1. Cover Letters What are they?
Personalized business letter (about 3 paragraphs), highlighting
an individual’s skills, qualifications, and experience that make
them an ideal applicant for a job
B&PF p.45
Goal: Get an interview
© Family Economics & Financial Education Institute at The University of Arizona

2. Essential Questions Why are cover letters and resumes so important?
How do you maximize the effectiveness of your cover letter
and resumes?
© Family Economics & Financial Education Institute at The University of Arizona

3. What are the parts?
Your contact info: (name, mailing address, phone, &
2. Their contact info: (name, title, company, mailing address)
3. Greeting: Dear Mr./Ms. ________:
4. Introductory Paragraph: Tell “why” you are writing (2-3 sent.)
- Express your interest in a position
- Indicate “why” you are the best candidate for the position
© Family Economics & Financial Education Institute at The University of Arizona

4. What are the parts?
5. The Body: (Explain why you are interested in working for them,
and how you would benefit the company)
- Highlight important qualifications that directly relate to job
- Refer to resume
6. Closing: Thank employer for their time & ask for an interview
- Type & sign your name
- Be polite in asking for an interview and provide a specific
time you will call or contact
Cover Letter Template
© Family Economics & Financial Education Institute at The University of Arizona

5. Introduction Body I believe that my knowledge
of public relations and my
proven communication and
leadership skills make me a
strong candidate for the
position of Media Relations
Coordinator that was posted
by the Delta Airlines Job
Opportunities Program.
As a banking representative at Bank One, I provided quality customer service while promoting the sale of products to customers. I also handled upwards of $20,000 a day and was responsible for balancing the bank’s ATM machine.
Example: The facilitator might point out that in the above example the applicant specifically names the position for which they are applying and where they learned of that position. They also start off by demonstrating what they can do for the company and how their qualifications have prepared them for the job.

6. Concluding Your Letter
I would welcome the
opportunity to discuss
these and other
qualifications with you. If
you are interested, please
contact me at (317) 555-
0118 any morning before
11:00 a.m., or feel free to
leave a message.
Conclude by asking for a personal interview.
Be flexible regarding a date and time for the interview.
Be specific about how the interviewer should contact you.
Include a thank you.
Key Concept: The facilitator should stress the importance of politely asking for an interview in the conclusion of the letter. Writers should not assume that because they are writing a cover letter it is obvious and doesn’t need saying that they want an interview. Writers should also give specific instructions on how to be contacted. For those in transition, it is a good idea to include a phone number they will always have access to or where someone will always know how to reach them.

7. Cover Letter Tips No spelling or grammar errors (PROOFREAD)
Do your homework
Quantify data
Show your experience as well as writing ability
Should be typed with size 10 or 12 basic font (nothing to fancy)
Address to a specific individual
Try to avoid using too many “I”, “me”, & “mine”s
Make sure to sign in blue or black pen
½ to ¾ of a page is plenty
Keep formal, short, and on topic
Don’t summarize your resume
Use active language (organized, initiated, managed, created)
© Family Economics & Financial Education Institute at The University of Arizona

8. What is a resume?
A resume is a personal summary of your professional history and qualifications. It includes information about your career goals, education, work experience, activities, honors, and any special skills you might have.
Key Concept: The facilitator should stress that the resume is highly personalized. There is no one correct way to organize a resume, and writers should never simply copy a resume format. Job applicants should think about what makes them qualified for the position they are seeking, and they should stress these qualifications throughout.
Purdue University Writing Lab

9. What are the parts of a resume?
Heading: (identifying info: name, address, phone, )
Objective: Optional (describe the position you are seeking)
Education: (especially for new graduates)
Work-experience: (relative to the job you are seeking)
Activities: (show something about you as an individual/worker)
Honors: (distinguish or make you stand out)
Special Skills: (that directly apply to the desired position)
References availability
Resume Template
(click here)

10. Identifying Information
Put your name, permanent and campus addresses, permanent and campus phone numbers, and address prominently at the top of your resume.
Avoid using a nickname to identify yourself.
Consider including your URL address or fax number if you have one.
KIMBERLY ANN HURST
1305 Palmer Dr. #1276
West Lafayette, IN
(765)
Key Concept: It is very important that employers be able to reach the applicant at the address(es) and phone number(s) listed in the heading. If applicants are going through a time of transition and will be moving, they should make it clear on the resume where they will be on any given day. During transitional times, it is a good idea to include a permanent address where someone will always know the applicant’s whereabouts and can locate them.
Purdue University Writing Lab

11. Objective Statement
1-3 sentence summary of expertise and career interest.
Relate existing skills directly to the job you are seeking.
Demonstrate what you can do for the company
Avoid over generalized statements:
A position allowing me to utilize my knowledge and expertise in different areas.
Avoid statements that focus only on what a company can do for you:
A position where I gain experience in working on biological problems.
Make the statement as specific as possible:
A position which allows me to apply my background in engineering and high performance computing to biological problems.
Key Concept: An objective statement should basically include what the writer wants to get out of his or her job, while also suggesting what the writer can do for the company. It tells the employer concisely and quickly what the applicant’s goal is in applying for a position.
Rationale: Objective statements are not required, but in general it is a good idea to include one. Defining a specific goal can help applicants target jobs that are closely related to that goal, and it can help employers determine right away whether the applicant’s experience and goal match up with the position the employer is trying to fill. Writers should customize the objective statement for the position and company to which they are applying. Writers can customize their objective statement based on their preliminary research of targeted companies and positions (slide 5). Doing so guarantees that the statement will match up with the company’s expectations.
Click mouse to reveal each item in the list.
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12. Education
Important section for recent college graduates or students seeking internships or summer jobs.
Beg. with the highest level of educational achievement, include :
- school attended
- degrees earned
- major & minors
- grade point average
- date of program completion
Key Concept: The education section highlights an applicant’s relevant education. This section may be placed before or after the work experience section of the resume, depending on the amount and quality of an applicant’s work experience. Recent college graduates will usually place this section immediately below their objective statement because it is their strongest qualification for a job. Applicants with substantial work experience may include a relatively brief education section.
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13. Education
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN Graduation May 2000
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
GPA: 3.2/4.0
Major GPA: 3.5/4.0
You do not have to include your GPA on the resume, but if it isn’t included, employers may assume that it is lower than it really is.
Always state the grade point scale your school is using.
Key Concept: Writers have several choices in presenting their GPA on the resume. They can leave the GPA off of the resume, although employers may automatically assume that it is lower than it really is. They can include only their “Major GPA,” or their GPA only for those classes required by their major, or they can include their overall GPA, perhaps in combination with the Major GPA.
Some other information applicants might include in the education section of the resume if it is relevant are:
* Their minor as well as the minor GPA
* Academic honors such as the Dean’s List, Summa Cum Laude, etc.
* Emphases or concentrations within the major
* Special projects completed
* Certifications
* Special Training Completed
* Funding
* Relevant Coursework
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14. Relevant Courses List relevant courses that:
Help you stand out from the crowd
Have provided you with specific skills or knowledge
Consider including this information in the education section of the resume.
Spanish (4 semesters)
Computer Science
Business Writing
Business Law
Ethics
Only include courses taken in addition to your major or minor.
Refer to the course by name rather than by number.
Example: A management student, Terry, took the courses listed above in red to supplement his management degree. He would like to work in sales, and listing these classes helps Terry to support his claim that he has strong communication skills.
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15. Employment Experience
Include positions you have held which are related, in some way, to the job you are seeking. These might be both paid and volunteer positions.
Be creative with this section of your resume by describing and emphasizing your experiences in the most relevant way possible.
Key Concept: This section of the resume can go by various names, depending on a writer’s specific experiences and the job for which the writer is tailoring the resume. Some names that writers use are: Work Experience, Employment History, Professional Experience, Qualifying Experience, and Related Experience. Some writers include both volunteer and paid positions in the work experience section; other writers divide these into two sections, such as “Volunteer Experience” and “Employment History.” Writers should customize this section to reflect their strengths and experiences. For more information on customizing and presenting work experiences, see slides which discuss several ways to organize information in the resume.
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16. Employment Experience
Hospitality Intern
(May 1999-August 1999)
Mountain Jacks, Lafayette, IN
Oversaw the planning, production, preparation and prompt delivery of food
Assisted in training and retaining new and experienced employees
Created a positive and healthy atmosphere in the restaurant
Include information such as company name and location, job title, dates, and duties performed.
Make this section easy to read by using spacing and bullets.
Use action phrases to highlight the duties you have performed.
Key Concept: A writer’s descriptions should be easy to scan and should demonstrate the writer’s qualifications. Writers should use action phrases and parallel language to make their descriptions as clear as possible.
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17. Action Phrases
Hospitality Intern
(May 1999-August 1999)
Mountain Jacks, Lafayette, IN
Oversaw the planning, production, preparation and prompt delivery of food
Assisted in training and retaining new and experienced employees
Created a positive and healthy atmosphere in the restaurant
Action phrases will help you avoid being too brief and from understating your qualifications.
Think about your qualifications as a professional would.
Key Concept: Using action phrases helps writers avoid being too brief and from understating their qualifications. Writers should try to look at their qualifications as a professional would and use concrete words to describe their experiences.
Example: Consider the example above. Is it more impressive to say “swept the floor and cleaned tables” or “created a positive and healthy atmosphere in the restaurant?”
Activity: The facilitator might relate several passively written or understated phrases and ask for ways to make the phrases stronger. Some examples of phrases that need to be rewritten are:
Before: Answered the phone and related messages
After: Took orders and verified their correctness with customers
Before: Planned activities
After: Planned arts and crafts activities for preschool aged children
Before: Made change
After: Handled large sums of money, balanced the cash drawer
Before: Talked to customers
After: Giving quality customer service while promoting the sale of products
Action Words & Examples
(click here)
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18. Specialized Skills Activities and Honors
Include relevant activities and honors that you could discuss with your prospective employer or that have given you valuable experience or skills.
Specialized Skills
Include skills that make you unique, such as computer skills, foreign language skills, or military service.
Be specific in describing your special skills; name computer programs you know, how long you studied a foreign language, or your dates of military service.
Key Concept: It is best if writers limit their discussion of activities and honors to those most recent, most important, or most relevant to the position for which they are applying. This section can easily be customized for specific positions since applicants will not include all their activities and honors but only those that make the resume stronger. This section can help applicants demonstrate their preparedness for the job for which they are applying, and it can help them demonstrate that their work has been recognized as of a high quality by others.
Example: A recent college graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering wants to emphasize the academic honors she received. She includes:
Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
General Motors Tuition Scholarship (4 years)
Dean’s List (4 semesters)
Another recent graduate with a degree in communications is looking for a position in public relations. This graduate wants to emphasize his leadership and organizational skills. Thus, on his resume he includes:
Vice-President, Golden Key National Honor Society
Copy Editor, Purdue University’s student newspaper
Coach, local middle school soccer team
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19. References
In general, do not include the names and addresses of your references on your resume.
It is enough to state that references are available upon request.
Choose professional references rather than character references.
Make sure you let the individual know before using him/her as a reference
Key Concept: Many times job ads will specify whether or not employers want the names and addresses of applicants’ references included on the resume. Applicants should read job ads carefully to determine how to present their references for any given job.
It is a good idea for applicants to compile a separate reference sheet that they can send out along with their resume if references are requested.
Purdue University Writing Lab

20. Reference Sheet Dr. Mary Delinsky Heavilon Hall, Room 226
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
(765)
Dr. Delinsky is my current
academic advisor in the
Creative Writing and
Science Fiction Program.
Include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your references.
Always ask permission before you include any information on your reference sheet.
Consider giving your references a copy of your resume so they will be prepared to talk to employers.
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21. Types of Resumes: * Always start with strongest qualifications
Reverse Chronological: Begins with most recent activity
Functional: Begins with most recent experience
Skills: Begins with most important skills
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22. Resume Tips Proofread Be honest DON’T use “I” statements
(Ex. “I can type 80 words a minute”)
DO use action words
Make the Resume look nice
(balanced and pleasing to the eye)