Resume & Cover Letter Essentials

1. Resume & Cover Letter Essentials Presented by: Liz Herrera, Assistant Director SPH Career Services

2. Agenda • Welcome & Introductions • What is a branding statement? • Components of a Resume • How to enhance your current resume • Cover letter essentials

3. Getting Started • What is the goal of your resume? • What BRAND are you marketing to your targeted audience? • What is your professional story?

4. Take Inventory of your Experience • work experience paid, non-Paid • practicum experience • special course projects • activities • committees • languages • technical skills • volunteer work • academics • publications • leadership • conferences

5. Reflect on your experience • What are your credentials? • What are your major achievements/accomplishments? • How did you stand out in each of your positions? • What major contributions have you made to your field? • Special Projects? • How did you go above and beyond? • Unique skills

6. Sample Resume Headings • Contact Information (E-mail, LinkedIn URL) • Introductory Statement (Summary of Qualifications, Career Profile, Highlights) • Education • Work Experience • Professional Development • Awards /Recognition • Trainings /Certifications • Skills (Computer and Languages) • Leadership Experience • Presentations • Publications

7. What is your resume brand? • Career Profile • Summary of Qualifications • Professional Profile • Career Highlights • Career Summary • Professional Qualifications • Core Competencies • Areas of Expertise

8. Example Profile Health Educator ~ Program Development ~ Partnership Development • Certified health educator of 5 years. Deliver culturally competent health education workshops to community based organizations to help address health issues. • Experience training diverse audiences on health topics in English and Spanish. • Expert knowledge in the field of diabetes with comprehensive experience teaching self-management skills and presenting innovations through seminars and workshops. • Experience cultivating relationships and building rapport with healthcare/ business professionals within various healthcare environments.

9. Overused words and phrases • Demonstrated excellence • Proven ability to • Accomplished professional – or any statement that includes professional • Team player • Able to exceed in fast-paced environments • Works well independently or with a team • Excellent communicator (or its counterpart: Excellent verbal and written communication skills) • Results-oriented, results-driven, or proven ability to deliver results

10. Does this look familiar? • Responsible for…. • Duties included… • Helped…. • Worked on… • Made a…. • HIPPA? • Hobbies/Skills (from the template)

11. Stand out in your experience • Always tailor and customize your resume • Highlight strengths and relevant points • Quantify (use numbers, percentages, accomplishments) • Begin statements with powerful action verbs • Do not use a template • Show your contributions… • Your resume should be polished and visually appealing!

12. Enhance your bullet points Before: • Responsible for developing a report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services After: • Developed and published 300-page report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services providing foundation for policies governing electronic exchange of information in healthcare Before: • Submitted monthly data on state and federal contracts After: • Saved $10K annually by systemizing procedures for submitting monthly data on state and federal contracts

13. Power statements • Served as a member of a team selected to write and implement $50,000 grant proposal to develop innovative programs addressing childhood obesity. • Developed strategic relationships with key healthcare systems providers, including Medicaid HMO plans for commercial memberships. • Standardized and delivered training/rehabilitation to 25 patients recovering from immune-systems cancer and neurological disorders.

14. Additional Tips • Check & double check for content flow, grammar, punctuation, and spelling • Keep to 1 or 2 pages • Do not clutter your resume • Use variations in style to help the reader’s eye pick up most important information and move through the resume • Use a readable font size • Avoid using templates • Send in PDF format

15. Prioritize bullet points • Keep format organized and consistent • Avoid the use of “I” or “my” • Stick with two fonts at most • Use bullet points sparingly • Avoid underlining in most instances • Have enough white space • Edit and proofread for possible errors

16. Resume Questions?

17. Cover Letter Essentials… • Research the company • Decipher the job posting • Assess your skills, strengths and knowledge related to the job requirements • Reflect on accomplishments and contributions to a prior employer • Identify what you can bring to the prospective employer

18. Components of a Cover Letter INTRODUCTION: (What is your purpose?) • Identifies the position you are applying for • Tells how you learned about the position • Include your special interest in the position

19. Components of a Cover Letter BODY: • Highlight the most important qualifications that match the job requirements • Describe points that may be of special interest to the employer • Focus on an example that provides evidence of your experience and accomplishments • Be sure to use keywords

20. Components of a Cover Letter CLOSING: • Indicate your interest in having an interview or the next step you plan to take • Inform that your resume is enclosed • Reiterate your contact information • Thank the reader

21. FINAL COVER LETTER TIPS • Check for content flow, grammar, punctuation and spelling • Keep to one page • Tailor your cover letter • Use standard business letter format • Use a font style and size that is easy to read • Be honest!

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