resumes & cover letters

KEITH MUNSON, CAREER SPECIALISTSTROMMEN CAREER AND INTERNSHIP CENTER

LL OF ANDERSON HALL

Resumes & Cover Letters

Strommen Career & Internship Center •[email protected] • 612-330-1167 • http://cswl.pbworks.com/

Strommen Career & Internship CenterUpcoming Events

Minnesota Private College Job & Internship Fair Tuesday, February 22, 20119:00-3:00 p.m. Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN Cost - TBD Must register with Augsburg's Career & Internship Center http://www.mnpcfair.org

Alumni and Student Networking Reception Thursday, February 10 , 2011 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Oren Gateway Lobby

Resume Writing Workshop Thursday, February 3, 20114:00-5:00 p.m. Christenson Center, Century Room

"Job & Internship Fair Success: Strategies for Interviewing On the Spot"Thursday, February 3, 20115:00-6:00 p.m.

Job & Internship Fair Prep Sessions-see wiki site for times/dates.


Purpose of a resume

Marketing toolCommunicate the highlightsFocus on relevant/important informationThe “trailer”, NOT the whole storyTo generate interest and get you an interview


Types of Resumes

Chronological Lists experiences in reverse chronological order Ties responsibilities, achievements, and

experiences to specific employers, positions, and dates

Functional Emphasizes skills/knowledge rather than dates &

employersCombination

Mixes format of chronological and functional Use combination/chronological most often


What Type is Right?

Chronological Pros: Most commonly used Preferred by employers Easiest to do and write Stresses steady &

Consistent employment Clear & concise Used to highlight titles,

names of employers, & growth in career

Chronological Cons: Gaps in employment

are readily evident Difficult to highlight

skills Hard to conceal non-

related employment Not advantageous for

career changers or frequent change


What Type is Right?

Functional Pros: Emphasize skills not

used in recent employment

Used when changing career/entering workforce after absence

Advantageous if there is a lack of career growth

Functional Pros: Advantageous if you

have various, unconnected work experience

Used when most experience is freelance work, consulting, or temporary


What Type is Right?

Functional Cons:Forces you to

identify skill clusters that may not be needed by employer

Not advantageous when you have performed limited number of work functions

Combination Pros:Good for career

changeGood for entry

after absenceCombination Cons:

Holds same disadvantages as functional resume


Resume Basics

Use formatting to make important information stand out

Be consistent in formatting, grammar, etcMake absolutely sure there are no mistakesFormatting is the easy part.......


Resume Sections


The Sections of Your Resume

Heading Includes “general” information:

Name Phone Number Address Email Address-MAKE SURE IT IS APPROPRIATE

Should be bigger & bolder than the rest Separate from the body using a line or graphic Be conservative with graphics


Objective Professional Summary

Your objective is optional Focuses on YOUR interests

and goal If not on resume, it must

be in your cover letter Be clear & concise about

what you want If you are not specific, list

your career interests

Also optional Lists highlights of

background relevant to employer

Encourages employer to read on

Helps highlight skills not evident in work history

Objective or Professional Summary


Objective Professional Summary

Seeking an entry-level position in accounting with a focus on tax and auditing.

Demonstrated leadership ability

Excellent organizational skills and detail-oriented

Several years of experience in customer service and sales

Intern experience at General Mills and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Objective or Professional Summary


Education Section

Must include: Institution name

and location City & state Degree Date of graduation Major, minor,

concentration

Optional: GPA Course work Computer skills Financing of

education Dean’s list or

honors


Skills or Qualifications Section

Skills employers desire: Oral/written communication skills Teamwork skills Interpersonal skills Flexibility Leadership

Computer Skills List hardware, software, & platforms


Experience/Work Experience

May include internships, volunteering, community service, or work experiences

Include: Job title Name of company or organization City & state (no zip codes) Responsibilities/duties/skills required Dates employed


Jazz it up!

Highlight important information Bold Italics Caps

You may want to use a bulleted list of skills/duties/responsibilities to make sure the information stands out

Use action words to describe what you did


Write Effective Skill Phrases

Skill phrases are action statements that describe your experiences.

Components of a skill phrase Bullet point Action verbs in the past-tense Specific skill that was learned or honed Results of your work, or how or why you did the

work.

Avoid personal pronouns when writing skill phrases


Skill Phrase Example

Fair Sold sporting equipment to customersBetter Developed sales strategies for selling sporting

equipment to customersBest Developed effective and creative sales strategies that

resulted in the top sales of sporting equipment for four consistent months


Other Sections

Leadership experience & offices held Greek organizations Include dates & titles

Honors & scholarshipsClubs & organizationsProfessional memberships & affiliationsHobbies-LIMITED NUMBERKicker (centered at bottom)


References

Must be on a separate page of same paperInclude

Name & title of person Company or organization Address City, state, zip code Phone number Email address

References

Keith Munson, MSCareer Specialist & Employer Development

Strommen Career & Internship CenterAugsburg College

2211 Riverside AvenueMinneapolis, MN 55454

(612) [email protected]


Final “Do’s” and “Don’ts”

Do Keep it brief Use 81/2 x 11 paper Check grammar Target your resume Be creative Check appearance Always include a

cover letter (over head 10)

Use quantifiable measures

Don’t Use abbreviations Mention salary, etc. Use fancy bold or

exotic paper Include personal info. Use the passive voice Staple or fold resume Include references on

resume


Cover Letter Essentials

Make each cover letter fit the job in which you are applying for

Use your experience and relate it to the job

Express passion for the kind of work you would be doing

Add something in the letter that states how what the organization does/mission fits with your values or interests


Cover Letters

JAKE RYAN SAMPLE 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454 612-555-5555

[email protected]

October 11, 2009

Dan HowmanProject ManagerPace Analytical Services, Inc.14870 Granada AvenueMinneapolis, MN 55454 Dear Mr. Howman:


Introduction

Dear Mr. Howman:

I was excited to see your advertisement for the Chemist position on Augsburg College’s Augpost system. I have been looking for a position that would allow me to use my experience in research to work within a pharmaceutical environment, where the focus is on developing relationships with partners in the healthcare field. Pace’s mission fits extremely well with my values and passion to protect the environment and make the world healthier for everyone.


Body of Letter

Recently , I graduated from Augsburg College with a bachelor of arts in Chemistry and Computational Economics. During my junior year, I did an internship at the University of Minnesota’s Chemistry department. Within that position, I worked effectively on the team to develop useful methodologies for the synthesis of natural products as potential pharmaceuticals. I really enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in the development, testing and research of new pharmaceuticals. My education, internship, and research experience have increased my abilities in the following areas:

Effectiveness in testing and researching potential pharmaceuticals Strong analytical and problem solving skills Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills Successfully worked with research teams regarding product development

and suggestions for optimization


Ending

My work, education, and leadership experiences have allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I am passionate about working within the field of pharmaceutical research and believe that I can make an important contribution to Pace Analytical Services Inc. Enclosed is my resume for your further consideration. Thank you in advance and I look forward to meeting with you soon.

Sincerely,

Jake R. Sample

Jake R. Sample

Enclosure

HTTP://CSWL.PBWORKS.COM/RESUME RUBRIC

resumes & cover letters

Documents

career changers

career changegood

christenson center

minneapolis convention

chronological pros

comwhat type

functional cons

freelance work