1. Creating Resumes and Cover Letters
Written by John Wilkinson
To accompany Georgia Lesson and Georgia Lesson
Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office
May 2007

2. What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is what you mail along with your resume
A letter of application should be mailed with an application for a job to tell more about yourself.
Many people complete a combination cover letter and letter of application.

3. Goals of a good cover letter
Introduce yourself
Get you noticed
Convey special info
Highlight accomplishments
GET EMPLOYERS, AWARD JUDGES AND SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEES TO READ YOUR RESUME

4. Helpful Hints in Cover Letter Writing:
Be assertive – the first 20 words ar the most important
Value to employer – tell your story in relation to how you can be of value to the employer
Use simple and direct language and grammar
Let your letter reflect your individuality
Send it to someone by name
Get it right – spell recipient’s name right
Be friendly, not pushy
Target your letter – tell your reasons for sending the letter (that you want an interview).

5. Goals of a good resume Convey information Show who you are
Distinguish yourself
Look good!

6. Writing a Combination Cover Letter and Letter of Application
First paragraph – reason for writing
Second paragraph – point out qualifications
Third paragraph – call attention to resume
Fourth paragraph – ask for appointment

7. Cover Letter and Resume-your ticket to riches and fame
Who are you?
What are you looking for?
What kind of job/college do you want?
Where are you going?
Be yourself!
What is your message?
What have you done?
Where did you do it?
What can you do?
What’s the product?
How to sell it?

8. BASIC PARTS OF A BUSINESS LETTER:
THE WRITER’S ADDRESS AND DATE LETTER WAS WRITTEN
THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PERSON WHOM THE LETTER IS BEING SENT
THE SALUTATION (DEAR ____)
THE BODY OF THE LETTER
COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE AND SIGNATURE OF THE SENDER
OTHER ADDITIONS - REFERENCE INITIALS, ENCLOSURE NOTATIONS, COPY, AND POSTSCRIPT

9. Your street address
Your town, state, zip code
Telephone number
Date
Manager/Personnel Director (including Mr./Mrs./Ms.)
Name of company
Company address
Town, State, Zip code
Greeting:
Paragraph 1 - state the purpose of the letter and request the employer’s consideration.
Paragraph 2 - contain a brief summary of your personal data and work experience.
Paragraph 3 – call attention to resume
Paragraph 3 - explain your interest in the company and in arranging an interview. Ask for an appointment
Sincerely,
Your signature
Your name

10. EFFECTIVE LETTERS SHOULD PERFORM TWO BASIC FUNCTIONS:
CARRY A MESSAGE
PROJECT THE DESIRED IMAGE OF THE WRITER OR BUSINESS
TWO TYPES OF BUSINESS LETTERS INCLUDE:
BLOCK STYLE - ALL LINES STARTS ON LEFT SIDE OF MARGIN, NO INDENTATIONS
MODIFIED BLOCK STYLE - USES INDENTATIONS, EACH PARAGRAPH IS INDENTED AS WELL AS BEGINNING INFORMATION AND CLOSE

11. TIPS ON LETTER WRITING:
USE GOOD GRAMMAR
USE CORRECT SPELLING
DO NOT USE SLANG
BE BRIEF, BUT COVER THE SUBJECT
STICK TO THE POINT OF THE LETTER
MAKE SURE LETTER IS LEGIBLE
PROOFREAD BEFORE SENDING LETTER
ASK FOR HELP, IF NEEDED
KEEP THE LETTER BRIEF, DISCUSSING THE PURPOSE
STRIVE FOR NEATNESS (PERSONALITY)
ALWAYS INCLUDE A TITLE OF RESPECT (DR., MR., MRS., ETC.)
BE SURE TO INCLUDE A RETURN ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE

12. Writing a Resume Step one: Brainstorm Step two: Organize
Write a list of all of your achievements, activities, etc.
Step two: Organize
Categorize your achievements
Place in Experience, Education and Others
Include School related honors and activities under education: Publications, scholarships, offices and organizations

13. Writing a Resume (cont.)
Step Three: Produce
Format your resume to highlight the big stuff
Use bold or underlines to offset your name, schools and places of employment
Use bulleted points over narrative
Use Italics to make something special stand out
Make the resume appealing
Clutter makes it hard to read and hard to pick out the good stuff

14. Resume
Personal Information
Age: 18 years Pete Farmer
Height: 5 feet 11 inches Route 2, Box Weight: 190 pounds Farmtown, GA Health: Excellent
Phone: (404)
Job Objectives
I wish to secure a position as mechanic of farm equipment, which, through experience and training, will lead me to a position in management of a farm equipment service shop.
Education
High School: Farmtown Valley High School – will graduate in ____ (year)
Major: Vocational Agriculture and Farm Mechanics
Technical Skills: Repair and service of farm equipment
Leadership Activities: FFA President, Football Team Captain
Work Experience
Big Truck Repair Shop, Farmtown, GA – Student Worker – January 2005 – December 2007
John Farmer’s farm (father) since childhood, farmhand
References

15. General Advice for Cover Letters and Resumes
Try not to begin paragraphs with “I”
Use the standard business letter format
Be brief
Make sure it conveys the connection
Resumes
Show off
Reflect useful information
Be succinct
Make it personal
Don’t ever, ever lie