Navigating Resume &
Cover Letter Prep
February 9, 2016
Materials & Skills Prep
Presented By:
Scott Busiel
Presentation Outline
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Workshop Objectives
Purpose of Resumes & Cover Letters
Communicating Skills
Resume Preparation
Cover Letter Preparation
Career Resources
Resume & Cover Letter Activity
Questions, Resources, & Assessment
Workshop Objectives
• Understand the best avenue (cover letter or
resume) to communicate specific skills.
• Learn appropriate ways to communicate skills
& experiences through a resume.
• Be able to evaluate the best way to construct
the cover letter for an organization.
Purpose of Resumes & CLs
• Why is it important to have strong resumes &
cover letters?
Communicating Skills
• Hard Skills: Specific, teachable, and often
technical abilities, including:
• Understanding of a language
• Financial modeling
• A degree or certification
• Computer programming
• Direct customer service experience
• Program capabilities
• Presentation of workshops
Communicating Skills
• Soft Skills: More subjective skills often
associated with personal attributes and
character, including:
• Team player
• Communication skills
• Time management
• Organization skills
• Problem solving abilities
• Commitment
Communicating Skills
• Resume – Hard Skills
• Cover Letter – Soft Skills
• Interviews – Mostly Soft Skills, Some Hard
Skills
Resume Preparation
• Where do I start?
• Recommend keeping a curriculum vitae.
• Resume is a part of you. Make sure that it
represents your “brand” and identity.
Resume Preparation
• Resume: Brief summary of your work,
experiences, and interests.
• Employers scan for 20-30 seconds. Make
those seconds count!
• Most resumes should be 1-page.
• 8.5” x 11” – white or off-white bond paper
• 0.5” to 0.75” margins
• 1 – 2 fonts is preferable
Resume Preparation
• Include 1 email address, 1 physical address,
and 1 phone number
• Do not include a “references upon request”
section
• Objective statements are discouraged
• Take them to CSC or the Writing Center for
review
Resume Preparation
• Resume Formats
• Reverse Chronological
• Functional
• Combination
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Resume Preparation
• Resume Flow
• Heading
• Education
• Experience
• Leadership
• Skills & Interests
• Career Services
Guide – pgs. 19-32
Cover Letter Preparation
• Cover Letter: Forum to explain why your
skills & experiences qualify you for a position.
• Demonstrate interest & qualifications
• Display your writing skills
• Short & concise – 3-4 paragraphs written
in a business format
• In the same heading as resume
Cover Letter Preparation
• Before You Start
• Conduct research on the organization
• Skim through the job description for a list
of basic & preferred qualifications
• Have your resume drafted
Cover Letter Preparation
• Cover Letter Drafting
• Open with a “hook”
• Give short examples that illustrate your
interest & qualifications (don’t list)
• Expand on your resume, don’t duplicate
• Close with how you will follow-up
Cover Letter Preparation
• Cover Letter Flow
• Opening & Introduction Paragraph
• 2nd Paragraph – Explain qualifications &
provide 1-2 experiences
• 3rd Paragraph – Connect experiences to
the job description
• Closing Paragraph
Career Resources
• Career Consultants
• Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Writing Center
• Career Counselors
• Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Resume & CL Activity
• Break off into groups and spend the next 10
minutes critiquing a resume or cover letter.
Questions?
Reach out to us…
careerservices@cmc.edu
CMC Career Services
CMCCSC
@CMCCSC