Resumes and Cover Letters What are they, what do they entail, why do I need them?

Resumes They are designed to display your experiences, education, talents, skills, and accomplishments to possible employers and even schools. They are organized by category and then by date. The newest/most recent date goes on top in that category, and the rest go in the following order. Resumes are ONE page in length Employers don’t want something that is messy or long. They need to spend their time finding candidates, not read a novel They are headed with your name, address, phone number, and email Your email must be professional. It cannot be your sexybaby69@yahoo.com email address or anything like that. Resumes are easy to read There are many people applying for the same thing as you; therefore, your employer wants something that is not cluttered

Avoid using words like A, An, The, I, Me, My Resumes (Cont.) The categories for your resume are: Objective—State the position you want clearly Education—Start with high school and then college Awards—School/not school related Trophies, recognition, honor roll, etc. Extra Curricular—School/not school related Clubs, sports, etc Work Experience—newest/most recent at start Personal Skills Hard and soft skills Must use specific action verbs References People who are not related to you and can provide a character reference for your employer. Avoid using words like A, An, The, I, Me, My Watch your verb tense!

Practice Let’s look at our handout and practice with our verbs

Resume Formatting Use Times New Roman size 11 or 12 (whatever you use, it must be the same throughout the paper) Increase the size of your category headings and your name Use bold, underline, or all caps to distinguish the category headings. Everything must be the same! Space consistently Make sure all entries of one type (category, roles, etc) are indented to the same level Use plain bullets (circles, dashes, squares) List your dates consistently. For ease, just use the year

Cover Letters Cover letters are always paired with resumes. Cover letters consist of three paragraphs. Each paragraph discusses certain aspects about you and your resume. You explain why you are sending a resume, state how you learned about the position you are applying for, convince the reader to look at your resume, call attention to elements of your background, reflect your attitude, and indicate that you will follow up regarding you’re application. The header and font from your resume must match your cover letter’s

Cover Letters (cont) Your cover letter should have a header that is identical to your resume’s. Your cover letter must have an address and contact info. of your potential employer/school. Under the contact information of the employer, you must put the date you wrote the cover letter. Under the date, you begin your letter with a salutation line. If you know who is doing the hiring process/interviewing you, you must put their name. If you do not, you greet with “To Whom It May Concern” on the salutation line of your cover letter.

Cover Letter (cont) The first paragraph will discuss why you are applying for the position. You will also explain how you learned of their school/organization and how you learned of the open position. This paragraph will also contain BASIC information about yourself that you believe is important for them to know (something that they might not get from your resume).

Cover Letter (cont) The second paragraph states why you are interested in the position or what the position entails. You must be specific! You must demonstrate that you know enough about the potential employer/position to show your interest and to properly relate your background to the employer. Mention specific qualifications (hard/soft skills) that make you a good fit for the employer’s needs. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THEM, NOT WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU! This paragraph is also where you will explain in more detail the relevant items in your resume (education, work experience, etc…) You must refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed (with this cover letter). If you have any other items, you must refer that those items are enclosed as well if they are required to apply for the position (ex: references, documents like transcripts, etc…)

Cover Letter (cont) The third paragraph should indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for the position you are applying for or to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities/hiring plans. State what you will do to follow up, such as a phone call in two weeks (most companies say to not call; if that is the case, don’t follow up!). If you will be in the employer’s location and could offer to schedule a visit, state when you could. State that you would be glad to provide the employer with any additional information that they might need. THANK THEM for his/her consideration/time. The closing line should say sincerely. Leave space to sign your name. Typing your name with a handwriting font is not okay. Under your signed name, you must have your typed name. If you have any enclosures, state that under your typed name.