Resume_CL_Weekly Workshop

Resumes & Cover Letters

Barnard Career Development

212-854-2033

[email protected]

Agenda

• What is a Resume? - Do’s & Don’ts

• Resume Basics

• Resume Sections

• Constructing Bullet Points

• What is a Cover Letter?

• Cover Letter Basics

• Cover Letter Sections

• Constructing Body Paragraphs

• Letter of Inquiry

• Next Steps

What is a resume?

• Tool to present yourself effectively throughout your job search

• A summary of your accomplishments, skills and experiences and how that makes you qualified for the internship or job you are applying to

• Purpose: gets you an interview

ResumeDo’s…

•Make it achievement/accomplishment rather than task focused

• Begin each achievement statement with an active verb: “Handled all client correspondence” or “Analyzed customer interaction for monthly report.”

• Use the active voice with verbs that indicate you're in charge: “Represented firm at international symposium.”

•Edit to include the most relevant and significant elements

•Stick to a basic, clear format that helps the reader glean information quickly and with minimal effort

•Quantify and identify scope where possible - use numbers where appropriate to clearly describe your accomplishments, as in “led a team of nine students”

ResumeDon’ts…

• Try to differentiate yourself with an unconventional format or tactics such as graphics and colored paper, unless you are applying for jobs in arts-related fields.

• Give vague descriptions.

• Include reasons for leaving your jobs, salary information, or references on your resume unless specifically requested

• Make distinctions between full or part time work, or paid or unpaid work.

• Submit the exact same resume to many different jobs.

Resume Basics

Formatting

• Simple & clean

• Font:

• Header: 16-20 pt. (name), 9-10 pt. (contact info)

• Section Titles: 12-14 pt.

• Body: 11-12 pt.

• Margins:

• ½ - 1 inch

• 1 page

• Reverse Chronological Format

• First person tense:

• Present vs. past tense

Components• Sections:

1. Header

2. Summary (optional)

3. Education

4. Professional Experience/Work History

5. Leadership/Community Involvement

6. Skills/Interests

Section 1: Header

Justine Goldberg207 Altschul, New York, NY 10027 | (201) 890-0987 | [email protected]

Justine Goldberg (201) 890-0987 • [email protected]

Current Address: Permanent Address:207 Altschul 89 Cherry Hill Rd.New York, NY 10027 Milwaukee, WI 53211

Your email address must be

professional!

Use both addresses when applying out of state

Only include the one phone number and email address you will be checking for job applications

Justine Goldberg(201) 890-0987 | [email protected]

You can use just your email and phone number to protect yourself from “address prejudice”

Section 2 (optional): Summary

Optional feature at the top of a resume

• Effective place to customize resume to a particular job description

• Includes your most important attributes and what makes you stand out from other candidates; speak in terms of accomplishments-awards

• Highlight number of years of experience, passions and you reputation, recognized-known for

• Can use paragraph style, bullet points, or both

• Particularly helpful if you are changing to a new field, or if you have a diverse work history• Focus on the skills and experiences that are most transferable to

the new job or field

Section 3: EducationEDUCATIONBarnard College, New York, NYBachelor of Arts (BA), May 2011 GPA: 3.3/4.0Major: Film Studies Minor: Economics

EDUCATIONBarnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY May 2011 Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science GPA: 3.6/4.0Honors & Awards: Dean’s List 2007-2008, Student Council Leadership Award

Study Abroad: Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain Jan 2011-May 2011

List relevant, specific and/or specialized coursework

EDUCATIONBarnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science May 2011 Relevant Coursework: International Politics, Persuasive Public Speaking, Business Administration

Only include GPA if above a 3.0

Study abroad can be included here

Section 4: Professional Experience/Work History

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Macy’s, Fashion Buyer, New York, NY, September 2010-Present • Examine, select, order, and purchase the most favorably-priced merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other factors

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Macy’s, New York, NYFashion Buyer, September 2010 - Present• Examine, select, order, and purchase the most favorably-priced merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other factors

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Macy’s New York, NYFashion Buyer May 2010 – Dec 2010• Examine, select, order, and purchase the most favorably-priced merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other factors

Professional experience ≠ paid experience

Section 5: Leadership/Community

Involvement• Same format as experience section

• Highlight transferable skills related to the internship or job posting:

• Communication

• Leadership

• Teamwork

• Organization

• Research and analysis

Section 6: Skills & Interests

SKILLS & INTERESTS

• Computer: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Constant Contact, SPSS, Facebook, Twitter• Language: Basic Mandarin, fluent French• Interests: Southern Italian cooking, hip hop choreography, marathon running

• Computer: Include general information systems skills as well as specific software or programs that benefit the position. Include Social Media for marketing and analytical purposes or if it’s in the job description

• Language: Include proficiency• Interests (optional): Focus on unique & specific,

include 2-4

Constructing Bullet Points

• Refer to the job description

• Start with an active verb

• Numerically measure what you accomplished (if applicable)

• Provide a baseline for comparison (if applicable)

• Detail what you did to achieve your goal

• Explaining how you did each task adds credibility and gives insight into your strengths

Formula for making your accomplishments stand out: Accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume

If you were a leader of your sorority:

• Managed sorority budget

• Managed $31,000 Spring 2014 budget and invested idle funds in appropriate high-yielding capital notes

• Managed $31,000 Spring 2014 budget and invested $10,000 in idle funds in appropriate high-yielding capital notes returning 5% over the year

If you participated in a leadership program:

• Member of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)

• Selected as one of 230 for this 18-month professional development program for high-achieving diverse talent

• Selected as one of 230 participants nationwide for this 18-month professional development program for high-achieving diverse talent based on leadership potential, ability to contribute to this MLT cohort, and academic success

Constructing Bullet Points cont.For example…

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume

Finance or consulting:

• Responsible for negotiating service contracts with XYZ

• Negotiated 30% ($500k) reduction in costs with XYZ to perform post-delivery support

• Negotiated 30% ($500k) reduction in costs with XYZ to perform post-delivery support by designing and using results from an online auction of multiple vendors

Sales:

• Achieved annual business plan commitments for volumes, model mix, wholesale revenue, selling expenses and brand

• As a team member, contributed to 21% increase in advertiser spend by achieving 158% of target number of customer contacts (80 contacts per week)and 192% of target interaction depth (20 minutes per customer)

Candidate with skill-based resume:

• Skills: Excellent customer service skills. Friendly and positive attitude

• Skills: Excellent customer service skills and positive attitude as demonstrated by receiving employee of the month in four consecutive months in 2014

Constructing Bullet Points cont.For example…

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume

What is a cover letter?

• Gives context to your resume

• Avenue to communicate your personal brand

• Sets you apart as a candidate

• Further highlights your skills & experience – as they relate to the position

• Demonstrates your passion & interest in the position

Cover Letter BasicsFormatting

• In same font as resume including your same header

• Addressed to a specific person if possible

• No longer than one-page

• Typically 3-5 paragraphs

• Give each paragraph a focus/theme

• Font: 11 – 12 pt

• Margins: ½ - 1 inch

Components• Know yourself

(skills/strengths, values, goals) and know the company (mission, skills needs, responsibilities)

• Keep it authentic and personal, but professional

• Use specific examples from your past experience to describe what your skills will look like when contributed

• Refer to the job description

Section 1: HeaderJustine Goldberg

207 Altschul, New York, NY 10027 | (201) 890-0987 | [email protected]

Organization NameC/o Contact Name (if available)Organization AddressCity, State, Zip

February 21, 2015

Dear Ms., Mr., Dr. _______:Dear Hiring Manager:

•Use Mr. or Ms. and last name

•Investigate/Call for a name

•If unable to get a name, use title - Dear Hiring Manager

Section 2: Opening Paragraph

• Include:• Position you’re applying for – Why you are writing and where

you heard about the opening (indeed.com, NACE, event, referral, etc.)

• If you were referred to the position from a specific person, ask permission to use their name

• Why you are interested in that position and/or the organization

• Don’t say that the opportunity will help you develop your skills or career. It’s about what you can contribute to their organization.

• State resume is enclosed

• Most successful letters:• Are authentic

• Demonstrate depth of research on company

Section 3: Supporting Paragraphs/Main Body

1 – 3 paragraphs: One paragraph about education, class projects, lab experience and internships

One paragraph about professional experiences, community involvement, etc.

• Focus on qualifications, skills and experiences the company wants/needs

• Use concrete examples• Describe what you can do

for the organization• Demonstrate what you

know about the company/organization/field

• Avoid passive language• “I think”• “I believe”• “I hope to…”

Do: Don’t:• Restate your resume

• Use examples not on your resume

• Copy and paste job description

• Be afraid to exude confidence!

Section 4: Closing Paragraph

• Mention that you would like to further discuss qualifications in an interview

• Give specific date you will call to request an interview or meeting (optional)

• Phone number/email and best contact method to reach you

• Statement of appreciation- Thank reader for time and consideration

• Including salary requirements if asked for in job description:• “As requested in your job posting, my salary requirements include a range

from $35,000-$45,000 with flexibility depending on position responsibilities and company guidelines.”

I look forward to meeting with you in an interview to further discuss my qualifications. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or (555) 555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Constructing Body Paragraphs: Education

If the job posting is for aParks Management Intern and the description asks for:

• Degree seeking student in environmental science or related discipline

• Skilled in use of GIS and Python coding• Experience with NYC mapping

Include in your paragraph:•I am a sophomore at Barnard College, majoring in Environmental Science. I have taken classes in climate, geology, ecology, environmental policy, and the Python coding language. In preparation for the Park Management/GIS Intern position, I also took a course in the Fall 2014 semester learning the fundamentals of GIS, working with New York City data, spatially mapping the information in a variety of contexts, and writing reports of the findings.

Constructing Body Paragraphs: Experience

If the job posting is for a Parks Management Intern and the description asks for:

• Advocacy for environmental sustainability

• Team work, collaborationInclude in your paragraph:• Outside the classroom, I am a member of the Sustainable Initiatives

Consulting Board, a student government subcommittee dedicated to implementing sustainable practices on campus. This position teaches me effective ways of reaching out to the public and makes me an active team contributor. I am currently implementing a mug share program that will give every Barnard student a reusable mug in the Fall 2015 semester in order to encourage sustainable practices and build a stronger community. I co-proposed this program with another student, and after a competitive process, we secured funding for the initiative.

Constructing Body Paragraphs: Skills

If the job posting is for a Parks Management Intern and the description asks for:

• Social Media Management

• Excellent written and verbal communication

• Administrative and general office tasks

Include in your paragraph:• Also, as a Barnard Student Admissions Representative, I

write blog posts at least twice a month for the Barnard Admissions Blog, and maintain the reception area in the Admissions office. With this position I’ve strengthened my writing skills and have gained experience operating effectively and professionally in an office setting.

Cover Letter vs. Inquiry Letter?

• Advertised position

• Skills relate specifically to job description

• Asks for job interview to be granted

• No advertised position

• Talks about your most transferable skills in relation to company – not job

• Asks for informational interview

Cover Letter Inquiry Letter

“I am writing to inquire if the XYZ Department is currently in need of a person with management and customer service experience.”

Next Steps

• Meet with PCAs• Bring polished draft of resume and cover letter

• Bring a copy of the job description

• Finalize resume and cover letter with a counselor• Call 212-854-2033 or email [email protected] for

appointment

• Apply

…Questions?