resume cover letter guide 2016 - rockridge...

Resume & Cover Letter

Guide 2016/17

Careers

Cover Letter CoverLetterRules:

•Addressyourletterstoaspecificpersonifyoucan.

•Tailoryourletterstospecificsituationsororganizationsbydoingresearchbeforewritingyourletters.

•Keeplettersconciseandfactual,nomorethanasinglepage.Avoidflowerylanguage.

•Giveexamplesthatsupportyourskillsandqualifications.

•Putyourselfinthereader’sshoes.Whatcanyouwritethatwillconvincethereaderthatyouarereadyandabletodothejob?

•Don’toverusethepronoun“I”.

•Rememberthatthisisamarketingtool.Uselotsofactionwords.

•Converttoa.pdf,checkthatyourformattingtranslatedcorrectly.

•Referenceskillsorexperiencesfromthejobdescriptionanddrawconnectionstoyourcredentials.

•Makesureyourresumeandcoverletterarepreparedwiththesamefonttypeandsize.

Sample Cover Letter YourNameStreetAddressCity,ProvincePostalCodePhoneNumberstudent@email.ca

MonthDate,YearEmployer’sNamePositionorTitleCompanyNameEmployerStreetAddress/P.O.BoxCity,StateZipCode

DearMr./Ms./Dr.LastNameofAddressee:

OpeningParagraph

Statethepositionyouareapplyingfor,howyoufoundoutaboutit,andaskforconsiderationbasedonyourskillsandexperiencesyouhavetooffer.Ifyouwerereferredbysomeone,statethathere.Makeageneralstatementaboutbeingagoodcandidateforthejob.

MiddleParagraph(s)

Inthissection,youwanttobuildaconnectionbetweenthecompany’sneedsandyourbackgroundandskills.Stresswhatyouhavetooffer,notwhatyouwantfromthem.IdentifythosepartsofyourexperiencethatwillinterestTHISemployer.Youcandrawattentiontorelevantcoursework,specialprojectsandschoolactivitiesiftheyshowdirectrelationshiptothisposition.Donotrestatewhat’sinyourresume,ratherexpanduponaspecificprojectoraccomplishment.

ClosingParagraph

Restateyourinterestinthispositionandhowyouruniquequalificationsfittheposition.Requestaninterview,ortellthereaderthatyouwillcontacthim/hersooninordertoscheduleamutuallyconvenienttimetomeet.Thankthereaderforhis/hertimeandconsideration.

Sincerely,

Typeyourname

YovannaJawb123StreetDriveVancouver,BCV1K2C3123.456.7890student@email.ca

September20,2016

Ms.EllieWellsSeniorManagerWallabyYogurtCompany110MezzettaCourtAmericanCanyon,CA94503

DearMs.Wells:

IamasenioratRockridgeSecondaryandamwritingtoapplyfortheManagerinTrainingopportunityattheWallabyYogurtCompany.Iamveryinterestedinthefieldofmarketingandwouldwelcometheopportunitytocontributemyresearchandwritingskillsandexperiencetoyourgrowingbusiness.

IamexcitedaboutWallaby’scommitmenttoorganic,all-naturalingredientsinitsproducts.Asavarsityfieldhockeyplayer,Iamveryawareoftheimportanceofhealthyfoodasthefoundationforahealthylife.Youremphasison“learningbydoingandleadingbyserving”isalsoconsistentwiththetrainingIreceivedasanathlete.Whetheronthefieldlearningnewdrillsintheworstweatherconditionsorpatientlyworkingwithanewteammember,Iammostfulfilledwhencontributingtotheteameffort.

InadditiontomyconcentrationinHistory,IhavecompletedcourseworkinEconomics.Myacademicworkhasstrengthenedmyresearchandwritingskillsaswellasmyunderstandingoftheeconomicsofbusinessgrowthanddevelopment.WorkingwithHarvardUndergraduateWomeninBusiness(WIB)overthelasttwoyearsgavemetheexperienceandconfidencetoworkinadynamic,fast-pacedorganizationwherelearningquicklyandpitchinginareinstrumentaltosuccess.AsamemberoftheExecutiveCommittee,forexample,Imanagedcampusadvertisingcampaignsthatincreasedoverallmembershipandattractedmorethan500studentsfrom12differentschoolstoourannualIntercollegiateFallConference.

Thankyouforyourconsideration.Iverymuchlookforwardtotheopportunitytospeakwithyouinpersonaboutmyinterestinthisposition.

Sincerely,

YovannaJawb

Resume Do’s and Don’ts

Do’sforarésumé·Doincludeyourname,address,phonenumber,&emailaddressonyourrésumé·Domakesureyourrésuméiserrorfree–notypographical,spellingorgrammaticalerrors·Dolistyourskills,qualifications,andaccomplishmentsinaprimarypositiononyourrésumé·Dotargetyourrésumétothepositionbyincludingallskillsandqualificationsthatarerelevanttotheposition·Doselectanappropriateformatthatincludesaclean,professionalappearanceandaneasytoreadfont·Domakesureyourrésuméisbrief,wellorganized,andfocusedonthepositionforwhichyouareapplyingDon’tsforarésumé·Donotincludeadate;youshouldputadateonyourcoverletter,notyourrésumé·Donotincludepersonalpronounssuchas“I”inyourrésumé·Donotincludeabbreviationsinthebodyofyourrésumé·Donotincludeavailability(Waituntiltheintervieworjoboffertodiscussthispoint)·Donotincludepersonalinformationsuchasheight,weight,socialsecuritynumber,driver’slicensenumber,race,religion,maritalstatusorpoliticalaffiliation·Donotincludemiscellaneousdetailssuchassalaryrequirements,salarydesired,supervisor’snameandtitle,maritalstatus,numberofchildren

Thereisno“correct”versionofaresume.Howeverthereareafewtypes,andsomemajorrules.

1) ChronologicalResume.Usedwhenyouhaveseveralyearsofexperienceinonefield,andareapplyingforajobinthatsamefield.Experienceiswritteninreversechronologicalorder,accompaniedbydetaileddescriptionsofallduties

2) SkillsBasedResumeUsedwhenyouarenewtotheworkforce,orareapplyingforajobinadifferentfieldthanyouhaveexperiencefor.Responsibilities,accomplishments,andskillsareorganizedintocategories.

1) UseaclearbusinesslikefontsuchasTimesNewRoman,orArial.Size10-12font.Nofancy, or silly FONTS.

2) Leaveaproper1inchmarginaroundyourpage

3) Printyourresumeonthickwhitepaper.

4) Atypicalrecruiterwillreadyourresumeforlessthan30seconds.YoumustcontainyourCLEARinformationin1page.(2ifyouareaprofessional)

5) Reviseyourresumetofitthespecificpositionyouareapplyingfor

6) PROOFREAD!Correctgrammarandspellingisessential

7) Starteachbulletedpointwithanactionword(NOT:Responsibleforplanninganevent/DO:Plannedanevent…)

8) Stayawayfromcompletesentences.Beconcise.

9) Quantifyyourexperiences(howmuch,howmanyetc)

10) Donotexaggerateoruseadjectives(DON’T:I’manamazingwriter)

11) Donotlistreferencesonyourresume.State:“Referencesavailableuponrequest”,andhaveaseparatetypedsheetprepared.

12) Alwaysaccompanyyourresumewithacoverletter.

13) DONOTHAVEA“FUN”EMAIL.Yournameismostappropriate.(Ex:phatboy@hotmail.comisBAD.)

Bob Smith

West Vancouver, BC V7A 3B8. bob@shaw.ca

PROFILE

Student in the eleventh grade at Rockridge Secondary looking for summer and after school work. Motivated and hard working with excellent people skills. Holds past work experience that would help succeed in a customer service-oriented work environment.

EDUCATION

Grade 10 Student, Rockridge Secondary, West Vancouver, British Columbia Completion: 2015 • Honor student • Associated clubs/teams: Grade 9/10 Rugby Team, Interact Club, Umoyo Club

WORK EXPERIENCE Deli Worker, Caulfeild Safeway, West Vancouver, British Columbia May 2013-current

• Prepares food for hundreds of customers • Serves food to hundreds • Completes sales transactions

Volunteer Instructor, Eagle Harbor Yacht Club, West Vancouver, British Columbia 2011-current • Assists in the coaching of 20-30 young sailing students • Helps fix and maintain 20 sailing school boats • Packs sails and tracks equipment inventory

Babysitter, Private Employers 2012-current • Cooks, cleans, and prepares meals • Entertains children under 11 years of age • Ensures safety and well being of children

Server, Eagle Harbor Yacht Club, West Vancouver, British Columbia 2011-current • Serves for parties and club events for hundreds of members • Assists in dining preparation and clean up

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Sailor, Eagle Harbor Yacht Club, West Vancouver, BC 2007-current • Completed up to Cansail 6 at an accelerated pace • Passed two levels (White Sail 1&2) first time sailing • Won “Top Sailing School Student” in first year of the sport

Athlete, Vancouver British Columbia 2003-current • Rockridge Secondary Rugby Team Grade 8, 9, 10 (2011-2014) • Capilano R.F.C. Rugby Team (2004-current) • Played Provincial Regional Championships, PRC (2013) • Cypress Park Little League (2003-2012) • WestVancouverSoccerLeague(2007-2012)

AliceWonderlandPurpleCatDrive.WonderlandDrive.BC.(604)123-5342•alicew@hotmail.com

EDUCATION RockridgeHighSchool–WestVancouver,BC2011-PresentHoldsHonorswithDistinctionHarvardUniversity–SummerHighSchoolProgram,Cambridge,MASummer2014Achieved8collegecreditsinPhilosophyandCreativeWriting WORKEXPERIENCE WestVancouverFieldHockeyClub,WestVancouver,BC Spring2011-2013Umpire

• Officiatedyouthfieldhockeygames• Ensuredthatallgameruleswereobserved• Explainedrulestoplayersandcoacheswhennecessary• Maintainedcontrolofthegames

EXTRACURRICULAR MetoWe,Vancouver,BC 2013CrowdPumper

• Instructedasectionofseatingat“WeDay”Vancouver• Wasaccountablefortheoccupants’enjoymentofmysection• Encouragedengagementandenthusiasm

MetoWeTakeActionCamp,BethanyHills,Toronto,ON Summer2013JournalismforJusticeParticipant

• Studiedanddiscussedglobalissueswithkids• Wroteanarticleonblindanddeafawareness

EagleHarborCommunity,WestVancouver,BC 2013“FunRun”Volunteer

• Setuptables,tentsandpreparedfood• Interactedwithhundredsofpeople• Assistedwithcleanup

FreeTheChildren,MaasaiMara,Kenya Summer2012Buildingteammember

• Participatedinbuildingaschoolanddormitory• Workedonaccommodatingthewaterneedsofstudents’families• Observedtheworkingsofthelocaleconomy

ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS LifesavingSociety–WestVancouver,BC 2011BronzeCross&BronzeMedallionSKILLSANDINTERESTSLanguageSkills:FluentEnglish,BasicFrenchInterests:FieldHockey,Volleyball,Swimming,Skiing,RunningandTravelling

YouLedaProjectIfyouwereinchargeofaprojectorinitiativefromstarttofinish,skip“led”andinsteadtry:1.Chaired2.Controlled3.Coordinated4.Executed5.Headed6.Operated7.Orchestrated8.Organized9.Oversaw10.Planned11.Produced12.ProgrammedYouEnvisionedandBroughttoLifeaProjectAndifyouactuallydeveloped,created,orintroducedthatprojectintoyourcompany?Try:13.Administered14.Built15.Charted16.Created17.Designed18.Developed19.Devised20.Founded21.Engineered22.Established23.Formalized24.Formed25.Formulated26.Implemented27.Incorporated28.Initiated29.Instituted30.Introduced31.Launched32.Pioneered33.SpearheadedYouSavedtheCompanyTimeorMoneyHiringmanagerslovecandidateswho’vehelpedateamoperatemoreefficientlyorcost-effectively.Toshowjusthowmuchyousaved,try:34.Conserved35.Consolidated36.Decreased37.Deducted38.Diagnosed39.Lessened40.Reconciled41.Reduced42.YieldedYouIncreasedEfficiency,Sales,Revenue,orCustomerSatisfactionAlongsimilarlines,ifyoucanshowthatyourworkboostedthecompany’snumbersinsomeway,you’reboundtoimpress.Inthesecases,consider:43.Accelerated44.Achieved45.Advanced46.Amplified47.Boosted48.Capitalized49.Delivered50.Enhanced51.Expanded52.Expedited53.Furthered54.Gained55.Generated56.Improved57.Lifted58.Maximized59.Outpaced60.Stimulated61.Sustained

YouChangedorImprovedSomethingSo,youbroughtyourdepartment’sinvoicingsystemoutoftheStoneAgeandontotheinterwebs?Talkabouttheamazingchangesyoumadeatyourofficewiththesewords:62.Centralized63.Clarified64.Converted65.Customized66.Influenced67.Integrated68.Merged69.Modified70.Overhauled71.Redesigned72.Refined73.Refocused74.Rehabilitated75.Remodeled76.Reorganized77.Replaced78.Restructured79.Revamped80.Revitalized81.Simplified82.Standardized83.Streamlined84.Strengthened85.Updated86.Upgraded87.TransformedYouManagedaTeamInsteadofrecitingyourmanagementduties,like“Ledateam…”or“Managedemployees…”showwhataninspirationalleaderyouwere,withtermslike:88.Aligned89.Cultivated90.Directed91.Enabled92.Facilitated93.Fostered94.Guided95.Hired96.Inspired97.Mentored98.Mobilized99.Motivated100.Recruited101.Regulated102.Shaped103.Supervised104.Taught105.Trained106.Unified107.UnitedYouBroughtinPartners,Funding,orResourcesWereyou“responsiblefor”agreatnewpartner,sponsor,orsourceoffunding?Try:108.Acquired109.Forged110.Navigated111.Negotiated112.Partnered113.SecuredYouSupportedCustomersBecausemanningthephonesoransweringquestionsreallymeansyou’readvisingcustomersandmeetingtheirneeds,use:114.Advised115.Advocated116.Arbitrated117.Coached118.Consulted119.Educated120.Fielded121.Informed

YouWereaResearchMachineDidyourjobincluderesearch,analysis,orfact-finding?Mixupyourverbiagewiththesewords:123.Analyzed124.Assembled125.Assessed126.Audited127.Calculated128.Discovered129.Evaluated130.Examined131.Explored132.Forecasted133.Identified134.Interpreted135.Investigated136.Mapped137.Measured138.Qualified139.Quantified140.Surveyed141.Tested142.TrackedYouWroteorCommunicatedWaswriting,speaking,lobbying,orotherwisecommunicatingpartofyourgig?Youcanexplainjusthowcompellingyouwerewithwordslike:143.Authored144.Briefed145.Campaigned146.Co-authored147.Composed148.Conveyed149.Convinced150.Corresponded151.Counseled152.Critiqued153.Defined154.Documented155.Edited156.Illustrated157.Lobbied158.Persuaded159.Promoted160.Publicized161.ReviewYou Oversaw or RegulatedWhetheryouenforcedprotocolormanagedyourdepartment’srequests,describewhatyoureallydid,better,withthesewords:162.Authorized163.Blocked164.Delegated165.Dispatched166.Enforced167.Ensured168.Inspected169.Itemized170.Monitored171.Screened172.Scrutinized173.VerifiedYouAchievedSomethingDidyouhityourgoals?Winacoveteddepartmentaward?Don’tforgettoincludethatonyourresume,withwordslike:174.Attained175.Awarded176.Completed177.Demonstrated178.Earned179.Exceeded180.Outperformed181.Reached182.Showcased183.Succeeded184.Surpassed