Jose Rizal Memorial State University

Tampilisan Campus
The Premier University in the Province of Zamboanga
del Norte

COVER LETTER AND

RÉSUMÉ WRITING
HERFORD REI B. GUIBANGGUIBANG, LPT
• What is the difference of the two?
• How important to write a cover letter and a
resume?
Application letter you send to an employer
explains why you are qualified for the position
and should be selected for an interview.

Résumé offers a history of your work experience

and an outline of your skills and
accomplishments.

A application letter, also known as a cover letter, should be sent

or uploaded with your résumé when applying for jobs.
 COVER LETTER/APPLICATION
LETTER
How to get started?
Do some groundwork …
(before writing cover letter or application letter)
1. space is limited,
2. highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and abilities,
3. know what the employer wants,
4. match your qualifications with the employer’s wants and needs,
5. make a list of your relevant experiences and skills,

then you are ready to get started writing.

• Writing an application letter is very different
from a quick email to a friend or a thank-you
note to a relative. Hiring managers and
potential interviewers have certain
expectations when it comes to the letter's
presentation and appearance, from length (no
more than a page) to font size and style to
letter spacing:
 GUIDELINES
• Length: A letter of application should be no
more than one page long.
• Format and Page Margins: A letter of
application should be single-spaced with a
space between each paragraph. Use about 1"
margins and align your text to the left, which
is the standard alignment for most
documents.
• Font: Use a traditional font such as Times New
Roman, Arial, or Calibri. The font size should
be between 10 and 12 points.

Times New Roman

Arial
Calibri
• There are also rules set for the sections
included in the letter, from salutation to sign-
off, and how the letter is organized. Here's a
quick lowdown on the main sections included
in an application letter:
 What to include in each section of the letter?

• Heading: A letter of application should

begin with both your and the employer's
contact information (name, address,
phone number, email) followed by the
date.
Herford Rei B. Guibangguibang
Salvador, Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte
0917-130-5555
herfordreiguibangguibang@gmail.com

May 3, 2019

Liza Soberano
School Principal II
Gutalac National High School
Poblacion, Gutalac, Z.N.
7108
• Salutation: This is your polite greeting. The
most common salutation is "Dear Mr./Ms."
followed by the person's last name.
 QUESTIONS!
WHAT IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE PERSON’S NAME, OR ARE
UNSURE OF A CONTACT’S GENDER?

● Write the full name, as in Dear Chu Li or Dear Kimmy Yu

WHAT IF YOU CANNOT TRACK DOWN THE NAME

OF THE CONTACT NAME?
●Use generic salutation, such as Dear Hiring Manager, Dear
Recruiting Manager, or Dear Human Resources Professional

(AVOID: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; it is antiquated).

 Body of the letter
• Think of this section as being three distinct parts.

1st paragraph

• You mention the job you are applying for and how
you learned about it (where you saw the job listing).
• Direct with no fancy words

I am applying for the position of a Sales Manager, which was advertised on

May 2, 2019 in the radio. From my enclosed resume, you will find that my
education, experience, and background meet your stated position
requirements, and I believe my strong initiative and organizational skills,
combined with my ability to work well under pressure, would enable me to
make a substantial contribution to your institution.
next paragraph

• the most important part of your letter

• you tell why you are the best candidate for the job

As a graduate of Jose Rizal Memorial State University- Tampilisan Campus

with a course of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring
Financial Management last 2018, I have been exposed to work in the field
which I have provided commendable service to the costumers and
clienteles. I have learned salient strategies in marketing which could be very
helpful on the position I am applying. I am confident that my performance in
this position would exceed your expectations.
third and last part of the body of the letter

• will be your thank you to the employer,

• you can also offer follow-up information

I would appreciate the opportunity to meet you to discuss how my

experience can best meet your needs. If you would care to arrange an
interview, I can be reached at 0917-130-5555. Thank you for your
consideration.
Complimentary Close
• Sign off your letter with a polite close, such as
"Best" or "Sincerely," followed by your name.

Signature
• End with your signature, handwritten, followed by
your typed name. Since you are attaching your
resume, do not forget to write Enclosed: Resume
Sincerely,

HERFORD REI B. GUIBANGGUIBANG, LPT

Enclosed: Resume
 Tips for Writing an Effective Letter

• Always write one. Unless a job posting specifically says not to send
a letter of application or cover letter, you should always send one.
Even if the company does not request a letter of application, it
never hurts to include one. If they do ask you to send a letter, make
sure to follow the directions exactly (for example, they might ask
you to send the letter as an email attachment, or type it directly
into their online application system).
• Use business letter format. Use a formal business letter format
when writing your letter. Include your contact information at the
top, the date, and the employer’s contact information. Be sure to
provide a salutation at the beginning, and your signature at the
end.
• Sell yourself. Throughout the letter, focus on how you would
benefit the company. Provide specific examples of times when
you demonstrated skills or abilities that would be useful for
the job, especially those listed in the job posting or
description. If possible, include examples of times when you
added value to a company. Numerical values offer concrete
evidence of your skills and accomplishments.
• Use keywords. Reread the job listing, circling any keywords
(such as skills or abilities that are emphasized in the listing).
Try to include some of those words in your cover letter. This
will help the employer see that you are a strong fit for the job.
• Keep it brief. Keep your letter under a page long,
with no more than about four paragraphs. An
employer is more likely to read a concise letter.
• Edit, edit, edit. Employers are likely to overlook
an application with a lot of errors. Therefore,
read through your cover letter, and if possible ask
a friend or career counselor to review the letter.
Proofread for any grammar or spelling errors.
 RÉSUMÉ

• A résumé or resume is a document used and

created by a person to present their
background, skills, and accomplishments.
Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons,
but most often they are used to secure new
employment.
 QUESTION!
What is the difference of Curriculum Vitae and a Resume?

● The curriculum vitae (CV) used for employment

purposes in the UK (and in other European countries) is
more akin to the résumé—a shorter, summary version of
one's education and experience—than to the longer and
more detailed CV that is expected in U.S. academic circles.
• Whether you're a new graduate or a seasoned
professional, a polished resume is essential for a
successful job hunt. Your resume is a visual
document that hiring managers will typically only
glance at for a few seconds. A clean structure and
well-organized content can help your resume
stand out from the rest. Tailor your resume to
each job, highlighting the skills, education, and
experience that make you a strong candidate
 Structuring Resume
1. Choose a template or design your own.
Use a standard, readable font in 10- or 12-point.
Your section headings may be a little larger. Times
New Roman and Georgia are popular serif
fonts. If you want to go with a sans-serif font, try
Calibri or Helvetica.

TIP: If you're looking for a job in web layout

and design or graphic design, build your own
unique design and use your resume to show
off your skills.
2. Create a header with your name and
contact information. At the top of your page,
type your full name, address, phone number,
and email address. Play around with the
formatting to find something that you like
best.
• Use a chronological resume in more
conservative fields. You list your work
experience and education in reverse-
chronological order. This is a classic resume
format that would likely be more
appreciated by older hiring managers, or
those in conservative fields such as
accounting or law.
• Include relevant education or
certifications. Typically, your highest degree
is the only one you need to include on your
resume. However, you should include lower
degrees if they're relevant to the job you're
applying for. Additionally, list any relevant
licenses or certifications you have. Add
hobbies and interests if they relate to the
job
 Finalizing the resume
• Tailor each resume to the specific job you're
applying for. You may have a master resume
that includes all of your skills, education, and
experience. However, the resume you give to
each potential employer won't necessarily
include everything. Only include skills and
experience that are directly related to that
job. Try to make your resume match the job
listing as closely as possible.
Tip: It can be helpful to add a summary
that explains your interest or why you're
applying for that position.
Edit your resume to eliminate excess words and
create space. Active, punchy text is essential in a
resume, since the document will likely only be glanced
at for a few seconds. Remove pronouns, articles,
adjectives, and adverbs. The final statement should
communicate only the action and the result of that
action.

Proofread carefully before submitting your

resume. Don't rely solely on the grammar and
spelling checkers built into your word processing app.
Read through your resume several times to make
sure it's error free. Reading out loud can also help
you find errors or awkward wording.
Save your resume as a PDF file. If you're
sending your resume to potential employers
online, they most commonly want a PDF. Use
that file format unless the job listing
specifically requests something else.
Print copies of your resume to take to the
interview. Take at least 3 copies of your resume to
the interview. If you know you are being
interviewed by a hiring team, take enough copies
so that each member of the team can have one.
You also want to make sure you have at least one
left over for yourself.
“Do not wait for the opportunity to
knock on your door,
seek the opportunity”
- RONIE APOSTOL, COCACOLA CEBU MANAGER