This presentation teaches you how to choose the right layout for your resume, depending on the job you are applying for in relation to your experiences, but also how to make sure it is focused and relevant for the employer. Also learn how to write an effective cover letter that showcases your "WOW!" factor! No mysteries, just answers!

1. Resumes & Cover Letters Ute Perkovic Employment Specialist The Works – Job and Career Services

2. Objectives By the end of this session, you will be able to: Identify the goal of a resume Describe 3 different ways to layout your resume Understand how to focus your resume Be able to write a resume Be able to write a cover letter

3. Your resume has one goal... Get you the interview!

4. What is a resume? A resume is a summary of relevant facts about you that shows how you are perfect for the job you are seeking It needs to be specific for each type of job you are seeking It is a marketing tool

5. Questions your resume should answer: 1. Why are you submitting your resume? (objective) 2. How does your education and/or experience fit the job you are applying for? (education & experience) 3. How well have you done it? (accomplishments & achievements) 4. What, where and when have you done it? (work history) 5. Who can verify all the above? (references)

6. Get Their Attention! You have 30 seconds – or less! What can you do for them? Why would they want to hire you (what makes you special, what is your “so what?” factor?)

7. Five steps to building a resume Research / learn about the employer and the job Gather personal facts (what do you have that they want?) Choose a resume format (what is the best way to tell them?) Write the actual resume Edit!

8. STEP 1 RESEARCH / LEARN

9. Why you need to research Because you need to find out what they are all about so you can see… …how you might fit in to that organization - personality wise and otherwise, …how you might be able to contribute to their success …what things about them resonate with you – they may want to know why you want to work for them as opposed to their competitor! Thus, by doing research on them before you write your resume, you might find something out that could give your resume an edge that other applicants may miss in theirs!

10. How to Research Analyze the job ad or similar ones Explore the company website Call or visit the company Consult Occupational profiles Review Graduate Summaries Watch the company’s advertisements Investigate what others say about the company Read trade publications Listen to news reports

11. What you should learn about… Why you want to work for them (review the ‘why you should research’ slide). The qualifications and skills are they most interested in. What image should you project. Impress them with what you know!

12. What you should look for… …key skills they require or would be assets (look for verbs) …personal characteristics or values …business details that “speak” to you …amount or level of experience they need. …ways that you could contribute to their success! If you have questions about a job ad or the type of work you are looking for, call the prospective employer to ask!

13. STEP 2 GATHER PERSONAL FACTS

15. Your employment experiences

16. Your volunteer experiences

17. Skills you’ve developed

18. Accomplishments (that show how you’ve contributed to others)

19. Your awards, scholarships, etc.

21. Choose a Resume Format Refers to how you organize the content of your resume: 1. Chronological (Lists all your experience from most recent, working backwards in time). Best if you have direct experience & are staying in the same line of work. 2. Functional (Lists experience in skills clusters) Best if you are going into a different line of work. 3. Combination (Takes the skill clusters from the functional and work history from the chronological formats) Showcases your “WOW” factor for any type of job you may wish to apply for.

22. STEP 4 WRITING YOUR RESUME

24. Misrepresentation (i.e., exaggerating your abilities)

25. Irrelevance and fluff (i.e., putting stuff on your resume just to fill the page)

26. Overkill (i.e., exaggerating again!)

28. Sample Template of a Combination Resume 7 Parts: Contact Information Highlights Education Experience – List Skill Titles/Clusters and statements that support how you have each of these Work History – List dates, job titles, & places only Volunteer/Interests/Activities/Memberships References

29. Part 1 CONTACT INFORMATION

30. Personal/Contact Info Name Address Phone number Message number Make sure your message is in good taste/appropriate E-mail address - Again, make sure it is in good taste/professional

31. Part 2 OBJECTIVE

32. Goal/Objective/Target May identify the job you are applying for A statement of what you offer Focus on needs of the employer

33. Goal /Objective/Target BAD: A good paying, full time job so I can pay off my student loan and support my four kids. (Not focused on a type of job, not focused on the employer, and too much personal information.)

34. Goal /Objective/Target BETTER: A career within the banking industry that will utilize my customer service skills. (It’s focused on a type of job this time, and does provide a clue as to what the writer offers by way of a key skill needed for the job.)

35. Goal /Objective/Target BEST: To provide strong customer service skills to the banking industry as a Branch Administration Trainee with Alberta Treasury Branches.

36. Part 3 YOUR HIGHLIGHTS

38. It’s a mini resume, highlighting or summarizing key things about you that make you perfect for this specific job.

40. Relevant credentials or training you may have (Computer Information Technology diploma from Lethbridge College)

41. Significant accomplishment(s) briefly stated (Commended by last employer for providing excellent service to a customer who had sent the company a thank you note about me)

42. Outstanding skills or abilities (Excellent problem solving skills as developed through 10 years work experience as a Radio Technician in China)

43. Other criteria you have that may be needed for the job (i.e., good health, no criminal record, bondable, clean driver’s abstract, etc., build English through Toastmasters International, – relevant to the job).

45. Educationand Training List current education List your foreign education only if relevant to the job you are applying for Grades count (3.0+) so be able to prove it!

46. Part 5 EXPERIENCE

47. Skills/Abilities/Accomplishments List the key skillsyou have that are needed for the job. Write statements that support how you have each of the key skills. When saying how you have those skills, be specific, be relevant, emphasize how you have that skill, and/or List any results Use categorized action word lists to help you start your support statements www.thesaurus.com

49. Employment History Keep it simple – dates, position title, company name, company location Dates are important Minimal gaps are okay Volunteer work counts!! List foreign work, too. 10 year chronology (most recent and work backwards)

50. Part 6 HOBBIES & INTERESTS

51. Hobbies/Interests/Activities Not important unless relevant or especially interesting Many employers like to know about community involvement

52. Part 7 REFERENCES

53. References Do I include them or not? Ask for permission Three contacts Outstanding letters

54. STEP 5 EDIT!!

55. Edit your resume Point form Targeted and focused No abbreviations unless they are industry standard Consistent formatting Make sure your spelling is perfect!

56. Cover Letters Ute Perkovic Employment Specialist The Works – Job and Career Services

57. Why do I need a cover letter? It’s expected! It tells the employer exactly what kind of job you want and focuses on how your background is relevant to that job. It shows the employer how you fit the company’s needs A well written interesting cover letter entices the employer to want to learn more about you! It’s your opening impression!

59. the date you are composing the letter,

60. the name and address of the employer you are sending it to,

61. have a salutation,

62. Have 3 to 4 paragraphs, and

64. same fonts,

65. same contact information!Keep the letter within one page, no more than that! Be original and show enthusiasm! Ensure your spelling and grammar are perfect!

67. What you like about the organization (that resonated with you), and

69. Provide an example that demonstrates how you have that skill, ability, etc.

70. Use the S.T.A.R. method to illustrate this example.

71. Situation, Task, Action, Result

72. Conclude by expressing how…

73. …this experience would make you ideal for…

74. … you would be happy to use this skill, ability, etc. towards…

75. …you are very capable of performing…...the job you are applying for, thus indicating how you are an excellent candidate.

77. you are eager to grow both personally and professionally,

78. how they may best contact you by, and

79. that you will follow-up.Edit!

82. THANK YOU! Ute Perkovic Employment Specialist The Works – Job and Career Services