NEELEY DEVELOPMENT SERIES—TOOLS FOR BUSINESS

WRITING YOUR WAY IN THE DOOR

RÉSUMÉS AND COVER LETTERS

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A résumé is a concise, yet incisive document that highlights relevant information about your education, skills, experiences, accomplishments, and job-related interests. The purpose of a résumé includes:

• Displaying your professional brand and accomplishments

• Generating employer interest to obtain an interview

• Providing a sample of your written communication skills

Think of your résumé as a marketing tool. How do you want to present yourself? What grabs attention – in the right way? Employers want to quickly identify what skills you possess. Your goal is to align your résumé with the needs of the employer so you can present a clear, easy-to-follow document. While employers have commonality in terms of key attributes they look for on a résumé, they also have a set of attributes unique to the company they represent. This means that you need to tailor your résumé to the job you are applying.

After you create your résumé, remember to update your accomplishments, volunteer opportunities, club memberships, and other social and academic involvements as they change.

This list will help you down the line as you edit and add to your résumé for future opportunities.

1. Misspellings and grammatical errors

2. Inconsistent formatting

3. Using an outdated résumé (you will look obsolete)

4. Including too much information

5. Minimizing use of keywords

6. Using personal pronouns

7. Writing bullet points that list tasks

8. Using weak action verbs

9. Writing brief bullet statements

10. Using general statements instead of quantifying your accomplishments

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NAME ADDRESS

PHONE NUMBER EMAIL ADDRESS

Professional Profile Link (optional) EDUCATION List your educational background from most recent to furthest past, excluding high school. If you attended a previous college, list the degree received or the hours attained if greater than ten. Beginning your junior or senior year remove the previous college and use only Neeley. Include your GPA if it is 3.0 and above or when it is specifically required. Study Abroad Opportunities If you have not decided on a major – leave it blank. HONORS/AWARDS Dean’s List, Scholarships, and Academic or Professional awards WORK EXPERIENCE List your work experience in reverse chronological order, from most recent to furthest past. Include a job title under the company name and italicize it. Include at least 2 bullet points below the line that lists the title of the job. Make sure each bullet point begins with an action verb. “Responsible for” is not an action verb. Bullet points should point to an impact, a purpose, an accomplishment, or a result.

The verb tense should agree with your dates of employment. Use present tense for your current position; use past tense for your previous experience.

CAMPUS/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Be aware that certain religious or political memberships can trigger negative recruiter reactions. Be more than an attendee. TECHNICAL SKILLS Microsoft Certifications or other software in which you are proficient. List languages and state your fluency level.

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NAME Address

City, State, Zip Phone Email

LinkedIn profile link EDUCATION Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX Neeley School of Business Bachelor of Business Administration, May 20xx Major: Supply and Value Chain Management Cumulative GPA: 3.12 HONORS Dean’s List WORK EXPERIENCE Banana Republic Fort Worth, TX Sales Associate June 20xx - August 20xx • Increased daily sales 5% and made the customer shopping experience more pleasant by

frequently organizing clothing so sizes could be easily identified • Oversaw merchandise inventory threshold levels and submitted reorders as needed • Answered customer questions about products and provided recommendations for purchases • Enacted proper closing procedures ensuring registers balanced and inventory was secure

CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Pi Beta Phi Sorority Neeley Women’s Business Network Organization for Supply Chain Studies TECHNICAL SKILLS Microsoft Word and PowerPoint: Intermediate Excel: Basic Do not list certified until you are

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NAME Address Phone # Address Email

The placement of the contact information is done this way to allow for more space. Avoid using the header because that information will not show up in the Outlook preview window.

EDUCATION This is a modified format to show you how you can save space if you have a full résumé.

Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX Neeley School of Business Bachelor of Business Administration Graduation Date May 20xx Major: Marketing Minor: Finance Cumulative GPA: 3.22 Major GPA: 3.5 WORK EXPERIENCE Notice how no bullet has a second line with just one or two words dangling. Edit to be one line or one and a third. ABC Marketing Group Fort Worth, TX Marketing Intern January 20xx - August 20xx • Developed a survey to collect data regarding banking preferences for the 25-35 year old

demographic which received over a 60% return rate • Wrote a business report summarizing key findings and listing recommendations for new services • Handled 30+ calls daily answering customer questions or transferring to requested departments • Created a template for a new customer tracking system in Microsoft Access to document new

inquiries for marketing services and to support client retention KTO Industries Fort Worth, TX Marketing Assistant June 20xx - August 20xx • Collected survey data from over 500 clients and prepared and presented results directly to the

manager at the client organization • Worked with a senior associate in developing a marketing plan which allowed the company to

better understand the competitive environment and identify relevant success metrics • Increased tradeshow appearances by 25% from previous year by effectively communicating the

unique positioning of the company within the industry to tradeshow coordinators CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Student Chapter American Marketing Association Delta Sigma Pi TECHNICAL/RELEVANT SKILLS Microsoft Office Specialist® Master Certification – Excel, Word, PowerPoint (see note below) Microsoft Access - Ability to create basic database tables Fluent in Spanish (if native speaker of more than one language, write Bilingual: English/Spanish) Students who entered TCU or changed their major to business prior to summer 2016 would use: Microsoft Office Master Certification: Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Students who entered TCU or changed their major to business after spring 2016 would use: Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel and PowerPoint Word is no longer required

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Use this format to copy and paste information into an online application, because many of those systems do not support HTML, which means your résumé formatting will not transfer. EDUCATION Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX Neeley School of Business Bachelor of Business Administration, May 20xx Major: Marketing Cumulative GPA: 3.38 Major GPA: 3.6 WORK EXPERIENCE ABC Marketing Group Fort Worth, TX MARKETING INTERN January 20xx - August 20xx *Developed a survey to collect data regarding banking preferences for the 25-35 year old demographic which received over a 60% return rate *Wrote a business report summarizing key findings and listing recommendations for new services *Handled 30+ calls daily answering customer questions or transferring to requested departments *Created a template for a new customer tracking system in Microsoft Access to document new inquiries for marketing services and to support client retention KTO Industries Fort Worth, TX MARKETING ASSISTANT June 20xx - August 20xx *Collected survey data from over 500 clients and prepared and presented results directly to the manager at the client organization *Worked with a senior associate in developing a marketing plan which allowed the company to better understand the competitive environment and identify success metrics industry *Increased tradeshow appearances by 25% from previous year by effectively communicating the unique positioning of the company within the industry to tradeshow coordinators CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Boys and Girls Club Delta Sigma Pi American Marketing Association TECHNICAL/RELEVANT SKILLS Microsoft Office Specialist Master Certification 2013 – Word, Excel, PowerPoint Microsoft Access – Ability to create basic database tables Spanish – business proficient Formatting You CANNOT Use in a Plain Text Document: • No text effects such as bold, italics, underlining,

centering, etc. • No special characters or bullets (you can't use the Ctrl

or Alt key, or the Apple key on a Mac).

• No tabbed indents (don't use the Tab key at all). • No lines more than about six inches long (that's

about 60 characters, in 10-pt type) — use the Enter key to create line breaks where necessary.

Formatting You CAN Use in a Plain Text Document: • Basic keyboard characters - letter, number, symbol, or

punctuation mark - in upper or lower case. • Line breaks to create spacing (hit the Enter key two or

more times). • ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS.

• Rows of one character to create a "line" (===== or ~~~~~)

• Bullet substitutes such as plus signs (+), asterisks (*), or hyphens (-) with spacebar indenting.

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Use the next couple of pages to answer some key questions about your work history. By doing this, you will be able to identify the skills and accomplishments you have from previous experiences.

Title: Company Name:

1. What were your main tasks? Be quick; write down everything you can think of.

2. Looking at the tasks you identified, provide a purpose, result, accomplishment or outcome of you doing that task. Ask yourself, “What would happen if I did not do this?”

3. Thinking about that job, what contributions or accomplishments did you achieve that will benefit the employer after you are gone?

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4. If you worked within a team, write down how you perceived your role within the team (leader, manager, task contributor, etc.) and what do you believe you contributed to the team in terms of critical thinking skills and communication?

5. What was the most challenging aspect of the job (the hours, the work, the people, the customers, etc.)?

6. What did you do to overcome that challenge that shows you are adaptable and can solve problems?

7. Convert your identified experiences into bullet statements using the action words on the following page. Refer to the purpose and accomplishments of the tasks, your major accomplishments, and the challenges you overcame.

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Accomplished

Accelerated

Achieved

Acted

Activated

Adapted

Addressed

Administered

Adopted

Advertised

Advised

Analyzed

Anticipated

Applied

Approved

Assessed

Assigned

Awarded

Budgeted

Built

Calculated

Chaired

Changed

Coached

Collected

Communicated

Compiled

Completed

Composed

Conceived

Conducted

Consolidated

Controlled

Converted

Counseled

Counted

Created

Critiqued

Delegated

Delivered

Demonstrated

Designed

Directed

Doubled

Earned

Edited

Eliminated

Employed

Established

Evaluated

Examined

Executed

Expanded

Explained

Facilitated

Gained

Generated

Grew

Guided

Handled

Headed

Identified

Increased

Implemented

Improved

Initiated

Innovated

Introduced

Installed

Instituted

Invented

Judged

Launched

Lectured

Led

Maintained

Managed

Marketed

Measured

Mentored

Motivated

Negotiated

Operated

Organized

Originated

Oversaw

Participated

Performed

Planned

Played

Prepared

Processed

Produced

Proposed

Promoted

Provided

Purchased

Received

Recommended

Recruited

Redesigned

Reduced

Reorganized

Researched

Resolved

Revised

Revitalized

Saved

Scheduled

Selected

Serviced

Simplified

Sold

Solved

Started

Verified

Widened

Withdrew

Wrote

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A cover letter is your introduction and a marketing device. A well-written cover letter highlights your specific experience and skills.

Step 1: Heading • Left-justified is most common. • If you are applying for an opportunity locally, use your TCU address. If you are applying for an opportunity

in your hometown, use your home address. • Include the current date spelling out the full month, and include the day and year. • It is best to address your cover letter to a specific person. If you do not have a name, contact the Alcon

Career Center and they will be able to provide you with one. • Include the requisition or job number, if available.

Step 2: What to Include Introduction:

• Use a colon rather than a comma in your line of greeting. • Limit your introduction to two or three strong sentences to make a quick connection with your reader. • Use this paragraph to highlight something about the company that attracts you and how you heard about

the opportunity.

Core of your Letter:

• Focus on your background and how your experiences align with the job description. Your letter should be different for each position you apply for and should tie into the job requirements.

• Be specific. Don’t simply indicate you have good people skills; instead, highlight an example that shows you have people skills.

• Don’t try to impress by incorporating lexical diversity. Keep it simple. • Use business professional language. Phrases such as, “I would love an opportunity” would not be

appropriate. • It is okay to use “I” statements; however, use them sparingly.

Action and Closing:

• Close with a strong reminder of why you are a good match for the position and the organization. • Remember to provide your contact information in the closing. If you are mailing or bringing a copy of your

letter to an interview, be sure to sign your letter where indicated in the example on page 12.

Step 3: Considerations • Spacing is an important aspect of any business letter. Pay attention to the spacing guidelines on the

samples provided. All spacing in the example assumes Word is using single-spacing.

• Fonts should not be overly artistic.

• Font size should be between 10-12, no less and no more.

• Margins should be one inch on each side and on top and bottom.

• Closing should be Sincerely.

Notes: Keep your letter concise

Proofread and edit carefully

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I. Company Research

Paragraph 1:

A. Position applying for

B. Contacts/Referrals to reference

C. News story or recent company activity that relates to the position /department/location

D. Why are you applying to this company specifically?

II. Determine your focus based on the job.

III. Write your letter putting the parts together.

A. What skills/qualities would the employer want when filling this job?

B. What are the top two skills you possess?

C. List your top 2 skills in the blanks below. Think of a time when you have demonstrated these skills. What three things will you emphasize about the example that showcase your skills?

Paragraph 2 Skill: ___________________________

Bridge: What can you say about this example that relates your skills/experience to the job? Wraps up the paragraph.

Paragraph 3 Skill: ___________________________

Bridge: What can you say about this example that relates your skills/experience to the job? Wraps up the paragraph.

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Your Name Address City, State Zip Date Contact Name Title Company Address City, State Zip RE: Req#25793 Dear Mr./Ms. : Paragraph 1—Why are you applying to this company and to this position? Why them? Research the company and find something valuable to open with Be brief Paragraph 2—Why hire you? Example 1

Tell them something beyond the résumé Be focused and avoid trying to put too much information in the letter

Paragraph 3—Why hire you? Example 2 Share something that highlights a relevant skill they would like to see in this position? Paragraph 4—The closing

Thank them for their consideration Be sure to include your contact information

Sincerely, Your Name

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Roger Roddick 123 Wimbledon Drive Fort Worth, TX 76129 November 20, 20xx Kelly Williams Human Resource Manager Wimbledon Corporation 14456 Center Court Drive Fort Worth, TX 76123 RE: Req#25793 Dear Mr. Williams: Wimbledon’s recent Content Marketing Award for 2016 by the National Marketers Coalition speaks highly to its reputation and aligns with my value for quality work. The Susan Cates, a current employee who works in digital media informed me about the Marketing Analyst position and encouraged me to apply. Effective communication is critical in any job, but one area often overlooked is listening. During my internship at ABC Marketing Group, I was assigned a project to develop a one page infographic summarizing the company’s key services. This required meeting with managers in several departments. Since I was not familiar with all of the services, this task required patience, listening, and effective questioning skills. Once I completed information gathering I was able to create an infographic the company is using with new customers. During that experience I learned that it takes initiative and the ability to learn quickly in order to exceed expectations. Last summer as an intern at KW Industries, I was placed on the frontlines to grow the business. I made cold-calls to establish sales leads and increased the company’s appearances at tradeshows through effective networking. It was an experience that taught me resiliency and persistence. These past positions have provided me with experiences and skills that will prove valuable as a Marketing Analyst at Wimbledon. Thank you for your time in considering me for this opportunity and I look forward to visiting with you about this position in greater detail. Should you need further information you may contact me at 555-512-5525 or by email at r.roddick@tcu.edu. Sincerely, (SIGN YOUR NAME HERE IN INK) Roger Roddick

Two spaces between name and date = three returns

Spacing between the date and addressee is flexible. Space as needed to align your letter vertically on the page

One space = two returns

One space = two returns

Three spaces = four returns

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RE: Email addresses Keep your email address professional; wannabeadj@gmail.com – no. RE: Cover letter greetings Always verify to whom you should address your cover letter. Get a contact name from the Alcon Career Center if you do not have one.

RE: Electronic signatures Leave the signature space blank when sending a cover letter electronically. If you would like to include your signature, create an image of your signature that you can insert into electronic documents.

RE: Format for emailing résumés and cover letters PDF or Word - read this https://uptowork.com/blog/pdf-word- résumé

PDF is a more stable format, but is likely not compatible with older Applicant Tracking Systems.

Word - everyone has a version of it. The various versions mean your formatting may get messed up when an employer opens it.

Emailing to employer - Save your résumé using your name and be sure to fill the Subject Line with the job position title or job number.

RE: Bullets, bold, and italics Use these effectively and it can make your résumé easier to read. Most recruiting personnel do an initial 30-second review of your résumé and make a decision on which pile to place you in. Make it easy for them to read and follow. RE: References upon request It is assumed you will provide references if needed, so do not place “References Available Upon Request” on your résumé. However, now is the time to ask people you would like to use as a reference if they are willing and to make sure you have their correct contact information.

RE: Consistency Be sure your cover letter and résumé have the same contact information and use the same font. Popular résumé fonts include Calibri, Helvetica, Garamond, and Georgia. Font sizes should be no smaller than 10 and no larger than 12.

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Not investing the necessary effort

The amount of effort you put into this document is a direct indication of how much you think you are worth. It takes several drafts to create a good cover letter. If you create yours in 20 minutes, you are selling yourself short.

Grammar, Spelling, and Formatting

By far the most frequent oversight. Employers will remove you from consideration for a poor format or spelling and grammar mistakes on cover letters and résumés.

Having a one-letter-fits-all mentality

Each position requires a different cover letter. You should tailor your letter to the specifics of the job or internship you are applying for. If you do not, you are missing opportunities to better your chances of being selected.

Lots of buzzwords, but no content

You may be an energetic leader capable of motivating others, but if you do not isolate examples it’s all just hot air and counts for nothing.

Overusing “I”

Be sparing with “I” statements. This can lead to a perception of boasting or being unprofessional. It’s okay to use “I” statements, just be selective when you use “I”. Look for stronger ways to organize sentences where you can. Simply repeating the résumé

Use your cover letter as a way to provide greater insight about your experiences that make you qualified to work at the selected company.

Using words that are empty and not descriptive

Outstanding, effective, strong, exceptional, driven, motivated, and energetic are all words that tend to be overused. Be intentional with your word choice.

Revised January 2017

About the Neeley Professional Development Center The Professional Development Center (PDC) works closely with students to create an awareness of personal communication preferences and how these preferences impact students’ personal goals. Additionally, the PDC offers individual and team coaching for interviews, presentations, case competitions, and team conflict management. It is part of Neeley Student Success Services, a collaborative partnership designed to integrate the core services of undergraduate student development. The key areas of this partnership include the Neeley Academic Advising Center, the Alcon Career Center, the Neeley Professional Development Center, and Neeley Premier Programs. Talent Development: Kelly T. O’Brien (k.t.obrien@tcu.edu) Mariam MacGregor (mariam.macgregor@tcu.edu) Office Manager: Jayna Elam (jayna.elam@tcu.edu) This publication is part of the Neeley Development Series – Tools for Business Other titles in this series include:

• Interviewing • Neeley Teaming • Business Writing • Strategies for Difficult Communication

ALCON CAREER CENTER Dan Rogers, Room 141

Neeley School of Business Texas Christian University

TCU Box 298530 Fort Worth, Texas 76129

817-257-5572

www.careers.tcu.edu/acc

NEELEY STUDENT SUCCESS SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER Tandy Hall, Room 190

Neeley School of Business Texas Christian University

TCU Box 298530 Fort Worth, Texas 76129

817-257-7539

www.neeley.tcu.edu/PDC