Job applications letters and resumes

Job applications letters and rsumsJob application materialsRsum one page overview of your qualifications, skills, and backgroundApplication (or cover) letter explanation of your credentials for a particular job that conveys a knowledgeable and professional personaDossiers evidence of your achievements (transcript, recommendation letters, etc.)Portfolios a collection of job application materialsCurriculum Vitae (CV) a detailed synopsis (longer than a resume) of your educational background, teaching and research experience, publications, awards, affiliations, and other professional information; mostly used in academia

When applying for a professional position, you may be asked to submit a number of documents.

A resume is a brief overview of your qualifications, skills, and background. Its usually one page, but certainly not longer than two.

An application or cover letter explains your credentials for a specific job. It shows your professional communication skills and promotes your best qualities and qualifications in the hope that you will persuade the reader to offer you an interview.

A dossier is a collection of the evidence of your achievements such as transcripts, recommendation letters, awards, and commendation letters.

A company may request a portfolio which would include several specific job application materials.

You may also come across a request for a CV. Unlike the resume, a CV offers a detailed synopsis of your educational background, professional experience, publications, awards, and affiliations.2Contact Information

(Career Objective)

Education

Work Experience

Job-related awards, skills, activities, and interests

(References)Rsums

Comic from http://www.corecommunication.ca/an-innovative-resume-template-that-includes-testimonials/

A resume highlights your experience and qualifications. For entry-level positions it is no longer than one page.

It includes:

A header that will contain your contact information such as name, phone number, e-mail address, and mailing address. The information that appears here should match the information in the letterhead of your application or cover letter.

A resume for a specific position will NOT have an objective statement. For a general resume that will be distributed to several audiences, such as at a career fair or by a headhunter, an objective statement should be included. This statement is focused, not vague.

Include a list of your educational and work experiences beginning with the most recent and give the dates and places for those experiences. For education, include your major and your minor, if relevant. For work, include your job title and a brief description of your responsibilities.

You can include a list of job-related awards, skills (such as computer or language skills), activities (do you belong to a professional organization? Volunteer?), and interests (these can be personal as long as they are appropriate, dont distract from your professional qualifications, and you have room for them).

It is most common to leave off references, but if you choose to include them, you should list two or three references with their name, title, and contact information. Make sure you get their permission first! If you do not put references on the resume, also avoid the statement references are available upon request, as that is an out-of-date practice.3

Header (Contact Info)Educational ExperienceWork ExperienceAdditional Professional Info

Heres a simple resume. Note how the information is divided by the headings Education, Experience, Professional Affiliations, and Skills. Within those sections each entry begins with the most important information highlighted first. The descriptions of her work experience are listed as bullet points using parallel active verb phrases: assembled, used, wrote and gave, assisted, taught. And the information is presented in hanging indentions.4

Of course, your resume can be as simple or as creative as you want as long as it is usable by the reader. Heres a minimally designed resume.5

http://donahuedesign.blogspot.com/2009/07/updated-resume-references.htmlHeader (Contact Info)Educational ExperienceWork ExperienceAdditional Professional Info

Heres a moderately designed resume I found online. It has most of the elements listed by your textbook.

At the top is Jake Donahues contact information.He has included his education at the bottom. This would indicate that it is not one of the high priorities for positions with his skills. His work experience DOES appear to take priority. Its the first item and its lengthy, including descriptions.His capabilities and recognition offer the reader more about his work-related experiences and how hes viewed by his peers.Finally, he does include that dreaded phrase references available upon request, but in a separate document on his website, he does have a list of references. It includes the persons name, title, and contact information.6

Resumes meant for scanning are often the most plain. And as long as they include the necessary information, a plain resume is fine. But some people figure out ways to show their personality and their skills by creatively reconstructing the typical resume. It is easy to go overboard doing this, so be careful if you try it. Get feedback from others before you send it on for actual applications.

Heres one that shows her interest in the field of environmentalism. She even includes a personal statement to display her perspective of the field.

This resume has most of the necessary information, but her design shows off her abilities and creativity.

Some people are finding creative forms for resumes as well. This person created a small foldable card, not much bigger than a business card that includes contact information and previous employment. Though we cant see the inside, it is possible that there is more information listed there as well.

Finally, some people are using new technologies to present their resumes. This man created a video that appears when the reader scans a QR code. If he works in computer development, this could be a very innovative way to capture someones attention.

7Application and cover lettersCover letter: announces presence of resumeApplication letter: detailed description of experienceFor Letters and Resumes:Tailor to the position based on its requirementsUse specific examples with concrete detailsConsider the companys personality and how you will benefit them

The next application material we will talk about is the letter.

A cover letter simply announces the presence of the resume. If you mail, fax, or e-mail a resume, include a letter saying that you are applying for position X which you saw posted in or heard about from Y and that you have included your resume.

An application letter details and describes your experience in one prose form, as opposed to the list form of the resume. It highlights your most important qualifications in response to the job advertisement.

There are three guidelines to keep in mind when writing application letters and resumes:Tailor the information to the position based on its requirements. Use specific examples and write in concrete detail.Consider how you will benefit the company. They dont want to hear what a great experience youll have interning or working with them. They want to know how YOU will contribute to THEIR goals.8Statement of PurposeDetails/EvidenceGoodwill Closing

For the application letter, use standard business format. The letterhead or heading at the top needs to match the heading of your resume.

Include a statement of purpose, details and evidence to support your qualifications, and a goodwill closing.

In the statement of purpose, name the position by title, mention where the ad for the position was seen, mention any contacts in or prior experience with the company, and state the qualifications that make you an ideal candidate.

Detail specific experiences that illustrate your skills or qualifications. Use the language of the advertisement to match your qualifications to the requirements for the position and the interests of the organization. Illustrate your knowledge of the organization.

In the closing, offer contact information, refer to your rsum, request an interview, and make one last pitch, summarizing qualifications.

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Make your rsum and application letter stand out!

Usable designTailored for positionSpecific examples and concrete detailsBenefit to the organization

Revise!Proofread!!

Finally, make your resume and application letter stand out but in a positive way.

Design your documents to be easily usable by the reader. Tailor your documents for the position to which youre applying. Include specific examples and concrete details of experience and qualifications. Show how you will benefit the company.

Dont forget to revise and proofread! You dont want to stand out because of embarrassing errors. You want to be taken seriously!10