Resumes and Cover Letters Presented by Career Services University Inn, Rm. 102 (435) 797-7777 1.
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Transcript of Resumes and Cover Letters Presented by Career Services University Inn, Rm. 102 (435) 797-7777 1.
Resumes and Cover Letters
Presented by Career Services
University Inn, Rm. 102 www.usu.edu/career (435) 797-7777
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Cover Letters
91 percent of executives polled indicated cover letters are valuable when evaluating
job candidates.
Source: OfficeTeam Survey, 2012
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Tips for Writing Cover Letters Address the cover letter to a specific person, if
possible
Keep your letter brief—one page
Match yourself to the opportunity Show you’ve done some research
If requested, discuss salary here—your career coach can help you identify average salaries in your field
No grammar, spelling, or typographical errors
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Elements of a Successful Cover LetterParagraph 1 Identify the position you are applying for and why
you are interested in working for the organization If possible, name any referral/contact Create interest or solve a problem/need Link your education and work experience to the
position
The web developer position posted on Career AGGIE at Utah State University matches my ability to create and implement dynamic web content using a variety of software and design tools. In December 20xx I will complete my BS degree in management information systems with a minor in computer science.
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Elements of a Successful Cover LetterParagraph 2 Identify your strongest qualifications as they relate
to the position Elaborate on applicable work, education, or service
accomplishments Include results-oriented success statements—use
data or numbers Can be paragraph or bullet point format
My course work and related experience has refined my skills in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, ezPlug, and HTML. My experience as a departmental computer consultant gave me exposure to both PC and Macintosh OSX platforms, while troubleshooting repairs on over 40 work stations. Additionally, my summer internship in computing operations for a major city newspaper enhanced my knowledge of enterprise systems, content management, and e-commerce operations.
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Elements of a Successful Cover LetterParagraph 3 Thank the employer Request an interview Discuss how and when you will follow-up
I will contact you next week to schedule an interview to discuss my qualifications as they relate to this position. Should you need to reach me before then, please feel free to contact me at the phone number or email listed above. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to talking with you.
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The Resume
Your resume, including a targeted cover letter, is designed to:
get you an interviewremind the interviewer of your
skillsjustify the hiring decision to
others
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Hiring managers identified the following as reasons they would automatically dismiss a candidate from
consideration:
Resumes with typos—61% Resumes that copied large amounts of wording from the
job posting—41% Resumes with an inappropriate email address— 35% Resumes that don’t include a list of skills—30%
2012 CareerBuilder Survey
Unbreakable Rules
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Remember…
Resumes get less than a one-minute scan Review/research job descriptions on the
company’s website; focus on key words and skills
Be clear, concise, and targeted One page (consider two pages only if you are a
returning or graduate student) Check for typos, spelling errors, and grammar Include a well-written, targeted cover letter Write it yourself
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Skills/Qualities Employers Seek
Based on a 5-point scale; 5 = extremely important Verbally communicate with persons inside/outside the organization 4.63
Work in a team situation 4.60
Make decisions and solve problems 4.51
Plan, organize, and prioritize work 4.46
Obtain and process information 4.43
Analyze quantitative data 4.30
Technical knowledge related to the job 3.99
Proficiency with computer programs 3.95
Create and/or edit written reports 3.56
Sell or influence others 3.55
Source: Job Outlook 2013, National Association of Colleges & Employers
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Header Samples
BRADY SMITH____________________________________________________________www.linkedin.com/in/bsmith (435) 797-1234
Lokesh Babu455 North 1100 East
Logan, UT 84321435.752.1010
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Objective and Headline Samples
Apply sales experience and marketing degree as a sales representative with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Contract Specialist II with the BLM in the Colorado Region
Human Resource Specialist Training Performance Evaluations Job Analysis
Teamwork
________________________________
JOHN STAFFORDSeeking Operations Management Position
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Education Sample
Education
Master of Business Administration June 20XXJon M. Huntsman School of Business GPA 3.8Utah State University, Logan, UTResearch: “Does Everyday Low Price Mean the Lowest? A Comparison of Pricing Strategies,” Dave Hart and Dr. Sue Stevens, May 20XX
Education
B.S. Marketing, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business May 20XXUtah State University Logan, UT• Maintained a 3.2 GPA while working part-time and holding campus leadership positions
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Before You Start, Ask Yourself
If yes, consider using a traditional resume (chronological)
If no, consider using a skills resume (functional)
“Is my work experience related to the job I'm trying to get?”
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Success Statements
A good success statement used in effective cover letters, resumes, and online applications should:
• Start with an action VERB and briefly describe a skill, responsibility, or task
• Identify any tools or processes (computer programs, team efforts, equipment) used to accomplish the above
• Use numbers to show results and scope/scale of your success
• Be represented as a bullet point (not written as a complete sentence—no personal pronouns or periods)
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Projects SampleMARKETING PROJECTS
• Performed a marketing audit of Cardinal Health and made recommendations to the VP of marketing
• Worked with team of 30 students to organize and deliver a public relations campaign throughout the county
• Trained 529 voters in two months for fall 20XX election
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Work Experience Sample
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Professional/Relevant Skills Sample
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Management and Training• Structured a micro-finance program that trains and finances Peruvian
entrepreneurs; oversaw the disbursement of over $21,000 in loans• Trained employees on successful prospecting strategies • Undertook cycling team training and management responsibilities• Volunteered two years of full-time service teaching, participating in
humanitarian projects, and delivering language training in Spain
Operational Excellence• Received course instruction in implementing Lean principles in all
business areas, including management, operations, and accounting • Created marketing campaign for The Shingo Prize, which carries out
Lean operations education initiatives and recognizes organizations for operational excellence
• Learned Lean practices in the Lean Leaders Club through convocations, site visits, and simulations
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Work History with Skills
Work / Service HistoryTechnical Intern, Intermountain Healthcare, Murray, UT Summer 20xx
IT Desk, Convergys, Logan, UT Jan – May 20xx
President, Society for Advancement of Ethical Leadership, Aug 20xx – Logan, UT May 20xx
Service Volunteer, Bucharest, Romania Dec 20xx – Dec 20xx
Member, Association of Information Systems Aug 20xx - Present
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Computer/Technical Samples
Computer SkillsC++ Solid Edge SolidWorksFortran MATLAB MS Excel
Technical Skills Languages: C, C#, ASP.NET 4.0, Visual Basic,
Html, MATLAB, LABVIEW Technologies: SAP BASIS and SAP SECURITY
SALESFORCE.COM CRM, ezPlug Operating Systems: LINUX, UNIX, Windows 98-
Vista/7, Macintosh OS X Databases/Tools: Oracle 10g/9i, OLAP,
MS SQL Server 2008/BIDS, SSAS,
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Activities/Leadership/Service Samples
Service Coordinator, AIAA Student Chapter, 20XX to Present
Volunteer Math Tutor, STICKS Program, Fall Semester 20XX
Spanish-Speaking Volunteer, Baja, Mexico, 20XX-20XX
Vice President, Finance Club, USU, 20XX-20XX• Tutored 12 elementary-age students in reading for 9
months• Helped chapter receive “Superior” national ranking
LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
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References Sample
BRADY SMITH __________________________________
1098 North 200 West, Logan, UT (435) 797-1234 [email protected]
REFERENCES
Mr. George HildallDr. Amy Strong Manager of Production ProfessorACME Company Natural Resources1234 Address Avenue Utah State UniversityLos Angeles, CA 93099 Logan UT 84323493-384-3382 [email protected] [email protected] Supervisor Professor
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Your Online Presence
92% of employers plan to use social recruiting in their hiring practices
and 43% say they hired better quality candidates as a result.
Source: Jobvite 2012 Social Recruiting Survey of 1000 Leading Employers
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Drop-In Resume Edits
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
1:30 pm to 3:30 pmand
Thursdays, Fridays9:30 am to 11:30 am
No appointment necessaryOther times available by
appointment
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Visit Your Career Coach For
• Career Planning/Exploration
• Internships
• Researching Employers
• Networking
• Managing Your Social Media Presence
• Cover Letters
• Resumes
• The Curriculum Vitae
• Interviewing
• Managing Your Social Media Presence
• Evaluating Job Offers
• Testing
• Graduate School Applications
• Federal Employment
• Launching a Successful Career
• Career Search Technologies