Preparing a Personalized

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Preparing a Personalized Cover Letter and Resume
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Agenda

• Business Career Services who we are, what we do
• Your Cover Letter as a Page Turner
• Your Resume as Your Marketing Tool
• Q A

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Business Career Services

• Our mission is to be the vital link between the
  business community and the School of Business in
  providing employment opportunities for all
  students within the faculty
• to deliver valuable career counseling
• to enhance job search skills with appropriate
  career management skills and tools
• Mock interview, document critique, resume
  scanning
• www.bus.ualberta.ca/career-services

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Tutorial Outcomes

• Understand what employers want
• Identify your skill set
• Outline the purpose of the cover letter and
  resume
• Understand how to prepare
• Personalizing your documents

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What Employers Want Top Ten

1. Interpersonal Skills
2. Communication Skills
3. Energy
4. Problem-Solving Ability
5. Direction know where youre going
6. Leadership / Organizational Ability
7. Persistence
8. Initiative
9. Independence

SOFT SKILLS
10. Task Orientation
HARD SKILLS
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Purpose of Cover Letter Resume

• A sales brochure an honest depiction of YOU
• Identify you the worker through transferable
  skills
• Identify you the person through other activities
• Focus on the needs of the employer and how you
  are qualified to meet those needs
• Present your written communication skills
  flawless grammar, no typos or spelling mistakes

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Before you Begin

• Identify the skill sets the employer is looking
  for
• Identify your skills through a skills matrix
• Do a self-assessment identify values,
  interests, characteristics, vision
• Identify companies you would like to work / not
  work for.

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Skills Matrix
WORK SCHOOL OTHER Leadership
Problem Solving Teamwork Initiative
Creativity Communication
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Personalize

• Understand what skill sets the employer is
  looking for.
• Highlight these skills in both your cover letter
  and resume. Avoid overselling yourself.
• Each cover letter should be written specifically
  to that employer. Generic template letters are
  easy to spot.
• Tell an employer why you want to work for them,
  and what you can offer, not what they can do for
  you.
• Through SAR, provide examples of your skill sets

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Dos and Don'ts

• Dos
• Make sure your documents look clean and
  professional
• White paper only
• Font New Times Roman or Arial 11or 12 pt.
  Headings 14 pt., your name 16 pt.
• Tip turn your paper upside down more black
  than white? Too busy
• Cover letter 1 page, resume 2 pages no more!
• Language positive, concise, action verbs

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Dos and Don'ts

• Donts
• Provide any personal information such as height,
  weight, date of birth, marital status,
  photograph, etc.
• Provide references much further in the hiring
  process
• Use acronyms, such as U of A, SoB, etc. Full
  name.
• Use superlatives the employer will decide if
  you are excellent or not
• Use emotional words like, I feel, I think, I
  believe, etc.
• Provide outdated information your high school
  activities are not relevant at this stage of your
  career.

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Sample Cover Letter

• Opening identify the position being applied
  for.
• Body Answer the questions Why are you
  interested in the position/company? Why
  should they be interested in you and your
  skills? Give ONE good example of a skill set
  they ask for (S-A-R).
• Closing paragraph indicate your desire to meet,
  and express your appreciation for their time
  spent considering your application. Leave
  contact information.
• Either electronic signature or via email

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Your Resume

• Chronological order from most recent to past
• Headings, in order, should be
• Education
• Work Experience
• Volunteer Experience
• Awards / Scholarships
• Interests
• Go to www.bus.ualberta.ca/career-services/students
  /job_tools/resume.htm

First page you the student worker
Second page you the person
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This is Where You Want to Be