Cover Letters and Resumes

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Cover Letters and Resumes

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Cover Letters and Resumes. Cover Letter. Defined as a letter submitted with your resume to elaborate on your positive points in your resume Provides you with a chance to show off your writing skills. Keys to a good cover letter. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Cover Letters and Resumes

Page 1: Cover Letters and Resumes

Cover Letters and Resumes

Page 2: Cover Letters and Resumes

Cover Letter

Defined as a letter submitted with your resume to elaborate on your positive points in your resume

Provides you with a chance to show off your writing skills

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Keys to a good cover letter

have a strong letter head with your up to date contact information: name, address, phone number, and email address

Address block with prospective employer’s name, position, company name, and full address.

Proper etiquette when addressing the prospective employer: examples- Dr., Mr., or Mrs./Ms.

Body of the letter should express interest in the position and highlight the key points of your resume

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Sample Cover Letter

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Creating a letter head Use simple text and graphics and colors; nothing too bright or flashy

Use your complete legal name (example: Jonathan Q. Smith)

Use your complete, up to date mailing address including city, state, and zip code.

Use your complete, up to date phone number including area code

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Body of cover letter

Paragraph One. State your objective and mention the job positionby specific title or by department. Express your interest in applying for a particular position or in researching any possible availability.

Be brief in this paragraph

An example would be: “I am writing to submit my application for the Account Representative position in your Birmingham office. Based on my knowledge of Compass Bank and the position, I am confident that I exhibit the skills and traits you are looking for in a potential employee.”

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Body of Cover Letter continuedParagraph Two. Give a brief summary of your qualifications, skills andexperience. Demonstrate how your qualifications, skills and experience relate to the job. Mention unique attributes that set you apart from the competition.

This is the main paragraph where you “sell yourself” to the potential employer

An example of this paragraph would be “I will be graduating from the University of Montevallo in August of 2008 with a Bachelors of Business Administration, concentrating in the area of Finance. During my studies I was given the opportunity to work for the Computer Services Office on campus. This job helped me to gain experience in interpersonal communications. It also demanded a high level of professionalism, not much unlike what your company expects. I believe the position of Account Representative with Compass Bank will allow me to utilize the skills I have gained at Computer Services as well as the rest of my experience. I am a hard worker who is dedicated to the job at hand, and will put my all into any task that is handed to me.”

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Body of Cover Letter continued Paragraph Three. Express an interest in learning more about the company and the job. Request an interview.

This is the paragraph where you summarize your letter and your last chance in the cover letter to win the potential employer over

An example of this would be “Enclosed you will find a copy of my resume. To ensure that you have received all of my information, I will follow up with your office later this week and hopefully set up a time that we may meet in person. I would appreciate the opportunity to prove myself as an asset to Compass Bank. If there is anything else that you require feel free to contact me by phone or e-mail. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to speaking with you.”

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Resume

Contains the applicant’s educational background and job experience

Employers typically review many resumes for a job opening

The design of your resume will help you stand out and present why you would be the best candidate for the job

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Styles of Resumes There are many different styles of resumes

Templates are available on Microsoft Word for Resumes

Some choose to create their own style

Styles can vary based on the type of job you are applying for

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Sample Resume