resume and cover letters - university of houston
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Resume and Cover LettersResume and Cover Letters
Leslie CowardLeslie CowardProgram ManagerProgram Manager
Engineering Career CenterEngineering Career Center
What is a Resume?What is a Resume?Marketing toolMarketing tool
1010--30 second presentation of your 30 second presentation of your experience and knowledgeexperience and knowledge
Reflection of the individual Reflection of the individual
Laundry list of past jobsLaundry list of past jobs
Summary of educationSummary of education
ErrorError--free, scannable free, scannable
Purpose Purpose Who you areWho you are
What you have What you have learnedlearned
What you have What you have accomplishedaccomplished
Promote salabilityPromote salability
Obtain an interviewObtain an interview You want to get past the first line of You want to get past the first line of defense, the recruiterdefense, the recruiter
What Markets You?What Markets You?Job ExperienceJob Experience
EducationEducation
GPAGPA
Computer Skills Computer Skills
Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills
TeamworkTeamwork
Industry related Industry related
projects/researchprojects/research
What do I need to get hired?What do I need to get hired?Technical SkillsTechnical Skills
EducationEducation
Work ExperienceWork Experience
Technical skillsTechnical skills
How can I stand out?How can I stand out?NonNon--Technical SkillsTechnical Skills
Communication skillsCommunication skills
Leadership skillsLeadership skills
Teamwork abilitiesTeamwork abilities
FlexibilityFlexibility
Types of ResumesTypes of Resumes1.1. ChronologicalChronological
•• List everything by dateList everything by date•• Most recent experience firstMost recent experience first
2.2. FunctionalFunctional•• Categorize skillsCategorize skills•• No datesNo dates
3.3. CombinationCombination•• A mixture of the first twoA mixture of the first two
Resume RulesResume RulesOne pageOne page–– Less is moreLess is more
No errorsNo errors–– Mistake free, clean, and crispMistake free, clean, and crisp
Organize in order of relevanceOrganize in order of relevanceConsistencyConsistency–– Same formattingSame formatting–– Bold, underline, capitalsBold, underline, capitals
Action verbs and bulletsAction verbs and bullets
Resume SectionsResume SectionsContact InformationContact InformationObjective/Highlight of QualificationsObjective/Highlight of QualificationsEducation and certificationsEducation and certificationsExperienceExperienceProjectsProjectsComputer/Technical skills and Computer/Technical skills and trainingtrainingHonors/AwardsHonors/AwardsOrganization/ActivitiesOrganization/Activities
Contact InformationContact InformationNameNameAddressAddress–– LocalLocal–– permanentpermanent
Telephone numberTelephone number–– AppropriateAppropriate–– ValidValid
EmailEmail
ObjectiveObjective
Provides focus for resumeProvides focus for resume
Employer basedEmployer based
Specific or generalSpecific or general
Several objectivesSeveral objectives
Sample ObjectiveSample ObjectiveTo obtain a position in chemical To obtain a position in chemical engineering in which my educational engineering in which my educational knowledge and sales experience would knowledge and sales experience would greatly contribute to the company.greatly contribute to the company.
To obtain a summer internship position To obtain a summer internship position in Mechanical Engineering.in Mechanical Engineering.
Seeking internship in research, utilizing Seeking internship in research, utilizing chemical engineering skills developed in chemical engineering skills developed in an instructional environment.an instructional environment.
Highlight of QualificationsHighlight of Qualifications
Provides focus on key areas of Provides focus on key areas of
experienceexperience
Skill basedSkill based
Emphasizes specific job dutiesEmphasizes specific job duties
Stresses soft skills Stresses soft skills
Sample QualificationsSample Qualifications
Extremely selfExtremely self--motivated and able to motivated and able to learn quickly.learn quickly.
Very dependable and goalVery dependable and goal--oriented.oriented.
Working knowledge of C++, CAD, Working knowledge of C++, CAD, Windows, MS Word, and MS Excel.Windows, MS Word, and MS Excel.
EducationEducationMost recent degree firstMost recent degree first
Major, minor or concentrationMajor, minor or concentration
GPA (cumulative and major)GPA (cumulative and major)
ClassificationClassification
Expected date of graduationExpected date of graduation
Relevant course workRelevant course work
Professional ExperienceProfessional ExperienceCurrent/past employmentCurrent/past employmentInternshipsInternshipsCoCo--opsopsVolunteer workVolunteer workProjectsProjectsPresentationsPresentations
Professional DescriptionsProfessional DescriptionsReverse chronological orderReverse chronological orderEmployer nameEmployer namePosition/titlePosition/titleLocationLocationDatesDatesUse action verbs to describe dutiesUse action verbs to describe dutiesUse buzz words, industry specific termsUse buzz words, industry specific termsQuantify dutiesQuantify duties
Examples of Examples of Professional Experience DescriptionsProfessional Experience Descriptions
Attended Total Quality Management Attended Total Quality Management meetings.meetings.Developed teamwork skills through Developed teamwork skills through participation in discussions of participation in discussions of ““quality quality attitudes: with both line and staff attitudes: with both line and staff personnel.personnel.Selected to research, design and present a Selected to research, design and present a multimedia report on multimedia report on ““An InternAn Intern’’s View of s View of TQMTQM”” to companyto company’’s CEO and other key s CEO and other key employees.employees.
Action VerbsAction VerbsOrganizedOrganizedDevelopedDevelopedAnalyzedAnalyzedIdentifiedIdentifiedCounseled, advisedCounseled, advisedCommunicatedCommunicatedConveyedConveyedPreparedPrepared
PromotePromoteAssignAssignComputeComputeBuiltBuiltRecommendRecommendDetermineDetermineSupportSupportEditEdit
Industry TermsIndustry TermsSystems engineeringSystems engineeringStructural designStructural designLogistics and Logistics and distributiondistributionPolymerPolymerBiomedicalBiomedicalConstructionConstructionReservoirReservoirManufacturingManufacturingProductionProduction
DesignDesign
Computer engineeringComputer engineering
Software engineeringSoftware engineering
C++C++
CADCAD
Power systemsPower systems
Mechanical systemsMechanical systems
Trade managementTrade management
Product estimatesProduct estimates
Additional SectionsAdditional Sections
Military experienceMilitary experience
Professional affiliationsProfessional affiliations
Activities or interestsActivities or interests
Community service and involvementCommunity service and involvement
Foreign Language(s)Foreign Language(s)
Resume AppearanceResume Appearance
Bond paperBond paperWhite or offWhite or off--whitewhiteFont: Times New RomanFont: Times New RomanPoint size: 10 or 12 pointsPoint size: 10 or 12 pointsWhite space or blank linesWhite space or blank linesEmphasis: Bold or bulletsEmphasis: Bold or bulletsBe consistentBe consistentErrors are INEXCUSABLEErrors are INEXCUSABLE
Other Types of ResumesOther Types of Resumes
ScannableScannable
ElectronicElectronic
Curriculum VitaeCurriculum Vitae
Scannable and Electronic ResumesScannable and Electronic Resumes
Companies utilize databases to store Companies utilize databases to store and search resumesand search resumes
Resumes are designed to be scanned Resumes are designed to be scanned and read by computersand read by computers
Resume targets the computer as the Resume targets the computer as the readerreader
Scannable and Electronic DesignScannable and Electronic DesignMake good use of white Make good use of white spacespace
Use standard font Use standard font stylesstyles
Use 10 to 14 font sizeUse 10 to 14 font size
Avoid fancy extrasAvoid fancy extras
Use bold face for Use bold face for section headingssection headings
Use common names for Use common names for section headingssection headings
Name and address on Name and address on
separate linesseparate lines
Avoid abbreviationsAvoid abbreviations
Be concise and Be concise and
concrete in job concrete in job
descriptionsdescriptions
Use common languageUse common language
Use industry keywordsUse industry keywords
ReferencesReferencesAsk 2Ask 2--4 people4 people
Use a separate sheet with the same Use a separate sheet with the same header as your resumeheader as your resume
Attach to applications when Attach to applications when requested and bring to interviewrequested and bring to interview
Cover LetterCover LetterMust be personalizedMust be personalizedShort and to the pointShort and to the pointMistake freeMistake freeSame headerSame headerDoes not repeat resumeDoes not repeat resumeAllows your personality showAllows your personality showRespond to employer needs and not Respond to employer needs and not yoursyours
Parts of a Cover LetterParts of a Cover LetterYour address, Your address, telephone number, telephone number, and emailand email
Current dateCurrent date
RecipientRecipient’’s name s name and addressand address
SalutationSalutation
Body 3 Body 3 --5 5 paragraphsparagraphs
ClosingClosing
Your signatureYour signature
Your printed nameYour printed name
Enclosure Enclosure
–– resumeresume
–– TranscriptTranscript
–– Writing sampleWriting sample
Cover Letter ChecklistCover Letter ChecklistGive the letter Give the letter ““eye appealeye appeal””Use block style with one inch side Use block style with one inch side marginsmarginsUse same font and type size, as Use same font and type size, as resumeresumeMatch resume stationeryMatch resume stationeryFile a copy of your letterFile a copy of your letterPROOFREADPROOFREAD
Resume remindersResume remindersDonDon’’t mistake your resume for a job t mistake your resume for a job applicationapplication
DonDon’’t rely on your degree alonet rely on your degree alone
Tell them what you have learned, not what Tell them what you have learned, not what you have doneyou have done
Write your objective to match your purposeWrite your objective to match your purpose
Make sure your resume conveys what you Make sure your resume conveys what you have to offer, not what you wanthave to offer, not what you want
College of Engineering College of Engineering Career CenterCareer Center
www.egr.uh.edu/careerwww.egr.uh.edu/career713713--743743--42304230