resume & cover letter director of bcb career services center
TRANSCRIPT
Resume & Cover Letter
Director of BCB Career Services Center
What is a resume?
Is the most effective instrument for finding work Is a door opener for an interview Formal document describing the qualifications of a
job seeker A short account of one’s career and qualifications
prepared typically by an applicant of a position
Why resume is needed?
It takes 30-40 seconds of employer’s time to screen your resume!
Every day HR managers have to look through hundreds of resumes!
Resume is not an entertaining book.
Writing a resume
You resume must scream in a professional manner: «Give me a moment of your busy day! Listen to me, I havesomething to say!»
Good resume writing focuses attention on your strengthsand shows you as a potential employee. Therefore:
Show off achievements, attributes, and cumulation of expertise to the best advantage
Minimize any possible weaknesses
Writing Resume and Cover Letter
Thinking about your career (for every position you should create a new resume e.g
Determining what you want Analyzing what you have to offer Writing a resume Controlling the format and style Tailoring the contents Writing the perfect resume
Personal Information
Name, Surname Full address Telephone numbers (with area code) E-mail Job objective
Experience
Company name, brief description, city/countrye.g. “Zeta” Production of furniture, Almaty instead of just “Zeta”
Employment dates Position e.g. Accountant instead of Junior Accountant Level II
Key responsibilities Achievementse.g. Responsible for taking minutes and keeping correspondence.
Achievement: became expert in Education
Accomplishment statement for resume (example)
Introduced an improved filing system Improved customer service Contributed new ideas Reorganized procedures Solved problems Improved work efficiency Increased sales Reduced overdue accounts
Education
High Schools ? GPA – only if it’s high
e.g. 4 out of 4.33 - KIMEP
or 4 out of 5 – Kazakhstani schools
Specialization Off-campus workshops, seminars and so on
Other items
Languages Comuper skills Personal skills or Key strengths Hobbies/Interests
Don’ts Titles: CV, Resume Availability Reason for leaving Salary Abbreviations Jargon Charts and graphs Mention of age,race,religion,sex, national origin Photographs Health Early background Weaknesses Demands Exaggerations
Common mistakes
Too long Too short (1 page is prefered) Hard to read, no consistency (no spaces, paragraphs) Wordy Poorly organized Misspelled and ungrammatical Boastful. Nonrealistic self-evaluation Dishonest Unusual
If You Don’t Have Any Experience You May Focus on
Strengths Achievements (list 10 in order of significance) Look at the skills that helped you to make
achievements Internship/volunteer work Special Awards or Recognition in your academic
program Participation in different events, conferences Research/Marketing projects/Business plans done
during studies
Cover Letter
101 Best Cover Letters
By Jay A. Block & Michael Betrus
McGraw-Hill
What is a cover letter?
A Cover letter is a formal communication with a potential employer introducing a candidate and his value to the future employer for the purpose of creating interest in that candidate as a potential employee.
Cover letter & Resume
Cover letter is a letter that introduces the resume.
Therefore Cover Letter makes the first impression.
Resume will provide you with less opportunity to show your true colors
The Main Objective of a Cover Letter
Get an interview or
Take the hiring process to the next step.
Cover Letter
In the cover letter there should be a link between companies needs and…
what you can offer Thus, CL must address and meet the
important needs of the prospective employer in a professional and entertaining manner.
Company’s criteria for Employment
1) Master degree preferred
2) Strong interpersonal, leadership skills
3) Experience in Marketing area is preferred
Candidate’s criteria
1) MBA from KIMEP, Marketing specialization
2) Was elected and served as a President of KIMEP Student Government (2005-2006)
3) Had a 2 month internship in
the marketing department of X firm
Implemented marketing projects during studies in KIMEP: “….”
Tips for writing successful cover letter
Tip 1. Personalize and customize each letter
Everyone likes when he or she is called by name…Ok to write: “To whom it may concern”, “Dear Sir/Madam”
Don’ts: “Dear someone”, “Hello”…
Tip 2. Write with the reader in mind
“What would I want if I were hiring a person for this position”
What is the company really looking for? What qualifications do I have that are valuable to a
potential employer? Do I want to work in this company? What contributions have I made in the past that will
excite this employer What type of personality do I have?
Tip 3. The letter must build rapport with the reader
Add element of warmth and sentiment in your writing.
Don’t be too formal, official (try to avoid shablonz)
Tip 4. Don’t paraphrase your resume!
It’s a cover letter that introduces the resume.
Cover letter makes the first impression
Tip 5. Give examples
demonstrate specific problem solving skills in the letter supported by examples.
Other tips
Be different and distinctive! Be short and precise (no more than 1 page) Don’t lie or exaggerate Unless asked to do so, don’t discuss salary in
a cover letter. Sign the letter
Only one rule!
There can be no spelling or grammatical mistakes!!!! It must be well organized and professionally presented
Structure of a Cover Letter
1) Your name, title, address, contact info & date 2) Name, title, company name & address of the
recipient 3) Salutation 4) Power Introduction/Opening 5) Purpose of the letter 6) Critical message Call for action Close
Heading
•Power introduction•Purpose of the letter•Critical message•Call to action •Close
Recipient’s name &address
Salutation
Opening paragraph
State why you are writing; how you learned of the organization or position, and basic information about yourself.
Powerful openings
“If the company is seeking an Assistant to Director who is able to organize office work, who speaks and writes fluently in English/Russian languages, sociable and responsible then we have a good reason to talk .”
“When Tatyana Kim of your Human Resource department spoke to our class last week, she said you often add promising new accounting graduates to your audit department at this time of year.
Critical message/Main part
• Tell why you are interested in the employer/position
• Demonstrate that you know enough about the employer or position
• Relate your background to the employer or position.
• Mention specific qualifications which make you a good fit for the employer’s needs.
• You may explain in more detail relevant items in your resume.
Closing
“…Thank you for your time and interest. I look forward to hearing from you”
“…Thank you for the consideration you have given me. I will call you Friday morning, August 19th , to schedule a personal discussion, if you deem it appropriate”
Common mistakes:
Boring (generates no interest, too formal) Poorly written Badly organized, no structure Is not oriented towards the potential
employer Too general
The cover letter must introduce you and your value to a potential
employer.