Technical Resumes and Cover letters

Holly M. Justice Engineering Career Counselor

Career Services 259 Capen Hall

HJUSTICE@BUFFALO.EDU

Technical Resume Writing

The Resume• What is it? An individually designed, brief summary of

your accomplishments– (including education, experience, skills, etc…)

• Purpose? To get you an interview!

• Should reflect your unique background & excite interest in you as a potential employee

• Must show your impact

The Resume• Plan Ahead - Know the job you are seeking.

- Know what you have to offer… Accomplishments Skills Experiences

• Research the Employer - Know what qualities, skills and experiences employer seeks in candidates

Resume Content: Must Have’s!

• Identifying Data: You must be easy to reach!

Your Name Address (temporary/permanent, dates) Phone (professional sounding message) Email (professional address name)

Ex: Corey S. Engineer csengineer@buffalo.edu

55 Edgewood Avenue 100 Main St. Cheektowaga, NY 14216 New York, NY 10012 716-645-2231 212-123-4567 (after 6/13)

Resume Content: Must Have’s!

Education

Name of College/Univ. GPA (3.0/4.0 issue) Degree, Major/Minor Applicable Coursework (optional)Date Received or Expected Awards/Honors (optional) Study Abroad (optional)Example:

EducationUniversity at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY

BS Civil Engineering, May 2013 Overall GPA 3.3/4.0 Civil GPA 3.6/4.0Dean’s List, Fall 2011, 2010

Relevant Coursework: Engineering Economy, Construction Management, Production Systems, Probability and Statistics OPTIONAL – DO YOU NEED THIS SECTION? HOW DOES IT HELP YOU?

Resume Content: Must Have!Experience

(paid, volunteer, internship, co-op, military)

Target To Your Audience! Reverse Chronological Order!

Ex:

CIVIL ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

Turner Construction, Buffalo, NY Civil Engineering Intern, Summer, May – August 2012• Reviewed designs and compared with field construction • Supervised work team and met with contractors • Verified material compliance with all state and federal

standards.

Resume Content: What’s so technical?• Technical Skills• Projects • Professional experience (Technical/Related

Experience)

Example:

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Languages: C, C++, Java, Assembly

Software: Maple, Visual Basic, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint), Knowledge of Matlab

Operating Systems: Windows 98/NT, Unix

Field : Surveying, estimating

Resume Content: What Else?Category Headings

• Engineering Experience Engineering Projects• Engineering Co-op Extra-Curricular Activities• Community Service Honors and Awards• Professional Affiliations Professional Development• Leadership Language Skills• Computer Skills International Experience• Achievements Special Skills• Special Interests Certification/Licenses• Availability Additional Experience• References Available Upon Request.• Objective

Resume Content: Soft SkillsEmployers look for candidates who have:

– Good communication skills– Good interpersonal skills– A strong work ethic – Are team players– Are flexible– Are detail-oriented – Are motivated.

* Demonstrate these skills through your work experience and project descriptions.

Quiz

How many pages should your resume be?

The Resume: Final TouchesOverall appearance:

– Does your resume make you want to read it at a glance?– 15 second rule – NO ERRORS!

Layout: – Does the resume look professional? – Quality print, appropriate margins

Do KEY points stand out at a glance?– Typically one page, no more than 2 pages!– if two pages put most important information on first page– use category headings to point to your strengths!

Use full, yet concise descriptions so it has complete information without being too specific or too long! – action words in brief statements, do not use complete sentences

Is it getting you the interview?

The Resume & Applying OnlineSpecial Considerations

• You will need a traditional Paper Version, and you may need a simple text Electronic Version

– Keywords*

– Keep fonts, margins and enhancements simple.

– Use a clear file name (ex. Your_name_resume.doc)

• Emailing your resume– Email your resume to a specific person (Never mass email your

resume.)– Use formal, professional language (do not be casual in your emails! )

Corey S. Engineer csengineer@buffalo.edu

110 Capen Way, Buffalo, NY 14260, 716-645-2231 www.buffalo.edu/mysite

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering, May 2014 University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Overall GPA 3.2/4.0 IE GPA 3.4/4.0

Engineering Career Institute, University at Buffalo, Spring 08 * Actively participated in course designed to enhance on-the-job effectiveness. Subjects:

Value Engineering, Teamwork, Public Speaking, Project Management, Leadership Development, Effective Technical Communication, Ethics, Entrepreneurship, etc.

HONORS Engineering Dean’s List Name of Scholarship awarded for high academic achievement

RELEVANT Engineering Economy, Operations Research, Ergonomics, Production Systems, Statistics COURSEWORK

ENGINEERING Research Intern, Praxair Inc., Tonawanda, NY, Summer, 2012EXPERIENCE * Evaluated an advanced Nickel Aluminide intermetallic material for possible structural applications.

* Initiated the use of CAD software (Autosketch) for general test specimen development and the design of specific project components. * Due to productivity performance, asked to continue interning throughout fall semester.

Corey S. Engineer Page 2

COMPUTER SKILLS Working knowledge of UNIX, Windows 3.1/95/NT, Maple, Matlab, C++HTML, MS Word, Excel Power Point, Access

LEADERSHIP President, Engineering Student Association, 2012-13Team Leader, UB Soccer Team, 2011-12

PROFESSIONAL Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), MemberASSOCIATION

LANGUAGE SKILLS Fluent in spoken and written Spanish.

ADDITIONAL Wegmans Food Market, Buffalo, NYEXPERIENCE Associate, July 2011 – present

* Provided high quality customer service in a fast paced environment.* Introduced more efficient system for stocking shelves saving time and money.* Maintained an orderly and clean work environment.

The Gap, Rochester, NYSalesperson, Summers 2008– 2010* Served customers providing timely and courteous service.* Trained new employees and supervised staff of six in manager’s absence.* Won Salesperson of the Month, August 2009

What Employers Have Said They Seek:• EXPERIENCE! (Co-op/Internship, related experience)• GPA• Good Communication Skills –

Oral and Written!• Evidence of Team Work• Time Management Skills• Problem-solving Skills• Enthusiasm• Flexibility• Being able to apply what you’ve

learned

The Cover Letter

The Cover Letter• What is it? An individually designed formal business

letter that introduces your resume when applying to an employer in writing.

• Purpose? To get the reader excited about you as a

candidate and looking to your resume for more information.

The Cover Letter• Plan Ahead - Know the job you are seeking.

- Know what you have to offer… Accomplishments Skills Experiences

• Research the Employer - Know what qualities, skills and experiences employer seeks in candidates

When do you need a cover letter?

Cover Letter Basics• Should be targeted toward each position to which

you apply• Demonstrates your writing skills & grammar.• Brief, but needs to stand out from other applicants• Formal business style letter on paper, more

concise version for email. • Work and employer centered• Focus on your qualifications and benefits to the

employer

Preparing to target your cover letters

One system to consider…

Preparing to target your lettersOne system to consider…

List your qualifications and have examples for each:1. Technical Skills 2. Communication skills3. Project Management4. Leadership5. Experience in

industry 6. Teamwork

• Letter for Company A– 1, 3, 4

• Letter for Company B – 1, 2, 4, 6

• Letter for Company C – 1, 5, 3

Cover Letter: Paragraph 1First Paragraph: • Tell why you are writing, what job you are

seeking, and how you heard about the job• Show you researched the company by making

a statement about the company

Example: I am writing with regard to your opening for an Industrial Engineer as listed on the Ralcorp Holdings Website. I believe my co-op experience in a similar manufacturing setting combined with my specialized educational background would make me an asset to your company.

The Cover Letter: Paragraph 2Second Paragraph: Bridge to your resume and create a desire to read further by summarizing 1 – 3 key accomplishments on your resume. Highlight your strongest qualifications Provide additional information such as qualities targeted toward job / employer Use examples where appropriate Why are you the best candidate for this job and at this company?

The Cover Letter: Paragraph 2 Example:

As my enclosed resume indicates, my technical educational background, demonstrated leadership skills, and ability to meet customers’ needs would enable me to make a valuable contribution in a chemical engineering position at Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. My Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University at Buffalo has prepared me well with unique coursework in photochemistry, process controls, and unit operations laboratory. My ability to function as both a leader and a team player would enable me to serve the company well in a project-management capacity. During my academic years I have served in many leadership roles through various clubs and organizations such as the Chemical Engineering Association.…….

The Cover Letter Paragraph 3*• Paragraph 3: Your closing paragraph

- Ask for action: for an interview - Thank them for their consideration

Example: Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your needs and how my qualifications fit for this position. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can answer any questions or provide any additional information.

The Cover Letter: Full Block Style12 Heathwood DriveWilliamsville, NY 14221Date

John Doe, TitleOrganization NameOrganization AddressCity, State Zip code

Dear Mr. Doe: ( Dear Hiring Manager: )

Body of Letter

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Address

“T-letter” style cover letter

T-Letter Style Cover Letter• 1st and 3rd paragraph the same as a

traditional letter• 2nd paragraph includes one opening

sentence and then a 2 column chart. • This letter is very specific.

Position Requirement My qualifications- Experience with AutoCad

- Ability to meet deadlines

- Work well with a variety of customers

- I have completed numerous projects with extensive AutoCad work.

- Proven record of meeting deadlines with technical projects in business environments

-Over 3 years of excellent customer service experience working in sales with technical and non-technical clients

EXAMPLE OF 2ND PARAGRAPH

Applying to positions with your Resume & Cover Letter - Special Considerations

• Emailing your resume & cover letter – Email your resume to a specific person (Never mass email

your resume!)– Use formal, professional language (do not be casual in your

emails!) – Option 1: write a brief introductory email and attach your

resume and cover letter– Option 2: write your cover letter as the body of the email and

attach just your resume. • On Job Search Engine sites and Company websites

– Usually you are asked to attach your resume. – You may also consider creating a file that includes your

resume & cover letter and attach that as your “resume” file.

UB Career Services • Contact us:

– 259 Capen Hall 8:30am – 5:00pm M-F – Call 716-645-2231 to schedule an

appointment– Email us at jobs@buffalo.edu – Express Career Consult –

• 12:00-4:00pm M-F • www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

Thank you for your time.

Please complete the brief evaluation

Good Luck!

Holly M. JusticeEngineering Career Counselor

Career Services 259 Capen Hall

HJUSTICE@BUFFALO.EDU