iStudentResumeCoverWkshop.pdf

STANFORD UNIVERSITYCAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Resume and Cover Letter Essentials for International

Students

Your Resume and Cover Letter

Career Development Center Stanford University

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Purpose

o Introduce self and encourage an interview

Brief summary of why you’re a desirable candidateo Qualifications o Skills & competencieso Backgroundo Accomplishments

Cover letter

o Supplements and personalizes your resume

Curriculum Vitae (CV or vita)


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Customary when applying for: Academic positions (teaching or administrative) Fellowships or grants CDC’s “Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letters” handout CDC’s Academic Job Search workshop – May 5

Customary in some countries “Going Global” in CDC Library or website Consult career counselor at the CDC

Workshop Outline


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Resumes Content and Organization

Language and Phrasing

Cover Letters

Electronic/Scannable Versions

Additional Resources

Questions & Final Thoughts

Prepare


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Gather background information and keep a file Dates of previous employment and $alary Promotions, achievements and honors Course lists

Keep copies your resumes, job descriptions, and evaluations other employment correspondence

Be clear about what you have to offer CDC self-assessment inventories & exercises

Basic Sections Additional Sections


Heading

(Objective or Summary)

Education Relevant Coursework

Experience

Skills Computer, Language

Leadership or TeamworkActivitiesCommunity ServiceCourse ProjectsProfessional AffiliationsAccomplishmentsHonors/AwardsOther?

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Resume Content & Organization

Present Address: Permanent Address:

123 North A Street 456 No Place Like Home

Stanford, CA 94305 Anywhere, MO 99988

(650) 497-1111 (234) 123-4567

[email protected]

Guiping (Gwen) Zhou

Guiping (Gwen) Zhou123 North A Street • Stanford, CA 94305 • (650) 497-1111

[email protected]

Guiping (Gwen) Zhou123 North A Street

Stanford, CA 94305

Cell: (650) 938-1111

[email protected]


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Heading – U.S. Style


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Includes: Present address (where you live, not work)

Permanent address (optional)

Phone number/Cell phone number

Email address

Web site (if applicable)

Do NOT include: Date of Birth, Gender, Marital Status, Citizenship, Photo

Consider adding U.S. citizenship or permanent resident

Objective


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Helpful but optional Quickly indicates the type of position sought May omit if the position sought is obvious from experience

Clear, concise, meaningful

May include specific position you are seeking skills you wish to use on the job industry, field or type of organization a combination of all of the above

Sample Objectives


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Position statedo Seeking a position as a business analyst.o A position as a media summer intern.

Position and interest areas statedo A position as an electrical engineer in research and design.o An editorial assistant position in magazine publishing.

Skills and organization type statedo A summer internship preparing cell cultures in the biotechnology

industry.o To apply decision and systems analysis to strategic planning in

telecommunications.

Summary or Professional Qualifications


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Overview that highlights your greatest relevant strengths

Clear, concise, meaningful

It may include

Big-picture view of your most relevant qualifications

Personal traits and/or work style

A combination of the above

Optional; may complement or replace the objective

Can be more powerful than an objective

Sample Summary Statements

Career Development Center Stanford University12

Summary of Qualifications: Excellent team management and communication

skills Outstanding analytical and problem solving

abilities Proven leadership and decision making skills History of solving challenging problems under

tight deadlines Strong financial analysis and intuitive business

sense

Education

Stanford University, Stanford, CABachelor of Arts, History expected June 2011Minor: Communication GPA 3.6/4.0

Relevant Coursework: economics, computer science, statistics, journalism

Yonsei University, Seoul, KoreaBachelor of Arts (Diplom), History June 2010Minor: Communication GPA 97/100


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Experience Section


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TitleOrganization name & location (city, state)Dates of involvementSkills and responsibilitiesVerifiable accomplishments

Feature Writer, 9/07 – presentThe Stanford Daily, Stanford University, Stanford, CA• Developed journalistic writing style and interviewing skills.• Successfully met all deadlines. • Researched article topics.• Consistently published front page articles.

Experience


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Emphasize most relevant experience by listing it first paid jobs (in field) internships special academic projects/research volunteer experiences leadership/teamwork in student organizations paid jobs (other)

List most recent information first within each section

Minimize jargon or acronyms only known within your field

Use common action verbs

Sample List of Action Verbs


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AidedAdvisedBudgetedCheckedCoachedComposedConstructedCoordinatedDemonstratedDesignedDirectedDocumentedEvaluated

IntegratedInterviewedMaintainedMonitoredPerformedPlannedPrioritizedProvidedRecommendedRepresentedResearchedSurveyedWrote

See http://cardinalcareers.stanford.edu/jobsearch/resumes/verbs.htm

Resume Formats


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Chronological (most common)

+ Good if past experience logically leads to job sought

+ Most familiar for employers; some insist on this format

Functional/Skill

+ Good if experience does not logically lead to job sought

+ Explicitly promotes skills in a more meaningful way

- If not carefully written, hard to follow employment history

- Less familiar to employers

Combination/Hybrid

+ Best of both

- Need quantity and variety of experience

Chronological Resume


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EXPERIENCE9/10 – Research Assistant, Electrical Engineering, Stanford University

Investigated wireless network technologies . . .

9/07 – 9/10 Course Assistant, Dept of Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityLed the Accelerated Calculus for Engineers Program . . .

6/09 – 9/09 Research Assistant, Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityDesigned wireless sensors that . . .

6/05 – 9/07 Software Engineer Intern, IBM Corporation, ShanghaiTested machine software . . .

Combination Resume


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PROJECT EXPERIENCE:9/10 – Research Assistant, Electrical Engineering, Stanford University

Investigated wireless network technologies . . .

6/09 – 9/09 Research Assistant, Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityDesigned wireless sensors that . . .

WORK EXPERIENCE:9/07 – 9/10 Course Assistant, Dept of Engineering, Tsinghua University

Led the Accelerated Calculus for Engineers Program . . .

6/05 – 9/07 Software Engineer Intern, IBM Corporation, ShanghaiTested machine software . . .

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE:5/06 – 6/07 President, Society of Scientists & Engineers

Led 60 members in the successful launch of . . .

Resume List


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Is it brief and easy to read?

Is it 1 page? Or does my experience justify 2 pages?

Are my most relevant and impressive qualifications clearly visible?

Do I boldface, italicize and/or CAPITALIZE to highlight the most important parts of my resume? Did I overdo it?

Do I have a balanced use of blank spaces and margins?

Has it been critiqued by others? By someone in my field?

If printed (e.g. career fairs):

Is it printed on good quality bond paper? Is the paper a conservative color (i.e. white, off-white, light gray)?

References


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On a separate sheet of paper

List at least 3 references Name

Title/Relationship

Address

Phone Number

Email

Ask your references

ahead of time!

References


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Provided upon request In industry, most employers prefer to communicate

directly with the person providing the recommendation by phone or email, rather than a written letter.

Written letters of reference or recommendation are not needed for most positions (academic and research positions are the exception). Provide letters only when requested or if reference is unreachable, otherwise provide contact information.

Additional Information


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Unless specifically asked, employers do NOT need:

Copies of diplomas

Photos

Information put in folders or other protective covers

Transcripts

Cover Letter: Purpose & Structure


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• First paragraph: Who are you? Why are you writing?

Middle paragraph(s): Why are you a good candidate? How do you meet or exceed the job requirements? Why are you applying for this position at this organization?

Last paragraph: What’s the next step? Strong: “I will contact you in a week to follow up on this letter.” Weak: “Please call at your earliest convenience.”

Signature and closing Keep it simple: “Sincerely” or “Best Regards” Sign in black ink above your typed name (if printed) Type your name directly below the closing (if email)

Writing the Cover Letter


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Style: polite, formal, clear, objective & persuasive

Format: one-page conservative business letter

Balance self-confidence with respect for the employer.

Write a draft, let it “cool off”, then rewrite if needed.

Have your letter critiqued

Career counselor, someone in the profession or a friend

Your name and address should match your resume.

Learn and use the name of the intended recipient.

Cover Letter Tips


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“Ask not what your employer can do for you . . . ”Focus on what you can contribute, not what you hope to gain

Customize each letterWhy are you applying for this position at this organization?

Express tangible, relevant skills with concrete examples.Avoid clichés (e.g. “I am a people person” or “Teamwork is my

middle name”)

Use direct and easily understood language.Avoid abbreviations and slang

Spelling, punctuation & grammar must be perfect!

Avoid Cover Letter Blunders


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Mass mailing a bland generic form letter

Sending the letter to the wrong employer

Inappropriate stationery or graphics

Spelling or grammar mistakes

Sound determined, not desperate

Calling attention to your weaknesses. Emphasize your strengths!

Never misrepresent yourself

Electronic Resumes


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Simple Format For online applications, optical scanning, or in body of email Left justified; NO tabs, bold, italics or underlining Capitals, spacing, asterisks or dashes highlight key points

Email Tips Send resume and cover letter as BOTH:

An attached file (fully formatted; PDF or .doc or .rtf) Plain-text within the body of the email itself

Name the attached file in a recognizable way! YourName_Resume

How to do it:1. Save your nicely formatted resume! 2. Save As “plain text” or “text only” in Word. Close document. 3. Re-open the plain text document. Fix formatting and/or spacing.

Email Cover Letters


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Briefer but still includes your top 2 or 3 “selling points.”

Subject line conveys why you are writing. Avoid a blank or generic “resume/cover letter” subject.

Follow up:Can email again in a week or twoConsider calling to establish “live” communication.

“Cover Letter Magic” by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark

CDC Resources


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Short 15-minute appointments for a resume or cover letter review

Make a 45-minute appointment with a career counselor online via your Cardinal Careers account

Publications: pick up at CDC or download from web site

Binder: Sample Stanford Student Resumes and Cover Letters

Additional Resources


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Suggested readings: Cover Letter Magic Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates Cover Letters That Knock’ em Dead

Check with the Resource Center Specialist for more titles: call 723-1545

Reminder:

Please fill out the evaluation form!

Career Development Center Stanford University 32

“Your resume is a reflection of

who you are. Make sure yours is your very best…”

-College Job Hunter

Final Thoughts

Questions?


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How many pages?

Should it include everything you’ve ever done?

Is it OK to use tiny margins and a very small font?

iStudentResumeCoverWkshop.pdf

Documents

Transcript of iStudentResumeCoverWkshop.pdf