Resumes/Cover Letters and Interviewing

1. Resumes/Cover Letters and Interviewing WELCOME!

2. FORMATTING A RESUME • Keep to One Page – No More Than Two • Heading - Bold • Centered at top of page – No Artsy Font • Spell Everything out (e.g. Street, Lane, Drive) • Use Ariel 12 point • Name is 14 point • Other contact info below it are 12 point • Include e-mail address (Use a professional name)

3. RESUME HEADINGS - GOOD JANE BROWN 12345 24TH Street, Apt. C-5 Phoenix, Arizona 85016 602-555-1234 (H) . 602-555-6789 (C) janebrown@cox.net

4. RESUME HEADINGS – NOT GOOD JANE BROWN 12345 24TH St, C-5 602-555-1234 (h) Phoenix AZ 85016 602-555-6789 (c) janebrown@cox.net

5. RESUME CONTENT • Show Summary of Qualifications First • Avoid meaningless cliches (Unless specifically asked on the job announcement) • Demonstrated Hard Worker • Team Player • Work well in fast-paced environment

6. RESUME CONTENT • In Summary include Facts Related to Job Sought • 5 years experience in call center customer service • Current Commercial Drivers License • Certificate of Completion in Computer Technology • 7 years experience managing staff • Keywords, Keywords, Keywords

7. RESUME CONTENT • Employment Section • Heading should be bold and 12 pt either centered or justified left • Do not go back more than 10-15 years unless you worked at the same place all those years. • List employer name, city, and state on left in bold • List dates of employment on the right (non-bold) • Under employer, list job title in bold

8. RESUME CONTENT • List accomplishments in employment section. • Use short concise statements of job duties • Do lot list menial tasks, such as “filed reports” unless it is a keyword in the job description • Get as many key words in here as you can legitimately do so based on key words in the job description • Do NOT lie. If you do not have all of the KSAs, don’t let that discourage you. Show the ones you have

9. RESUME CONTENT • When entering job duties in employment section, stick to job duties. Avoid vague cliches: • Self-starter • Team Player • Love working with people • Work well under Pressure

10. RESUME CONTENT • Education Section • Heading must be consistent with employment heading (font, type-size, position) • List most recent (higher education first) • Include special training (e.g. technical certificates) in this section but only if relevant to this job. • List institution, location, degree of education, date completed if within past five years • If only some college, summarize courses taken

11. COVER LETTER FORMAT • Always use three short paragraphs centered on the page. • The first paragraph is why you are writing and to thank them for considering your application • The second paragraph gives you the chance to relate your skills and experience to the employer’s goals. How do you bring value?

12. COVER LETTER CONTENT • Use the cover letter (second paragraph) to interweave your qualifications and experience, but do not repeat your resume. • “According to the job description you need someone with an excellent phone voice and not take it personally if a difficult customer calls. My five years of experience in call centers has been a great training ground for not only providing excellent service but also for defraying difficult customer encounters.”

13. COVER LETTER FORMAT • NEVER, EVER discuss your disability. But the third paragraph is a great place to explain the gap in your work history and how you have kept your skills current. Usually, the explanation will be that you were handling a “personal matter.” • The third paragraph is usually just a closing, thanking them again for their consideration and give them the phone number to call you on for an interview • NEVER, EVER make a statement, “I’m sure I will be an asset to your company.”

14. COVER LETTER FORMAT • After the 3rd paragraph, skip two lines and enter “Sincerely,” • The leave yourself four more lines for your signature. Type your name at the bottom of these four lines.