RESUME`

&
COVERING LETTER

Vijay

Lecturer in
English
You won’t get a second chance to make
the first impression
-unknown

Your Cup of Tea Should be

 Purpose of a Resume`

To get an interview

A resume does not get you a job…

What is a resume?

• Summary of professional history and

qualifications.
• Information about career goals, education,
work experience, activities, honors, and any
special skills that one has.
What All Can be offered
Functional skills & personal qualities
A list of…
 Work experience  Activities
 Academics  Clubs
 Volunteer work  Languages
 Classes  Technical skills
 Course projects  and so on…
 Functional skills
SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
Advising people Handling complaints Planning agendas
Analyzing data Interpreting languages Programming computers
Auditing financial records Interviewing people Promoting events
Budgeting expenses Investigating problems Recruiting people
Compiling statistics Listening to others Reviewing programs
Coordinating events Managing projects Running meetings
Corresponding with others Mediating between people Selling products & services
Creating new ideas Motivating others Speaking in public
Delegating responsibility Negotiating contracts Supervising others
Designing data systems Organizing people & tasks Teaching classes
Editing publications Persuading others Writing for publication

Note : Cannot Be Used Directly

Functional skills & personal qualities
SAMPLE PERSONAL QUALITIES
Assertive Expressive Persistent
Attention to detail Firm Perform well under stress
Authentic Flexible Poised
Candid Generous Resourceful
Committed to growth Hard working Respectful
Cooperative Honest Sense of Humor
Curious Loyal Sincere
Dynamic Open-minded Spontaneous
Empathic Optimistic Tolerant
Enthusiastic Patient Versatile
Note : Cannot Be Used Directly
3 Types of Resume`

 Chronological

 Functional

 Targeted
 Chronological

• Lists work experience in reverse chronological

order.
• Describes responsibilities & accomplishments
associated with each job or educational
experience.
• Most important information at the top
 Can be used, if
• Last employer is well known & highly
respected.
• Plan to continue along your established career
path.
• Job history shows progressively more
responsible position.
• Applying to a traditional Organisition.
Should not to use, if
• Changed jobs frequently.
• Changing career goals.
• Have not progressed in career.
• Have been away from the job market for
some time.
• Applying for the first job.
Functional Resume`

•Lists functional activities separately from

employment history

•Listing skills and qualities into 3 or 4 functional

areas
 Work Experience
• 1997-Present U.S. Postal Service, Indianapolis.
Worked as a Station Manager,
delivering mail, overseeing retail sales,
planning delivery to new routes

• 1994-1997 All Right Parking, Inc., Indianapolis.

Worked as a Manager, handling
customer relations, overseeing accounts,
supervising twenty-five employees

• 1992-1994 Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis.

Worked as a District Sales Manager
recruiting and training new employees,
managing crews of twenty-five carriers
within nine counties, designing routes
 Can be used, if
• Want to emphasis capabilities not used in
recent jobs.
• Changing careers.
• Entering the job market for the first time or
reentering after an absence.
• Past career progression has been
disappointing.
• Held a variety of unrelated jobs.
Should not to use, if
• Want to emphasis career progress.
• Have performed a limited number of
functional activities.
• Most recent employers are well known
and prestigious.
• Applying to a traditional organization.
 Functional Experience

Research Assistant (August 1998-August 1999)—Anna U.

Assisted Professor Robert Thompson in:
* updating statistical tables and charts
* answering research questions via the Internet, library, and
by establishing resources to provide the needed information

President, Sociology Club (January-May 2000)

* Raised over $2,000 for club expenses and Scholarships
* Organized 10 activities for over 200 students
* Designed and maintained club website
 Targeted Resume`

lists capabilities & Accomplishments pertaining to

a specific job; briefly lists work experience in a
separate section.
 Can be used, if

• Very clear about the job target.

• Have separate career objectives & want a
separate resume` for each.
• Emphasis capabilities that have not
performed for a regular employer.
 Should not to use, if
• Want to use one resume` for several
application.
• Not clear about capabilities or
accomplishments.
• Just starting career and have a little
experience.
 GENERAL GUIDELINES
 Length: It is best to limit an entry-level
resume to one typed page. Be as
concise as possible in stating
information in each section of your
resume.
 Font: Avoid fonts smaller than 10 point
and larger than 12 point.
 Paper: Use 8 1/2” x 11” paper.
 Print your resume with a laser or high
quality ink-jet printer.
 Contents & style
 Resume` should be prepared before the
application letter
 Present the strongest, most relevant
qualification first.
 Use short noun phrases & action verbs,
not whole sentences
 Use facts, not options.
 Avoid personal pronouns.
 Omit date of preparation.
 Should not mention the desired salary,
work schedule etc
 Heading & Contact
Information
Use title such as “RESUME`” as
heading.
ROHAN .R
List your
#1276 9 Street
th

Tatabad, Name
Coimbatore - 12 Address
rohan@gmail.com
9894898948
Area code
Telephone number
 Career Objective

 A clear statement of goals

 Type of work you want (not a job title)
 A broad and flexible goal to increase
the scope of the job prospectus.
 Focus on what will be offered, rather
than what is looked for

Remember: Everything on the resume should support this purpose/objective

Avoid overgeneralized Make the statement as
statements: specific as possible:
A position allowing me
to utilize my knowledge and A position which allows
expertise in different me to apply my
areas. background in engineering
Avoid statements that focus and high performance
only on what a company computing to biological
can do for you: problems.
A position where I gain
experience in working on
biological problems.
 Education
 List all the relevant schooling, training &
degree programmes, with the most recent
first.
 List name, location, date (entered & left)

 Indicate - major and minor fields.

 State the numerical base for grade

point, if impressive.
 List elective courses in descending
order.
 List training experiences, seminars and
workshop attended.
 Work Experience
 List all relevant work experience.
 State the month you started and
left each job.
 Provide the name and location of
the firm that employed you.
 List your job title and describe
your functions
 Activities, Honours
Achievement & Skills
 List all relevant unpaid activities,
including offices & leadership
positions
 List awards, scholarships, projects (to
show an ability to work with others),
etc.
 Writing or speaking activities.
 Include skills that are unique, such as
computer skills, foreign language
skills,
 Personal Data
 Omit data that could be regarded
negatively or used to discriminate
against you.
 List job related interests and
hobbies( should indicate stamina,
strength, sociability etc.)
 Things to Remember
 There is no perfect resume – only great
works in progress
 There is no “cookbook” – only traditions
& guidelines
 Keep your language concise, crisp &
clear
 Provide concrete evidence (#, %, $)
 When in doubt, ask “does it support my
purpose?”
It is good, if the resume` has

“resume submitted in confidence”

JOB APPLICATION
LETTER
 Sole purpose of a job
application letter is

TO GET THE RECIPIENT TO READ

YOUR CV
 Remember

 It should be clear, concise and

straight to the point.
 Should be brief
 Not more than one page in length
 Should be easy to read and flow
through
 Style of A Letter

Since there are many formats for writing a

formal letter…

It’s left to the individual

 THREE PARTS OF A
COVERING LETTER

 The Introductory Paragraph

 The main body

 Closing Paragraph
 The Introductory Paragraph

 Should state why you are writing to them

 If it is an advertised position, mention the
position title and where it was advertised.
 If you are "cold calling" a company then you
should specify that you are applying for any
current or future employment opportunities.
 This letter is in response to your
advertisement inviting application for
the post of…….in…….on……..

 Please find enclosed my CV, which I

am forwarding to you as an
application for the position of.......
The main body
 Summaries your educational
qualification
 Summaries your experience and skills
 Highlight- in what you specialise,
 How many years in the industry or
even the level that you have reached
 A brief description of your personal
skills
 Use adjectives like "demonstrated
ability", "well developed", "strong"
CLOSING PARAGRAPH
 The closing paragraph should
ask for some action from the
recipient
 This is where you ask for an
interview.
 Thank the recipient for giving
you the opportunity to apply
 BEFORE MAILING THE
LETTER
 Concentrate on
 Spell check
 Grammatical errors
 Punctuation
Thank You