Resumes & Cover Letters

1. Resumes &Cover Letters

2. What is a Resume? • is a document to market your skills, experience, education and accomplishments to employers • is meant to get you an interview • is NOT your life history • is very concise and easy to scan for information

3. Basic Guidelines • use consistency in your presentation • utilize a 10 to 12 point, plain font • organize your information to make it easy to read • use your white space effectively • start all of your descriptive statements with past tense action verbs • proofread to check for errors

4. Basic Guidelines • do not use high school information • place your most relevant information towards the top • include industry related keywords • target it to the career field you are entering • keep your margins even

5. Categories Related Experience Additional Involvement Volunteer/Community Service Skills Employment Activities • Objective • Summary of Qualifications • Education • Honors • Related Coursework • Internships • Research

6. Resume Statements • use past tense action verbs to describe what you did in each position or experience • be descriptive and specific – who, what, where, when, how, results • action verb + details + results = strong resume statement • look at job postings to get ideas • practice telling someone else what you did in each position or how you demonstrated each skill

7. Personal Information LEAH M. HELPER 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55410 612.330.3333, helper@augsburg.edu

8. Introduction • Objective • states what type of position you are looking for and what you will bring to the position • Summary of Qualifications • highlights your related qualifications for the position

9. Education EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN May 20XX Major: Psychology Minor: Communication Studies GPA: 3.7 Honors: Dean’s List, Psychology Honor Society, Augsburg Academic Scholarship Study Abroad: University of Galway, Galway, Ireland Spring 20XX

10. Internship(s) INTERNSHIPS Intern, Crisis Nursery, Minneapolis, MN, Spring 20XX • Selected to demonstrate therapeutic interventions to volunteers at a newly developed parent-child educational and therapeutic group • Consulted with other therapists regarding client case management Intern, Washburn Child Guidance Center, Minneapolis, MN, Fall 20XX • Taught emotional regulation and social skills to preschoolers in a classroom setting • Provided therapeutic interventions for children, ages 2 to 10, who were at risk of neglect and abuse • Counseled children and parents with many emotional and mental difficulties to help create a safe home environment

11. Related Experience RELATED EXPERIENCE Student Worker, Augsburg Admissions Office, Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 20XX – May 20XX • Promoted the college to prospective students by giving campus tours and providing them with college information • Provided administrative tasks including student mailings, filing, and data entry

12. Activities ACTIVITIES Student Orientation Leader, Augsburg College, Sept. 20XX – May 20XX • Served as a mentor for first-year students by introducing them to the college, showing them resources on campus and helping them meet new students • Coordinated large on-campus events for 400 students to participate in

13. Community Service/Volunteer COMMUNITY SERVICE Volunteer, Meals on Wheels, Minneapolis, MN, Jan. 20XX – Aug. 20XX Sunday School Teacher, St. Edwards, Bloomington, MN, Oct. 20XX – April 20XX

14. Other Experience OTHER EXPERIENCE Server, Applebee’s, Minneapolis, MN, June 20XX – May 20XX • Trained new employees and evaluated their performance • Succeeded in providing excellent customer service to six tables of people by multitasking and prioritizing orders

15. Final Tips • have your resume reviewed by a career specialist • print on good quality paper • look at sample resumes and to get help

17. Cover Letters

18. What is a Cover Letter? • is a letter that gives you a change to elaborate on more skills you have that may not be specifically highlighted on your resume • is meant to get the employer to read your resume

19. Basic Guidelines • should always accompany a resume even when not requested • needs to be well-written and in a professional tone • do not start all of your sentences with “I” • customize each letter with a job description of the organization you are applying for

20. Heading • your name and address should come first • then put the date • next the employer’s name, title, and work address • always address your employer as: • Dear Mr. or Ms. Last Name:

21. Opening • indicate the position you are applying for and how you came to learn about the position • state why you are interested in the position • say something you know or admire about the organization • shows you have done your research

22. Middle Section(s) • highlight your experience as it relates to the position • provide them with the key skills you have that are mentioned in the job description • be specific about how your achievements and education have prepared you for the position • elaborate more in-depth than what is on your resume

23. Closing • reiterate your interest in the position and thank them for their consideration • state that you hope to discuss your qualifications in an interview • say when you plan to follow-up with them and then do so

24. Final Tips • sign your letter with sincerely and your signature • do your research on the employer • PROOFREAD! • use the same font and paper as your resume • show enthusiasm for the position

25. COVER LETTER SAMPLE 1212 University Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55505 March 10, 2010 Ms. Brenda Peterson Director New Hope Center 2222 – 11th Street N.E. Minneapolis, MN 55444 Dear Ms. Peterson: Please accept the following materials as my application for the Lead Social Worker position advertised on Augsburg College’s job and internship database, Augpost. I am particularly interested in working for the New Hope Center because it is an organization that strives to bring the best community resources to all those in need. In addition, my case management experience, leadership abilities, and strong academic record would benefit your organization and the clients you serve. My recent work as a Case Manager Intern at Equal Access has provided me with a variety of skills that will make me successful in this position. My responsibilities there included overseeing a case load of eight families in which I assessed their needs and helped them develop and work to achieve self-sufficiency goals. I also organized and facilitated a family support group which is still in existence. In addition, because I feel strongly about advocacy issues, I am utilizing my leadership skills and community resource knowledge by serving as a Peer Counselor Volunteer at Chrysalis. Here I have demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills as I counsel and connect with a diverse population. This experience, along with my role as Secretary for the Augsburg College Social Work Club, has allowed me to enhance my organizational and problem solving skills and capacity to work as a team player. I would like to discuss my qualifications with you further and will call you next week to arrange an interview. Thank you for your consideration for this Lead Social Worker position. Sincerely, Your Signature (type your name) Enclosure

26. http://cswl.pb.works.com

27. Questions?