Cover letters and Resume (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/723/03/ )

What Is a Cover Letter? A cover letter introduces you and your resume to potential employers or organizations you seek to join. It is the first document an employer sees, so it is often the first impression you will make. Take advantage of this important first impression and prepare the reader for your application, stating why you are writing, why you are a good match for the job and the organization, and when you will contact him or her.

Cover letters do more than introduce your resume, though. a cover letter's importance also includes its ability to: Explain your experiences in a story-like format that works with the information provided in your resume. Allow you to go in-depth about important experiences or skills and relate them to job requirements. Show the employer that you are individualizing this job application. Provide a sample of your written communication skills.

Formatting your cover letter Your cover letter should convey a professional message. Of course, the particular expectations of a professional format depend on the organization you are looking to join. For example, an accounting position at a legal firm will require a more traditional document format. A position as an Imagineer at Disney might require a completely different approach.

The traditional approach to cover letters: Single-space your cover letter Leave a space between each paragraph Leave 3 spaces between your salutation (such as "Sincerely" or "Sincerely Yours") and typed name Leave a space between your heading (contact information) and greeting (such as, "Dear Mr. Roberts") Either align all paragraphs to the left of the page, or indent the first line of each paragraph to the right Use standard margins for your cover letter, such as one-inch margins on all sides of the document Center your letter in the middle of the page; in other words, make sure that the space at the top and bottom of the page is the same Sign your name in ink between your salutation and typed name

Addressing your cover letter The introduction The argument The closing

The letter heading The heading provides your contact information, the date you are writing, and the address of the company to which you are applying. For your contact information, you will want to include the following: Your name The address Phone number Fax number (if applicable) E-mail address Then, you will skip a line and write the full date (month, day, year). Follow this by skipping a space and writing the contact information for the person to whom you are writing: Name of the specific person Title of that person (if available) Address of the company

Example: Craig M. Leroix 2987 W. Taylor Dr. Portland, OR 45720 890-372-1262 cmleroix@anywhere.com February 2, 2005 Amy Kincaid, Human Resource Director Western Electric, Inc. 387 Collier Lane Atlanta, Georgia 30051 The reason you write your contact information is to make it easy for the company to contact you. You do not need to put this information down for the company itself.

1. The introduction The body of your introduction can be organized in many ways. However, it is important to include, who you are and why you are writing. It can also state how you learned about the position and why you are interested in it. (This might be the right opportunity to briefly relate your education and/or experience to the requirements of the position.) Most important is to briefly overview why your values and goals align with the organization's and how you will help them. You should also touch on how you match the position requirements. By reviewing how you align with the organization and how your skills match what they're looking for, you can forecast the contents of your cover letter before you move into your argument.

2. The argument Your argument is an important part of your cover letter, because it allows you to persuade your reader why you are a good fit for the company and the job. You want your argument to be as powerful as possible, but it shouldn't cloud your main points by including excessive or irrelevant details about your past. In addition, use your resume (and refer to it) as the source of "data" you will use and expand on in your cover letter.

In your argument, you should try to: Show your reader you possess the most important skills s/he seeks (you're a good match for the organization's mission/goals and job requirements). Convince your reader that the company will benefit from hiring you (how you will help them). Include in each paragraph a strong reason why your employer should hire you and how they will benefit from the relationship. Maintain an upbeat/personable tone. Avoid explaining your entire resume but use your resume as a source of data to support your argument (the two documents should work together).

3. The closing Your closing restates your main points and reveals what you plan to do after your readers have received your resume and cover letter. In your closing: Restate why you align with the organization's mission/goals. Restate why your skills match the position requirements and how your experience will help the organization. Inform your readers when you will contact them. Include your phone number and e-mail address. Thank your readers for their consideration.

A sample closing: I believe my coursework and work experience in electrical engineering will help your Baltimore division attain its goals, and I look forward to meeting with you to discuss the job position further. I will contact you before June 5th to discuss my application. If you wish to contact me, I may be reached at 765-555-6473, or by e-mail at hsia100678@yahoo.com.tw. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Resumé (Curriculum Vitae) http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumes/p/resumetypes.htm

Types of Resumes: Chronological Functional Combination There are several basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings. Depending on your personal circumstances, choose … Chronological Functional Combination Targeted resume.

Chronological Resume: A chronological resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent position listed first. Your jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current, or most recent job, first. Employers typically prefer this type of resume because it's easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them. This type of resume works well for job seekers with a strong, solid work history. Functional Resume: A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your chronological work history. It is used most often by people who are changing careers or who have gaps in their employment history.

Combination Resume: A combination resume lists your skills and experience first. Your employment history is listed next. With this type of resume you can highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and also provide the chronological work history that employers prefer. Targeted Resume: A targeted resume is a resume that is customized so that it specifically highlights the experience and skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for. It definitely takes more work to write a targeted resume than to just click to apply with your existing resume.  

In your resume: Objective (optional) What do you want to do? If you include this section it should be a sentence or two about your employment goals. A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition.

Career Highlights / Qualifications (optional) A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements, skills, traits, and experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes. It highlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job. Experience This section of your resume includes your work history. List the companies you worked for, dates of employment, the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and achievements.

Job Title Responsibilities / Achievements Company #2 City, State Dates Worked Education In the education section of your resume, list the schools you attended, the degrees you attained, and any special awards and honors you earned. College, Degree Awards, Honors Skills Include skills related to the position / career field that you are applying for i.e. computer skills, language skills.

Tips: Use dynamic action verbs Do NOT use the subject 'I', use tenses in the past. Except for your present job. Example: Conducted routine inspections of on site equipment.

Resume Examples http://www.resume-help.org/free_resume_examples.htm http://jobsearch.about.com/od/sampleresumes/a/sampleresume2.htm

Examples of cover letters http://www.cvtips.com/cover_letter_example.html (industry-specific letter) http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/Cover_Letters.htm (cover letter samples) http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm