Developed and Presented by theCasa Grande High School Counseling Department

Developing an Effective Resume and

Cover Letter

What is a Resume?What is a Resume?

A one- or two-page representation of A one- or two-page representation of youyou

A tool to get a specific jobA tool to get a specific job

A Resume ShouldA Resume Should

Provide a clear summary of your Provide a clear summary of your working history for a specific jobworking history for a specific job

Advertise yourselfAdvertise yourself Reflect your personal characteristics Reflect your personal characteristics Highlight your skills, achievements, Highlight your skills, achievements,

and abilitiesand abilities Win an interviewWin an interview

Nine Questions Employers Ask Nine Questions Employers Ask Themselves As They Review Your Themselves As They Review Your

ResumeResume Who are you?Who are you? What can you do for me?What can you do for me? Do you have the skills I’m looking for?Do you have the skills I’m looking for? Where have you worked before?Where have you worked before? Is your experience relevant to my needs?Is your experience relevant to my needs? Do you have the right education/training?Do you have the right education/training? What kind of person are you?What kind of person are you? Do I see any “red flags” in your background?Do I see any “red flags” in your background? Can I easily get in touch with you?Can I easily get in touch with you?

FEATUREFEATURE DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION PERSONAL DATAPERSONAL DATA Name, address, email and telephoneName, address, email and telephone

EDUCATIONEDUCATION Name of school, major degree received, graduation date or Name of school, major degree received, graduation date or expected dateexpected date

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE Paid work, volunteer work, internships and military work. List Paid work, volunteer work, internships and military work. List the the employer name and job location, your job title, and employer name and job location, your job title, and dates of employmentdates of employment

OPTIONAL FEATURES ARE LISTED BELOW OPTIONAL FEATURES ARE LISTED BELOW JOB OBJECTIVEJOB OBJECTIVE One sentence that includes the position desired and industry One sentence that includes the position desired and industry title.title.

SKILLS & ABILITIES ORSKILLS & ABILITIES OR Transferrable skills, foreign languages, computer skills, officeTransferrable skills, foreign languages, computer skills, office

SUMMARY OF SUMMARY OF skills, lab techniques not referred to somewhere else in the skills, lab techniques not referred to somewhere else in the QUALIFICATIONSQUALIFICATIONS resume.resume.

ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES List any collegiate athletics, campus activities, student List any collegiate athletics, campus activities, student organizations, organizations, professional associations and committees professional associations and committees that that you are associated with. you are associated with. Include dates of affiliation and Include dates of affiliation and list in reverse chronological order.list in reverse chronological order.

VOLUNTEER OR VOLUNTEER OR List volunteer eventsList volunteer events

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

HONORSHONORS Deans list, honor societies, scholarships, magna cum laudeDeans list, honor societies, scholarships, magna cum laude

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCEINTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE Include Study Abroad, or if an international student college Include Study Abroad, or if an international student college education education outside the United Statesoutside the United States

RESUME CONTENTRESUME CONTENT

Choose a “clean” font such as Arial and Tahoma Use a 12-point font Be sure your name and contact information can be quickly

read Keep paragraphs short – no more than 3 or 4 lines Limit bullet points to 4 or 5 items. Odd numbers are more

visually pleasing Use action verbs Keep format to one page

Resume Design Tips

J ORDAN B. TAYLOR 123 Washington Street Petaluma, CA 94954

(707) 555-1234 jbtaylor@yahoo.com EDUCATI ON

Casa Grande High School – Petaluma, CA Diploma expected in J une 2010 Total GPA: 3.00

CLASS PROJ ECT Senior Project: History of Photography – 2010 Researched types of historical photographic methods Conducted a presentation on the history of photography LEADERSHIP Gaucho Gazette – 2008 to 2010 Wrote news stories, feature stories, and editorials for newspaper Winner of Press Democrat Excellence in J ournalism Award in 2009

Casa Grande High School Yearbook – 2008 to 2009 Edited existing photography to create a DVD Sold and distributed DVD to faculty and students COMMUNITY SERVICE Petaluma Public Library – 2008 to 2010 Contributed 200 volunteer hours organizing books and periodicals Butter & Eggs Day Parade – 2009 Coordinated set-up including checking in parade participants EMPLOYMENT Argus Courier – Petaluma, CA

Reporter – Summer 2009 Wrote a weekly news column that focused on teen issues Researched topics and wrote articles on teen sports

SKILLS Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Experience in traditional and digital photography Fluent in both written and conversational Spanish

Robin Cruz Escobar 123 Washington Street Petaluma, CA 94954

(707) 555-1234 rcescobar@yahoo.com EDUCATI ON

Casa Grande High School – Petaluma, CA Diploma expected in J une 2010 Total GPA: 3.00

CLASS PROJ ECT Senior Project: Metal Sculpture – 2010 Researched methods of producing metal sculptures Presented my portfolio of completed sculptures in class LEADERSHIP Casa Grande Varsity Basketball – 2007 to 2010 Played point guard position for three seasons Winner of Most Valuable Player Award in 2009 COMMUNITY SERVICE Boys and Girls Club of Petaluma – 2007 to 2010 Coached basketball team for children age 8 to 12 years Mentored children in teamwork and good sportsmanship Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) – 2009 Contributed 40 volunteer hours at a local homeless shelter Landscaped yard and painted exterior of a residential property EMPLOYMENT Landscaper – Summer 2007, 2008, 2009

Mowed lawns and trimmed hedges for residential customers Developed promotional flyers to advertise landscaping services

SKILLS Proficient in computer programs including Microsoft Word Coaching and mentoring elementary school students Fluent in written and conversational Spanish

Sarah Jane Gomez3389 Willow Creek Rd.Petaluma, CA 94952(707) 548-0090 (Cell)

Objective: To obtain the position of

Skills:•Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point Proficient•Knowledge of cash register and credit card machine•CPR Certified•Class B California driver’s license•Bilingual in Spanish and English, conversant in French

Experience:April 2008 – present Noah’s Bagels Petaluma, CA Customer Service•Served up to 200 people per shift•Organized up to 15 orders simultaneously and prepared up to 20 pounds of food per shift•Completed sales data entry with Excel

March 2006 – January 2007 Bremerton Family Petaluma, CA Childcare •Cared for children ages 2 years to 12 years of age•Assisted with French homework, created interactive games, and cooked healthy meals•Responsible for driving kids to all sports games and practices

Education:2006 – 2009 Casa Grande High School Petaluma, CA •Student of the Month (January 2007)•Teacher’s Assistant: Algebra IB (2008)

What Goes With a Resume?What Goes With a Resume?

introduces the resume – it “covers” introduces the resume – it “covers” the resumethe resume

is a short, formal letteris a short, formal letter is polite and positiveis polite and positive

A Cover Letter

Cover Letter BasicsCover Letter Basics

1st ParagraphWhy are you writing the letter?

2nd ParagraphWhy are you the best candidate for the

job?

3rd Paragraph – Seal the Deal!Indicate your desire for an interviewDiscuss your flexibility and availability

ABC COMMERICAL BANK1234 Golden Gate Avenue, # 1San Francisco, CA 94117

April 5, 2006

Ms. Jane Baxter Vice PresidentBank of the Bay Area25 South StreetSan Francisco, CA 94111

Dear Ms. Baker:

It was a pleasure meeting with you yesterday to discuss the opportunity in commercial banking. Your planned expansion is most interesting, especially your ideas concerning outreach to small businesses.

My experience working for a number of small service businesses in San Francisco while completing my degree has made me particularly sensitive to the unique needs of small business owners. As you learned from our conversation, I have also worked as a bank teller, and understand the bank’s commitment to high quality customer service.

I remain very interested in the commercial banking representative position. I am confident that my skills and experience would be a valuable addition to your team. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Chris Williams

Chris Williams

THANK YOU LETTERS Write the letter very

soon after the interview

BLOCK STYLE – all sections left aligned Refer to

something you learned about

the company or position

Include something you

forgot to mention

in the interview,or expand on Your relevant qualifications

Show confidence and enthusiasm!

Reinforce the most important aspects of your

qualifications

Restate your interest in the

position

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