SELP Workshop:a presentation on

Resumes and Cover Letters

CLA Career Services

411 STSS building

www.clacareer.umn.edu

Joyce Halverson, Presenter(612) 624-7577

Basic Guidelines

Purpose of a Resume

A resume is your marketing tool designed to promote yourself to potential employers.

A resume should be an overview of your best qualities…used to capture an employer’s attention so that he/she will want to interview you.

The definition of “best qualities” may depend on what the employer wants…write to the job description!!

Resume Overview

Must be well written, clear, focused, and attractive (visually appealing).

Remember this equation…E = E + E + E which means…

Employability = Education + Experience + Extra-curricular Involvement

● It needs to highlight your qualifications in an “easy to read” format

Resumes that are effective…

Timeline: Start with the most recent first, and move backwards through time.

Informational: Describe the degrees you’ve earned, experience you’ve acquired (including international experience), skill sets, and work history.

Customize: Target it to a specific job.

There is not just ONE WAY to write a resume. Think about how best to market yourself.

Sections of a winning resume

Header - this is your contact information Education (this might also include study

abroad/international experience) Experience / Work History Extra-curricular Involvement (especially

LEADERSHIP - we’re looking for things like clubs & organizations, community engagement, volunteer, etc.

Specific skills that are relevant to the job

Header Name should be larger than

the other text Spell out all abbreviations Include contact info

Address Phone Email

Remove hyperlink Use professional sounding

email

Education Include University, degree, major(s), minor Expected graduation GPA if above 3.0 could include Learning Abroad Related Coursework

Education

BACHELOR OF ARTS in COMMUNICATION STUDIES – May 2015 University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN

Political Science Minor Study Abroad experience in Toledo, Spain (Spring 2013) GPA 3.28

Experience

Document paid or unpaid experience; especially if it is related to the desired position

Organize so most relevant info is at top 2-6 bullet statements per experience Do NOT include address, phone, supervisor You do not have to include every job you

have ever had, stick with the relevant ones

Describing Your Experience

Emphasize SKILLS, more than “tasks”

Prove that you have those skills by showing how you have used them

Cite examples

Get to results/accomplishments

Bullet StatementsSTRONG ACTION VERB + DETAILS + RESULTS

Let’s use the Transferable Skills worksheet to craft bullet statements for your Resume -- form groups of two and work in pairs…

-- what transferable skills do you want to highlight?

-- place those skills in a context employers can relate to and understand

Action Words Vary the words you choose and try not to use

the same word twice Put your skills in past tense unless speaking

about an experience in which you are currently involved

Identify what the company’s needs are and use action words that address those needs

Other Headings Leadership Community

Involvement Scholarships Volunteer

Experience Honors and

Awards

Professional Organizations

Internship Experience

Volunteer Recruitment

Civic Engagement

Philanthropic/ Fundraising

International Experience/ Study Abroad

Trainings & Certifications

Activities

Skills Highlights additional skills relevant to the

position: intercultural skills, language proficiency, active problem solving, computer skills, etc.

Heading can be specific “Language Skills” or “Computer Skills”

For languages - use your level of mastery: Conversational, Proficient or Fluent

Do Not: Use pre-formatted templates! Cram too much information on one page Include the statement “References Available

Upon Request” Salary or hourly wage information High School Information Use personal pronouns such as “I” or “My” Rely solely on “spell checker” to find errors

Remember… Use past tense for past jobs and present tense

for present jobs

Keep your resume to 1 page, if possible (2 pages maximum)

Most important information should be toward the top/left

You don’t have to include everything

Dates should be on the right side

Be honest! Employers do check.

PROOFREAD!

Appearance Keep the font size between 10-12 point

except for your name

Balance of text and white space

Clean, consistent format & punctuation

Use high quality “Resume Paper”

If your resume is not visually appealing, it doesn’t matter how well qualified you are – employers won’t read it.

Employer Comments

Too vague – it lacked specifics

Quality of writing (e.g., misspelling, grammar)

Poor visual appeal/hard to read format

Didn’t proofread

Too long; a 1-page resume is preferred for entry-level positions

Cover Letters Considered “very important” by about 33% of

survey respondents (especially the smaller organizations and many non-profits).

It should be an example of your “best writing.”

Explain how your skills, experience, and education/intellect will benefit THEM.

Do your research! It will be evident!

Thank you!

Remember, your resume is a work in progress… Keep it updated. Get feedback. An honest critique is invaluable. Use every resource available to you!