Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviewing

Free Powerpoint Templates Page 1
Documenting Yourself
Chapter 2

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
3. Application form
4. Follow-up correspondence
(thank-you letters)
5. Your portfolio
The 5 Documents required for
your job search…

Resume Preparation
• The primary purpose of the resume
is to get you an interview.
• First introduction to employer

Resume Preparation
• Organizing Your Information
» Your resume is a history, not an obituary.
» Separate your jobs into fragments and explain them.
» Don’t just write ‘office help.’ Divide jobs into such
functions as ‘sales,’ inventory’ etc.
» Describe each job in terms of accomplishments and
results.
» Many resource directors receive 25 to 100 or more
resumes each week and of those, only 5% lead to an
interview.
» Chose a format-should introduce you to an employer
in the most favorable light.

Resume Styles
• Chronological
– Lists your jobs, education, and events in
chronological order (duh).
– Easiest to write
– Generally used when you have a very stable
and impressive work background with no
major job gaps.
– Enables you to show progression and
increasing responsibilities in your job.

Resume Styles
• Functional Format
– Lists your information under skill headings without
necessarily functioning on dates.

Resume Styles
• Hybrid Format
– A combination of chronological and functional
format.
– As functional – list functional, transferable
skills that you can offer an employer, but
unlike chronological style, you can give time
periods (number of years rather than dates)
for the jobs you’ve held.

Resume Styles
• Targeted Format
– A focused presentation of accomplishments
and skill areas directed toward a specific job
or career.
– May be chronological, functional or hybrid.
– More focused than other formats
– Effective when you are interested in a specific
job and when you need separate resumes for
different career paths.

Points to remember…
• Phrases such as,”I am a great problem
solver, a hard worker, and detail
oriented,” are too vague.
• These are “empty words,” and are
meaningless unless you back them up
with specific examples.

Points to remember
• You resume should be original and display
your personality.
• Don’t be afraid of being innovative.
• Stay professional and use good
judgement.

Writing the First Draft
• Job Objective
• A brief statement telling the employer what type of
position you are seeking, and it always appears at
the beginning of the resume.
• ‘What do I want to do? What is my job goal?’
• Be specific and clear. Avoid using ‘vague’ words
such as ‘Sales’ etc.

• Example of a Job Objective
• “Banquet manager with responsibilities in food
preparation, purchasing, staff development, and
menu planning.”
• “Communication specialist preparing news
releases, designing and editing brochures,
displays, and posters, and executing advertising
strategies.”

• After the job objective, many choose to
begin with a section titled “Summary of
Qualifications” (or something similar) that
summarizes your skills, up front, for the
reader.
– Ex: Training in the processing of insurance
claim forms, surgical procedures, EKG and
radiology, front and back office procedures,
computer applications including DOS, Excel,
Word, Windows.

• Education Section
• Under the heading of “Education,” include all
relevant training you have had, whether it was from
a formal institution, on the job, or elsewhere.
• How do I know what is relevant information?
» Anything directly related to the field
» Think about what the job requires, such as
communication, the ability to handle stress etc

• Begin by listing the name (s) of the
institution you attended after high
school
• Only list areas of concentration or
majors with emphasis on certain
subjects.
• Include city and state where the
institution is located; do not give street
addresses, phone numbers, and zip
codes.

• Should I include my GPA?
• This is optional. However, some employers like to
see it.
• Another option is to only list the GPA of your
major.

• Employment History Section
• Chronological Style:
» List your present or most recent job and continue
backward for all jobs that you have decided to
include.
» How far back do I go? – For managerial jobs, 15
years, for technical jobs, 10 years.
» When you have held several similar positions for
different companies, do not repeat job descriptions.

• Employment History Section
• Chronological
» When listing dates, don’t worry about weeks and
days; round up or down to a number of months and
years.
» If you are a new graduate and need to intensify your
experience, show every work experience you’ve had
including internships, student jobs, coop education,
and even extracurricular activities.

• Related Professional Experience
– This section should be included if you have relevant work
experience that you gained by doing volunteer work or
some specialized skills that would be of benefit to the
prospective employer.

• Additional Headings
• Anything you haven’t already included but that
illustrates your special qualities and enhances your
marketability can be stated in a separate section
with its own title.
• Ex:
» Professional Licenses, Certifications
» Publications
» Professional Organization Memberships
» Foreign Languages
» Awards, Travel

• Personal Information
• Except in rare occasions, personal information is
not required on resumes.
• The EEOC states that it is illegal for an employer
to select an employee based on personal
information.
» Only if employers can prove a job requires specific
personal qualifications, can the require that you
submit this information.
» Ex. You must be over 21 to sell alcohol.

• Personal Information
• Do not list your age, sex, marital status, religion,
place of birth, state of health, SS#, or any other
personal information on your resume.

• References
• Only after the employer has interviewed you and
has an interest in hiring you will he or she take the
time to call or write for references.
• To avoid the risk of lawsuits, some companies
instruct their employees not to give out any
references at all.
• Some companies only verify dates of employment.

• References
• Some companies have the person leaving the
company to sign a release that gives the employer
the right to speak truthfully.
• Many companies, however, perform background
checks : criminal records, verify ss, and credit
reports.
• Always be prepared to supply the names,
addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers
of at least 3 or 4 credible references.
• You may wish to attach ‘reference letters’ to your
resume

The Final Draft
• Stay with basic color choices for paper
• Use 8.5 x 11 inch white, ivory, light gray, or light
blue paper.

• Use an appealing format and layout
– “balances appearance”
– Double or triple-space between sections
– Margins 1 to 1.5 inches.
• Keep it concise
– Preferably no longer than 2 pages
• Make your resume inviting and easy
to read
– Highlight important points that you
especially want noticed by capitalizing,
bolding or underscoring.

• Control the quality
– Resume should be typed on a
computer and printed out using a
printer with letter-quality output.
• Identify subsequent pages
– If resume is 2 pages, place a heading
on the second page that includes you
name and ‘Page 2’—Word can do this
for you.
• Always be accurate-never lie
• Forgo the title of “Resume”
• Keep it flat
– A resume looks more professional if it
has not been folded.

• Be cautious of using negatives
– Anything that can be interpreted as criticism,
conflict or hostility should not be on your
resume, or anywhere else in the job search.
– LAST BUT NOT LEAST….
PROOFREAD!!

Cover Letters
• The purpose of a cover letter is to assist
employers in interpreting your resume and
to communicate a specific personal
message about how you can be an asset
to their company.
• Short letter, consisting of a few
paragraphs, that is attached to your
resume.

Cover Letters
• Identify the position for which you are
applying and directs the reader to take
not of relevant items in your resume.
• It can point out strengths, skills or
experience, either to emphasize items
on your resume or to add information
not included in the resume.

Cover Letters
• When do you use a cover letter?
– A cover letter should always be attached to
your resume.

Cover Letters
• The opening
– If possible, always address you letter to a
specific person.
• The first paragraph
– Begin with the purpose of the letter
– Why are you writing?
– Include a mention of a prior conversation with the
person hiring if you have spoken with them.
– Include a ‘lead in’ sentence to the next paragraph.
– EX : I am confident that upon review of my
qualifications, you will find that I am a strong
candidate for your next available opening.

Cover Letters
• The second and third paragraphs
• State the qualifications you have for the position.
• Why should the employer select you to interview?
• Remember, you are of interest to a potential
employer only because of your possible value to
them.

Cover Letters
• The closing paragraph
• Thank the reader for taking the time to review your
qualifications.
• Always verify your desire for an interview.
• You may suggest a date and time when you are
available for an interview.

Writing The
Effective ResumeThe First Step Toward
Landing Your Next Job

Writing An Effective Resume
What information should be in a resume?
Characteristics of a successful resume.
Functional or Chronological.
Scannable resume.

What Information Should
Be In A Resume?
 Identify Yourself
 Education
 Continuing Education
 Work or Professional
Experience
 Volunteer Experience
 Activities
 Computer Skills
 Professional Associations
Optional Sections
 Objective
 Special Skills and Abilities
 Reference Statement

Characteristics Of A
Successful Resume
Focuses on skills. Uses action words to
define the
responsibilities of your job-related
experience.
Easy to read and understand.
Visually powerful and free of gimmicks.

Successful Resume
Language is grammatically correct.
Spelling has been checked.
Formal Style

Resume Faux Pax
• Typos and Grammar Slips
– “Proven ability to track down and correct rrors.”
– “Am a perfectionist and rarely if ever forget
etails.”
– Accomplishments: Completed 11 years of high
school.”

Successful Resume
Must always be 100% truthful.
Contains no inappropriate personal
information.
Produced on a computer.

Functional Resumes
• Doesn’t go in chronological order.
• Based upon competencies or skills.
• Used for career changers or those with
unconventional work histories (or executives).
– Might say “Sales Experience” then list it.
– Typically brief with a simple list of positions
held, etc.
– De-emphasizes importance of specific jobs.

Scannable Resume
• Watch bullet points (don’t always scan).
• How about a dash - ?
• Use labels or keywords.
• Less is more.
• Keep the design simple.
• Minimize use of abbreviations.

Basic Checklist
No spelling or grammar errors.
Neat, clean, and professional looking.
Length should be 1-2 pages.
Margins at sides and bottom.

Basic Checklist
Important titles should be emphasized.
Experiment
with fonts & styles; bold, italic, and underlines.
No
more than 2 or 3 different sizes.
Information is logically recorded.

Basic Checklist
Bullet points when possible for
accomplishments.
Quantify your results whenever you can.
Format - chronological

Writing An Effective
Cover Letter
 How to write a cover letter.
– Rules
– Contents

How To Write A Cover
Letter - Rules
• Give enough information to interest the
reader, don’t
overwhelm.
• Research the company. Address the letter
to a
specific person.
• Answer an ad if you have 50% of the skills

Letter - Contents
• Your address, city, state, zip, and telephone
number.
• Date
• Name, title, company, address, city, state,
and zip of
person you’re writing to.

Letter - Contents
Paragraph 1:
– What you want.
– How you know about the organization.
– Mention enclosure of your resume.
Paragraph 2:
– Concise overview of work history and skills
that will help you perform the job.
Paragraph 3:
– State confidence in your ability.

Letter - Contents
 Paragraph 4:
– Express appreciation
 Closing, signature, and typed name

Successful Interviewing
Skills
Surviving and Excelling in a
Behavioral Based Interview

First Impressions Count …
 Do You Make The Best Impression You
Can?
– On-Time
– Dress
– Physical Contact
– Eye Contact
– Smile
– Fidgeting

How to Dress for an Interview
Professionally
Less is more
– Jewelry
– Perfume
– Make up

Characteristics of a
Successful Interview
–Preparation
–Presentation
–Content

Preparation
– Research the Job and company
– Review the Job Requirements
– Know your Resume
– Know Where You Are Going
– Be Prepared to Give Behavioral Based
Examples
– Anticipate Questions
– Be Prepared to Sell Yourself!

Preparation
– Visualize Yourself In the Interview
– Know this:
• There is no question you cannot answer
• You are well suited to the position
• You will be an asset to the department
– Bring:
• Extra copies of resume
• Paper and pen
• A list of potential questions
• List of References

Interview Presentation
– Be Prepared and Responsive For
Questions
– Take Time to Organize Your Thoughts
– Make Effective Eye Contact and Smile
– Express Confidence in Your Abilities
– Consider Each Interview An Adventure!
– Be Attentive to Body Language
• No gum
• Watch those pens

Leave The Baggage At
The Door
– Shut the Door to Personal Trouble
– Don’t Slam Organization

Interview Content
– Listen Carefully to the Question
– Understand Behavioral Based Interviewing
– Rehearse Your Answers
– Sell Yourself!
– Silence is Golden, Know When to Stop
Answering
– Tie Your Background to the Position
– Focus on Your Accomplishments
– Turn Weaknesses Into Strengths

Behavioral Based
Interviewing
–Prepare your STAR’S
–Situation or Task
–Action Taken
–Result of Your Action

Behavioral Based Questions
– Can You Tell Me About A Time…
– Think Specific
– Don’t Say “Usually, Always, Or Never”
– Say “I”
– Be Prepared to Answer the Negative
Question
– Was The Result Positive? Measurable?
– Don’t Forget To Smile
– Be Concise

Sample Questions
– Tell Me About A Time…
• You Persuaded Someone To Do Something
• You Solved a Small Problem Before It Turned
Into Something Large
• You Interacted With Someone And Wished
You’d Interacted Differently
• You Worked Well in a Team
• You Worked in a Team Where Not Everyone
Was Putting Forth The Same Amount Of Effort

Questions for them
ALWAYS HAVE ONE!!!
– How long has this position been vacant?
– What is the best thing about this job?
– What is the worst thing about this job?
– NEVER ASK ABOUT PAY!!!!

Technical Skills Are
Important
– Attention To Detail
– Computer Skills
– Analytical Skills
– Technical Skills Specific to Your Degree

Soft Skills Are Just
As Important
–Adaptability
–Teamwork
–Initiative
–Innovation
–Integrity

Interview Follow-Up
– Common Interview Mistakes
• Coming Unprepared
• Not Smiling or Showing Enthusiasm
• Negativity
– The Thank You Note
– References

Perceptions and Appearance

• “Perception is reality to those
perceiving it”
• What does this mean?
• Is this true?

Tattoos
• Are they all bad?
• Survey shows that 1/3 of all men and
women with tattoos regretted the tattoo
they have.
• THINK BEFORE YOU INK!
– Location, size, image.

Tattoos and the workplace
• What can your workplace allow and not
allow?
• Is it fair?
• How are you perceived?

Piercings and the workplace
• What is a subtle piercing?
• Should a piercing be visible at all?
• Safety issues in veterinary medicine.
• Consider your employer.

Hair Too???
• What is considered “natural”?
• Why do employers care?
• Most employers require hair to be
“conservative”.

Dress Codes
• Employer can establish dress code as a
condition of employment.
• What about cultural and religious dress in
workplace?
– Religious symbols.
– Religious beliefs.
– Who is ultimately right??
• Freedom of speech vs. Freedom of Religion

Appearance Related to
Interview
 Women's Interview Attire
 Solid color, conservative suit
 Coordinated blouse
 Moderate shoes
 Limited jewelry
 Neat, professional hairstyle
 Tan or light hosiery
 Sparse make-up & perfume
 Manicured nails
 Portfolio or briefcase

 Men's Interview Attire
 Solid color, conservative suit
 White long sleeve shirt
 Conservative tie
 Dark socks, professional shoes
 Very limited jewelry
 Neat, professional hairstyle
 Go easy on the aftershave
 Neatly trimmed nails
 Portfolio or briefcase

What do you think?

So think again
• “Perception is reality to those perceiving
it”

Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviewing

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (11)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (17)

Similar to Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviewing

Similar to Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviewing (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviewing