The document provides guidance on writing effective resumes and cover letters. It defines a resume as a formal document describing a job seeker's qualifications. A cover letter is introduced as a way to make a first impression and get an interview. Key tips for both include customizing for each application, demonstrating how your qualifications meet the employer's needs, and providing concrete examples. Formatting guidelines are also outlined.

1. Resume & Cover Letter
Director of BCB Career Services
Center

2. What is a resume?
 Is the most effective instrument for finding work
 Is a door opener for an interview
 Formal document describing the qualifications of a
job seeker
 A short account of one’s career and qualifications
prepared typically by an applicant of a position

3. Why resume is needed?
 It takes 30-40 seconds of employer’s time to
screen your resume!
 Every day HR managers have to look
through hundreds of resumes!
 Resume is not an entertaining book.

4. Writing a resume
You resume must scream in a professional manner:
«Give me a moment of your busy day! Listen to me, I have
something to say!»
Good resume writing focuses attention on your strengths
and shows you as a potential employee. Therefore:
 Show off achievements, attributes, and cumulation of
expertise to the best advantage
 Minimize any possible weaknesses

5. Writing Resume and Cover Letter
 Thinking about your career (for every position
you should create a new resume e.g
 Determining what you want
 Analyzing what you have to offer
 Writing a resume
 Controlling the format and style
 Tailoring the contents
 Writing the perfect resume

6. Personal Information
 Name, Surname
 Full address
 Telephone numbers (with area code)
 E-mail
 Job objective

7. Experience
 Company name, brief description, city/country
e.g. “Zeta” Production of furniture, Almaty
instead of just “Zeta”
 Employment dates
 Position
e.g. Accountant instead of Junior Accountant Level II
 Key responsibilities
 Achievements
e.g. Responsible for taking minutes and keeping correspondence.
Achievement: became expert in Education

8. Accomplishment statement for
resume (example)
 Introduced an improved filing system
 Improved customer service
 Contributed new ideas
 Reorganized procedures
 Solved problems
 Improved work efficiency
 Increased sales
 Reduced overdue accounts

9. Education
 High Schools ?
 GPA – only if it’s high
e.g. 4 out of 4.33 - KIMEP
or 4 out of 5 – Kazakhstani schools
Specialization
 Off-campus workshops, seminars and so on

10. Other items
 Languages
 Comuper skills
 Personal skills or Key strengths
 Hobbies/Interests

11. Don’ts
 Titles: CV, Resume
 Availability
 Reason for leaving
 Salary
 Abbreviations
 Jargon
 Charts and graphs
 Mention of age,race,religion,sex, national origin
 Photographs
 Health
 Early background
 Weaknesses
 Demands
 Exaggerations

12. Common mistakes
 Too long
 Too short (1 page is prefered)
 Hard to read, no consistency (no spaces,
paragraphs)
 Wordy
 Poorly organized
 Misspelled and ungrammatical
 Boastful. Nonrealistic self-evaluation
 Dishonest
 Unusual

13. If You Don’t Have Any
Experience You May Focus on
 Strengths
 Achievements (list 10 in order of significance)
 Look at the skills that helped you to make
achievements
 Internship/volunteer work
 Special Awards or Recognition in your academic
program
 Participation in different events, conferences
 Research/Marketing projects/Business plans done
during studies

14. Cover Letter

15. 101 Best Cover Letters
By Jay A. Block & Michael Betrus
McGraw-Hill

16. What is a cover letter?
 A Cover letter is a formal communication
with a potential employer introducing a
candidate and his value to the future
employer for the purpose of creating interest
in that candidate as a potential employee.

17. Cover letter & Resume
 Cover letter is a letter that introduces the resume.
 Therefore Cover Letter makes the first impression.
 Resume will provide you with less opportunity to
show your true colors

18. The Main Objective of
a Cover Letter
 Get an interview or
 Take the hiring process
to the next step.

19. Cover Letter
 In the cover letter there should be a link
between companies needs and…
what you can offer
 Thus, CL must address and meet the
important needs of the prospective employer
in a professional and entertaining manner.

20.  Company’s criteria for
Employment
1) Master degree preferred
2) Strong interpersonal, leadership skills
3) Experience in Marketing area is
preferred
Candidate’s criteria
1) MBA from KIMEP, Marketing
specialization
2) Was elected and served as a
President of KIMEP Student
Government (2005-2006)
3)
 Had a 2 month internship in
the marketing department of X
firm
 Implemented marketing
projects during studies in
KIMEP: “….”

21. Tips for writing successful
cover letter

22. Tip 1. Personalize and
customize each letter
Everyone likes when he or she is called by
name…
Ok to write: “To whom it may concern”,
“Dear Sir/Madam”
Don’ts: “Dear someone”, “Hello”…

23. Tip 2. Write with the reader in
mind
“What would I want if I were hiring a person for
this position”
 What is the company really looking for?
 What qualifications do I have that are valuable to a
potential employer?
 Do I want to work in this company?
 What contributions have I made in the past that will
excite this employer
 What type of personality do I have?

24. Tip 3. The letter must build
rapport with the reader
 Add element of warmth and sentiment in
your writing.
 Don’t be too formal, official (try to avoid
shablonz)

25. Tip 4. Don’t paraphrase your
resume!
 It’s a cover letter that introduces the resume.
 Cover letter makes the first impression

26. Tip 5. Give examples
 demonstrate specific problem solving skills
in the letter supported by examples.

27. Other tips
 Be different and distinctive!
 Be short and precise (no more than 1 page)
 Don’t lie or exaggerate
 Unless asked to do so, don’t discuss salary in
a cover letter.
 Sign the letter

28. Only one rule!
 There can be no spelling or grammatical
mistakes!!!! It must be well organized and
professionally presented

29. Structure of a Cover Letter
 1) Your name, title, address, contact info & date
 2) Name, title, company name & address of the
recipient
 3) Salutation
 4) Power Introduction/Opening
 5) Purpose of the letter
 6) Critical message
 Call for action
 Close

30. Heading
•Power introduction
•Purpose of the letter
•Critical message
•Call to action
•Close
Recipient’s
name &address
Salutation

31. Opening paragraph
State why you are writing; how you learned
of the organization or position, and basic
information about yourself.

32. Powerful openings
 “If the company is seeking an Assistant to Director who is
able to organize office work, who speaks and writes fluently
in English/Russian languages, sociable and responsible then
we have a good reason to talk .”
 “When Tatyana Kim of your Human Resource department
spoke to our class last week, she said you often add
promising new accounting graduates to your audit
department at this time of year.


33. Critical message/Main part
• Tell why you are interested in the employer/position
• Demonstrate that you know enough about the
employer or position
• Relate your background to the employer or
position.
• Mention specific qualifications which make you a
good fit for the employer’s needs.
• You may explain in more detail relevant items in
your resume.

34. Closing
 “…Thank you for your time and interest. I look
forward to hearing from you”
 “…Thank you for the consideration you have
given me. I will call you Friday morning,
August 19th , to schedule a personal
discussion, if you deem it appropriate”

35. Common mistakes:
 Boring (generates no interest, too formal)
 Poorly written
 Badly organized, no structure
 Is not oriented towards the potential
employer
 Too general

36. The cover letter must introduce you
and your value to a potential
employer.