CDS Overview

1. CDS Overview Jenna Rowlands Career Development Services

2. What can we do for you? • Career Exploration • Resume/Cover Letter Review • Interview Preparation • Mock Interview Appointments • Internship and Job Search Strategies • Career Fair Prep • Answers to Any Career Related Questions

3. How can we assist you? • Electronically • Via Instant Career Messaging • Via email careercoach@odu.edu • Appointments over the Phone or Skype • In-Person • Walk-Ins in Career Commons’ • Appointments with your College Liaison

4. Effective Resume & Cover Letter Writing Career Development Services Jenna Rowlands

5. What is the point of a resume? • It’s your marketing tool to get you to the next step • Employer’s first impression of you as a candidate It is not an exact science (There are no ‘wrong’ resumes but, there are strong and weak ones)

6. Guidelines • Clear & Concise = Survive 15 second resume read • 1 page (Unless you have 2 pages of related or impressive experience • Mistake free, clean & crisp • Organize in order of relevance for each employer & position • Consistent Emphasis (ie: Bolding) • Use action verbs and bullets, not paragraphs • Use conservative paper- Use appropriate format Typo = Kiss of Death!

7. Header • Name (First and Last) • Address • Telephone # • Professional Email • Portfolio Link or LinkedIn Link (Beware of unprofessional voicemail greetings) * Use the same heading on all documents

8. Examples Matthew Duncan Norfolk, VA 23529 757-555-9999 mduncan@gmail.com LinkedIn Url or E-Portfolio Jane Doe 234 Happy Lane, Norfolk, VA 23529, 757-123-5467, jdoe001@odu.edu

9. Education • Most recent degree first • GPA (Optional/only if above 3.0) • Degree Name (spell out) • Major/minor/concentration • Relevant coursework highlights • Honors and awards (academics) • Computer skills/program skills

10. Examples Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA Bachelor of Science May 2020 Major: Human Services GPA: 3.5 Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2016 Dean's List: Relevant Courses: Non-Profit Fund-Raising in Human Services, Substance Abuse Treatment and Research, • Psycho-educational Groups, and Family Guidance Computer Skills: Microsoft Suite, Prezi, and Canva

11. Experience • Related or relevant experience • Paid or unpaid work • Can use coursework here, especially intern/co-ops • Include dates of employment, employer name, job title and city, state • Write everything down and then choose important points • Quantify when possible • Use bullets and action verbs • Not “responsible for”, “duties included” or “handled”

12. Bullet Examples • Hired, trained and supervised a staff of 14 concession stand workers • NOT • Responsible for staff • Designed, wrote, and edited promotional material including brochures and instruction manuals • NOT • Duties included” writing and editing

13. Examples • ForKids, Norfolk, VA • Intern (September 2016-December 2017) • Assisted children ages 5-17 with . . . . • Tutor elementary students with . . . . • Became familiar with XXX, XXXX, and XXXXX • Recognized as “intern of the month” in November

14. Other Tips Do You • Think in terms of accomplishments • Include transferable skills (Like public speaking or customer service) • List more impressive duties first under each position • Proofread. . . again & again! • Put references on your resume • Include personal info such a # of children or marital status • Include a photo • Include past salaries (unless for a federal resume) • Go crazy with your paper color • Expect to use the same resume to work for every job

15. Cover Letter Components • Heading • Same on all 3 documents • Date and Address • Attempt to figure out the person it should be addressed to • Can use company address • Salutation • Dear Mr. Clark or Dear Selection Committee • NEVER “To whom it may concern”

16. Cover letter format Date Employer’s Name, title Address Dear__________, Paragraph 1 – State your reason for writing, refer to the position you are seeking, prove you’ve done research on the company and position Paragraph 2 and 3– Explain your interest in the job, and how it matches with your career plans, skills, education and experience. USE EXAMPLES – prove to them you are the ideal candidate Paragraph 4 – Refer them to your resume, close with a statement that you look forward to hearing from them, thank them for their time and consideration, and the BEST way to contact you. Sincerely, Sign Here (4 Hard Returns) **MAKE SURE TO SIGN THE COVER LETTER!!** Your Name Enclosure

17. Do’s and Don’ts Don’t Do • Your research about the company • Provide good quality examples • Quantify if possible • Tailor to each specific position • Proofread repeatedly • Maintain a confident and enthusiastic tone • Repeat your resume • Write more than 1 page • Assume spell-check will catch everything • Forget to change the recipient’s name and company for each cover letter • Resort to cliches, exaggerations, or false flattery

18. References Ask 3-5 people Make sure they will be positive! • Use a separate sheet with the same headers as your resume • Attach to application when requested and bring to interviews

19. Reference sample • John Smith • 757-123-4567 • johnsmith@comcast.net • Former Supervisor at Chili’s

20. Where do I start? • Visit our Main Office and Career Commons in 2202 Webb Center • Visit www.odu.edu/cds • Email us at jmrowlan@odu.edu or careercoach@odu.edu • Set up an appointment with College Liaison (Jenna Rowlands) • Appointment Link: https://calendly.com/jmrowlan • Call 757-683-4388

21. Questions?