RESUMES, COVER LETTERS AND THANK YOU LETTERS
Career Services University of Pittsburgh 224 William Pitt Union 412-648-7130 www.careers.pitt.edu 06/06
The Resume – Your Marketing Tool
Whenever you begin a job search, the first step is always creating (or updating) your resume. Your resume is a very important document, as it serves as your advertisement, or marketing tool, when contacting employers. The purpose of sending your resume to employers is to convince them that you are a well-qualified candidate and that they need to spend time interviewing you for the positions they have available. Because of this, always focus on the things that "sell" you the best, and be sure to highlight them when writing your resume. Also try to take the employer's point of view when writing your resume; employers recognize that you want certain things out of a job (such as salary, benefits and growth opportunities), but are most interested in what you can do for them as an employee. If you keep this perspective in mind, it will help you to write a resume that presents you as an asset to their organization who will make a valuable contribution to their bottom line. Remember that there is no one "right" way to structure your resume. The following guidelines are suggestions of the things most employers like to see; however, you need to tailor your resume so that it best reflects your skills and qualifications for the job. If you have specific questions, remember that the staff of Career Services is available to help you. Feel free to utilize our walk-in hours (please call for days and times), during which a Career Counselor or Peer Career Advisor will be happy to critique your resume and give you feedback. You may also want to access our Cyber Career Counselor at www.careers.pitt.edu/cybercounselor/cybercounselor.htm for more information or additional sample resumes.
Getting Started
Before you begin to write your resume, it is helpful to reflect on your past experiences, especially those related to your career field. Make a list for yourself of all your experiences – educational, work and volunteer – and keep it handy while you write your resume. For each experience, make sure you include the company or organization name, your position title, the dates you were there and your responsibilities. The resume worksheet on the following page will help you to do this. When completing the worksheet, try to focus on the skills you gained through each experience you have listed. By focusing on your skills, you draw a direct line for the employer between your past experiences and what you will be able to do as an employee. Remember, skills are transferable, so the customer service skills you learned while working at your local burger joint during the summer after high school may be put to good use when you’re trying to convince an employer that you work well with the public.
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RESUME WORKSHEET
EDUCATION DATES SCHOOL DEGREE MAJOR Q.P.A.
WORK/INTERNSHIP/CO-OP EXPERIENCE DATES NAME OF ORGANIZATION CITY, STATE JOB TITLE DUTIES SKILLS USED
VOLUNTEER WORK DATES ORGANIZATION CITY, STATE DUTIES SKILLS USED
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Types of Resumes
Chronological This is the most common type of resume and is usually the most suitable for college students and recent grads. Sections in this type of resume are usually listed in order of importance, and experience is listed in reverse chronological order (with most recent experiences listed first). A chronological resume is the easiest to prepare and works well for people who have stayed in the same field and have had progressive advancement. Functional This type of resume focuses more on skills and achievements, as opposed to listing the positions you have held and the responsibilities you had with each position. This resume seems to work best for people who are changing careers, who are looking for work unrelated to their major or who wish to focus on a particular set of skills. Although this resume format can be effective in drawing attention to skills you want to highlight, many employers prefer to see a chronological resume, as it is usually easier to read. Targeted A targeted resume is a resume created for a specific job or position for which you are applying. Targeted resumes can be very effective in drawing attention to your experience in one particular field, but can be time -consuming to write if you have more than one area of interest. As an alternative, many people will use the cover letter to focus on specific information that they want to bring to the employer’s attention. Scannable Because many large companies and organizations will receive hundreds (if not thousands) of resumes in a year, many have begun to use computer systems and scanners to store the resumes of potential candidates. Usually these resumes are scanned into one large database, and employers will do a keyword search to find candidates of interest when they are hiring. Keep the following in mind when you are creating a scannable resume: keep the layout simple; avoid italics, underlining, bullets, shading and graphics (these do not scan well); use standard fonts, such as Times New Roman, Arial or Courier in 12 to 14 point size; don’t staple multiple pages of your resume. Also remember that keywords are often nouns, instead of verbs, so you may want to include a section of keywords as a part of your resume. E-mail If you have a specific contact at a company, you may want to e-mail him/her a copy of your resume. If you would like to do this, it’s best to include both the cover letter and resume in the text of your e-mail, as some organizations do not allow their employees to open attachments from senders they do not know. The following rules apply to e-mail resumes: the right margin should be 2”, while the left margin should be 1”; text should be 11-point font; use capital letters for headings, since boldface may not be compatible with everyone’s e-mail software; avoid bullets, shading, graphics, underling and italics (again, these may not be compatible with the e-mail program your recipient uses). You can check the format and content of your e-mail resume by sending it to yourself or to a close friend.
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Sections of a Resume
There are many sections you can include in your resume when trying to best highlight your qualifications for a job. You may not need to use everything that is listed here, so choose what you think will be the most effective for you. Also, it’s usually best to keep the most important information towards the top of your resume, since most employers will read your resume top to bottom. Contact Information Believe it or not, your contact information is some of the most important information on your resume, as it allows the employer to get in touch with you to schedule an interview. Be sure to include your name, street address, telephone number and e- mail address. If you are including your e- mail address, make sure it sounds professional – no one wants to hire “partyanimal@yahoo.com”. Also, if you have both a local (school) address and a permanent (home) address, it is fine to list both on your resume. An example:
Amanda Hugginkiss
234 Hopscotch Way Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 123-4567 amandah@hotmail.com Objective Although the objective is optional, many people choose to include one because it allows the employer to immediately see the kind of position you are seeking, and enables you to target a specific job or field. You can also highlight a few skills in your objective, if you like. When writing your objective, avoid using phrases that highlight what you want out of a job (such as “potential for advancement” or “growth opportunities”). Objectives should be short, to the point, and are the only section on the resume in which you can use first-person wording. Here are some examples: To obtain a position as an electrical engineer. Seeking a position as a pharmacist in a retail environment. To obtain a position in higher education that focuses on program development and grant-writing. Summary of Qualifications This section allows you to highlight specific skills, achievements and experiences that are highly relevant to your employment objective and set you apart from other candidates. This section can be very helpful for the candidate who has a lot of experience in his/her chosen field. An example: Ten years of experience in accounting, including “Big 4” experience. Proven ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure. Effective communication skills and ability to work with diverse groups of people. Education If you are still a student or are a recent grad, this is the section that will probably interest employers the most, so list it near the top. Once you have some professional work experience, you can move this section to the bottom of your resume. When listing your education, include the schools you attended, the cities and states in which they are located,
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the degree you are earning (or have earned), your major(s), minors(s), concentration(s) and certificate(s), and your graduation date. You do not need to include all of the years you attended school; you also should not include high school once you have finished your first year of college. You can include your QPA if it is above 3.0; if your major QPA is above 3.0, you may wish to include it, as well. Some examples: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING Certificate: Conceptual Foundations of Medicine QPA: 3.45 Graduation Date: April, 2003 University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA Master of Fine Arts Major: English Literature Anticipated Graduation Date: December, 2005 Relevant Experience Relevant experience includes anything you have done that pertains to your employment goal, including internships, volunteer work, paid part-time or full-time jobs or campus/community activities. List your experience in reverse chronological order and be sure to include the name of the company or organization, the city and state, the dates you were there, the title of your position and your responsibilities. An example: Community Case Management Services Pittsburgh, PA Intern, Homeless Case Management Unit September – December, 2002 Provided case management services to approximately thirty-five clients staying in Pittsburgh-area homeless shelters Created social case histories and assisted clients in setting goals for housing during intake appointments Facilitated use of community services in obtaining funding for security deposit, rent, utilities and furnishings Provided transportation to clients for appointments to view prospective apartments; toured apartments with clients to ensure living spaces were safe and sanitary Kept complete case notes on each client and maintained accurate daily log Participated in non-violent crisis intervention training and educational seminar regarding signs of illicit drug use Other Experience This section includes the experiences you have had that are not relevant to your career goal. This may include things like waiting tables, babysitting, working the drive-thru at McDonald’s, etc. You can structure the listings in this section in the same way you structured them in your “Related Experience” section, but you may find yourself running out of room if you include everything. If this is the case, you may just want to stick to “where, when and what”: where you worked, when you worked there and what your job title was. Honors, Awards, Achievements If you have a number of awards or other achievements, you may want to create a section on your resume in which to list them. Be sure to include memberships in honor societies, scholarships, departmental honors and appearances on the Dean’s List.
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Relevant Coursework If you have taken a few (say, five or less) specific courses that are relevant to your employment goal, you can list them here. Don’t list all of the courses you have taken in your major – if an employer wants this information, you will be asked to provide a transcript. Computer Skills Chances are, most employers are going to expect that you have some basic knowledge of common computer programs, so you may want to list the hardware and software programs with which you are familiar. If you are a technical major (especially computer or information science) this section of your resume is very important, and you should include programming languages, as well. Also, you may want to highlight this section by moving it closer to the top of resume. Language Skills If you speak a foreign language, be sure to list it on your resume, along with your level of proficiency. Selected Research, Selected Projects or Presentations If you have participated in research or other projects that are relevant to your employment goal, you can list them here. These can enhance your qualifications for a job and certainly give the employer something to talk to you about during the interview. Certifications, Licenses or Professional Memberships If you have any of these, list them on your resume. These are especially important for people going into fields like healthcare and education, where you must have a license or certificate to practice in the field. Campus Activities or Volunteer Work Even if these are not related to your career goal, you may want to include campus groups to which you belong or volunteer work you have done, just to show employers that you have gotten involved and are able to organize your time well. Be sure to highlight any leadership positions or offices you have held. As a word of caution, you may want to avoid including anything that is overtly religious or political, as some employers could use these things to discriminate against you (not that they’re allowed to do this, but it does happen). However, if your religious or political life is important to you and you would not want to work for someone who is not comfortable with your views, then you may want to list them. The important thing is to do what is most comfortable for you. References Do not waste space or burn out your references by listing them on your resume – you can enclose them on a separate sheet of paper if you are asked for them. If you would like to include the statement “References Available Upon Request” on your resume, that is fine, but not necessary.
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Helpful Hints
Be consistent. There is a wide variety of formatting tools you can use to highlight elements of your resume: boldface, capital letters, underlining, italics, indenting, centering, etc. Regardless of what you choose, stay consistent throughout your resume (for example, if you put one section heading in boldface capital letters, they should all be in boldface capital letters). Be honest. Although everyone jokes about “stretching the truth” on a resume, it is very important that you be honest and do not embellish your duties in any way. If an employer hires you and then later finds out that you lied on your application materials, you can be fired. If this happens you have no recourse, even if you have worked in the job for several years and have had positive performance reviews. Use clear, easy-to-read formatting and layout. Because your resume is your marketing tool, it is paramount that you make sure it is clear and easy to read. Use white space well; use at least a 1” margin around the entire resume and make sure your text is not too crowded. Also, choose a standard font, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Palatino or Courier in 12 to 14 point size. Use a laser printer or a professional copier when printing. Avoid resume template programs. In general, resume templates are hard to work with and are not scanner-friendly. Many recruiters and human resources professionals dislike the layout of templates and may think that you are lazy or have poor computer skills because you did not format your resume yourself. Most often, it is easiest to start your resume on a blank document and create the formatting yourself. Use correct language. Resumes should not be written in the first person, except for the objective, so avoid the words “I”, “me” and “my”. Your resume should be written in the present verb tense for things you are doing now, past tense for everything else. Try to avoid overused words (for example, “strong” or “solid” may be more convincing than “excellent”) and try to be specific by using numbers and percentages when appropriate. Use resume-quality paper. Although some employers are not choosy, it’s best to print your resume on a resume-quality or bond paper, usually in some shade of white, cream or light gray (avoid other colors, as they may seem inappropriate or flashy). Keep your resume short. Although it is important that your resume best sell you for a job, employers quickly tire of reading multiple-page resumes. If you are currently a student or a recent grad, one page should suffice. If you have more experience, you may want to use two pages, but be sure to use the second page (don’t just have three little bullet points at the top of page two and leave the rest blank). Resumes should never be more than two pages long. Proofread, proofread, proofread! One of the worst mistakes you can make is not proofreading your resume before you send it to a potential employer. A spelling or grammatical error can be the kiss of death – after all, why would an employer want to take the time to interview you if you can’t even take the time to carefully check your own resume? Make sure that others proofread your resume, as well; show it to your friends or take advantage of walk-in hours in Career Services. Leave it out. Personal information (height, weight, marital status, children, hobbies), photographs and salary information, while once included in resumes, should now be left out of any job application.
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Research. The Career Reference Room in 236 William Pitt Union contains book with hundreds of resume samples. The internet also has good information on resume-writing, especially on Cyber Career Counselor. There are many good ideas out there – don’t limit yourself to just one source.
T RANSFERABLE SKILLS/ACTION WORDS
Advocate Provide Hospitality Take Care of Others Listen Counsel Teach Coach Explain Facilitate Groups Write Promote Sell Meet the Public Motivate Interview Influence Consult Serve as Liaison Make Decisions Negotiate Determine Policy Supervise Delegate Mediate Initiate Organize Plan Coordinate Analyze Evaluate Problem -Solve Research Categorize Manage Records Edit Budget Monitor Conceptualize Synthesize Demonstrate Foresight Improvise Design Invent Compose Operate Equipment Repair Restore Calculate/Compute Cooperate Speak to Groups Solve Pro blems Train Concentrate Work Under Pressure Provide Leadership Brainstorm Follow Through
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SAMPLE LAYOUT OF A RESUME
NAME Present Address: Street Address City, State zip Phone number e-mail address Permanent Address Street Address City, State zip Phone number personal e-mail (if you have one) State what type of position you are seeking and/or what type of industry you want to be employed in, and/or what skills you want to utilize in the position. University of Pittsburgh Bachelor of __________ Major:_______________ GPA: Pittsburgh, PA April, 200_ Minor: ____________ Major GPA:
OBJECTIVE: EDUCATION:
DO NOT LIST YOUR HIGH SCHOOL UNLESS YOU ARE A FRESHMAN HONORS AND AWARDS: KEY COURSES: COMPUTER SKILLS: INTERNSHIP (or) RELATED EXPERIENCE: WORK EXPERIENCE: Academic honors and awards should be listed here. Honors include Dean’s list, honor societies, etc. Awards include any scholarships you received. List courses related to the position to which you are applying. List hardware, software, and any programming languages you have worked with. This section is used to highlight career-related experience. This could be internships, volunteer work, or any paid experience. When writing about this, use the format described below for “work experience.” Company Name City, State Job Title Dates of employment • Describe your job duties • One per line • Begin with an action verb • Try to use the bullet format instead of paragraph format List all activities you have been involved in, both on and off campus. Be sure to describe any leadership positions.
ACTIVITIES:
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Jean Spangler
224 Aswood Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-234-5678 Js25@pitt.edu OBJECTIVE:To secure a marketing position that will allow me to utilize my academic and work-related skills. EDUCATION: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major: Marketing GPA: 3.3 Pittsburgh, PA April, 2007
RELATED EXPERIENCE: SEEC, In. Pittsburgh, PA Marketing Intern May-August 2006 • Researched and developed list of over 800 software companies for marketing campaign to recruit partners. • Located over 1,000 contacts within the insurance industry for inside sales representatives. • Organized research findings in spreadsheets and distributed them throughout Pittsburgh and Chicago offices. • Communicated all research findings to top management via weekly reports and conference calls. • Demonstrated initiative by locating and utilizing outside sources of information. Department of Community and Economic Development Pittsburgh, PA Team PA Intern January-April 2006 • Presented “Stay Invent the Future” state -wide initiative to over 1,000 regional students • Independently researched and analyzed target markets and developed marketing campaigns accordingly. • Solicited campaign support from over 450 Pennsylvania employers and non-profit organizations. • Collaborated with fellow interns in order to maximize effectiveness of strategies. Victoria’s Secret Dickson City, PA Sales Associate May 2004-January 2004 • Surpassed weekly sales goals and was typically rated in top five associates in sales. • Increased store’s weekly credit card ratio by always rating in top two associates in opening credit accounts. • Exhibited teamwork by working with distract sales associates to complete two opening store locations. • Achieved a variety of daily goals including sales dollars, units per transaction, and average dollar sale. OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE: The Bogus Inn Waitress HONORS/ACTIVITIES: Dean’s List six terms Undergraduate Marketing Club Business Student Council Activities and Academic Affairs Committee Pittsburgh, PA Summers 2002,2003,2004
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John Finley
223 Alderan Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-779-2564 jff23@pitt.edu
Objective:
A driven and positive finance major with expertise in sales and customer relations seeks an entry-level position with an investment company
Summary of Qualifications : Strong educational background in finance Effectively able to work with diverse groups of people Excellent sales skills. Establishes long lasting relationships with customers Friendly with a positive attitude. A proven leader. Effective communicator; both written and oral. Fluent in Russian Able to relocate/travel as needed. Education: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Expected graduation 2007 Bachelor of Arts, Communication and Rhetoric, GPA: 3.0/4.0 Minor: Russian Activities: President, Pittsburgh Chapter of Homeless Awareness Program Platforms: MS Windows 95/98/2000, Software: MS Office Suite 95/98/2000 (expertise in Excel, Word, PowerPoint), MathCad+ 6.0 Visto Languages: C++ Hardware : PC, Mac Le Affluent, Pittsburgh, PA 2004-Present Sales Associate/Acting Manager on Duty at a high–end men’s fashions boutique Produced highest one-time sale ($7,000) in store history. Open and close store. Responsible for shipping and receiving inventory and all paperwork Effectively reconcile errors in orders with companies
Computer Skills:
Work Experience:
Hugo Boss, Pittsburgh PA
Sales Associate at retail store carrying high-end male fashions. Ranked as one of top five producers in the store. Generated $25,000 in sales over two week period. Instrumental in grand opening of store Implemented new sales software for store Trained new staff on sales software. Languages: Fluent in Russian Moderate understanding of Spanish and Hebrew Keywords:
2002-2004
Financial Sales, Financial Analyst, Investment Consulting
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Jacob Student
jsj123@pitt.edu Current Address: 123 Semple Street #4 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-123-4567 OBJECTIVE: To obtain a position as a social worker EDUCATION University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Degree Date: April 2007 Major QPA: 3.45 RELATED EXPERIENCE Community Case Management Services – Pittsburgh, PA Intern, Homeless Case Management Unit September – December 2006 - Provided case management services to approximately thirty-five clients staying in Pittsburgh-area homeless shelters - Created social case histories and assisted clients in setting goals for housing during intake appointments - Facilitated use of community services in obtaining funding for security deposit, rent, utilities and furnishings - Provided transportation to clients for appointments to view prospective apartments; toured apartments with clients to ensure living spaces were safe and sanitary - Kept complete case notes on each client and maintained accurate daily log - Participated in non-violent crisis intervention training and educational seminar regarding signs of illicit drug use Golden Years Elder Care Center – Pittsburgh, PA Intern, Social Services Department January – April 2006 - Completed social case histories on all incoming residents - Met with families and prospective residents to answer questions and provide tours of the facility - Utilized knowledge of nursing home regulations and helped to prepare social services records for upcoming inspection OTHER EXPERIENCE Applebee’s – Pittsburgh, PA McDonald’s – Hoboken, NJ ACTIVITIES Social Work Club – Treasurer Alpha Phi Omega Co-ed Service Fraternity – Member September 2006 – Present January 2004 – Present Server Line Cook September 2002 – Present May – August 2000 and 2001 Permanent Address: 456 Maple Street Hoboken, NJ 07124 098-765-4321
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LISA SIMPSON 123 Anyplace Lane Pittsburgh, PA 15123 412-123-4567 OBJECTIVE: Research position for an experienced and driven technician with strong background in animal surgery, data analysis, histology, and scientific writing. EDUCATION University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Bachelor of Science, December 2007 Major in Biology, Minor in Chemistry, QPA 3.12 Phi Eta Sigma and Lambda Sigma Honor Societies LABORATORY SKILLS • • • • • • • • Skilled in sterile and acute animal surgery and transcardial perfusions Administration and dosage of veterinary drugs PO, IM, SQ, IV, and IP Monitoring and administration of anesthesia during veterinary surgical procedures Trained to function safely in BSL-II environment Microtome sectioning of celloidin or paraffin embedded and frozen tissue samples Histological staining using hematoxylin and eosin, thionin, and cresyl violet Experience with pH meters, IR-Spectroscopy, GC, and analytical balances Preparation of chemical solutions and proper handling of bio-hazardous materials
RELATED RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Research Specialist Intern, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA Department of Otolargyngology with Dr. Waylon Smithers, 7/ 06 – present • Investigate vestibular influences on autonomic control • Collect electrophysiological data and annotate detailed logs of experimental procedures • Perform acute and survival large animal surgeries • Supervise and instruct undergraduate students during data collection and analysis • Modify laboratory protocols and procedures and contribute to revisal of lab publications • Histological processing of tissue samples Research Animal Technician Intern, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, 2/05 - 6/06 • Administered food, water, and provided medical treatments to laboratory animals • Sanitization and sterilization of caging and equipment Laboratory Assistant, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Department of Ecology and Evolution with Dr. Barney Gumble, 1/04 – 2/05 • Assisted in study of flowering plant evolution using Fragaria Virginiana as model species • Dissection of floral parts for measurement and recording of quantitative traits Independent Research Student, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Department of Ecology and Evolution with Dr. Montgomery Burns, 9/ 02 – 5/ 03 • Studied plant morphology, physiology of Arabis Lyrata • Observed and recorded pollen tube and ovule development PUBLICATIONS Smithers, W., and Simpson, L. Effects of postural changes and vestibular lesions on genioglosal muscle activity in conscious cats. J. Appl. Physiol. 96: 923-930, 2006
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The Cover Letter – Your Introduction
A cover letter should always accompany any resume that is sent out. Employers will read the cover letter first and it may determine whether or not they read your resume. The cover letter should be in a traditional business letter format and no longer than one page. If possible, it should be addressed to the person in charge of hiring. Cover letters generally follow the following format: First paragraph: Explain why you are writing to them, the specific job you are applying for, how you learned about the opening. If someone you know or someone from the company referred you, you should mention their name. You can get the reader’s attention by mentioning one of your selling points or making an interesting comment about the company. Middle Paragraphs: Tell the employer why you are qualified for the job and why it interests you. Stress your selling points and accomplishments, but don’t just rewrite your resume. Expand upon what you already have in your resume. This is the place to focus on specific skills and experiences that this company would be interested in. If you have done your research about the company, you should be able to do this. Show the employer why you would be a good match for the position. This is also where you can explain in further detail why you’re interested in this partic ular organization. Final Paragraph: Let them know you are interested in the position. Request an interview or some other type of action. Tell them how they can contact you (phone and e- mail address.) You may also indicate that you will contact them. Thank them for considering your application.
Some extra tips:
If you do not know who to address the letter to, call the company and try to find out the name and title of the person in charge of hiring. Be sure to spell the name correctly! If you are unable to identify the person in charge, you can address it to the department that is hiring (“Dear Human Resources”) or simply “Dear Employer.” Doing research about the company before writing the letter will make it easier to make the “match” between your qualifications and the employer’s needs. Cover letters should also accompany e-mailed resumes. Avoid general cover letters that do not refer to the specific position and company. Do not send a handwritten cover letter. Individually sign each letter you send in black or blue ink. Write “Enclosure” at the bottom to indicate that you are including a resume.
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Sample Cover Letter 224 Warren Road Pittsburgh, PA 15260 May 22, 2007 Mr. Donald Jarvis Association of American Chambers Of Commerce of Latin America 1615 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062-2000 Dear Mr. Jarvis: I would like to be considered for the position of information officer, as posted in the Washington Post Gazette. I possess the qualifications you are seeking and am an excellent candidate for this position. I will graduate from the University of Pittsburgh in April with a degree in Political Science and an International Studies Certificate that reflects a concentration in Latin America. My program has enabled me to develop excellent research and writing skills. Additionally, I have traveled extensively throughout Latin America and have a keen understanding of the culture and its people. I am fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. My professional and academic background, along with my sincere interest in helping others, has enhanced my sensitivity to a range of cultures. As a highly motivated individual, I enjoy the challenge of complex, demanding assignments. I welcome the opportunity to elaborate on my qualifications for the information officer position. You can reach me at 412 623-1899. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, (pen-written signature) Anita Bell
Enclosure
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The Thank You Letter – The Finishing Touch
Thank you letters express your appreciation for an interview. They confirm your interest in the job, help the employer remember you, and give you an opportunity to restate your credentials. Keep the letter very short. Write a brief paragraph thanking the individual, another paragraph or two to mention a point of interest or summarize your qualifications, and one last sentence to express your interest in the position. Always send a letter within a day of your interview.
Sample Thank You Letter 123 Smith St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 April 15, 2007 Ms. Sarah Johnson Glenfield Foods One Market Square Wallingford, OH 44761 Dear Ms. Johnson: Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you this afternoon about the sales position at Glenfield Foods. After discussing the opening and the organization with you, I am convinced that I am a good fit for Glenfield. You mentioned that Glenfield is a large international company that expects its sales people to be aggressive and independent. These are qualities I acquired by operating my own campus transportation service at Chesterfield University. In addition, I was a sales intern at Motortron, a multinational company specializing in wireless communication products. My responsibilities included researching the needs of potential clients and assisting sales representatives during their field calls. The experience made me want to pursue a professional sales career and taught me the importance of goal-setting and interpersonal skills. Again, thank you for your time and interest in me. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, (pen-written signature) Jennifer Grove
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