Résumé and Cover Letter
Advice Guide
Student Employment Services
Room 103, Main Building
(616) 234-4170
ABOUT STUDENT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Student Employment offers a variety of career services to student employees, students seeking employment, and alumni. On-­‐Campus Jobs Each student has access to the Student Employment Services job database through their Blackboard account. Simply click on the Student Employment Services link, then the Jobs button. Students are able to choose between Student Assistant and Work Study Only positions based upon their financial aid package. In order to apply for an on-­‐campus job, please visit our office, located in Room 103 of the Main Building, for an interview. Each student has access to the Student Employment Services job database through their Blackboard account. Simply click on the Student Employment Services link, then the Jobs button. Students are then able to choose from various career fields where they can browse to see what positions are available. In order to apply for an off-­‐campus job, please contact the employer using the contact information provided on the job posting. Individual Support SES staff is available to assist students one-­‐on-­‐one with resumes, cover letters, and other career related ventures. Students can e ither e mail their materials to the current intern, whose address can be found on the SES website, or call the office at 616-­‐234-­‐4170 to set up an appointment. Off-­‐Campus Jobs Workshops Student Employment Services hosts various workshops throughout the school year covering topics such as résumé creation, networking skills, and career fair preparation. Workshop topics and dates can be found on the SES Blackboard site or Facebook page. Spring Job Fair Student Employment Services holds a spring job fair each year with several e mployers present. Watch the SES Blackboard site and Facebook page for updates regarding who will be present and how to prepare for the fair. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 …………………………………………………………………………………………… SERVICES OFFERED AND TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… WRITING A RÉSUMÉ PAGE 3 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ACTION STATEMENTS PAGE 4 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. WRITING A RÉSUMÉ: INSTRUCTIONS PAGES 6 -­‐ 7………………………………………………………………………………………………….. WEAK RÉSUMÉ VS. STRONG RÉSUMÉ PAGES 8 – 11 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. RÉSUMÉ EXAMPLES PAGE 12 ..………………………………………………………………………………………………………… HOW TO CREATE REFERENCES LIST PAGE 13 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. COVER LETTER INSTRUCTIONS PAGES 14 – 15 …………………………………………………………………… T-­‐STYLE COVER LETTER INSTRUCTIONS AND EXAMPLE PAGES 16 – 17 ……………………………………………….. TRADITIONAL STYLE COVER LETTER INSTRUCTIONS AND EXAMPLE PAGES 18 – 19 …………………………………………………………….. RÉSUMÉ AND ACCOMPANYING COVER LETTER EXAMPLE 1
WRITING A RÉSUMÉ A résumé is a brief, yet explicit, outline of your educational background, employment experience, student activities, professional accomplishments, and other qualifications that pertain to your employment goals. It is important to keep in mind that an employer may only spend 30 seconds – one minute scanning your résumé before they decide whether or not you match the qualifications they are seeking. Therefore, it is important to treat your résumé as a marketing tool that advertises you to the employer in order to receive an interview. Things to Keep in Mind: ˘
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Your résumé is your first impression on an employer Limit your résumé to one page in length unless you are a student with a lot of experience Design and readability are important. Utilize plenty of white space and format consistently – if you bold the title of one position, bold the title of all positions. Use past tense for past experiences and present tense for current positions. Tailor your résumé to the specific position you are applying for by using keywords from the job description. If applicable, use industry-­‐specific jargon and buzzwords to demonstrate your knowledge of the field. Be articulate – quality is key. Be sure to focus on specific projects and their outcomes. Quantify your successes when possible (EX: increased sales by 30% in three months). MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR RÉSUMÉ REVIEWED! Utilize Student Employment Services – we want to help you! How Should You Start? 1. Make a list of all experiences, involvements, and accomplishments. 2. Narrow the list to include the experiences that apply to your career goals or the specific position you are applying for. 3. Group these experiences into categories in order to organize your résumé. Examples include:
Optional Categories Essential Categories Objective Statement Education Relevant Coursework Relevant Work Experience (if applicable) Leadership Experience Other Work Experience Skills Awards and Honors Volunteer Experience
Things to keep in mind while categorizing: ˘ List category headings in order of relevance ˘
List items in the categories in reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent) When Creating a Résumé, DO NOT: ˘
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Use templates Use fancy fonts or a font size smaller than 10 or larger than 12 Include high school experience unless you recently graduated List salary history or expectations ˘
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Include personal information such as religion, marital status, height, etc., or a photograph Use first-­‐person (such as “I” or “we”) List references or state that they are available upon request – it is a waste of space!
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ACTION STATEMENTS Action statements are used to help qualify and quantify the tasks you performed, projects you finalized, ideas you implemented etc., at your previous positions and experiences. Using these statements allows you to better describe your skills and qualifications. Use the example and the list below to create your own action statements. BEFORE: Filed all incoming paperwork AFTER: Organized and filed over 150 new packets of paperwork per week in newly designed filing system Although the AFTER statement essentially makes the same root point as the BEFORE statement, we are able to learn much more about the applicant through the AFTER statement. For example, we learn exactly how much and how often the individual filed paperwork. We can also see that the system the applicant utilized was new, which shows that he or she was able to adapt and quickly learn a new system. LIST OF ACTION VERBS Assist Able Action Analysis Achievement Accomplished Advanced Conduct Consult Committed Conducted Contributed Coordinated Delegated Develop Deliver Design Defined Diversified Devoted Distinguished Encourage Earned Enhance Evaluate Examined Facilitate Formulate Fulfilled Forecasted Generated Gained Gathered Gave Headed Hosted Identified Implemented Improved Improvised Influenced Launched Lobbied Maintained Managed Marketed Maximized Mediated Modernized Motivated Negotiated Observed Obtained Operated Organized Originated Overhauled Oversaw Participated Performed Pioneered Planned Prepared Presented Promoted Provided Published Pursued Quantified Ranked Received Recommended Redesigned Reengineered Reorganized Represented Restructured Revised Safeguarded Secured Selected Specified Spearheaded Standardized Strengthened Structured Suggested Superseded Supervised Targeted Taught Tested Trained Transcended Unified Upgraded Utilized Validated Valued Wrote 3
WRITING A RÉSUMÉ: INSTRUCTIONS This is your personal stamp. It will go on top of your résumé, cover letter, and reference sheet. Be sure to use a professional email address such as your GRCC student email. Remember, this section is optional. If you are including a cover letter with your application then you probably don’t need it. You also have the option of listing your GPA if you feel that it is high or will make you stand out among other applicants. You may also choose to list relevant coursework. Do not use acronyms or abbreviations when listing your degree or educational institution. Notice how other experiences are listed, but responsibilities are not highlighted. Save this space for experiences applicable to the job you are pursuing if possible. Remember, these are skills and competencies – not personal qualities and traits. Stay away from phrases such as “detail-­‐oriented” or “team player.” 4
WEAK RÉSUMÉ Use a professional email address, such as your GRCC student email, in order to display your level of professionalism. Maintain consistent spacing and formatting. Do not use first-­‐person. Do not abbreviate. Give details regarding your college education. List your institution and its location, expected graduation date, and degree. Never underestimate your experiences by using words such as “occasionally” or “sometimes.” 5
List all education, jobs and experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Explain your qualifications and skills under specific experiences and positions rather than using additional sections. Do not write in full sentences or paragraph form on a résumé. Instead, use bullet points and statements. STRONG RÉSUMÉ By making the edits articulated on the WEAK RÉSUMÉ page, Donny has created a more professional résumé, increasing his chances of being offered an interview for his chosen position. 6
RÉSUMÉ: EXAMPLE ONE 7
RÉSUMÉ: EXAMPLE TWO 8
RÉSUMÉ: EXAMPLE THREE 9
RÉSUMÉ: EXAMPLE FOUR 10
REFERENCES It is often better to include references on a separate page rather than directly on your résumé (unless your career field suggests otherwise). Here are some things to keep in mind when creating a reference page: Format the header and the font to match that of your résumé. Provide 3 -­‐5 professional references. This does not include family members, neighbors and friends. Professional references may include supervisors from internships, past positions or volunteer work, professors, academic advisers, or student group advisers. Make sure you ask someone’s permission before you using them as a reference. You will want to be sure he or she has a copy of your résumé as well as the description of the job you are applying for in case your potential employer calls them. Be sure to have your references prepared as your potential employer could request them at any time. Bring several printed copies of your references when going to an interview. ˘
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SAMPLE REFERENCE PAGE Riley Résumé 101 Career Street ● Bright, Future 77777 [email protected] ● 616-­‐234-­‐5678 REFERENCES Brandon Boss Supervisor at M cDonald’s 417 Michigan St NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 454-­‐0778 [email protected] Polly Professor Professor of Organizational Behavior 143 Bostwick Avenue NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616)234 – 1122 [email protected] Theresa Teacher Professor of Business Management 143 Bostwick Avenue NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616)234 – 1100 [email protected] 11
WRITING A COVER LETTER Are you unsure of whether or not to include a cover letter with your résumé? When in doubt, send one! It not only shows that you are willing to put extra time and effort into your endeavors, but it is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your professional writing abilities. Your cover letter is not a place to simply restate what is on your résumé – it is a place to expand upon your experiences and qualifications. Just like your résumé, your cover letter is an opportunity to market yourself. Essentially, you are using it as an avenue to continue persuading the employer to offer you a job interview. How to Begin: ˘
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Avoid addressing the letter “To Whom It May Concern” – instead, find out who will be involved in the hiring process and address the letter to them. While it may take some extra work, you can typically find this information by contacting the Human Resources Department at an organization. Not only does this personalize the letter, but it also demonstrates that you care about the individuals who work at the company and are willing to do extra research. Research the organization! Doing so will not only give you a place to start when writing your letter, but also allows you to discuss why you are interested in working for that particular employer. Remember, you do not want the employer think you are willing to take any job offered to you; make the employer feel as though you want to work for them specifically. Leave yourself plenty of time to write. You want to make sure you have the time to write a draft and then walk away from it for a day or two. This will allow you to distance yourself from the letter and look at it with fresh eyes. After you return to edit the letter, be sure you have someone else read over it as well before you submit a final copy. Things to Keep in Mind: ˘
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Use the same font and format as your résumé – consistency is key! This includes using the same header as well. Remember to be creative with your words and examples instead of your format. Although 2/3 of a page is the recommendation, limit the letter to no more than one page in length. If someone who works at the organization referred you, be sure to mention them. This not only shows the employer that you have a contact within the company, but also that you took the initiative to follow up on the prospective position. Networking is valuable! How to Make Your Cover Letter S tand Out: ˘
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Do not be afraid to be energetic! While remaining professional, show your enthusiasm for the company and the position you are pursuing. It creates a more personal letter and allows the employer to see how willing and excited you are to be involved with the company. Similar to the action statements used when writing résumés, be sure to show what your qualifications are instead of simply restating them from your résumé. For example, if the job description requires a candidate who is organized, do not simply mention that you are organized. Instead, tell of a time where you reorganized a workspace or created an entirely new filing system. Avoid a weak ending. Do not say: “I hope you will consider me for this position.” Instead, write: “Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to speaking with you in the near future regarding the prospects of this position.” This demonstrates confidence and necessitates a follow-­‐up. Be sure to have someone read over your cover letter for grammar and spelling mistakes (that’s what staff members in Student Employment Services are for). Remember, errors in your letter will be considered as signifiers of your character and professional aptitude. 12
T-­‐STYLE COVER LETTER INSTRUCTIONS 13
T-­‐STYLE COVER LETTER EXAMPLE 14
TRADITIONAL STYLE COVER LETTER INSTRUCTIONS 15
TRADITIONAL STYLE COVER LETTER EXAMPLE 16
RÉSUMÉ AND ACCOMPANYING COVER LETTER EXAMPLE 17
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Student Employment Services
Room 103, Main Building
(616) 234-4170
Created by: Liana Periard, HR Intern 2013-14
This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact Student Employment Services for more details.
Grand Rapids Community College is an equal opportunity institution. GRCC is a tobacco free campus. 1314-23266 1/14