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The mission of the Service Learning and Career Development is to provide access to TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES, EDUCATION and COUNSELING that advance student career development and benefit society.
CAREER GUIDE
slcd@wou.edu • 503-838-8432 • wou.edu/slcd
Service Learning and Career Development
TOGETHER WE SUCCEED
SLCD Services 2
Creating Competitive Resumes 3
Resume Outline 4
Resume Example 1 4
Resume Example 2 5
Creating a Resume Profile 5
Creating an Achievement Statement 6
List of Transferable Skills and
Action Verbs 7
Formatting References 8
Why Do I Need A Cover Letter? 9
Cover Letter Outline 10
Sample Cover Letter 10
Thank You Letters and Emails 11
Interview Tips That Will Get You Hired 12
Career Exploration Guide 13
Job and Internship Checklist 15
Wolflink 16
This career guide is designed to give you tools to create a resume and cover letter that serve you
well, and provide you guidelines and resources for developing your career path and obtaining jobs
and internships. Once you have created your resume and cover letter, follow these next steps to
reach your goals:
I went to SLCD to have my resume and cover letter reviewed.
Drop-in’s are welcomed Monday-Friday 11:00am-3:00pm.
I went on WolfLink to check out the off campus jobs, work study positions, internships and
volunteer opportunities.
I created FREE business cards at the SLCD to help with networking events.
I developed my interviewing skills by practicing my responses to typical questions and
scheduling a Mock Interview with a Career Counselor to get immediate feedback.
SLCD Services Include:
Career Counseling o Exploring & Deciding a Major o Exploring & Choosing Careers o Internships & Job Search o Resume & Cover Letter Reviews o Networking o Mock Interviews o Graduate School Information
Assessments o Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
(MBTI) o Strong Interest Inventory o Strengths Quest o Self-Help Assessments in
student section of website www.wou.edu/slcd
Drop-In Peer Advising o Resume & Cover Letter Reviews o General Job Information
Workshops, Events & Networking
o Professional Workshops on Campus o Career Fairs o Etiquette Dinners o Career Mentoring Program
Experiential Learning o Internships o Western Oregon University
Community Internship Program o Alternative Break
and Service Trips o Volunteer Opportunities
Table of Contents
Fewer than a quarter of applicants make it beyond the initial résumé screen, according to 50 percent of employers
Creating competitive résumésA résumé is a marketing document designed to demonstrate how your experiences, strengths and skills fit the needs of a particular opportunity. The goal of a résumé is to get the interview, not provide an autobiography.
Recruiters spend 6-15 seconds reviewing a résumé
For every
one job
posting...
Average of 22.7 applicants
CV
CV CV
CV
CVCV
CV
CV CV CV CV CV CV CV
CV CV CV CV CV CV CV CV
What
employers
look for...
Job
Are tailored to the
position at hand
Are well-organized
and easy to read
Start with the most relevant information at
the top
Describe experiences using action verbs and
transferable skills
Employers seek skills including:
You can gain these skills through:• Class projects
• Student organizations
• Internships or jobs
• Independent studies
• Reseearch experiences
• On-campus involvement
• Leadership
• Volunteering or community service
Leadership
Teamwork ability
Written communication skills
Problem-solving skills
Verbal communcation skills
Work ethic
Analytical/quantitative skills
Technical skills
Verbal communcation skills
Statistics from CareerBuilder 2015 Candidate Behavior Survey, NACE 2016 Job Outlook Survey
80.1%
78.9%
70.2%
70.2%
68.9%
68.9%
65.8%
62.7%
59.6%
Formatting guidelinesMargins: .75 in to 1 inch
Font size: 10 to 12 pt.
• Single spacing
• Adequate white space
• Easy-to-read font (serif or san serif)
• Space between sections
The most
competitive
résumés...
Yes, use:
• Photos
• Personal information (birthdate, social security number, etc.)
• Company logos
• Clip art
No, do not use:
4
Res
ume
Out
line
Your
Nam
e H
ere
Addr
ess,
City
, Sta
te Z
ip C
ode
Phon
e nu
mbe
r | P
rofe
ssio
nal e
mai
l
PRO
FILE
(or s
kills
, sum
mar
y of
qua
lific
atio
ns, o
r acc
ompl
ishm
ents
) Br
iefly
intro
duce
you
rsel
f and
you
r pro
fess
iona
l qua
lific
atio
ns a
nd e
xper
ienc
es in
a li
ne o
r tw
o. F
or
exam
ple,
“Com
mun
ity H
ealth
maj
or, b
ilingu
al in
Spa
nish
and
Eng
lish,
with
2 y
ears
’ exp
erie
nce
in a
cl
inic
al s
ettin
g; s
eeki
ng e
ntry
-leve
l pos
ition
in a
clie
nt-c
ente
red,
team
-driv
en e
nviro
nmen
t”.
EDU
CA
TIO
N (p
lace
d he
re fo
r mos
t stu
dent
s an
d re
cent
gra
ds)
Type
of D
egre
e, M
ajor
, Min
or
Expe
cted
Mon
th Y
ear
Wes
tern
Ore
gon
Uni
vers
ity, M
onm
outh
, Ore
gon
Put y
our m
ost r
ecen
t deg
ree
first
, the
n w
ork
back
war
ds. M
ake
sure
to in
clud
e yo
ur G
PA if
it is
abo
ve
a 3.
5. Y
ou c
an a
lso
put a
ny h
onor
s, s
peci
al a
war
ds re
ceiv
ed, o
r oth
er a
cade
mic
ach
ieve
men
ts. Y
ou
may
als
o lis
t rel
evan
t cou
rse
wor
k an
d ce
rtific
atio
ns if
app
licab
le o
r stu
dy a
boar
d ex
perie
nce.
Prev
ious
Deg
ree
Inst
itutio
n, C
ity, S
tate
M
onth
and
Yea
r of G
radu
atio
n Yo
u do
not
hav
e to
list
an
A.A.
if y
ou h
ave
your
Bac
helo
r’s D
egre
e, u
nles
s yo
u ha
d sp
ecia
lized
co
urse
wor
k re
leva
nt to
the
posi
tion
to w
hich
you
are
app
lyin
g. In
clud
e yo
ur B
ache
lor’s
Deg
ree
if yo
u ha
ve y
our M
aste
r deg
ree
(and
so
on).
Do
not l
ist y
our h
igh
scho
ol e
duca
tion.
R
ELEV
AN
T EX
PER
IEN
CE
(can
be
plac
ed b
efor
e or
afte
r edu
catio
n)
Com
pany
/Org
aniz
atio
n, C
ity, S
tate
St
art M
onth
Yea
r – E
nd M
onth
Yea
r Po
sitio
n/Jo
b Ti
tle
• Ex
ampl
e: “D
esig
ned
com
pany
new
slet
ter w
ith a
circ
ulat
ion
of 1
00 s
uper
viso
rs a
nd m
anag
ers”
•
Rem
embe
r to
form
at p
oint
s in
Acc
ompl
ishm
ent S
tate
men
t sty
le, s
ee p
age
7 fo
r a H
ow-to
-Gui
de
• Tw
o bu
llet p
oint
s at
min
imum
, fiv
e at
mos
t. D
o no
t exc
eed
two
lines
per
bul
let
• Jo
bs g
o in
reve
rse
chro
nolo
gica
l ord
er, m
ost r
ecen
t firs
t
Com
pany
/Org
aniz
atio
n, C
ity, S
tate
St
art M
onth
Yea
r – E
nd M
onth
Yea
r Po
sitio
n/Jo
b Ti
tle
• R
elev
ant v
olun
teer
and
lead
ersh
ip ro
les
can
also
go
unde
r you
r exp
erie
nce
sect
ion
• In
tern
ship
s an
d st
uden
t tea
chin
g ar
e al
so g
ood
sellin
g po
ints
•
List
onl
y re
leva
nt p
ositi
ons
(not
all
jobs
) •
Mos
t peo
ple
have
thre
e to
four
pos
ition
s in
this
sec
tion
WH
AT
ELSE
? If
you
did
not i
nclu
de v
olun
teer
pos
ition
s in
the
abov
e se
ctio
n, y
ou c
an p
ut it
her
e. Y
ou c
an a
lso
put
extra
curri
cula
r act
iviti
es in
this
sec
tion.
Ref
eren
ces
alw
ays
go o
n a
sepa
rate
doc
umen
t. R
emem
ber,
havi
ng m
ore
info
rmat
ion
on y
our r
esum
e do
es n
ot n
eces
saril
y m
ean
you
will
get t
he jo
b!
5
Res
ume
Exam
ple
1
Soph
ia R
. Bec
ker
888
Nor
th C
rave
n D
rive
#22
Mon
mou
th, O
R 9
7361
50
3-62
8-00
00
sbec
ker1
3@w
ou.e
du
PR
OFI
LE
Psyc
holo
gy u
nder
grad
uate
exp
erie
nced
in d
ay c
are
and
men
torin
g at
-risk
you
th; s
kille
d in
chi
ld c
ouns
elin
g te
chni
que,
Sp
anis
h an
d a
dedi
cate
d te
am p
laye
r who
stri
ves
to re
ach
unde
rser
ved
popu
latio
ns; s
eeki
ng p
ositi
on a
s C
ouns
elin
g In
tern
with
Sal
em M
onte
ssor
i Sch
ool.
EDU
CAT
ION
B.A
., Ps
ycho
logy
with
Spa
nish
Min
or
Expe
cted
Jun
e 20
17
Wes
tern
Ore
gon
Uni
vers
ity, M
onm
outh
, OR
M
exic
o St
udy
Abro
ad P
rogr
am
• In
tera
cted
with
resi
dent
s us
ing
fluen
t Spa
nish
; stu
died
peo
ple
and
cultu
re w
hile
livi
ng w
ith a
Mex
ican
hos
t fam
ily
• C
ondu
cted
info
rmat
iona
l int
ervi
ew w
ith a
Mar
riage
and
Fam
ily T
hera
pist
to le
arn
abou
t car
eer p
ath
CO
UN
SELI
NG
REL
ATED
EXP
ERIE
NC
E
Cou
nsel
ing
Inte
rn
Aug
ust 2
015
– Pr
esen
t St
ep-u
p C
ouns
elin
g Se
rvic
es, D
alla
s, O
R
• Pr
ovid
e co
unse
ling
serv
ices
to p
artic
ipan
ts in
clud
ing
indi
vidu
al a
nd g
roup
con
sulta
tions
•
Adm
inis
ter,
inte
rpre
t, an
d ev
alua
te th
e re
sults
of a
sses
smen
t tes
ts
• C
ouns
el in
divi
dual
par
ticip
ants
on
met
hods
to a
chie
ve p
rogr
am p
resc
ribed
obj
ectiv
es
• C
ompi
le a
nd k
eep
accu
rate
reco
rds
of c
lient
inte
ract
ion
for c
ase
note
s A
ssis
tant
Se
ptem
ber 2
014
– Ju
ne 2
016
Psyc
holo
gy D
epar
tmen
t, W
este
rn O
rego
n U
nive
rsity
, Mon
mou
th, O
R
• H
andl
ed re
sear
ch re
ques
ts fr
om fa
culty
effi
cien
tly a
nd p
roce
ssed
con
fiden
tial i
nfor
mat
ion
rega
rdin
g st
atis
tics.
•
Med
iate
d cu
stom
er c
onfli
ct th
roug
h pa
tient
list
enin
g an
d pr
oble
m s
olvi
ng
• R
evie
wed
requ
ired
form
s to
ens
ure
accu
racy
, usi
ng d
etai
l-orie
nted
ski
lls
ACTI
VITI
ES &
CO
MM
UN
ITY
INVO
LVEM
ENT
Volu
ntee
r A
ugus
t 201
6
WO
U S
ervi
ce L
earn
ing
Trip
, Cha
ttano
oga,
TN
•
Volu
ntee
red
with
a g
roup
of s
even
stu
dent
s he
lpin
g a
popu
latio
n su
fferin
g fro
m fo
od in
secu
rity
and
or
gani
zed
over
500
food
box
es a
t Cha
ttano
oga
Food
Ban
k •
Prov
ided
sup
port
and
care
for y
oung
chi
ldre
n in
an
afte
r-sch
ool p
rogr
am; p
repa
red
and
pack
ed lu
nche
s fo
r chi
ldre
n Vi
ce P
resi
dent
Se
ptem
ber 2
015
– Pr
esen
t W
OU
Psy
chol
ogy
Stud
ent A
ssoc
iatio
n, M
onm
outh
, OR
•
Coo
rdin
ate,
des
ign
and
impl
emen
t pub
licity
for c
ampu
s-w
ide
even
ts
• O
rgan
ize
wee
kly
mee
tings
for 2
0 +
mem
bers
, res
ultin
g in
bet
ter c
omm
unic
atio
n an
d te
am b
uild
ing
• C
reat
ed a
nd m
anag
ed o
rgan
izat
iona
l bud
get a
nd le
arne
d bo
okke
epin
g po
licie
s
Show
casest
udyab
road
exp
erienc
ean
dob
jectiveoftr
ip
Profile
show
sareas
of
expe
rienc
e,sk
ills,and
po
sitionwan
ted
Thisform
atisclean
and
mak
esiteas
yfor
employ
erst
oread
Datesa
rein
reve
rse
chrono
logica
lorder
(mos
trecen
ttolast)
Statem
entsqua
ntify
and
show
accom
plish
men
ts
4
Resume Outline
Resume Example 1
6
Res
ume
Exam
ple
2
C
hr
is N
ov
ak
346
Com
mer
cial
Stre
et, S
alem
, OR
973
01
cnov
ak12
@w
ou.e
du |
(503
)-555
-555
5
Educ
atio
n W
este
rn O
rego
n U
nive
rsity
Ex
pect
ed J
une
2017
Bach
elor
of A
rts in
Bus
ines
s, O
vera
ll G
PA: 3
.5
Mon
mou
th, O
R
M
inor
in E
cono
mic
s, G
PA: 3
.8
R
elev
ant C
ours
ewor
k: F
inan
cial
Man
agem
ent,
Org
aniz
atio
nal B
ehav
ior,
Stra
tegi
c M
anag
emen
t
St
udy
Abr
oad
Aug
– Se
p 20
15
Com
plet
ed c
ours
ewor
k in
Inte
rnat
iona
l Bus
ines
s an
d M
anag
emen
t C
hich
este
r, En
glan
d
Expe
rienc
e J
P M
orga
n C
hase
Ju
ne –
Aug
201
6
Fina
nce
Inte
rn
Portl
and,
OR
•
Built
mod
els
base
d on
regr
essi
on a
naly
sis
to d
eter
min
e fa
ctor
s af
fect
ing
treas
ury
curv
e •
Com
mun
icat
ed d
aily
with
cow
orke
rs a
nd s
uper
viso
rs to
pro
duce
wee
kly
char
ts
an
d gr
aphs
for b
usin
ess
mee
tings
•
Cre
ated
dai
ly s
tock
mar
ket r
epor
ts fo
r tra
ders
, sal
es s
taff,
and
clie
nts
O
ld N
avy
N
ov 2
015
– Fe
b 20
16
Tem
pora
ry S
ales
Ass
ocia
te
Keiz
er, O
R
•
Com
mun
icat
ed w
ith c
usto
mer
s re
gard
ing
ques
tions
and
dea
lt w
ith c
ompl
aint
s as
nec
essa
ry
• R
eorg
aniz
ed c
loth
ing
disp
lays
to a
ttrac
t new
cus
tom
ers
• H
andl
ed $
1,00
0 in
tran
sact
ions
on
a w
eekl
y ba
sis
Uni
vers
ity C
ompu
ting
Serv
ices
Se
p 20
14 –
Apr
201
5
Stu
dent
Tec
hnol
ogy
Adv
isor
M
onm
outh
, OR
•
Perfo
rmed
net
wor
k ad
min
istra
tive
dutie
s on
Win
dow
s an
d iO
S de
vice
s an
d co
nduc
ted
ro
utin
e m
aint
enan
ce o
n al
l uni
vers
ity e
lect
roni
c ha
rdw
are
• Pr
ovid
ed o
n-ca
ll te
chni
cal s
uppo
rt an
d tro
uble
shoo
ting
for c
ampu
s st
aff a
nd s
tude
nts
• C
olla
bora
ted
with
8 s
tude
nt a
dvis
ors
to m
aint
ain
web
site
sec
urity
and
inte
grity
•
Upd
ated
uni
vers
ity w
ebsi
te d
aily
Lead
ersh
ip, A
ssoc
iate
d St
uden
ts o
f Wes
tern
Ore
gon
Uni
vers
ity (A
SWO
U)
Oct
201
4 –
Pres
ent
Vic
e P
resi
dent
, Fin
ance
M
onm
outh
, OR
•
Man
aged
cas
h flo
ws
of th
e or
gani
zatio
n fro
m m
embe
rshi
p fe
es to
ann
ual e
vent
s •
Coo
rdin
ated
with
offi
cers
to o
rgan
ize
wee
kly
mee
tings
and
pla
n sc
hool
eve
nts
Skill
s •
Fina
ncia
l nee
d an
alys
is, a
ccou
ntin
g an
boo
kkee
ping
, fin
anci
al s
tate
men
t and
ratio
ana
lysi
s •
PC a
nd M
acin
tosh
lite
rate
, MS
Offi
ce a
pplic
atio
ns, e
xper
t Exc
el u
ser
• Fl
uent
in S
pani
sh a
nd fa
milia
r with
Fre
nch
GPAca
nbe
divide
dtosh
ow
emph
asis
Bulle
tpo
ints
show
skills,
expe
rienc
e,
traits,
value
adde
dan
dou
tcom
es
Use
qua
lifyi
ng
wor
ds to
hig
hlig
ht
leve
l of s
kill
5
Resume Example 2
Creating a Resume Profile
The profile is a 2-3 sentence introduction that describes your best and most related qualifications specific to the position for which you are applying. It can include the specific job title and organization if you wish. To start, analyze the job description of the job for which you are applying, for required and desirable skills and qualifications. Target your profile (and resume) to those. Example: Recent Psychology graduate with experience in day care and mentoring at-risk youth; skilled in customer service and child care techniques and a dedicated team player who hopes to reach underserved populations; applying for the Family Advocate position at Mid Valley Mentors. Create your own profile: Fill in the blanks below to create your own profile. Major college student/graduate or job title with X years of experience in the industry or type of job experience; skilled in 3 skills that relate to the job; seeking job title you’re applying for position with company name.
6
Creating an Achievement Statement
Action Verb + Example + Result = Accomplishment Statement
Under each position you have in your resume, list 3 – 5 bulleted accomplishment statements. These statements should explain what you did in the position, how you did it, and the results of your actions.
Willamette Ad
Action Verb: Always begin a bullet point with an action verb. Use a variety of action verbs to show the variety of skills you have (see list on next page).
Example: Giving specifics will make you unique and stand out to employers.
Result: State what you achieved from your example; what was the purpose of you doing what you did?
Average Bullet Point with Action Verb: Tutored an eighth grade student
Better Bullet Point with Action Verb and Example: Tutored an eighth grade student in pre-algebra
Perfect Accomplishment Statement with Action Verb, Example, and Result: Tutored an eighth grade student in pre-algebra, using teacher’s curriculum to raise her grade from a C to a B+ over the course of a year
7
List of Transferable Skills and Action Verbs
Communication/ Reported Balanced Simplified Restored Research Skills Taught People Skills Resolved Budgeted Supplied Reviewed Analyzed Tested
Addressed Responded Calculated Supported Scheduled Clarified Trained Advertised Solicited Computed Volunteered Secured Collected Transmitted Arbitrated Specified Conserved Selected Compared Tutored Arranged Spoke Corrected Management/ Streamlined Conducted
Articulated Suggested Determined Leadership Skills Strengthened Critiqued Technical Skills Authored Summarized Developed Administered Supervised Detected Adapted Clarified Synthesized Estimated Analyzed Terminated Determined Applied
Collaborated Translated Forecasted Appointed Diagnosed Assembled Communicated Wrote Managed Approved Organizational Evaluated Built
Composed Marketed Assigned Skills Examined Calculated Condensed Creative Skills Measured Attained Approved Experimented Computed Conferred Acted Netted Authorized Arranged Explored Conserved Consulted Adapted Planned Chaired Catalogued Extracted Constructed Contacted Began Prepared Considered Categorized Formulated Converted Conveyed Combined Programmed Consolidated Charted Gathered Debugged Convinced Composed Projected Contracted Classified Inspected Designed
Corresponded Conceptualized Qualified Controlled Coded Interviewed Determined Debated Condensed Reconciled Converted Collected Invented Developed Defined Created Reduced Coordinated Compiled Investigated Engineered
Developed Customized Researched Decided Corrected Located Fabricated Directed Designed Retrieved Delegated Corresponded Measured Fortified
Discussed Developed Developed Distributed Organized Installed Drafted Directed Helping Skills Directed Executed Researched Maintained Edited Displayed Adapted Eliminated Filed Reviewed Operated Elicited Drew Advocated Emphasized Generated Searched Overhauled Enlisted Entertained Aided Enforced Incorporated Solved Printed
Explained Established Answered Enhanced Inspected Summarized Programmed Expressed Fashioned Arranged Established Logged Surveyed Rectified
Formulated Formulated Assessed Executed Maintained Systematized Regulated Furnished Founded Assisted Generated Monitored Tested Remodeled
Incorporated Illustrated Clarified Handled Obtained Repaired Influenced Initiated Coached Headed Operated Teaching Skills Replaced Interacted Instituted Collaborated Hired Ordered Adapted Restored
Interpreted Integrated Contributed Hosted Organized Advised Solved Interviewed Introduced Cooperated Improved Prepared Clarified Specialized
Involved Invented Counseled Incorporated Processed Coached Standardized Joined Modeled Demonstrated Increased Provided Communicated Studied Judged Modified Diagnosed Initiated Purchased Conducted Upgraded
Lectured Originated Educated Inspected Recorded Coordinated Utilized Listened Performed Encouraged Instituted Registered Critiqued
Marketed Photographed Ensured Led Reserved Developed Mediated Planned Expedited Managed Responded Enabled
Moderated Revised Facilitated Merged Reviewed Encouraged Negotiated Revitalized Familiarized Motivated Routed Evaluated Observed Shaped Furthered Navigated Scheduled Explained Outlined Solved Guided Organized Screened Facilitated
Participated Helped Originated Submitted Focused Persuaded Data/Financial Insured Overhauled Supplied Guided Presented Skills Intervened Oversaw Standardized Individualized Promoted Administered Motivated Planned Systematized Informed Proposed Adjusted Prevented Presided Updated Instilled Publicized Allocated Provided Prioritized Validated Instructed Reconciled Analyzed Referred Produced Verified Motivated Recruited Appraised
Rehabilitated Recommended Persuaded
8
Formatting References
Purpose The purpose of a reference sheet is to have a list of people who can verify and elaborate on your professional experience for a potential employer. Past employers, professors, and advisors are the best professional references to have listed. ALWAYS contact your references before including them on a reference sheet. It is also a good idea to give them a copy of your resume and talk to them about the job you are seeking so they will know how to best represent you.
What to Include
Only submit your references if the application requires, or if requested by the employer!
Your name and contact information (at top of page, same as your resume header)
Your references' contact information and how they know you professionally, as listed below:
Example:
Anna Ramos
846 Clay Street Monmouth, OR 97361
(503) 838-8432 mramos15@wou.edu
Mr. Robert Kalowitz
Executive Manager
Maple Tree Productions
333 NW Birch Street
Sisters, Oregon 9777
(541)-325-0098
rkalowitz@maplet.com
Current supervisor
Prefix, First name, Last name
Job Title
Place of employment
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
E-mail Address
Context in which you know them
Header matches with
resume for uniformity
and professionalism
9
Why Do I Need A Cover Letter?
The reasons for a cover letter are many, including:
To inform the employer what type of position you are seeking, and why you’re interested in the position and the organization
To impress the employer by showing you are an ideal candidate for the position by demonstrating your match with their requirements
To showcase your knowledge about the company and why you would be an excellent addition to their team
To show the employer how well you can communicate in writing
To compel the employer to learn more about you by reading your resume
Helpful Tips:
Address the letter to a specific individual, if for some reason you can’t get this information by searching online or calling the company and requesting the name and title of the person responsible for hiring, you have a few options to choose from: “Hiring Manager”, “Selection Committee”, or the title of the decision maker, e.g. “Director of Marketing”
Write an attention getting introduction – remember you are trying to convince the reader to want to get to know you better, and ultimately hire you.
State the position you are applying for, as well as relevant qualifications. Select specific experiences that are relevant to the job and discuss them. Make sure to expand on areas that your resume leaves open, and highlight why you are qualified.
Tailor your letter to the needs of the company and the requirements of the position. How will the company benefit by hiring you?
Restate your contact information or your intention to contact them within a specified time period in your closing paragraph. If you say you are going to contact someone in a week, make sure to do so.
Use the same stationary and header as your resume for your cover letter.
Do Not:
Exceed more than one page
Address your letter with “To whom it may concern”
State “As you can see from my resume”
Narrate all of your life-long dreams and ambitions
Restate what is in your resume – this is your chance to expand on skills you can bring to the company
11
Cov
er L
ette
r Out
line
Yo
ur N
ame
Your
pre
sent
stre
et a
ddre
ss
City
, Sta
te Z
ip C
ode
Tele
phon
e or
em
ail
Dat
e C
onta
ct P
erso
n’s
Nam
e Ti
tle
Com
pany
Nam
e C
ompa
ny S
treet
Add
ress
C
ity, S
tate
, Zip
Cod
e
Dea
r Sel
ectio
n C
omm
ittee
, Fi
rst p
arag
raph
: Sta
te w
hy y
ou a
re w
ritin
g: s
peci
fy th
e po
sitio
n fo
r whi
ch y
ou a
re a
pply
ing
and
whe
ther
you
sa
w a
n ad
verti
sem
ent o
r hea
rd a
bout
the
posi
tion
or c
ompa
ny th
roug
h a
refe
rral o
r by
repu
tatio
n.
Seco
nd p
arag
raph
: Ans
wer
the
ques
tion:
“Why
are
you
inte
rest
ed in
this
pos
ition
and
org
aniz
atio
n”. A
nsw
er it
fro
m th
e pe
rspe
ctiv
e of
the
empl
oyer
and
wha
t the
y ar
e lo
okin
g fo
r in
an id
eal c
andi
date
. Brie
fly s
umm
ariz
e w
hy y
ou a
re q
ualif
ied
for t
he p
ositi
on –
use
exa
mpl
es a
nd s
peci
fic a
ccom
plis
hmen
ts to
sho
w y
our s
kills
and
ex
perie
nce,
stre
ngth
s, a
nd a
ccom
plis
hmen
ts a
nd re
late
it b
ack
to h
ow it
will
bene
fit th
e co
mpa
ny. H
ighl
ight
any
sp
ecia
l ski
lls th
at m
ake
you
a m
ore
valu
able
can
dida
te (l
ike
your
des
ire to
hel
p ot
hers
, you
r ext
ensi
ve
expe
rienc
e in
X, Y
, Z, o
r you
r int
eres
t in
a re
late
d fie
ld o
r sub
ject
are
a).
Third
par
agra
ph (o
ptio
nal):
Use
this
par
agra
ph to
reve
al m
ore
abou
t you
rsel
f, w
hile
stil
l kee
ping
it p
rofe
ssio
nal.
If yo
u ar
e a
care
er c
hang
er, t
ell h
ow s
kills
dev
elop
ed d
urin
g yo
ur p
revi
ous
expe
rienc
e w
ill be
an
asse
t to
you
in
your
new
role
(i.e
. com
mun
icat
ion,
man
agem
ent,
orga
niza
tion)
. You
can
als
o st
ate
how
and
why
you
are
in
tere
sted
in th
is li
ne o
f wor
k or
car
eer f
ield
. Rem
embe
r, do
not
incl
ude
your
who
le li
fe s
tory
, jus
t the
rele
vant
ex
perie
nces
that
will
help
con
vey
your
pas
sion
and
qua
lific
atio
ns fo
r thi
s po
sitio
n.
Last
par
agra
ph: E
xpre
ss y
our s
ince
rity,
and
onc
e ag
ain
sum
mar
ize
your
top
qual
ifica
tions
for t
his
posi
tion.
C
oncl
ude
by th
anki
ng th
e re
ader
and
men
tion
that
you
are
look
ing
forw
ard
to s
peak
ing
with
them
furth
er a
bout
ho
w y
ou c
an c
ontri
bute
to th
e co
mpa
ny o
r dep
artm
ent,
and
rest
atin
g yo
ur c
onta
ct in
form
atio
n.
Sinc
erel
y,
Sign
atur
e Yo
ur ty
ped,
full
nam
e
Youca
nch
ooseto
hav
ethesa
mehe
aderas
yourre
sumean
dreferenc
esh
eet,oroptto
ha
veam
oretrad
ition
alle
tterfo
rmat,like
howth
isex
amplesh
ows.
12
Sam
ple
Cov
er L
ette
r
Ava
Chu
ng
555
Goo
d Av
enue
, Eug
ene,
OR
973
33
(503
) 838
-843
2 - a
chun
g12@
wou
.edu
July
26,
201
6
Patri
cia
Brow
n D
irect
or, F
amily
Hea
lthy
Livi
ng
555
Swee
t Stre
et
Euge
ne, O
R 9
7401
Dea
r Ms.
Bro
wn,
I am
writ
ing
to e
xpre
ss in
tere
st in
the
Chi
ld P
rote
ctiv
e Se
rvic
es W
orke
r pos
ition
. I fo
und
this
pos
ition
pos
ted
on
Wes
tern
Ore
gon
Uni
vers
ity’s
Wol
fLin
k w
ebsi
te. I
wou
ld b
e a
perfe
ct fi
t for
this
pos
ition
bec
ause
of m
y ed
ucat
ion,
exp
erie
nce
with
ass
istin
g di
vers
e po
pula
tions
, and
my
empa
thy
and
pass
ion
for h
elpi
ng o
ther
s.
As a
rece
nt C
omm
unity
Hea
lth g
radu
ate,
I ha
ve b
een
prep
arin
g fo
r jus
t thi
s ki
nd o
f opp
ortu
nity
. As
an in
tern
at
Polk
Cou
nty
DH
S, I
gain
ed e
xper
ienc
e in
the
field
hel
ping
at-r
isk
popu
latio
ns; l
ow-in
com
e, a
buse
d, h
omel
ess,
an
d cu
ltura
lly d
iver
se. I
wan
t to
cont
inue
to w
ork
with
thes
e po
pula
tions
bec
ause
I ca
re d
eepl
y ab
out t
he
wel
fare
of c
hild
ren
and
fam
ilies.
My
degr
ee in
Com
mun
ity H
ealth
Edu
catio
n ta
ught
me
abou
t soc
ial w
ork,
at-
risk
popu
latio
ns a
nd fa
mily
hea
lth, w
hich
wou
ld b
e be
nefic
ial t
o yo
ur te
am a
t FH
L.
I am
eag
er to
wor
k w
ith a
n or
gani
zatio
n th
at s
trive
s to
impr
ove
lives
in th
e co
mm
unity
; esp
ecia
lly th
e w
ell-b
eing
of
chi
ldre
n. I
had
the
oppo
rtuni
ty to
job
shad
ow tw
o ca
se m
anag
ers
in y
our o
ffice
, las
t yea
r, w
hich
forti
fied
my
inte
rest
in w
orki
ng fo
r you
r age
ncy.
Gro
win
g up
in E
ugen
e ha
s gi
ven
me
the
know
ledg
e of
reso
urce
s in
the
area
, as
wel
l as
a ga
ge o
n w
hat o
ur c
omm
unity
nee
ds a
nd e
xpec
ts fr
om a
n or
gani
zatio
n lik
e yo
urs.
I am
pas
sion
ate
abou
t hel
ping
fam
ilies
and
espe
cial
ly c
hild
ren
in n
eed,
and
I kn
ow th
at m
y dr
ive,
pas
sion
and
de
dica
tion
to y
our m
issi
on w
ill m
ake
me
an e
xcel
lent
add
ition
to y
our t
eam
. I w
ant t
o th
ank
you
for y
our t
ime
and
inte
rest
, and
am
look
ing
forw
ard
to h
earin
g fro
m y
ou s
oon.
You
can
con
tact
me
by e
mai
l at
achu
ng12
@w
ou.e
du o
r by
cell
phon
e at
(503
) 838
-843
2.
Sinc
erel
y,
Ava
Ch
un
g
Ava
Chu
ng
This
hea
der i
s an
al
tern
ativ
e st
yle
to a
tra
ditio
nal l
ette
r for
mat
. It
refle
cts
a tre
nd to
cre
ate
a le
tterh
ead
that
is u
sed
for
all y
our m
ater
ials
.
Don
’t fo
rget
to in
clud
e a
hand
writ
ten
sign
atur
e!
10
Cover Letter Outline
Sample Cover Letter
11
Thank You Letters and E-Mails
A thank you letter or e-mail should always be sent after any type of interview. This letter should thank
the interviewer(s) for their time and information and remind the interviewer of your interest in the
position and the skills you have to offer. Thank you letters/e-mails should be sent promptly after the
interview, and if possible within 24 hours, so the interviewer has the best chance of remembering you.
Sample Thank You Letter:
Jacob Chapman
1738 Main Street
Monmouth, OR 97361
August 19, 2016
Lauren Diaz, Head Recruiter
Dell Inc.
1350 North East Wicker Avenue
Roseburg, OR 97470
Dear Ms. Diaz,
Thank you for the opportunity to interview yesterday for the Sales Trainee Position. I
enjoyed meeting you and learning more about Dell Inc. It was a pleasure learning about
the innovative approach Dell has to sales and marketing.
The interview with you has confirmed my initial positive impression of Dell, and I want to
reiterate my strong interest in working with you. My prior experience in tech industry sales,
plus my training in communications would enable me to progress steadily through your
training program and become a productive member of the sales team.
Again, thank you for your consideration. If you need any additional information, please feel
free to contact me at (541) 705-6777.
Sincerely,
Jacob Chapman
Addresses are not needed for e-mails
Interview tips that will get you the job offer
First impressions
Tips for success
Statistics from CareerBuilder 2015 Candidate Behavior Survey, NACE 2016 Job Outlook Survey
Statistics show:
• Research the organization and share why you are interested in the company
• Come ready to talk about your strengths
• Share stories that demonstrate your skills and experiences
• Send a thank-you note within 24 hours
• Be prepared to ask questions at the end of the interview
47 percent of bosses say having little to no knowledge of the company is the most common mistake during interviews
Tell me about yourself is the most likely interview question to be asked
Preparation
Employers say that when meeting new people, the biggest impact comes from:
What we actually say
The quality of voice, grammar and overall confidence
The way we dress, act and walk through the door
7% 38% 55%
Body language
38%
According to a survey of employers, most common body language mistakes include:
67%No eye contact
Not smiling
33%Bad posture
33%Fidgeting; playing with
hair or touching face
33 percent of bosses know within the first 90 seconds of an interview whether they will hire someone
63 percent of of employers conduct at least 1 phone interview during the hiring process
34.6 days was the average length of time from job posting to interview
33 percent of employers used video conferencing to hire in 2015
Of bosses said professional
attire could be a deciding factor
between two nearly identical
candidates
Of first impressions come from non-verbal
communication
93%
65%
13
Career Exploration Guide
Career exploration is a multi-faceted, active and dynamic process. You learn best by doing and talking with
people, but there are also assessments and online resources that can be very helpful.
1. Identify your aspirations, interests, skills, personality and work values
There are many ways to identify these factors – you can start by reflecting on these types of questions to see if they
point to interests and strengths:
What is my career fantasy? What is an example of a time I was in the zone – what was I doing? What are my
hobbies? What are my favorite classes?
Consider taking a career assessment with a career counselor to learn more about your strengths, interests, values, and
personality. The SLCD offers two formal assessments, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest
Inventory. Make an appointment with a career counselor on WolfLink to see if these or other informal assessments
would be helpful. There are also several free self-assessments that can help you in this process:
http://www.wou.edu/slcd/students/exploring-your-possibilities/assessments/
My Strong Interest Inventory Results: _____ _____ _____
My MBTI Results: _____ _____ _____ _____
2. Explore what you can do with different majors Learn more about WOU majors: http://www.wou.edu/resources/student-resources/academics/
Visit “What Can I Do With A Major In . . . http://www2.isu.edu/career/majors/default.html
My top major choices: 1.) ___________________________ Why? _________________________________
2.) ______________________________________________ Why? _________________________________
3. Research Occupations
Research job duties, tasks, education requirements, salary, and job outlook on O*NET https://www.onetonline.org/ and
Occupational Outlook Handbook https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Occupations that interest me:
Job Title 1: __________________________________ Education required: _____________________________
Job outlook/growth ___________________________ Average salary: _________________________________
I like this occupation because: _________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Job Title 2: __________________________________ Education required: _____________________________
Job outlook/growth ___________________________ Average salary: _________________________________
I like this occupation because: _________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
SLCD is dedicated to helping you Explore Careers. Visit our website at www.wou.edu/slcd or make an
appointment with a career counselor at 503-838-8432. Stop by our office at 119 WUC.
14
4. Explore through Experience
Nothing beats experience when exploring careers – first you do, then you know! These are ways you can gain experience
while at WOU:
Volunteer http://www.wou.edu/slcd/volunteer/ or participate in an Alternative Break
http://www.wou.edu/slcd/ab/
Participate in an Internship http://www.wou.edu/slcd/internships/
Work at a part-time job while at WOU – visit WolfLink on your Portal to find listed opportunities
Get involved with a student organization on campus http://86465.orgsync.com/org/aswou/clubsandorgs
Job shadow - contact a WOU Alum Mentor on WolfLink http://www.wou.edu/wolflink/
Participate in an Undergraduate Research experience http://www.wou.edu/pure/students/
5. Find sample job postings
Job listings show you what a job entails and what employers require of qualified applicants. Use WolfLink, or search sites
such as indeed.com, LinkedIn, Mac’s List, Oregon Employment Department https://www.qualityinfo.org/ , etc.
Job Title 1. ______________________________________ Employer: __________________________________
Requirements I meet: ___________________________________ don’t meet ____________________________
I like this job because: _________________________________________________________________________
Job Title 2. ______________________________________ Employer: ___________________________________
Requirements I meet: ___________________________________ don’t meet _____________________________
I like this job because: __________________________________________________________________________
6. Ask the Experts
Get advice from faculty and current students in your academic department of interest
Arrange Informational Interviews with professionals in occupations of interest (Link)
Connect with a WOU Alumni Mentor on WolfLink http://www.wou.edu/wolflink/
Attend SLCD networking events, career fairs, employer and grad school information sessions – look for
upcoming events on WolfLink http://www.wou.edu/wolflink/
Use LinkedIn to find and connect with professionals in your fields of interest
3 people I would like to ask for information: __________________, ________________, ______________
3 events I could attend at WOU or in the community _____________________, ____________________,
___________________________
Job and Internship Search
Career management requires: Awareness of who you are, where you came from and what you
can and like to do
Confidence in pursuing your goals
Adaptability in the face of change
A network of people for support
You gain these through experiences and engagement with people
and the community.
15
Job & Internship Search Checklist
The job and internship search can feel overwhelming, so it’s helpful to break it into manageable steps. The good news is
you don’t have to do every step in order. For example, you can start working on your resume before you identify what you
want to do. Speak to a WOU Career Counselor (CC) if you would like assistance with any of the steps. Use this checklist
as a guide as you go through the various stages of career development and as you begin your internship or job search.
Step 1: Know yourself
____ I have identified my personal strengths, skills, interests, and values (CC, assessments)
____ I have made a list of possible job titles/fields of interest (CC, web resources)
____ I can name two or three careers/jobs I plan to pursue
Step 2: Know where you want to work
____ I have researched organizations or companies that might hire someone with my skills, interests, and background (web resources, informational interviewing, CC, volunteering, interning)
____ I have analyzed desired qualifications in my field and know what employers are looking for (job listings, informational interviews)
____ I have researched potential career fields: typical entry-level jobs, typical salaries, best geographic location for jobs, etc (CC labor market information websites, books, newspapers, info. Interviews)
____ I have identified the top three geographic areas where I’d like to live and work
____ I have identified 10 potential employers for the type of work I’m seeking
Step 3: Get ready for the search
____ I have had my resume and cover letter(s) reviewed by a professional in the field or a staff member in SLCD (make an appointment or drop in for 15 min. appointments from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday - Thursday)
____ I have prepared a portfolio or work samples to highlight my experience, skills, and talent
____ I have developed my “30-second speech” for short encounters with employers (CC)
____ I have identified three individuals who will serve as references
____ I have developed my interview skills (CC, books, web resources)
____ I have prepared for interviews by practicing my responses to typical questions and/or doing a mock interview (CC)
____ I have an interview suit that is appropriate for the field in which I plan to work
____ I have a professional-sounding answering machine/voice mail message in case an employer calls
____ I have a neutral/professional e-mail address to give to employers
Step 4: Start searching
____ I have updated my profile and uploaded my resume on WolfLink - www.wou.edu/wolflink
____ I regularly check WolfLink for career opportunities and I read links sent to me by my department. I read the appropriate job-search resources for my field(s) of interest
____ I have a system for keeping track of my contacts, interviews, and other job-search activities (CC)
____ I follow up on every interesting job lead immediately
____ I have developed a list of potential networking contacts and keep in touch with them (CC and everyone you know)
____ I keep a copy of my resume next to my phone in case I receive a call from an employer
____ I follow-up each cover letter with a phone call or e-mail to the employer requesting a job interview
___ I send thank you letters or e-mails to every person who interviews me
Find a Job or Internship on WolfLink1) Log in to your portal.
2) Click the black and white wolf head button at the top of your page.
3) First-time users will be prompted to activate an account and complete a profile.
4) Search for jobs and apply for those that interest you.
To help yourself stand out and get noticed, have SLCD review your résumé to make it career ready!
Students, your success using Wolflink is determined by you! Create a profile to fit your needs, and update your profile on a regular basis to make the site evolve to suit you.
16
Back page
Finding a Job or Internship on WolfLink
1) Log in to your portal.
2) Click the black and white wolf head button at the top of your page.
3) First time users will be prompted to activate your account and complete your profile.
4) Search for jobs and apply to those you are interested in.
To help yourself stand out and get noticed, have SLCD review your resume to make it career ready!
Students, your success using Wolflink is all determined by YOU! Feel free to create your student profile to fit your needs, and update your profile on a regular basis to have this be an evolving site suited to you.
345 Monmouth, Avenue N. Monmouth, OR 97361 Werner University Center 119 slcd@wou.edu • 503-838-8432 wou.edu/slcd
Service Learning and Career Development
TOGETHER WE SUCCEED
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