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© Career Services 2014 | careers.queensu.ca

Winning

Resumes, CVs

and Cover Letters

Expanding Horizons, Dec 8, 2014 Christine Fader, Career Counsellor

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WITH US:

Queen’s University Career Services

@mycareerqueensu


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We are located on the 3rd floor of Gordon Hall


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& Job Postings


Hire Someone to Lead this Workshop

Candidate #1 • Writer and middle-grade children’s book author • Winner of international typing competition; 120+

WPM • Experience working in parole. • Advocate for people with disabilities • Piano teacher for children ages 2-18 • Medical school interviewer for 8 years; hired doctors

in General Internal Medicine • Work experience using French, German, American

Sign Language


Hire Someone to Lead this Workshop

Candidate #2 • 24 years of teaching experience with adult and teen

learners; 100+ workshops presented each year • Former and current recruiter, reviewing thousands of

resumes annually • Editor, two editions of best-selling resume book • 16+ years experience career counselling with

university (graduate & undergrad) and college students

• Columnist, national student jobs magazine, 2009-2011

• Author, Career Cupid: Your Guide to Landing and Loving Your Dream Job


Why do BAD things happen to resumes?

Test: Can someone guess (quite specifically) what role you’re seeking?


Resume or CV?


The CV – for academia/research

• Education • Awards • Research Experience • Publications/Abstracts/Posters • Funding • Conferences • Teaching Experience • Presentations • Community Activities • Clinical Experience • Observerships • Professional Work Experience • Memberships & Associations


The Resume – for everything else

• Objective/Profile • Summary of Strengths • Education • Awards • Relevant Experience

(or specific label) • Work Experience • Volunteer Experience • Professional

Development • Community Activities • Publications/Abstracts/

Posters • Interests & Activities

Education

Master of Science (Biology) expected Spring 2015 Queen’s University, Kingston ON

• NSERC Funding • GPA 3.9/4.3 • Completed 5 laboratory-based courses, including … • Familiar with standard cell biology lab equipment, including …

Field work • Completed 3 month project at Queen’s University Biological Station –

performed field sampling and data analysis

Thesis: “Cell Division in Saccharomyces cerevisiae” • Conducted experimental research project using … lab techniques • Presented findings as a poster presentation at the Canadian Association

of Biologists conference, June 2014.

10


Education

Master of Arts, History 2024-present Queen’s University, Kingston ON (candidate)

-Concentration in history of medicine -Major project topic: Comparison of 1918 Flu epidemic and the Black Death -SSHRC award

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), History 2023 University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON - Dean’s list, 2021-2023 - Relevant courses include: Canadian Social History, Fundamentals of Health - Awarded the John A. MacDonald scholarship for academic standing

Name the degree Consider emphasizing

Give dates and status

Include:

University, Town & Province

Consider including thesis or major projects and selected

courses

If you include an award, remember to indicate what it

was for


Education

PhD, Mechanical Engineering 2027-Present

Queen’s University, Kingston ON

Thesis: “Measuring Friction in Compression and Ring Testing”.

Courses: Advanced topics in manufacturing engineering, CAD, experimental stress analysis, plasticity.

Compiled a technical report on “Friction Models in Metal Forming” and presented to the Manufacturing Group.

Promoted after 1 year in Master of Science program

B.Eng., Mechanical Engineering 2020-2024

NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

Achieved 80% in thesis, 2nd highest out of a group of 185 students

Involved in heat exchanger design, piping design, pump selection, turbine selection and pond sizing.

Experience Descriptions

Help predict how you would approach the new role

Summary line outlining focus and scope of work • Invited to join faculty-wide curriculum review process…

Describe impact of results within role • Offered perspective on student experience during committee meetings

Show how you met or exceeded expectations • Exceeded expectations for time commitment and quality of writing for

committee recommendations

Include information that relates to new role • Helped team process by proactively clarifying roles/priorities “offline” with

faculty mentor

Establish links with desired role/industry • Gained insight into effective strategies for keeping discussions focused

without dampening spirits


Accomplishment Statements

Review statements in your document and consider: • How many/how much? • Why did I/we do this? • What was the result of doing

this? • What happened after it was

done? • Why was this important?

Verb + Task + Result/Impact

Presented at the Canadian Association of Oral Historians. Received positive feedback from supervisor regarding my ability to engage audiences and the quality of questions generated.

Led submission of NSERC grant submission for lab, streamlining process, using strengths within team and ensuring success through proactive discussions with key contacts.

Your turn!


• Reflect on a teaching, research or other experience

• Jot down some notes • Find a partner • Take turns describing

your best outcome or results

• Debrief as a group

Verb +

Task +

Result

Accomplishment Statements


Make the 30-second cut

FACT: Most people initially skim, rather than read resumes/CVs

A Great Tool= Summary of Strengths

or Profile


Summary of Strengths/Profile

• PhD Economics candidate, Queen’s University, 2025 • Economic development, sustainability and finance

expertise demonstrated through… • Knowledge of federal human rights and PIPEDA

legislation gained through Master of Public Administration degree.

• Presented at three conferences on economic policy and international trade.

• Project management skills developed as University of Ottawa student government leader

• Focused approach to learning/absorbing new information

• Canadian citizen/permanent resident

Job-specific

Transferable

Work-style

If

advantageous


Planning Assistant May-August 2026 City of Fredericton, Fredericton, NB • Gathered data for and wrote technical background

reports to be used to update the City of Fredericton Official Plan

• Wrote staff advisory reports for Public Advisory Committee meetings

Junior Assistant May – August 2025 Oliver, Mangion, McCalla & Assoc., Kingston, ON • Prepared Phase 1 and Phase 2 reports including

AutoCAD figures of contamination plumes and water levels interpreted from piezometer readings

Relevant Experience


Payroll Assistant Oct-Apr 2025 University of New Brunswick, Fredericton NB Project Co-ordinator Oct-April 2023 Centre for Family Violence Research, UNB Student Employment Officer Summer 2022 Human Resources Centre for Students, Amherst NS

Additional experience includes working as a payroll assistant,

project co-ordinator and student employment officer.

OR…

Additional Experience


Research Experience

• Can include: • summer work • observerships • volunteer work • academic work

• Name of supervisor(s), institution, location, date

• Topic or title • Significant findings or

goals • Publications,

abstracts, conferences


Research Experience

Research Elective, Pediatric Neurology Apr 2025-Present Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON

Retrospective study characterizing the placebo effect of Hello Kitty dolls in childhood neurological diseases to evaluate its range of utility in diagnostics and follow-up care in this population. (Dr. Sheza Whiz, MD)

Honours Thesis, Neuroscience Sep 2022-Aug 2023 Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, ON

Investigated the “Kraft Dinner Effect” on children with aversion to the colour orange. Oral presentation of results at the Super Keener Annual Summer Student Research Day was ranked in the top 3. (Dr. Heza Grump, PhD)


Publications

• Where? • If short, within education or small

section close to the beginning. • If long, at the end

• Separate section for refereed

articles • ONLY academic publications? • Majority of entries should be

already published


Publications/Abstracts/Posters

Author names (bold yours). Title of publication. Journal of Something, October 2029. PLUS (In press). (Submitted). (In preparation).


Watch the clerical details… “I am applying to Dalhousie in part because of your department’s reputation in the field of sustainable urban design, but also because I loved my time spent living in Alberta as a child.” When spell check is not enough… “Certified in Pubic Accounting Examinations”

Cover Letters


Cover Letters – Help Readers Understand

1) How does your academic experience translate into skills

we can use?

2) How will you help us meet (and/or grow) our teaching and research (and clinical) profile and goals?

3) You did an advanced degree, why aren’t you going into academic work?


• Reflect on a relevant/significant experience

• Jot down some notes • Find a partner • Take turns describing

your best outcome or results

• Debrief as a group

Situation +

Task +

Actions +

Result

Giving Proof/Evidence


I look forward to continue contributing my strong academic background in Gender Studies coupled with extensive presentation skills to the Women’s Directorate, Government of Yukon. I have experience working extensively with youth and was fortunate to have been part of the committee that developed queer-inclusive curriculum through my part-time role in the Centre for Teaching & Learning at Queen’s University. I have an interest in social media and “alternative” presentation methods and have begun using clicker technology and Twitter successfully in one course.

Example: Making the match


Example: Making the match

The School of Urban and Regional Planning assigns us hands-on projects that require intensive reading and comparative analysis of current policies from all levels of government. In effect, I am thoroughly familiar with reviewing and analyzing planning issues and planning documents. The comfort level I have utilizing such documents and my ability to efficiently manage time and multi-task will help you complete your projects on schedule. As a result, I may be able to assist you in completing secondary projects you may have on hold due to time constraints.


Example: Making the Match

• Design Experience. Designed working model of a textbook vending machine, and a three stage reduction gearbox for a ski lift assembly.

• Mechanical Processes. Able to analyze thermodynamic and turbomachinery processes, carry out pressure calculations between various fluids, fluid flow analysis, shop experience with lathes, drill presses, grinders, cutting torches and arc welding and CNC machines

• Electrical Fundamentals. Able to analyze DC and AC circuits; knowledge of electrical motors and generators; power generation improvements, amplifiers and digital circuits and devices.

• Materials Science. Completed materials science course; atomic bonding, micro- and macro-structures, processing and testing techniques of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, able to read basic phase and TTT diagrams..

• Customer Orientated. Regularly dealt with customers and sales agents as retail store clerk.

• Adaptable. Spent 3 months on an educational exchange in France while completing course work from both my home and visiting institutions.

Resources

Behavioural competencies

Edmonton Police Service

Remember there is no one “right” way to do a resume!


• Identify other key messages • Research into jobs and requirements • Research the location/institution • Counselling appointment (to find direction) • CV, resume or letter review appointments • Books in Career Advising & Resource Area

Next Steps


We Can Help!

We are located on the 3rd floor of Gordon Hall

winning resumes, cvs and cover letters - queen's€¦ · winning resumes, cvs and cover...

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