Tips for Resume and Cover Letter Writing RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Resume Must Have Your name and contact information. Action words; i.e: managed, created, implemented, monitored, assisted, reviewed, resolved, collaborated, recommended ,etc. Keywords: relevant to the job description, company, industry. Correct spelling, grammar, formatting. Leave your personal information out; i.e: age, number of children, marital status, date of birth, etc. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Resume Contents Heading: Objectives (optional) Name, contact (address, phone number, email address). Objectives (optional) May include type of position you are seeking, special skills and contributions you are offering. You can skip the objective all together and state it instead in the cover letter. Highlights or Summary of Qualifications: Brief summary of skills , experience and personality traits pertinent to the job. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Resume Content, Cont’d Work History: Education & Training: Starting with the most recent position. Include job title and dates of employment. Education & Training: Starting with the highest degree/diploma. If you are a new college graduate and do not have a lot of experience, education should be listed before work history. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Resume Contents, Cont’d Experience: Starting with the most recent job. Include full-time and part-time experience. Include job title, company name and location, dates of employment. Education & Training: Starting with the highest degree/diploma. Include dates awarded and name and place of the institutions. If you are a new college graduate and do not have a lot of experience, education should be listed before Experience. Skills: Computer skills Language skills, etc. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Resume Contents, Cont’d Others (if appropriate): List awards received; conferences/meetings attended or facilitated; appearance on radio/tv shows; grants received; published work, international travel, etc. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Cover Letter Must Have It should clearly convey your interest, highlight your qualifications and experience, introduce you as the best candidate for the job. You need to “sell yourself”. It should include the position title, the company name, where you found the job advertised. It should be addressed; i.e: Dear recruiter; Dear Mr. XYZ, etc. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Cover Letter Must Have, cont’d It should be error free. Customized for the position. Avoid writing about personal stories if it is not relevant. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Cover Letter Contents Opening Paragraph: Middle Paragraph: State the purpose of the letter with a strong opening sentence Highlight reason for your interest in the position/organization Middle Paragraph: Highlight your knowledge, skills, and ability relevant to the particular job. Final Paragraph: Reiterate your interest, ask for a personal interview, state how you would like to be contacted. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Example: Summary of qualifications Example: Objective I am seeking and administrative position in community health care education, with special emphasis on community relations and local employers. I am seeking a Senior Accountant position with your company with opportunity to contribute my strong accounting and customer service skills. Example: Summary of qualifications 10 years of progressive experience as an Accountant Extensive experience with several accounting softwares, such as Jamis and SAP. A keen eye for details. Supervised large teams of junior accountants and bookkeepers Highly organized , able to manage multiple tasks with proven ability to meet deadlines. Currently studying for the CPA. RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Example: Experience Description General Accountant, ABC Corporation, Oxon Hill, MD, May 2001-Present Maintained account payable and receivable for more than 200 offices clients. Created and implemented a system for ordering and maintaining inventory of office supplies using Access. Developed a tracking log of client contacts resulting in greater office efficiency. Example: Education Section Bachelor in Accountancy, May 1994 XYZ University, Country RAP Teach-In, April 2010

Good Luck! RAP Teach-In, April 2010