SPK 230 Résumés and Cover letters

SPK 230 What is a Résumé? A personal summary of:  Experience (paid and volunteer)  Professional qualifications  Skills  Accomplishments

SPK 230 What is a Résumé? A résumé includes:  Contact info  Objective/summary (optional)  Education  Experience  Activities/honors  Skills

SPK 230 Style Guidelines Length  Depends upon experience  Typically one concise typed page Font  points  Black  Larger size for name  No more than two kinds In body

SPK 230 Style Guidelines Paper  8 1/2” x 11”  White or ivory Bullets  Only for three or more items  Line them up!  Don’t use multiple levels/types

SPK 230 Style Guidelines Emphasis  Consistent tenses, punctuation, capitalization  Limit bolding/formatting changes Language  Avoid repeating words/phrases  Prove your claims with numbers or other proof

SPK 230 Preliminary Research Find out  General job info.  Desired qualifications  Key values & words Check with  Career Resources  The web  Trade journals  Personal contacts  Company literature

SPK 230 Personal Data Your name (make it stand out) Permanent address or campus address Phone numbers (with professional voice mail) Professional address Jane Doe 100 High St. West Chester, PA (610)

SPK 230 Objective Statement Optional and only appropriate in limited circumstances 1-2 sentences:  Summarizing position you want  Stating marketable skills Useful for unsolicited résumés

SPK 230 Summary Statement Optional Best for significant experience Short paragraph or bulleted list Tailored to job Answers question – “What can this applicant do for me?” experience

SPK 230 Summary Statement Summary Developed national ad campaigns to launch technical products 10 years experience business to business sales of IT services and technical products Managed diverse projects in a deadline driven team atmosphere

SPK 230 Education Begin with the highest level of educational achievement. Include full name of institution and city/state West Chester University, West Chester, PA.

SPK 230 Education, cont. List…. Degrees earned or expected Date of degree completion Major/minors Overall GPA and/or GPA in Major Relevant courses No high school

SPK 230 Education Cont. West Chester University, West Chester, PA Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies Anticipated Graduation: May 2011 GPA: 3.5/4.0 Major GPA: 3.6/4.0 Relevant Courses: Business to Business Marketing, Public Speaking, Business & Professional Communication, Sales.

SPK 230 Employment Experience Describes past/present employment or volunteer experience Describe experience relevant to job sought Be specific – give numbers Begin with an action word Avoid repetition

SPK 230 Employment Experience Include:  C ompany name  City, state  Job title  Dates of employment  Duties performed.

SPK 230 Employment Experience Cont. Iron Hill Restaurant, West Chester PA. (August 2006-May 2009) Assistant Manager * Collaborated with restaurant management to develop a marketing and advertising campaign for a new restaurant location. * Trusted by management to train over 25 new employees in proper restaurant opening and closing procedures * Communicated clearly and professionally with management and coworkers to ensure successful restaurant operations.

SPK 230 Employment Experience Cont. When describing your jobs:  Use bullet points instead of paragraphs  Reverse chronological format  Choose the appropriate tense  Globalize your skills

SPK 230 Activities and Honors Optional Include relevant activities/honors that:  Show valuable experience or skills  Recognize your effort and commitment

SPK 230 Specialized Skills Optional Include skills that make you unique  Computer skills  Foreign language skills  Research or writing skills  Budget creation  Military service

SPK 230 Specialized Skills Describe your skills :  Name computer programs  Years you studied a foreign language  Dates of military service

SPK 230 References Employers and/or professors familiar with your work. Ask permission Create separate “Professional References and Personal References” page DO NOT write “References available upon request” on résumé

SPK 230 Reference Sheet Julie Pfaff, Esq. Main Hall, Room 214 West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA (610) Ms. Pfaff was my Business and Professional Communications Professor and my academic advisor.

SPK 230 Organization Reverse chronological Functional

SPK 230 Reverse Chronological Organizes experience by time Begin with most recent experiences first Most common format Hilights career growth and advancement

SPK 230 Functional Résumé Style Organizes experience by skill Highlight experiences related to job sought Good for:  Applicants with little experience  Gaps in employment history  Career changers Use with caution!

SPK 230 Résumé Dos Do:  Research the company/job before writing  Have a professional proof-read for spelling & grammatical errors

SPK 230 Résumé Donts Don’t  Use lots of underlining or fancy bullet points  Include personal information (ht, wt, hobbies)  Send a résumé without a cover letter  Leave lots of blank space

SPK 230 Cover Letters

SPK 230 What Is a Cover Letter? Expresses your interest States your qualifications First introduction to employer

SPK 230 Why Send a Cover Letter? Hilight important parts of your résumé. Expand relevant employment experiences. “Sell” qualifications to employer.

SPK 230 Header Address your letter to a specific person.  Find name on web site  Find name on recruiting brochures,  Call the organization and ask If all else fails use: Hiring Manager

SPK 230 Header Ima Hiring Human Resources Manager Whadda Great Company 100 N. High Street West Chester, PA Dear Ms. Hiring:

SPK 230 Introductory Paragraph Your first paragraph should: Get the reader’s attention. State what job you are seeking State where you learned of the job Show knowledge of company Highlight impressive qualifications

SPK 230 Introductory Paragraph I was excited to see the Media Coordinator position posted on Johnson & Johnson’s website. I admire Johnson & Johnson’s long standing commitment to ethically manufacturing and marketing high quality, effective, healthcare products. I believe my comprehensive knowledge of public relations and my proven communication and leadership skills make me a strong candidate for the Media Coordinator position.

SPK 230 Body Paragraphs Sell your strongest qualifications/skills Demonstrate how you used these qualifications successfully (situation-action-result) State how qualifications benefit the employer.

SPK 230 Body Paragraph As a sales agent, I assisted customers with merchandise questions, handled upwards of $5,000 a day and stocked sales items. As a marketing intern at Pizza Hut, I initiated a program to attract customers to Southeastern Pennsylvania Pizza Hut’s, which resulted in a 5% increase in sales for the month of June..

SPK 230 Conclusion Paragraph Ask the employer for an interview Be flexible regarding a date/time for interview Say thank you State that you will follow up (and do it!)

SPK 230 Conclusion Paragraph I believe my marketing and communication experience will be a valuable asset to your organization. I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with you in person to discuss how I could contribute to Johnson & Johnson’s marketing department. Please contact me at your convenience to arrange an interview. I can be reached at

SPK 230 Key Points Don’t exceed one typed page Appeal to company values/attitudes by incorporating lingo & buzz-words Demonstrate knowledge of the company Spell check and proof-read!!!!