KEITH MUNSON, CAREER SPECIALISTSTROMMEN CAREER AND INTERNSHIP CENTER
LL OF ANDERSON HALL
Resumes & Cover Letters
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Strommen Career & Internship CenterUpcoming Events
Minnesota Private College Job & Internship Fair Tuesday, February 22, 20119:00-3:00 p.m. Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN Cost - TBD Must register with Augsburg's Career & Internship Center http://www.mnpcfair.org
Alumni and Student Networking Reception Thursday, February 10 , 2011 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Oren Gateway Lobby
Resume Writing Workshop Thursday, February 3, 20114:00-5:00 p.m. Christenson Center, Century Room
"Job & Internship Fair Success: Strategies for Interviewing On the Spot"Thursday, February 3, 20115:00-6:00 p.m.
Job & Internship Fair Prep Sessions-see wiki site for times/dates.
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Purpose of a resume
Marketing toolCommunicate the highlightsFocus on relevant/important informationThe “trailer”, NOT the whole storyTo generate interest and get you an interview
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Types of Resumes
Chronological Lists experiences in reverse chronological order Ties responsibilities, achievements, and
experiences to specific employers, positions, and dates
Functional Emphasizes skills/knowledge rather than dates &
employersCombination
Mixes format of chronological and functional Use combination/chronological most often
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
What Type is Right?
Chronological Pros: Most commonly used Preferred by employers Easiest to do and write Stresses steady &
Consistent employment Clear & concise Used to highlight titles,
names of employers, & growth in career
Chronological Cons: Gaps in employment
are readily evident Difficult to highlight
skills Hard to conceal non-
related employment Not advantageous for
career changers or frequent change
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
What Type is Right?
Functional Pros: Emphasize skills not
used in recent employment
Used when changing career/entering workforce after absence
Advantageous if there is a lack of career growth
Functional Pros: Advantageous if you
have various, unconnected work experience
Used when most experience is freelance work, consulting, or temporary
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
What Type is Right?
Functional Cons:Forces you to
identify skill clusters that may not be needed by employer
Not advantageous when you have performed limited number of work functions
Combination Pros:Good for career
changeGood for entry
after absenceCombination Cons:
Holds same disadvantages as functional resume
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Resume Basics
Use formatting to make important information stand out
Be consistent in formatting, grammar, etcMake absolutely sure there are no mistakesFormatting is the easy part.......
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Resume Sections
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
The Sections of Your Resume
Heading Includes “general” information:
Name Phone Number Address Email Address-MAKE SURE IT IS APPROPRIATE
Should be bigger & bolder than the rest Separate from the body using a line or graphic Be conservative with graphics
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Objective Professional Summary
Your objective is optional Focuses on YOUR interests
and goal If not on resume, it must
be in your cover letter Be clear & concise about
what you want If you are not specific, list
your career interests
Also optional Lists highlights of
background relevant to employer
Encourages employer to read on
Helps highlight skills not evident in work history
Objective or Professional Summary
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Objective Professional Summary
Seeking an entry-level position in accounting with a focus on tax and auditing.
Demonstrated leadership ability
Excellent organizational skills and detail-oriented
Several years of experience in customer service and sales
Intern experience at General Mills and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Objective or Professional Summary
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Education Section
Must include: Institution name
and location City & state Degree Date of graduation Major, minor,
concentration
Optional: GPA Course work Computer skills Financing of
education Dean’s list or
honors
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Skills or Qualifications Section
Skills employers desire: Oral/written communication skills Teamwork skills Interpersonal skills Flexibility Leadership
Computer Skills List hardware, software, & platforms
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Experience/Work Experience
May include internships, volunteering, community service, or work experiences
Include: Job title Name of company or organization City & state (no zip codes) Responsibilities/duties/skills required Dates employed
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Jazz it up!
Highlight important information Bold Italics Caps
You may want to use a bulleted list of skills/duties/responsibilities to make sure the information stands out
Use action words to describe what you did
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Write Effective Skill Phrases
Skill phrases are action statements that describe your experiences.
Components of a skill phrase Bullet point Action verbs in the past-tense Specific skill that was learned or honed Results of your work, or how or why you did the
work.
Avoid personal pronouns when writing skill phrases
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Skill Phrase Example
Fair Sold sporting equipment to customersBetter Developed sales strategies for selling sporting
equipment to customersBest Developed effective and creative sales strategies that
resulted in the top sales of sporting equipment for four consistent months
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Other Sections
Leadership experience & offices held Greek organizations Include dates & titles
Honors & scholarshipsClubs & organizationsProfessional memberships & affiliationsHobbies-LIMITED NUMBERKicker (centered at bottom)
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
References
Must be on a separate page of same paperInclude
Name & title of person Company or organization Address City, state, zip code Phone number Email address
References
Keith Munson, MSCareer Specialist & Employer Development
Strommen Career & Internship CenterAugsburg College
2211 Riverside AvenueMinneapolis, MN 55454
(612) [email protected]
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Final “Do’s” and “Don’ts”
Do Keep it brief Use 81/2 x 11 paper Check grammar Target your resume Be creative Check appearance Always include a
cover letter (over head 10)
Use quantifiable measures
Don’t Use abbreviations Mention salary, etc. Use fancy bold or
exotic paper Include personal info. Use the passive voice Staple or fold resume Include references on
resume
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Cover Letter Essentials
Make each cover letter fit the job in which you are applying for
Use your experience and relate it to the job
Express passion for the kind of work you would be doing
Add something in the letter that states how what the organization does/mission fits with your values or interests
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Cover Letters
JAKE RYAN SAMPLE 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454 612-555-5555
October 11, 2009
Dan HowmanProject ManagerPace Analytical Services, Inc.14870 Granada AvenueMinneapolis, MN 55454 Dear Mr. Howman:
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Introduction
Dear Mr. Howman:
I was excited to see your advertisement for the Chemist position on Augsburg College’s Augpost system. I have been looking for a position that would allow me to use my experience in research to work within a pharmaceutical environment, where the focus is on developing relationships with partners in the healthcare field. Pace’s mission fits extremely well with my values and passion to protect the environment and make the world healthier for everyone.
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Body of Letter
Recently , I graduated from Augsburg College with a bachelor of arts in Chemistry and Computational Economics. During my junior year, I did an internship at the University of Minnesota’s Chemistry department. Within that position, I worked effectively on the team to develop useful methodologies for the synthesis of natural products as potential pharmaceuticals. I really enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in the development, testing and research of new pharmaceuticals. My education, internship, and research experience have increased my abilities in the following areas:
Effectiveness in testing and researching potential pharmaceuticals Strong analytical and problem solving skills Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills Successfully worked with research teams regarding product development
and suggestions for optimization
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
Ending
My work, education, and leadership experiences have allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I am passionate about working within the field of pharmaceutical research and believe that I can make an important contribution to Pace Analytical Services Inc. Enclosed is my resume for your further consideration. Thank you in advance and I look forward to meeting with you soon.
Sincerely,
Jake R. Sample
Jake R. Sample
Enclosure
HTTP://CSWL.PBWORKS.COM/RESUME RUBRIC
Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/
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