2. Today’s Agenda:
1. Course Timeline
2. Resumes and Branding
3. 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 Review
• What’s due: Submit
Resume Draft to
Turnitin before tutorial
• Tutorial: Cover Letter
and Networking
• What’s due: Submit
Cover Letter Draft to
Turnitin before tutorial
• Tutorial: Info Interviews
• What’s due: Resume &
Cover Letter Assignment
due on Mar 12th at
11:59pm on Turnitin and
COOL
• Networking Event on
Mar 13th 6-8pm in CPA
Hall
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
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?
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 page (if second page, must be relevant)
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/Key Competencies (OPTIONAL)
• 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
-Address
-Email
-LinkedIn URL
Profile
(OPTIONAL)
-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
Check the blog for the Resume Checklist!
21. What Counts As An Error?
Spelling &
Grammar
Incorrect
Information
Improper
Formatting
Missing
Information
Incorrect order
of Information
Inconsistency
**Not including a Job Posting is 2 errors
**Please note errors are not limited to this
23. Action items for next week:
1. Sign up for office hours
2. Networking Event : March 13th 6-8pm in CPA Hall
3. Cover Letter Draft due March 5th before tutorial
on Turnitin (Bring a hard copy to class also)
4. Resume and Cover Letter due March 12th @
11:59pm on Turnitin and COOL
5. Cover Letter & Resume Toolkit on MyBcom site
6. Tutorial Next Week!
24. 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:
