CAREER ADVISING:

Resume & Cover Letter

Guide Booklet

If you have any questions, please contact your local career advisor.

Bedford County Campus

(Pennsylvania) MaryAnn Clark

mclark@allegany.edu 814-652-9528 ext.6204

Cumberland Campus (Maryland)

Danielle Foote dfoote@allegany.edu

301-784-5235

Source: Career Readiness, National Association of Colleges and Employers

Can you demonstrate

these skills, talents, and strengths in the workplace?

Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in this process, and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.

Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization. The individual has public speaking skills; is able to express ideas to others; and can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively.

Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure and can negotiate and manage conflict.

Leverage existing digital technologies ethically and efficiently to solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals. The individual demonstrates effective adaptability to new and emerging technologies.

Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. The individual is able to assess and manage his/her emotions and those of others; use empathetic skills to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize, and delegate work.

Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits, e.g., punctuality, working productively with others, and time workload management, and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work image. The individual demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind, and is able to learn from his/her mistakes.

Identify and articulate one's skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position desired and career goals, and identify areas necessary for professional growth. The individual is able to navigate and explore job options, understands and can take the steps necessary to pursue opportunities, and understands how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

Attributes Employers Seek on a Candidate's Resume

Attribute % of respondents

Leadership 80.1%

Ability to work in a team 78.9%

Communication skills (written) 70.2%

Problem-solving skills 70.2%

Communication skills (verbal) 68.9%

Strong work ethic 68.9%

Initiative 65.8%

Analytical/quantitative skills 62.7%

Flexibility/adaptability 60.9%

Technical skills 59.6%

Interpersonal skills (relates well to others) 58.4%

Computer skills 55.3%

Detail-oriented 52.8%

Organizational ability 48.4%

Friendly/outgoing personality 35.4%

Strategic planning skills 26.7%

Creativity 23.6%

Tactfulness 20.5%

Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker 18.6%

Source: Job Outlook 2016, National Association of Colleges and Employers

HARD SKILLS:

Hard skills are the special knowledge skills that you’ve learned to do throughout your

life.

Observable measureable, and learnable.

Practical skills you are learning now in college to complete job responsibilities.

Specialized knowledge and abilities required for success in chosen career area.

They include such abilities as swimming, writing, programming computers, mathematics

problems, building a house, creating a budget, cooking pizza, and designing a garden,

etc.

These skills are from a teacher, coach, mentor, book, etc.

These are essential to qualify for a job, and without them you won’t get an

interview.

SOFT SKILLS:

Soft skills are developed to cope with life.

Your attributes and personality traits that affect your interactions.

Also known as transferable skills

Can help you in a wide range of jobs

Once mastered will apply to any job and you don't have to re-learn them

They include such abilities as making responsible choices, motivating yourself, being

industrious, developing mutual supportive relationships, and demonstrating self-

awareness, etc.

Many of these skills have been learned unconsciously as you faced life challenges.

These skills tend to be helpful in any career.

These skills often help you get the job and keep the job.

Source: Downing, Skip. On course study skills plus: strategies for creating success in college and in life.

Boston:Cengage, 2016.

Action Verbs to use on your Resume

Achieve Administer Advise Analyze Answer Apply Arrange Assemble Assess Assist Build Calculate Categorize Chart Classify Coach Code Collaborate Collect Communicate Compile Complete Compose Compound Compute Conduct Confer Conserve Consolidate Construct Consult Contact Contribute Control Coordinate Copy Correspond Counsel Create

Define Delegate Deliver Demonstrate Design Determine Develop Devise Diagnose Direct Distribute Edit Eliminate Establish Estimate Evaluate Examine Expand Explain Formulate Gather Generate Guide Handle Help Identify Illustrate Implement Improve Increase Initiate Install Institute Instruct Interact Interpret Interview Invest Investigate Judge

Lead Lecture Maintain Manage Measure Mediate Modify Monitor Motivate Negotiate Obtain Offer Operate Order Organize Outline Perform Persuade Plan Prepare Prescribe Present Process Produce Promote Protect Prove Provide Realize Receive Recommend Record Recruit Reduce Refer Regulate Relate Reorganize Repair

Represent Research Respond Restore Retrieve Review Revise Revitalize Search Select Sell Serve Simplify Solve Spearhead Speculate Sponsor Study Succeed Summarize Supervise Supply Support Synthesize Teach Test Train Translate Troubleshoot Tutor Unite Utilize Verify Volunteer Write

Career Coach Resume Builder https://allegany.emsicc.com/

Step 1: Click on Sign Up and Build Your Resume found at the bottom of the page on the right-hand side Step 2: Create a Profile Step 3: Fill in the fields following fields by using the “Click to Add” button found in each category listed below:

Contact Information

Work Experience

Education History

Skills

Links

Step 4: Click on “Download your Resume” or “Upload to CareerBuilder”

Resume will then be generated into a Word document

Step 5: Once your resume has been created, you will be able to

Download to a USB drive, and to your computer

Go back to Resume Builder and continue to fill out or make edits

RESUME

EXAMPLES

Stefani Jones

345 South Broad Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

(301) 772-5678 (home) (416) 531-9948 (cell)

sjones@gmail.com

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a position as a Medical Office Administrative Assistant.

EDUCATION

Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) Cumberland, MD

Associate of Applied Science, Office Technologies May 2011

Administrative Assistant

Relevant Coursework

Document Processing Information Management

Financial Accounting Administrative Office Procedures

Transcription Systems

EXTERNSHIP

Primary Care Physicians Cumberland, MD

Medical Receptionist Sept. – Dec. 2011

Obtained and processed patients’ medical insurance information quickly and

accurately.

Maintained up-to-date computer-based laboratory test results and patient

information.

Communicated with physicians and medical support staff to determine the need

for patient services.

Typed patient correspondence and entered data into computerized medical records

system.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, and Publisher

Centricity Advance Electronic Health Record (EHR) software

LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

President, Medical Office Technology Club, 2010

Volunteer, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, ACM, 2010

HONORS

Recipient, Anne Francis Combs Memorial Scholarship, 2010

Dean’s List, 2009-2012

James Devers jdevers@comcast.net

1005 Windmill Drive, Baltimore, MD 25770 (301) 785-2219

OBJECTIVE

To obtain an entry-level position in human services utilizing my knowledge and experience working with

youth, families, and children.

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science in Human Service Associate December 2011

Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland, MD

RELEVANT COURSEWORK

Group Processes, Introduction to Counseling and Interviewing, Helping Techniques, Introduction to

Abnormal Psychology, Mind/Body Skills for Health and Healing

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

Intern Jan. 2011-present

Big Brothers, Big Sisters Hagerstown, MD

Prepare match files for annual audit

Aid case managers with parent, child and volunteer interviews

Develop a system for completing monthly supervision forms for matches

Supervise cases for Hagerstown and Frederick site-based programs

Assist with Bowl For Kid’s Sake fundraiser

Intern, After-School and Tutoring Program Coordinator May 2005-Sept. 2009

Baltimore Friendship House Baltimore, MD

Recruited volunteers to help tutor children

Tutored elementary age children in all subjects two days per week

Provided after-school activities for elementary-age children two days per week

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Cashier Jan. 2010- present

McDonalds Hagerstown, MD

Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits

Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers

Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints

Count money in cash drawer at the beginning and ending of shift

Greet customers and provide good communication to customers entering and leaving

establishment

Maintain clean and orderly checkout areas and complete other general cleaning duties, such as

mopping floors and emptying trash cans.

Jamie Bookhammer 542 DANS ROAD, OCEAN CITY, MD 00446 – (619) 350-2557; JBOOKH@GMAIL.COM

OBJECTIVE Pursue a full-time position as a Marketing Assistant

EDUCATION

2016 Allegany College of Maryland, Cumberland, MD

Associate of Science in Business Administration

Concentration: Marketing, Management

GPA: 3.2

CAREER SKILLS

Marketing

Developed a marketing plan to focus on new markets

Designed print advertisements and posters

Prepared budget and planned advertising and promotions

Wrote and recorded 30-second radio spots

Sales

Built long-term relationships with customers through excellent

service

Increased sales dollars per customer by cross-selling

Management

Co-managed store operations

Wrote employee training manual

Created company mission statement

Reconciled daily intake of money and made bank deposits

Technology

Experienced in Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXpress

Knowledge of HTML and XML

Proficient with Microsoft Office and Publisher

WORK HISTORY

2016 Marketing Intern, Propane Central, Bismark, MD

2015 Marketing Intern, Baltimore Public Library, Baltimore, MD

2012-2014 Sales Associate, Impressions, Ocean City, MD

COMMUNITY

SERVICE Allegany Public Library Reading Program, Relay for Life

Richard Sefton

431 Lakeshore Drive

Timonium, MD 25113

Cell: (522) 467-2290

SKILLS SUMMARY

BLS (Basic Life Support)

Teamwork

Magnetic Resonance Procedures

Knowledge of Anatomical structures

Proper use of machinery

Recognize Emergency patient

conditions

Provide excellent patient care services

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science Degree: Radiology

Allegany College of Maryland

Expected Date of Graduation: May 2012

Major GPA: 2.9

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Radiology Assistant, Western Maryland Health System Cumberland, MD

September 2009 – present (120 hours)

Performed radiographic examinations low amount techniques, positioned patients, selected and set technical factors and adjusted equipment parameters by taking consideration of physical differences

Performed mammography examinations by using conventional and high-tech equipment

Maintained sterile bag, Catheters and contract materials

Ultrasound Tech, Pittsburgh Hospital Pittsburgh, MD

May 2009-August 2009 (60 hours)

Handled the tasks of evaluating accurate and quality X-rays/images

Diagnosed disease by using computer assisted tomography, radiology, nuclear medicine and ultra sound

Examined internal structures and functions of organs, making diagnosis after co-relation of X-ray findings with tests and examinations

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Desk Attendant, Allegany College of Maryland, Cumberland, MD

September 2009 – present

Answer incoming phone calls, sort mail and sign-in guests

Record and report maintenance concerns to apartment complex coordinator

COVER LETTER

EXAMPLES

Your Name

your phone number your address

your email address your city, state

Date

Name of Person to Contact

Title of Contact

Address for position/HR

Dear Name of Person to Contact:

First paragraph Tell why you are writing; name the position, field, or

general career area in which you are interested. Tell how you heard of the opening or organization (this is especially important if you were referred by a

mutual contact). Reference your enclosed or attached resume. Second paragraph This paragraph helps to expand on information in

your resume. Mention one or two of your qualifications that you believe will be of greatest interest to the organization, slanting your remarks to their point of view. Tell why you are particularly interested in the employer, location, or type

of work. If you have related experience or specialized training, be sure to point it out.

Third paragraph Close by making a request for an opportunity to talk

with the employer. Indicate that you will follow up with a phone call or e-mail

about the possibility of a meeting. Thank the employer for his/her consideration of your application materials.

Sincerely,

Your handwritten signature goes here Your typed name

Jane States (301) 784-4976 (cell) 14 Oak Street, Apt. 1

jstates@acm.edu Cumberland, MD 21502

April 14, 2011

Mr. Joseph Best

Corporate Recruiter

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

555 Main Street

Cumberland, MD 21502

Dear Mr. Best:

Please find enclosed my resume and application for the Management Trainee position

Enterprise recently advertised in the Cumberland Times News. Upon graduation from Allegany College

of Maryland in May, it is my desire to gain full-time employment so that I may remain in the Cumberland

area. Upon reading your advertisement, I was excited to learn of a management opportunity that would

utilize my strong communications and marketing skills along with my previous business experience.

Over the past two years, I have played a key role in marketing Allegany College of Maryland

(ACM) as a work-study student in both the Admissions and Public Relations offices. I have interacted

with the public of all ages and demographic backgrounds. My role has been to engage with future

students, parents, alumni and the general public in a manner that builds enthusiasm and energy for

attendance at ACM. Allegany College of Maryland is recognized for its strong relationship with the

Cumberland community, and I am proud to have been a small part of facilitating many positive

interactions. I have also excelled at public speaking and am consistently designated as the group

spokesperson for oral presentations. This shows I can convey detailed information in a format that

audiences can understand as well as an ability to think on my feet when asked difficult questions or

when part of the presentation does not go as planned.

This position offers me an opportunity to utilize my marketing, communication, and leadership skills

toward increasing Enterprise’s market share in the car rental industry. I will contact you the week of

April 21 to follow-up on my application. If you would like to contact me prior to this, I can be reached by

email at jstates@acm.edu or at (301) 784-4976 (cell). Thank you for your consideration and assistance.

Sincerely,

Jane States