Allan Rodgers, MBA, MEd
Associate Professor, Business
Vermont Technical College
arodgers@vtc.edu
Cover Letter & Resume Workshop
January 11, 2011
Topics
What do employers want?
 How to create a resume
 How to write a cover letter
 Hints and tips

2
What Do Employers Want?

In a survey of 125 Vermont leaders, essential missing skills
among employees include
 Communication
 Teamwork/Team building
Candidates
 Work Ethic
should highlight
 Basic Computer
these skills
wherever
 Multi-tasking
possible.
 Basic reading, math, writing
 Conflict Management
 Project Management
3
How to create a resume
A resume…







Should help get an interview
Serves as a personal advertisement
Is an introduction
Can save you and an employer time
Helps you and an employer plan an interview
Can give you a competitive advantage if done well
Should be customized to the job
4
How to create a resume
Step One: Inventory your
assets
 Don’t try to compose
perfectly “on the
computer”
 Plan to list more assets
than you may need for
any one specific job
 For each applicable job,
list your Responsibilities,
Skills, Accomplishments,
and Knowledge.
R
K
Jobs You
Had or
Have
S
A
5
How to create a resume
1.
2.
3.
4.
Responsibilities
Know
1.
2.
3.
4.
Jobs
You Had
or Have
Accomplish
1.
2.
3.
4.
Skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
6
Assets Inventory
For accomplishments, use action verbs…
reorganized, reduced, expanded,
supervised, planned, coordinated
 For skills, avoid generalizations…be
specific…avoid pronouns – I, we, etc.
 In all cases, be specific, e.g.,

“Planned and implemented new inventory
control system, saving $10,000 per year.”
7
Asset Inventory

Education








State each degree earned
Record dates in worksheet
List majors, minors, dissertations if applicable
If attended, but no degree, list name of college
If currently enrolled, list with expected completion date
List any job-related training
List any special skills
No need to list high school if attended college
8
Asset Inventory
Home duties –list any responsibilities, skills,
accomplishments, knowledge…e.g.,
designed and built home addition
 Hobbies - list any responsibilities, skills,
accomplishments, knowledge…e.g., won
state bowling championship
 Associations/Professional affiliations
 Publications

9
Writing your resume:
Match your assets with the job
Resume Content
Asset
Inventory
Job
Requirements
10
Writing your resume:
Match your assets with the job





Go to the job description and highlight every
descriptive word:
“Wanted: Energetic, people-oriented sales person
for small retail operation …”
Now, go to your inventory assets and highlight
matching or similar words
Expect to write several drafts of your resume!
Expect to write adapt or re-write your resume for
every job or opportunity.
11
Resume Formats
Format
Style
Good For
Avoid
Chronological
Lists
employment &
education
newest to oldest
Shows career path
Conventional fields
Ease of reading
Easy organization
If there are
employment gaps
Job changers
Functional
List most
relevant
functions first
Shows strength &
skills
Brings important
older skills to top
If you want to
show growth &
development
Other
• Combination
• Targeted
• Keyword
Customized for
specific job title
or job
description
Focusing on
functional needs of
one job
If unable to spend
time researching
company/job
12
10 seconds…
the time recruiters spend
screening your resume for the
first time.
13
What’s in a resume?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Contact information
Career Objective
Summary of Qualifications
Work Experience
Education, training, professional development
Licenses & certifications
Associations & professional affiliations
Publications
Other skills
14
1. Contact Information
John Smith
99 Greenfield Drive
Stowe, VT 05672
(802) 777-5555
John.smith@gmail.com
 Do you have a
professional email
address?
15
2. Career Objective
Career Objective: Management position in
retail sales
 Be concise!
It’s okay to have short and
long term objectives.
Avoid a career objective that
simply copies the job opening
16
3. Summary of Qualifications
Energetic, motivated, quick learner who
enjoys working with the public.
Adept at computer and telephone sales.
 This can and should
change for each job.
17
4. Experience
A. Chronological
1. Job (newest date)



2.
Accomplishment
Accomplishment
Accomplishment
Assistant Sales Manager
(dates)



Managed 4 employees
Updated pricing system
Reduced excess inventory
by 20%
B. Functional
 Retails Skills


Computer Skills


Managed 4 employees
Updated pricing system
Inventory Skills

Reduced excess inventory by
20%
18
5. Education
Most recent degree
 Certifications

19
Other Resume Areas
6.
Licenses & certifications

7.
Associations & professional affiliations

8.
Member: Greater Boston Retail Association
Publications

9.
Microsoft Certified
“Selling to Minorities,” Journal of Marketing,
June 2009
Other skills

Developed personal website
20
Resume Do’s & Do Not’s
Do
Do Not
 Check spelling, grammar,
X Use abbreviations or acronyms
X Include references
X Mention salary expectations or
wage history
X Use “I”
X Include a photograph for most
resumes
X Use a cursive or fancy
style font





typos
Use 8 ½ x 11 white paper
Use generous margins
Use one font – easy to read
(Times or Arial, e.g.)
Use 12 size font
Stick to one page if possible
21
How to write a cover letter
22
Types of cover letters
Type of Letter
Description
Application
Answers a specific job ad;
Focuses on matching your
qualifications with specific job
Cold Contact
Sent to employer without specific job
Match your qualifications with
perceived needs of employer based on
research
Referral
Usually sent from leads provided by
others
Mentions person who provided
company information
23
What’s in the cover letter?
Paragraph 1: Why are you writing & how you
heard of the opening or company (or
person referring you)
Paragraphs 2 (&3): What you have to
offer…demonstrate you understand the
needs of the company…state how you meet
those needs
Paragraph 4: Say something positive about the
company
Paragraph 5: Thanks… how will you follow up
24
Cover letter tips
Use a person’s name (may require calling)
 Highlight most relevant background
 Use key words for scannable letters &
resumes
 Use same paper, font, format as resume
 Keep it to one page
 No typos, errors, etc.
 Keep a copy

25
Questions?
Thank you and good luck!
For additional help, contact your
local Vermont Department of Labor
office.
26