Effective Resume Writing & Cover Letter

The Cover Letter

Should always accompany each resume you send out Should give the employer a reason to look at the resume If the cover letter does not speak well, the resume will not be read! Establishes personal contact Introduces resume, highlights experience and promotes your eligibility Address it to a specific person Print on good quality paper (match resume) Use standard business format Stress how your skills, education, experience can benefit the employer Indicating your interest in the position and follow-up plans

Can your resume pass the 10-second test ?

10 seconds is all the time an employer is going to give your resume in deciding to keep it or pass on it!

Purpose
Your resume is your Marketing Brochure
Identifies what you have to offer Explains what contributions you can make Targeted directly to the specific needs of the employer Can be given to references Used in the interview as a guide by employer

Main purpose: to get you an interview !

General Guidelines
Length
Generally 1 page (especially recent grads) Two pages with extensive related experience

Layout DO NOT use a template Must be easy to read most resumes get a 10second glance, initially
Use white space, bullet points (non-bulleted o.k. as long as text is limited to one or two
short sentences; avoid large paragraphs or big blocks of type).

Choose standard font in 10-12 point size Name should be in larger font but 18pt max

What is a resume?
A resume is a personal summary of your professional history and qualifications. It includes information about your career goals, education, work experience, activities, honors, and any special skills you might have.

Prep Step 1: Know what you have to offer

Think functional skills & personal qualities
SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
Advising people Analyzing data Auditing financial records Budgeting expenses Compiling statistics Coordinating events Corresponding with others Creating new ideas Delegating responsibility Designing data systems Editing publications Handling complaints Interpreting languages Interviewing people Investigating problems Listening to others Managing projects Mediating between people Motivating others Negotiating contracts Organizing people & tasks Persuading others Planning agendas Programming computers Promoting events Recruiting people Reviewing programs Running meetings Selling products & services Speaking in public Supervising others Teaching classes Writing for publication

Try it now! List three of your functional skills.

Prep Step 1: Know what you have to offer

Think functional skills & personal qualities
SAMPLE PERSONAL QUALITIES
Assertive Attention to detail Authentic Candid Committed to growth Cooperative Curious Dynamic Empathic Enthusiastic Expressive Firm Flexible Generous Hard working Honest Loyal Open-minded Optimistic Patient Persistent Perform well under stress Poised Resourceful Respectful Sense of Humor Sincere Spontaneous Tolerant Versatile

Try it now! List three of your personal qualities.

Prep Step 1: Know what you have to offer

Think functional skills & personal qualities Build your list of
work experience academics volunteer work classes course projects activities clubs languages technical skills and so on

Try it now! List at least five activities / experiences.

Three Types of Resumes

Chronological Functional Hybrid

The Chronological Resume

When would you use this type? You have a significant amount of continuous experience, OR Your experiences have been progressively more responsible. What is the general outline of this type? List experience in reverse chronological order most common listing of your jobs and experience with most recent mentioned first good for job seekers who have practical work experience with long periods of employment resume type most preferred by employers

The Functional Resume

When would you use this type? When you dont have a lot of experience in the specific area of work for which you are applying What is the general outline of this type? Group your skills and qualities into 3 or 4 functional areas Strengthen your skills and qualities by listing where you acquired them focuses on your skills and accomplishments highlights what they are, not when you developed them good format for job seekers with lots of job experience and many jobs

The Hybrid Resume

When would you use this type? Your most related experience is not your most
recent, OR You have related experience and want to add special emphasis to your skills and qualities

What is the general outline of this type? Resume is organized by skill categories
Under each category, experiences are in chronological order

Resume Categories Education

Be sure to include:
Names of Schools Degrees Earned Major / Minor Date Attended or Graduation Date

Should also include

GPA (general rule, include if 3.0 or above) Honors / Awards Selected Courses

Resume Categories Experience

Remember Experience can be: Paid part-time/full-time positions Internships Volunteer work Club/campus group involvement Significant course projects

Putting It All Together 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?

Putting It All Together Things to Avoid

Avoid stating salary requirements Avoid providing reasons for leaving past employers Avoid limiting geographical considerations (unless necessary) Avoid expounding on philosophy or values Avoid offering any negative information

Objective Statement
One to three sentence summary of your area of expertise and career interest. Write as complete sentences or as descriptive phrases with minimal punctuation. Relate your existing skills directly to the job you are seeking. Demonstrate what you can do for the company rather than what they can do for you.

Objective Statement
Avoid over generalized statements: A position allowing me to utilize my knowledge and expertise in different areas. Avoid statements that focus only on what a company can do for you: A position where I gain experience in working on biological problems. Make the statement as specific as possible: A position which allows me to apply my background in engineering and high performance computing to biological problems.

Summary of Qualifications Statement

This statement can replace or be used in addition to the objective statement. Write one short paragraph or a bulleted list of qualifications. Use a summary of qualifications statement to emphasize skills you possess that arent obvious from your past work experiences.

Summary of Qualifications Statement

Summary of Qualifications
A Junior Mechanical Engineering Major with expertise in the following areas: * Using CAD programs to support projects * Communicating with customers in project environments * Developing projects in conjunction with peers

Education
This is an important section for recent college graduates or students seeking internships or summer jobs. Beginning with the highest level of educational achievement, include information such as university attended, degrees earned, major, minors, grade point average, date of program completion, and so forth.

Education
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Graduation May 2000 Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering GPA: 3.2/4.0 Major GPA: 3.5/4.0

You should include your GPA on the resume, but if it isnt included, employers may assume that it is lower than it really is. Always state the grade point scale your school is using.

Relevant Courses
List relevant courses that:

Help you stand out from the crowd Have provided you with specific skills or knowledge
Consider including this information in the education section of the resume.

Spanish (4 semesters) Computer Science Business Writing Business Law Ethics Only include courses taken in addition to your major or minor. Refer to the course by name rather than by number.

Action Phrases
Hospitality Intern (May 1999-August 1999) Mountain Jacks, Lafayette, IN * Oversaw the planning, production, preparation and prompt delivery of food * Assisted in training and retaining new and experienced employees * Created a positive and healthy atmosphere in the restaurant

Action phrases will help you avoid being too brief and from understating your qualifications. Think about your qualifications as a professional would.

References
In general, include the names and addresses of your references on your resume. It is NOT desirable to state that references are available upon request. Choose professional references rather than character references. Employers and professors who know you and your work are the best references.

Reference Sheet
Dr. Mary Delinsky Heavilon Hall, Room 226 Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907 (765) 494-3723 Include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your references. Always ask permission before you include any information on your reference sheet. Consider giving your references a copy of your resume so they will be prepared to talk to employers.

Dr. Delinsky is my current academic advisor in the Creative Writing and Science Fiction Program.

Be sure to include some attitude in your resume

Team Player Involved with Contributed to Served on Volunteered to

Resume Dos
Target your qualifications for a specific job Keep it to two pages or less Label your second page E-mail keep it professional No errors Pleasing layout List relevant work historyno more than15 years back Update lingo

Resume Donts
Avoid abbreviations and acronyms Never use pronouns such as: I, me, my, our Never type - use a laser jet printer No fancy fonts, binders, layouts Avoid lists of boring sentences Personal, family or health information Folded resume

Remember

A resume does not get you a job

A resume does get you an interview. And, putting time and consideration into your resume is one of the best ways to prepare for your interviews!