Resume and Cover Letter Peer Review

1. COMM 202:
Career Fundamentals
T05 & T15 with Samyta Rai

2. Today’s Agenda:
1. Course Timeline
2. Resumes and Branding
3. Cover Letter and Resume Peer Review
4. TA Feedback
5. Action Items

3. Course Timeline
Where are we and what’s coming up?
Week 8 (today) Week 9 Week 10
• Tutorial: Resume and
Cover Letter Review
• What’s due: Resume
and Cover Letter Drafts
• Tutorial: Event
Networking/Info
Interviews
• What’s due: Resume
and Cover Letter on
October 31st @ 1:59PM
(on Turnitin) and 31st @
11:59PM (on COOL)
• Networking Event: Nov
2nd @ 6-8pm in CPA
HALL
• Tutorial: Networking
Follow Up/Interview
Stream
• What’s due: Networking
Reflection on Nov 7th @
11:5PM on Turnitin

4. Resumes and Branding
2

5. RATS
Format
Employers do not want to read your story on
your resume they want to read your
accomplishments!
FLIP IT: STAR à RATS
Accomplishment Statements

6. RATS
Format FLIP IT: STAR à RATS

7. Skill Verbs
Results
ATTAINED
EXCEEDED
ELIMINATED
INCREASED
DECREASED
MAXIMIZED
MINIMIZED
REDUCED
SAVED
SURPASSED
IMPROVED
CREATED
GENERATED
ENHANCED
OPTIMIZED
ESTABLISHED

8. Cover Letter & Resume
Peer Review
3

9. Instructions
1. Write your name on ALL
documents – make sure your
documents are attached
2. Put all documents in a pile in the
middle of the table
3. Trade to the person on your left
when a new section starts
4. Get out your marking utensils!

10. Formatting and Consistency
be consistent
font size, font style,
spacing, bullet points,
alignment, punctuation,
date & abbreviation
format, hyphens vs
dashes
first impression
pick a colour scheme
(if you don’t want black-
and-white, which is also
fine) and use white space
wisely; be concise with
your resume page count
third person
always speak in third
person and maintain a
professional tone; no
slang or personal
pronouns (he, she, we, I)
proofread
no grammar mistakes,
typos, spelling errors -
proofread then proofread
again

11. Is the Resume and Cover Letter
Consistent?
Header? Margins? Font?

12. Resumes
Trade Documents!
3

13. Resume Formatting
• Titles formatted the same
• Spacing is consistent
• Margins are reasonable (≥1.5cm)
• Phrases either ALL end in period or not
• Dates
• Usually right-aligned
• All have month and year, or just year
• All months are abbreviated to same # of
letters
• Uses hyphens (–) OR dashes (-)
• Font:
• Size is 10
• Generally no more than two types of font
• Numbers under 10 spelled out (i.e. two vs. 2)
• Bullets: same size/style, aligned
• One to two pages

14. Header and General
• Name is preferred name with
(given name) in brackets
• Phone and address are
included
• LinkedIn URL is personalized
• No personal pronouns (I, we, he,
she)
• Reasonable amount of white
space – is it easy to read?
• Experiences listed in reverse
chronological order by start
date

15. Profile
• No more than 5 lines for key competencies (4 for profile)
• Can include languages
• Does it clearly and convincingly summarize
strengths/experiences/skills?
• Does it match the job posting (multiple references)?
• Does it provide a clear, convincing link to the rest of the resume (i.e.
is there PROOF elsewhere in the document?)

16. Education
• Bachelor of Commerce not BCOMM or B.Comm
• Start with the degree
• List expected date of completion (either as “Completion: …” or “Expected
Completion: ...”)
• No laundry lists of courses: only specific, relevant courses
• GPA – score/%/letter grade, indicating the school scale
• Key/relevant projects and awards: write in accomplishment statement
form

17. Work Experience
Are experiences achievement based?
Do numbers clearly quantify achievements where appropriate?
Do statements have Accomplishment, Proof, Transferrable skills, and Scope of Action?
Are the result verbs varied and strong?
Does language indicate familiarity with industry/company? Does it match the job
description?

18. Work Experience
• Reverse chronological order by start date
• You can include explanation sentences of
companies/experiences if necessary
• Eliminate filler words
• Written in third person
• Keep it to one sentence (2 lines is best)
• The elements of the RATS statement should be apparent
(but not necessarily in RATS order)

19. Interests
• Do the interests show personality? Are they specific? Are they
relevant to the job (not always necessary)?
• Do they differentiate the candidate? Are they memorable?
• Be fun! And appropriate
*NOTE for the candidate: Be able to speak about these interests
extensively!

20. Resume Checklist
Header
-Name
-Phone
-Email
-LinkedIn URL
Profile
-5 lines of key
competencies
-Summarize
strengths/
experiences/ skills
-Match job posting
Education
-Reverse
Chronological
Order
-Start with degree
-Include Grades/
Awards
Experience
-Reverse
Chronological
Order
-RATS formation
-Achievement
Based Statements
Interests
-Specific
-Differentiate
yourself
-Reflect your
personality

21. Cover Letters
Trade Documents!
4

22. Cover Letter Formatting
• Left aligned (NOT justified)
• No indents on paragraphs
• Bullet points vs. paragraphs
• 2-3 relevant skills
• Consistent font size (minimum size 10)
• Appropriate font
• Margin sizes
• Spacing between paragraphs
• White space
• One page

23. Addressing the Cover Letter
Date
Contact Name
Title
Company
Address 1
City, Province Postal Code
Re: Position Title (reference number if given)
Dear [First name Last name],
or Dear Hiring Manager/Committee,

24. Addressing the Cover Letter: Examples
Unknown person Specific person
Use sex and marital status only if
known

25. Cover Letter Content
Opening
-How is the hook?
-Interest/passion for the
position?
-skills/experience
matching the job
posting?
-is primary or secondary
research integrated
-Name drop?
Body
-Skills to match the
position?
- STARL format?
-Are there examples –
specific & concise?
-Transferrable skills?
-Do results show
strengths or success?
Closing
-Are skills reiterated?
-Is sincere interest
expressed?
-Thank you & call to
action
-Tie back to intro
Proofread
no grammar mistakes,
typos, spelling errors -
proofread then proofread
again

26. Ending Format
Sincerely, / Regards, / Best,
(Written signature if you want)
Your name
BCom Candidate 20XX
Sauder School of Business
Enclosed or Attached*: Resume
* Enclosed: physical copy
* Attached: electronic copy

27. What Counts As An Error?
Spelling &
Grammar
Incorrect
Information
Improper
Formatting
Missing
Information
Incorrect order
of Information
Inconsistency

28. TA Feedback
5

29. Action items for next week:
1. Sign up for office hours
2. Networking Event : Thursday, Nov 2nd from 6-8pm
3. Resume and Cover Letter due October 31st @
1:59pm on Turnitin and 11:59pm on COOL
4. Cover Letter & Resume Toolkit on MyBcom site
5. Tutorial Next Week!

30. 1. Email: comm202.7@sauder.ubc.ca
2. Tutorials: Approach me before or after tutorial
3. Office hours: Sign up on COOL
How to get in touch with me:

31. Thanks!
Any questions?
Have a great day!