Writing Effective Cover
Letters and Resumes
Developing Professional
Portfolios
PET 489 Student Teaching Seminar
College of Physical Activity & Sport Sciences
Spring Semester 2012
Lesson Purpose
 To introduce you to the basic
mechanics of writing an effective
cover letter and resume
 To get you started on preparing a
cover letter, resume, and
portfolio for your mock job interview
assignment
Lesson Advance Organizer
 What questions do we need to answer
today about writing an effective
cover letter, resume and portfolio?
What is the purpose of the cover
letter?
 Purpose of the cover letter
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Introduce yourself to employer
Demonstrate interest in vacancy
Draw attention to resume
Motivate reader to interview you
 Cover letter is often your first contact
with an employer!!!
How should cover letters be
organized?
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Introduction (Paragraph 1)
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Body (Paragraphs 2 and 3)
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Include a brief description of your background and why you
are interested in working for that employer
Demonstrate understanding of the position and highlight
how your qualifications relate to it
Include specific examples when possible!!!
Closing (Paragraph 4)
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Capture reader’s attention and identify how you learned
about the position
Describe your follow-up plans for the employer
Establish flow of communication that leads to an interview
Signature Line
General guidelines for effective
letter writing?
 Use an accepted
business letter format
 Limit your letter to
one page
 Personalize each
letter
 Vary your writing
 Use non-sexist
language
 Avoid overusing the
word “I”
 Use attention getting
action verbs and
adjectives
 Proofread!!!
How can I best describe my
qualifications?
 Phrases from performance appraisals, and
letters of recommendation
 Current and past job descriptions and
standards of performance that clearly reflect
job expectations and responsibilities
 Desirable characteristics and requested
skills for similar jobs
 Newspaper editorials and business
sections to help write paragraphs about your
industry, occupation, or the economy
Other suggestions for writing
your cover letter?
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Attend cover letter writing workshop
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Visit Career Services for help with your cover letter
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Match paper and font with presentation resume
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Indicate additional enclosures with resume packet
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Retain a copy of each cover letter in a file
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Develop 2-3 paragraphs that work and modify them
slightly to personalize each letter
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Remember to sign all of your cover letters!!!
What is a resume?
 A summary of your qualifications for
employment – “picture of you” in words
only
 Resume Types
 Working resume
 Presentation resume
 Chronological
 Functional
 Combination
Chronological Resume
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Traditional resume
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Chronological resume order
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Start with current position and
work backwards
Points of emphasis
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Recommended for new college
grads
Objective
Work history
Education
Feedback regarding the sample
traditional resume provided?
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Layout/appearance
Order of elements
Written content
Overall impression
Functional Resume
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Functional resume
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Functional resume order
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Experiences grouped according to
qualifications rather than time
Points of emphasis
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Recommended for people making
career changes and/or those with gaps
in work history
Highlights of qualifications
Experience or qualifications
Abbreviated work history
Education
Feedback regarding the sample
functional resume provided?
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Layout/appearance
Order of elements
Written content
Overall impression
What information could I include in
my own resume?
 Heading
 Special Skills
 Professional
Objective
 Awards and
Honors
 Education
 Experience
 Activities
 References
 Separate sheet
 Provide if requested
In what order should information
be presented?
 Heading is always first
 Objective is second, when used
 Present rest of information in order
that best supports your objective
and qualifications
Should I provide personal
information or disclose a disability?
 Personal Information
 Disability Disclosure
Additional Topics
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Length of resume
Resume templates
Proof-reading
Quality of resume paper
Sending your resume
School district applications
Additional support on campus
What about follow-up?
 Follow-up of your application is essential
 Consider preparing a script for your followup call
 Call between T and TH early in morning or late
afternoon
 Leave a message on voicemail – let them
know that you would like a return call and state
where you can be reached
 Be persistent – call back within a week if you
don’t
Thank You & Acceptance Letters
Take-home Messages I
 The cover letter is an important
extension of your resume
 In many instances it represents your
first contact with an employer
 Use the structure discussed in class
to communicate key information
Take Home Messages II
 Be clear and concise in your writing
 Formatting must be consistent and
error free
 Do not over-inflate qualifications or
experience
Mock Job Interview: Cover Letter
 You cover letter is due
during the last week
of seminar
 Needs to be rated as
“Satisfactory”
 Rating of 3 out of 5
point Likert scale
 Evaluation criteria
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Layout/appearance
Order of elements
Written content
Overall impression
Professional Portfolios
What is the purpose of a
Professional Portfolio?
 Purpose of a Professional Portfolio
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To demonstrate professional knowledge & skills
To provide evidence of growth and achievement over time.
To showcase self-analysis and critical reflection on
educational & professional experiences
 Uses of a Professional Portfolio
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To illustrate your knowledge & skills in interviews or job
appraisals
To make your teaching visible so you can:
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Exhibit the evidence that your practices align with best
practices
Reflect on your practice & establish learning goals and/or
targets
Track your progress toward meeting goals and/or target
Campbell, Melenyzer, Nettles, & Wyman, 1997
What is needed?
 A clear, concise, and coherent case
that you
 are worthy of special notice
 have a wealth of strengths & abilities
that are worth considering for the
position
 have professional achievements that set
you above others
Essential Elements of a
Professional Portfolio
Teaching philosophy
Student work
Teacher reflections on
student work/learning
A selective collection of
your work
Reflections to what you
have learned about
planning,
implementation,
classroom
management, etc.
A synthesis of your
skills and knowledge
Easily done in tabular format
Organization of a
Professional Portfolio
Sample Sections
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Ongoing Professional Learning
Planning
Teaching Areas of Special
Interest
Profiles of Pupil Learning
Special Needs
Assessment & Evaluation
Classroom Management
Technology
Leadership & Community
Service
WVU PETE Sections
Format
 Electronic
Pros:
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Cons:
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Accessible from any
location
Interactive artifacts
Cost effective
A send-ahead tool
Internet connectivity
problems
Technical difficulties
(incompatible programs)
Non-tech savvy
administrators
 Printed
Pros:
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Cons:
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Physical artifacts to
prompt interview
responses
Portable
Expense (printing,
copying, binding,
organizing tabs)
Difficult to send-ahead
3-steps to assembling a
Professional Portfolio
1. Collection
2. Selection
3. Reflection
1. Collection
Collect artifacts generated
during educational and
professional experiences
 Examples:
Samples of evaluations by
professors, peers, and
supervisors
Field experience evaluation
forms
Photographs
Activities in professional
organizations
Attendance and presentations
at conferences
 Examples cont.
Volunteer services
Evidence of being a life-long
learner
Personal interests, talents, and
skills related to your
professional and personal
development
Evidence of student learning
Consider including a
variety of artifacts
2. Selection
A. Select the best
 Consider your
audience
C. Explain the artifacts
 Clearly describe the
artifact
 Be highly selective
 Include context – why
was artifact
a) created?
b) used?
B. Guide your reader
 Create clear Table of
contents
 Describe how and why
the portfolio is
organized
Label electronic
documents
properly!!!
3. Reflection
 Provide a reflective statement with each
artifact to
 Highlight lessons learned
 Provide clear and simple statements that showcase
skills and knowledge
 Associate to educational goals or professional
standards
Before Sharing
 Proof-read!!!
 Share with others for review
 Is the portfolio easy to navigate?
 Are all documents labeled properly and easy
to find?
 Do all documents and files open?
 Spelling & grammar?
 Any extraneous OR missing artifacts?
 Clarity of narratives?
 Length of narratives?
Sharing Your Successes
Steps for sharing LiveText
portfolio
1.
Click on Visitor Pass link on right side of screen (in Quick
Links)
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Create a New Visitor Pass
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Go to your LiveText portfolio document
1.
Click on Share icon
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5.
Title should include your name
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Search for “Viewer” – type in the name of new Visitor Pass you just
created
Select “Add”
Go back to Visitor Pass page to ensure your document is
attached to the Pass.
Record the PASS CODE (i.e. XIST97S)
Share with others by:
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Providing this url: www.livetext.com
Providing the PASS CODE for your Visitor Pass
Instruct them to click on “Visitor Pass” icon on top of LiveText
homepage