Resumes & Resumes & Cover Letters Cover Letters

OverviewOverview

Business WritingBusiness Writing

By Dr. Jennifer L. BowieBy Dr. Jennifer L. Bowie

What is the purpose of a What is the purpose of a résumé?résumé?To get an interviewTo get an interview

How many resumes do I How many resumes do I need?need?

1.1. Master resume:Master resume: put everything you could ever use on this. Update put everything you could ever use on this. Update frequently. From this you will developed your other resumes as frequently. From this you will developed your other resumes as needed. Can/Should be very longneeded. Can/Should be very long

2.2. Print resume:Print resume: a short job-centric listing of your skills, experience, a short job-centric listing of your skills, experience, and education. Keep to one page unless an expert. Print on nice light and education. Keep to one page unless an expert. Print on nice light paper with lots of white spacepaper with lots of white space

3.3. Email/ASCII resumeEmail/ASCII resume: also job-centric listing of your skills, : also job-centric listing of your skills, experience, and education. Keep short if only humans are reading go experience, and education. Keep short if only humans are reading go longer as necessary if machines are reading it. Use only plain text longer as necessary if machines are reading it. Use only plain text and save as a text file (.txt). Okay to use all caps for headings (only and save as a text file (.txt). Okay to use all caps for headings (only time!)time!)

4.4. Scannable resumeScannable resume: may use your email/ASCII resume. Print it on : may use your email/ASCII resume. Print it on white paper. Do not use bold, italics, or underling. Keep simple and white paper. Do not use bold, italics, or underling. Keep simple and clean.clean.

5.5. Web resumeWeb resume: a more detailed job-centric discussion of your skills, : a more detailed job-centric discussion of your skills, experience, and education, divided into sections with their own experience, and education, divided into sections with their own detailed pages. This resume allows you to go into the detail other detailed pages. This resume allows you to go into the detail other resumes, especially the print, don’t. Do include a print-friendly (and resumes, especially the print, don’t. Do include a print-friendly (and possibly shorter) unchunked version of your resume available to possibly shorter) unchunked version of your resume available to print. Include navigation to all sections of the resume on each pageprint. Include navigation to all sections of the resume on each page

What type of Resume should I What type of Resume should I use?use?

Two main types:Two main types: Chronological:Chronological: most common. Information grouped most common. Information grouped

(education, work experiences,…) and items in each (education, work experiences,…) and items in each group are in reverse chronological order (most recent group are in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Good for the general candidate. Sample: first). Good for the general candidate. Sample: http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_sample_4.htmlhttp://www.quintcareers.com/resume_sample_4.html

Functional:Functional: less common (10%). Information also less common (10%). Information also grouped, but with a focus on skills and qualifications. grouped, but with a focus on skills and qualifications. Items often listed in order of importance for the job. Items often listed in order of importance for the job. Good for candidates with limited clear job Good for candidates with limited clear job experience, gaps in time working, career changes. experience, gaps in time working, career changes. Sample: Sample: http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_sample_2.htmlhttp://www.quintcareers.com/resume_sample_2.html

What information should I What information should I include?include?

Objective:Objective: 1st, but optional. Make it simple, 1st, but optional. Make it simple, clear, and directed to the job. Example: “The clear, and directed to the job. Example: “The web designer and usability tester position at web designer and usability tester position at Starre Solutions”Starre Solutions”

Summary of Qualifications:Summary of Qualifications: Optional (2 Optional (2ndnd), ), include if using a functional resume where the include if using a functional resume where the employer may not easily see connections employer may not easily see connections between your experience and their needs between your experience and their needs

Skills:Skills: 2 2nd/nd/33rdrd for functional, near end usually for for functional, near end usually for chronological. List skills by category (like chronological. List skills by category (like “writing,” “editing,” “managing,”) and then “writing,” “editing,” “managing,”) and then discuss 3-5 successes/examples of each skill. discuss 3-5 successes/examples of each skill. Example: Writing –Composed a 50 page Example: Writing –Composed a 50 page recommendation report for Business Writing recommendation report for Business Writing classclass

What information should I What information should I include?include? Con.Con.

Experience:Experience: 3 3rdrd/4/4thth for functional, 2 for functional, 2ndnd/3/3rdrd for for chronological (place education before if chronological (place education before if education more relevant). education more relevant). – List and briefly discuss (2-5 bullets for chronological) List and briefly discuss (2-5 bullets for chronological)

work and related experiencework and related experience– Use action verbs (collaborated, managed, directed…)Use action verbs (collaborated, managed, directed…)– If limited work experience, consider including relevant If limited work experience, consider including relevant

class experienceclass experience– Example:Example:

Administrative Assistant and Event PlannerAdministrative Assistant and Event PlannerSperata Restaurant Buford, Georgia 8/05-7/06Sperata Restaurant Buford, Georgia 8/05-7/06 Wrote restaurant descriptions and promotional Wrote restaurant descriptions and promotional

advertisementsadvertisements Coordinated special events and private functionsCoordinated special events and private functions Handled financial transactions and recordkeepingHandled financial transactions and recordkeeping Deployed new marketing strategies Deployed new marketing strategies

What information should I What information should I include?include? Con.Con.

Education:Education: Near end of funcitonal, 2 Near end of funcitonal, 2ndnd/3/3rdrd for for chronological (before experience if more relevant). chronological (before experience if more relevant). Include:Include:

College work for the last 10 years. May skip or do more College work for the last 10 years. May skip or do more briefly if in industry for more than 10 years.briefly if in industry for more than 10 years.

Do not include high school if college junior or higher or if Do not include high school if college junior or higher or if more than 10 years ago (probably shouldn’t include when in more than 10 years ago (probably shouldn’t include when in college anyway). Only include if clearly qualifies youcollege anyway). Only include if clearly qualifies you

Place of school, degree, major, minor, in major or regular Place of school, degree, major, minor, in major or regular GPA (if over 3.0), date of graduation (or expected date of GPA (if over 3.0), date of graduation (or expected date of grad.), and list relevant coursework (optional), related grad.), and list relevant coursework (optional), related honors and awardshonors and awards

– Example:Example:Georgia State UniversityGeorgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta, GeorgiaBachelor of Arts in EnglishBachelor of Arts in English, Minor: Psychology, Minor: PsychologyGPA: 3.4, Dean’s list: Fall 2004, Spring 2004, Summer 2005GPA: 3.4, Dean’s list: Fall 2004, Spring 2004, Summer 2005Expected Date of Graduation: Fall 2007Expected Date of Graduation: Fall 2007

What information should I What information should I include?include? Con.Con.

Tools/Skills:Tools/Skills: Near end and optional. May include Near end and optional. May include computer skills and other skills and tools that computer skills and other skills and tools that qualify you. Only include software or other skills qualify you. Only include software or other skills beyond the normal (for example most people can beyond the normal (for example most people can use word and check email, so don’t include these). use word and check email, so don’t include these). Include any software required by the jobInclude any software required by the job

Achievements/Honors:Achievements/Honors: Near end and optional. Near end and optional. May be included in education as relevant. List May be included in education as relevant. List awards, achievements, and other honors. Provide awards, achievements, and other honors. Provide dates. dates.

References:References: Don’t include unless directly Don’t include unless directly requested. requested.

The Art of Cover LettersThe Art of Cover Letters

Also called application lettersAlso called application letters Follow the basic letter formatFollow the basic letter format Write to a specific personWrite to a specific person Match it to your resumeMatch it to your resume Make sure you sign it!Make sure you sign it! Show don’t tellShow don’t tell

The Art of Cover Letters: The Art of Cover Letters: The PartsThe Parts Like all letters cover letters have three main parts:Like all letters cover letters have three main parts: Introduction/Opening paragraph:Introduction/Opening paragraph:

– First and short paragraph, often 2-3 sentencesFirst and short paragraph, often 2-3 sentences– Explain why you are writing, how you heard about the Explain why you are writing, how you heard about the

job, and how you are qualified for the jobjob, and how you are qualified for the job– Be specific and clear—for instance tell them that you are Be specific and clear—for instance tell them that you are

applying for a particular positionapplying for a particular position– Example: I was encouraged to look into internship Example: I was encouraged to look into internship

opportunities available through the World Bank by one of opportunities available through the World Bank by one of my economics professors, Dr. Masha Ranahama. After my economics professors, Dr. Masha Ranahama. After learning about all of the exciting opportunities available, I learning about all of the exciting opportunities available, I am applying for a position in the IFC Summer Internship am applying for a position in the IFC Summer Internship Program for graduate students. My background in Program for graduate students. My background in international economics, international finance, international economics, international finance, international foreign policy, and German qualify me for international foreign policy, and German qualify me for the International Finance Corporation Summer Internship the International Finance Corporation Summer Internship Program.Program.

The Art of Cover Letters: The Art of Cover Letters: The Parts The Parts con.con.

The Body:The Body:– 1-2 paragraphs, likely one for education and 1-2 paragraphs, likely one for education and

one for work experienceone for work experience– Provides evidence and support for your resumeProvides evidence and support for your resume– Takes your resume information and shows how Takes your resume information and shows how

it is directly related to the job you are applying it is directly related to the job you are applying forfor

– Start each paragraph with a topic sentenceStart each paragraph with a topic sentence– Show, don’t just tell, so use examples, Show, don’t just tell, so use examples,

explanations and detailsexplanations and details

The Art of Cover Letters: The Art of Cover Letters: The Parts The Parts con.con.

Body sample paragraph:Body sample paragraph:– Other than my office work, I have been involved with many Other than my office work, I have been involved with many

different jobs that required both organization and different jobs that required both organization and professional communications. As manager of the RPI pep professional communications. As manager of the RPI pep Band I planned road trips, acquired new uniforms for the Band I planned road trips, acquired new uniforms for the band, arranged campus spirit events, worked with band, arranged campus spirit events, worked with students, staff, and campus officials, and in other ways students, staff, and campus officials, and in other ways managed the 60 plus member band. An other example managed the 60 plus member band. An other example would be my editorial position with would be my editorial position with KairosKairos, a Journal for , a Journal for Teachers of Webbed Environments. As the Response Editor Teachers of Webbed Environments. As the Response Editor I established the response section, creating a forum I established the response section, creating a forum between the editors, authors and readers. I also was a between the editors, authors and readers. I also was a liaison between Kairos and LinguaMOO, a professional liaison between Kairos and LinguaMOO, a professional communications MOO. My work with Kairos and LinguaMOO communications MOO. My work with Kairos and LinguaMOO won me the prodigious Linguarian of the Month award. My won me the prodigious Linguarian of the Month award. My attached resume further details my work experience, skills, attached resume further details my work experience, skills, and abilities. and abilities.

The Closing:The Closing:– Also short, 2-3 sentencesAlso short, 2-3 sentences– Summarize your letter, emphasizing major Summarize your letter, emphasizing major

qualificationsqualifications– Ask for an interview or phone callAsk for an interview or phone call– Indicate when available to interviewIndicate when available to interview– Provide contact information (phone, cell, email)Provide contact information (phone, cell, email)– Refer to resume if not done previouslyRefer to resume if not done previously– Example: The enclosed resume provides further Example: The enclosed resume provides further

information about my experience and education. I information about my experience and education. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you at your welcome the opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience. I may be reached at (806) 555-earliest convenience. I may be reached at (806) 555-1212, by email at ttsmalt@ttxu.edu, or at the address 1212, by email at ttsmalt@ttxu.edu, or at the address listed on the attached resume. I would be available to listed on the attached resume. I would be available to interview on Mondays and Wednesdays during normal interview on Mondays and Wednesdays during normal business hours. Thank you for your valued time. business hours. Thank you for your valued time.

The Art of Cover Letters: The Art of Cover Letters: The Parts The Parts con.con.

Good luck and have fun!Good luck and have fun!

People who got their job!