Writing an Effective Resume
and Cover Letter
Role
of your Resume
Format and Content of Your Resume
Resume Do’s and Don’ts
Resume Book/Data Base Inclusion Process
Anatomy of a Cover Letter
Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts
Role of your Resume...
 Sets
the direction for your search
 Showcases your skills, attributes and
interests
 Highlights your progress,
accomplishments and skills (essential
elements)
 Elicits an interview
Format and Content
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Transferable skills
Include essential elements (ACR)
Quantify accomplishments/results
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Use of action verbs
Use of articles, periods and personal
pronouns
– Make use of ‘Additional’ section
Transferable Skills
Transferable Skills are determined by your targeted:
INDUSTRY
FUNCTION
COMPANY
POSITION
Transferable Skills
Before:
Design and build responsibility of the 2002
Dodge Ram Truck program.
After:
Coordinated cross-functional team in the
design and build of the 2002 Dodge Ram Truck.
Managed $44 million in equipment and met all
budgetary and timeline oriented milestones.
Format and Content
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Transferable skills
Include essential elements (ACR)
Quantify accomplishments/results
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Use of action verbs
Use of articles, periods and personal
pronouns
– Make use of ‘Additional’ section
ACR
Action – Active Verb/Skill Employed
Context – Background Information
Result – Results of Actions
Redesigned the packaging of a leading parcel
delivery company resulting in $1MM annual
cost savings and 50% reduction in air
pollutants.
Format and Content
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Transferable skills
Include essential elements (ACR)
Quantify accomplishments/results
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Use of action verbs
Use of articles, periods and personal
pronouns
– Make use of ‘Additional’ section
Quantify Accomplishments
 Analyzed
ash receptacle failures and identified
design changes that improved customer
satisfaction and reduced warranty costs by
92%. (Senior Engineer, Manufacturing)
Administered a $1M annual budget and
negotiated maintenance contracts with agencies
outside of the Army in support of $60M worth
of equipment (Maintenance Manager, US
Army)
Format and Content
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Include and structure essential elements (ACR)
Quantify accomplishments/results
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Use of action verbs
Use of articles, periods and personal pronouns
Transferable skills
Make use of ‘Additional’ section
Bullet vs. Paragraph
ANJIMOMOTO CO., INC.
Senior Engineer
 Developed a new granulating machine for instant cup
soup at Knorr, an Anjinomoto subsidiary, whose brand
is owned by Bestfoods. Managed cross-company
projects to introduce new manufacturing machine by
organizing six members. Started production in August
1997 and improved product quality and cost efficiency.
Filed patent application in Japan and US. (Granules
dissolve more easily and uniformly than powders).
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Initiated development of new machinery that
spurred efficient innovation in food processing.
New equipment improved product quality and
decreased production costs by X%.
Managed cross-functional team charged with
development and implementation of new
technology completing project under budget
and before deadline.
Format and Content
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–
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Include essential elements (ACR)
Quantify accomplishments/results
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Use of action verbs
Use of articles, periods and personal
pronouns
– Transferable skills
– Make use of ‘Additional’ section
Action Verbs
Before:
Analysis of marketing opportunities for
strategic fit within scope of organization
After:
Analyzed all marketing opportunities ensuring
their strategic fit within goals of organization.
Format and Content
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–
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Transferable skills
Include essential elements (ACR)
Quantify accomplishments/results
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Use of action verbs
Use of articles, periods and personal
pronouns
– Make use of ‘Additional’ section
Articles, Periods, Personal Pronouns
Analyzed the statistical and the clinical data, resulting
in a 30% reduction of the hospital’s costs
Analyzed statistical and clinical data, resulting in 30%
reduction of hospital costs.
-------------------------------------------------------------I am currently playing on the University of Michigan
Men’s Soccer team, in its first year as a varsity sport
Selected to compete with the University of Michigan’s
Men’s Soccer Team in its first year as a varsity sport.
Format and Content
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Transferable skills
Include essential elements (ACR)
Quantify accomplishments/results
Bullet vs. Paragraph
Use of action verbs
Use of articles, periods and personal
pronouns
– Make use of ‘Additional’ section
Additional Section
Examples:
Effectively invested and tracked life science
portfolio, achieving a 42% gain in 2001.
Avid runner; completed Chicago Marathon in
1998 and 2000
Volunteer basketball coach – 2000-2001
Connoisseur of fine beef and pork barbeque
Resume Do’s and Don’ts.....
DO
- Include core desired skills
- Customize according to targeted industry,
job function and/or company culture
- Quantify your accomplishments
- Include Interests and Hobbies
- Send resume and cover letter via email or
MTrack electronic drop
Resume Do’s and Don’ts.....
Don’t
- Include information about health,
marital status, or willingness to relocate
- Misrepresent work/abilities
- Use current company/function jargon
-Use Purple Paper
Top Tips
Know
the desired skills of your target
industry or function
Review
Use
resumes of previous students
Career Counselors and Staff
Cover Letters - The Facts
Why bother?
Purpose
To Whom and When to Send Cover
Letters
Anatomy of a Cover Letter
OPENING PARAGRAPH - Introduce yourself
and your specific interest in the company.
MIDDLE PARAGRAPH - Highlight areas of
your background that would be of greatest
interest to the company.
CLOSING PARAGRAPH - Outline procedure
for action. Make specific requests.
Cover Letter Do’s & Don’ts
Do
- Highlight Accomplishments not
Responsibilities
- Be Brief
Don’t
-Repeat Resume
-Make Errors
-Make Demands