Resumes and Cover Letters

1. COMM 202: Career
Fundamentals
Amanda Bamford
Tutorial 4
T02 & T16

2. Our Agenda for Today
1. Course Timeline
2. Resumes and Cover
Letters
3. TA Feedback

3. Course Timeline
Week 8 Week 9 Week 10
Tutorial:
Resume and cover
letter
What’s Due:
LinkedIn profile due
Tuesday, October
23rd @ 11:59pm
Tutorial:
Resume and cover
letter peer review
and networking
What’s Due:
Bring TWO copies of
your resume and CL
draft to tutorial (1 for
me and 1 for peer
review)
Tutorial:
Informational
interview
What’s Due:
Final draft of resume
and CL due on Nov.
6th @ 11:59pm on
Turnitin
Networking event
Nov. 13th @ 6pm

4. Tools &
Resources

5. BUSINESS
CAREER CENTRE
RESOURCES
Tools at your
fingertips to help
you succeed
1. Career Toolkits
2. VMock
3. Ready, Set, Get Hired! Coaching

6. Download
Canvas > Comm202 > Modules > Career Toolkits

7.  Get immediate resume feedback, 24/7
 Strengthen your accomplishment statements
 Analyze your core competencies + enhance your skills on your resume
www.vmock.com/sauder

8. Ready, Set, Get Hired!
60 minute personalized 1:1
coaching appointment with an
external consultant
• Jobs
• CPA Recruit
• Interview Preparation
• Mock Interviews
• LinkedIn Profile Reviews
• And More!
Book now on COOL
Engage with an
External Consultant
Oct 22 – 26
Nov 21 - 23

9. Dates & Times:
• Tuesday, October 23rd → 11:30am - 1pm
• Wednesday, October 31st → 4 - 5:30pm
• Friday, November 2nd → 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Monday, November 5th → 4 - 6pm
How to sign up:
1. Log into COOL
2. Under Workshops/Events, select
Workshops/Other Events
3. Search up COMM 202 in the Search Bar and
COMM 202 Office Hours should appear.
4. Hit RSVP and you're good to go
Office Hours

10. Formatting &
Consistency

11. Formatting
Font size, font
style, spacing,
bullet points,
alignment,
punctuation, date
& abbreviation
format, hyphens vs
dashes
Pick a colour
scheme (colours
or black & white)
and use white
space wisely
Be concise with
your resume page
count (1 page!)
No grammar
mistakes, typos,
spelling errors
Proofread
Proofread
PROOFREAD
One Two Three
Be Consistent First Impression Proofread

12. Consistency
Spelling &
Grammar
Incorrect
Information
Incorrect
Order
Improper
Formatting
Inconsistencies
Missing
Information

13. Resumes

14. Resume Checklist
One Two Three Four Five
Header Profile Education Experience Interests
• Name
• Phone
• Email
• LinkedIn URL
• 5 lines or
key
competencies
or
summarize
strengths/
experiences
/skills
• Match job
posting
• Reverse
chronological
order
• Start with
degree (no
high school)
• Includes
grades and
awards
• Reverse
chronological
order
• RATS
formation
• Achievement
based
statements
• Specific
• Differentiate
yourself
• Reflect your
personality

15. Header
Should include…
1. Preferred name with (given name) in brackets
2. Phone number
3. LinkedIn URL is personalized
4. Your current address
5. Professional email address

16. Profile
Your profile is the first thing an employer will read when looking at your
resume. It’s the summary of your resume, a brief introduction, and a
preview of what is to come

17. Education
• Bachelor of Commerce not BCOMM or B.Comm or anything else
• List expected date of completion as “Completion:” or “Expected Completion:”
• No laundry lists of courses; only specific, relevant courses
• GPA – score/%/letter grade, indicating school scale (UBC is out of 4.33)
• Include key/relevant projects and awards

18. Education
• Bachelor of Commerce not BCOMM or B.Comm or anything else
• List expected date of completion as “Completion:” or “Expected Completion:”
• No laundry lists of courses; only specific, relevant courses
• GPA – score/%/letter grade, indicating school scale (UBC is out of 4.33)
• Include key/relevant projects and awards
Sauder rebranded!
It’s now “UBC Sauder
School of Business”

19. Work Experience
• Achievement based (qualitative or quantitative results)
• Use industry language/jargon
• 2-3 statements per job experience
• Reverse chronological order
• Use RATS or STAR statements

20. Results (Skill Verbs)
Attained Decreased Saved Generated
Exceeded Maximized Surpassed Optimized
Eliminated Minimized Improved Established
Increased Reduced Created Enhanced

21. Interests
Your Interests section should…
• Show your personality
• Be memorable and specific (your “zinger”)
• Be fun and appropriate

22. Cover Letters

23. Cover Letter Content
One Two Three Four
Opening Body Closing Proofread
• Strong hook
• Interest/passion
• Skills/experience
• Research
• Name drop
• STAR format
• Concise and
specific
examples
• Transferable
skills
• Results show
strengths & skills
• Reiterate skills
• Sincere interest
• Thanks and call
to action
• Tie back to
introduction
• No grammar
mistakes, typos,
spelling errors
• Proofread then
proofread
again

24. Opening
Opening
• Strong hook
• Interest/passion
• Skills/experience
• Research
• Name drop

25. Body – Skills Matching Paragraphs
Body
• STAR format
• Concise and
specific
examples
• Transferable
skills
• Results show
strengths & skills

26. Closing
Closing
• Reiterate skills
• Sincere interest
• Thanks and call
to action
• Tie back to
introduction

27. Addressing the Cover Letter
Date
Contact Name
Title
Company
Address 1
City, Province Postal Code
Re: Position Title (reference number if given)
Dear [First name Last name],
or Dear Hiring Manager/Committee,

28. What Does My Cover Letter Look Like?
For your assignment, make sure you say:
Dear [First name Last name],
or
Dear Hiring Manager/Committee,

29. Ending Formatting
Sincerely, / Regards, / Best,
(Written signature if you want)
Your name
BCom Candidate 20XX
Sauder School of Business
Enclosed or Attached*: Resume
* Enclosed: physical copy
* Attached: electronic copy

30. Feedback Time!
What should I
start, continue,
or stop?

31. Action Items for Next Week
1. Office Hours: Sign-up on COOL
2. Resume and CL Drafts: Bring TWO
hard copies of your Resume and
CL to your tutorial next week
(worth 2%)
3. Resume & CL Final Copy: Due
November 6th @ 11:59pm on
Turnitin
4. Networking Event: Tuesday, Nov.
13th from 6pm – 8pm

32. Questions?
Have a great day!