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Guide to Resume and

Cover Letter Writing

In this competitive economy, let your resume be your

personal marketing tool!

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MECHANICS

Action Words - Use action words to describe your experience and accomplishments. Here are some actions words to use. Please make sure that you use present tense for present experiences and past tense for past experiences.

• achieved • acquired • adapted • addressed • administered • analyzed • anticipated • assembled • assisted • audited • budgeted • calculated • centralized • changed • collaborated • composed • condensed • conducted • constructed • contracted • converted • coordinated • created • cultivated • demonstrated • designed • developed • devised • discovered • doubled

• drafted • edited • eliminated • enforced • established • evaluated • expanded • explained • forecasted • formed • founded • generated • guided • hired • implemented • improved • informed • insured • interpreted • interviewed • launched • maintained • managed • marketed • minimized • motivated • negotiated • obtained • operated • organized

• originated • oversaw • performed • planned • prevented • produced • programmed • promoted • provided • publicized • published • recruited • reorganized • reported • researched • resolved • reviewed • selected • separated • set up • simplified • solved • surveyed • staffed • supervise • taught • tested • trained • used

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PREPARING AN EFFECTIVE RESUME

1. Resume Essentials

Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

2. The Content of Your Resume

Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, professional web site address

All your contact information should go at the top and center of your resume.

• Avoid nicknames.

• Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation.

• Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting. If your area code is out of state code, government agents may not be able to dial out of state. You may want to offer an alternative number.

• Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional.)

• Include your website address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.

Objective

An objective tells potential employers and internship supervisors the sort of work you're hoping to do. It should be brief.

• Be specific about the job/internship that you want. o An internship where I can apply my academic experiences to the workplace. o Entry level position in the criminal justice field with potential for career

development. o Paralegal Support internship utilizing strong research and technical skills. o Seeking Paralegal career with a civil litigation firm.

• Tailor your objective to each employer/internship that you seek.

You do not have to include an objective on your resume!!!

Education: New graduates without a history of work experience should list their educational information first.

• Your most recent educational information is listed first.

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• Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution attended, minor/concentration, certificates.

• If you have not been awarded your degree include the anticipated or expected month of graduation (for example, May 20XX).

• Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.

• Mention academic honors.

• If you do not have a strong employment background you may want to add a section and list Relevant Coursework

Work Experience

Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe your job duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your current or last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Include:

• Title of position

• Name of organization

• Location of work (town, state)

• Dates of employment

• Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.

Other Information You should include other relevant sections to enhance your resume. Examples

Skills and Competencies Community Service

Athletics

References

Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to a potential employer. Do not include your reference information on your resume bring it to your interview.

3. Resume Checkup

After you have written your resume, have it reviewed and critiqued by a career counselor. You can also take the following steps to ensure quality:

Content

• Run a spell check on your computer before anyone sees your resume.

• Get a friend with good writing skills to check your grammar.

• Ask another friend to proofread. The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected).

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Design

These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an employer's data base.

• Use white or off-white paper.

• Use 8-1/2- x 11-inch paper.

• Print on one side of the paper.

• Use a font size of 10 to 12 points.

• Use non-decorative typefaces.

• Choose one typeface and stick to it.

• Avoid wide margins and centering information.

• Avoid italics, script, and underlined words.

• Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading.

• Resumes should be one page and include only your most impressive experiences.

• Do not include work, educational or athletic information from high school.

• Do not fold or staple your resume.

• If you must mail your resume, put it in a large envelope.

Advice

• Check your social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) review the content and eliminate information and pictures that potential employers would find inappropriate and unprofessional.

Please review the following resumes for what to do when creating your resume!

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John A. Student 888 Main Street

Center City, NJ 00000 111-111-111

student@email.com EDUCATION Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey Bachelor of Arts/ Major: Justice Studies with a concentration in Justice Systems Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2015 RELEVANT COURSEWORK Introduction to Criminal Justice Computer Applications Criminology Law and Litigation Criminal Law and Procedure Police and Society WORK EXPERIENCE Essex County Sherriff’s Department, Newark, NJ January 2015-Present Intern

• examine warrants and other documents related to current cases

• review case files to make sure all information is current and correct

• shadow Sheriff Officers

• assist with administrative tasks Rutgers University-Newark Saturday Academy September 2012-Present Assistant Coordinator

• assist the director of the program

• maintain a student database utilizing Excel

• research and contact sites to schedule field trips

Rutgers University - Pre-College Program, Newark, NJ September 2011-August 2012 Teacher’s Assistant

• guided prospective students through a routine college day

• provided leadership, guidance and insight to prospective students

• served as a classroom aid Macys, Short Hills, NJ June 2010-June 2011 Sales Associate

• managed assigned area

• managed cash flow throughout the department

• provided effective customer service

• trained new associates COMPUTER SKILLS Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access

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ANN STUDENT

888 Main Street, Center City, NJ 00000 ▪ Phone 111-111▪1111 E-Mail: student@email.com

OBJECTIVE To obtain a position that will provide an opportunity for professional growth in the

field of human services. EDUCATION 9/13-Present Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ BA History BA Justice Studies, Justice Systems concentration Minor Justice and Families GPA: 3.96 Expected Date of Graduation: May 2015 9/11-5/13 Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ AA General Liberal Arts WORK EXPERIENCE 1/15-Present Main Street Children’s House, Center City, NJ

Duties include: filing, updating patient charts, putting new cases into their respective databases, maintaining correspondence with patients, case workers, law enforcement officials, and doctors

9/13-Present Undergraduate Assistant, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ

Duties include: filing, copying, MBA bulletin board management, developing documents using Microsoft word, excel, power point, and publisher

Compile MBA information packets for open houses and current students

9/11-5/13 Student Technology Consultant, Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ Helped students with information technology related questions Performed re-imaging of computers Minor hardware and software installation

9//11-5/13 Student Ambassador, Bergen Community College

Trained new Student Ambassadors and familiarized them with the policies and procedures of student services

Assisted incoming and returning students in the processes of admissions, registration, and academic advising

Facilitated information sessions and guided tours for prospective students Facilitated and assisted with fall and spring orientations

AWARDS/HONORS

Advanced Leadership Certificate-Bergen Community College Dean’s and Honors List, National Dean’s List Director of Multi-Cultural Awareness, Student Government Association Inc.,

MSU General Honors Scholarship Recipient-Montclair State University Golden Key and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Societies NJCAA All-Academic Women’s Volleyball Team United States Achievement Academy English and Student Government Awards Urban League of Bergen County Community Service Award Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges

Community Service

Youth Coordinator and Public Relations Personnel – Bethel Church Of God in Christ

The American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Shelter Our Sisters Domestic Violence Shelter, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Habitat for Humanity – Newark, NJ and Greene County, PA

SKILLS

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, and Power Point

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Melissa Student 888 Main Street

Center City, N.J. 00000 Phone: 111-111-111 student@email.com

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a paralegal support position.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Proficient in legal research utilizing LexisNexis and Westlaw

• Familiar with Shepard’s citations and KeyCite as research tools

• Competent with Abacus Law, Time Matters, Case Map, and Time Map

• Experience with drafting complaints and answers EDUCATION Montclair State University – Montclair, NJ Major: Justice Studies, Concentration in Paralegal Studies/ABA approved program Minor: Criminal Justice Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2015 WORK EXPERIENCE Spring Semester 2015, Law Office of John Attorney, Montclair, NJ Paralegal Intern

• Draft legal documents

• Handle filing procedures for legal documents

• Assist with office tasks and work directly with clients Summers: 2012 -2014, Ramirez and Associates, Newark, NJ Legal Secretary

• Provided administrative support to Paralegals

• Managed the flow of information between clients and attorneys

• Processed correspondence to clients regarding litigation claims

• Filed legal documents to federal and appellate courts COMMUNITY SERVICE Fall 2012 to Present Vice President Alpha Iota Chi Sorority, Montclair State University

• Oversee committee chairs

• Ensure that the sorority participates in campus programs

• Oversee programs and fundraisers that benefit the sorority and the community

Fall 2012 to fall 2014 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

• Raised money for cancer research and participated in the annual walkathon

SKILLS

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

• Bi-lingual, English and Spanish

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THE COVER LETTER

A cover letter is used to:

• Introduce yourself and ask for consideration of your qualifications for a position with that organization.

• Summarize your qualifications for a particular position or for any position in that organization.

• Direct the employer's attention to something specific on your enclosed resume concerning your background and their needs.

• Communicate your interest in and enthusiasm for the position and that employer. • Ask the employer for an interview.

COVER LETTER TIPS

• Your resume should be accompanied by a cover letter when mailed to prospective employers.

• Type the cover letter on the same color and quality of paper that you used for your resume.

• You should single space the letter and double space between the paragraphs. Your cover letter should be prepared individually for each employer. Ideally, you should research each employer and be able to note something unique about that organization or position.

• Address your cover letter to a specific person and include their job title. If necessary, telephone the organization for the correct spelling of the contact person's name.

• Personal characteristics such as reliable, dependable, strong work ethic can be included in the cover letter. You should, when possible, note evidence of these. Maintain a professional style of writing. Avoid clichés. Again, grammatical, punctuation, typographical, and spelling errors are inexcusable.

• Keep the tone of the letter positive - Don't apologize for any deficiencies in your background.

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COVER LETTER GUIDELINES

Your Letterhead Here

Current Date

Individual's Name Job Title Name of Employer Street Address City, State, Zip Code

Dear Ms. or Mr. ______________:

State your reason for writing, the type position or career field for which you are applying and how you learned of the position or organization (newspaper, directory, friend, Career Service Office). Refer the reader to the enclosed resume and ask for consideration of your qualifications for a position.

Summarize your qualifications and point out any achievements or skills that relate to this employer or position. Explain why you want to work for this employer and/or in this career field by mentioning something about that organization or company's services, programs, products. Express enthusiasm for the possibility of being employed there.

Indicate your desire for a personal interview and offer information about how you may be contacted. Repeat your phone number and note the time of day you may be reached. Another approach is to mention that you will telephone to schedule an interview. Thanking your reader for the time and consideration given to your application is also a good idea.

Sincerely,

(Handwritten Signature) Your Name Typed

Enclosure (Indicates resume is enclosed)

PLEASE REVIEW THE THREE SAMPLE COVER LETTERS BELOW

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER #1

John A. Student 888 Main Street

Center City, NJ 0000 111-111-111

student@email.com May 1, 2015 Chief James Blake Center City Police Department 23 Central Avenue Center City, NJ 07000 Dear Chief Blake: I am writing to express my interest in the position of Police Dispatcher posted on your website. I have enclosed a resume for your consideration. The position seems to be a good fit with my education, experience and career interests. I will be graduating from Montclair State University this month with a B.A. in Justice Studies. My course of study has prepared me for a career in the criminal justice field. I am currently interning at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. My internship has been quite an experience in exposing me to the daily operations of a law enforcement agency. I have been working part time and summers for Rutgers University for the past three years. I am responsible for data entry, filing, organizing and other administrative tasks that have prepared me for the administrative responsibilities of the police department. I am very excited about the possibility of a position with the Center City Police Department. This position will give me an opportunity to learn more about local law enforcement and the criminal justice system as I prepare to take the next civil service exam. I look forward to meeting with you to further discuss my qualifications for this position. I can be reached at 111-111-111 or at student@email.com. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, John A. Student

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER #2

Ann Student

888 Main Street Center City, NJ 00000

May 1, 2015 Ms. Mary Brown Director of Human Resources Main Street Children’s House 1 Main Street Center City, NJ 00000 Dear Ms. Brown: I am applying for the position of Intake Personnel for the Main Street Children‘s House, recently posted in the New Jersey Star Ledger. I am presently an intern at the Main Street Children’s House and the position seems to be in line with my education and career interests. I have enclosed my resume for your consideration. According to your advertisement, you are seeking applicants with a Bachelor of Arts degree in a social service related field. The advertisement also states the position requires knowledge of legal procedures and practices related to the rights of children. I will be graduating Montclair State University at the end of this month with a B.A. in Justice Studies and a minor in Justice and Families. Courses in my major and minor have exposed me to legal procedures and practices as well as courses in family violence, child advocacy and children’s rights. The position also requires excellent communication and organizational skills and the ability to work as part of a team. I have demonstrated these skills as an intern where I have proven that I work well under pressure and complete projects in a timely manner. My internship has allowed me to become familiar with the mission and goals, as well as the daily operation of the agency.

My educational background, experience and career goals seem to fit your requirements for the position of Intake Personnel. I am very excited about the possibility of continuing my relationship with HUMC and participating in your mission to provide treatment services for abused children. I would love to meet with you to discuss my interest in this position and my qualifications. I can be reached at 111-111-111 or at student@email.com

Sincerely,

Ann Student

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER #3

Melissa Student 888 Main Street

Center City, N.J. 00000 Phone: 111-111-111 student@email.com

May 1, 2015 Donald Baker, Esq. Law Office of Baker and Baker 1 Central Avenue Center City NJ, 00000 Dear Mr. Baker: I am responding to the advertisement for a Paralegal position posted on Paralegaljobs.com. I have attached my resume for your review. I am graduating in May of this year with a B.A. in Justice Studies with a concentration in Paralegal Studies. All Paralegal Studies programs at Montclair State University are ABA approved. I have taken courses in legal research and writing and law and litigation. I am proficient in Lexis Nexis and Westlaw and familiar with Shepard’s citations and KeyCite as research tools. My present internship at the law office of John Attorney has exposed me to the daily operation of a legal practice. I am reliable and responsible and work well independently or as part of a team. I am interested in working for a mid-size firm committed to general practice and believe that I can be an asset to the Law Office of Baker and Baker. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and introduce myself as a candidate for the position at your firm. Please feel free to contact me at 111-111-111 or at student@email.com. Sincerely, Melissa Student

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AFTER THE INTERVIEW

THANK-YOU LETTERS

The first thing you should do after the interview is to send the interviewer a thank-you letter. Thank-you letters are a nice gesture that let the interviewer know that you appreciate the time he/she spent meeting with you. This courtesy sets you apart from other candidates. The letter should be sent to the person who interviewed you. Never send a thank-you letter to “Whom It May Concern.” Ask for the interviewer’s card before you leave so you have accurate information for your follow up letter. The primary purpose of the letter is to express your gratitude for the time spent with you. The first thing you want to say is “thank-you.” Next emphasize the skill or strength that shows you are qualified for the position. You may mention a skill or strength you neglected to mention in the interview. You may want to address a concern that was raised during the interview. Express your interest in the job and the agency or firm. Provide a phone number and email address. Your letter should be short and to the point and never more than one page long. Sending a thank-you letter by email does not excuse you from writing a formal letter. Does not use email shorthand or emoticons (a.k.a. smiles). Use your personal account and a professional email address.

PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING THANK-YOU LETTERS.

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SAMPLE THANK-YOU LETTER 1

John A. Smith

888 Main Street Center City, NJ 00000

111-111-111 student@email.com

May 10, 2015 Chief James Blake Center City Police Department 23 Central Avenue Center City, NJ 00000 Dear Chief Blake: It was a pleasure meeting with you and your staff today. Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to interview for the position of Dispatcher. Also, please extend my thanks to your entire staff for taking time from their busy schedules to participate in the interview. My interest and excitement about the position, which was certainly strong before out meeting, has only become stronger. I feel as though I have a much better understanding of the position and its responsibilities, as well as a clearer sense of the overall goals of your department. I am confident that my skills and experience will enable me to make a valuable contribution to your team. I hope I was able to provide you with sufficient information about my qualifications. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at 111-111-111 or at student@email.com. Thank you again for your time and consideration. Sincerely, John A. Student

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SAMPLE THANK YOU-LETTER #2

Ann Student 888 Main Street

Center City, NJ 00000

May 10, 2015 Ms. Mary Brown Director of Human Resources Main Street Children’s House 1 Main Street Center City, NJ 00000 Dear Ms. Brown: It was a pleasure meeting with you and your staff members this past Monday. I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity to interview for the Intake Personnel Position. After meeting with you and the staff, I am very excited about the prospect of a position with the Main Street Children’s House. The interview provided a clear understanding of the goals and mission of your agency as well as details and responsibilities of the position. I am more confident than ever that I possess the academic background, experience and skills required to be an asset to your agency. If you require additional information, please feel free to contact me at 111-111-111 or student@email.com. Sincerely, Ann Student

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SAMPLE THANK-YOU LETTER #3

Melissa Student 888 Main Street

Center City, N.J. 00000 Phone: 111-111-1111 student@email.com

May 10, 2015 Donald Baker, Esq. Law Office of Baker and Baker 1 Central Avenue Center City NJ, 00000 Dear Mr. Baker: Thank-you for meeting with me this afternoon regarding the paralegal position at your firm. I appreciate the time you spent getting to know me and explaining the specifics of the position. I feel strongly that my academic background and skills will allow me to make valuable contributions to your practice. The position requires knowledge of Westlaw which is definitely one of my strengths. As you mentioned, you have a growing Latino clientele and I think my fluency in English and Spanish would be a real asset to your firm. I am looking forward to hearing from you within the week, as we discussed. Thank you again for considering me for this position as I am very excited about the prospect of joining your office team. You may reach me at 111-111-111 or at student@email.com. Yours Truly, Melissa Student

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Infromation found in this doucment has been collected and adapted from a variety of untitled

sources and personal experiences. Student resumes (with their permission) have been adapted

for use in this document. Personal and indentifying information has been changed.