revenue)”

◦ Promotions ◦ Awards/Recognitions

Optional

Highlight responsibilities and memberships that relate to your strengths and objective

Show continuous learning and improvement

Ex: ◦ Taylor Elementary School Back to School Festival, volunteer, August 2008

& August 2009

◦ Boys and Girls Club, Chicago, IL, volunteer, 2004 – present

◦ Keystone Club, Boys and Girls Club, Chicago, IL, member, 2000 – 2008

◦ Arthur Hubbard Junior Choir, Chicago, IL, member, 1998 – 2003

Minimum of 3 references - people who can attest to your work habits, skills, and accomplishments ◦ Current or past employer(s)

◦ Professors

◦ Advisors

◦ Coaches

◦ Supervisors (internship, field experience, community service)

Never use a reference without asking them first!

Inform reference of your career objective and give them a copy of your resume

Proactively communicate job search developments

Name, title, company, email, phone(s)

Ex: ◦ Mr. Joseph Cool, Executive Vice President, Internship Bank

joecool@internshipbank.com (555) 555-5555

OR, indicate one of the following: ◦ References are Available on Request…

◦ References Available…

◦ References will be Furnished upon Request

Remember to say thank you!

Proofread

Get feedback ◦ Career Services

◦ Classmates/Colleagues/Advisors

◦ Acquaintance in the same position or industry

Ask yourself, ◦ Does it reflect my strengths and personality?

◦ Does it speak to the right audience?

◦ Is it honest, strong, and up-to-date?

ONETcenter.org ◦ Search by occupation or industry for knowledge,

skills, and abilities for particular jobs

◦ Input your knowledge, skills, and abilities to be matched with compatible jobs and industries

◦ Bright Outlook, Green Jobs, Transitions for Vets

BC Career Center Action Verb List ◦ http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/offices/care

ers/pdf/actionverbsforweb_03.pdf

Consider your audience and your purpose.

Outline the information, then determine the format.

Write a first draft, use samples and templates, if necessary.

Make an appointment with Career Services to review: ◦ (304) 462-6155

◦ careerservices@glenville.edu

◦ Email your résumé or bring a hard copy

Express enthusiasm and qualifications with more targeted detail and personal insight

Focus on quality, not quantity

“…the art of writing lay in thrift.”

Direct written language implies decisiveness, enthusiasm, and confidence ◦ Avoid “I think/feel that…”

◦ Don’t re-summarize tasks

Make it interesting!

GOAL - get an interview.

Personalize and market

Work directly from job description, project objectives, mission/vision statements

Match keywords, values, and ideas

Needs to bridge what they are looking for and what you bring to the table

NEVER submit a résumé for a job application without a cover letter.

Follows general business letter format ◦ Header & Salutation ◦ Introduction ◦ Body – two to three paragraphs ◦ Conclusion ◦ Closing

One page maximum Use same font, typeset, and margins as résumé. If submitting a hard copy, use the same paper as

résumé. For specifics, visit the Purdue University English

Department: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/723/03/

Left side aligned

Your address

Date

Contact information listed in job description ◦ Title, name, position (if provided)

◦ Company name

◦ Address

Salutation ◦ Dear Ms. Smith,

◦ Dear Sir or Madam:

Explain your purpose

How and where you heard about the opportunity

Relate generally why are you interested in this company and what quality you would bring to it

Strengths, qualities, and values ◦ Use examples. Be specific.

◦ Follow the STAR method:

S = Situation. Give a concise context.

T = Task(s). Describe goals and objectives.

A = Action(s). Relate how you attempted to achieve those goals.

R = Result(s): If result wasn’t entirely positive, say what you learned/would do differently next time.

Smooth transitions

Immediate and long-term career goals

Action-oriented: eye towards interview ◦ “I look forward to discussing my qualifications

further with you.” ◦ “I hope to meet with you at your earliest

convenience for an interview appointment.’

Indicate two modes of contact ◦ “You may reach me via email at … or on my cell

phone at….” ◦ “Please email me at … or phone … to arrange an

interview.”

Convey your appreciation ◦ “Thank you, Ms. Smith, for your consideration, and I

look forward to meeting you soon.”

Left Align

Valediction: ◦ Sincerely,

◦ Best Regards,

◦ Respectfully,

Your signature

Your full name

Enclosure or Enclosures: Résumé and Transcripts or Encl (2)

Proofread

Get feedback ◦ Career Services

◦ Classmates/Colleagues/Advisors

◦ Acquaintance in the same position or industry

Ask yourself, ◦ Does it sound like me?

◦ Does it reflect who I really am?

◦ Does it tie everything together logically?

New cover letter for each job you apply for

Depending on what job you are applying for, you may want to draft a new version of your résumé, as well.

Save copies of every cover letter and résumé you create. ◦ JobTitle – Date: Abstractor – June 2012.doc ◦ Company – Date: Gilmer BOE – 22 January 2013.doc

Save as word processing documents, and final versions as PDFs. Only email PDF files. ◦ Cannot be edited ◦ Can be opened without formatting changes

Relax.

Employer may contact you to arrange a phone or in-person interview. ◦ Make sure that your voicemail message is clear and

professional. ◦ Check your email spam folder.

Follow-up with an email or call if they do not contact you within one week after the submission deadline.

Whether you do or do not get the job, ask the contact for feedback on your résumé, cover letter, and interview.

Visit http://www.glenville.edu/life/career_svcs.php

Contact: Joanna DiStefano

Career Services Counselor

Academic Support Center, Louis Bennett Hall

E-mail: Career.Services@glenville.edu

Phone: (304) 462-6384