writing winning resume

8/6/2019 Writing Winning Resume

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Writing Winning

CV/Rsum/Cover Letter


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Presentation Roadmap

What is CV/Rsum

CV/Rsum writing

CV/Rsum finalization Cover Letter writing


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What is CV/Rsum

It is vitae (not vita) because "life" in the phrase "course of life"

... is in the genitive singular....

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) resembles a resume in many ways,

but is more specifically focused on academicachievements.

Use a CV for teaching or research opportunities, applying forfellowships or for further academic training. Some researchpositions in industry may also prefer a CV rather than a

resume.

Curriculum Vitae Curriculum Vitae

Course Life The Course of Ones

Life

Latin

Word

Meaning


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What is CV/Rsum

IT IS NOT

YourAutobiography

Your Complete Obituary

IT IS

A brief summary of your qualifications, education, andexperiences relevant to your job search objective

ITS PURPOSE IS

Not to Obtain a job

To Obtain an Interview (YOUget the job)


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How long do employers typically look at a

resume? A. Less than 30 seconds

B. 3 Minutes

C. 1 Minute

Employers will spend less than 30 seconds

reviewing your resume; Therefore, the information must be conveyed in

a clear, well-organized style.


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Your Rsum Is Your Advertisement

A sense of purpose - Why are you sending the rsum?

Focus on achievements - What separates you from everyoneelse?

Accuracy - Was it 2003 or 2004? Find out!!

Clarity and Simplicity - This is not the time to try to use the wordantidisestablishmentarianism in a document.

Salesmanship - What measurable facts can you provide?

A sense of person behind the resume -This flat piece of paperneeds to sing and dance so the employer will want to meet you inperson.

Credibility - More than 80% of rsums contain some stretch of thetruth. Dont do this. If you lose your professionalism, it will be nearlyimpossible to get it back.


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THE 20 SECOND RULE

If you havent presented the most important

information about yourself in the top half of the

first page of your resume, you can probably

forget about getting the job.

Taken from The 110 Biggest Mistakes Job Hunters Make by Richard L.

Hermann and Linda P. Sutherland


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Learning Objectives

Understand:

The purpose of your resume

The key components of a resume

How to choose the best resume format How to write clear, concise accomplishment statements

How to edit/proof your resume

Draft:

An accomplishment statement A professional profile/summary statement

A Resume


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What do you know already?

1. What is a resume?

2. What is the key purpose of a resume?

3. What are differences of a resume today vs. aresume in the past?

4. Do you need a resume to get a job?

5. How many times will you rewrite your resume, andhow long will it take?

6. How many pages should it be?

7. How much time does an HR person spend readinga resume?

8. What key information should be included in aresume?


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Preparation Phase

Beginning Resume

ReviewAccomplishments

Define

Abilities

Match up

Interests

Strengths!Career

Objective


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What should be included?

Summary/professional profile Professional experience

Companies

YEARS of employment

Job scope statements

Job titles

Accomplishments


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What should be included?

Education Professional development / training

Technical skills

Licenses & Certifications

Professional affiliations / memberships


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Resume Heading

Contact Information and Letterhead Your name and contact information belong at the very

top of your resume.

Your name should stand out. Make your name at least

two font sizes larger than the resume text. For example,a 12-point font resume will have a 14-point font name.You may also use all capitals and/or bold.

You may include more than one address if you have atemporary (school) address and a permanent address.

Include your e-mail address if you have one and only ifyou check it regularly.

Below, or next to, your addresses include your telephone number.


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Sample Resume Headings

AsifAhmedHouse # 34, Road# 19/A

Banani, Dhaka-1213

Phone: (802) 999-9999, Mobile: 01610000000

E-mail: [email protected]


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Career ObjectiveA Resume withoutaJob Targetislikeabookwithoutatitle!

Beginning of the resume or in cover letter

Target it to a specific job or employer if possible

Keep it concise, avoid unnecessary words

Avoid the all purpose type of objective


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Career Objective

The career objective is a brief statement, usually onesentence, describing the position you are seeking.

Must be clear but not too broad to suggest lack of a

career focus. Not too vague to suggest lack of direction.

The objective should explain what you can do for thecompany, not what the company can do for you -- this,remember, is the whole purpose of a resume.

Avoid clichs such as "challenging, rewarding career","growth oriented firm", or "to work with people".


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Career Objective

Examples of objective statements: Good: Product management position in the

pharmaceutical industry

A position involving analysis, design, and

implementation of management information systems A position as school guidance counselor

Entry-level position in human resources with generalistresponsibilities

Poor: To pursue a challenging, rewarding career with agrowth oriented firm directly working with people


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Career Objective

Remember:

The resume explains what you can do forthe organization, not what the company

can do for you!


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Professional Experience &

Accomplishments

Makesandsupports yourcase

Last jobfirst

Detaillast10-15 years,what

youare,notw

hatyouw

ere. Companydescriptionis

optional.

Include Job ScopeStatements.

Strengths,contributions,andaccomplishmentsarebulleted.

NAME

Street AddressCity, State, ZIP Code

Telephone

Email

SUMMARY

PurchasingAgent with extensive experience indomestic and international manufacturing. Solidbackground in logistics, procurement, material andproduction control. Broad

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ABC COMPANY, NYC, NY 19XX-200X

Majorinternationalwidgetmanufacturingcompanywithsalesof$XB worldwide.

Senior Purchasing Agent

Purchased raw materials for the widgetmanufacturing operations. Supervised 4

purchasing clerks.

y Accomplishment #1

y Accomplishment #2

yAccomplishment #3


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Scope Statements

Answers the questions:

What were you hired to do?

A

t what level? For whom?

With whom?


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Scope Statements

Demonstrates specific experience or role

Qualifies you for a position

Begins with an action verb Includes dimensions, range, staff size, budget

and reporting relationship, if relevant

Demonstrates general experience and

responsibilities


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Responsibility or Accomplishment?

Responsibilities:

The tasks and activities you were hired to do

Accomplishments:

The results you produced and how you achievedthem


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Accomplishment Statements

Support your career goal

Highlight actions which showcase your

strengths

Appear in bullet form for easy readability

Based on your CARs Challenge, Action, Result (CAR)

Why should we believe you can do what you say you can do?


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CAR

Challenge: What was the situation?

Action

:What did you do and how?

Result: What was the impact?

Challenge not usually included on your

resume.

Accomplishments


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Accomplishment Statement Samples

Not specific Conducted many training programs in several states which

reduced problems.

Better

Best Reduced customer complaints by 22% in a 6-month period by

conducting more than 45 service technician training programs

throughout an 8-state region.

Conducted more than 45 service technician training programs

throughout an 8-state region reducing customer complaints by22% in a 6-month period.


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Accomplishment Examples

Improved support services 50% in 6 months bylaunching support program that improved the technicaldelivery of service co-provider.

Researched and recovered $25 million in out-of-

balance conditions during bank systems conversionand post conversions.

Increased revenue $2 million by designing andimplementing an automated customer follow-upprogram.

Reduced average customer call-waiting time to 30seconds from 2 minutes by designing and implementinga call triage system.


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Avoid OverUsed Phrases

Instead of: Experience working in fast paced environment.

Try: Registered 120+ third shift emergency patients per7 hour shift. Best?

Instead of:

Excellent written communication skillsTry: Wrote jargon free user guide for 11,000 users.Best?

Instead of: Team player with cross functional awareness

Try: Collaborated with clients, A/R and Sales to increase

speed of receivables and prevent interruption of serviceto clients. Best?


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Accomplishment Draft

Draft:

Few accomplishments

5minutestowrite


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Education

Furthersupports yourcase

Startwithhighestlevelof

achievement.

IncludeCollege, Training,Seminars,Certifications,ProfessionalDevelopment.

Identifymajorifrelated.

Yearsareoptional

NAME

Page 2




Purchased raw materials for the widgetmanufacturing operations. Supervised 4purchasing clerks.

y Accomplishment #1

y Accomplishment #2

yAccomplishment #3

EDUCATION

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MEMBERSHIPS

AWARDS


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Education

WHA

T

WHERE

WHEN


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Other Sections

Affiliations and memberships

Military experience

Awards/honors Technical skills

Licenses and certifications

Remember, Is it RELEVANT?


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Professional Profile/Summary

Considered by many to be MOST importantpart of your resume!

600 managers surveyed: overwhelmingmajority agreed.

Only about 5% of resumes contain this keysection.

Robin Ryan(authorofWinning ResumesandWinningCoverLetters)


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Summary

State yourcase,whatareyourqualifications?

Positioningstatementthathighlights qualificationsandareasofexpertise, Unique

Selling Points, StrengthsandDeliverables.

Industries,positionsandfunctions youveheld,rangeandscope.

NarrativeorNarrativefollowedbybulletpoints.

Usuallywrittenlast.

NAME

Street Address

City, State, ZIP Code

Telephone

Email

SUMMARY

PurchasingAgent with extensive experience indomestic and international manufacturing. Solidbackground in logistics, procurement, material andproduction control. Broad

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE




Purchased raw materials for the widgetmanufacturing operations. Supervised 4

purchasing clerks.

y Accomplishment #1

y Accomplishment #2

yAccomplishment #3


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SummaryHighlights your experience and differentiates you from other

candidates. Experienced in both line management and staffpositions in the following areas: facilities management,

operations and finance.

Details the relevant functional expertise. Customer and vendor

relationship development, productivity reporting and qualitycontrol.

Links your strengths to results, successes and contributions you

enjoy.

You may include environment description where you do your best

work and a personal statement about your work style: Thrives in

a constantly changing environment.

Those in technical areas might include their technical skills as the

last component of the Summary (otherwise these go at the end of

the resume.)


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Key Word

What are Key words?

Do you know the key words for yourprofession?

Key words relate to your qualifications: Technical expertise

Industry jargon

Product knowledge

Personality traits

Academic credentials

How to determine your key words Review ads and job postings for your targeted jobs

Review company websites and how they describetheir culture and employees.


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Key Word Samples

Administrative

Document preparation

Word processing

Special projects

Administrative support

Team player

MS Word 2007

Multi-line phones

Scheduling/organizational skills

80 wpm

Excel

Web Designer

Windows

Internet servers

Page Mill

HTML

PDF

Photoshop

Project coordination

Sales

Exceed quota

Travel

Lead generation

Customer support

Inside sales

Presentation skills

Account management


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Key Word Qualification Summary

Sales professionalAchievement oriented sales professionalwith 15 years

of success in international trade and global

marketing. Skilled in developing marketingprograms, coordinating new product introductions

and providingcustomer support. Experience includes

cold calling, new business development and key

account management.

Ratherthan

Achievement oriented with 15 years of successfulexperience and proven ability to meet objectives,communicate with clients, and quickly excel in newindustries


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Choosing a Resume Format

CHRONOLOGICAL FUNCTIONAL

Name/Address/Phone/Email Name/Address/Phone/Email

Objective (optional) Objective (optional)

Summary Summary

Professional Experience

(including selectedaccomplishments)

Selected Accomplishments

(under specific functional areasof expertise)

Education Professional Experiences

Company name, city, state, dates

Job titles

No job scope or accomplishmentstatements

Optional Sections Education

Optional Sections


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Choosing a Resume Format

CHRONOLOGICAL FUNCTIONAL

A Chronological format calls thereaders attention to your recentexperience.

A Functional format directs the readerto your functional strengths andqualifications.

Continuing in the same occupation orindustry

Making a significant career change(production to sales; financial

planner to teacher)

Career shows steady growth withprogressive responsibilities

Job objective is different from yourexperience

Job objective is similar to recentexperience

Experience is gained in different,relatively unconnected jobs


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Hybrid

Purpose similar to functional

Combines both the key features of the functionaland the chronological resume.

Key accomplishments listed right after summary

Professional experience written the same aschronological, including job scope andaccomplishment statements.

Most recruiters prefer chronological with jobscope statements or hybrid over functionalresume.


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Hybrid Resume

Summary

Key Accomplishments

Work Experience

Job scope statement

Remaining accomplishment statements

Other Sections


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Print and On-line Resumes

WORD VERSION INTERNET VERSION

Smith-Mary.doc Smith-Mary.txt

Used for:

Printing

Face-to-face

Attaching to email

Used for:

Posting on-line

Copying and pasting

into email messages

Includes appropriate

formatting forattractiveness

Unformatted for use in

electronic or digitalapplications

Caution when working with newer Windows versions: .docx files


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The Internet Resume

Tips Create and save plain text version

- No italics, lines, graphs, columns or underlining

- Limit to 60 characters or 6 inches wide

- Include Keywords

Proof, edit, proof

Cut and paste into on-line posting sites

Print out selected areas to proof before posting

When emailing a Word resume, consider saving it as a PDF and then

mail


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Testimonials:Who might be on your reference list?


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Ideal References

Get a minimum of2 references - people whocan attest to your work habits, skills, andaccomplishments

Current or past employer(s)/supervisor(s)

Inform reference of your career objective andgive them a copy of your resume

Professors

Advisors Coaches

Internship, field experience, or communityservice supervisor


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May Include on the Bottom of Resume or

Attach Reference Contacts with Your Resume Name, title, company, address, phone #

Or indicate at the bottom of the resume that:

References are Available on Request References

Available References will be Furnished upon

Request (optional)


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Sample Presentation of

Reference Information

ReferencesMr. Charles Amey, IIIInstructor,Hospitality Industry Management ProgramChamplain CollegeP.O. Box 670 [email protected], VT 05402-0670 (802) 651-5988

Mr. Milton SmithField Experience SupervisorABC Conference Center208 Main Street [email protected]

Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 888-8888

As a general rule, have at least two references.


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Top Tips to Remember:

Clear, Consistent, and Concise

Proof proof proof!

Write your own resume! Speak to your audience

Easy to read

Well organized

Honest

Dynamic word choice

Flawless

Update frequently


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Resumealways changingBe Strategic in Enhancing your Resume!!!!

Resume development is on ongoingprocess.

Enhance your experience, qualifications,

and leadership qualities over the nexttwo years.

Keep a folder of your accomplishments.

Update your resume regularly.


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Build your resume as an

investment in your future

that will support you on your journey tosuccess!

!


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Agenda

Cover letter basics

Components of thecover letter

General tips


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Here are my qualificationsfor you to overlook.

*from an actual cover letter


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Cover letters mustbe perfect!


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Objectives Introduce yourselfas a

competitive candidate:

Showcase your background &interests to demonstrate fit

Highlight connections

Entice the reader to carefullyexamine your application

Get an interview!


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Are sales documentspresenting what you have to

offer a potential employer!


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Before You Begin, Do Your

Homework!

How big is the department and to what extent do youneed to translate the significance of your work?

Is it a new position or are they replacing someone?

Is it a joint or multidisciplinary appointment?

How can your background fit with the departments

goals?


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Cover Letters - Points to keep in mind

Put your name and contact info at the top of the letter. Make

sure your name is in a font large enough to easily pick out. Whenever possible, address the letter to a specific person by

name and title. Even if responding to a job ad that states "nophone calls", consider calling to politely ask the name of thehiring authority.

State your interest in the job for which you are applying andthe company. Be particular about why you really like thisposition and company and not some other position andcompany.

Mention your skills, education, special training, and workexperience that qualify you for the job. Try to think from theemployers point of view - what skills and experience are theylooking for in the ideal candidate for the job you want? (If youare replying to a specific job ad, this may be listed there)Stress these skills.


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Cover Letters - Points to keep in mind

Provide a contact info.

Use an appropriate closing, such as "Sincerely."

Ask someone to proofread your letter to check content,grammar, and spelling.

Try to sign the letter in blue ink since it implies the letter

is original and may get more attention. Also appropriateink color to use is black. Never use any other color onthe cover letter.

Keep sentences short and to the point.

Keep the entire letter brief - no more than one page withthree to five paragraphs.

Use the same paper stock for both your cover letter andresume.


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Cover Letter - Heading

Your street addressCity, state and zip code

Phone number

Email address

Mr./Ms./Dr./Prof. first and last name of person

Position or title

Name of organization

Street address of organization

City, state and zip code

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr./Prof. last name of addressee:


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First Paragraph:

Give the person a reason to read on. Give an overviewestablishing your qualifications and cite the position.

Do not start with My name is

Whats important to mention? In general, experience

in the field if you have it. If someone recommended that you write to someone

specific, start with his or her name; for example, ZipSmith recommended

Mention the reason for writing to that firm if the reason iscompelling.

Do not say that you are the ideal candidate if you cannotprove it.


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Second (and Possibly Third) Paragraph:

Elaborate on your qualifications in the context ofthe positionyou can mention relevant jobs,course, etc. Keep in mind the job description.

Stress what skills and attributes that you have tooffer. Identify those parts of your experience(paid and unpaid) that will be of interest to theemployer. This can be done in either one or two

paragraphs.


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Final Paragraph:

Whats the next step? Heres where you thank the

person. Thank you, in advance, for your considerationand similar alternatives are fine.)

You can request an interview. There are many differentways (of varying levels of assertiveness) to handle this,

but they will not make an appreciable difference as tothe outcome (no matter what you may read).

If you want, you can tell the reader that you will follow upin two weeks or just thank the reader for his or her consideration.. If you will be visiting that city, let themknow the dates that you will be there.

Sincerely,

Your Name


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Do YourHomework On Each Company

Find background information company annual reportsand newsletters; journals; company public relations

departments; and other company employees. Thisinformation will also better prepare you for your interview.

Do Not Include A Salary History

Never commit yourself in writing to a salary rangebecause you might sell yourself too low or price yourselfout of the job. Salary is best discussed after the firstinterview, in the context of a total benefits package.


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Tell Why You Want The New Job

This is important information to include in yourcover letter. However, do not make negative

statements about your present company or boss. Instead, project an ambitious attitude. Ifyou are looking for more challenge, money,growth, or management responsibility, say so. In

the event you have been laid off due tocompany reorganization or relocation, say thatalso.

Basic Cover Letter Template


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Basic Cover Letter TemplateYour Name

YourAddress & Phone Number

Date

Recipients Name, & Job TitleSubject: Position or type of work you are applying for

Dear Mr./Ms.

First Paragraph: Start by trying to grab attention without being gimmicky. Give the reasonyou are writing. Name the specific position or type of work for which you are applying.Sometimes it may be a good idea too to also mention how you learned of the opening.

Second Paragraph (and Third Paragraph if needed): Explain why you are interested inworking for this employer in particular then focus in on how you can help them by specifyinghow you are perfect for this position. Do not merely repeat the information on your resume highlight key points but also feel free to give additional information. You may incorporate acolumn or bullet point format for this section of the cover letter.

Last Paragraph: Mention your resume is enclosed and indicate your desire to meet with theemployer. You may suggest alternate dates and times, or better yet you can advise them of

your flexibility as to the time. Try to include a statement or question that will encourage thereader to respond. You may want to be proactive and communicate your plan to follow-up.(i.e. you might say that you will be in the area on a certain date and would like to set up ameeting, or you can say that you will call on a certain date to set up a meeting). Finally, thankthe employer for his/her time.

Sincerely,(YourSignatureinblueorblackink)

Your name typed out


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Any Questions?

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