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Resumes &
Cover letters
Sandy BrownCareer Services Center
Old Main 280(360) 650-3240
www.careers.wwu.edu
LETS FACE IT…
There is a lot of conflicting advice out there about resume writing
While there is no format that will work for every employer we have included the most popular guidelines that are generally accepted by most employers
What is the purpose of a resume?
The resume is a tool with one specific purpose: to win an interview
It convinces the employer that you have the experience and the skills
It isn’t a history of your past, a personal statement or self expression.
It IS marketing your skills for future potential
Target Your Resume!Research companies
www.workforceexplorer.com
Research positions
WorkSource.com
O*net
Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov)
Network
Information interviews
WHAT IS A TARGETED RESUME?
keywords and content will match you with the job, industry, career field, and employer.
Resume Formats
Chronological or historical * Highlights past job titles, accomplishments
*Works well if you have relevant professional experience
Combination Resume*Emphasizes skills and related job titles*Relevant experience can include volunteer & class projects/coursesSkill-based (Functional)*Emphasizes skills rather than job titles
*Works well if you have limited relevant job history or are changing careers.
Resume sections
Qualification Summary-what is it?
A brief paragraph or bullets that showcases your most effective skills and experience as they pertain to the position.
declares what you can do for the targeted company
Education and Training
If you’ve just graduated from college or an entry level candidate with little professional experience-your education should be presented immediately after the Qualifications Summary
You could include:
GPA-(if 3.5 or above)
Awards/scholarships
Dean’s list
Course work relevant to job search
Continued……
If you’re a professional with five or more years of experience, education should be listed last on your resume.
Include all specialized training that is transferable to the position!
Professional experience
Can be showcased in the three formatsChronological- providing work history dating back from the present- most common Combination- stressing what you know in one section, while providing work history in another-one of the most popularFunctional- you are stressing what you know over where you gained your experience.
More!
Begin with action verbs (see pg 20 of green packet), avoid phrases like ‘responsible for’ or ‘ duties included’
Emphasize accomplishments and skills
Quantify what you’ve done- (i.e- number of employees supervised, savings as a result of your actions) be specific!
Highlight your skills and accomplishments
List your job title, company name, location and dates worked
Under each job, list problems you solved, issues you addressed, accomplishments you achieved, skills you gained or used
List other skills you’ve gained or used in school
AS IT PERTAINS TO THE POSITION!
ONE, TWO, THREE
Skills and accomplishments
EXAMPLE:
BARISTA (TITLE)
Provided excellent customer service in fast paced setting serving 200+ customers per day
Developed efficient strategies for organization of work station
Created client base of over 50 customers for returning business
Formatting for maximum impact
•20 second rule
•Easy to read fonts-Arial
•Use bold or italics sparingly
•Effective use of white space
•Prioritization of data
LETS TALK ABOUT E-RESUMES
e-resumes are delivered electronically -- via e-mail, submitted to Internet job boards, or residing on your own Web page. More than 80 percent of employers are now placing resumes directly into searchable databases and an equal percentage of employers prefer to receive resumes by e-mail
FORMATTING
text-based (ASCII, Text only), you might also want to have a Rich Text (RTF) version and a scannable version.
Your e-resume must be loaded with keywords!
STILL CONFUSED?
You must tailor your e-resume to each employer's or job board's instructions. Some employers want your resume as an attachment, usually as a Word document (but if no format is specified, and you can't find out, RTF is the safest bet). Others want your resume as text pasted into the body of an e-mail message. Still others want you to paste your resume into an online form!
Recruiter "Pet Peeve" Survey - ResumeDoctor.com undertook the immense project of conducting a survey of over 2,500 recruiters / headhunters throughout the US and Canada to find out their "Pet Peeves" with resumes
20. Burying the important info in the resume19. Gaps in employment18. 1st or 3rd Person - Resumes in either 1st or 3rd Person17. Not easy to follow summary16. Pictures, Graphics or URL links no recruiter will call
up15. Resumes sent in .pdf, .zip files, faxed, web page
resumes14. Font choice – poor font choice or style13. Objectives or meaningless introductions12. Lying, misleading (especially in terms of education,
dates and inflated titles)11. Employer info not included and/or not telling what
industry or product candidate worked in
Recruiter "Pet Peeve" Survey - by ResumeDoctor.com
10. Personal info not relative to the job9. Unqualified Candidates – Candidates who apply to positions
they are not qualified for8. Paragraphs – Long paragraphs….not Bullet-points7. Long Resumes – too long6. Functional Resumes as opposed to writing a Chronological
Resume5. Poor formatting – boxes, templates, tables, use of header
and footers etc.4. Contact Info – none or inaccurate contact info or
unprofessional email addresses3. Dates not included or inaccurate dates2. Too Duty Oriented – reads like a job description and fails
to explain what the job seeker’s accomplishments were and how they did so
1. Spelling Errors, Typos and Poor Grammar
Cover Letters!
Types of Job Search Letters—Cover Letter or Letter of Application
Letter of Inquiry
Networking Letter
Thank you Letter
Writing Effective Cover Letters
A cover letter should complement, not duplicate your resume
explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences
express a high level of interest and knowledge about the position.
Reality check!
Cover letter should be about how you meet the employers needs
be able to articulate your personal value & skills you bring to the position
Format: Three Paragraphs: Keep it short and simple.
A. Introduction Why you are writing (application, referral, inquiry) Where you heard about the opening Capture their interest
B. Body Share your interest in why you want to work for the
company Tell the employer what you can for him/her Give concrete examples from your experience that
directly relate to the needs listed in the job announcement Show how your education is related to this field C. Closing
Be direct. Ask for an interview; ask for a spot on the Team
State how and when you will follow up; be specific. Give dates and times you are available Include your phone number in the body of the letter
NEED MORE HELP?CAREER SERVICES CENTER
Individual coachingPersonal AssessmentsWorkshopsCareer fairs & other special eventsCareer Library
Job & internship listings
Candidate referral
Mock interviews
www.careers.wwu.edu
On-campus recruiting
Subliminal Message: Go to Old Main 280