Resume

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Resume Cover Letter WorkshopNeal
CarrollCLEAR Center
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• One way to find a job

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The most effective way to get the job you
wantWrite resumes and cover letters that are
impossible to refuse.
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This lecture will prepare you for your
homework assignment to write a resume and cover
letter and for the job market.(Refer to
Homework 1 handout)We will focus on 1.
Cover letter format and craft2. Resume
guidelines and craft
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Cover Letter Components(refer to Business
Letter handout Examples on the website)

• Letterhead with full contact information
• Date
• Recipients full name, title, and address
• Salutation
• Introductory paragraph
• Body paragraphs
• Summarizing paragraph
• Close
• Signature block
• Signature

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Cover Letter Formatting

• 1 11/4 margins all around
• Times New Roman 12 pt font
• (except for letterhead)
• One blank line between paragraphs
• Left justify only
• Signature in blue or black ink only

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Writing the cover letter

• According to Indiana School of Law, cover letters
  may best be organized into three paragraphs
• Par. 1 Explains why you are writing, names the
  position for which you are applying and where you
  found the opening Explains why you are
  interested.
• Par. 2 Explains how your experience qualifies
  you for the position.
• Par. 3 Paves the way for an interview
  indicates your willingness to interview and/or
  how you will follow up on your application.

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Lets work on an example together. Heres the
job ad

• Looking for a boxing teacher to work with
  at-risk youth in the Salt Lake Area. Applicant
  should have at least three years of boxing
  teaching experience and should be able to deal
  with conflict in a positive way. The job
  requires working with teenage boys who have
  histories with violence and acting out. This is
  a great opportunity for someone who is interested
  in making a difference for people who have had
  challenging upbringings. About 20 hours per
  week, mornings preferred. Applicant should have
  a Utah drivers license and pass a background
  check and drug tests. Please mail resume to Rick
  Smith at 115 Park Place, Sandy, UT 84123.

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You, the applicant, have this experience

• 5 years experience as a Taekwando teacher for
  children between the ages of 10 and 12
• 9 years experience as a boxing student
• 1 year experience as a volunteer for big brother
  / big sister charity
• (what are the challenges in terms of the job
  requirements?)

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Here are some common mistakes

• Bad Example 1 Emphasizing less important
  aspects first
• Dear Mr. Smith
• I have lived in Utah for seven years so I do
  have a Utahs drivers license. Also, I dont do
  drugs, so I will definitely pass the drug test.
  I should be able to teach in the mornings, so the
  schedule for this job is perfect for me and for
  you. Ive been a Taekwondo teacher for 5 years
  for little kids. This is a good reason for you
  to hire me.

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Bad example 2 Leaving out important
connections between experience and job
requirements.

• Dear Mr. Smith
• I have five years of experience as a Taekwondo
  teacher for children between the ages of 10 and
  12. It was a really wonderful experience to
  teach young children because they look up to you
  and learn very easily and quickly. Theres
  nothing like being a teacher. I was also a
  volunteer for big brother / big sister. My
  little brother really helped me to see that
  there are people out there who need my help and
  attention. I think I would be a good fit for
  your program. Ive attached a resume so you can
  see why.

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Good example Shows how even though
the applicant has never been a boxing teacher or
worked with teens, his cumulative experience
makes him the right candidate for the job.

• Dear Mr. Smith
• My extensive experience as a Taekwondo
  instructor along with my experience as a boxing
  student have prepared me for a job as a boxing
  instructor. Though my students were not at-risk
  teenagers, they did provide me with a lot of
  practice at resolving conflict and providing
  positive discipline. I am confident I could use
  these skills to be successful in this position,
  and Im excited for the chance to use boxing as a
  way to teach discipline and confidence to your
  students. Enclosed you will find my resume,
  which further describes my education and skills.

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Resume Tips

• Do strive for readability
• 20 White Space
• One page in length (but no less than a page)
• Do tailor the resume for each application
• Do not use stock resumes
• Do your homework research the company to which
  you are applying
• Do not make spelling or grammatical errors
• One error sends your resume to the can

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Resume Tips

• Use a functional, rather than strictly
  chronological, format
• Be spare with organizational sections
• Label your file correctly (w/ your name)
• Use a mix of sentence constructions and bullet
  points
• Use parallel grammatical construction

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Make your experience relevant to the job!
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If youre applying for a job that requires
managerial skills, which of the following
descriptions would you use for the following work
experience?

• Café Pierpont Server and Hostess, September
  2004 present, Salt Lake City, UT
• - Worked efficiently in a high-stress
  environment
• - Handled money as a cashier
• OR
• 2. Café Pierpont Server and Hostess, September
  2004 present, Salt Lake City, UT
• - trained 20 employees as Trainer and
  Supervisor
• - Interacted with the public regularly as a
  representative of the company

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For more information, refer to handout, Resume
Guidelines on the course website
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Questions?
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ExerciseWrite the second paragraph of a cover
letter accompanying your application for the
following job posting
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• Position Electrical Engineer
• Design and implementation of electrical systems
  and components of advanced air filtration systems
  within acceptable time and cost structures. Work
  closely with our Engineering, Materials and
  Production groups from product inception through
  development and production. The ideal candidate
  for this opportunity will possess a Bachelors
  Degree in Electrical Engineering, and a min. of 3
  years electrical system and component design
  experience, preferably in a manufacturing
  environment. Additional experience with design of
  test equipment and embedded software, Basic, C,
  C is preferred. Knowledge of FTA, FMECA, NFPA,
  UL, IEC, IEEE, ISO, CSA, CE, ESD, CISPR, EN, etc.
  a plus!