Queen’s University Career Services

@mycareerqueensu

Queen’s University Career Services@mycareerqueensu

Winning Resumes and Cover Letters

Christine Fader, Career Counsellor/Author

Learning Outcomes• Understand the key differences between a CV and a

resume and when to use each• Identify key sections of the resume that help convey my

career identity/match• Use at least one new strategy to write a compelling cover

letter

Hire Someone to Lead this Workshop

Candidate #1

• Writer and middle-grade children’s book author• Winner of international typing competition; 120+

WPM• Experience working in parole.• Advocate for people with disabilities• Piano teacher for children ages 2-18• Medical school interviewer for 8 years; hired doctors

in General Internal Medicine• Work experience using French, German, American

Sign Language

Hire Someone to Lead this Workshop

Candidate #2

• 24 years of teaching experience with adult and teen learners; 100+ workshops presented each year

• Former and current recruiter, reviewing thousands of resumes annually

• Editor, two editions of best-selling resume book• 18+ years experience career counselling with

university (graduate & undergrad) and college students

• Columnist, national student jobs magazine, 2009-2011

• Author of a career book

Why do BAD things happen to resumes?

Test: Can someone guess (quite specifically) what role you’re seeking?

What are you aiming at?

The Challenge: To look like where you’re going, NOT where you’ve been

Write down your resume GOAL(s) i.e. WHO IS THE AUDIENCE; WHAT IS THE JOB?E.g.

• policy analysis• consulting• management• Program development….

• Don’t know? See a career counsellor or prof/mentor

Resume or CV?

The CV – for academia/research• Education• Awards• Research Experience• Publications/Abstracts/Posters• Funding• Conferences• Teaching Experience• Presentations• Community Activities• Clinical Experience• Observerships• Professional Work Experience• Memberships & Associations

The Resume – for everything else• Objective/Profile• Summary of Strengths• Education• Awards• Relevant Experience

(or specific label)• Work Experience• Volunteer Experience• Professional

Development• Community Activities• Publications/Abstracts/

Posters• Interests & Activities

Education

Master of Arts, History 2024-presentQueen’s University, Kingston ON (candidate)

-Concentration in history of medicine-Major project topic: Comparison of 1918 Flu epidemic and the Black Death-SSHRC award

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), History 2023University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

- Dean’s list, 2021-2023- Relevant courses include: Canadian Social History, Fundamentals of

Health- Awarded the John A. MacDonald scholarship for academic standing

Name the degree Consider emphasizing

Give dates and status

Include:

University, Town & Province

Consider including thesis or major projects and selected

coursesIf you include an award,

remember to indicate what it was for

Education

M.Sc. (Eng.), Mechanical Engineering 2027-PresentQueen’s University, Kingston ONThesis: “Measuring Friction in Compression and Ring Testing”.Courses: Advanced topics in manufacturing engineering, CAD, experimental stress analysis, plasticity.Compiled a technical report on “Friction Models in Metal Forming” and presented to the Manufacturing Group.

B.Eng., Mechanical Engineering 2000-2024NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, PakistanAchieved 80% in thesis, 2nd highest out of a group of 185 studentsInvolved in heat exchanger design, piping design, pump selection, turbine selection and pond sizing.

Experience descriptions

• Create one line to summarize role • Describe skills using active language: verbs &

adverbs –• developed and delivered curriculum for three

tutorials per week to 125 third-year students• Add quantity –

• organized 12 displays on …• Add quality –

• helped deepen understanding of …. through research on…

• Show impact or results, effect –• Data collected subsequently used during

strategic planning review for the company…

S-T-A-R

Help predict how you would approach the new role

Accomplishment Statements

Review statements in your document and consider:

• How many/how much?• Why did I/we do this?• What was the result of doing

this?• What happened after it was

done?• Why was this important?

• Reflect on a teaching, research or other experience

• Jot down some notes• Find a partner• Take turns describing

your best outcome or results

• Debrief as a group

Verb+

Task+

Result

Accomplishment Statements

Reading a Job Ad

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)• EDUCATION:

A) Graduation with a Master’s Degree or PhD from a recognized post-secondary institution that will be completed* no later than December 31, 2018, with a combination of three half** undergraduate or graduate courses in economics, sociology or statistics.

B) Academic excellence: you must have kept a grade point average of at least 75% or B+ during your studies.

Policy Analyst Recruitment and Development Program (PARDP)

• EXPERIENCE:Recent* experience conducting research and analysis or conducting statistical or quantitative economic analysis (academic experience is acceptable).* Recent is defined as experience gained within the last three (3) years.

Leadership experience demonstrated through volunteer work, extra-curricular activities or employment that involves a continuing commitment or effort or significant achievement outside your studies. Show us how you launched an initiative, played a key role in an effort you believed in, or motivated others to give the best of themselves.

Policy Analyst Recruitment and Development Program (PARDP)

• EXPERIENCE:Recent* experience conducting research and analysis or conducting statistical or quantitative economic analysis (academic experience is acceptable).* Recent is defined as experience gained within the last three (3) years.

Leadership experience demonstrated through volunteer work, extra-curricular activities or employment that involves a continuing commitment or effort or significant achievement outside your studies. Show us how you launched an initiative, played a key role in an effort you believed in, or motivated others to give the best of themselves.

Policy Analyst Recruitment and Development Program (PARDP)

Pick ONE quality/experience. Write

your STAR example.

Planning Assistant May-August 2026City of Fredericton, Fredericton, NB• Gathered data for and wrote technical background

reports to be used to update the City of Fredericton Official Plan

• Wrote staff advisory reports for Public Advisory Committee meetings

Junior Assistant May – August 2025Oliver, Mangion, McCalla & Assoc., Kingston, ON• Prepared Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports including

AutoCAD figures of contamination plumes and water levels interpreted from piezometer readings

Relevant Experience

Research Experience

Research Elective, Pediatric Neurology Apr 2025-PresentHospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON

Retrospective study characterizing the placebo effect of Hello Kitty dolls in childhood neurological diseases to evaluate its range of utility in diagnostics and follow-up care in this population. (Dr. Sheza Whiz, MD)

Honours Thesis, Neuroscience Sep 2022-Aug 2023Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, ON

Investigated the “Kraft Dinner Effect” on children with aversion to the colourorange. Oral presentation of results at the Super Keener Annual Summer Student Research Day was ranked in the top 3. (Dr. Heza Grump, PhD)

Payroll Assistant Oct-Apr 2025University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB

Project Co-ordinator Oct-April 2023Centre for Family Violence Research, UNB

Student Employment Officer Summer 2022Human Resources Centre for Students, Amherst NS

Additional experience includes working as a payroll assistant, project co-ordinator and student employment officer.

OR…

Additional Experience

Make the 30-second cut

FACT: Most people initially skim, rather than read resumes/CVs

A Great Tool= Summary of Strengths

or Profile

Summary of Strengths/Profile

• PhD Economics candidate, Queen’s University, 2025• Economic development, sustainability and finance

expertise demonstrated through…• Knowledge of federal human rights and PIPEDA

legislation gained through Master of Public Administration degree.

• Presented at three conferences on economic policy and international trade.

• Project management skills developed as University of Ottawa student government leader

• Focused approach to learning/absorbing new information

• Canadian citizen/permanent resident

Job-specific

Transferable

Work-style If advantageous

Watch the clerical details…“I am applying to Dalhousie in part because of your department’s reputation in the field of sustainable urban design, but also because I loved my time spent living in Alberta as a child.”

When spell check is not enough…“Certified in Pubic Accounting Examinations”

Cover Letters

Cover Letters for non-academic positions– Help Readers Understand

1) How does your academic experience translate into skills we can use?

2) How will you help us meet (and/or grow) our teaching and research (and clinical) profile and goals?

3) You did an advanced degree, why aren’t you going into academic work?

I look forward to continue contributing my strong academic background in Gender Studies coupled with extensive presentation skills to the Women’s Directorate, Government of Yukon.

I have experience working extensively with youth and was fortunate to have been part of the committee that developed queer-inclusive curriculum through my part-time role in the Centre for Teaching & Learning at Queen’s University. I have an interest in social media and “alternative” presentation methods and have begun using clicker technology and Twitter successfully in one course.

Example: Making the match

Example: Making the match The School of Urban and Regional Planning assigns us hands-on projects that require intensive reading and comparative analysis of current policies from all levels of government. In effect, I am thoroughly familiar with reviewing and analyzing planning issues and planning documents. The comfort level I have utilizing such documents and my ability to efficiently manage time and multi-task will help you complete your projects on schedule. As a result, I may be able to assist you in completing secondary projects you may have on hold due to time constraints.

Example: Making the Match• Design Experience. Designed working model of a textbook vending

machine, and a three stage reduction gearbox for a ski lift assembly.• Mechanical Processes. Able to analyze thermodynamic and

turbomachinery processes, carry out pressure calculations between various fluids, fluid flow analysis, shop experience with lathes, drill presses, grinders, cutting torches and arc welding and CNC machines

• Electrical Fundamentals. Able to analyze DC and AC circuits; knowledge of electrical motors and generators; power generation improvements, amplifiers and digital circuits and devices.

• Materials Science. Completed materials science course; atomic bonding, micro- and macro-structures, processing and testing techniques of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, able to read basic phase and TTT diagrams..

• Customer Orientated. Regularly dealt with customers and sales agents as retail store clerk.

• Adaptable. Spent 3 months on an educational exchange in France while completing course work from both my home and visiting institutions.

• Identify other key messages• Research into jobs and requirements • Research the location/institution• CV, resume or letter review appts• Books in Career Advising & Resource Area• Counselling appointment (to find direction)

Next Steps

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