Cover And Letters

No-Brainers
on

Résumés and Cover Letters
I. Outline Résumés A. General stuff you need to know about résumés 1. Object: get an interview a. make a good first impression b. sell yourself c. keep it to one page B. The heading 1. Fonts & formatting 2. Name 3. Address 4. Home phone number 5. Work phone number 6. E-mail address C. Objectives & summaries 1. Objective 2. Summary of qualifications a.bullets D. Experience 1. Chronological format a. building blurbs i. contents ii. formatting iii. stress tangible results (quantify) iv. use action verbs 2. Functional format a. summary of qualifications b. relevant experience c. work history E. Education 1. High school 2. College 3. Graduate school F. Certificates & licenses 1. Languages G. Other stuff that can help you 1. Awards & honors 2.Professional organizations 3. Civil service 4. Personal affiliations & interests 5. Student activities H. What not to put on your résumé 1. Salary 2. References 3. Health 4. Age 5. Marital status 6. Reasons for leaving 7. Ethnicity 8. Photographs
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Myths about résumés 1. It’s all right to lie 2. You can use the same résumé for every job 3. You should hire a pro to write it for you II.Cover Letters A. General stuff you need to know about cover letters 1. Develop a good rapport 2. Get an interview 3. Contact information 4. Who you’re sending it to B. Paragraph #1: Why you’re writing 1. Opening lines a. The name drop b. The brown nose c. The question d. The show-off your homework approach e. The conservative approach f. The quote C. Paragraph #2: What you have to sell that theywant to buy 1. Show how your experience matches what they’re looking for D. Paragraph #3: Show off your personality 1. Go beyond the numbers E. Paragraph #4: The close 1. Make ‘em call you 2. Closer 3. Sign it 4. Enclosure 5. Don’t ask for an interview 6. Formats a. Full block F. Stuff to do/not to do 1. Run-on sentences 2. Bad grammar 3. Sentence fragments 4. The details 5. Proofread 6. Use plainpaper 7. Keep it on a disk 8. Don’t fold it

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Full Name
Street City, State, Zip Code Work phone # Home phone # e-mail address SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS A brief sentence that explains why you’re qualified for the job. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Job title, Company, City, State dates of promotion • quantified achievement • quantified achievement • quantified achievement •quantified achievement • quantified achievement • quantified achievement Job title, Company, City, State dates of promotion • quantified achievement • quantified achievement • quantified achievement • quantified achievement • quantified achievement Job title, Company, City, State dates of promotion • quantified achievement • quantified achievement • quantified achievement • quantified achievementEDUCATION
degree, major Name of School, City, State Dean’s Lists or honors

date started-date left

date started-date left

date started-date left

OTHER SECTIONS THAT HELP SELL YOU

generic chronological résumé

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Peter Clemmins
1404 Stratford Rd. Pitman, VA 55555 703-848-0856(W) 703-555-5384(H) e-mail: clemmins@cynix.com

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Over seven years increasinglysuccessful experience developing marketing methods at the micro and macro levels.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Program Coordinator, Field Trips of Dreams, Falls Church, VA 5/95-present • Designed motivational sales campaign for staff of 10 people • Planned all aspects of field trips to Washington, DC for students from points nationwide • Coordinated budgetary and logistical aspects for trips (avg.total cost=$35,000) • Exceeded projected monthly quota in 20 of last 24 months • Designed fundraising activities netting participants over $20,000 • Utilized direct mail and telemarketing approaches including cold-calling • Served as liaison between teachers, parents, students, and travel and hospitality industry professionals Assistant Manager, The Record Hole, Annandale, VA 5/94-5/95 began as...