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Resumes & Cover Resumes & Cover LettersLetters

Internship & Career Services CenterInternship & Career Services CenterNorth Carolina Wesleyan CollegeNorth Carolina Wesleyan College

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What’s the purpose?What’s the purpose?

A cover letter’s purpose is to get your A cover letter’s purpose is to get your resume read.resume read.

A résumé's purpose is to get you an A résumé's purpose is to get you an interview.interview.

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ResumesResumes

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What is a resume?What is a resume?

Your personal commercialYour personal commercial

Should present you and your skills in Should present you and your skills in the best lightthe best light

First impression!! (and maybe your First impression!! (and maybe your only one)only one)

Should be to the pointShould be to the point

Should be targetedShould be targeted

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How to startHow to start

Review your personal information Review your personal information and experience. and experience.

Start with a blank piece of paper, Start with a blank piece of paper, not a template, and list each item not a template, and list each item that has relevance. that has relevance.

Go for volume here and focus on Go for volume here and focus on details and specifics. You will details and specifics. You will condense this information later. condense this information later.

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Resume BasicsResume Basics

One page (unless you are far into your One page (unless you are far into your career)career)

Free of mistakes and typosFree of mistakes and typos Clean and crisp format with items listed in Clean and crisp format with items listed in

order of relevanceorder of relevance Consistency in alignment and emphasis Consistency in alignment and emphasis

(bold, italics, capitals, underline, (bold, italics, capitals, underline, punctuation, font)punctuation, font)

Action verbsAction verbs BulletsBullets Conservative, fine paper Conservative, fine paper Conservative fonts and graphics Conservative fonts and graphics

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FormattingFormatting

ChronologicalChronological– Lists employment history in chronological order Lists employment history in chronological order

(most recent first) (most recent first) – Recommended if you have relevant experienceRecommended if you have relevant experience

FunctionalFunctional– Lists skills rather than specific jobs held, no Lists skills rather than specific jobs held, no

datesdates– Not recommendedNot recommended

Combination Combination – Lists skills in categories as well as employment Lists skills in categories as well as employment

historyhistory– Recommended if you do not have relevant Recommended if you do not have relevant

experience but do have many transferable skills experience but do have many transferable skills or if you have had many similar jobsor if you have had many similar jobs

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What makes up a What makes up a resume?resume? HeaderHeader Objective (optional)Objective (optional) EducationEducation ExperienceExperience Special SkillsSpecial Skills College/Community/Personal InvolvementCollege/Community/Personal Involvement Interests and ActivitiesInterests and Activities

A resume is a highly personal document A resume is a highly personal document so you may or may not choose to use all of so you may or may not choose to use all of these categories. You may even need to these categories. You may even need to add some unique categories of your own.add some unique categories of your own.

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Other Possible Other Possible SectionsSections Military ExperienceMilitary Experience Honors and AwardsHonors and Awards Professional AffiliationsProfessional Affiliations Computer/Technical SkillsComputer/Technical Skills Community Involvement/ServiceCommunity Involvement/Service Executive Summary/ProfileExecutive Summary/Profile LanguagesLanguages Activities/Interests Activities/Interests

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HeaderHeader

Includes contact informationIncludes contact information– NameName– Address (current & permanent)Address (current & permanent)– Phone (Is your voicemail Phone (Is your voicemail

appropriate?)appropriate?)– Email (something basic like Email (something basic like

jwarren@hotmail.comjwarren@hotmail.com not not msthang@aol.commsthang@aol.com or even or even preacherdaughter@juno.compreacherdaughter@juno.com) )

ExamplesExamples

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ObjectiveObjective

State the position you are seeking.State the position you are seeking.– This can be specific to mention a specific This can be specific to mention a specific

job title or general, mentioning the the job title or general, mentioning the the type of position you are seeking but not type of position you are seeking but not with a company name.with a company name.

Can be eliminated if the resume is full Can be eliminated if the resume is full but MUST be in mind when creating but MUST be in mind when creating the resume.the resume.

Use wording like “To obtain…” or Use wording like “To obtain…” or simply say “Internship in….”simply say “Internship in….”

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Examples of ObjectivesExamples of Objectives

An Assistant Programmer position with An Assistant Programmer position with Computech Consulting.Computech Consulting.– Specific – must change for every companySpecific – must change for every company

A laboratory position using strong research A laboratory position using strong research and observation skills. and observation skills. – General – can be sent to multiple employersGeneral – can be sent to multiple employers

An internship in the management field that An internship in the management field that will allow me to utilize and expand on my will allow me to utilize and expand on my skills in organization and communication. skills in organization and communication. – General – can be sent to multiple employersGeneral – can be sent to multiple employers

A position which will allow me to use my A position which will allow me to use my education and experience to contribute to education and experience to contribute to your company’s mission.your company’s mission.– Poor (much too broad)Poor (much too broad)

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EducationEducation

Most recent degree firstMost recent degree first Educational institution & locationEducational institution & location Major/minor/concentrationMajor/minor/concentration

– Use correct wording!!! Use correct wording!!! (Bachelor of Arts – NOT – Bachelor(Bachelor of Arts – NOT – Bachelor’s’s of Arts) of Arts)

Date degree granted (or anticipated)Date degree granted (or anticipated)

GPA GPA – Can list cumulative and majorCan list cumulative and major– Do not list if it is not 3.0 or betterDo not list if it is not 3.0 or better

Study abroad and academic honors Study abroad and academic honors

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Education (continued)Education (continued)

Relevant CourseworkRelevant Coursework– Add if you don’t have much experienceAdd if you don’t have much experience

High school information not neededHigh school information not needed

Can include military training if Can include military training if relevantrelevant

ExamplesExamples

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ExperienceExperience

Relevant experience listed in reverse Relevant experience listed in reverse chronological order (most recent 1chronological order (most recent 1stst))

Can list paid or non-paid experiencesCan list paid or non-paid experiences– Full or part-time workFull or part-time work– Volunteer workVolunteer work– InternshipsInternships

Include your title, employer name and Include your title, employer name and location (city, state), dates, and dutieslocation (city, state), dates, and duties

Focus on functions you performed, Focus on functions you performed, skills you gained, and any skills you gained, and any accomplishmentsaccomplishments– Use numbers and figures when possible Use numbers and figures when possible

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Experience (continued)Experience (continued)

Action verbs Action verbs

Bulleted list of Bulleted list of most importantmost important pointspoints

Past tense for former positionsPast tense for former positions

Quantify whenever possibleQuantify whenever possible

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Experience (continued)Experience (continued)

How can these be worded more How can these be worded more effectively? effectively? – Responsible for staffResponsible for staff

Hired, trained, and supervised a staff of Hired, trained, and supervised a staff of 14 computer operators14 computer operators

– Duties included: writing and editing Duties included: writing and editing Designed, wrote, and edited Designed, wrote, and edited

promotional materials including promotional materials including brochures and instruction manualsbrochures and instruction manuals

Examples Examples

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Special SkillsSpecial Skills

This is the place to list special This is the place to list special skills you have that were not skills you have that were not mentioned in your employment mentioned in your employment history.history.

– Languages you speak/writeLanguages you speak/write– Computer skillsComputer skills– Laboratory skillsLaboratory skills– Other special skills and/or licensesOther special skills and/or licenses

You may decide to divide these You may decide to divide these categories into their own sections categories into their own sections

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InvolvementInvolvement

List involvement you have had outside List involvement you have had outside of the workplace that is relevant to of the workplace that is relevant to your field. This can include college your field. This can include college and/or community organizations.and/or community organizations.

– Name of organizationName of organization– Role you played (offices held, Role you played (offices held,

accomplishments, etc.)accomplishments, etc.)– Dates of involvementDates of involvement– Description of organization (if it’s not Description of organization (if it’s not

clear)clear)

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What not to includeWhat not to include

Personal informationPersonal information

ReferencesReferences

False or embellished informationFalse or embellished information

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PreparationPreparation

Prepare your resume in a word Prepare your resume in a word processing program without using a processing program without using a template or wizard. These tools may template or wizard. These tools may appear convenient but they are difficult appear convenient but they are difficult to work with when you need to tailor to work with when you need to tailor your resume to your needs.your resume to your needs.

Review your resume to determine Review your resume to determine whether the format is clear and whether the format is clear and consistent.consistent.

Proofread and ask others familiar with Proofread and ask others familiar with your field to look over it. The ICSC your field to look over it. The ICSC offers this service!offers this service!

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Preparation Preparation (continued)(continued) Make any final changes based on Make any final changes based on

feedback from others to ensure your feedback from others to ensure your resume is error free. Errors on your resume is error free. Errors on your resume will give the impression to resume will give the impression to employers that you make errors in all of employers that you make errors in all of your work.your work.

Keep your resume up to date and make Keep your resume up to date and make adjustments as needed when applying for adjustments as needed when applying for varying positions.varying positions.

Save an electronic file of all versions you Save an electronic file of all versions you create.create.

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Final TouchesFinal Touches

Print your resume on fine paper (24lb. Print your resume on fine paper (24lb. cotton bond paper) in a neutral color (pure cotton bond paper) in a neutral color (pure white, cream, ecru, beige, grey). Be sure white, cream, ecru, beige, grey). Be sure to use a good printer to avoid smears.to use a good printer to avoid smears.

Use same paper for cover letter.Use same paper for cover letter.

Include abbreviated heading on all pages Include abbreviated heading on all pages of resume (or add a footer).of resume (or add a footer).

Add page numbers if more than one page.Add page numbers if more than one page.

Never staple or fold – use large envelopesNever staple or fold – use large envelopes

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ReferencesReferences

Never include these on the resumeNever include these on the resume

““References available upon request” References available upon request” is not needed on the resumeis not needed on the resume

Place references on separate page Place references on separate page with all contact information listedwith all contact information listed

List about 4-5 varied individuals who List about 4-5 varied individuals who you are CERTAIN will provide glowing you are CERTAIN will provide glowing referencesreferences

ExampleExample

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ICSC Resume ReviewICSC Resume Review

Email completed resumes & cover Email completed resumes & cover letters to letters to jwarren@ncwc.edujwarren@ncwc.edu or or use the “Review Center” option in use the “Review Center” option in Optimal Resume. Optimal Resume.

Include a mention of the type of Include a mention of the type of work you are hoping to obtain. work you are hoping to obtain.

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Cover LettersCover Letters

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Cover Letter EssentialsCover Letter Essentials

Professional, personable, and directProfessional, personable, and direct

MUST be relevant to the position desiredMUST be relevant to the position desired

Address to a specific personAddress to a specific person– NEVER “to whom it may concern”NEVER “to whom it may concern”

Include your contact informationInclude your contact information

Write a unique letter for every positionWrite a unique letter for every position– Try to mention skills listed in the job Try to mention skills listed in the job

announcement and match them to your skillsannouncement and match them to your skills

Limit to one pageLimit to one page

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Break-DownBreak-Down

Introduction Paragraph – how you found Introduction Paragraph – how you found the position (any name that referred the position (any name that referred you)you)

Middle Paragraph – highlight your skills Middle Paragraph – highlight your skills and how these match the position (can and how these match the position (can use a chart)use a chart)

Closing Paragraph – thank the reader for Closing Paragraph – thank the reader for their time and indicate how and when their time and indicate how and when you will follow up you will follow up

Salutation – “sincerely” or other Salutation – “sincerely” or other appropriate choice followed by your appropriate choice followed by your signature and typed namesignature and typed name

ExampleExample