The York Road Literacy and Employment Initiative Workshop 3: Résumés and Cover Letters, Continued; Preparing for a Job Interview Allen Brizee, PhD Assistant Professor of Writing Loyola University Maryland Giuliana Caranante Psychology-Writing Major Loyola University Maryland

Goals and Outcomes This workshop will help you complete your résumés and cover letters and prepare for a job interview. After the workshop, you should be able to:  Complete an effective résumé  Complete an effective cover letter  Prepare for a job interview 2

Overview  Name Tags  Folder Contents  How do I Complete My Résumé?  How do I Complete My Cover Letter?  How do I Prepare for a Job Interview?  Conclusion 3 Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

4 Résumés  How do I Complete My Résumé?  Review :  Reader-centered approach: two main goals? Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

5 Résumés What you did but also tailor to desired position Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

6 Résumés Traditional résumé Stylist; Cutz Beauty Salon, Baltimore, MD  Worked as a hair stylist  Tracked inventory and created product displays Reader-centered résumé Stylist; Cutz Beauty Salon, Baltimore, MD  Worked as a hair stylist while beginning to learn make-up  Tracked inventory, created product displays, and found new products for store  Had the highest return customer rate of any stylist in store Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

7 Résumés Cashier; Giant Food Stores, Baltimore, MD  Stocked shelves and worked registers Cashier; Giant Food Stores, Baltimore, MD  Stocked shelves, assisted customers, and performed point- of-sales transactions  Created a tracking system to record products customers requested but store did not carry  Promoted to head of the Front End of the Store and assisted other cashiers  Received Employee of the Month award, September, 2003 Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

8 Résumés Civic and Volunteer Activities  Active member of the Richnor Springs Neighborhood Association  Volunteer hair stylist for senior citizens and children in the Govans area  Volunteer at GEDCO/CARES food pantry Continuing Education  CARES employment workshops: How to Use the Internet and MS Word; How to Write Effective Résumés and Cover Letters; Preparing for a Job Interview  Enoch Pratt Free Library MS Office Suite workshops: Excel, Word, PowerPoint Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

9 Practice  Continue working on your draft résumé  Tailored to job and organization  How you will help them  Worry about formatting later – focus on writing the reader-centered descriptions of your job/volunteer responsibilities Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

10 Cover Letters  How do I complete my cover letter?  Review :  Reader-centered approach: ?? Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

11 Cover Letters Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion Main points: 1.Good match 2.Help them 1.Begin with strong topic sentences 2.Move from general to specific information 3.How you will help them

12 Cover Letters Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion Topic sentence  Examples  How you will help them My experience at Cutz Beauty Salon has taught me so much about today’s emerging beauty products. I am passionate about using the latest products to enhance a daily beauty routine. For example, I have focused on finding affordable hair products that allow customers to shorten their style time. My clients love learning about new products, and I have increased product revenue at my store by 5%. This knowledge is valuable to every customer that enters Sally Beauty and would help me support your excellent customer service.

13 Cover Letters Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion Topic sentence  Examples  How you will help them Similarly, working for so many years at Giant Food Stores taught me valuable interpersonal communication skills. I completed numerous inventory workshops and learned how to create a truly successful sales team. These skills will help me assist the customers of Sally Beauty and support your mission of excellent customer service.

14 Cover Letters Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion Topic sentence  Purpose and how you will help them  Thanks and contact information Sally Beauty is the largest distributor of top professional and hair care brands in the world. This is due to the effective customer service and high quality of inventory at each local store. I would like to speak to you further about how my interpersonal skills and strong knowledge of emerging beauty products can assist you in continuing to develop your vision by assisting customers in a Sally Beauty store. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and enclosed résumé. If you have any questions, please me at or call me at

15 Practice  Continue working on your draft cover letter  Tailored to job and organization  Good match  How you will help them 1. Start with strong topic sentences 2. Follow that with an example from your résumé 3. Explain how your experience matches the job and how it will help them Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

16 Lunch Break!  We have meat and veggie subs, water, and chips  Continue working on your letter during lunch Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Lunch Job Interview Practice Conclusion

17 Preparing for a Job Interview  “You only have one chance to make a first impression.”  Past experiences  Do’s and don’ts Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

18 Preparing for a Job Interview  With some preparation, you can succeed! 1. Research the organization a. Size and age of organization b. Mission and goals c. Profit vs. non-profit d. Products, accounts, etc. e. Competitors Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

19 Preparing for a Job Interview 2. Research the position a. Responsibilities b. Daily tasks and supervisor c. Physical labor and/or technology d. Location e. Benefits and salary f. Commuting requirements g. Special licenses or training Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

20 Preparing for a Job Interview 3. Contact your references a. At least three b. Compose references list with contact information (same font and format as résumé and cover letter) 4. Review your résumé and cover letter and be prepared to discuss them a. How you are a good match b. How you can help them Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

21 Preparing for a Job Interview 5. Dress to impress a. Professional attire and impression b. Conservative appearance (cologne, makeup, jewelry, piercings, tattoos) c. Contact CARES staff if needed 6. Rehearse and be prepared for common questions Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

22 During a Job Interview 1. Arrive early 2. Bring extra copies of résumé and cover letter 3. Be confident – you made it past the first hurtle! 4. Be positive 5. Positive non-verbal communication (find a home for your hands, eye contact) 6. Be respectful (last names, cell phones, gum, etc.) 7. Be gracious (thank interviewer for her/his time) Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

23 After a Job Interview 1. Send a thank you letter within seven days 2. If you haven’t heard from the employer within ten days, you can call to inquire about position Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

24 Practice Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion  Search the Internet for some common job interview questions  Write responses to them  Talk with your neighbor about how you responded

25 Conclusion  Today we worked on  Completing an effective résumé  Completing an effective cover letter  Preparing for a job interview Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion

26 Conclusion  Remove flash drive by double-clicking on icon at bottom right of desktop  Please consider sharing contact information with the group to stay in contact  Please fill out the feedback form  Thanks for your time Allen Brizee: Giuliana Caranante: Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Job Interview Practice Conclusion