Resume Writing and Cover Letters
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Transcript of Resume Writing and Cover Letters
Resume Writing and Cover Letters
Academic Advising and Career Center • (916) 278-6231 www.csus.edu/careercenter
Purpose of a Resume
To secure an interviewFocuses relevant skills and
knowledge for audienceAcknowledges accomplishments Tailored to the position for
which you are applyingUpdated throughout college
and professional career
Styles of Resumes
Chronological
Combination
Resume Categories
Heading
Objective (optional)
Summary of Qualifications (optional)
Education
Certifications, licenses
Work Experience, Professional Experience
Related Experience
Additional Resume Categories
Affiliations
Community Involvement
Professional Development Classes
Publications
Projects and Research
Workshops/Seminars Conducted
Interests (work-related)
International Experiences
Heading
NameStreet addressCity, state, zipEmail addressTelephone number with area
codeCentered or right justified
Objective
List the job title, position, or department to which you are applying; company name or industry.
Objective may be omitted for some purposes, such as a generalized resume for a career fair
Avoid wordy objective statements; simple is better
Objective Samples
OBJECTIVETo obtain a position as a Human Resources Assistant with Allison Health, Inc.
Sample Objective #1:
OBJECTIVETo obtain a position as a Computer Programmer with proficiency in C/C++ and assembly language noted for producing clean, readable, and imaginative code
Sample Objective #2:
Education
Degree(s)
Major(s)
Concentration(s); Minor(s)
School(s) where you received a degree
Graduation date
Overall and/or Major GPA (optional)
Expected: graduation date
Education Sample
EDUCATIONBachelor of Arts in Communication StudiesMinor: SpanishCalifornia State University, Sacramento, May 2009
EDUCATIONBachelor of Science in Communication StudiesConcentration: Public RelationsMinor: SpanishCalifornia State University, Sacramento, Expected: December 2009
Education Section Examples #1 and #2:
Sub-categories within Education
These provide an excellent way to highlight information related to your school accomplishments
The information should relate to the requirements of the position in priority order
Samples of Sub-categories within Education
Achievements Credentials Language Skills Honors Awards Related Coursework Projects Class Projects Computer Skills Certifications Licensure Scholarships
Sample of Sub-categories within Education
EDUCATIONBachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, Digital MediaMinor: Computer ScienceCalifornia State University, Sacramento, May 2010
Honors: Golden Key National Honor SocietyCertification: C++ Programming
Language Skills: Bilingual and biliterate in SpanishComputer Skills: Microsoft Access, PowerPoint, Excel
Showcasing Your Leadership Experiences
Awards/AchievementsCampus Activities: Orientation leader, Peer
mentorUniversity ServiceRecognition: Senior Sales, Manager,
SupervisorProgram or Project LeaderPublicationsOrganizations, ClubsVolunteering
LEADERSHIP PROFILE • Three year membership in the Honor Society, including acting
as Treasurer and President for one year • Five years volunteer experience at Loaves and Fishes • Three years experience as a recreation leader at the Boys and
Girls Club of Sacramento
COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT Recreation Leader, Boys and Girls Club, Sacramento, CA 2008-
2009 Volunteer, Loaves and Fishes, Sacramento, CA 2005-2010
Examples of Showcasing Your Leadership Skills
ACTIVITES Treasurer, Queer-Straight Alliance, California State University, Sacramento,
CA 2010 Member, Art History Club , California State University, Sacramento, CA 2009
WORKSHOPS PRESENTED Effective Marketing Tactics, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sacramento State, CA 2008 Career Options, Philosophy Club, Sacramento State, CA 2007
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Leadership Conference, California State University, Sacramento, CA, 2011
Examples of Showcasing Your Leadership Skills
School Experiences in Resumes
Technical skills and knowledge, Internships and volunteer work Projects, group work, assignments Senior project and/or other research
projects/assignments Lab courses Soft skills, such as communication,
leadership, organization, and research skills
Student clubs and organizations Course content skills and knowledge Community engagement opportunities
Chronological Resumes
Advantages
Known, Conventional Good for work history
that relates to the position
Employer can see job duties for each position
Emphasis on job titles and dates
Disadvantages
May not highlight most relevant skills
Reflects gaps in employment history
May not highlight skills and knowledge from school and volunteer work
Combination Resumes
Advantages Includes skills acquired
from school and other experiences
Emphasizes skills most relevant to the position
Underplays chronology, limited experience, “job hopping”
Helpful to those who have limited job related experience, are transitioning from the military, or who are changing careers
Disadvantages Employers may be
unfamiliar with style or wary that you are trying to “fix” something
Employer cannot see job duties from each position
Work Experience in a Chronological Resume
In reverse chronological order by date
Job titleCompany/OrganizationDepartment/DivisionCity, StateDates of Employment Action-verb sentences in priority
order and written to reflect skills/knowledge relating to the job
Sample of Work Experience in a Chronological Resume
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Instructor and Networking Assistant January 2008 - PresentTechnology Resource Center, Hansen University, Happy Valley, CA• Instructed 120 college students in web-designing and multimedia video production during the summer.
MIS Intern Sept 2006 - Dec 2008Globe Central, Inc., San Francisco, CA• Installed, configured, enhanced, and maintained computer systems for the Human Resources Department with 50 employees and workstations.
Skills Section in a Combination Resume
Three skill categories that relate to the position or purpose of the resume
Always include a Work History section after the Relevant Skills and Knowledge section The Work History section only
includes the Job Title, company or organization name, City, State, and date range.
The date range can be express by year only or month and year.
Sample of Skills Section in a Combination Resume
RELEVANT SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Program Development• Prepared and taught health education programs to students in
stress management, relaxation and exercise.• Implemented a smoking education and cessation program in the residence halls for freshman and sophomore students; 85% of
students attended.
Management and Supervision• Supervised a staff of up to 15 personal trainers in a center that
specialized in professional and college athletes.
Project Management• Directed a 15-person team that conducted a nutrition health survey of 1,000 school age children, ages 9 – 17.
Action-verb Statements
Describe skills, knowledge and/or accomplishments that relate to the position, industry, department, or company
Begin with past-tense action verbsAre quantifiable, if possibleAre usually no more than two
linesAre written in priority order in
relation to the skill set required for the position
Action-verb Statements
Taught a technical workshop. (First Draft)
Designed and taught a workshop on web-based video.
Designed and taught a 10-week training session for 20 Consulting Department employees on Web-based Video Production.
Sample Action-verb sentence #1:
The following is an example of an action-verb sentence demonstrating the progression of creating a sentence from a first draft through a more developed and comprehensive sentence.
If you were a group of employers, what would you look for in a resume?
Activity
References
References are listed on a separate page with the same heading as your resume and include your reference name, business title, business address, telephone number, and email address
Printed on the same paper as your resume
Same heading as your resume with a title, for example, REFERENCES or Professional References
Personal references are not acceptable.
Cover Letters
Are an essential part of your application packet
Must be written for each job for which you are applying; avoid generic cover letters
Avoid “essays”; keep your letter simple and pertinent to the job and/or purpose of the letter
Personalize the letter by including information about the position/company/organization.
There are many types of business correspondence, including cover letters
One page. Keep to a minimum sentences that start with “I”
Sign your letters in black ink. Use 100% cotton paper or the same resume paper as your resume
Letters should have plenty of “open space”
This handout is provided by the Academic Advising and Career Center at California State University, Sacramento and is intended for personal non-commercial use. 2013
Sections:
Your name and contact information Inside Address: Employer’s name and
company address Salutation Body Closing Enclosure (Resume)
Cover Letters
Briefly introduce yourself and your interest in the organization/position
Mention how you heard about the position, if someone referred you, or you met the recipient at a previous event or meeting
First Paragraph
Highlight your background, with examples, as it relates to the position or purpose
Focus on skills and accomplishments
What attracts you to the company or organization
What makes you unique?
Middle Paragraph(s)
Appreciation for considering your application
How to contact applicant
Thank them for their time and consideration
Closing Paragraph
Thank you
The Career Center offers drop-in services where you can obtain assistance with questions about resumes, cover letters, interviewing techniques, and other aspects of your job search. If you need help beginning to write a resume or if you have a draft that you would like critiqued, visit the Career Center in Lassen Hall.
Thank you, The Career Center Staff