Resumes and Cover LettersStrategies and Resources for Carey Students

Presented by

The Student Success Center&

Career Development Office

• SSC and CDO resources• Core Competencies• Resume guidance and strategies• Cover letter guidance and strategies

Workshop Overview

• http://carey.jhu.edu/ssc / carey.tutoring@jhu.edu• One-on-one appointments with writing and

presentation skills tutors• Group workshops on writing- and speaking-based

topics• Self-guided resources

– Links on website– Handouts in SSC

SSC Resources

• http://carey.jhu.edu/career-development• Carey Compass• Email alerts and job postings• Individual coaching, coaching groups, and workshops• Career Navigator, which includes a list of resources• Career development tools – templates, sample

documents, webinars, and more• Employer information sessions and career fairs• Vault Guides (industry guides)• VMock and GoHopOnline

CDO Resources

Career Coaches can help with: Writing Tutors can help with:

Discovering and exploring your career interests and strengths

Strengthening your language and argumentation

Understanding industry standards and expectations

Improving conciseness and flow within your document

Developing and executing a story and vision to present to your target audience

Practicing your presentation and oral communication skills

Networking, job search, and interviewing strategies

Reviewing spelling and grammar rules

Understanding the structure, components, and organization of successful resumes and cover letters

Tailoring your resume or cover letter to a job description/requirements

Career Coach vs. Writing Tutor

CDO Core Competency Model

• Portray the best version of yourself, and take ownership of how you are perceived by employers

• Learn as much as you can about your industry, and seek to demonstrate your understanding

• As appropriate, customize your resume for different kinds of opportunities

• Understand that both skill and luck play a huge role

Resume Guidance

• A brief (2- to 3-line) summary that appears at the top of your resume and includes:– Your role and industry– Your value proposition

• Level of experience• Most relevant technical skills• Career interests• Indication of the results you have achieved

• Do not use personal language (I, me, my, etc.)

Professional Statement

Dynamic marketing strategist with competitive professional, academic, and leadership experience. Strong communicative and collaborative orientation with a focus on social media as well as client and stakeholder relations. Proven ability to lead teams and complete projects ahead of schedule.

Professional Statement – Example

• Take 5 minutes to write your own professional statement

• Peer review – give suggestions to your partners– Is any key information missing?– How could you present an even stronger version of

yourself?

Professional Statement – Exercise

• Education– Only basic information is required– Include other information strategically (GPA,

coursework, awards) • Experience

– Include 2-4 bullet points for each position, and begin each with a strong action verb

– Use the STAR Method: Situation, Task, Action, Results• Additional Information

– Include “soft skills” in addition to language and software skills: communication, collaboration, customer service, sales, etc.

Other Resume Components

Resume FAQ

• Does my resume need to be a single page?• Should bulleted points be written in past or

present tense?• Are extracurricular and undergraduate activities

appropriate to include?• Should I avoid certain fonts?• Should I include a list of references?

Cover Letter Guidance

• Take advantage of the opportunity to:– Personalize your application in accordance with the

job description, organization, and hiring manager/committee

– Highlight specific skills, experience, and passions

• Sample job posting and key words

Brainstorming Exercise

• Identify the key words in the job description and/or position requirements

• Based on these key words, decide which parts of your resume you should emphasize

• Once you have a list of items, decide how you will group them into two or three paragraphs– You can think beyond “one paragraph for work

experience, one paragraph for education”

Greeting

• Find out who the hiring manager or committee is for the position, and address your letter to them

• If necessary, use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Search Committee”

• Avoid “Dear Sir or Madam” and “To Whom it May Concern”

Opening Paragraph

• Begin with a “hook” • Begin to tell your story, and convey your interest in

the position• Focus on what you can provide them, not why this

is a great opportunity for you• Introduce yourself as unique…and uniquely

qualified• State your purpose• Name the position and where you learned about it• If applicable, state who referred you to the position

Body Paragraphs

• Use the structure you decided on during brainstorming

• Write good, crisp topic sentences• Make direct connections between your

experience and the job description

Closing Paragraph

• Synthesize the information from your body paragraphs without simply repeating yourself

• Move from desire into action• Indicate your availability to provide more

information or schedule an interview• Thank them for their time and consideration• Close with “Sincerely,” or “Respectfully,”

Cover Letter Wrap-up –Sample Cover Letter

• Discuss and read through sample cover letter