Resume and Cover Letter Workshop
Too often people undersell their own capabilities and experiences. In order to land an interview, the resume and cover letter must work together with the job description. I've established my own process to move a resume to its maximum ability to sell, while maintaining the individual's unique style.
I'm happy to help my students, colleagues, and friends with their resumes and cover letters... just send them my way. Remember, you have to always look out for Number One.
Personal Mission Statement
Know how you work! Know how you get things done and why. Write a personal mission statement that will serve as your guide and will help answer many of the questions asked during an interview. It will also help your resume by giving it some personality.
Resume Progression Stages
Typically when people consult me for resume advice, most fall into the Tell Stage. After two rounds of revisions and a lot of thought by the person, the resume will be in the Show Stage and ready for action. I look at 3 things that coincide with each of the stages = LCL = Layout, Content, Language.
Layout = Don't be afraid of whitespace. Make your resume parallel and organized.
Content = Sell yourself not the company you worked for. Be sure to get all info presented including numbers.
Language = Expand vocabulary and sharpen grammar. Focus on your customer service and sales philosophies.
Tips & Tricks
The most important tip I can give you is this: Make your resume yours. Don't let others stop you from being creative and showing your personality and experience the way you want.
SELL YOURSELF. Think about WHY you did a job and SHOW something about yourself:
- Before: Cleaned bathrooms and mopped floors
- After: Ensured the safety of 1,000 daily customers through proper sanitation techniques
| Pay Attention to the Details | |
|---|---|
Use Numbers |
Share dollar figures, numbers of people, etc. Numbers show scale and can be compared. Did you put on event for 10 people or 900 people? Big difference. |
Email Address |
Use a professional email address that is easy to remember. |
Phone Numbers and Websites |
Only list one number. Make sure your voicemail is professional and you've cleaned up your websites, social networks, etc, so you make a good impression. |
Experience Summaries |
It'll make you stand out. Short description highlighting who you are and where you came from professionally. |
5 W's and H |
Ask yourself for every bullet: who, what, where, when, why, how. |
Sell yourself not the company |
List your job title in ALL CAPS and the company under it. |
Objective Statements |
Delete, unless you are listing the job title and salary requirements. |
Font type and size |
Make it easy to read. Font size between 9-11 point. Have a big name. |
Know your degree |
Don't forget to put your actual degree you've earned |
Verb Use |
Use different verbs for each starting point. |
Bullet Use |
Bullets are designed for lists... have at least TWO |
Experience Order |
Experience in chronological order OR only list position-relevant experience |
Downloads & Examples
Throughout my career, I've had people help me with my resume and cover letters. It's time I've passed on some of these templates to you.
| Helpful Templates and Documents | |
|---|---|
Remember to review the job descriptions of positions you're looking at applying for and making sure you clearly hit key points from the job description on your resume and cover letter. This will significantly increase your chances of getting an interview... then it's all up to you... the resume and cover letter did their job.
