resume and cover letter guide - · pdf fileresume and cover letter guide 1 • keep your...

Resume and Cover Letter Guide

This Employment Ontario project, program or service is funded in part by the

Government of Canada

WHAT IS A RESUME ?

• Amarketingtoolwhichyoucanusetohighlightyourpositivefactualandmarketablequalities,skillsandexperiencewiththegoalofobtaininganinterview

• Anemployer’sfirstglimpseofyou

• Aworkinprogress–aresumeisadocumentthatyoushouldbecontinuallyupdating.Whenyouaccomplishsomethingoryoutakeonanewresponsibilityaddittoyourre-sumeimmediately.Bytreatingyourresumeasaworkinprogressyouwillsaveyour-selfalotoftimewhenyoubeginanewjobsearch

• Aconfidencebooster

• Anintegralpartofthejobsearchprocess–itisveryhardtoobtainemploymentinto-day’slabourmarketwithoutaresume

RESUME GUIDELINES

Resume and Cover Letter Guide

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• Keepyourresumetoamaximumof2pages–employersdonotwanttoreadanovel;theyonlywanttoreadasummaryofwhatyouhaveaccomplished

• Usebulletsandpointformstatementswhendescribingyourskillsandduties

• Donotincludepersonalinformation(E.g.gender,age,maritalstatus,religiousaffiliations)

• Ensurethatyourcontacte-mailaddressiscorrectanddoesNOTcontaininappropriateorvulgarlanguage

• BeHonest!!–donotexaggerate

• Tailoryourresume–Youshouldhavedifferentresumesifyouareapplyingfordifferentoccupa-tions

• Nospellingorgrammarerrors:usespellcheckandbesuretoproofreadbeforesending

• ALWAYSuseacustomizedCOVERLETTERtoacompanyyourresume.Avoidsendingoutagenerallettertoeveryemployer;tailorittothespecificpositionyouareapplyingto

• Personalizeyourresumewithyourownlookandstyle(i.e.bold,italics,underlining)

• Usegoodqualitywhiteoroff-whitepaper–stayawayfromflashycoloursorprints

• UseaCLEANTYPEOFFONT,nosmallerthan12pointsothatitiseasytoread

Who can you use as a reference?

•Peoplefrompastorpresentsituationswhoyoufeelcouldprovideanemployerwithpositiveinformationonyourpersonality,workhabitsandexperience

•PotentialReferences: □Formeremployers □FormerSupervisors □Co-workers □Customers/Clients □Teachers/Instructors □Individualsyouhave volunteeredwith/for

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Functional

ThistypeofresumeplacesemphasisonyourSKILLSandEXPERIENCEnotonyourworkhistory.Yourresumeisorganizedbasedontheneedsoftheemployerutilizingyourtransferableandrelevantskills.

Use this style if you:• Havelimitedornopaidworkexperienceinthefieldofinterest

• Possessexperienceandaccomplishmentsfromeducation,volunteerworkorhob-biesthataredirectlyrelatedtothefield

• Arechangingcareers

• Haveagapinyourresume

• Havemultiplejobsorworkedforoneemployeronly

TYPES OF RESUMES

Chronological

Mostcommontypeofresume.Itprovidesadetailedhistoricalaccountofanindividu-al’semploymenthistory.ItfocusesontheWHENandWHEREyouworkedandyourspecificDUTIES.Theaccountisplacedinthereverseorder,startingwithyourmostrecenttoleastrecentexperience.

Use this style if you have:

Combination

Thistypeofresumehastheadvantagesofboththechronologicalandfunctionalformats.ItplacesemphasisonyourSKILLSandEXPERIENCEaswellashigh-lightingyourhistoricalworkexperience.

Use this style if you have:

• Experienceintheparticularindustryyouareapplyingtoenter

• Aworkhistoryandeducationthatreflectsaconstantupwardgrowth

• limitedexperienceinthefieldofinterestandwanttohighlightyourskills

• workexperiencethatissomewhatrelatedtothefieldbutnotintheexactposition

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• Ensurethatthecontactinfoyouputonyourresumeisanumberwhereyoucanbereachedbetween8am–5pmMondaythroughFridayorhasamachinewhereamessagecanbeleft

• Beforeprovidingreferences,notifythepeopleyouaregoingtousesotheycanbeprepared

• Proofreadyourresumeandcoverletter

• Ifpossiblehavesomeoneelseproofreadyourresumeandcoverletter

• Makesureyousendyourresumeandcoverletterintheformattheemployerrequestsinthejobposting:mail,fax,e-mail

• Ifemailingyourresumeandcoverletter;sendittoyourselffirsttoensurethefilesarenotcorrupt.Savethefilesintheformattheemployerrequests(.doc,.pdf,.rtf)

TIPS ON SENDING YOUR RESUME

Functional Outline:NameAddress

City,ProvincePostalCodeTelephoneNumber

E-mail

OBJECTIVE:Yourcurrentgoalregardingemploymentorareasonforapplyingtothisparticularindustry/lineofwork.

RELEVANT SKILLS/PROFESSIONAL PROFILE:BulletedstatementsrepresentinganOVERVIEWofyourTOPskillsandqualifications,aswellaspersonalqualitiesthathighlightyoursuitabilitytotheposition.

Thinkaboutthepositionyouareapplyingforandchoosethepertinentandtransferableskillsyouhaverelatingtotheposition.Organizetheseskillsintocategories,suchasManagerialSkills,TechnicalSkills,etc.Thissectionshouldprovidetheemployerwithclearandconcisedetailsofyourskillsacquiredthroughpreviousemployment,education/training,hobbiesorvolunteerexperience.

EDUCATION: Listyoureducation,trainingandothercertifications.

Program,Certificate School,Institution-provideabriefdescription YearCompleted

RELATED EXPERIENCE: Listanyrelatedworkexperiencewithoutresponsibilities.JobTitle/Position DurationofPosition(dates)

Company City,Province

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:Listanyotherwork/volunteerexperience(ifapplicable).

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/ ASSOCIATIONS/ MEMBERSHIPS

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

References available upon request

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OUTLINES

Chronological Outline:

NameAddress


E-mail

OBJECTIVE: Yourcurrentgoalregardingemploymentorareasonforapplyingtothisparticu-larindustry/lineofwork.

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS/ SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

PROFESSIONAL PROFILEBulletedstatementsrepresentinganOVERVIEWofyourTOPskillsandqualifications,aswellaspersonalqualitiesthathighlightyoursuitabilitytotheposi-tion.

WORK EXPERIENCE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEAsummaryofyourworkhistoryandexperience.Itshouldbeinchronologicalorderstartingwiththemostrecent.Ifpossibleaddquantitativefacts.

JobTitle/Position DurationofPosition(dates)Company City,Province• Outlineresponsibilities/tasks• _______________________

EDUCATION Listyoureducation,trainingandothercertifications.Program,CertificateSchool,InstitutionAdditional:(ifapplicable)


VOLUNTEER WORK/COMMUNITY INTERESTS



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Combination Outline:

NameAddress


E-mail

OBJECTIVEYourcurrentgoalregardingemploymentorareasonforapplyingtothisparticu-larindustry/lineofwork.

RELEVANT SKILLS/PROFESSIONAL PROFILEBulletedstatementsrepresentinganOVERVIEWofyourTOPskillsandqualifications,aswellaspersonalqualitiesthathighlightyoursuitabilitytotheposition.

Thinkaboutthepositionyouareapplyingforandchoosethepertinentandtransferableskillsyouhaverelatingtotheposition.Organizetheseskillsintocategories,suchasManagerialSkills,TechnicalSkills,etc.Thissectionshouldprovidetheemployerwithclearandconcisedetailsofyourskillsacquiredthroughpreviousemployment,education/training,hobbiesorvolunteerexperience.

WORK EXPERIENCE OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Asummaryofyourworkhistoryandexperience.Itshouldbeinchronologicalorderstartingwiththemostrecent.Ifpossibleaddquantitativefacts.

JobTitle/Position DurationofPosition(dates)Company City,Province• Outlineresponsibilities/tasks• _______________________

EDUCATIONListyoureducation,trainingandothercertifications.Program,Certificate School,Institution

Additional:(ifapplicable)


VOLUNTEER WORK /COMMUNITY INTERESTS



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Wedevelopandenhanceskillsthroughavarietyofexperienceswhetheritisthroughwork,educationorhobbies.TheskillsthatwecantransferamongactivitiesarecalledTransferableSkills.Transferableskillsshouldbeincludedinyourresume.Therearemanypublicationsthathelpdescribetransferableskills.Belowaretwopublications:

1.ServiceCanadacreatedtheEssential Skillstoolsothatpeoplecanrealizetheskillsthat areusedeverydayinworkandlife.

2.AnEmployability SkillsdocumentwaspublishedbytheConferenceBoardofCanadatooutlinetheskillsneededtoenter,stayinandprogressintheworldofwork.Useeitherthelinkhttp://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/employability-skills.aspxorseepage9.

Essential SkillsEssentialSkillsarethefoundationalskillsrequiredtosuccessfullyparticipateintheCanadianlabourmarket.Definitions,typicalapplicationsandactualworkplaceexamplesareoutlinedbelowtohelpreadersunderstandeachEssentialSkill(adaptedfromDefiningEssentialSkills,ServiceCanadaPublicationHIP-024-11-04).

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Reading TextReadingmaterialsintheformofsentencesorparagraphs

Document UseTasksthatinvolveavarietyofinformationdisplaysinwhichwords,numbers,symbolsandothervisualcharacteris-tics(e.g.,lines,coloursorshapes)aregivenmeaningbytheirspatialarrangement

Numeracy Usingnumbersandthinkinginquantitativetermstocompletetasks

• Scanforinformation• Skimforoverallmeaning• Readafulltexttounderstand,learn,

critiqueorevaluate• Integrateandsynthesizeinformation

frommultiplesourcesorfromcomplexandlengthytests

• Readsigns,labelsorlists• Interpretinformationongraphsor

charts• Enterinformationonforms• Readorcreateschematicdrawings• Readorcreateassemblydrawings

• Numericalestimation• Numericalcalculation• Moneymath• Schedulingorbudgetingandaccount-

ingmath• Measurementandcalculationmath• Dataanalysismath

Autoservicetechniciansreadrepairmanuals.Theyreadmanualstofindtechnicalinforma-tionforeachmodelsothattheycandiagnoseandrepairmechanicalfaults.

Bricklayersinterpretblueprintstoestablishtheheight,lengthandthicknessofwallandthematerialstobeused.

Carpentersconvertbetweenmetricandimperialmeasurementssystems(e.g.,feettometres,kilogramstopounds)asrequiredbythejob.

Essential Skills Typical Applications Workplace Example

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Cookspreparedocumentationaftercompletionofacateringeven,outliningwhatwasserved,quantities,prices,rangeofservicesprovidedanddates.

Machinistsdiscussworkplansandcoordinatetaskswithothermachiniststocompletelargeorders.Theydiscussschedulingandworkloadstoensurejobsmeettimelinesrecordedonworkorders.

Earlychildhoodeducatorassistantsaremembersofateam,workingwithearlychildhoodeduca-torsandotherassistants.Theyworkaspartnerswithotherstaffmemberswhenjointlysupervisinglargergroups.

Automotivepaintersexperienceproductionsprob-lemswhenimportantpiecesofequipmentsuchasventilationsystemsandpaintboothsbreakdown.Theyinformtheirshopsupervisoraboutthebreakdownsandcompleteotherworkuntiltheequipmentisrepaired.Iftheequipmentcannotberepairedimmediately,theymaynegotiatetem-poraryaccesstoequipmentusedbyco-workersorbypaintersinothershops.

ElectriciansmayuseaDistributedControlSystemorsimilarsoftwaretocontrolelectricalequipmentinaplanttoaidintroubleshootingequipmentorinstrumentfailure.Thesystempresentsavarietyofviewsofthedatafromthousandsofsensorsandcontrolswithintheplantthancanbeanalyzedbeforeadjustmentsaremade.

Plumbersneedtoupgradeknowledgeandskills.Forexample,changestotheCanadianPlumbingCodeperiodicallymodifyproceduresfortheinstal-lationofpipingsystems.Advancesintechnol-ogyarealsohavingasignificantimpactontradeprocedures.Forexample,theuseofcomputerassisteddesign(CAD)softwareisrequiredinsomejurisdictions.Advancesintechnologyarealsochangingthedesign,applicationsandmaterialsofsystems.

• Organize,recordordocument• Informorpersuade• Requestinformationorjustify

arequest• Presentananalysisoracom-

parison

• Greetpeopleortakemes-sages

• Reassure,comfortorper-suade

• Seekorobtaininformation• Resolveconflicts• Facilitateorleadagroup

• Workindependently• Workjointlywithapartneror

helper• Workasamemberofateam• Participateinsupervisoryor

leadershipactivities

• Problemsolving• Decisionmaking• Criticalthinking• Jobtaskplanningandorga-

nizing• Significantuseofmemory• Findinginformation

• Operateacomputerizedcashregister

• Usewordprocessingsoftwaretoproducelettersormemos

• Sende-mailswithattach-mentstomultipleusers

• Createandmodifyspread-sheetsfordataentry

• Aspartofregularworkactivity• Fromco-workers• Throughtrainingofferedinthe

workplace• Throughoff-sitetraining

WritingWritingtextandwritingindocuments,suchasfillinginforms,andnonpaperbasedwritingsuchastypingonacomputer

Oral CommunicationUsingspeechtogiveandexchangethoughtsandinformation

Working with OthersEmployeesworkingwithothertocarryouttheirtasks

Thinking SkillsTheprocessofevaluatingideasorinformationtoreachrationaldecision

Computer UseUsingdifferentkindsofcom-puterapplicationsandotherrelatedtechnicaltools

Continuous LearningWorkersparticipatinginanongoingprocessofacquiringskillsandknowledge

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Fundamental SkillsTheskillsneededasabaseforfurtherdevelopment

Youwillbebetterpreparedtoprogressintheworldofworkwhenyoucan:

Communicate• readandunderstandinformation

presentedinavarietyofforms(e.g.words,graphs,charts,diagrams)

• writeandspeaksootherpayatten-tionandunderstand

• listenandaskquestionstounders-tandandappreciatethepointsofviewsofothers

• shareinformationusingarangeofinformationandcommunicationstechnologies(e.g.,voice,e-mail,computers)

• usearelevantscientific,technologi-calandmathematicalknowledgeandskillstoexplainorclarifyideas

Manage Information• locate,gatherandorganizeinform-ationusingappropriatetechnologyandinformationsystems• access,analyzeandapplyknowl-

edgeandskillsfromvariousdis-ciplines(e.g.,thearts,languages,science,technology,mathematics,

socialsciencesandthehumanities)

Use Numbers• decidewhatneedstobemeasuredorcalculated• observeandrecorddatausingappro-

priatemethods,toolsandtechnology• makeestimatesandverifycalcula-

tions

Think & Solve Problems• assesssituationsandidentifyprob-

lems• seekdifferentpointsofviewand

evaluatethembasedonfacts• recognizethehuman,interpersonal,

technical,scientificandmathematicaldimensionsofaproblem

• identifytherootcauseofaproblem• becreativeandinnovativeinexplo-ringpossiblesolutions• readilyusescience,technologyand

mathematicsaswaystothink,gainandshareknowledge,solveproblemsandmakedecisions

• evaluatesolutionstomakerecom-mendationsordecisions

• implementsolutions• checktoseeifasolutionsworks,and

actonopportunitiesforimprovement

Personal Management SkillsThepersonalskills,attitudesandbehav-ioursthatdriveone’spotentialforgrowth

Youwillbeabletoofferyourselfgreaterpossibilitiesforachievementwhenyoucan:

Demonstrate Positive Attitudes & Behaviours• feelgoodaboutyourselfandbeconfi-

dent• dealwithpeople,problemsandsitua-

tionswithhonesty,integrityandpersonalethics

• recognizeyourownandotherpeople’sgoodefforts

• takecareofyourpersonalhealth• showinterest,initiativeandeffort

Be Responsible• setgoalsandprioritiesbalancingwork

andpersonallife• planandmanagetime,moneyandother

resourcestoacheivegoals• assess,weighandmanagerisk• beaccountableforyouractionsandthe

actionsofyourgroup• besociallyresponsibleandcontributeto

yourcommunity

Be Adaptable• workindependentlyoraspartofateam• carryoutmultipletasksorprojects• beinnovativeandresourceful:identify

andsuggestalternativewaystoachievegoalsandgetthejobdone

• beopenandrespondconstructivelytochange

• learnfromyourmistakesandacceptfeedback

• copewithuncertainty

Learn Continuously • bewillingtocontinuouslylearnandgrow• assesspersonalstrengthsandareasfor

development• setyourownlearninggoals• identifyandaccesslearningsourcesand

opportunities• planforandachieveyourlearninggoals

Work Safely• beawareofpersonalandgrouphealth

andsafetypracticesandprocedures,andactinaccordancewiththese

Teamwork SkillsTheskillsandattributesneededtocon-tributeproductively

Youwillbebetterpreparedtoaddvaluetotheoutcomesofatask,projectorteamwhenyoucan:

Work with Others• understandandworkwithinthedynam-

icsofagroup• ensurethatateam’spurposeandob-

jectivesareclear• beflexible:respect,beopentoand

supportiveofthethoughts,opinionsandcontributionsofothersinagroup• recognizeandrespectpeople’sdiver-

sity,individualdifferencesandperspec-tives

• acceptandprovidefeedbackincon-structiveandconsideratemanner

• contributetoateambysharinginform-ationandexpertise

• leadorsupportwhenappropriate,moti-vatingagroupforhighperformance

• understandtheroleofconflictinagrouptoreachsolutions

• manageandresolveconflictwhenap-propriate

Participate in Projects & Tasks• plan,designorcarryoutaprojector

taskfromstarttofinishwithwell-defin-edobjectivesandoutcomes

• developaplan,seekfeedback,test,reviseandimplement

• worktoagreedqualitystandardsandspecifications

• selectanduseappropriatetoolsandtechnologyforataskorproject

• adapttochangingrequirementsandinformation

• continuouslymonitorthesuccessofaprojectortaskandindentifywaystoimprove

The Conference Board of Canada255 Smyth Road, OttawaON, K1H 8M7, Canada

Tel (613) 526-3280Fax (613 526-4857

Internet: www.conferenceboard.ca/education

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

accelerated correlated handled participated spearheadedachieved corresponded heightened performed specifiedacted counselled persuaded stimulatedadapted created planned strengthenedadministered critiqued identified presented studiedadvised improved presided submittedallocated developed increased prioritized summarizedanalyzed decided influenced processed supervisedappraised defined informed produced surveyedapproved delegated initiated projected synthesizedarbitrated delivered inspected promoted arranged demonstrated instituted providedassembled designed instructed publicizedassessed detected integrated taughtattained diagnosed introduced transformedaudited directed invented recommended translatedauthorized dispensed investigated reconciled transmitted displayed recorded treatedbalanced distributed labelled recruited tutoredbegan drafted launched reducedbilled lectured referred updatedbudgeted earned led regulated upgradedbuilt edited released utilized educated maintained removedcalculated encouraged managed re-organized validatedcalibrated engaged manufactured repaired verifiedcanvassed enabled mapped reported visitedcatalogued enlisted marketed representedchaired estimated measured researched workedchanged evaluated mediated resolved wroteclarified examined moderated respondedclassified expanded monitored restoredcoached expedited motivated retrievedcollaborated explained reviewedcollected negotiated revisedcompared facilitated notified revitalizedcompiled familiarizedcomposed forecasted observed savedcomputed formulated obtained scheduledconceived founded operated securedconducted orchestrated selectedconfirmed gathered ordered servedconsolidated gauged organized setupcontracted generated originated shapedcontrolled granted oversaw soldco-operated guided solicitedco-ordinated solved

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USEFUL VERBS TO DESCRIBE SKILLS ON A RESUME

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EDUCATION___________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________RELATED EXPERIENCE_____________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ________________________ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE____________________________ ____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ________________________ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS· _______________________________________· _______________________________________· _______________________________________


FUNCTIONAL TEMPLATE WORKSHEET:(refer to the appropriate outline for explanation)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE _____________________________________________________________________________

RELEVANT SKILLS___________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ____________________________________________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________

CHRONOLOGICAL TEMPLATE WORKSHEET:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE _____________________________________________________________________________

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________

WORK EXPERIENCE____________________________ ____________________________________________________ ________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION___________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ________________________COMMUNITY INTERESTS· _______________________________________· _______________________________________ACTIVITIES· _______________________________________· _______________________________________


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COMBINATION TEMPLATE WORKSHEET:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OBJECTIVE _____________________________________________________________________________

Professional profile___________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ____________________________________________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________

WORK EXPERIENCE____________________________ ____________________________________________________ ________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________· ________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION___________________________ ___________________________________________________ ________________________COMMUNITY INTERESTS· _______________________________________· _______________________________________ACTIVITIES· _______________________________________· _______________________________________


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• Aletterthataccompaniesyourresumewhenapplyingforaposition

• Awaytosellyourselfandsetyourselfapartfromtheothercandidates

• Anexplanationofhowyoufoundoutabouttheposition,whyyoufeelyouareagoodfitandanemployeethisemployerwouldwanttohire

• ALWAYSincludeaCoverLetterwithyourresume

• Keepitbrief.Onlyonepageinlength–focusonthetwoorthreequalitiesthatdistinguishyou

• Ifpossiblepersonalizeyourlettertoaspecificperson,ensurecorrectspell-ingoftheirname.Toobtainthisinformationcalltheorganizationtofindout.Ifthisisnotpossiblethenuseageneralsalutation(i.e.DearSirorMadamorTowhomitmayconcern)

• Tailorthelettertomatchtherequirementsofthepositionandyourskills(frompaidexperience,volunteerwork,hobbies,etc.)

• Stresshowyouwilladdvaluetotheorganization,overandabovetheinfor-mationonyourresume

• Projectconfidenceandbepositive

• Donotbevague

• Ensureitexpressesyourownstyleandpersonality

• DONOThandwriteyourletter

• Nospellingorgrammarerrors:usespellcheckandbesuretoproofreadbe-foresending

WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?

COVER LETTER GUIDELINES

Paragraph Format:

Thiscoverletterismadeupofthreemainparagraphs:

First Paragraph:• Statethereasonforyourletter,thepositionyouareapplyingfor• Whereyouheardaboutit• Yourinterestintheposition

Second Paragraph:• Shouldanswerthequestion“WhyshouldIhireyou?”• Highlightthemostimportantrelevantskills,abilities,knowledge,experienceor

trainingthatareapplicabletotheposition• Includesomeofyourresearchaboutthecompanyororganization

Third Paragraph:• Thanktheemployerfortheirtimeandconsideration• Requestanintervieworstatethatyoulookforwardtohearingfromthem

T-Format:

Thiscoverletteriscomprisedoftwoparagraphsandatable,whichhighlightstheskillstheemployerisrequestingandyourskills:

First Paragraph:• Statethereasonforyourletter,thepositionyouareapplyingfor• Whereyouheardaboutit• Yourinterestintheposition

Table:• Madeupoftwocolumns:ThePositionRequiresandMyQualifications• Youaretryingtomatchuptherequirementstoyourskillset

Third Paragraph:• Thanktheemployerfortheirtimeandconsideration• Requestanintervieworstatethatyoulookforwardtohearingfromthem

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TYPES OF COVER LETTERS:

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Paragraph Cover Letter Outline:

Putyourcontactinformationasaheader

Date

Employer’sNamePositionCompanyAddressCity,Prov.,PostalCode

DearEmployer’sName:

Inthefirstparagraphyouwanttostatethejobyouareapplyingfor,yourinterestinthepo-sition,explainhowyoufoundthejobandinvitethemtoreadyourresumewiththehopeofobtainingameeting(i.e. In reference to the open cook position you have posted on_______, I am very interested in the opportunity. Perhaps after reading this letter and enclosed resume, you will agree we have a mutually beneficial reason to meet).

Thesecondparagraphprovidesyouwithanopportunitytosellyourselfandexplaintotheem-ployerwhyyouwouldbeagoodfit.Highlighttheskillsyouhavethattheyarelookingfor.

Yourfinalparagraphshouldhaveanythingelsethatyoufindinterestingaboutthecompany(i.e.missionstatement)onlyifapplicable.Youshouldendwithrestatingyourinterestinthepositionandameeting,providethemwithcontactinfoandthankthemfortheirtime(i.e. The cook position sounds like an outstanding opportunity, and I would welcome the chance for an interview to discuss your needs and outline my strengths in person. You may reach me at 555-555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration of my resume and I look forward to speaking with you.).

Sincerely,

YourName

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T-Format Cover Letter Outline:

Putyourcontactinformationasaheader

Date

Employer’sNamePositionCompanyAddressCity,Prov.,PostalCode

DearEmployer’sName:

Inthefirstparagraphyouwanttostatethejobyouareapplyingfor,yourinterestintheposi-tion,explainhowyoufoundthejobandinvitethemtoreadyourresumewiththehopesofameeting(i.e. In reference to the open cook position you have posted on _______, I am very interested in the opportunity. Perhaps after reading this letter and enclosed resume, you will agree we have a mutually beneficial reason to meet).

Yourfinalparagraphshouldhaveanythingelsethatyoufindinterestingaboutthecompany(i.e.missionstatement)onlyifapplicable.Youshouldendwithrestatingyourinterestinthepositionandameeting,providethemwithcontactinfoandthankthemfortheirtime(i.e. the cook position sounds like an outstanding opportunity and I would welcome the chance for an interview to discuss your needs and outline my strengths in person. You may reach me at 555-555-5555. Thank you for your time and consideration of my resume and I look forward to speaking with you.).

Sincerely,

YourName

This Position Requires : My Qualifications are:

List the requirements from the advertisement

List your corresponding skill set

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NOTES:

Copyright H.I.E.C. 2011

This Employment Ontario project, program or service is funded in part by the

Government of Canada

resume and cover letter guide - · pdf fileresume and cover letter guide 1 • keep your...

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