customizing your resume and cover letter

8/7/2019 Customizing Your Resume and Cover Letter

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CUSTOMIZING YOUR RESUME

AND COVER LETTERCareer Services

Baker University Center 533

740-593-2909

www.ohio.edu/careers


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RESUMES


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IDENTIFICATION DATA

Name, address, phone number, email


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CAREER OBJECTIVE

Optional? Opinions vary

What skills do you bring?

Not

Desire a position in business.

Instead

A position in business management utilizing skills in

strategic management, business research and

information management.

Highly motivated communication specialist with

experience developing internal communication

material


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EDUCATION

Include

y University, location, degree (Bachelor of ________),

graduation date, major/minor, GPA


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EXPERIENCE ANDACTIVITIES

Work/Relevant/Internship/Other Experience

y Consistency is key (organization, position/title, dates,

location)

y

Use active verbs, sentence fragmentsy Use numbers, specific results

y Prioritize bullets based on job description

Student Activities

y Can use same format as experience

y Time management, Teamwork, Leadership, etc


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IMPORTANT GUIDELINES

Must be positive with most important points first

y Highlight, underline, capitalize key messages

Be concise and clearyou have 10-20 seconds to

make your point Rsum is a flexible document

Show your results/accomplishments with

numbers

Customize your resume for every position


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STRATEGIES TO CUSTOMIZE

Think from employer perspective

Research the company online and networking

Study the job description to understand what type of

characteristics and experience they want

Reflect on how your experiences match what theyre

looking for

Make sure your most relevant experience is at the top

(similar to a news story)

Make sure the bullets under your experience match their

requirements (borrow their words)

Sell yourself with your objective/qualifications summary


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ACTIVITY(SEE HANDOUTS)

Identify some key points in the job description

that highlight what theyre looking for

Identify where Evan has that type of experience

on his resume Talk to the people next to you about how would

you customize his resume

y Should any experience be moved up?

y Any bullets need to be created, edited or moved up?

y What words should he be sure to use?

y What could be a sample qualification summary?


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SAMPLE RESUMES

Online resource

www.esampleresume.com

Resume Guide Handout


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COVER LETTER?


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STRATEGIES TO CUSTOMIZE

Opening Paragraph

y Find someone on the inside

Middle Paragraph

y Match your list of skills with the job requirementsy Borrow words from the job description

Closing Paragraph

y Research the corporate website and try to understand

their mission statement


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SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION

Sample Job Description: Sales Rep

You will be need to possess the following:

y 0-3 years in a results driven sales position

y

A need based selling approach targeting decisionmakers to convert prospects into clients in a zip code

protected territory

y Ability to cross-sell into an existing base of clients

Company Mission Statement: To make healthcare morecost-effective, so our customers can focus on their clients.


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CUSTOMIZED LETTER SAMPLE

I am applying for the Outside Sales position posted onOhio Universitys CareerLink.com. During a recent conversationwith your national sales director, Bob Smith, he mentioned thatyou are looking for someone with my background and experience.

I am a motivated sales professional with more than 1year of direct sales experience. As the intern for the salesdivision of Company X, I was recognized by my supervisors formy ability to develop solutions customized for the clients needs,to convert prospects into clients, and to cross-sell product to theexisting client base. I am driven by results and possess strongcommunication skills.

I would love to learn more about this position and Iwelcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills and ideas canhelp Company X make healthcare more cost-effective for yourcustomers. I can be reached at (555) 555-5555 [email protected].


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CAREER DEVELOPMENT PHASES

Self-Assessment

Meet Zach:

He has yetto choose a majorand hasno

idea what he wantstodofora career.

Hes wondering wheretoeven

begintolookforanswers.

Explorethe Options

Meet Heather:

Heatherhas broad interests and istrying to

determine which majorsheshoulddeclare.

Afterherself-assessment,she hasnarroweditdowntotwo and islookingformore

informationonthemajors and career

opportunitieseach one couldleadto after

college.

GetExperience

Meet Erin:

Erin hasnarrowed hercareer

optionsto a couple choices and

wantstostartlearning what itslike inthe real worldsoshe candefinitely

decidethe careerpath she wantsto begin.

Shes wondering how togainrelevant

experience andobtain internships.

PlanforFuture

Meet Tom:

He hasselectedthe careerpath the bestfits

him atthistime. He isready toget his

firstfull-time job and wantssome

helpensuring hes creating a

good impressiononpotential

employers.


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CAREER DEVELOPMENT PHASES

1.Self-Assessment

2.Explorethe Options3.GetExperience

4.PlanforFuture

Services:

FOCUSself-assessmenttests

Major& careeradvising

Overarching Services:

Walk-ins IndividualCareer

Counseling

Appointments

Seminars&

Workshops

Services:

CareerBeam

BobcatMentorNetwork

What CanI DoWith ThisMajorhandouts

Services:

BobcatMentorNetwork

Bobcat CareerLink

Job Search Assistance

MockInterviews

Career& Internship

Fairs

Services:

BobcatMentorNetwork

Bobcat CareerLink

ResumeReview

Career& Internship Fairs

CampusInvolvement Center

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