Employment Orientation UNIT 5

Resumes & Cover Letters 1

Resumes and Cover Letters I.

Resume and Cover Letter Overview ……….pg 3-4 The Resume……………………………………………. pg 3 The Cover Letter………………………………………. pg 3 What is a Resume or CV?................................................pg 4 The Parts of a Resume………………………………… pg 4 Sample Resumes 1-7…………………………………...pg 5-12

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Action verbs ………………………………..pg 13-15

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Resumes Worksheet………………………..pg 16-18

IV. What is a Cover Letter?..................................pg 19 Cover Letter Sample 1-2………………………………..pg 20-21

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Resume and Cover Letter Overview To apply for a job in the United States, you usually complete an application. Sometimes you send 1) a typed resume and 2) a cover letter. letter The resume explains your education and previous work experiences on one page. page The cover letter introduces you and explains why you want the job and why you should be hired.

It is very important that you represent yourself professionally on paper. For example, if you are applying for a secretary job, your resume and cover letter gives you the opportunity to show the employer that you can use a computer well. You want the words on the paper to be spelled correctly and clearly typed.

The Resume Your resume should include: 1. Personal information – name, phone number, address, email 2. Education – high school, university, professional schools 3. Work experience – include all relevant jobs with name, location, position, duties, and year(s) employed 4. Special skills and training – languages, computer skills, honor, special training

The Cover Letter Your cover letter will have 4 main ideas: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Opening – the reason you are writing Positive characteristics – the reason the employer should give you an interview Motivation – the reasons you want to work for this employer Closing

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What is a Resume or CV? CV? To apply for jobs in the United States, you almost always need a resume or a CV. A resume is a selling tool that lists your work experience and skills in chronological order so an employer can quickly see why you should be hired. It is your chance to show the employer that you have the qualifications for the job. Some tips: •

Keep several versions of your resume, depending on the different jobs you apply for.

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List your work experience and education in chronological order. This means from most recent to oldest.

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Use easy to read font. Do not use fancy fonts like THIS, THIS THIS, THIS or this.

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Keep the resume 1 to 2 pages depending on your experiences. Most people keep a 1 page resume.

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Mention only the accomplishments or duties that are relevant to the position you are applying for.

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Have someone look over your resume for grammatical errors.

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Do not have any gaps in your work history. Many employers are suspicious of gaps. If you do have gaps, be prepared to tell the employer why. Ex.) You were moving out of country or you were attending school.

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Never lie on your resume! resume Be able to explain everything that is on the resume.

The Parts of a Resume 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Your contact information Career objective Education (recent graduates can include courses take) Work experience Special skills (languages, computer, certifications) Volunteer experience (optional) Affiliations (optional) Publications (optional for research/academics/writers)

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SAMPLE RESUME YOUR NAME 1234Somewhere Place, Apt 333 Washington, DC 11111 555-555-5555 cell OBJECTIVE I have extensive experience in cleaning in the public sector, office buildings and other public areas, and look to use my skills and experience to continue this occupation. EDUCATION Bachelors Degree (Coursework), Accounting Antonio Guiteras High School, Cuba

1987-1988

High School Diploma Antonio Guiteras High School, Cuba

1984-1987

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Salesperson, Cultural Promoter, Manager 1999-2009 Cuba International Airport, Havana, Cuba • Managed all store employees. • Performed all sales and financial transactions. • Provided Cultural information for travelers visiting Cuba. • Promoted Cuban Cultural products to travelers from Government assignment. • Administered all accounting transactions and managed accounts. • Worked in a team and implement problem solving.

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION Photography Appreciation Certification House of the Americas, Cuba Marketing Certification House of the Americas, Cuba Arts Appreciation Certification House of the Americas, Cuba Cultural Promotion Certification House of the Americas, Cuba English Certification Abraham Lincoln School, Cuba Computer Certification Exterior Relation Ministry, Cuba

2008 2006 2000 1999 1991-1993 1991

ADDITIONAL SKILLS • • •

Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Internet Search Engines Job Readiness Training: Catholic Charities DC, Washington DC, 2010 Bilingual: Spanish and English

* References supplied upon request

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Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Interesting Communication/People Skills Addressed Advertised Arbitrated Arranged Articulated Authored Clarified Collaborated Communicated Composed Condensed Conferred Consulted Contacted Conveyed Convinced Corresponded Debated Defined Developed Directed Discussed Drafted Edited Elicited Enlisted Explained Expressed Formulated Furnished Incorporated Influenced Interacted Interpreted Interviewed Involved Joined Judged Lectured Listened Marketed

Mediated Moderated Negotiated Observed Outlined Participated Persuaded Presented Promoted Proposed Publicized Reconciled Recruited Referred Reinforced Reported Resolved Responded Solicited Specified Spoke Suggested Summarized Synthesized Translated Wrote Creative Skills Acted Adapted Began Combined Composed Conceptualized Condensed Created Customized Designed Developed Directed Displayed Drew Entertained

Established Fashioned Formulated Founded Illustrated Initiated Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Modeled

Modified Originated Performed Photographed Planned Revised Revitalized Shaped Solved Data/Financial Skills Administered Adjusted Allocated Analyzed Appraised Assessed Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Computed Conserved Corrected Determined Developed Estimated Forecasted Managed Marketed

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Measured Netted Planned Prepared Programmed

Action Verbs to Make Your Resume More Interesting Qualified Reconciled Reduced Researched Retrieved Helping Skills Adapted Advocated Aided Answered Arranged Assessed Assisted Clarified Coached Collaborated Contributed Cooperated Counseled Demonstrated Diagnosed Educated Encouraged Ensured Expedited Facilitated Familiarized Furthered Guided Helped Insured Intervened Motivated

Prevented Provided Referred Rehabilitated Represented Resolved Simplified Supplied Supported Volunteered

Management/Leadership Skills Administered Analyzed Appointed Approved Assigned Attained Authorized Chaired Considered Consolidated Contracted Controlled Converted Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Eliminated Emphasized Enforced Enhanced Established Executed Generated Handled Headed Hired Hosted Improved Incorporated Increased

Initiated Inspected Instituted Led Managed Merged Motivated Navigated Organized Originated Overhauled Oversaw Planned Presided Prioritized Produced Recommended Reorganized Replaced Restored Reviewed Scheduled Secured Selected Streamlined Strengthened Supervised

Organizational Skills Approved Arranged Catalogued Categorized Charted Classified Coded Collected Compiled Corrected Corresponded Distributed Executed Filed Generated Incorporated Inspected

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Logged Maintained Monitored Obtained Operated Ordered Organized Prepared Processed Provided Purchased Recorded Registered Reserved Responded Reviewed Routed Scheduled Screened Submitted Supplied Standardized Systematized Updated Validated Verified Research Skills Analyzed Clarified Collected Compared Conducted Critiqued Detected Determined Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Experimented Explored Extracted

Formulated Gathered Inspected Interviewed Invented Investigated Located Measured Organized Researched Reviewed Searched Solved Summarized Surveyed Systematized Tested Teaching Skills Adapted Advised Clarified Coached Communicated Conducted Coordinated Critiqued Developed Enabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Focused Guided Individualized Informed Instilled Instructed Motivated Persuaded Simulated Stimulated

Taught Tested Trained Transmitted Tutored Technical Skills Adapted Applied Assembled Built Calculated Computed Conserved Constructed Converted Debugged Designed Determined Developed Engineered Fabricated Fortified Installed Maintained Operated Overhauled Printed Programmed Rectified Regulated Remodeled Repaired Replaced Restored Solved Specialized Standardized Studied Upgraded Utilized

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Resume Worksheet Please complete this form before making an appointment to see your Job Developer. Be as open and honest about your skills and interests. This will help you and your Job Developer determine which jobs are best suited for you.

Full Name ___________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ Phone Number ___________________ Email ___________________________________________

JOB OBJECTIVE Please tell us what jobs you are willing to accept. Keep in mind that you may not get the job in your field of study due to the changing job market. Be open to accepting entry level jobs that may not fit your long term career goals. Your #1 goal is to obtain a stable job to ensure self sufficiency.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ______ SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS List any attributes you possess that will make an employer want to hire you. For example, what language(s) do you speak, what computer skills do you possess, what kind of machinery can you use?

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ________ PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE List your place of employment, starting with the most recent. Use the back side of paper if needed. 1. Job Title _______________________ Employer Name ________________________ City _____________ Start Month_______ /Year _______ End Month_______ /Year _______

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Explain or list your responsibilities. Be as detailed and specific as possible:

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 2. Job Title _______________________ Employer Name ________________________ City _____________ Start Month_______ /Year _______ End Month_______ /Year _______ Explain or list your responsibilities. Be as detailed and specific as possible:

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 3. Job Title _______________________ Employer Name ________________________ City _____________ Start Month_______ /Year _______ End Month_______ /Year _______ Explain or list your responsibilities. Be as detailed and specific as possible:

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 4. Job Title _______________________ Employer Name ________________________ City _____________ Start Month_______ /Year _______ End Month_______ /Year _______

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Explain or list your responsibilities. Be as detailed and specific as possible:

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ____________ EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION School, Country ___________________________ Degree Earned ________________ Date Awarded______ School, Country ___________________________ Degree Earned ________________ Date Awarded______ Did you receive any honors while in school? Did you receive a certification or completed training courses? Even if these courses are unrelated to your career goals, please list it below. The more information you give us, the better we can assess your skills.

_________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ ______

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What is a Cover Letter? To apply for jobs in the United States, you not only complete an application and submit a resume, but sometimes you will be asked to write a cover letter. A cover letter is a short letter of introduction explaining what position you want and why you should be hired.

Certain companies will ask for cover letters in addition to the resume. This is your chance to represent yourself professionally on paper and to show them your writing skills and personality. Customize your cover letter to each employer and mention only the most important skills. You only have one page to catch the employer’s attention. Some tips: • Keep the cover letter to one page • Use easy to read font. Do not use fancy fonts like THIS, THIS THIS, THIS or this. • Always try to include a cover letter, even if the job does not ask for one. • Mention only the accomplishments or duties that are relevant to the position you are applying for. • Each cover letter should be tailored to fit each employer. Do not use a generic cover letter to apply for jobs. • Read your cover letter many times to ensure that there are no grammatical errors. Have someone else review your cover letter. Small mistakes will turn off potential employers.

The Parts Parts of a Cover Letter 1. Salutation. Try to find the actual name of the Hiring Manager. If you are unable to find the actual name use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “To Whom It May Concern” 2. Paragraph 1: The Opening. Mention the position you are applying for and how you heard about the opening. Also mention your motivation for applying to this job. 3. Paragraph 2-3: The Selling Point. Discuss your past experiences, education, or courses taken that are relevant to the position and why you should be hired. 4. Paragraph 4: The Closing. Leave your contact information and let the employer know that he/she can contact you immediately.

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SAMPLE COVER LETTERS

Dear Hiring Manager: I am responding to the advertisement for a Tutoring Position posted on craigslist on 09/12/10. I am a skilled educator by qualification and love to help students realize their dream. As a Physics and Mathematics teacher in my home country I have challenged my students to excel in the subjects and love to learn. I have instructed students ranging from 7th grade up to college preparatory courses in Ethiopia and have also served as a teaching assistant. I offered assisting instruction and tutoring for freshman and sophomore classes at University of Witwatersrand in South Africa while I was a PhD student. I would be glad to join your team of tutors and help students excel in science and mathematics, my fields of study and expertise. I will be available to start immediately and have a very flexible schedule. I can be reached anytime at 202.555.555. Look forward to hearing from you! With Regards, Jennie Murray

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