1. Creating a Resume & Cover Letter

2. What is the purpose of a resume and cover letter?

3. Goals of a Good Cover Letter
Introduce yourself
Get your noticed
Convey special information
Highlight accomplishments
Get employers, award judges, and scholarship committees to read your resume!

4. Goals of a Good Resume Convey information Show who you are
Distinguish yourself
Look good on paper!

5. Cover Letter and Resume
Who are you?
What are you looking for?
What kind of job do you want?
What kind of college do you want to go to?
Where are you going?
BE YOURSELF!
What is your measure?
What have you done?
Where did you do it?
What can you do?
What’s the product?
How to sell it?

6. Writing a Cover Letter Lead with your strongest information
Use the logical connector
Geography, type of work, Alma Mater, common acquaintance
Introduce yourself
Highlight activities that set you apart
Suggest the next step
Let them know what your next step will be for contact

7. Writing a Resume Step One: BRAINSTORM Step Two: ORGANIZE
Write a list of all of your achievements, activities, etc.
Step Two: ORGANIZE
Categorize your achievements
Place in Experience, Education, and Other Headings
Include school related honors and activities under education
Publications, scholarships, offices, and organizations

8. Writing a Resume Step Three: PRODUCE
Format your resume to highlight the ‘big stuff’
Use bold or underline to offset your name, schools, and places of employment
Use bulleted points over narrative
Use italics to make something special stand out
Make the resume appealing
Clutter makes it hard to read and hard to pick out the good stuff

9. Advice for Cover Letters & Resumes
Try not to begin paragraphs with “I”
Use the standard business letter format
Be brief
Make sure it conveys the connection
Resumes
Show off
Reflect useful information
Be succinct
Make it personal
Don’t ever, ever lie

10. Parts of a Cover Letter
Your Contact Information
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Date
[ SPACE ]
Employer Contact Information
Title
Company

11. Parts of a Cover Letter Greeting First Paragraph Second Paragraph
Specific position you are applying for
Show that you have done your research on the company
Second Paragraph
Specific information about your education
Classes you’ve taken; clubs you’ve been in

12. Parts of a Cover Letter Third Paragraph Fourth Paragraph
Work experience you have in the specific field
Even if you don’t have any formal experience, you can mention your SAE or participation in WBL
Fourth Paragraph
Direct reader to look at your resume for more detailed info
TWO to THREE sentences is plenty!

13. Parts of a Cover Letter Fifth Paragraph Complimentary Close Signature
Request an interview
More contact information
Phone number
Complimentary Close
“Sincerely”, “Thank You”
Signature
Enclosure Statement
Tell that your resume in enclosed with the letter

14. Parts of a Resume
Header
Name
Address
Phone Number

15. Parts of a Resume Objective Examples
No more than a sentence or sentence fragments that are directly related to what position you wish to achieve
Examples
Become a greenhouse manager
Gain the position of a golf course superintendent

16. Parts of a Resume Education Work Experience
List the high school you attended
Time (years)
GPA
Course work that is relevant to job position
Clubs/Organizations
Work Experience
Name of business
Years worked there
Locations of the business
Highlights of job duties

17. Parts of a Resume Skills Achievements/Awards
Any skills that you feel are relevant to the job
Computer skills
Woodworking
Landscaping
Achievements/Awards
Honor Roll
Scholarships
Member of local groups
Office positions

18. Parts of a Resume References
Listed in order of importance
People NOT related to you, but have worked with you
Check with the person before you list them!
Your resume should NOT be more than a page