Resume & Cover Letter Workshop Inuvialuit Career Centre

1. Resume & Cover Letter Workshop Inuvialuit Career Centre April 2006

2. Agenda • What is a Resume? What is it For? • Writing Tips • Resume Formats • Parts of a Resume • Cover Letters – Structure & Tips • References • Additional Help at Inuvialuit Career Centre

3. What is a Resume? • Definition: • A resume is your self-marketing tool. It advertises your value to a future employer. It summarizes your knowledge, skills, experience and achievements. • Purpose: • A “door-opener” to help you get a job interview

4. When Do You Use A Resume? • When applying for a job • When attending a job interview • When you set an informational interview • When seeking admission to a training program • When applying for a scholarship

5. Are You Ready To Write Your Resume? • Do you know what work you are looking • for and are qualified? • Have you researched industries and occupations? • Do you know your specific job objectives? • Have you identified past achievements? • Have you compiled your work history? • Can you list your relevant education and training? • Have you selected and confirmed your references?

6. Writing Tips . Limit to 1 or 2 pages . Should be typewritten . Proper grammar . No spelling mistakes . Make it attractive . Should be easy to read . Keep it updated . No personal data (SIN) . Be truthful . Omit unnecessary words, . Use past tense . Use action words . Customize to each job Have the Inuvialuit Career Centre Career Coach critique it for you

7. Resume Formats • Combination • Emphasizes skills and achievements without saying where or when they were used • Information is organized by skills or occupation, not by positions held • Electronic (E-mail) • Key words in noun form describe qualifications • Plain text format, no frills Chronological • Highlights work experience • Gives brief description of responsibilities and accomplishments Functional • Highlights work-related skills • Does not list employment history

8. Chronological Format • Highlights Work Experience • This type of resume is best used when you have: • a stable history of paid employment or volunteer work • worked in the same general field for several years and will continue to pursue employment in that field • advanced steadily throughout your career and can show an increase in level and responsibility • had few career changes.

9. Combinational Format • Chronological + Functional = Combination • Highlights skills over work experience without indicating when or where they were used • This type of resume is best used when: • you have done similar work/utilized required skills in other positions • you are changing careers or are a recent graduate with little or non-related work experience • you want to disguise employment gaps • you need to relate your array of skills and achievements to a specific objective

10. Pros & Cons

11. Parts of a Resume • Personal Heading • Job Objective or Target • Summary of Qualifications • Relevant Skills & Accomplishments • Employment History • Education • Other (related volunteer experience, awards, professional memberships, languages, interests, etc.) • References

12. References • On a separate sheet from your resume, list 3 people who have agreed to give a reference if called by a potential employer after the interview.

13. Cover Letter • Purpose: To attract the interest of an employer to read your resume • Forms the first impression of you and your relevant background and capabilities, so is worth the effort to do well • Reveals: • - What position you’re interested in • - Your interest in & knowledge about the company • - Your qualifications (briefly) • - How well you communicate • - Clues about you

14. Writing the Cover Letter • First paragraph • State the position you’re applying for and any other relevant information • State your interest in the company & why you’re writing, and how you heard of the job • (By your interest & knowledge you show you’re not just sending out letters to everyone) • Second paragraph • State the contribution you can make to the company by identifying your relevant skills & qualifications for the job • Refer to your resume • Third paragraph • Request an interview or anticipate a phone call • Include a thank you

15. Cover Letter Tips * Keep it brief - no more than one page, typed * Keep it focused on key reasons why your qualifications match what is required of the position * Personalize, if possible, to a specific person * Should not be a repeat of your resume * No grammar or typing mistakes * Set yourself apart from the crowd

16. Additional Information • On-line Resume workshop • On-line links to resume/cover letter resources • WinWay Resume template software on-site • On-site resume resource library • One-on-one resume support & critique service at the Inuvialuit Career Centre

17. Thank You April 2006