Resume & Cover Letter Success

Career Services Events • Fall 2013

[email protected]

(386) 226-6054

careers.erau.edu

Houston, we have a problem…with your Resume and Cover

LetterLauren BurmesterCareer Services

Student Center, Suite 250


The most important paper you write while in college

• First impression you make with a company – make sure it is a positive impression

• Nothing disqualifies a candidate faster than a poorly written cover letter or resume

• Your resume is a marketing tool to sell your best traits

• Employers spend less than 30 seconds scanning a resume before making a decision on whether or not to bring someone in for an interview


Common Myths and Mistakes

• Unique or unusual resumes attract more attention and are easier to read

• Resume content is more important than style or format

• It’s OK to exaggerate your accomplishments

• Cover letters are more often read than resumes

• Personal photos improve your marketability

• Salary history can enhance your image as a fast track candidate

• Indicating your age or marital status will prove that you are mature

• It is ok the round up your GPA


RESUMES

Career Services Events • Fall 2013The Basics

• Laser printed on white or ivory paper (at least 24# stock)oNever submit photocopies

• Limit to 1 page (unless you have 5+ years of industry experience, and then never go over 2 pages)o Exceptions: Federal Government resume,

academic curriculum vitae, international resume, or online resumes

• Avoid templates• Use easy to read, attention-grabbing format


The Basics cont’d• Do not include high school information

o Exception: first-year students or those applying for positions with the Federal Government; may also include HS if you attended a magnet school specifically related to the position/field you are applying to

• Do not include photos or personal information (i.e. age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, health condition/status, SSN)o Exception: those applying for positions with

Federal Government will need to include SSN with application


Format• Margins should be no smaller than ½ inch• Use plain typeface (Arial, Times New

Roman, Verdana, Franklin Gothic Book, Century Gothic, Calibri ) o No smaller than 10 point and no larger than 12

point• Name should be large and in boldface

(largest text on the page)• Use bulleted points – not everything

thougho Makes information easier to findo Do not punctuate


Content• Emphasize the most important items

and weed out irrelevant details• Include work experience, even if not

directly relevant• NEVER falsify or exaggerate your

credentials• Always remember your audience


Content cont’d• Contact

Information• Objective• Education• Relevant

Coursework• Project Experience• Internship

Experience• Work Experience

• Skills • Activities• Licenses• Honors/Awards• Flight Time• Military

Experience• Publications• Leadership• Volunteer

Service


Contact Information• Name – should be large and bold• Address (home and school unless you are

graduating) – not needed anymore• Telephone number

o May include home or cell – ONLY one recommended

o Never include your work number on a resumeo Be sure your voice mail (or roommate) is

professional• E-mail address (pick one – and check it!)

Contact info should be at the top of page and should look balanced


Objective• One to two sentences in length• Be specific, do not add “fluff”• Should be specific to the company and

position you are seeking• Example: To obtain a Staff Analyst position

with United Airlines• Extensive Experience:

o Provide 2-3 sentence or bulleted executive summary or professional profile highlighting skills and accomplishments


Education• List the educational institution along with

the city and state• Do not use abbreviations for the school or

degree (Bachelor of Science in…)• Specify any minors or areas of

concentration• Graduation date is a MUST for the recent

grad• Please list your GPA if it is a 2.5 or above;

major GPA is also a possibility but you need to include the CGPA


Sample EducationEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, FLBachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering May 2014Area of Concentration in PropulsionMinor in Astronautics3.0/4.0 GPA

• You can include relevant coursework under the Education

• Include Study Abroad here too• No need to list previous institutions, if you did

not receive a degree (i.e. transfer student)


Experience• You can have work, intern/co-op, or project

experience listed• Start with the most recent experience and work

backwards (reverse chronological order)• Include company name, location, dates worked, job

title and main accomplishments (use bullets to make the info stand out)

• Use concise language and limit points to 3 or 4 key elements or accomplishments

• Start each bullet point with a verb/action word• Use concise, descriptive and varied language

o Quantify duties and successes (#, %, $)


Sample ExperienceEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona

Beach, FLStudent Assistant, Career Services Office May

2013-Present• Provide computer software training and assistance to staff,

students and alumni• Assist Program Managers in marketing, scheduling, and

organizing on-campus information sessions, interviews, and open positions advertised through our office

• Research and record prospective employers demographic information


It’s Simple—Show, Not Just Tell

• The following is from the resume of an applicant for an operations position in a toy company:– Managed eight reindeer.– Managed eight reindeer to distribute toys

around the globe.– Increased 2009 global gift distribution 60% by

successfully hiring, training, and managing eight reindeer to distribute toys around the globe.

Adapted from 5 Resume Tips for Executives & Entrepreneurs by Blythe Grossberg, NAFE E-Newsletter (2005)


Skills• This section can include Computer,

Language, Communication, or Leadership Skills

• If you list a language as a skill, you must be fluent in that specific language

• Computer Skillso List or Categorize• Type of Skill – Software, Hardware,

Languages


Other Categories• Activities include

memberships in organizations, fraternities, sororities, and clubs

• List any offices held in the clubs or organizations

• Scholarships, Recognitions, Awards, and Commendations can be listed

• Licenses/Certificates include A&P, CPR, EMT, etc.

• Additional coursework and project experience are great areas to include

• List interests including intramurals, volunteer experience, or general likes


References• Do not refer to references on your

resume – it goes without saying• Type a separate list using same font

and paper as your resume• Include name, title, company,

contact information (address, phone #, e-mail)

• Always check first with anyone you wish to use as a reference


Curriculum Vitae (CVs)• CVs are also used to apply for jobs

overseas• Used when applying for academic,

education, research, or scientific positions, and for fellowships and grants

• Usually will specify that a CV is required, if in the U.S.


Difference Between CV and Resume

• 2-3 pages long or more• More in-depth details than resume• Includes research and teaching experience,

publications, grants and fellowships, professional associations and licenses, awards, and any other information relevant to the position

• Overseas, will also include more personal information, such as marital status, spouse’s name, children, health, travel, birth date, place of birth, citizenship, secondary school information, etc.

• May include photograph


Sending Your Resume• If more than 1 page, do not staple• Do not fold - Mail in large envelope• If faxing, mail hard copy as follow-up• If emailing, include cover letter in body of

email and attach resume as a Word or PDF document (whichever version is preferred by the employer)

• If you are copying and pasting a resume into an online application, make sure the formatting is presentable (note: online text resumes can be as lengthy as necessary)


Proofreading• Errors suggest carelessness, poor

education, lack of intelligence, lack of attention to detail

• Watch spelling, punctuation, verb tense, grammar

• Proofread several times• Have others proofread for you –

professors, peers, family members, your Career Services Program Manager


COVER LETTERS


Cover Letters• The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce

yourself to the prospective company or organization

• Keep the cover letter to a maximum of one page

• Follow the standard business format: left justify everything

• Use the same font as your resume • Always address the letter to a specific

person; if you do not have the contact’s name, use Dear Human Resource or Hiring Manager


The Heading• Your address should be the first item

(do not include name, phone #, e-mail)• Date should follow address and 1 blank

line of space before and after it• Contact’s name and job title (if known)

should come next after 1 line of space• List company name and address right

after job title• Address letter to specific person (if

unknown, use “Dear Hiring Manager”)


The First Paragraph• Explain the reason for the letter• Mention how you heard about the

position and, of course, what position you want

• List why you want to work for the company (Here is where you do your homework and use the research found on the company)


The Main Body of the Letter

• Detail your qualifications for the position: give reasons why they should hire you

• Relate your strengths to the requirements of the position (use the job description)

• Refer to experiences, achievements and education that makes you right for the position

• Be positive and detailed


The Last Paragraph• Sum up your purpose for writing the letter• Invite them to take a closer look at your

resume• Make a commitment to action (i.e. You will

call them, or you invite them to call you)• List your contact number and email address• Follow up with the commitment you made• Thank them for their time


The Closing• You should use a general closing

statement such as Sincerely, Regards, or Cordially

• Leave four lines of space for your signature

• Type your name• If you enclose your resume, be sure

to list Enclosure• Sign your name in ink


Customize• Customize your resume and cover

letter for the position you are pursuing

• Use the job description, company research, and industry knowledge to create a document specific for a position


Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

• Make sure at least one or two people proofread your resume and cover letter for errors

• Errors allow assumptions to be made about you

• Watch out for spelling, punctuation, and style; (It is very easy to miss its/it’s or effect/affect)


Bottom Line• Your resume and cover letter can

make or break your chance to get an interview

• But, keep in mind there is more to landing a job than merely looking good on paper, so make sure you are well prepared to interview as well


Sample Resumes & Cover Letters

• http://careers.erau.edu/

• You can also look on Blackboard under the Career Services Organization

• You can also get hard copies in the CSO

http://careers.erau.edu/

http://careers.erau.edu/


Resume Review• To have your resume reviewed by a

Program Manager in Career Services:• Upload your resume to EagleHire (

http://erau.experience.com)• Make an appointment• Call 386.226.6054• Stop by Student Center, Suite 250

http://erau.experience.com/


Professional Dress for the Expo

Professional attire is expected for attendance to the Industry/Career Expo. • Suits• Gentlemen: button down shirts and ties • Ladies: conservative or appropriate blouses• Colors for shirts should be muted like white, off-white or light

blue• Shoes should be polished and professional

The minimum professional dress is business casual. Flight and ROTC uniforms are appropriate Expo dress. Religious and cultural attire will be accepted.

Visit the Career Services Pinterest group [http://pinterest.com/eraucsodb/] and peruse the What to Wear – Men, What to Wear – Women and What Not to Wear – Men and Women boards for ideas on professional dress.


Stay Connected to Career Services

Connect, follow, join and like Career Servicesvia all our communication methods…

Career Services WebsiteEagleHire Network ERAU ConnectionERNIE/BlackboardFacebookGoing Places Career BlogLinkedInPinterestTwitter

http://worldwide.erau.edu/why-worldwide/career/index.html

http://erau.experience.com/

http://www.facebook.com/eraucsodb

http://www.facebook.com/eraucsodb

http://eraucso.wordpress.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1401477

Resume & Cover Letter Success

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