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Shayaan Malik | Careers Consultant | UNSW Careers and Employment Writing a Successful Resume and Cover letter

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Page 1: Writing a Successful Resume and Cover letter · Writing a Successful Resume and Cover letter. ... • Coordinated with 6 team members to create marketing plan for sample company

Shayaan Malik | Careers Consultant | UNSW Careers and Employment

Writing a Successful Resume

and Cover letter

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What is the Purpose of a Resume and

Cover Letter? I

Tailored and Evidence Based Promotional Documents Designed to Answer:

Can you do the job? (Competency in key areas: education/experience/skills/extra curricular)

Will you do the job? (Attitude, interest, motivation)

Do you fit?(Culture, values, personal attributes)

What are you applying for?

– Casual/Customer service positions

– Graduate programs

– Academic positions

– Speculative opportunities

– Overseas positions

– Experienced roles

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How will you set yourself apart?

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What Differentiates You?

What makes you stand out?

What are your selling points?

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Work Experience

Grades International Degree

Clubs VolunteeringExtra

Curricular

Personal

Development

Certifications Skills Motivations Awards

What Differentiates You?

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Top Transferable Skills Employers Look For

Communication

Team Work

Adaptability

Leadership

Motivation

Willingness to Learn

Interpersonal

Problem Solving

What other skills do you have? Where have you used them?

Source: Graduate Outlook Survey 2014

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• Are you responding to an advertised vacancy?

• Or sending a speculative cover letter?

• Or have you been referred to the employer?

Who will be reading your resume and cover letter?

• Human Resources staff?

• Recruitment Consultant?

• Line Manager/Direct Supervisor?

• Owner / Partner / Director?

What are they looking for?

• Job Ad / Job Description

• Research similar roles

• Research the organisation

Know Your Target Audience

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FACTIVA

JOB ADVERTS -

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Analysing a Job Ad

Step 1: What do they say they want?

Step 2: What additional criteria are they also seeking?

Step 3: Which are the most vital 3 - 5 selection criteria?

Which ones do you have?

Address these and provide evidence

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Customer Service Professionals

• Enjoy variety in your role• North Ryde Location• Full time hours over a four day week = Flexibility for your

lifestyle

You will enjoy the security of working for a company established for over 100 years in the Australian market. As part of this small call centre team, you will love the variety this role offers.

Taking inbound calls from existing customers, you will love the autonomy to co-ordinate and dispatch the professional team of technicians to both Australian & New Zealand sites. Your efficient and pro-active approach will be highly regarded and valued in this organisation.

The team, being friendly and down to earth, will welcome your natural ability to build rapport, as well as your organisational skills and effective time management. Call centre experience is desirable and flexibility to work a 24x7 rotating roster a must. With on-site café and parking, convenience, autonomy and long term security will be the key for this position.

Please send Resumes (CV's) as WORD (any version) attachments.

Essential Criteria

• Autonomy

• Build rapport

• Organisational Skills

• Time Management

• Call centre experience

• Flexibility

• Proactive approach

Additional Criteria

• Communication Skills

• Interpersonal skills

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Exercise: From the Employer’s Perspective...

Are you a student looking for experience in the consulting industry?

An exciting opportunity has become available for students to join our

graduate program. This program will facilitate the progression of your career

within the diverse consulting industry. We are looking for graduates with:

• Strong interpersonal skills,

• Client focus,

• Planning and problem solving skills

Impression? Quality? Suitability?

Can you do the job? Will you do the job? Will you fit in?

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Writing a Winning Resume

Tailored & Relevant

Know your audience

Concise and Well Formatted

Easy to read, 1-3 pages

Well Written

Proofread!

Achievement Focused and

Specific

Unique to your experiences &

skills. Avoid generalities

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Contents of a Resume:

Appropriate Personal Details

Career Profile or Objective Acts as your unique intro. Your Top Selling Points.

Education Relevant courses, notable marks, awards.

Employment / Experience Professional’, Relevant, Other. Use Achievement Statements. Key Skills

Relevant Projects Good for limited work experience. Course Work?

Technical Skills If relevant. Be sure to qualify

Extracurricular Activities Volunteering. Key skills. Use Achievement Statements

Awards Description. What for?

Professional Memberships Describe Involvement

Interests If relevant

Referees

Additional Sections……..

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CURRICULUM VITAE

Personal Information

Name: Dorothy Chan Fung Lee

Address: 241/47 Brown St Dundus Sydney 1111 Australia

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 9511 1123

Mobile: 041358741

Date of Birth: 12/03/1985

Place of Birth: Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leaonard

Residency Status: Australian Citizen

Marital Status: Married to James (1child – Amy (3years old))

Alan DaveyE: [email protected] M: 0411 111 111 Wk: 9385 0000

Address: 35/7 Round St, Breden NSW 2222

Personal

Details

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Career Profile or Objective

Career Objective

To obtain a position with a global banking institution where I can utilize my excellent

accounting, organization and communication skills.

To be employed in the area of materials science where my analytical and problem

solving skills will enable me to define a range of processing problems and plan

appropriate strategies to resolve them.

Career Objective

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Career Profile

Career Profile

Final year Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) student with a distinction average, who has:

• Completed a 3 month industrial training program with BHP Billiton

• Demonstrated leadership potential as a Fundraising Team Officer and Site Team Leader

• Highly developed communication skills gained through various professional and part-time work experiences

Distinction Average Psychology graduate seeking challenging role in consulting industry:

• 4 years customer service experience in retail sector

• 3 years voluntary telephone counselling demonstrating high level communication skills

• Experience managing 100 rental accounts in fast paced property environment

Career Profile

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How to Describe your Experience :

• Demonstrated leadership skills in training 6 new staff to operate the cash register

• Worked as part of an effective team and served over 1000 customers within an hour during a football match

• Raised grades of 5 students by an average of 20% while being a private HSC Science tutor

= VERB + KEYWORDS + QUANTITATIVE INFO (NUMBERS)

Achievement Statements

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University Projects?

Project Name, CourseUniversity of New South Wales May 2015

• Coordinated with 6 team members to create marketing plan for sample company. • Developed strong analytical skills by researching the financial statements of a variety of public and

private companies.• Designed sample program using Autocad to….• Presented research findings via a PowerPoint presentation to a class of 60 students using excellent

communication skills. • Enhanced Excel skills by using pivot tables to…• Achieved high distinction for 10 page written report outlining research findings on…

Extra Curricular Activities?

• Remain up to date with industry developments through monthly newsletter and by attending guest speaker events and club meetings.

• Developed leadership skills citizenship through formal training and community engagement.

Using Achievement Statements

for other Experiences:

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Examples

Communication Skills

• Wrote 4 articles for the Blitz in 2014

• Achieved HD for Counselling

Psychology subject

• Work as a Telephone counsellor at

Lifeline

Team Work Skills

• Organised a harbour cruise for 150

members of the Psychology Society

• UNSW Careers Expo volunteer

Time Management Skills

• Regularly organised & chaired

meetings for the Psychology Society

•Worked as a Senior Peer Mentor and

scheduled mentor shifts, training and

allocated tasks

Customer Service

• Customer service employee of the

month at McDonalds Feb & Mar 2012

• Worked as a volunteer at CONTACT

and regularly managed students

enquiries

Leadership Skills

• Trained 6 new staff at McDonalds

• Was a team leader with Yellow Shirts

• Supervised 3 staff at in my role at

KFC

Problem Solving Skills

• Successfully found alternate venue

for 150 members of the Psych Society

when it rained on the day of the

harbour cruise.

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Practice:

1• Pick a project, work/volunteer experience, or

extra curricular activity

2• What skill did you use or demonstrate?

3• Pick a verb

4 • Is it focused on an achievement?

Let’s Discuss…

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COMMUNICATION CREATIVE HELPING LEADERSHIP ORGANISING FINANCIAL RESEARCH TEACHING

Advertised Acted Adapted Administered Arranged Administered Analysed Adapted

Arranged Adapted Advocated Attained Catalogued Adjusted Clarified Advised

Articulated Began Aided Consolidated Categorized Allocated Collected Assisted

Collaborated Combined Answered Converted Classified Analysed Compared Clarified

Communicated Composed Arranged Coordinated Collected Appraised Conducted Coached

Consulted Conceptualised Assessed Decided Compiled Assessed Critiqued Communicated

Contacted Condensed Assisted Delegated Corresponded Audited Detected Conducted

Convinced Created Clarified Developed Distributed Balanced Determined Coordinated

Developed Customised Coached Directed Executed Budgeted Diagnosed Critiqued

Directed Designed Collaborated Enhanced Generated Calculated Evaluated Developed

Discussed Developed Contributed Established Incorporated Computed Examined Enabled

Elicited Directed Cooperated Generated Inspected Conserved Experimented Encouraged

Formulated Displayed Counselled Improved Maintained Corrected Explored Evaluated

Incorporated Established Demonstrated Incorporated Monitored Determined Extracted Explained

Influenced Fashioned Educated Increased Obtained Developed Formulated Facilitated

Interpreted Formulated Encouraged Initiated Operated Estimated Gathered Focused

Involved Founded Ensured Instituted Ordered Forecasted Inspected Guided

Marketed Illustrated Expedited Led Organised Managed Interviewed Individualised

Mediated Initiated Facilitated Managed Prepared Marketed Invented Informed

Negotiated Instituted Guided Merged Processed Measured Investigated Instilled

Participated Integrated Helped Motivated Provided Netted Located Instructed

Persuaded Introduced Insured Organised Purchased Planned Measured Motivated

Promoted Invented Intervened Planned Recorded Prepared Organised Oversaw

Proposed Modelled Motivated Prioritised Registered Programmed Researched Presented

Publicised Modified Prevented Produced Responded Projected Reviewed Persuaded

Reinforced Originated Provided Restored Reviewed Qualified Searched Simulated

Resolved Performed Represented Reviewed Scheduled Reconciled Solved Stimulated

Spoke Planned Resolved Scheduled Submitted Reduced Summarised Supervised

Suggested Revised Simplified Secured Supplied Researched Surveyed Tested

Summarised Revitalised Supplied Selected Standardised Retrieved Systematised Trained

Synthesised Shaped Supported Streamlined Systematised Validated Tested Transmitted

Wrote Solved Volunteered Strengthened Updated Verified Validated Tutored

Active Verbs

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EDUCATION

Bachelor of Advance Science 2010The University of New South Wales

Higher School Certificate 2003-2008Sydney High School

• Achieved TER of 97.9• Awarded School Medal for Mathematics, Year 12

EMPLOYMENT

Vacation Trainee Dec 2009- 2010Aussie Foods, Chatswood

• Commercial (auditing/payroll) and production-focused projects successfully completed during two-month placement

• investigated career opportunities in industry, via scheduled meetings with senior staff

• developed time-management skills after attending managerial training course

Sous Chef / Wait staff 2006 - PresentVarious casual positions, Sydney

• Regular casual work offered during session by recruitment agency The Sydney Hospitality Group

• Learned importance of customer service and developed stronger organisational skills

Mathematics Tutor 2005- 2007The Shack Tutoring Program, UNSW Union

• Raised grades of five HSC students by an average of 35%

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Hills Hawks Baseball Club 2000 – Present Team Member

• Actively and regularly participate in competitive matches• Involve myself in club social activities and fund-raising events• Key Achievement: Awarded Club’s Most Improved Player in 2001

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Advance Science 2010The University of New South Wales

Higher School Certificate 2003-2008Sydney High School

• Achieved TER of 97.9• Awarded School Medal for Mathematics, Year 12

EMPLOYMENT

Vacation Trainee Dec 2009- 2010Aussie Foods, Chatswood

• Commercial (auditing/payroll) and production-focused projects successfully completed during two-month placement

• investigated career opportunities in industry, via scheduled meetings with senior staff

• developed time-management skills after attending managerial training course

Sous Chef / Wait staff 2006 - PresentVarious casual positions, Sydney

• Regular casual work offered during session by recruitment agency The Sydney Hospitality Group

• Learned importance of customer service and developed stronger organisational skills

Mathematics Tutor 2005- 2007The Shack Tutoring Program, UNSW Union

• Raised grades of five HSC students by an average of 35%

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Hills Hawks Baseball Club 2000 – Present Team Member

• Actively and regularly participate in competitive matches• Involve myself in club social activities and fund-raising events• Key Achievement: Awarded Club’s Most Improved Player in 2001

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Advance Science 2010The University of New South Wales

Higher School Certificate 2003-2008Sydney High School

• Achieved TER of 97.9• Awarded School Medal for Mathematics, Year 12

EMPLOYMENT

Vacation Trainee Dec 2009- 2010Aussie Foods, Chatswood

• Commercial (auditing/payroll) and production-focused projects successfully completed during two-month placement

• investigated career opportunities in industry, via scheduled meetings with senior staff

• developed time-management skills after attending managerial training course

Sous Chef / Wait staff 2006 - PresentVarious casual positions, Sydney

• Regular casual work offered during session by recruitment agency The Sydney Hospitality Group

• Learned importance of customer service and developed stronger organisational skills

Mathematics Tutor 2005- 2007The Shack Tutoring Program, UNSW Union

• Raised grades of five HSC students by an average of 35%

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Hills Hawks Baseball Club 2000 – Present Team Member

• Actively and regularly participate in competitive matches• Involve myself in club social activities and fund-raising events• Key Achievement: Awarded Club’s Most Improved Player in 2001

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Tips for Formatting

• 2-3 pages average length for a graduate resume

• Use bold for key info such as headers and titles of things (degree and job titles)

• Avoid italics & underline - don’t fax or scan into a database well

• Be clear and consistent

• Use only 1 plain font Eg. Arial, Calibri, Tahoma

• Font size: 11 / 12

• Use bullets & short paragraphs

• Keep plenty of white space on page

• Put dates, titles and full stops in similar places

• Left-align all text

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Table vs Plain Text

Period Qualifications Institutions Achievements

2009 - 2012 Bachelor of Advance Science

University of New South Wales

Majoring in BiologyAchieved a High Distinction average for all biology subjectsRepresented the School of Biology at Info Days

2008 - 2002 Higher School Certificate

Bridigine College, St Ives

Achieved a UAI of 98.65School Captain 2008 & 2009Represented the College at the School Leaders Conference, 2009Mentored 20 year 7 students at a peer mentor

Education

Bachelor of Advance Science 2009-2012

University of New South Wales

• Majoring in material science

• Achieved a Distinction average for all material science subjects

• Represented the School of Material Science and Engineering at Info Days

Higher School Certificate 2008-2002

Brigidine College, St Ives

• Achieved a UAI of 98.65

• School Captain 2008 & 2009

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Referees

Referees

Referees available on request.

Referees

Prof Example (PhD Supervisor)School of PsychologyThe University of New South WalesSydney NSW 2052Tel: 9385 5621Email: s.example @unsw.edu.au

Referees

Prof Example (PhD Supervisor)School of PsychologyThe University of New South Wales

(Contact details available on request)

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“I am applying to 10 companies, but I don’t have a lot of time to write my applications. I’ll

send a standard cover letter and resume to each of them.”

“I have an average mark of 60 for my subjects. I don’t want to put it on my resume. I will

just list all the subjects I’ve done instead.”

“I don’t have a lot of work experience. I have nothing to put on my resume.”

“I want to use colour and interesting design features on my resume to make it stand out”

“Can I use Colour on my Resume?”

What do you think? Is it appropriate?

Group Discussion

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Cover Letter

Why them and why you?

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To someone who may be concerned,

My name is James Smith. I will be completing my Master program in

Forensic Psychology in December and I am interesting in the position as a

psychologist. I work well as part of a team and is capable of performing

clinical assessments. As you can see from my resume, I have worked in

various areas relevant to the position. I strongly believe I will be able to

apply my skills and add values to your organisation. Please find attached

my resume for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely yours,

James.

[email protected]

Dear Ms. Smith -> Yours sincerely,

Dear sir / madam -> Yours faithfully,

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Cover Letter Layout

Margaret Sample

12 / 65 Jones Rd

EARLVILLE, NSW 4444

Phone

E-mail

Date of writing

Contact Person’s Title & Name

Contact Person’s Position

Organisation Name

Organisation Address

Re: name of position

Dear Ms. Jones, (avoid Dear Sir / Madam)

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Opening Paragraph Spark the employer’s interest

Middle Paragraphs

Demonstrate ‘fit’

Closing ParagraphAsk for interview

Cover Letter Structure

Why are you attracted to:• this position? &/or• this particular organisation? &/or• the field or industry?

Demonstrate your research into the organisation

Why you?Focus on their top 3 – 5 skills & attributesProvide SPECIFIC examples as evidence.Stress relevant accomplishments

Summarise what you offer themBe positive in your expectationsThank them

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• “In a job that requires me to reach a quota, I am required to focus on the need of

my customers to make the final sale.”

• “Working with young children presented me with many challenges which I

was forced to solve with efficiency.”

• “I realised that I had to learn to prioritise tasks”

Active vs. Passive Language

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Organisational Skills

(Situation) Project assistant while assisting a research team.

(Task) I helped the team to schedule interviews with 50 participants

in the study.

(Action) I scheduled facilitates and contacted participants using excel

to keep track of room bookings and participant information.

(Result) My organization ensured everyone attended and accurate

information was able to be gathered for the study.

Achievement Statement

• Organised interviews for 50 research study participants by booking facilities and creating an accurate schedule using excel to achieve 100% participation.

S ituation

T ask

A ction

R esult

The STAR Formula

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Common Errors

• Same cover letter for each job

• Focusing only on what the position can do for you

• Writing what they already know

• Not mentioning why you’re interested in that particular organization

• No specific examples

• Trying to address all the selection criteria

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AVOID BIG WHOPPERS!!

• “Problem solving kills” instead of “Problem solving skills”

• “Career Objection” instead of “Career Objective”

• “Unforgivable experience” instead of “Unforgettable experience”

• “University of New South Whales” or “University of New Soul Wales”

• “Take apart the meeting”

• “I’m looking forward to infecting your organisation”

• “Overlooked all responsibilities of the organisation”

• “Yours insincerely”

• “Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty”

• Check and double check spelling

• One typo can reduce your chances of success by 70%

Resume & Cover Letter Checklist

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w w w . c a r e e r s . u n s w . e d u . a u

UNSW Careers and Employment