1. Cover Letter and Resume Writing

2. During today’s workshop you will… 1. Analyze position description to identify content for cover letter/resume 2. Select appropriate category headings for your resume 3. Identify relevant content and articulate it on your resume 4. Leave with draft or revised resume

3. Cover Letter vs. Resume

4. Cover Letter An introduction Communicates interest Directs readers attention to highlights of resume Asks for an interview Writing sample Resume Markets your relevant qualifications Secures an interview Purpose

5. Cover letter contents Paragraph 1: Why you are writing? Mention referral source in the first sentence. Paragraph 2: Why should they consider you? This hooks the reader. Connect your skills and experience to the job description. Paragraph 3: Why do you want to work for them? What attracts you to the organization? How does the organization/job match up with your values and qualifications. Incorporate your research. Paragraph 4: The close. Be assertive. “I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person in order to discuss….

6. Cover letter tips Individualize each cover letter Target letter to a specific job or employer Be positive, natural, direct and interesting Avoid being repetitious of resume Be brief (concise) PROOFREAD!

7. Paragraph format

8. Preparation Develop a clear career goal and clarify the objective of your documents Research industry, specific jobs or graduate programs and learn what skills and knowledge are valued Identify your qualifications, interests and skills relevant to a position or program of interest

9. Requirements/Qualifications Self-starter Relationship building or customer service Your Relevant Experience Led…. Served…. Create a T chart

10. Wordle

11. Most utilized format Chronological Reverse chronological order Familiar to employers Effective for new graduates Focus on job titles work history Combination or Related Experience Two or more experience sections, Relevant and Additional Showcases the experiences that are most relevant Additional format options Functional Highlights transferable skills in clusters Effective for career changers and those with varied experiences Focuses on groups of functional skills and related experience Federal Resume styles

12. Chronological

13. Combination

14. Functional

15. Federal Federal Resume Longer than traditional resume and includes additional information such as: Veteran/Federal civilian status Security clearance Citizenship Job announcement information Highest civilian grade held Resources for drafting your Federal Resume Ten Steps To A Federal Job by Kathryn Troutman (Available in Career Library) Moving On Guide USA Jobs Resume Builder

16. Curriculum Vita (CV) CV At least 2 pages (commonly 3-8 pages) Lean towards completeness rather than brevity Special focus on: Teaching and Research Experience Publications and Presentations Awards and Honors Primarily used for academic, scientific, fellowship, grant or research positions Includes information about where credentials were earned (i.e. names of professors, institutions, etc.)

17. Resume 101 Hiring Manager Complaints Not tailoring resume Not highlighting clubs/organizations, class projects, volunteer experiences Grammatical errors Bullets that are too vague Inappropriate email addresses Generic, self focused objective statements

18. Resume content Contact Information Education Objective Statement/Summary of Qualifications Experience Additional Information Relevant Coursework/ Projects Presentations Honors Technical Skills Professional Associations Language

19. Contact information Georgia Mason cheercutie98@yahoo.com (703)-555-5555 Georgia Mason 111 University Drive ▪ Fairfax VA 22030 ▪ 703-993-1111 ▪ gmason@gmu.edu

20. Contact information Name – Put in bold to make your name stand out Full address – Current and/or permanent, if applicable Phone number – Include number at which you can be reached during day/evening and a professional voicemail Email – Include a professional username Example: Georgia Mason 111 University Drive ▪ Fairfax VA 22030 ▪ 703-993-1111 ▪ gmason@gmu.edu

21. Objective statement OBJECTIVE: To obtain a challenging position where my education, skills and experiences can be highly utilized and later be applicable for growth and possible advancement. OBJECTIVE: An internship in a non-profit agency with special interest in working with issues of children and families in need.

22. Objective Statement/Highlights Clear, concise, and tailored to position of interest Focus on what you are seeking and what skills you will contribute, not what you expect to gain from the position May include specific title of the position, type of organization/industry, special interest, and skills you offer Example: OBJECTIVE: An internship in a non-profit agency with special interest in working with issues of children and families in need.

23. Education GMU 2009- Present Biology Major Spanish Minor Robinson High School 2005-2009 Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor in Spanish May 2014 George Mason University, Fairfax, VA GPA: 3.43 Associate in Science in General Studies August 2011 Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, VA GPA : 3.72

24. Education List in reverse chronological order Include name of degree(s), major & minor, institution, location, city and state, month & year of graduation Spell out degrees or use proper abbreviations (Bachelor of Science, or B.S.) Should include GPA, if 3.0 or higher; relevant courses; honors/awards; study abroad; training/certification High School is usually omitted from the resume after first or second year of college Example: EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor Spanish, May 2014 George Mason University. Fairfax, VA GPA if 3.12 Associate in Science in General Studies, August 2011 Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, VA GPA 3.56

25. Experience Assistant Mangager Sweetwater Tavern Supervise staff Handle cash Oversee operations Assistant Manager, February 2010 – Present Sweetwater Tavern, Fairfax, VA Maintain health and safety standards of contemporary fine dining restaurant (98% rating) Schedule and supervise 17 wait staff Commended by supervisors for customer service skills in fast-paced environment, serving 250 customers per shift

26. Experience Include job title, name of organization, location (city and state) and employment dates Statements describing your accomplishments Statements are concise, descriptive, and include numbers to show results if possible Use action verbs to begin statements (see Moving On for a list of action verbs) Example: EXPERIENCE Assistant Manager, February 2010 – Present Sweetwater Tavern, Fairfax, VA Maintained health and safety standards of contemporary fine dining restaurant (98% rating) Scheduled and supervised 17 wait staff Commended by supervisors for customer service skills in fast-paced environment, serving 250 customers per shift

27. Questions to ask yourself 1. What did I do? 2. Why did I do it? 3. How did I do it? 4. How was the organization improved as a result of what I did? What was the impact?

28. Before Led new marketing campaign for sorority After Created and led month- long social media campaign to promote recruitment event which attracted 125 attendees and resulted in 20% growth in new membership Self-starter example

29. Before Provided customer service at Verizon After Handled customer inquiries, complaints, and billing questions Accommodated requests when possible to diffuse situations, which resulted in retention of a $1,500 account Awarded Employee of the Month for going above call of duty Customer service example

30. Action verbs

31. Relevant coursework/projects Include coursework and/or projects that are related to your field(s) of interest Incorporate technical/specialized knowledge that you utilized in the class Don’t just list course projects, explain relevant accomplishments

32. Additional content areas SKILLS Technical skills for example Microsoft Office Suite, e.g., beginner, intermediate, advanced Language proficiency level, e.g., conversational, bilingual, fluent Skills relevant to position of interest PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP(S) American Marketing Association (student member), Dates Golden Key Honor Society, spring 2012 – present LEADERSHIP/ACTIVITIES Role/title, organization, dates and major accomplishments Student organizations, volunteer activities, and community service may all apply

33. For international students Describe foreign companies and schools One of the top five universities in China A $30 million consulting firm Include language skills Bilingual (Farsi/English); Conversational French Emphasize English language skills Translated written and spoken English for two years Check for grammar, spelling & sentence structure Do not include personal data Visa/employment status, age, race, religion

34. Formatting PAGE#: One page recommended, two pages max FONT: Times New Roman, Garamond, or Arial – 11pt MARGINS: 3/4” to 1” Margins PROOFREAD: No spelling errors or typos BOLDING: Use bold and capitalization to highlight DON’T OVERBOLD!!!!!!!!!! PLACEMENT: Be consistent! (e.g. titles, dates)

35. During today’s workshop did you… 1. Analyze position description to identify content for cover letter/resume 2. Select appropriate category headings for your resume 3. Identify relevant content and articulate it on your resume 4. Leave with draft or revised resume

36. Additional resources Moving On Guide Moving On careers.gmu.edu Books in UCS, SUB 1 Room 3400 Resource Room Sample Resumes by Industry Resume/Cover Letter reviews at UCS

37. University Career Services SUB 1, Rm. 3400 (703) 993-2370 http://careers.gmu.edu Call to make an appointment OR Come during daily Walk In Hours (check web site for days and times) School of Management Career Services Enterprise Hall, Rm. 008 (703) 993-1880 http://www.som.gmu.edu/c areer http://www.som.gmu.edu/c areer Walk-In Hours for SOM Career Services Monday & Friday 2 - 4pm Thursday– 10am to noon Visit us

38. Questions?