PUT IT ON PAPER
The Resume, Cover Letter, and References
Now that you have reviewed your work experience, written your accomplishments and identified your skills and abilities, the next steps
are to summarize and convert this information into a resume, to select people who can best represent you as references and to decide what you want them to say about you. You will want to know how to write and use a cover letter.
The Resume
It is essential to understand the relative importance of a resume to you in your career goal, namely a job search campaign. The resume
will not get you a job; it is a key marketing tool to help you obtain a job interview.
Your resume should highlight:
§ What you are seeking
§ What you can do for a company
§ Your knowledge, skills, talents, accomplishments
§ Position held, where, when
§ Accountabilities, scope or responsibilities
§ Background training or education
Your resume should have a format, content, and appearance that accurately reflect you as an individual. Yet it should follow some general guidelines to present you in the best possible light. The types of resumes are divided into three categories: Chronological, Functional, and the Combination. As you get into resume writing you can decide which one best provides a format for you. You
will be provided with websites for your resumes.
To take an online workshop on resume writing go to: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshopsand click on Hypertext Workshops. Below the Employment Workshops heading, click Resume Workshop to go to the starting point of the workshops.
There are many websites to help in creating an effectiveresume. Some of them are as follows:
http://www.acinet.org/acinet/resume/resume_intro.asp
The Cover Letter
The cover letter should be sent along with a resume to the employer. It should include three paragraphs:
1. What you are referring to. Example: I am writing in
reference to XXXX job opening.
2. Short summary statement of why you feel you are
qualified for the job (based on the job description from the job opening for
which you are applying).
3. Should request an interview.
For help with this very important cover letter go to:
http://www.ajb.org and log in with you name and password. Click on Cover Letters.
From here you can access previous cover letters or create a new one. Click on Create a Cover Letterto access the Web tool that allows you to create the letter.
Cover letters simply tell what they are contacting them about (1st paragraph), what qualifications you have which match the job you are
interested in (2nd paragraph), and a closing sentence telling them you want to discuss the job more with them and will call in a few days (or you could specifya date you will call). Be sure to do what you say you will do and contact them when you said you would. Then type ‘sincerely, and space down 4 spaces, type your name, then the word Enclosure a couple spaces below that (meaning you are enclosing your resume). Of course in the 4 spaces, you will want to sign your name as you typed it.
References
At some point in your job search you will be asked to give prospective employer the names of references. This request usually comes
after several interviews and is an indication that you are a serious candidate
for the job.
Suggested steps for preparing references
effectively:
ü Identify several
individuals for possible references
ü Ask for permission to use
the references’ names.
ü Prepare a draft of a
reference statement using guidelines
below.
ü Review the reference
statement draft with each reference.
ü Select the most suitable
reference for the specific job situation.
Content guidelines for the Reference statement
Relationship: How and for how long the person has known you?
Strengths:
These would relate to the job you are seeking. Accomplishments.
Weakness:
Area where you can improve.
The Story:
Discuss why you are looking for a new career.
General recommendation: Summary of the recommendation
For more information on reference letters:
http://www.naceweb.org/public/ Go to the section on reference letters.
http://jobsearch.about.com/
od/referenceletters/Sample_Reference_Letters.htm
