RESUMES,
REFERENCES, COVER
LETTERS AND
INTERVIEWS
Micah
Willeford
Jennifer
Greenwood
Career
Specialists
RESUMES
Tips and
Tricks
RESUMES
GENERAL PRACTICES
◼Keep a file of everything!
◼Use bulleted lists
◼Never use abbreviations or acronyms
◼Keep resume in the correct tense
◼Highlight your strengths
◼Use keywords from the job posting
◼White space is good
◼Stick to the basics (paper, color, font, etc…)
◼Spell check!!
RESUMES
THINGS TO INCLUDE
◼Your contact information
▪ How professional is your e-mail address?
◼[A summary]
◼Current school information
◼Related work experience
◼Extracurricular activities
◼Honors, Awards, Recognitions
◼Skills, Abilities
◼References
▪ Professional, not just personal
EXAMPLE
RESUME
Tell me what you
notice.
What do you like?
What do you not
like?
EXAMPLE
RESUME
Tell me what you
notice.
What do you like?
What do you not
like?
EXAMPLE
RESUME
Tell me what you
notice.
What do you like?
What do you not
like?
RESUME
EXAMPLE
What areas are the focus?
SAMPLE
ACADEMIC
RESUME
What is different?
Where is the
focus?
COVER LETTERS
What should
you
include?
COVER LETTERS
◼ Include your contact information
▪ Consider using a similar header for your cover letter and resume
◼ Employer Contact information
◼ Greeting
▪ Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. Last Name
▪ Dear Hiring Manager
▪ Try to avoid “To Whom It May Concern” Why?
◼ First Paragraph
▪ Include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are
applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a
mutual contact, if you have one.
▪ Yes, tactful name dropping is okay!
◼ Middle Paragraph(s)
▪ Describe what you have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how
your qualifications match the job you are applying for.
▪ This should not be your resume in paragraph form. Just hit the high
points.
COVER LETTERS
◼ Final Paragraph
▪ Thank them for considering you for the position
▪ Let them know you’re looking forward to hearing back from
them, or that you welcome an opportunity to further discuss
your qualifications/interest in the position.
▪ Let them know how you will follow up.
▪ Are you calling next week? Are you planning to wait it out, letting
them make contact first? Will you send a follow up email?
◼ Closing
▪ Sincerely,
▪ Thank you,
▪ Respectfully yours,
◼ Signature
▪ Handwritten, if possible.
▪ Type your name below where you plan to sign
COVER
LETTER
Tell me what you
notice.
What do you like?
What do you not
like?
REFERENCE
REQUEST
LETTER
What should
you
include?
Reference Request Letter
◼Ask early -in person if possible
◼Be prepared for the person to say ‘no’ to your request.
◼Provide the potential reference with your resume, information about the
scholarship, and an envelope you have already addressed and stamped
◼Information about the scholarship would include things such as criteria,
the focus of the scholarship [service, academic, etc.], the name of the
person or group to whom the letter should be addressed, and the deadline.
◼If possible, it’s better to waive your right to see the letter. The scholarship
committee assumes that this will encourage a more candid letter from the
professor, and such a letter will carry more weight.
◼After the process is over, send a thank-you note to the person, and let
them know the result.
Reference Request Letter
◼ Include your contact information
▪ Consider using a similar header for your cover letter and resume
◼ Employer Contact information
◼ Greeting
▪ Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. Last Name
▪ Try to avoid “To Whom It May Concern” Why?
◼ The Letter
▪ Include your purpose for writing.
▪ Give information about the scholarship.
▪ Thank them and give them a way to contact you.
◼ . Closing
▪ Sincerely,
▪ Thank you,
◼ Signature
▪ Handwritten, if possible.
▪ Type your name below where you plan to sign
REFERENCE
REQUEST
LETTER
SAMPLE
ACADEMIC
RESUME
What is different?
Where is the
focus?
INTERVIEWING
Dos and
Don’ts
SOCIAL MEDIA
◼ How many of you have Facebook? Twitter? Tumblr? Four Square? Instagram?
◼ Social networking can influence your career, not just your safety
◼ Are you posting vulgar images or using profanity? Are your friends posting those
things on your wall, or tagging you in them? Are you drinking or smoking, taking
inappropriate pictures, or even complaining about your teachers, parents or current
boss?
◼ What are your privacy settings?
◼ If a potential boss wants to find information on you, they will. Maybe your friend
who already works there shows him your page, thinking they’re helping you…
◼ There are endless examples. Just think about it.
INTERVIEWING
EVERY INTERVIEW WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN THE NEXT. THAT CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO
PLAN AHEAD, OR TO KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT!
◼ What to Wear
▪ Casual
▪ Business Casual
▪ Business Attire
◼ What to Bring with you
▪
▪
▪
▪
Anything they requested
An additional copy/copies of your resume and cover letter
Questions you have for your potential future employer
Paper to jot down things you want to remember
◼ How to Act
▪ Be professional
▪ NO: cell phones, chewing gum, or profanity.
▪ Use formal rather than informal register when speaking
▪ Be yourself
▪ Yes, you want to make a good impression. Yes, you will be nervous. HOWEVER, you
also want them to know who you are.
INTERVIEWING
QUESTIONS YOU CAN EXPECT
◼Tell us about yourself.
▪ Be ready to give about a 2 minute speech about yourself. Mention anything
you’re comfortable with, including:
▪ General information about your family or your hometown
▪ Where you go to school, any activities/organizations in which you are involved
◼Why are you the best candidate for the position/this scholarship?
◼Tell me about a time that you failed and what you learned from it.
◼How do you handle criticism?
◼What do you know about our company/institution/school?
◼What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?
◼What motivates you?
◼What can you contribute to this team?
◼Where do you hope to be in 5 years?
Scholarship Interview
QUESTIONS YOU CAN EXPECT
◼Describe what you think it will take to have a successful college
career?
◼Why did you choose to participate in the various clubs, sports, etc. in
which you have participated in high school?
◼How did you choose your college major? Have you thought about
the possibility of your major changing during your college career?
◼Do you plan to work while attending college? Have you worked while
in High School?
◼How did you select the colleges/universities to which you applied? If
accepted by more than one, how did/will you choose where you will
attend?
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME!
Want to discuss
further? Come see me!
Micah
Willeford
Jennifer
Greenwood
Career Specialists
SHS Counseling Office
MHS Freshman Office
WHS C3