Designing Persuasive Resumes and Cover Letters

A Talk Prepared for

Changshu Institute of Technology

Baotong GuGeorgia State University

bgu@gsu.edu July 10, 2008

Overview

Resumes

• Content Design

• Format Design Cover Letters

• Content Design

• Format Design Applying to Graduate Schools in the U.S.

Resume vs. Cover Letter: What’s the Difference?

Resume Cover Letter

Comprehensive Highlighting

Outline Detailed but focused

Subtle persuasion Direct persuasion

Phrases and lists Complete sentences

Resume: Content Design

What fortune 500 personnel administrators most want to see on resumes

1. Your name2. Your telephone number3. Your college degree4. The name of your college5. The jobs you have held6. Your address7. Your major course of study in college8. The names of companies that have employed you9. The dates of your employment10. The date you graduated (or expected to graduate) from college

Resume Content: What to Include

Name Contact information Objective Education Work experience Activities & honors References (maybe)

Resume Content: Name

• What’s there in a name?

• Is it big enough to catch your reader’s attention?

• Does it stand out well so that if there’s only one thing your reader can remember it will be your name?

Resume Content: Career Objective

Strike a balance between specific and general

• To write user documentation for a computer software company

• Technical writer specializing in user documentation

• To work in a business corporation

• An interpreter for a large foreign trade corporation

• To be a communication specialist in international business settings utilizing my four years of experience in foreign trade

Resume Content: Education

What to include: School Degree Major Graduation date Minor GPA (maybe) Honors Significant/relevant courses

EducationB.A. in English, July 209

Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu

Concentration: International Business English

GPA: 3.5

EducationChangshu Institute of Technology, Changshu

BA in English, July 2009

Concentration: International Business English

GPA: 3.5

Resume Content: Work Experience

What to Include: Job title Company name Dates of employment Description of duties

Professional Experience:Research Associate, 09/2004 -present School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing,

China• Synthesizingβ-naphthalene sulfonic acid• Synthesizing high-polymeric β-naphthalene sulfonic acid-formaldehyde • Researching on properties of Synthesized high-polymeric β-naphthalene

sulfonic acid-formaldehyde • Synthesizing alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acid-formaldehyde• Researching on alkyl anion surfactantsIntern, 07/2004-09/2004Department of Industry Quality, BeautyCos International Co., Ltd., L’OREAL,

China• Testing chemical properties of over five hundred pieces of raw chemical

materials• Testing the purity of over three hundred pieces of raw chemical materialsIntern, 06/2002-09/2002Department of Chemical Development, Suzhou Tianhua Materials Co., Ltd,

China• Synthesizing a new type of esterified starch • Researching on properties of the esterified starch EMSIZE E20• Publishing a paper, “Synthesis and Research of Esterified Starch,” in

Tianhua Chemicals

Resume Content: Activities & Honors

In most cases, a simple listing of one-to-two-line items.

If very little work experience but significant amount of activities, arrange in the same way as work experience section.

Activities & HonorsThree-month Internship Grant from BeautyCos international Co.,

Ltd. L'OREAL China, 2004. People’s Fellowship, Nanjing University, 2003 Three-month Internship Grant from Suzhou Tianhua Materials Co.,

Ltd., General Agent of Emsland-Starke Unternehmens Gruppe In Germany, Suzhou, China, 2002

Excellent Intern Award, Suzhou Tianhua Materials Co., Ltd, China, 2002

Excellent Score Award in College English Test Band Six (CET6), Ministry of Education, China, 2002

People’s Fellowship, Nanjing University, 2002People’s Fellowship, Nanjing University 2001 Excellent Paper Award, School of Chemistry and Chemical

Engineering, Nanjing University, 2001Excellent Score Award in College English Test Band Four (CET4),

Ministry of Education, China, 2001Top 100 Scores in Jiangsu Province, National College Admissions

Tests, China, 2000Straight A’s in the 2000 Senior High School Graduation

Examinations, 2000

Resume Content: Summary of Qualifications

Your Required Qualifications My Credentials B.S. degree in Compute Science B.S. in Computer Science

M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Computer Science and Multimedia Web Design)

1 year of web design experience 4 years of various web design experience

Website sample http://iceberg.ewu.edu/debtmgt/moneywise_ewu.php (sole designer; more than 60 pages of source code)

6-12 months of classroom training experience

9 months of direct classroom training experience tutoring students in a computer literacy course

Resume Content: What If I Don’t Have Anything?

What to Include When You “Don’t Have Anything”

Career Objective

Education

Computer Skills

Leadership Skills

Communication Skills

Significant/Relevant Courses

Significant/Relevant Projects

Resumes: Format Design

Minimalist design Rule of Proximity Hanging indent Visual hierarchy Design consistency White space Page focus Column alignment

Cover Letter: Content Design

First Paragraph• Purpose of the letter • Position title advertised• Source of advertisement• Why you are applying (a brief overviewing statement of your qualifications)

Next Paragraphs• No more than one major qualification each paragraph • Clear topic sentences at the beginning about the major qualification• Good supporting details for your claim of qualification (could use several

details to support your qualification)• Reasonable length

Last Paragraph• A summarizing statement of your qualifications• Request for further contact• Your own contact information

Cover Letter Content: First Paragraph

Less EffectiveI am applying for the job you recently advertised. I can offer my

knowledge in the areas necessary for the position as well as in related areas.

More EffectiveI am applying for the mechanical technologist position advertised

in the CPC Annual. I can offer Boeing my knowledge of avionics and aircraft electrical systems along with a strong background in nondestructive testing and advanced composites.

Cover Letter Content: Next ParagraphsLess Effective My work toward a Bachelor of Science degree at Purdue University has provided me with

knowledge that is ideal of projects such as those at your company. I also can offer my knowledge and experience in other areas. This extensive knowledge, I believe ,makes me an ideal, if not the perfect, candidate for the position you have open.

My studies at Purdue University have also allowed me to become qualified in three important areas. The qualifying certificates I have obtained will make me an extremely valuable addition to your staff. This knowledge could be applied in the many projects now underway at your company.

More effective My work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Technology, with an emphasis

on avionics, is ideal for projects like Boeing’s remanufacturing of older Chinook helicopters or in the design of fly-by-wire systems. I also can offer my knowledge of advanced composites to the design of the Boeing 360 or to the manufacturing of composite parts for the Boeing jet transports.

My studies at Purdue University have also allowed me to become level-one qualified in three nondestructive testing (NDT) areas. The qualifying certificates I have obtained are in the areas of Eddy Current, Magnetic Particle, and Liquid Penetrant testing. This knowledge of NDT could be applied in the testing and development of many projects now underway at Boeing Helicopters.

Cover Letter Content: Last Paragraph

Less Effective I would like to meet with you to discuss your organization and my

qualifications. I can be reached at the above address and telephone number and I look forward to speaking with you. Again, I believe that I’m perfectly suited for the position you have open and believe that my services would greatly improve the quality of work at your company. Thank you for your time and consideration.

More Effective I would like to meet with you to discuss your organization and my

qualifications. I can be reached at 404-123-5678 or johnsmith@hotmail.com and I look forward to speaking with you. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cover Letter: Format Design

Block Style Everything left justified, including your own address on top and signature

block at the bottom No indentation at the beginning of paragraphs Single space within paragraphs and double space between paragraphs

Modified Block Style Your address on the right Recipient’s address on left (no overlapping on lines) Indentation or no indentation at beginning of paragraphs Signature block on the right about two-thirds across the page, should be

aligned with your address on top

Cover Letter Openings: Good or Bad I recently read of your opening for a field geologist. One of my professors,

Dr. R. D. Loner, worked for you, and claims that you company was beneficial to her career. My taking the position would be a great opportunity to advance my career in geology.

I have spent many summer vacations hiking and camping in Yosemite National Park, and would like to return to the park as an employee.

Please consider my application for the business-oriented programming position advertised in the Boston Globe. I will graduate in May from Eastern University, with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology.

Texaco is a very important leader in the development and distribution of the world’s energy resources. Would your company have a place on its R&D team for a mathematician with experience in computer programming?

While attending Eastern University, I have closely followed your company’s financial statements, and have become highly interested in your sales growth. Therefore, when Roberta Lowny, Vice-President of Sales for Bando Sportswear, informed me of an opening in your fabric sales division, I decided to write immediately.

Cover Letter Closings: Good or Bad I would like an interview with you as soon as possible. If my qualifications seem to interest you, would you kindly consider the possibility

of contacting me at home (247-754-9867) any weekday after 3 P.M.? I know I can succeed as a technical writer in the software industry. I look forward to

hearing from you about my placement in your company. I hope you agree that I am the type of engineer DGH is seeking. Please allow me to

further discuss career opportunities with you. I feel well qualified for the position as Park Naturalist, and hope you will consider

me for the job. If you need more information or wish to contact me for any reason, feel free to call at 265-446-5467 any weekday after 4 P.M.

If your department has a place for an enthusiastic intern, I hope you will consider me. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application with you directly.

I would like to arrange an interview with your company to discuss this position. Please phone me at your convenience.

I am hardworking, efficient, eager to learn, and anxious for the opportunity to apply my skills. Please consider me for a summer position.

Applying to Graduate Schools in the U.S.: What We Consider

TOEFL GRE GPA Personal Statement Recommendation Letters Cover Letter Writing Sample Resume (often optional)

Applying for Funding

Types of funding available Teaching Assistantships (TA) Research Assistantships (RA) Fellowships

What’s Considered Personal Statement (understanding of the field, research

potential, your philosophy, enthusiasm, etc.) Work (teaching or research) Experience

Application Process

About 1 year in advance (August or September): Inquiry letter to the department Graduate Director

October: TOEFL and GRE tests October to December: prepare your application

package: application forms, cover letter, resume, personal statement, letters of recommendation, writing sample

December to March: send in your application March to May: decision from the department

Good Luck!

Questions?

bgu@gsu.edu