Professional Portfolio

INDIANA COUNTY Professional Portfolio Review the basics of writing and improving cover letters, resumes and thank you notes.

Job Search Step 1 Cover Letters Additional Information Strategies Resume Writing Formats and Variations Thank You Notes Basic Elements General Tips

Cover letter A successful cover letter… • creates a desire to read your resume and meet with you. • is your opportunity to personalize your resume and target your skills and /or education to a specific job posting or company. • does not duplicate information on the resume, but points to additional information on the resume. • uses the AIDA model: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. • introduces you to the hiring department and helps you stand out from other candidates sending resumes or applications. • is brief, no more than 4 paragraphs, less than one page (yes, even if you have 30 years experience and a doctorate degree). • is updated and changed, tailored to individual job descriptions or company profiles

Cover letters

Cover letter formats

Cover letter samples • Look at the sample cover letters and evaluate, picking out at least 3 positive and/or negative aspects.

resume Builder Review of Qualifications Essential Information Only Skills-Based Unique – What Makes You Special Marketing a Product – YOU! Effective – Gets You Noticed

Resume writing

Formats Chronological

Formats Functional/skills based

Formats Combination

Variations Keyword

Variations targeted

Basic elements Name block Make your name stand out Don’t use abbreviations Use a professional email address and check it often Give a phone number you will answer and check messages

Basic elements Qualifications statement Use keywords from the job description Highlight skills most pertinent to the job 3-4 lines or series of phrases Show you are qualified for the job

Basic elements Employment history Start with your most recent job Last 3 jobs or last 10 years (whichever comes first) Show you are qualified for the job

Basic elements education List before work if skills and experience comes from education List before work if a recent graduate Add courses only if the job description includes specific course requirements Carefully consider including dates

Basic elements memberships Avoid religious / political unless it relates to the job description or industry Related to job goal Avoid controversial topics

Basic elements Additional Sections Skills Professional Accomplishments Activities/Interests Key Words Licenses/Certifications Awards or Achievements Related Experience Volunteer Experience Internships Special Projects or Fundraising Military Experience/Leadership

Additional information • Body • Summary of Qualifications for general purpose resume • Objective for targeted resume • Career Highlights is the same as accomplishments or can be used instead of Summary of Qualifications • Education/Awards • Chronological from most recent • If a targeted format, highlight education required for the job title, including course work and GPA • If general resume (not targeted), do not include course work or GPA • Include GPA only 3.0 and above unless otherwise required • Work History • Rule of 3 jobs or 10 years • List chronologically from most recent • If a skills based resume is used, no job description/responsibility is needed with each job • If chronological format is used, job description is listed after each employment title

Strategies

Samples • John Doe • 555 Philly St • Indiana, PA 15701 • (724) 1232-199 • Cell: (724)555-1998 • Email: fisterwife1@yahoo.com • OBJECTIVE • To support my wife and 3 children. • HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS • >Over eighteen years of experience in manufacturing and production • > Over 17 months working in the NDT and NDE field • > Dependable, hard worker; effective working independently and as a cooperative team player • > Competent and committed to doing top quality work • > Willing to work all shifts • EMPLOYMENT HISTORY • ABC Systems, Iniana,PAAugst 2009 – December 2010 • NDT/NDE, QA/QC Inspector • Certification for level II MT • 1,157 hrs toward RT certification • 243 hrs toward PT certification • Also currently working towards VT certification • SECURITY SERVICES, Johnstown, PA Feb 2009 – May 2009 • SecurityGuardfor Power Plant, PA • WABCO testing PRODUCTS, Wilmerding, PA 2004 – August 2008 • Air Compressor Tester/CNC Lathe and Milling Machine Operator • ● Tested air compresers for railroad industry • ●Machined and fabricated • CUSTOM WINDOWs INC, Delmont, PA March 2003 - March 2004 • Maintenance Technician • Repari and maintenance of vinyl extruders and other machinery including variable-speed drives • SeRepairMA, Pittsburgh, PA December 2001 – May 2002 • Installer • ● Responsible for converting manually-read water meters to radio frequency-read meters • AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING, INC., North Huntingdon, PA May 2002 – December 2002 • Pipefitter/Sheet Metal Technician/Pipe Welder May 2001 – September 2001 • ●Installed heating and air conditioning piping and ventilation in commercial and residential buildings; welded and silver soldered pipe • CHELSEA BUILDING PRODUCTS, Oakmont, PA 1993 – August 1998 • Maintenance Technician • ● Repair and maintenance of vinyl extruders and other machinery, including variable speed drives • SPECIALTY TIRES, Indiana, PA July 1986 – January 1993 • Temporary Maintenance Leadman(1990 - 1993) • Maintenance Technician (1986 - 1990) • ● Pipefitter, plumber, machinery repairman, electrician, pipe welder • ● Responsible for repair and maintenance of plant machinery • John Doe Page 2 of 2 • (724) 349-1529 Cell: (724)464-7873 • MILITARY BACKGROUND • United States Navy - Repair Division – USS Concord (AFS-5) FPO New York • Active Duty—January1980 – April 1984 • 2nd Class Petty Officer • Certified in damage control procedures, equipment maintenance, Firefighting, NBC Defense, Gas welding, Manual ARC welding, Sheet metal fabrication and Pipefitting • Qualified on 7018 vertical overhead certified welds

Resume samples • Look at the sample resumes and evaluate, picking out at least 3 positive and/or negative aspects.

Thank you notes Basics Addressing • Generally used as a follow-up to an interview • Hand written is best • Business letter format • Brief, one or two paragraphs at most, can be just a few lines • If the employer prefers email contact, send with the same business format • Address to the person who interviewed you • Include the preferred method of address for each person at the interview • If more than one person was present, send each person a separate and distinct note

Thank you notes Content Keep in Mind… • Brief reminder of the date and position for which you interviewed • Anything was left out, such as additional experience, projects or samples of work • Restate how your unique skills can benefit the company • Time is of the essence, send note within 24 hours of the interview • This serves as not just a reminder, but also shows your interest • May be the deciding factor between you and another candidate if you show determination and interest

General Tips Always… Avoid… • Keep all correspondence (including cover letter, resume and thank you note) professional • Proofread 3 times before sending • Ask a friend or family member to read everything for correctness and understandability • Negativity • Drawing attention to anything personal that could be a point of discrimination • Illegal or unethical statements • Slang, cursing, abbreviations or jargon

Tips • If you are an honorably discharged United States Military Veteran, include that in your cover letter and resume.

Professional Portfolio