1. The York Road Literacy and Employment Initiative Workshop 2: Writing Effective Résumés and Cover Letters Allen Brizee, PhD Assistant Professor of Writing Loyola University Maryland Giuliana Caranante Psychology-Writing Major Loyola University Maryland

2. Goals and Outcomes This workshop will help you write effective résumés and cover letters that are tailored for specific organizations and jobs. After the workshop, you should be able to:  Write an effective résumé  Write an effective cover letter 2

3. Overview  Name Tags  Folder Contents  What is a Résumé?  How Do I Write an Effective Résumé?  What is a Cover Letter?  How Do I Write an Effective Cover Letter?  Conclusion Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion 3

4. 4 Résumés  What is a Résumé?  A document that represents you and lists your experience, education, and skills  The purpose of a résumé is to get a job interview  Secondary purposes include:  Make a professional impression, along with your cover letter and references  Keep a record of your experiences  Eventually, get a job! Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

5. 5 Résumés  What are My Goals as a Writer?  Show how you are a good match for the organization and the position  Explain how you will help the organization achieve its mission  This strategy is known as the reader- centered approach – RCA  Hard to write about yourself and not sound selfish  The RCA will help Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

6. 6 Résumés  The Reader-Centered Approach  Good match  Help them Objective: To obtain the Receptionist position (#3456) and help the Department of Public Works maintain its high standard of service  What is effective about this objective statement?  Be careful not to write an objective that is longer than two lines on your résumé Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

7. 7 Résumés  The Writer-Centered Approach  Is a less effective approach  Tries to show how applicants are the “best” candidate for the job, an unsupportable position  Tries to show how the organization can help the applicant, instead of the other way around Objective: To obtain a high paying job in a professional setting  What do you notice about this objective statement?  Templates? Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

8. 8 Résumés  How Do I Use the Reader-Centered Approach for My Résumé?  If you include an objective, tailor it to position and organization  Tailor your résumé design and information to match position’s requirements and organization’s mission Qualified | Possibly Qualified | Not Qualified Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

9. 9 Résumés  Tailored Objective Objective: To obtain the Receptionist position (#3456) and help the Department of Public Works maintain its high standard of service Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

10. 10 Résumés  Tailored Design and Information  Use clear document design:  Space  Clear sections  Present information in a reader-centered way:  If position is store manager, focus on the skills you have that are related to that job Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

11. 11 Résumés  Tailored Design Space Clear sections (fonts) Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

12. 12 Résumés  Tailored Information  Chronological résumé Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion Indented bullet list Verb choice and tense Information tailored to desired job

13. 13 Résumés  Tailored Information  Skills-based résumé Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion Skills at the top More skills, experience Education, experience (https://owl.english.purdue.edu)

14. 14 Résumés  What do I do if…  I have a gap in my work experience? Be prepared to explain the gaps in a positive way Consider composing a skills-based résumé Volunteer or enroll in a class  I don’t have experience related to the position? Show how your skills will transfer to new position Explain how your experience will help prospective organization in your cover letter  I am a veteran? Work on “translating” military terms to civilian terms Participate in government/military sponsored transition programs and veteran-related job fairs Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

15. 15 Résumés  What do I do if…  I have a disability? You are protected under Federal Law (ADA and the Rehabilitation Act) from disability-related discrimination By law, you must disclose to be provided with work- related reasonable accommodations  I have children? You are not required to disclose your family situation  I have been in a correctional program? Be honest with your employer Discuss what you did to contribute positively to your future (GED, vocational training, etc.) Consider composing a skills-based résumé Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

16. 16 Practice  Find an ad online (or use the one you found last week) and write a reader-centered objective for it:  Tailored  How you will help them Objective: To obtain the Receptionist position (#3456) and help the Department of Public Works maintain its high standard of service Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

17. 17 Lunch Break!  We have meat and veggie subs, water, and chips Overview Résumés Lunch Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

18. 18 Cover Letters  What is a cover letter?  A document that explains how the information you provide in your résumé makes you a good match for the position and organization  It also explains how you will help the organization  The purpose of the letter is to get the interview  Secondary purposes include:  Make a professional impression, along with your résumé and references  Keep a record of your experiences  Eventually, get a job! Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

19. 19 Cover Letters  Apply the reader-centered approach  Good match  Help them Based on the requirements outlined in the job ad, I believe that I am a good fit for the position because I have worked as a warehouse employee before. I can help Capital City Distribution maintain precise inventory lists and stellar customer service.  What is effective about these sentences from the introductory paragraph of a cover letter? Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion These are your main arguments, your thesis

20. 20 Cover Letters  The Writer-Centered Approach  Is a less effective approach  Tries to show how applicants are the “best” candidate for the job, an unsupportable position  Tries to show how the organization can help the applicant, instead of the other way around I am interested in the legal assistant position because I would eventually like to become a lawyer.  What do you notice about this statement?  Use of “I”?  Templates? Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

21. 21 Cover Letters  How Do I Use the Reader-Centered Approach for My Cover Letter?  Tailor it to position and organization  Tailor your letter design and information to match position’s requirements and organization’s mission Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

22. 22 Cover Letter  Tailored Design and Information  Use clear document design:  Space  Clear sections: block style is most conservative Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

23. 23 Cover Letter  Tailored Design Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion Left margin POC Same font as résumé Space between paragraphs

24. 24 Cover Letter  Tailored Design Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion One space Four spaces Mailing address Enclosure

25. 25 Cover Letter  Tailored Information  Introduction that includes:  When and where you found ad  Specific job title (number) and organization’s name  How you are a good match for job and organization  How you can help them  Body paragraph(s) that support your thesis – good match and will help them  Include specific examples from résumé  Closing paragraph that references résumé, includes contact information, and thanks POC for taking time to read material Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

26. 26 Cover Letter Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion Introduction When searching the job site, workinretail.com, I came across your advertisement for Store Manager in west Baltimore. Sally Beauty is a great asset to the city and provides the local community with convenient access to all the top beauty brands. Based on my previous experience as a licensed cosmetologist and retail employee, I believe that I fit the requirements of the Store Manager position and will help Sally Beauty maintain its excellent customer service, as well as increase its revenue.

27. 27 Cover Letter Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion Body Paragraph 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. 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.

28. 28 Cover Letter Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion Closing Paragraph 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 email me at Davis22@hotmail.com or call me at 222-222-2222.

29. 29 Practice  Use the ad you found earlier to draft your cover letter introduction paragraph  When and where you found ad  Specific job title (number) and organization’s name  How you are a good match for job and organization  How you can help them  Save work to your flash drive Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

30. 30 Conclusion  Today we worked on  Analyzing a job ad  Writing an effective résumé  Writing an effective cover letter Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion

31. 31 Conclusion  Remove flash drive by double-clicking on icon at bottom right of desktop  If you are signed up for next week’s workshop, try to finish and bring your résumé, letter drafts  Please fill out the feedback form  Thanks for your time Allen Brizee: habrizee@loyola.edu Giuliana Caranante: gmcaranante@loyola.edu Overview Résumés Practice Cover Letters Practice Conclusion