Job search presentation
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The document provides guidance on writing effective cover letters and resumes. It discusses why cover letters are important, cover letter formatting and components, including hard and soft skills. It also emphasizes that resumes need to grab the recruiter's attention within 30 seconds and highlights resume design, formatting, common sections, and keywords. Students are assigned to create a cover letter mind map and draft a cover letter and resume for a fictional job as an expert.
Job search presentation
- 1. COVER LETTER & RESUME WRITING that will get you noticed! PART 1: Cover Letters PART 2: Resumes
- 2. PART 1: COVER LETTERS Why a Cover Letter? A resume without a cover letter is like a hamburger without a bun. A well written cover letter distinguishes your application & helps you stand out.
- 3. Cover Letter Basics Keep it to one page Font size between 10 & 14 Use business letter format Keep it to 3-5 paragraphs High Quality Paper if printing Convert to PDF if sending electronically PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD!
- 4. Cover Letter Formatting RETURN ADDRESS – keep it the same as your resume. It should look like letterhead. Examples:
- 5. Cover Letter Formatting Return address is followed by the DATE. Write out the date in proper form. Examples: Notice that the date is NOT written March 12th, 2014!! Leave off the “th”, “st”, “nd”, etc.
- 6. Cover Letter Formatting Return address, date & then Employer Contact Info. Contact Name (if you have it) Contact’s Title Name of Company Street Address or PO Box City, ST 12345 Examples:
- 7. Cover Letter Formatting Double Space after the employer contact info to begin the Salutation. • Use Mr. or Ms. when addressing the sendee. • If you do not know a name you could address it to a title or selection committee. • It is best to take the effort to CALL & find out who you should address your letter to. • You can include “Dear” or leave it off. Examples: Dear Mr. Miller, Dear Human Resource Manager, Selection Committee,
- 8. Cover Letter Formatting Body of Your Letter PARAGRAPH 1: • State the purpose of your letter. • Express your excitement about the opportunity. PARAGRAPH 2: • Site specific examples of hard skills, knowledge, experience, education, accomplishments. PARAGRAPH 3: • Describe your soft skills and personal goals. • Site specific examples PARAGRAPH 4: • Express your excitement again • Ask for an interview • State what your next step will be. Hard & Soft skills will be discussed in more detail later.
- 9. Body of Your Letter Example Paragraph 3: Soft skills Paragraph 4: Excitement Next Step Paragraph 2: Hard Skills Paragraph 1: Purpose Excitement ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU! To make this example stronger, I would site SPECIFIC examples, not just restate what’s on your resume.
- 10. Cover Letter Formatting CLOSING • Say thank you. • Use a closing, quadruple space, & then type your name. • If you print the letter you will need to sign between your closing & name. Example: Signature goes here.
- 11. Hard Skills: What specific knowledge or expertise do you possess? • Foreign language • Computer skills & program experience • Leading a group, giving instructions • Assembling, Documenting, Computing, Compiling, etc. • Technical Skills • Content Knowledge • Skills required to do a job
- 12. Examples of Hard Skills on a Resume
- 13. Forbes reported that 5% of companies are struggling to fill jobs due to lack of available talent. Among the top reasons for these talent shortages, 19% of employers say “lack of workplace competencies (soft skills)” is a primary reason they’re having difficulty filling jobs. 93% of CEOs agree that, “A candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than their undergraduate major.”
- 14. Soft Skills: refer to a cluster of personal qualities, habits, attitudes and social graces that make someone a good employee and compatible to work with. What specific personal qualities, habits, & attitudes do you possess? • Work Ethic • Attitude • Communication Skills • Creativity • Time-Management • Problem-Solving Skills • Teamwork • Ability to Accept & Learn • Flexibility & Adaptability • Working Well Under Pressure • Handling Change
- 15. Cover Letter Assignment • Fill out a Mind Map for your cover letter. • You will write a Cover Letter for a fictional job as an expert. I have provided you with a Mind Map template for your cover letter. Page 2 is an example of how it could be filled out. Page 3 shows you how to use all of the information you have learned about cover letters and convert your Mind Map to an actual letter that will get you noticed.
- 16. PART 2: RESUMES Where’s the beef? A resume is the main dish of your job search package and should contain lots of “meat”. A recruiter may decide in only 30 seconds whether you are worth meeting. You need to be concise, relevant, & effective.
- 17. Resume Tips Design matters – do not use a template Make it reader friendly by using bulleted lists Try to quantify your accomplishments & job descriptions Use action verbs when describing your past work experience Use key words that they employer is looking for. Review lots of examples to find a format that works for you & the job that you are applying for High Quality Paper if printing Convert to PDF if sending electronically
- 18. Common Resume Sections • Objective • Summary of Qualifications • Educational Background • Work Experience • Honors & Accomplishments • Activities • Computer Skills • References
- 19. Resume Assignment • In order for you to learn more about building an effective resume you need to review & fill out the following resume worksheet. • You will build your own resume as an expert.