TARGETED RESUMES

1. CO-OP EDUCATION PROGRAM TARGETED RESUMES Guidelines for writing an effective Co-op Resume arts.ucalgary.ca/coop/

2. OVERVIEW • Resume • Targeting • Format • Sections arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

3. WHAT IS YOUR RESUME? • Your first impression • A marketing tool to lead to an interview • Highlights how your qualifications match the employer’s needs • Details of your skills and experience that make you a good fit for a specific job • An honest advertisement arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

4. HOW TO TARGET • Understand employer’s specific needs • Research company • Appreciate company values • Match your skills with their needs arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

5. TARGETING KEYS • Critically analyze job description • Highlight key skills • Match and detail these skills on your resume and cover letter • Back up skills with examples and quantified details arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

6. FORMAT BASICS • Times New Roman and Arial fonts easiest to • read • Name and Section Titles – 14-16 font size • Body – 11-12 font arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

7. FORMAT BASICS • Two pages • No templates – these are easily identified and formats are difficult to customize • Professional, positive and consistent • Co-op resumes require following info on the top left of the first page above contact info • University of CalgaryCo-operative EducationID#123456 arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

8. FORMAT BASICS • Begin eachbullet with an action word • Use correct verb tense – watch for inconsistencies in Experience section • Present for current activities • Past tense for past activities arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

9. FORMAT BASICS • Other Points • Use round or square solid bullets • No Periods – bullets are not complete sentences • Typically up to five bullets per heading with up to two lines of text per bullet arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

10. FORMAT BASICS • As your first impression and an example of your writing skills be sure to • EDIT AND PROOF READ! arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

11. FORMAT BASICS • AVOID • Personal pronouns such as ‘I’ • Superlatives such as ‘excellent’ • Vague statements or use of ‘etc.’ • Acronyms or university specific details such as ANTH 230 arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

12. FORMAT BASICS • Avoid • Personal Information (gender, marital status) • Exact Dates • Information Over Ten Years Old • References arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

13. RESUME SECTIONS • REQUIRED • Contact Information • Co-op Status and Student ID • Education • Skills • Work Experience • Interests arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

14. CONTACT INFO • Name • Address – optional • Phone – If listing more than one, identify as • cell/home • Email – use a professional email - preferably • your ucalgary.ca address • Check this address regularly arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

15. EDUCATION • Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (Anticipated year of graduation) • University of Calgary • GPA 3.4/4.0 (include if GPA above 3.0) arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

16. EDUCATION • CO-OP STATUS • Currently in third year of full time studies • Seeking first work term • Available in Winter (year) for a 4 or 8 month work term arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

17. EDUCATION • RELEVANT COURSES • Introductory Social Statistics: Developed ability to critically evaluate social research reports utilizing basic statistical analysis including regression and correlations • Qualitative Research Methods: Understanding of research processes; problem definition, data collection and analysis, quantitative and qualitative strategies arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

18. EDUCATION • Possible Additional Subheadings • Relevant or Major Projects/Papers • Research • Additional Training • Scholarships, Honors, Awards arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

19. RELEVANTSKILLS • Match skills to job requirements to show • relevance • Name skill and back up with specifics • List up to 5 bullets • Include a Computer bullet and also add • languages if relevant arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

20. RELEVANT SKILLS EXAMPLE Leadership and/Volunteer Coordination: Experience in leading and mentoring, up 4 co-workers and 6 volunteers in a variety of situations including fund- raising events, strategic planning and project completion Writing: Developed skills in diverse formats including community advertising, speeches, press releases, professional correspondence and formal research reports Computer: Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint; familiar with Adobe Photoshop; some knowledge of Access arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

21. WORK EXPERIENCE • Bold position title, then company • Receptionist • Stony Ridge Veterinary Clinic arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

22. WORK EXPERIENCE • Points to Remember • If you have completed co-op work terms highlight first and separately • Start each bullet with an action verb • Focus on your skills and accomplishments rather than duties • Be specific and quantify examples • Within each section use reverse chronological order arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

23. CO-OP WORK EXPERIENCE SAMPLE • Human Resources Assistant Month/Year-Month/YearNational Energy Board Canada • Responsible for posting up to 15 internal positions • through Intranet and 20 external positions via the Public • Service Commission website • Assisted Co-op/Internship project manager with student • recruitment initiatives and career fair displays, • attendance and promotion arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

24. WORK EXPERIENCE EXAMPLES • Program Coordinator Month/Year-Month/Year • Glenwest Centre for Children • Created and implemented daily age-appropriate activities for 50 children aged five to twelve • Employed behaviour modification techniques aimed at the reduction of aggressive and inappropriate behaviour • Developed extreme patience, effective communication skills and the ability to function well under high stress arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

25. WORK EXPERIENCE EXAMPLES • Maintenance Worker Year-Year • Calgary Golf and Country Club (Summers) • Exceptional Service Award for Summer (year) • Operated and maintained heavy and light turf equipment • Trained five new employees individually and in groups • Helped develop new program for bunker maintenance resulting in enhanced playability • Interacted with club members in a professional and courteous manner on a daily basis arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

26. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE • Same format as work experience • Can be combined if relevant • Work and Volunteer Experience arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

27. VOLUNTEER EXAMPLE • Community Advisor Month/Year-Present • Residence Services, University of Calgary • Address concerns and issues for group of 50 students providing on-call assistance from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. • Communicate clearly with residents when mediating conflicts between roommates • Deal with violations of the community standards professionally considering the impact on individual residents, the entire community and precedence • Plan programs for residents of the floor, building and entire community individually and in cooperation with other Community Advisors arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

28. INTERESTS • In two to three points describe current interests • If possible highlight interests relevant to academic studies or career interests • Use sports, travelling or other leisure activities but as with all resume information provide specifics to give clear picture • Interest section provides employer with some informal and personal information that may help you stand out arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/

29. OTHER RESOURCES • Refer to information and samples provided in • Co- op Student Handbook • Co-op Coordinators are available to review • resumes and cover letters • Optimal Resume – online resume builder with • additional samples and resources arts.ucalgary.ca/co-op/