Effective Resume and Cover Letter University Career Services

Effective Resume and Cover Letter University Career Services 12/15/2021 1

Introduction n n 12/15/2021 Creating resumes and cover letters that get results Presented by Student Name 2

Topics of Discussion n n 12/15/2021 Resume guidelines Cover letter guidelines 3

Resume Guidelines n n 12/15/2021 Formats Headings Quality Resources 4

Resume Formats n Chronological u n Functional u n Arranges experience according to functional heading, such as Managerial, Purchasing, or Administrative Combination u 12/15/2021 Lists relevent work experience by company/title in reverse order of when you performed the work Mixes the two styles to highlight progressively complex duties under a functional heading 5

Resume Headings n Indentifying information u n Objective u n n Can go back 10 years, not including high school experience Other u 12/15/2021 Clear, concise, and focused on what you want to do within the organization Education Experience u n Name, address, phone numbers, and email address u Licenses and certifications Skills 6

Resume Quality n n n 12/15/2021 Standard font Laser-printed Solid bullets Mail resume flat, not folded Standard, well-known abbreviations and key words from job description 7

Resume Resources n n n 12/15/2021 Resumes That Knock ‘Em Dead The Resume Kit Electronic Resume Revolution Resume Handbook Designing the Perfect Resume 8

Cover Letter Guidelines n n n 12/15/2021 Qualities of a good cover letter Anatomy of a good cover letter Types of cover letters 9

Qualities of a Good Cover Letter n n n 12/15/2021 Professional, consise, and clear business letter-writing style Employee-centered, not self-centered Recipient’s name and title is correctly spelled Error-free, clean, and visually attractive Highlights skills, qualifications, and experiences most relevant to the position No more than one page printed on quality stationery and envelopes 10

Anatomy of a Good Cover Letter n Opening paragraph u n Middle paragraph(s) u n States reasons for wanting to work for this employer and your qualifications, skills, and experiences in relation to their needs. Closing paragraph u 12/15/2021 Identifies your purpose for writing and how you heard about position or company or who referred you. Thanks recipeint for their time, requests a meeting time, and informs them of how you intend to follow up. 11

Types of Cover Letters n Application u n Prospecting u n Used when contacting an organization that is not currently advertising. Networking u 12/15/2021 Used for positions that have been publicly advertised. Introduces you to a person who can assist you in your career field by providing information on that field and/or on specific opportunities. 12