Designing Persuasive
Resumes and Cover Letters
A Talk
Prepared for
Changshu Institute of Technology
Baotong Gu
Georgia State University
bgu@gsu.edu
July 10, 2008
Overview
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Resumes
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Content Design
Format Design
Cover Letters
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Content Design
Format Design
Applying to Graduate Schools in the U.S.
Resume vs. Cover Letter: What’s
the Difference?
Resume
Cover Letter
Comprehensive
Highlighting
Outline
Detailed but focused
Subtle persuasion
Direct persuasion
Phrases and lists
Complete sentences
Resume: Content Design
What fortune 500 personnel administrators most want to see on
resumes
1.
Your name
2.
Your telephone number
3.
Your college degree
4.
The name of your college
5.
The jobs you have held
6.
Your address
7.
Your major course of study in college
8.
The names of companies that have employed you
9.
The dates of your employment
10. The date you graduated (or expected to graduate) from college
Resume Content: What to Include
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Name
Contact information
Objective
Education
Work experience
Activities & honors
References (maybe)
Resume Content: Name
• What’s there in a name?
• Is it big enough to catch your reader’s attention?
• Does it stand out well so that if there’s only one
thing your reader can remember it will be your
name?
Resume Content: Career Objective
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Strike a balance between specific and general
• To write user documentation for a computer software
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company
Technical writer specializing in user documentation
To work in a business corporation
An interpreter for a large foreign trade corporation
To be a communication specialist in international
business settings utilizing my four years of experience in
foreign trade
Resume Content: Education
What to include:
Education
B.A. in English, July 209
 School
Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu
Concentration: International Business English
 Degree
GPA: 3.5
 Major
Education
 Graduation date
Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu
 Minor
BA in English, July 2009
Concentration: International Business English
 GPA (maybe)
GPA: 3.5
 Honors
 Significant/relevant courses
Resume Content: Work Experience
Professional Experience:
What to Include:
Research Associate, 09/2004-present
 Job title
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing,
China
 Company name
• Synthesizingβ-naphthalene sulfonic acid
• Synthesizing high-polymeric β-naphthalene sulfonic acid-formaldehyde
 Dates of employment
• Researching on properties of Synthesized high-polymeric β-naphthalene
 Description of duties
sulfonic acid-formaldehyde
• Synthesizing alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acid-formaldehyde
• Researching on alkyl anion surfactants
Intern, 07/2004-09/2004
Department of Industry Quality, BeautyCos International Co., Ltd., L’OREAL,
China
• Testing chemical properties of over five hundred pieces of raw chemical
materials
• Testing the purity of over three hundred pieces of raw chemical materials
Intern, 06/2002-09/2002
Department of Chemical Development, Suzhou Tianhua Materials Co., Ltd,
China
• Synthesizing a new type of esterified starch
• Researching on properties of the esterified starch EMSIZE E20
• Publishing a paper, “Synthesis and Research of Esterified Starch,” in
Tianhua Chemicals
Resume Content: Activities &
Honors
In most cases, a
simple listing of
one-to-two-line
items.
If very little work
experience but
significant
amount of
activities,
arrange in the
same way as
work experience
section.
Activities & Honors
Three-month Internship Grant from BeautyCos international Co., Ltd.
L'OREAL China, 2004.
People’s Fellowship, Nanjing University, 2003
Three-month Internship Grant from Suzhou Tianhua Materials Co.,
Ltd., General Agent of Emsland-Starke Unternehmens Gruppe In
Germany, Suzhou, China, 2002
Excellent Intern Award, Suzhou Tianhua Materials Co., Ltd, China,
2002
Excellent Score Award in College English Test Band Six (CET6),
Ministry of Education, China, 2002
People’s Fellowship, Nanjing University, 2002
People’s Fellowship, Nanjing University 2001
Excellent Paper Award, School of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Nanjing University, 2001
Excellent Score Award in College English Test Band Four (CET4),
Ministry of Education, China, 2001
Top 100 Scores in Jiangsu Province, National College Admissions
Tests, China, 2000
Straight A’s in the 2000 Senior High School Graduation Examinations,
2000
Resume Content: Summary of
Qualifications
Your Required Qualifications
B.S. degree in Compute Science
1 year of web design experience
Website sample
6-12 months of classroom
training experience
My Credentials
B.S. in Computer Science
M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Computer Science
and Multimedia Web Design)
4 years of various web design experience
http://iceberg.ewu.edu/debtmgt/moneywise_ewu.php
(sole designer; more than 60 pages of source code)
9 months of direct classroom training experience
tutoring students in a computer literacy course
Resume Content: What If I Don’t
Have Anything?
What to Include When You “Don’t Have Anything”
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Career Objective
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Education
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Computer Skills
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Leadership Skills
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Communication Skills
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Significant/Relevant Courses
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Significant/Relevant Projects
Resumes: Format Design
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Minimalist design
Rule of Proximity
Hanging indent
Visual hierarchy
Design consistency
White space
Page focus
Column alignment
Cover Letter: Content Design
First Paragraph
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Purpose of the letter
Position title advertised
Source of advertisement
Why you are applying (a brief overviewing statement of your qualifications)
Next Paragraphs
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No more than one major qualification each paragraph
Clear topic sentences at the beginning about the major qualification
Good supporting details for your claim of qualification (could use several
details to support your qualification)
Reasonable length
Last Paragraph
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A summarizing statement of your qualifications
Request for further contact
Your own contact information
Cover Letter Content: First
Paragraph
Less Effective
 I am applying for the job you recently advertised. I can offer my
knowledge in the areas necessary for the position as well as in
related areas.
More Effective
 I am applying for the mechanical technologist position advertised
in the CPC Annual. I can offer Boeing my knowledge of avionics
and aircraft electrical systems along with a strong background in
nondestructive testing and advanced composites.
Cover Letter Content: Next
Paragraphs
Less Effective
 My work toward a Bachelor of Science degree at Purdue University has provided me
with knowledge that is ideal of projects such as those at your company. I also can offer
my knowledge and experience in other areas. This extensive knowledge, I believe
,makes me an ideal, if not the perfect, candidate for the position you have open.
 My studies at Purdue University have also allowed me to become qualified in three
important areas. The qualifying certificates I have obtained will make me an extremely
valuable addition to your staff. This knowledge could be applied in the many projects
now underway at your company.
More effective
 My work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Technology, with an
emphasis on avionics, is ideal for projects like Boeing’s remanufacturing of older
Chinook helicopters or in the design of fly-by-wire systems. I also can offer my
knowledge of advanced composites to the design of the Boeing 360 or to the
manufacturing of composite parts for the Boeing jet transports.
 My studies at Purdue University have also allowed me to become level-one qualified
in three nondestructive testing (NDT) areas. The qualifying certificates I have obtained
are in the areas of Eddy Current, Magnetic Particle, and Liquid Penetrant testing. This
knowledge of NDT could be applied in the testing and development of many projects
now underway at Boeing Helicopters.
Cover Letter Content: Last
Paragraph
Less Effective
 I would like to meet with you to discuss your organization and my
qualifications. I can be reached at the above address and telephone number
and I look forward to speaking with you. Again, I believe that I’m perfectly
suited for the position you have open and believe that my services would
greatly improve the quality of work at your company. Thank you for your
time and consideration.
More Effective
 I would like to meet with you to discuss your organization and my
qualifications. I can be reached at 404-123-5678 or johnsmith@hotmail.com
and I look forward to speaking with you. Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Cover Letter: Format Design
Block Style
 Everything left justified, including your own address on top and signature
block at the bottom
 No indentation at the beginning of paragraphs
 Single space within paragraphs and double space between paragraphs
Modified Block Style
 Your address on the right
 Recipient’s address on left (no overlapping on lines)
 Indentation or no indentation at beginning of paragraphs
 Signature block on the right about two-thirds across the page, should be
aligned with your address on top
Cover Letter Openings: Good or
Bad
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I recently read of your opening for a field geologist. One of my professors,
Dr. R. D. Loner, worked for you, and claims that you company was
beneficial to her career. My taking the position would be a great opportunity
to advance my career in geology.
I have spent many summer vacations hiking and camping in Yosemite
National Park, and would like to return to the park as an employee.
Please consider my application for the business-oriented programming
position advertised in the Boston Globe. I will graduate in May from
Eastern University, with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology.
Texaco is a very important leader in the development and distribution of the
world’s energy resources. Would your company have a place on its R&D
team for a mathematician with experience in computer programming?
While attending Eastern University, I have closely followed your company’s
financial statements, and have become highly interested in your sales
growth. Therefore, when Roberta Lowny, Vice-President of Sales for Bando
Sportswear, informed me of an opening in your fabric sales division, I
decided to write immediately.
Cover Letter Closings: Good or
Bad
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I would like an interview with you as soon as possible.
If my qualifications seem to interest you, would you kindly consider the possibility
of contacting me at home (247-754-9867) any weekday after 3 P.M.?
I know I can succeed as a technical writer in the software industry. I look forward to
hearing from you about my placement in your company.
I hope you agree that I am the type of engineer DGH is seeking. Please allow me to
further discuss career opportunities with you.
I feel well qualified for the position as Park Naturalist, and hope you will consider
me for the job. If you need more information or wish to contact me for any reason,
feel free to call at 265-446-5467 any weekday after 4 P.M.
If your department has a place for an enthusiastic intern, I hope you will consider
me. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application with you directly.
I would like to arrange an interview with your company to discuss this position.
Please phone me at your convenience.
I am hardworking, efficient, eager to learn, and anxious for the opportunity to apply
my skills. Please consider me for a summer position.
Applying to Graduate Schools in
the U.S.: What We Consider
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TOEFL
GRE
GPA
Personal Statement
Recommendation Letters
Cover Letter
Writing Sample
Resume (often optional)
Applying for Funding
Types of funding available
 Teaching Assistantships (TA)
 Research Assistantships (RA)
 Fellowships
What’s Considered
 Personal Statement (understanding of the field, research
potential, your philosophy, enthusiasm, etc.)
 Work (teaching or research) Experience
Application Process
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About 1 year in advance (August or September):
Inquiry letter to the department Graduate Director
October: TOEFL and GRE tests
October to December: prepare your application
package: application forms, cover letter, resume,
personal statement, letters of recommendation, writing
sample
December to March: send in your application
March to May: decision from the department
Good Luck!
Questions?
bgu@gsu.edu