writing a successful resume and cover letter · writing a successful resume and cover letter. ......
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Shayaan Malik | Careers Consultant | UNSW Careers and Employment
Writing a Successful Resume
and Cover letter
What is the Purpose of a Resume and
Cover Letter? I
Tailored and Evidence Based Promotional Documents Designed to Answer:
Can you do the job? (Competency in key areas: education/experience/skills/extra curricular)
Will you do the job? (Attitude, interest, motivation)
Do you fit?(Culture, values, personal attributes)
What are you applying for?
– Casual/Customer service positions
– Graduate programs
– Academic positions
– Speculative opportunities
– Overseas positions
– Experienced roles
How will you set yourself apart?
What Differentiates You?
What makes you stand out?
What are your selling points?
Work Experience
Grades International Degree
Clubs VolunteeringExtra
Curricular
Personal
Development
Certifications Skills Motivations Awards
What Differentiates You?
Top Transferable Skills Employers Look For
Communication
Team Work
Adaptability
Leadership
Motivation
Willingness to Learn
Interpersonal
Problem Solving
What other skills do you have? Where have you used them?
Source: Graduate Outlook Survey 2014
• Are you responding to an advertised vacancy?
• Or sending a speculative cover letter?
• Or have you been referred to the employer?
Who will be reading your resume and cover letter?
• Human Resources staff?
• Recruitment Consultant?
• Line Manager/Direct Supervisor?
• Owner / Partner / Director?
What are they looking for?
• Job Ad / Job Description
• Research similar roles
• Research the organisation
Know Your Target Audience
FACTIVA
JOB ADVERTS -
Analysing a Job Ad
Step 1: What do they say they want?
Step 2: What additional criteria are they also seeking?
Step 3: Which are the most vital 3 - 5 selection criteria?
Which ones do you have?
Address these and provide evidence
Customer Service Professionals
• Enjoy variety in your role• North Ryde Location• Full time hours over a four day week = Flexibility for your
lifestyle
You will enjoy the security of working for a company established for over 100 years in the Australian market. As part of this small call centre team, you will love the variety this role offers.
Taking inbound calls from existing customers, you will love the autonomy to co-ordinate and dispatch the professional team of technicians to both Australian & New Zealand sites. Your efficient and pro-active approach will be highly regarded and valued in this organisation.
The team, being friendly and down to earth, will welcome your natural ability to build rapport, as well as your organisational skills and effective time management. Call centre experience is desirable and flexibility to work a 24x7 rotating roster a must. With on-site café and parking, convenience, autonomy and long term security will be the key for this position.
Please send Resumes (CV's) as WORD (any version) attachments.
Essential Criteria
• Autonomy
• Build rapport
• Organisational Skills
• Time Management
• Call centre experience
• Flexibility
• Proactive approach
Additional Criteria
• Communication Skills
• Interpersonal skills
Exercise: From the Employer’s Perspective...
Are you a student looking for experience in the consulting industry?
An exciting opportunity has become available for students to join our
graduate program. This program will facilitate the progression of your career
within the diverse consulting industry. We are looking for graduates with:
• Strong interpersonal skills,
• Client focus,
• Planning and problem solving skills
Impression? Quality? Suitability?
Can you do the job? Will you do the job? Will you fit in?
Writing a Winning Resume
Tailored & Relevant
Know your audience
Concise and Well Formatted
Easy to read, 1-3 pages
Well Written
Proofread!
Achievement Focused and
Specific
Unique to your experiences &
skills. Avoid generalities
Contents of a Resume:
Appropriate Personal Details
Career Profile or Objective Acts as your unique intro. Your Top Selling Points.
Education Relevant courses, notable marks, awards.
Employment / Experience Professional’, Relevant, Other. Use Achievement Statements. Key Skills
Relevant Projects Good for limited work experience. Course Work?
Technical Skills If relevant. Be sure to qualify
Extracurricular Activities Volunteering. Key skills. Use Achievement Statements
Awards Description. What for?
Professional Memberships Describe Involvement
Interests If relevant
Referees
Additional Sections……..
CURRICULUM VITAE
Personal Information
Name: Dorothy Chan Fung Lee
Address: 241/47 Brown St Dundus Sydney 1111 Australia
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 9511 1123
Mobile: 041358741
Date of Birth: 12/03/1985
Place of Birth: Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leaonard
Residency Status: Australian Citizen
Marital Status: Married to James (1child – Amy (3years old))
Alan DaveyE: [email protected] M: 0411 111 111 Wk: 9385 0000
Address: 35/7 Round St, Breden NSW 2222
Personal
Details
Career Profile or Objective
Career Objective
To obtain a position with a global banking institution where I can utilize my excellent
accounting, organization and communication skills.
To be employed in the area of materials science where my analytical and problem
solving skills will enable me to define a range of processing problems and plan
appropriate strategies to resolve them.
Career Objective
Career Profile
Career Profile
Final year Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) student with a distinction average, who has:
• Completed a 3 month industrial training program with BHP Billiton
• Demonstrated leadership potential as a Fundraising Team Officer and Site Team Leader
• Highly developed communication skills gained through various professional and part-time work experiences
Distinction Average Psychology graduate seeking challenging role in consulting industry:
• 4 years customer service experience in retail sector
• 3 years voluntary telephone counselling demonstrating high level communication skills
• Experience managing 100 rental accounts in fast paced property environment
Career Profile
How to Describe your Experience :
• Demonstrated leadership skills in training 6 new staff to operate the cash register
• Worked as part of an effective team and served over 1000 customers within an hour during a football match
• Raised grades of 5 students by an average of 20% while being a private HSC Science tutor
= VERB + KEYWORDS + QUANTITATIVE INFO (NUMBERS)
Achievement Statements
University Projects?
Project Name, CourseUniversity of New South Wales May 2015
• Coordinated with 6 team members to create marketing plan for sample company. • Developed strong analytical skills by researching the financial statements of a variety of public and
private companies.• Designed sample program using Autocad to….• Presented research findings via a PowerPoint presentation to a class of 60 students using excellent
communication skills. • Enhanced Excel skills by using pivot tables to…• Achieved high distinction for 10 page written report outlining research findings on…
Extra Curricular Activities?
• Remain up to date with industry developments through monthly newsletter and by attending guest speaker events and club meetings.
• Developed leadership skills citizenship through formal training and community engagement.
Using Achievement Statements
for other Experiences:
Examples
Communication Skills
• Wrote 4 articles for the Blitz in 2014
• Achieved HD for Counselling
Psychology subject
• Work as a Telephone counsellor at
Lifeline
Team Work Skills
• Organised a harbour cruise for 150
members of the Psychology Society
• UNSW Careers Expo volunteer
Time Management Skills
• Regularly organised & chaired
meetings for the Psychology Society
•Worked as a Senior Peer Mentor and
scheduled mentor shifts, training and
allocated tasks
Customer Service
• Customer service employee of the
month at McDonalds Feb & Mar 2012
• Worked as a volunteer at CONTACT
and regularly managed students
enquiries
Leadership Skills
• Trained 6 new staff at McDonalds
• Was a team leader with Yellow Shirts
• Supervised 3 staff at in my role at
KFC
Problem Solving Skills
• Successfully found alternate venue
for 150 members of the Psych Society
when it rained on the day of the
harbour cruise.
Practice:
1• Pick a project, work/volunteer experience, or
extra curricular activity
2• What skill did you use or demonstrate?
3• Pick a verb
4 • Is it focused on an achievement?
Let’s Discuss…
COMMUNICATION CREATIVE HELPING LEADERSHIP ORGANISING FINANCIAL RESEARCH TEACHING
Advertised Acted Adapted Administered Arranged Administered Analysed Adapted
Arranged Adapted Advocated Attained Catalogued Adjusted Clarified Advised
Articulated Began Aided Consolidated Categorized Allocated Collected Assisted
Collaborated Combined Answered Converted Classified Analysed Compared Clarified
Communicated Composed Arranged Coordinated Collected Appraised Conducted Coached
Consulted Conceptualised Assessed Decided Compiled Assessed Critiqued Communicated
Contacted Condensed Assisted Delegated Corresponded Audited Detected Conducted
Convinced Created Clarified Developed Distributed Balanced Determined Coordinated
Developed Customised Coached Directed Executed Budgeted Diagnosed Critiqued
Directed Designed Collaborated Enhanced Generated Calculated Evaluated Developed
Discussed Developed Contributed Established Incorporated Computed Examined Enabled
Elicited Directed Cooperated Generated Inspected Conserved Experimented Encouraged
Formulated Displayed Counselled Improved Maintained Corrected Explored Evaluated
Incorporated Established Demonstrated Incorporated Monitored Determined Extracted Explained
Influenced Fashioned Educated Increased Obtained Developed Formulated Facilitated
Interpreted Formulated Encouraged Initiated Operated Estimated Gathered Focused
Involved Founded Ensured Instituted Ordered Forecasted Inspected Guided
Marketed Illustrated Expedited Led Organised Managed Interviewed Individualised
Mediated Initiated Facilitated Managed Prepared Marketed Invented Informed
Negotiated Instituted Guided Merged Processed Measured Investigated Instilled
Participated Integrated Helped Motivated Provided Netted Located Instructed
Persuaded Introduced Insured Organised Purchased Planned Measured Motivated
Promoted Invented Intervened Planned Recorded Prepared Organised Oversaw
Proposed Modelled Motivated Prioritised Registered Programmed Researched Presented
Publicised Modified Prevented Produced Responded Projected Reviewed Persuaded
Reinforced Originated Provided Restored Reviewed Qualified Searched Simulated
Resolved Performed Represented Reviewed Scheduled Reconciled Solved Stimulated
Spoke Planned Resolved Scheduled Submitted Reduced Summarised Supervised
Suggested Revised Simplified Secured Supplied Researched Surveyed Tested
Summarised Revitalised Supplied Selected Standardised Retrieved Systematised Trained
Synthesised Shaped Supported Streamlined Systematised Validated Tested Transmitted
Wrote Solved Volunteered Strengthened Updated Verified Validated Tutored
Active Verbs
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Advance Science 2010The University of New South Wales
Higher School Certificate 2003-2008Sydney High School
• Achieved TER of 97.9• Awarded School Medal for Mathematics, Year 12
EMPLOYMENT
Vacation Trainee Dec 2009- 2010Aussie Foods, Chatswood
• Commercial (auditing/payroll) and production-focused projects successfully completed during two-month placement
• investigated career opportunities in industry, via scheduled meetings with senior staff
• developed time-management skills after attending managerial training course
Sous Chef / Wait staff 2006 - PresentVarious casual positions, Sydney
• Regular casual work offered during session by recruitment agency The Sydney Hospitality Group
• Learned importance of customer service and developed stronger organisational skills
Mathematics Tutor 2005- 2007The Shack Tutoring Program, UNSW Union
• Raised grades of five HSC students by an average of 35%
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Hills Hawks Baseball Club 2000 – Present Team Member
• Actively and regularly participate in competitive matches• Involve myself in club social activities and fund-raising events• Key Achievement: Awarded Club’s Most Improved Player in 2001
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Advance Science 2010The University of New South Wales
Higher School Certificate 2003-2008Sydney High School
• Achieved TER of 97.9• Awarded School Medal for Mathematics, Year 12
EMPLOYMENT
Vacation Trainee Dec 2009- 2010Aussie Foods, Chatswood
• Commercial (auditing/payroll) and production-focused projects successfully completed during two-month placement
• investigated career opportunities in industry, via scheduled meetings with senior staff
• developed time-management skills after attending managerial training course
Sous Chef / Wait staff 2006 - PresentVarious casual positions, Sydney
• Regular casual work offered during session by recruitment agency The Sydney Hospitality Group
• Learned importance of customer service and developed stronger organisational skills
Mathematics Tutor 2005- 2007The Shack Tutoring Program, UNSW Union
• Raised grades of five HSC students by an average of 35%
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Hills Hawks Baseball Club 2000 – Present Team Member
• Actively and regularly participate in competitive matches• Involve myself in club social activities and fund-raising events• Key Achievement: Awarded Club’s Most Improved Player in 2001
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Advance Science 2010The University of New South Wales
Higher School Certificate 2003-2008Sydney High School
• Achieved TER of 97.9• Awarded School Medal for Mathematics, Year 12
EMPLOYMENT
Vacation Trainee Dec 2009- 2010Aussie Foods, Chatswood
• Commercial (auditing/payroll) and production-focused projects successfully completed during two-month placement
• investigated career opportunities in industry, via scheduled meetings with senior staff
• developed time-management skills after attending managerial training course
Sous Chef / Wait staff 2006 - PresentVarious casual positions, Sydney
• Regular casual work offered during session by recruitment agency The Sydney Hospitality Group
• Learned importance of customer service and developed stronger organisational skills
Mathematics Tutor 2005- 2007The Shack Tutoring Program, UNSW Union
• Raised grades of five HSC students by an average of 35%
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Hills Hawks Baseball Club 2000 – Present Team Member
• Actively and regularly participate in competitive matches• Involve myself in club social activities and fund-raising events• Key Achievement: Awarded Club’s Most Improved Player in 2001
Tips for Formatting
• 2-3 pages average length for a graduate resume
• Use bold for key info such as headers and titles of things (degree and job titles)
• Avoid italics & underline - don’t fax or scan into a database well
• Be clear and consistent
• Use only 1 plain font Eg. Arial, Calibri, Tahoma
• Font size: 11 / 12
• Use bullets & short paragraphs
• Keep plenty of white space on page
• Put dates, titles and full stops in similar places
• Left-align all text
Table vs Plain Text
Period Qualifications Institutions Achievements
2009 - 2012 Bachelor of Advance Science
University of New South Wales
Majoring in BiologyAchieved a High Distinction average for all biology subjectsRepresented the School of Biology at Info Days
2008 - 2002 Higher School Certificate
Bridigine College, St Ives
Achieved a UAI of 98.65School Captain 2008 & 2009Represented the College at the School Leaders Conference, 2009Mentored 20 year 7 students at a peer mentor
Education
Bachelor of Advance Science 2009-2012
University of New South Wales
• Majoring in material science
• Achieved a Distinction average for all material science subjects
• Represented the School of Material Science and Engineering at Info Days
Higher School Certificate 2008-2002
Brigidine College, St Ives
• Achieved a UAI of 98.65
• School Captain 2008 & 2009
Referees
Referees
Referees available on request.
Referees
Prof Example (PhD Supervisor)School of PsychologyThe University of New South WalesSydney NSW 2052Tel: 9385 5621Email: s.example @unsw.edu.au
Referees
Prof Example (PhD Supervisor)School of PsychologyThe University of New South Wales
(Contact details available on request)
“I am applying to 10 companies, but I don’t have a lot of time to write my applications. I’ll
send a standard cover letter and resume to each of them.”
“I have an average mark of 60 for my subjects. I don’t want to put it on my resume. I will
just list all the subjects I’ve done instead.”
“I don’t have a lot of work experience. I have nothing to put on my resume.”
“I want to use colour and interesting design features on my resume to make it stand out”
“Can I use Colour on my Resume?”
What do you think? Is it appropriate?
Group Discussion
Cover Letter
Why them and why you?
To someone who may be concerned,
My name is James Smith. I will be completing my Master program in
Forensic Psychology in December and I am interesting in the position as a
psychologist. I work well as part of a team and is capable of performing
clinical assessments. As you can see from my resume, I have worked in
various areas relevant to the position. I strongly believe I will be able to
apply my skills and add values to your organisation. Please find attached
my resume for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,
James.
Dear Ms. Smith -> Yours sincerely,
Dear sir / madam -> Yours faithfully,
Cover Letter Layout
Margaret Sample
12 / 65 Jones Rd
EARLVILLE, NSW 4444
Phone
Date of writing
Contact Person’s Title & Name
Contact Person’s Position
Organisation Name
Organisation Address
Re: name of position
Dear Ms. Jones, (avoid Dear Sir / Madam)
Opening Paragraph Spark the employer’s interest
Middle Paragraphs
Demonstrate ‘fit’
Closing ParagraphAsk for interview
Cover Letter Structure
Why are you attracted to:• this position? &/or• this particular organisation? &/or• the field or industry?
Demonstrate your research into the organisation
Why you?Focus on their top 3 – 5 skills & attributesProvide SPECIFIC examples as evidence.Stress relevant accomplishments
Summarise what you offer themBe positive in your expectationsThank them
• “In a job that requires me to reach a quota, I am required to focus on the need of
my customers to make the final sale.”
• “Working with young children presented me with many challenges which I
was forced to solve with efficiency.”
• “I realised that I had to learn to prioritise tasks”
Active vs. Passive Language
Organisational Skills
(Situation) Project assistant while assisting a research team.
(Task) I helped the team to schedule interviews with 50 participants
in the study.
(Action) I scheduled facilitates and contacted participants using excel
to keep track of room bookings and participant information.
(Result) My organization ensured everyone attended and accurate
information was able to be gathered for the study.
Achievement Statement
• Organised interviews for 50 research study participants by booking facilities and creating an accurate schedule using excel to achieve 100% participation.
S ituation
T ask
A ction
R esult
The STAR Formula
Common Errors
• Same cover letter for each job
• Focusing only on what the position can do for you
• Writing what they already know
• Not mentioning why you’re interested in that particular organization
• No specific examples
• Trying to address all the selection criteria
AVOID BIG WHOPPERS!!
• “Problem solving kills” instead of “Problem solving skills”
• “Career Objection” instead of “Career Objective”
• “Unforgivable experience” instead of “Unforgettable experience”
• “University of New South Whales” or “University of New Soul Wales”
• “Take apart the meeting”
• “I’m looking forward to infecting your organisation”
• “Overlooked all responsibilities of the organisation”
• “Yours insincerely”
• “Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty”
• Check and double check spelling
• One typo can reduce your chances of success by 70%
Resume & Cover Letter Checklist
w w w . c a r e e r s . u n s w . e d u . a u
UNSW Careers and Employment