Resume and Cover Letter

Resume and Cover Letter Format, Language Style and General Guidelines Outline A. Format Resume Controversies Components Types B. Language Style C. General Guidelines Appearance matters Questions for discussion Cover Letter D. School Application Trivia Controversies over the format of Resume One page or not. (Usu. one page for college grads.) To be unique and creative or not. (with caution.) Including hobbies and extracurricular activities or not. Personal data (e.g. age and marital status) and photo.  Follow the general principles and use your resume as your “personal” ad to show the best of your qualifications. Resume: Components Heading Objective (examples); (or qualification summary) Education – degree, school, date graduated, major, GPA, honoraries, scholarships, offices held. Experience – dates employed (from ~ to~) employer, division, position title, key responsibilities (& achievements)(examples). Extracurricular Activities OR Activities and Honors Personal data & References Types of Resume Chronological (reverse chronological order) (example) Linear (example) Functional/Skills – emphasizes the functional areas in which the applicant is strong at; organize experience by functions one serves or skills one has. (example) Format 1: Chronological Responsibilities in Block; use verbs Source: Beatty; Another example Format 2: Linear: listing responsibilities linear Another example Another example Format 3: Functional Another example Format 3: Skills (2) Another example source Component 1: Heading & Objective Heading: NAME, address and phone no.  Make it stand out!!! Objective: 1. Should be supported by the other parts of the resume; 2. can be directed at a specific job, or put in more general way; 3. (Shows your understanding of the nature of the job.) e.g. 1. Secretary: a secretarial position which utilizes interpersonal, organizational and computer skills, and which provides chances to learn business management. Component 1: Objectives(2) 2. Marketing: a position in charge of marketing project direction, product management, sales promotion, general administration for consumer goods company. 3. Secretarial Job in a International Trading company: A position involving computer skills, high demand of English, basic knowledge of international trade in relation to fashion business. An entry position in Public Relations department. A management position in marketing, finance, or production. Resume: Components Component 2: Education To be placed before Experience when it is more significant than the latter. Give proper titles! Fu Jen Catholic University Bachelor of Arts in English, expected June, 2004 GPA: Grade Point Average (see next page) Major Related Courses: (don’t list the general ones) GPA General Scale in Taiwan: 80-100=4.0 70-79=3.0 60-69=2.0 50-59=1.0 49 and below=0.0 Explanation: Online GPA calculation: http://www.sunmoon.pair.com/vec/gpa/gpa_rule.html In U.S.: 90-100=4.0 80-89=3.0 70-79=2.0 60-69=1.0 59 and below=0.0 http://www.eapply.com.tw/dlnet/Big5/members/data_link/Ram/gpa.htm Component 3: Experience Responsibilities at work e.g. secretary: Transcribed dictation from three advertising agency account executives. Accomplishments: became expert with a word processor; increased typing speed from 50 to 75 words per minute; increased accuracy to 97%. e.g. instructor, language institute Taught English conversation and grammar to classes of children ranging from age 7 to 10. Accomplishments: used lively methods to interest children of different ages, . . . e.g. translator, waitress Communicated with customers in fluent English and Chinese, sometimes translating between the two languages. e.g. administrative work, PR Negotiated and arbitrated conflicts among team workers Developed a climate of enthusiasm, teamwork, and cooperation Introduced student projects as well as creative ways of advertisements to different companies. Component 3: Experience Responsibilities at work Cover Letter: Components Opening: 1. Your reason for writing; 2. Make a point that you think will be interesting to the addressee; Highlights: Give examples of the qualifications which make you a good candidate. Closing: ask for an interview. Format: Use block format (all justified left) , single spaced, double-spaced between paragraphs. Language: specific and professional Objective: A good job with a famous company. An assistant position in procurement department which utilizes my skills in computer applications and negotiating deals and familiarize me with all facets of modern procurement management. Objective: A part-time English tutor. An English instructor in a language institute which allows me to make full use of a variety of teaching methods to make students talk spontaneously, correctly and meaningfully. Language: specific and concise Objective: A translator A translation job which utilizes and further improve my abilities in general research, two-way translation between English and Chinese, as well as specialized knowledge in literature and religion. Experience: Raised a lot of funds for student activities. Raised over 15,000 dollars from three companies for department annual play, 2000. Experience: Taught a kid creatively. Used film scripts and lyrics to increase a high-school student’s vocabulary. Used Role Play to let a class of 15 eight-year olds speak only in English. Cover Letter: Opening From the website of I104 Occupation As an English major, the website of 104 (1st Par.) From have not only Agency, understand that you skills, but mastered IEnglish and computerare that Occupation Agency, I understand offering a of a alsoyou areworking opportunityknowledge in acquired a fair amount of opportunity of offering a working general assistant From the website of trading business. with requirements of 104 the general assistant with requirements high demand of English and basic Occupationdemand ofunderstand that I am of high Agency, I English and basic knowledge of trading ask for. I would, exactly the person youand computer skills. knowledge of trading and computer As one who to your for the position of therefore, likefits applyqualifications and skills. That’s it? wants assistant you offer. general to learn more about trading business, I would like to apply for this position. Cover Letter: Closing I look forward to meeting your need in any possible interviews, and thank you for your consideration. I look forward to discussing how my qualifications meet your needs in an interview, and thank you for your consideration. Cover Letter: Highlights As both translator and receptionist at I-Lan Children’s Folklore Festival, I accommodated the needs of 14 foreign performers from Englishspeaking countries and introduced to them both cultural and geographical features of Taiwan. I helped solve their problems in daily matters and unexpected situations to make them feel comfortable in Taiwan. Besides, together with the other staff members, I designed leisure activities to promote cultural interchanges among us. This experience improved the skills of communication and reception I have acquired at school in and out of class. General Guidelines Research the companies you are applying for well, and address what they need in your resume and cover letter. Be self-assertive and matter-of-fact; do not exaggerate or flatter. Be concrete: use verbs more than adjectives. Appearance matters: what is appearance? Appearance grammar and spelling; spatial arrangement of resume; font and spacing; printing and paper qualities. What else? A bit of creative and elegant decoration if possible. Discussion Which of the following jobs can we apply for right after graduating from college without getting another degree? How do you present the objectives or responsibilities of the following jobs? Jobs you are considering English Teacher of middle and elementary level marketing in the foreign company Secretary tour leader Editor, translator, journalist Salesman PR Librarian entertains and manages people in ways that are fascinating, remarkable and exciting. Serves as the primary point of contact and an adviser to the group that s/he manages. well-equipped with the historical background, geography, current affairs for every destination and be updated on the various aspects of each destination especially when most tourists nowadays have traveled widely and are well informed. Has an out-going personality, decisive, organized, possesses good speaking and people skills, inquisitive and above all a strong sense of Ethics. knows what needs to be done before departure, before boarding, on-board, on-arrival and at the end of the tour. Tour Leader Application Trivia 1. How to type on a form. How to type on a form 1.用Acrobat Reader 開啟文件。必須是5.0 以上的版本，才有擷取圖形的功能。我現在 的版本是6.0。 2.把顯示比率調大，大約150%~200%。(因為 我做過實驗，比待會要貼上的PowerPoint投 影片大的圖，列印時較為清楚。) 3.接著開啟一個PowerPoint空白投影片，為 了配合列印方便，到檔案→版面設定 把投 影片大改成A4 縱向 How to type on a form (2) 4.現在便可以將acrobat reader的一整頁選 起來，按右鍵複製，再回到PowerPoint空白 投影片貼上，再調整圖片的大小使其符合A4 頁面，就完成一頁啦。 5.然後就一頁一頁做複製貼上的工作，填表 的時候就用PowerPoint視窗下面加入文字方 塊的功能便可以在適當的地方填入文字，按 住alt加上滑鼠可以讓方塊停在你想要的地 方。(許馨文 提供，Based on http://prattflora.com/mfastudy/mfa05apply.htm ) References: Beatty, Richard H. The Resume Kit. New York : Wiley , c1991. Bostwick, B. E. Resume writing : a comprehensive how-to-do-it guide. New York : Wiley , c1990. OWL from Purdue U.