CS210 - Career Development Strategies

Unit 5 SeminarJob Search Documents

Agenda

• Unit 6 project – preview• Types of Resumes• Components of a Resume• Cover letters – General Rules• References• Plain Text… what does THAT mean?• Resume Review… what do you think?• Wrapping it up

Unit 6 Project preview

• Contains:–Resume–Cover letter–Reference PAGE (yes, page)–Plain Text/Online version of your resume,

cover letter and reference page

Resumes…

Types of resumes:– Chronological– Functional– Combination– Targeted

What do I include on my resume?

Information commonly found on a resume:• Name and contact information (of course!)• Objective statement, Professional Profile or

Summary of Qualifications• Education• Work history• Certifications or Licensures• Memberships/Affiliations

Objective Statement

- Not necessary if it doesn’t work for you

- If you use an objective statement, be sure it lets the employer know the type of work you are currently pursuing

Sample Objective Statement – What do you think?

1. Seeking a position in management with an opportunity for advancement.

2. A career with a reputable organization where I can use my education, skills, abilities and experience in an executive capacity, where I can effectively contribute to operations in any capacity that best matches my skills and experience.

More Objective Statements… what do you think?

3. A position in the accounting field where excellent analytical and technical skills can be utilized to improve the company's profitability.

4. Seeking a position which will allow me to utilize my network administrator skills in a NT/Novell environment interoperating with WAN/LAN connectivity.

5. A position in a reputable law firm where my skills in research and communication can assist in the protection of the public interest.

Sample Objective Template

Seeking a ________ position with a _______ which will require me to utilize my skills, abilities and experience in the _______ field to ensure the company's success.

Education- List your full degree

- Degree/major program/graduation month,year- Bachelor of Science in Accounting, May, 2007- If you don’t have the degree yet (Anticipated graduation,

June 2009)- More than one degree?

- List most recent first- Don’t list your high school – if you’re in college, the

employer assumes you have a high school degree.

Experience

Remember: Experience supports your “objective!”

- Experience can be paid or unpaid, volunteer positions, or even positions held in clubs.

- Payment for a position does not equal relevance

- Consider using two categories of experience:- Related- Other

Experience Examples

Homeless Center Volunteer, Clara House, Greensboro, NCWorked 10-15 hours per week; October 2005 - May 2006— Learned about community resources for various citizen needs.— Made referrals for mental health and social services issues.— Scheduled other volunteers for telephone hotline shifts.

Accurate Accounting, Greensboro, NC July 2007 – Present— Prepare end-of-period financial statements.— Institute customer service hot-line to expedite tax questions.— Maintain appointment schedule during tax season to maximize the number of clients seen per day.

Activities and Honors- Consider putting “honors” under education if

applicable (this is a good idea if your GPA isn’t sterling).

- If you list affiliations or memberships, use the entire name:- Active member of American Psychological

Association NOT- Active member of APA

Certifications/Licensure/Skills

- Certifications:- Networking - Certified Public Accountant

- Licensure- License Professional Counselor- Master Electrician

- Skills- Foreign Language- Computer

References

- Don’t include references in your resume... They need to go on a separate page.

- “References Furnished Upon Request” is unnecessary.

- Employers assume you will be willing to provide references if you are asked.

Cover Letters – General Rules- Make sure your cover letter is original.- Use standard business letter formatting.- Clearly state why you are writing your

letter.- Be creative! Don’t re-write your resume.- Don’t forget to invite the employer to

interview you!- Check carefully for spelling/grammar

errors.- No longer than one page.

Cover Letter - Salutation

- Dear Mr. Smith:- Dear Hiring Manager:- Dear Captain Jones:Notes:

- Always use a colon – this is standard business letter format.

- Never write: To Whom It May Concern

Cover Letter – Opening Line

Example:- In reference to your advertisement for the

position of ______, enclosed is my resume for your consideration.

Notes:- Never use “Enclosed please find.”- Don’t start the letter with “I”. Example: I am writing in reference to your advertisement. . .

Cover Letter – Middle Paragraph

Reiterate your skills – Don’t regurgitate your resume!

Example: In addition to the skills listed in my resume, my community involvement with the local rape crisis center has given me the insight to work in this area of law enforcement.

Note: Be very careful of “I” statements. Don’t start every paragraph and sentence with “I.”

Cover Letter – Final Paragraph

Here’s where you ask for what you really want – the interview!Unsolicited: - My combination of business and accounting experience is well-

suited to the accounting position you described. Within the next week I will contact you to confirm that you received my email and resume and to answer any questions you may have.

Solicited:- My combination of business and accounting experience is well-

suited to the accounting position you described, and I welcome the opportunity to interview with you.

References• References can include professional references and personal

references• Do not include references unless you have asked permission• Information to include:– Name– Mailing address– Telephone– Email address• Do not provide more than 5 references on your reference page• Don’t forget to include the same heading as your resume in case

your reference page gets separated from your resume!

Plain Text… what does THAT mean?

It is a simple text format that does not use formatting specific to any particular application. You can use any word-processing application.

Some Pointers for Plain Text:•You cannot use bullets in ASCII format -- instead use asterisks or hyphens (dashes)•Use a fixed width font, i.e. 10 point Courier•Use spaces to line up your text •Use left justification, and use spaces to center text•Do not use word wrap -- use hard returns instead

Sample Plain Text Resume

Resume Reviews

what do you think?

Tricia Graenemon 123 Anywhere Lane • Two Ville, CA 95423 777-555-3333 • tgraenemon@email.com

Customer Service Manager

Seasoned, results-oriented manager with extensive experience in the retail industry with a 10-year track record of success. Effective leader skilled in developing a results-oriented, productive team with customer-focused training and support. Exceptional ability to build rapport with customers and direct-reports to create customer and employee loyalty.

Resume Reviews

what do you think?

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEGreen Clothiers of Northern California, Two Ville, CACustomer Service Manager • 2003 - PresentCharged with managing a range of key operational functions in support of eco-friendly clothing retailer with two locations and $55M in annual revenue. Recruited, trained and managed 15-member team, ensuring continuous delivery of outstanding customer service generating over $23 M in annual revenue. Selected Achievements:• Awarded Employee of the Month for a total of 12 quarters for outstanding customer service, problem resolution and customer-focused orientation• In 2005 and 2007, awarded Manager of the Year for exemplary staff management • Redesigned, developed and implemented employee training program which increased sales revenues by 22% for the first year and 30% for each successive year

Resume Reviews

what do you think?

Wrapping it up… Questions?• Thank you for taking the time to join us tonight! Please feel free to

contact me via AIM: DeborahJBrien For email: dbrien@kaplan.edu if you have any questions.

• Have a great week!!