SELP Workshop: a presentation on Resumes and Cover Letters CLA Career Services 411 STSS building Joyce Halverson, Presenter (612)

Basic Guidelines

Purpose of a Resume A resume is your marketing tool designed to promote yourself to potential employers. A resume should be an overview of your best qualities…used to capture an employer’s attention so that he/she will want to interview you. The definition of “best qualities” may depend on what the employer wants…write to the job description!!

Resume Overview Must be well written, clear, focused, and attractive (visually appealing). Remember this equation…E = E + E + E which means… Employability = Education + Experience + Extra-curricular Involvement ● It needs to highlight your qualifications in an “easy to read” format

Resumes that are effective… Timeline: Start with the most recent first, and move backwards through time. Informational: Describe the degrees you’ve earned, experience you’ve acquired (including international experience), skill sets, and work history. Customize: Target it to a specific job. There is not just ONE WAY to write a resume. Think about how best to market yourself.

Sections of a winning resume Header - this is your contact information Education (this might also include study abroad/international experience) Experience / Work History Extra-curricular Involvement (especially LEADERSHIP - we’re looking for things like clubs & organizations, community engagement, volunteer, etc. Specific skills that are relevant to the job

Header Name should be larger than the other text Spell out all abbreviations Include contact info Address Phone Remove hyperlink Use professional sounding

Education Include University, degree, major(s), minor Expected graduation GPA if above 3.0 could include Learning Abroad Related Coursework

Experience Document paid or unpaid experience; especially if it is related to the desired position Organize so most relevant info is at top 2-6 bullet statements per experience Do NOT include address, phone, supervisor You do not have to include every job you have ever had, stick with the relevant ones

Describing Your Experience Emphasize SKILLS, more than “tasks” Prove that you have those skills by showing how you have used them Cite examples Get to results/accomplishments

Bullet Statements STRONG ACTION VERB + DETAILS + RESULTS Let’s use the Transferable Skills worksheet to craft bullet statements for your Resume -- form groups of two and work in pairs… -- what transferable skills do you want to highlight? -- place those skills in a context employers can relate to and understand

Action Words Vary the words you choose and try not to use the same word twice Put your skills in past tense unless speaking about an experience in which you are currently involved Identify what the company’s needs are and use action words that address those needs

Other Headings Leadership Community Involvement Scholarships Volunteer Experience Honors and Awards Professional Organizations Internship Experience Volunteer Recruitment Civic Engagement Philanthropic/ Fundraising International Experience/ Study Abroad Trainings & Certifications Activities

Skills Highlights additional skills relevant to the position: intercultural skills, language proficiency, active problem solving, computer skills, etc. Heading can be specific “Language Skills” or “Computer Skills” For languages - use your level of mastery: Conversational, Proficient or Fluent

Do Not: Use pre-formatted templates! Cram too much information on one page Include the statement “References Available Upon Request” Salary or hourly wage information High School Information Use personal pronouns such as “I” or “My” Rely solely on “spell checker” to find errors

Remember… Use past tense for past jobs and present tense for present jobs Keep your resume to 1 page, if possible (2 pages maximum) Most important information should be toward the top/left You don’t have to include everything Dates should be on the right side Be honest! Employers do check. PROOFREAD!

Appearance Keep the font size between point except for your name Balance of text and white space Clean, consistent format & punctuation Use high quality “Resume Paper” If your resume is not visually appealing, it doesn’t matter how well qualified you are – employers won’t read it.

Employer Comments Too vague – it lacked specifics Quality of writing (e.g., misspelling, grammar) Poor visual appeal/hard to read format Didn’t proofread Too long; a 1-page resume is preferred for entry-level positions

Cover Letters Considered “very important” by about 33% of survey respondents (especially the smaller organizations and many non-profits). It should be an example of your “best writing.” Explain how your skills, experience, and education/intellect will benefit THEM. Do your research! It will be evident!

Thank you! Remember, your resume is a work in progress… Keep it updated. Get feedback. An honest critique is invaluable. Use every resource available to you!