cover letters & resumes
DESCRIPTION
For Penn State Lehigh Valley, ENGL202D. SUCCESSFUL WRITING AT WORK, 3rd Concise.TRANSCRIPT
COVER LETTERS & RESUMES
Letters of Recommendation
• Should you see your letters?• Whom should you ask?• Always ask for permission for references• Should you ask your current boss?
What Employers Like to See in a Resume
• Honesty• Attractiveness• Careful Organization• Conciseness• Accuracy• Current• Relevance• Qualifications
Writing Your Resume
• Important Questions to Ask Yourself (162)• Balance Education and Experience• What to Exclude
PARTS OF A RESUME
• Contact Information• Career Objective or
Profile• Credentials• Education• Experience
• Related Skills and Achievements
• Computer Skills• Awards/Honors• References
Organization
• Chronological• Functional
LETTERS OF APPLICATION
• Goal: To get you an interview• Personable, Professional, Persuasive• New LOA for each prospective employer• Sales letter• Do not restate things on your resume
Writing a Letter of Application
• Follow standard conventions of letter writing• Supply all contact information as part of your letterhead• Make sure your letter looks attractive• Send your letter to a specific person• Emphasis on the “you attitude”• Don’t be tempted to send out a first draft
Organization
• Opening paragraph• Body of your letter• Education• Experience
• Closing
THE DIGITAL RESUME
ONLINE RESUME
• CONVERT TO TEXT ONLY (PG. 175, 177)
• Provides keywords• Avoid personal
information
• Only post to reliable sites
• Use an email specific to your job search
• Delete your resume once you find a job
Making Your Resume Cybersafe
• Post only on legitimate sites• Do not put personal information on your online resume• Use an anonymous email• Never put the names or contact info of references• Never use your present employer’s name or business
address