1. Resume and
Cover Letter
Workshop

2. Resume Facts and Purpose
• A resume has only 15 to 30 seconds to get a hiring
manager’s attention
• The resume is your sales pitch
• To generate employer interest and secure an interview
• To list your qualifications for future positions, not simply a
work history
• Have reasonable expectations for what a resume can do
• Put as much effort into creating and updating a resume as
doing a job

3. Work History
• Assemble a Work History Document
• Name of company
• Dates worked
– Include information that you will put on an
application
• Company address
• Company telephone number
• Supervisor name
• Hourly pay rate (starting and ending)
• Reason for leaving

4. Skills Worksheet
• Name of the skill
• Importance to your career
– 1-5
• 1 being not important
• 5 being very important to your career
• Personal rating
– 1-5
• 1 –concerned about your strength in the skill
• 5 – confident in your strength in the skill

5. Informative Tools
• Directory of Occupational Titles www.onetonline.org
– Accountant
– Administrative Assistant
– Medical Assistant
• Google
– Job descriptions or job duties
– Example resumes

6. Resume Types
• Chronological
– Applying to highly traditional fields
– Staying in the same field
– Past job/leadership titles are noteworthy
– There is a consistent work history
• Skills (or Functional)
– Skills you have developed are your greatest strengths
– Lack formal work experience
– Gaps in work history

7. RESUME
TIPS AND HINTS

8. Your Resume
What To Do and What Not To Do
• DO NOT LIE!
• Proofread, proofread, proofread!!!!
– Use proper grammar, correct spelling and proper tenses
• Have a clean and concise resume
• Keep at least 1” margins unless absolutely necessary
• Use clean font: Arial or Times New Roman for example
• Make sure section heads and job titles stand out
• Use regular bullet points (keep bullet points brief)
• List everything in reverse chronological order
• Assemble a “Master Resume”

9. Words
Overused Phrases Action Verbs
•Highly qualified •Created
•Hard worker •Increased
•Team player •Reduced
•Problem solver •Improved
•Flexible •Developed
•People person •Researched
•Self-starter •Accomplished
•Dynamic •Increased
•Duties included •Generated
•Knowledgeable in •Prepared

10. Your Resume
What To Do and What Not To Do
• List current contact information
• Keep resume relevant/current
• List certifications, awards and training (only list hobbies if
applicable)
• Do not list:
– Personal information
– Salary information
– “References available upon request”

11. RESUME: STEP
BY STEP

12. LETTERHEAD

13. Relevant Coursework

14. EDUCATION

15. WORK EXPERIENCE

16. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

17. ACCOMPLISHMENTS

18. FINAL RESUME
MARY SUE SMITH
Warren, OH 44484 ● 330-555-0100
MSSmith@fakeemail.com
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
 Microsoft Office 2007
o Word
o Excel
o Access
o PowerPoint
 65 wpm
 QuickBooks Professional 2010
 Payroll Records and Accounting
 Intermediate Accounting
EDUCATION
Associate of Applied Business in Accounting June 2011
Trumbull Business College, Warren, OH
 G.P.A. 3.94
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Sears Department Store, Niles, OH March 2008 – Present
Sales Supervisor
 Direct and supervise 25+ employees
 Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing positions
 Tracked sales receipts and cash expenditures
 Achieved 20% increase in sales for 3rd
Quarter, 2012
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Office Max, Niles, OH December 2003 – February 2008
Customer Support Specialist
 Performed register sales transactions
 Assisted data integrity process by identifying low stock levels and inventory discrepancies
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
American Cancer Society May 2005 - Present
Relay For Life Team Captain
 Recruit team members for annual Relay For Life event
 Coordinate creative fundraisers to help team raise money
 Set team fund-raising goal for each year
 Achieved a 30% increase in funds raised from 2005 to 2013
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Dean’s List
 Member of honorary fraternity Tau Beta Chi
 CPR Certified

19. Cover
Letters

20. The Purpose of Cover Letters
• Your introduction to an employer
• Demonstrate your unique ability to add value to the
organization
• Focus on qualifications for the position
• Provide an example of your writing abilities
• Convey interest in the position

21. Cover Letter
• A good cover letter should compliment a resume
• Never use a form cover letter
• Cover letters have a more flexible format than resumes
• Use block or modified-block business letter format
• Two ways to send a cover letter and resume
– Snail mail (United States Postal Service)
– Email

22. Cover Letter
• Generally three paragraphs is standard for a cover letter
– Paragraph 1:
• Purpose of the letter
• Anticipated position
• Where you heard about the position
– Paragraph 2:
• Describe qualifications relevant to the employer
• Specify how your qualifications match the job description
• Discuss skills and qualities not readily apparent on resume
– Paragraph 3:
• Mention the position again
• Thank the employer for their time
• State time and method of follow up

23. REFERENCES
MARY SUE SMITH
123 Hawthorne Ave.
Warren, OH 44484
330-330-3300
MSSmith@gmail.com
REFERENCES
Karen Dolan
Human Resources Manager
XYZ Company
144 North Avenue
Warren, OH 44484
(330) 555-1234
kdolan@xyzcompany.com
Georgette Browning
Administrative Manager
BDL Company
166 South Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44512
(330) 555-6789
gbrowning@bdlcompany.com
John Dunning
Personnel Adminstrator
123 Company
987 West Avenue
Howland, OH 44101
(216) 555-0001
jdunning@123company.com

24. Example of Tracking Spreadsheet