Resumes & Cover Letters Overview

1. Resumes & Cover Letters Overview Business Writing By Dr. Jennifer L. Bowie

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

3. How many resumes do I need? • Master resume: put everything you could ever use on this. Update frequently. From this you will developed your other resumes as needed. Can/Should be very long • Print resume: a short job-centric listing of your skills, experience, and education. Keep to one page unless an expert. Print on nice light paper with lots of white space • Email/ASCII resume: also job-centric listing of your skills, experience, and education. Keep short if only humans are reading go 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 time!) • Scannable resume: may use your email/ASCII resume. Print it on white paper. Do not use bold, italics, or underling. Keep simple and clean. • Web resume: a more detailed job-centric discussion of your skills, experience, and education, divided into sections with their own detailed pages. This resume allows you to go into the detail other resumes, especially the print, don’t. Do include a print-friendly (and possibly shorter) unchunked version of your resume available to print. Include navigation to all sections of the resume on each page

4. What type of Resume should I use? Two main types: • Chronological: most common. Information grouped (education, work experiences,…) and items in each group are in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Good for the general candidate. Sample: http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_sample_4.html • Functional: less common (10%). Information also grouped, but with a focus on skills and qualifications. Items often listed in order of importance for the job. Good for candidates with limited clear job experience, gaps in time working, career changes. Sample: http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_sample_2.html

5. What information should I include? • Objective: 1st, but optional. Make it simple, clear, and directed to the job. Example: “The web designer and usability tester position at Starre Solutions” • Summary of Qualifications: Optional (2nd), include if using a functional resume where the employer may not easily see connections between your experience and their needs • Skills: 2nd/3rd for functional, near end usually for chronological. List skills by category (like “writing,” “editing,” “managing,”) and then discuss 3-5 successes/examples of each skill. Example: Writing –Composed a 50 page recommendation report for Business Writing class

6. What information should I include?Con. • Experience: 3rd/4th for functional, 2nd/3rd for chronological (place education before if education more relevant). • List and briefly discuss (2-5 bullets for chronological) work and related experience • Use action verbs (collaborated, managed, directed…) • If limited work experience, consider including relevant class experience • Example: Administrative Assistant and Event Planner Sperata Restaurant Buford, Georgia 8/05-7/06 • Wrote restaurant descriptions and promotional advertisements • Coordinated special events and private functions • Handled financial transactions and recordkeeping • Deployed new marketing strategies

7. What information should I include?Con. • Education: Near end of funcitonal, 2nd/3rd for chronological (before experience if more relevant). Include: • College work for the last 10 years. May skip or do more briefly if in industry for more than 10 years. • Do not include high school if college junior or higher or if more than 10 years ago (probably shouldn’t include when in college anyway). Only include if clearly qualifies you • Place of school, degree, major, minor, in major or regular GPA (if over 3.0), date of graduation (or expected date of grad.), and list relevant coursework (optional), related honors and awards • Example: Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia Bachelor of Arts in English, Minor: Psychology GPA: 3.4, Dean’s list: Fall 2004, Spring 2004, Summer 2005 Expected Date of Graduation: Fall 2007

8. What information should I include?Con. • Tools/Skills: Near end and optional. May include computer skills and other skills and tools that qualify you. Only include software or other skills beyond the normal (for example most people can use word and check email, so don’t include these). Include any software required by the job • Achievements/Honors: Near end and optional. May be included in education as relevant. List awards, achievements, and other honors. Provide dates. • References: Don’t include unless directly requested.

9. The Art of Cover Letters • Also called application letters • Follow the basic letter format • Write to a specific person • Match it to your resume • Make sure you sign it! • Show don’t tell

10. The Art of Cover Letters: The Parts • Like all letters cover letters have three main parts: • Introduction/Opening paragraph: • First and short paragraph, often 2-3 sentences • Explain why you are writing, how you heard about the job, and how you are qualified for the job • Be specific and clear—for instance tell them that you are applying for a particular position • Example: I was encouraged to look into internship opportunities available through the World Bank by one of my economics professors, Dr. Masha Ranahama. After learning about all of the exciting opportunities available, I am applying for a position in the IFC Summer Internship Program for graduate students. My background in international economics, international finance, international foreign policy, and German qualify me for the International Finance Corporation Summer Internship Program.

11. The Art of Cover Letters: The Parts con. • The Body: • 1-2 paragraphs, likely one for education and one for work experience • Provides evidence and support for your resume • Takes your resume information and shows how it is directly related to the job you are applying for • Start each paragraph with a topic sentence • Show, don’t just tell, so use examples, explanations and details

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

13. The Art of Cover Letters: The Parts con. • The Closing: • Also short, 2-3 sentences • Summarize your letter, emphasizing major qualifications • Ask for an interview or phone call • Indicate when available to interview • Provide contact information (phone, cell, email) • Refer to resume if not done previously • Example: The enclosed resume provides further information about my experience and education. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you at your earliest convenience. I may be reached at (806) 555-1212, by email at ttsmalt@ttxu.edu, or at the address listed on the attached resume. I would be available to interview on Mondays and Wednesdays during normal business hours. Thank you for your valued time.

14. Good luck and have fun! People who got their job!