The York Road Literacy and Employment Initiative

Workshop 2: Writing Effective Résumés and Cover Letters

Allen Brizee, PhD

Assistant Professor of Writing

Loyola University Maryland

Giuliana Caranante

Psychology-Writing Major

Loyola University Maryland

Goals and Outcomes

This workshop will help you write effective résumés and cover letters that are tailored for specific organizations and jobs.

After the workshop, you should be able to: Write an effective résumé Write an effective cover letter

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Overview Name Tags Folder Contents What is a Résumé? How Do I Write an Effective Résumé? What is a Cover Letter? How Do I Write an Effective Cover Letter? Conclusion

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés What is a Résumé?

A document that represents you and lists your experience, education, and skills

The purpose of a résumé is to get a job interview Secondary purposes include:

Make a professional impression, along with your cover letter and references

Keep a record of your experiences Eventually, get a job!

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés What are My Goals as a Writer?

Show how you are a good match for the organization and the position

Explain how you will help the organization achieve its mission

This strategy is known as the reader-centered approach – RCA Hard to write about yourself and not sound selfish The RCA will help

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés The Reader-Centered Approach

Good match Help them

Objective: To obtain the Receptionist position (#3456) and help the Department of Public Works maintain its high standard of service

What is effective about this objective statement? Be careful not to write an objective that is longer

than two lines on your résumé

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés The Writer-Centered Approach

Is a less effective approach Tries to show how applicants are the “best”

candidate for the job, an unsupportable position Tries to show how the organization can help the

applicant, instead of the other way around

Objective: To obtain a high paying job in a professional setting

What do you notice about this objective statement? Templates?

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés How Do I Use the Reader-Centered Approach for My Résumé? If you include an objective, tailor it to position and

organization Tailor your résumé design and information to match

position’s requirements and organization’s mission

Qualified | Possibly Qualified | Not Qualified

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés Tailored Objective

Objective: To obtain the Receptionist position (#3456) and help the Department of Public Works maintain its high standard of service

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés Tailored Design and Information

Use clear document design: Space Clear sections

Present information in a reader-centered way: If position is store manager, focus on the skills you

have that are related to that job

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés Tailored Design

Space

Clear

sections

(fonts)

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés Tailored Information

Chronological résumé

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

Indented bullet list

Verb choice and tense

Information tailored to desired job

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Résumés Tailored Information

Skills-based résumé

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

Skills at the top

More skills, experience

Education, experience

(https://owl.english.purdue.edu)

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Résumés What do I do if…

I have a gap in my work experience?Be prepared to explain the gaps in a positive wayConsider composing a skills-based résuméVolunteer or enroll in a class

I don’t have experience related to the position?Show how your skills will transfer to new positionExplain how your experience will help prospective

organization in your cover letter I am a veteran?

Work on “translating” military terms to civilian termsParticipate in government/military sponsored transition

programs and veteran-related job fairs

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés What do I do if…

I have a disability?You are protected under Federal Law (ADA and the

Rehabilitation Act) from disability-related discriminationBy law, you must disclose to be provided with work-

related reasonable accommodations I have children?

You are not required to disclose your family situation I have been in a correctional program?

Be honest with your employerDiscuss what you did to contribute positively to your

future (GED, vocational training, etc.)Consider composing a skills-based résumé

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Practice Find an ad online (or use the one you found last week) and write a reader-centered objective for it: Tailored How you will help them

Objective: To obtain the Receptionist position (#3456) and help the Department of Public Works maintain its high standard of service

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Lunch Break! We have meat and veggie subs, water, and chips

Overview

Résumés

Lunch

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover Letters What is a cover letter?

A document that explains how the information you provide in your résumé makes you a good match for the position and organization

It also explains how you will help the organization The purpose of the letter is to get the interview Secondary purposes include:

Make a professional impression, along with your résumé and references

Keep a record of your experiences Eventually, get a job!

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover Letters Apply the reader-centered approach

Good match Help them

Based on the requirements outlined in the job ad, I believe that I am a good fit for the position because I have worked as a warehouse employee before. I can help Capital City Distribution maintain precise inventory lists and stellar customer service.

What is effective about these sentences from the introductory paragraph of a cover letter?

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

These are your main arguments, your thesis

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Cover Letters The Writer-Centered Approach

Is a less effective approach Tries to show how applicants are the “best”

candidate for the job, an unsupportable position Tries to show how the organization can help the

applicant, instead of the other way around

I am interested in the legal assistant position because I would eventually like to become a lawyer.

What do you notice about this statement? Use of “I”? Templates?

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover Letters How Do I Use the Reader-Centered Approach for My Cover Letter? Tailor it to position and organization Tailor your letter design and information to match

position’s requirements and organization’s mission

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover Letter Tailored Design and Information

Use clear document design: Space Clear sections: block style is most conservative

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover Letter Tailored Design

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

Left margin

POC

Same font as résumé

Space between paragraphs

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Cover Letter Tailored Design

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

One space

Four spaces

Mailing address

Enclosure

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Cover Letter Tailored Information

Introduction that includes: When and where you found ad Specific job title (number) and organization’s name How you are a good match for job and organization How you can help them

Body paragraph(s) that support your thesis – good match and will help them Include specific examples from résumé

Closing paragraph that references résumé, includes contact information, and thanks POC for taking time to read material

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover LetterOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

IntroductionWhen searching the job site, workinretail.com, I came across your advertisement for Store Manager in west Baltimore. Sally Beauty is a great asset to the city and provides the local community with convenient access to all the top beauty brands. Based on my previous experience as a licensed cosmetologist and retail employee, I believe that I fit the requirements of the Store Manager position and will help Sally Beauty maintain its excellent customer service, as well as increase its revenue.

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Cover LetterOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

Body ParagraphMy experience at Cutz Beauty Salon has taught me so much about today’s emerging beauty products. I am passionate about using the latest products to enhance a daily beauty routine. For example, I have focused on finding affordable hair products that allow customers to shorten their style time. My clients love learning about new products, and I have increased product revenue at my store by 5%. This knowledge is valuable to every customer that enters Sally Beauty and would help me support your excellent customer service. Similarly, working for so many years at Giant Food Stores taught me valuable interpersonal communication skills. I completed numerous inventory workshops and learned how to create a truly successful sales team. These skills will help me assist the customers of Sally Beauty and support your mission of excellent customer service.

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Cover LetterOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

Closing ParagraphSally Beauty is the largest distributor of top professional and hair care brands in the world. This is due to the effective customer service and high quality of inventory at each local store. I would like to speak to you further about how my interpersonal skills and strong knowledge of emerging beauty products can assist you in continuing to develop your vision by assisting customers in a Sally Beauty store. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and enclosed résumé. If you have any questions, please email me at Davis22@hotmail.com or call me at 222-222-2222.

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Practice Use the ad you found earlier to draft your cover letter introduction paragraph When and where you found ad Specific job title (number) and organization’s name How you are a good match for job and organization How you can help them

Save work to your flash drive

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Conclusion Today we worked on

Analyzing a job ad Writing an effective résumé Writing an effective cover letter

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion

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Conclusion Remove flash drive by double-clicking on icon at bottom right of desktop

If you are signed up for next week’s workshop, try to finish and bring your résumé, letter drafts

Please fill out the feedback form Thanks for your time

Allen Brizee: habrizee@loyola.edu

Giuliana Caranante: gmcaranante@loyola.edu

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Conclusion