Resume/ Cover letter Workshop
PRESENTED BY
Rita Di Carlo
LeBow Office of
Undergraduate Career Services
Resume Writing Basics
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Use industry terminology and phrases
Be RELEVANT and FOCUSED
Length: 1 page
Format: use bold, italics, bullets (but don’t overdo)
No abbreviations except State
Acronyms – also spell out in parentheses
Begin phrases with different verbs – avoid assist,
aid, help
No personal pronouns! (I, we, you, he/she)
Contact Information Section
• Name
• Professional email
• Professional voicemail
• Local address
• One set of contact information
preferable
Education Section
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List all post-secondary institutions
List study abroad experiences
List major and concentration(s)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Concentrations: Marketing and Finance
Anticipated Graduation: June 2010
GPA: 3.0 / 4.0
Skills Section
Computer (Software & Hardware)
• Operating Systems
• Industry Relevant Skills
-Relevant skill sets, equipment, etc.
• Languages (fluent, conversational)
-No need to state fluent in English
for domestic job searches
Experience Section
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Work (part time, full time, internships)
Volunteering
Activities (student organizations)
Academic projects (Mike’s Bikes)
Other (conference presentations)
Reverse chronological order
Dates include month and year
List City, State
Accomplishment Statements
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Writing Accomplishment Statements:
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Formula for writing accomplishment statements:
• What you did
• Why did you do it
• What were the results
• What are the specifics (quantifiers)
Action Verb + Object + Context/Purpose + Results
Accomplishment Statements
Analysis of an Accomplishment
 [Managed and reconciled (action verb)] [a cash drawer (object)] [of up
to $3,000 daily (context and quantifiers)], [maintaining accurate end-ofday balance (results)]
Examples of Accomplishments
 Managed website design project from needs assessment survey to
implementation.
 Exceeded every monthly sales quota for shoes, improving sales 15%
in six months.
 Initiated effective parenting program resulting in a 20% increase in
enrollment.
 Recruited 10 volunteers for Project Santa 2005, raising $10,000 and
buying food and gifts to benefit the families of 100 local children.
Work Experience
Example of Poor, but Acceptable Experience
Administrative Assistant, ABC Company
• Made appointments for counselors
• Answered phones
• Showed students career library
• Sold “Guide to Career Planning”
Work Experience
Example of Exceptional
Accomplishment/Purpose Experience
Administrative Assistant, ABC Company
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Used computerized appointment system to schedule student
appointments for staff of eight
Scheduled over 425 employer appointments with students
during on-campus recruitment
Introduced approximately 50 students weekly to office services
Increased annual sales of office career manual by 20% by
creating display space
Other Experiences
Volunteer Experience:
Junior Achievement, Drew Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA
Teaching Assistant, September 2007-Present
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Instructed and tutored a class of second grade students in math and held an
after-school program
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Analyzed student’s learning styles to fully engage student participants
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Created handouts and supplementary materials for lessons
Organizational Involvement:
Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting, Finance, MIS Honor Society)
Drexel Chapter
Recruitment/Public Relations Chair
September 2007-Present
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Create promotional materials to advertise events on campus
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Write articles for national organization regarding events and achievements of the
chapter
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Contact alumni and corporate contacts to organize resume critiques days and
networking events
Activities
Activities/Other Section
•Community Service, Volunteering
• Activities
• Clubs, Offices or Chairs held
•Junior Achievement
•Peer Leader
•Certifications
•Professional Organizations
•Professional Development
•Publications
Objectives/Career Summaries
Objective or Career Summary / Profile
• Career Summary or Profile section
• Advantage to Summary / Profile:
• Synopsis of your qualifications
• How you meet or exceed their
expectations
• Focus on accomplishments
• Think “big picture” – summarize
Objectives/Career Summaries
Summary / Profile
Example of components of a Career Profile/Summary:
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Two years professional experience in sales and marketing
Proven success planning and facilitating events for 100500 guests
Exceeded sales quota, improving overall sales 15% in first
six-months on the job
Tips:
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List all of your top selling points in bullets
Use paragraph or bullets and list phrases that show your
overall accomplishments
E-Resumes
Emailed Resumes or Upload to Website
• Attach document as a Word document named:
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firstname_lastname.doc
Send an E-Cover Letter in the email text. This
should be similar to a regular cover letter, but
briefer.
Tell them your resume is attached.
Always view your document. Sometimes formatting
changes.
Scannable Resumes
Resumes that are entered into a database
• Text documents – standard font
• Left align and no formatting
• To emphasize, use CAPS
• For bullets, use * - ~
• No characters should touch. Write dates 2 / 2002 - ...
• Use industry jargon and phrases from job description
References
Not on your resume
 Separate page
 Start thinking of
individuals to ask
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John Ryan
123 Alphabet Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.555.1212
email@comcast.com
REFERENCES
1. Campbell O’Brien
Director of Sales
ABC Company
123 Chase Lane
Swedesboro, PA 19245
(215)888-8888
Cobrien@yahoo.com
Cover Letter Format
Purpose of Cover Letters:
• Show your interest and enthusiasm
• Describe your skills and qualifications and how you meet the
employer’s needs
• Opportunity to show that you know something about the
employer
• It is an example of your business writing skills
Components:
• Heading like resume
• Address to a person (if applicable)
• 3-4 paragraphs
• Relevant and focused
• Business letter format
Cover Letter Format
First Paragraph:
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Catch their eye
Mention the position
Middle Section:
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1 or 2 paragraphs or 1 paragraph and one
bulleted section
Match your skills and qualifications to the
employer’s needs
(Optional) Mention why you want to work for
the company – something impressive, not
external factors like benefits, location, etc.
Closing Paragraph:
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Thank the employer for time and consideration
Accounting (Job Description)
Skills Required:
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Analyze and consolidate divisional and/or
subsidiary data
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Interact with corporate, divisional and subsidiary
financial personal
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Research federal and state tax legislation and
regulations
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Coordinate, analyze and prepare correspondence
related to tax audits and assessments
Resources
http://www.lebow.drexel.edu/CareerService
s/Undergraduate/Links.php
Questions