Resumes & Cover Letters

1. Resumes & Cover Letters AHSS 4080 Transition to Work January 25th 2007 Janet Wolstenholme & Fred Evers

2. Agenda • Resumes • Examples and Practice • Cover Letters • Examples and Practice • On-line Resources

3. Resumes • What is a Resume, what is its job? • What to include on a resume? • What not to include?

4. Resume Types • Chronological • Functional • Combination • CV

5. Resume Types • Chronological • Primarily a list of your education and employment history in reverse chronological order • Pros • Shows logical progression • Employers are familiar with style • Cons • Can highlight employment gaps • Show unrelated job experiences

6. Resume Types • Functional • Essentially your key skills, knowledge and related accomplishments • Pros • Good for job changers • Highlights related skills • Cons • Does not show career progression • Employers are not always use to style

7. Resume Types • Combination • Hybrid of the chronological & functional • Curriculum Vitae (CV) • More for professional or academic positions • Are more lengthy

8. Resume Types • Examples • on overheads

9. Resumes—Remember • Include any licenses or certifications you hold • Note the languages you speak • Include your volunteer work • List memberships and any community involvement or awards

10. Resumes—Remember • Employers like to see how you have: • Cut costs • Increased revenue • Used creativity and leadership skills • Improved quality, productivity, services etc • Saved time, resources etc

11. Resumes—Remember • Tips: • Think of yourself as a product and this is your marketing tool • Use a bulleted summary of transferable skills • Proof read • Spell check, spell check, spell check • Use Canadian spelling • More on handout

12. Resumes—Exercise • From Overhead: • In groups of 3 or 4, note all the mistakes from the example of a bad resume • Online: • http://www.careers.unsw.edu.au/careerEd/jobApplications/resumes/badResume.aspx

13. Cover Letters • What is the job of a cover letter? • What to include on a cover letter? • What not to include?

14. Cover Letters • Typical business letter • Basically 4 short paragraphs of content • Introduction • Body—qualifications • Body—skill match • Closing

15. Cover Letters • Examples • On overhead

16. Cover Letters—Remember • Do some research on the company • Address the letter to a specific person • Each cover letter must be original and address the particular job you are applying for • A cover letter should “mirror” your resume—same font, paper etc

17. Cover Letters—Remember • Same rules as resume—spell check, proof read • Be specific about your qualifications • Try not to over use “I” • State how you will follow up & carry through! • Sign each letter by hand

18. Cover Letters—Exercise • From Overhead: • In pairs, create a cover letter for this opportunity

19. Cover Letters—Exercise • Continued: • Still in pairs, Exchange cover letters with another pair and critique

20. Online Resources Sheridan http://www1.sheridaninstitute.ca/services/career/index.cfm Human Resources & Social Development Canada http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/individuals/cluster/cp.shtml Career Builder (www.careerbuilder.ca) http://www.careerbuilder.ca/CA/default.aspx?siteid=sep_cgps_ontgeo_ontario