Resumes and Cover Letters
Practical English
Mr. Froh
Resumes - Content
• Contact Information
• Objective – General or Specific
• Education
• Experience
– Work
– Organizations, volunteer experience
• References
• Honors, Awards
Resume Tips
• Direct your resume not toward what
you have done, but what you want to
do; the future, not the past, goals, not
accomplishments
• Promote yourself as a possible
employee first and foremost, as an
individual secondarily.
Most Important…
•Honesty and Integrity!!!
– False information or lying will not only
expose you and embarrass you if you get
the job, but will make it much harder to
get another job when you get fired from
this one!
Cover Letter
What is it?
• A letter to the person doing the hiring
explaining why you should be hired for
the job. Another chance to exhibit
your knowledge, skills, and abilities
• A resume written in your own words!
Cover Letter Content
• Write your cover letter in the format of
a formal business letter.
• Address it directly to the person who
would hire you. Address that person
using the correct title.
• Tailor it specifically to the company
and position.
– Do not create a generic form letter!
Cover Letter Tips
• NO spelling or grammar errors!
• Write naturally, in your own words, but
intelligently
• Exhibit your knowledge; use terms or
phrases that apply to the industry and
the specific position. Respond to the
posted advertisement for the position.
Most Important…
•Honesty and Integrity!!!
– False information or lying will not only
expose you and embarrass you if you get
the job, but will make it much harder to
get another job when you get fired from
this one!
Some Examples
• Mr. Fry’s Resume
• Mr. Fry’s Cover Letter
• Sources and more helpful tips
– All the tips and information in the lesson came
from Mr. Hilker’s Educ. 316, Technology
Enhanced Instruction web page and Mr. Froh’s
resume lesson.
– Click here to explore more tips and samples.
» Take the Resume Quiz here
The Resume Quiz
• Where should your name be on your
resume?
–
–
–
–
Upper right corner
Signed at the bottom or end
Center top
Never put your name on your resume
The Resume Quiz
• Which educational experience should
come first on your resume?
– High school information
– Your dog’s obedience class info
– Kindergarten class information
The Resume Quiz
• What should you NOT include in
descriptions of past employment?
–
–
–
–
Company name and location
Why you got fired
Position and dates of employment
Brief description of duties and
responsibilities
The Resume Quiz
• Who should you address your cover
letter to?
–
–
–
–
Yourself
The company you want to work for
Britney Spears, C/O rehabilitation clinic
The person at the company who will hire
for the position
The Resume Quiz
• Why do you need a cover letter if you have
a resume already?
– To repeat all your information from your resume
– To explain your qualifications and demonstrate
your knowledge in your own words
– To show the company that you can write “real
good”
– Because you have nothing better to do that write
several letters
Nice Job!
• You all are officially resume experts;
you should have no trouble getting the
job of your dreams if you use your
newfound knowledge when writing
your resumes! Good luck!