Resumes and
cover letters
Doesn’t matter what group you’re in, you’ll
be updating these documents for the next
few years – get used to it and get good at it.
What not to do 1. A resume isn’t a memoir.
• “Played/raised money for Broward Women’s Adult League for
basketball.”
• “Founder of the Delray Monkeys climbing club.”
• “Spent a month last summer biking the east coast of the United States
from Daytona Beach, FL to Atlantic City, NJ.”
1. Put yourself in perspective
1.
“University Press, staff writer, February 2009-present: Covered Student Government (2009) and the
basketball team (2010) for the weekly newspaper at Florida Atlantic University, a state school with 28,000
students.”
2. Objectives are subjective.
• “To gain experience and knowledge in a field I am interested in pursuing
for a career.”
• “To obtain a position that will allow me to utilize my experience and skills
in order to make a positive contribution within the organization with the
opportunity for growth and advancement.”
• “To obtain gainful employment that allows me to utilize and strengthen
skills (writing/editing skills, computer skills, interpersonal skills, problemsolving skills, professional flexibility, etc.) that are vital to the numerous
fields.”
What not to do 1. Your education doesn’t come first
1.
You’re supposed to have an education, and no one’s impressed by
what you’re supposed to do.
2. Your references don’t have to say a word to wow a
boss.
If you’ve ever impressed some media pros, listing them as references is an
objective way to say you’re worthy of an interview.
3. Little errors add up.
- Don’t: Brag about high school. Get sketchy about
your skills. Go into detail about retail. Go long.
4. Ignore Google. And your school.
Disasters:
• Dear Dave,
I call you that because I feel I’ve known you for years.
• Dear Mr. Todd:
I would like to aply for the position of editoral asistent
• Dear Mr. Todd:
My mother told me I should …
• Dear Mr. Todd:
You don’t know me, but …
• Dr. Mr. Todd:
Your company appears to be violating the Equal
Opportunities Amendment and to help you rectify the
situation, I would like to…
What to do:
Type your résumé ─ Use 8 1/2" x 11" quality bond paper if you print your résumé. (be sure to
pay attention to watermarks on résumé paper. Watermarks should face towards the reader
and should not be upside down)
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Do not include irrelevant personal information (e.g. age, weight, height, marital status,
etc.)
Do not include everything you've done ─ be selective! It's best practice to include skills and
experiences that contributes or relates to the company you are applying. Reference 10 years
of work history, if possible.
•
Do not include salary and wages (some exemptions exist for online applications,
including federal résumés)
If you use abbreviations, be sure to spell it out elsewhere on your résumé
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Be positive. Identify and quantify accomplishments. Sell it! Don't tell it!
Use concise sentences (keep it short, sweet, and to the point)
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Keep your résumé to 1-2 pages. In some cases, your résumé may be longer if you are
writing a curriculum vitae (CV) or federal résumé
Use action verbs
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Make sure your résumé looks attractive, neat and organized
Proofread your résumé. Print or email your résumé and have someone else provide feedback
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Use white space, CAPITALS, underlining, indentations, and bold to make your résumé
stand out
Use bullet statements to emphasize a point
Be creative!
• http://www.slideshare.net/davidcrandall/myantiresume-manifesto
• http://www.slideshare.net/pogostud/resume5508398
• http://www.slideshare.net/cferdinandi/resum
• http://www.slideshare.net/kwiles/rethinkingresumes-1124248esm
• http://www.slideshare.net/saadahmedshaikh/visual
-resume-saad-ahmed-shaikh
Get a blog
• It’s free
• It’s easy
• http://www.rodikat.com/
Cover letters
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Address your letter to a specific person by name, when possible, and refer to the job opening,
when known
Ask yourself...does your cover letter explain what you have to offer in the first 1-3 sentences?
Tell your story in terms of contributions you can make to the employer
Do not repeat information found in your résumé in your cover letter
Your cover letter should not exceed one page
Type your letters
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Additional questions to ask yourself when writing your cover letter:
Is my cover letter format unique, and does my letter stand out? Use bold, underlining, etc.
Have I highlighted my most relevant qualifications and recent achievements?
Have I researched the company and included information I know about them in my letter?
Have I highlighted reasons why I want to work for this company?
Did I proofread my letter?
Do I ask for an interview in my letter?
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• P.S. Make sure that you’re cover letter heading matches your
resume. Same font, etc. And use the same paper
Join SPJ
• https://www.spj.org/fdb-detail.asp?cmd=&ref=1313
• https://www.spj.org/fdb-detail.asp?cmd=&ref=1363
Cover Letters (cont’d)
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If someone has referred you, point them out first
Exhibit how your previous experience, employment and abilities MATCH the job
description
Clarify how you will make a sizeable contribution to the new employer
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Opening Paragraph
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Second Paragraph
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o Here is my resume
o This is the job I am applying for
o This is how I know about the job
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I am qualified
Here is why
a general summary of your work experience and education.
Detail specific parts of your experience, education, and talents that are most
related to the job.
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Optional Paragraph
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Last Paragraph
o Why your organization?
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Looking forward to hearing from you
Here is how to reach me
mention your availability for an interview
thank the employer for his/her consideration.
Tips from a pro
• The job description is your secret weapon
o They are telling you EXACTLY what they are looking for
• So, tailor your resume to match the job description
• Turn the job description into an outline
o Turn your flaws into strengths
• I can learn the software because I already know…
• Because I am familiar with…
• I have used…
o If you have two years and they require four, say you
have SEVERAL years of experience
The most important thing I can tell you to is to do
research about the company showing you want to
work there.
Invite EVERYONE to read your cover letter and resume
For the subject line, include your name and the post
from the original job posting
Better ideas…
• My experiences in office administration and
client services have equipped me with a
multitude of skills including office management,
business operations, and exemplary customer
service. I am confident that my application of
these and my many other skills would be an
asset to your company.
Better ideas…
• Integrity. Innovation. Initiative. If you have
these qualities in mind for the position of _____
then I suggest we meet to discuss the
numerous qualifications I would bring to your
organization. With my demonstrated track
record of successfully directing pharmacy
operations and introducing initiatives that
directly impacted the bottom line, I am
confident that I would be an excellent fit for the
position at _________.
July 8th, 2012
Mr. John Smith
Alco, Inc.
217 West Street
Johnson, VA 24132
Dear Mr. Smith:
Example
Simple? Yes (brief, clean)
Memorable? No
Inviting? Maybe
Fun to read? Nah
Letter grade C
Enclosed find a copy of my resume. Please consider me for the position of
welder that was advertised in the Roanoke Times and World News.
I believe I am qualified for your position. I have six years of welding experience
in an industrial setting. Furthermore, I am a very dependable worker as shown
by the fact that I have only missed two days of work in the last five years.
Finally, I am available to work any shift at any of your three plants.
I look forward to hearing from you. I can best be reached after 3:00 p.m.on
weekdays and anytime on weekends.
Sincerely,
Andrew S. Jones
Ending
• Thanking them for their time and stating
your next move “I will call you on May
3rd” or “I will contact you next week” or
“You can expect to hear from me by May
3rd”
o Shows you will take charge and take the lead
o If you say you will, you better!
• “Thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear
from you shorty!”
Social media
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What does your social networks say about you?
Create a brand for yourself that reflects your personality and skills.
Consider your entire digital presence and consolidate it into one
simple manageable entity that is attractive to employers.
Think about where you want to work and who you want to work
for.
Do your research on the places and the people you are applying
to.
You will spend half your time in your place of employment so do
the groundwork beforehand.
Review all the content you have created online and decide
whether or not it is suitable for a potential employer.
Get someone to find all drunken pictures of you on the internet.
Get rid of them. Or at least hide them.
Above all else do something creative, interesting, engaging and
effective