Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

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Resume and Cover Letter Workshop
Career Services

• You have 8 10 seconds to tell your story.
• So what are you going to say, and how?

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ResumeQuestions to ask yourself

• Who is your target audience?
• Does the presentation of the content relate to
  the job?
• Is the resume concise?
• Is the resume easy to look at?

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Resume Necessary Sections

• Name
• Address/Phone Number/Email
• Education
• Experience (can be multiple sections)

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ResumeOther Sections

• Objective
• Profile/Summary
• Activities/Interests
• Skills
• Other (Publications, Athletics, etc.)

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ResumeImportant Points

• Organize sections in reverse chronological order
• Make sure your GPA is accurately listed (there
  are multiple ways to list GPA)
• Have a short, focused objective (if included)
• Make sure the resume is readable

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ResumeImportant Points

• For descriptions, try to show
• What you did (responsibilities)
• What you accomplished (results)
• What you learned (show this indirectly, by
  mentioned what kinds of things you came into
  contact with, not by saying Learned about the
  banking industry)

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ResumeImportant Points

• Avoid my or I
• Do not mix fonts
• Use past tense for positions already completed
• Do not overstate language ability
• BE TRUTHFUL
• Less may be more
• Proofread many times

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ResumeConsiderations

• Content Relevance, Depth, Demonstration of
  Skills
• Confidence State your skills without
  superlatives
• Clarity overall and within content
• Consistency in format

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Cover LetterStructure

• Your Address
• Date
• Addressee Name and Address
• Salutation
• Three to Four Paragraphs
• Closing
• Signature
• Name

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Cover LetterFirst Paragraph

• Introduces you
• Tells the employer why you are writing
• Tells the employer how you heard about the job
• Be concise
• If you have a connection to the company, state it
• Include job title and/or number (if applicable)

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Cover LetterSecond Paragraph

• Answer the question of why you would be good for
  the job
• Do not restate your resume
• Dont get bogged down in details
• Address the concerns in the job description
• Be enthusiastic
• Be positive (dont dwell on negatives-although I
  dont have experience)

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Cover LetterThird Paragraph

• Why you are excited about this company/position
• Show that you know something about the
  organization
• Dont be vague (Id like to work in a
  challenging environment.)

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Cover LetterFourth Paragraph

• State what you would like to see happen next
  (interview, provide additional materials, you
  will be in town, follow-up with a phone call,
  etc.)

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Interviews the most important part of the job
search process!
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Before the Interview

• Review the job description
• Research articles about the organization in the
  last 3-6 months
• Find out details about the interview
• How long will it be? Will you talk to
• more than one person? Will you be
• reimbursed for travel expenses?
• Know your resume

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The 3 main things companies want to know

• How can you contribute to the organization?
• What in your experience is relevant?
• What in your education is relevant?
• Why do you want to work for them?
• Why this industry? Why this organization?
• What are your goals?
• What are you going to be like once they get to
  know you?
• How do you describe yourself?
• How would your friends describe you?
• How would a supervisor or a co- worker
  describe you?

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The Interview

• Dress appropriately
• Arrive at least 10 minutes early
• Be professional
• Be enthusiastic
• Give honest answers supported by examples
• Ask thoughtful questions about the job,
  organization or services/products
• Do not ask about the salary

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Sample Questions

• Describe a group work situation where you and
  your partner were having trouble getting along
  with each other. How did you resolve the problem?
  
• Give an example of a time when you found it
  necessary to challenge authority
• Describe a situation when you had to learn a
  large amount of material quickly. How did you do
  it?
• Describe a situation when you were faced with a
  deadline you couldnt meet. How did you handle
  it?
• We have a client that is going to manufacture
  disposable diapers for the market in China. How
  many disposable diapers should they manufacture
  for the first year?

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Typical Interview Questions

• Tell me a little about yourself.
• Why are you interested in this position?
• Why did you choose this career/industry?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• How would you describe yourself?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest
  effort?
• Describe the relationship that should exist
  between a supervisor and employee

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Typical Interview Questions (cont)

• What are your weaknesses?
• What accomplishment has given you the most
  satisfaction? Why?
• What major problem have you encountered and how
  did you deal with it?
• Describe example from your past that required
  you to respond to pressure. How did you deal with
  it?
• What are your long-term goals?
• Describe a group work situation where you and
  another group member had a disagreement. How did
  you resolve it?

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Questions to Ask

• What type of training is available?
• Could you describe a typical work day?
• What are the departments goals for this year?
• What are the skills most needed to succeed in
  this job?
• Why did the interviewer join the company? What
  does he/she like most about it?

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After the Interview

• Send a thank you letter via email within 24
  hours
• It is appropriate to ask when you may hear from
  them at the end of the Interview.