Resume and Cover LettersResume and Cover Letters

Leslie CowardLeslie CowardProgram ManagerProgram Manager

Engineering Career CenterEngineering Career Center

What is a Resume?What is a Resume?Marketing toolMarketing tool

1010--30 second presentation of your 30 second presentation of your experience and knowledgeexperience and knowledge

Reflection of the individual Reflection of the individual

Laundry list of past jobsLaundry list of past jobs

Summary of educationSummary of education

ErrorError--free, scannable free, scannable

Purpose Purpose Who you areWho you are

What you have What you have learnedlearned

What you have What you have accomplishedaccomplished

Promote salabilityPromote salability

Obtain an interviewObtain an interview You want to get past the first line of You want to get past the first line of defense, the recruiterdefense, the recruiter

What Markets You?What Markets You?Job ExperienceJob Experience

EducationEducation

GPAGPA

Computer Skills Computer Skills

Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills

TeamworkTeamwork

Industry related Industry related

projects/researchprojects/research

What do I need to get hired?What do I need to get hired?Technical SkillsTechnical Skills

EducationEducation

Work ExperienceWork Experience

Technical skillsTechnical skills

How can I stand out?How can I stand out?NonNon--Technical SkillsTechnical Skills

Communication skillsCommunication skills

Leadership skillsLeadership skills

Teamwork abilitiesTeamwork abilities

FlexibilityFlexibility

Types of ResumesTypes of Resumes1.1. ChronologicalChronological

•• List everything by dateList everything by date•• Most recent experience firstMost recent experience first

2.2. FunctionalFunctional•• Categorize skillsCategorize skills•• No datesNo dates

3.3. CombinationCombination•• A mixture of the first twoA mixture of the first two

Resume RulesResume RulesOne pageOne page–– Less is moreLess is more

No errorsNo errors–– Mistake free, clean, and crispMistake free, clean, and crisp

Organize in order of relevanceOrganize in order of relevanceConsistencyConsistency–– Same formattingSame formatting–– Bold, underline, capitalsBold, underline, capitals

Action verbs and bulletsAction verbs and bullets

Resume SectionsResume SectionsContact InformationContact InformationObjective/Highlight of QualificationsObjective/Highlight of QualificationsEducation and certificationsEducation and certificationsExperienceExperienceProjectsProjectsComputer/Technical skills and Computer/Technical skills and trainingtrainingHonors/AwardsHonors/AwardsOrganization/ActivitiesOrganization/Activities

Contact InformationContact InformationNameNameAddressAddress–– LocalLocal–– permanentpermanent

Telephone numberTelephone number–– AppropriateAppropriate–– ValidValid

EmailEmail

ObjectiveObjective

Provides focus for resumeProvides focus for resume

Employer basedEmployer based

Specific or generalSpecific or general

Several objectivesSeveral objectives

Sample ObjectiveSample ObjectiveTo obtain a position in chemical To obtain a position in chemical engineering in which my educational engineering in which my educational knowledge and sales experience would knowledge and sales experience would greatly contribute to the company.greatly contribute to the company.

To obtain a summer internship position To obtain a summer internship position in Mechanical Engineering.in Mechanical Engineering.

Seeking internship in research, utilizing Seeking internship in research, utilizing chemical engineering skills developed in chemical engineering skills developed in an instructional environment.an instructional environment.

Highlight of QualificationsHighlight of Qualifications

Provides focus on key areas of Provides focus on key areas of

experienceexperience

Skill basedSkill based

Emphasizes specific job dutiesEmphasizes specific job duties

Stresses soft skills Stresses soft skills

Sample QualificationsSample Qualifications

Extremely selfExtremely self--motivated and able to motivated and able to learn quickly.learn quickly.

Very dependable and goalVery dependable and goal--oriented.oriented.

Working knowledge of C++, CAD, Working knowledge of C++, CAD, Windows, MS Word, and MS Excel.Windows, MS Word, and MS Excel.

EducationEducationMost recent degree firstMost recent degree first

Major, minor or concentrationMajor, minor or concentration

GPA (cumulative and major)GPA (cumulative and major)

ClassificationClassification

Expected date of graduationExpected date of graduation

Relevant course workRelevant course work

Professional ExperienceProfessional ExperienceCurrent/past employmentCurrent/past employmentInternshipsInternshipsCoCo--opsopsVolunteer workVolunteer workProjectsProjectsPresentationsPresentations

Professional DescriptionsProfessional DescriptionsReverse chronological orderReverse chronological orderEmployer nameEmployer namePosition/titlePosition/titleLocationLocationDatesDatesUse action verbs to describe dutiesUse action verbs to describe dutiesUse buzz words, industry specific termsUse buzz words, industry specific termsQuantify dutiesQuantify duties

Examples of Examples of Professional Experience DescriptionsProfessional Experience Descriptions

Attended Total Quality Management Attended Total Quality Management meetings.meetings.Developed teamwork skills through Developed teamwork skills through participation in discussions of participation in discussions of ““quality quality attitudes: with both line and staff attitudes: with both line and staff personnel.personnel.Selected to research, design and present a Selected to research, design and present a multimedia report on multimedia report on ““An InternAn Intern’’s View of s View of TQMTQM”” to companyto company’’s CEO and other key s CEO and other key employees.employees.

Action VerbsAction VerbsOrganizedOrganizedDevelopedDevelopedAnalyzedAnalyzedIdentifiedIdentifiedCounseled, advisedCounseled, advisedCommunicatedCommunicatedConveyedConveyedPreparedPrepared

PromotePromoteAssignAssignComputeComputeBuiltBuiltRecommendRecommendDetermineDetermineSupportSupportEditEdit

Industry TermsIndustry TermsSystems engineeringSystems engineeringStructural designStructural designLogistics and Logistics and distributiondistributionPolymerPolymerBiomedicalBiomedicalConstructionConstructionReservoirReservoirManufacturingManufacturingProductionProduction

DesignDesign

Computer engineeringComputer engineering

Software engineeringSoftware engineering

C++C++

CADCAD

Power systemsPower systems

Mechanical systemsMechanical systems

Trade managementTrade management

Product estimatesProduct estimates

Additional SectionsAdditional Sections

Military experienceMilitary experience

Professional affiliationsProfessional affiliations

Activities or interestsActivities or interests

Community service and involvementCommunity service and involvement

Foreign Language(s)Foreign Language(s)

Resume AppearanceResume Appearance

Bond paperBond paperWhite or offWhite or off--whitewhiteFont: Times New RomanFont: Times New RomanPoint size: 10 or 12 pointsPoint size: 10 or 12 pointsWhite space or blank linesWhite space or blank linesEmphasis: Bold or bulletsEmphasis: Bold or bulletsBe consistentBe consistentErrors are INEXCUSABLEErrors are INEXCUSABLE

Other Types of ResumesOther Types of Resumes

ScannableScannable

ElectronicElectronic

Curriculum VitaeCurriculum Vitae

Scannable and Electronic ResumesScannable and Electronic Resumes

Companies utilize databases to store Companies utilize databases to store and search resumesand search resumes

Resumes are designed to be scanned Resumes are designed to be scanned and read by computersand read by computers

Resume targets the computer as the Resume targets the computer as the readerreader

Scannable and Electronic DesignScannable and Electronic DesignMake good use of white Make good use of white spacespace

Use standard font Use standard font stylesstyles

Use 10 to 14 font sizeUse 10 to 14 font size

Avoid fancy extrasAvoid fancy extras

Use bold face for Use bold face for section headingssection headings

Use common names for Use common names for section headingssection headings

Name and address on Name and address on

separate linesseparate lines

Avoid abbreviationsAvoid abbreviations

Be concise and Be concise and

concrete in job concrete in job

descriptionsdescriptions

Use common languageUse common language

Use industry keywordsUse industry keywords

ReferencesReferencesAsk 2Ask 2--4 people4 people

Use a separate sheet with the same Use a separate sheet with the same header as your resumeheader as your resume

Attach to applications when Attach to applications when requested and bring to interviewrequested and bring to interview

Cover LetterCover LetterMust be personalizedMust be personalizedShort and to the pointShort and to the pointMistake freeMistake freeSame headerSame headerDoes not repeat resumeDoes not repeat resumeAllows your personality showAllows your personality showRespond to employer needs and not Respond to employer needs and not yoursyours

Parts of a Cover LetterParts of a Cover LetterYour address, Your address, telephone number, telephone number, and emailand email

Current dateCurrent date

RecipientRecipient’’s name s name and addressand address

SalutationSalutation

Body 3 Body 3 --5 5 paragraphsparagraphs

ClosingClosing

Your signatureYour signature

Your printed nameYour printed name

Enclosure Enclosure

–– resumeresume

–– TranscriptTranscript

–– Writing sampleWriting sample

Cover Letter ChecklistCover Letter ChecklistGive the letter Give the letter ““eye appealeye appeal””Use block style with one inch side Use block style with one inch side marginsmarginsUse same font and type size, as Use same font and type size, as resumeresumeMatch resume stationeryMatch resume stationeryFile a copy of your letterFile a copy of your letterPROOFREADPROOFREAD

Resume remindersResume remindersDonDon’’t mistake your resume for a job t mistake your resume for a job applicationapplication

DonDon’’t rely on your degree alonet rely on your degree alone

Tell them what you have learned, not what Tell them what you have learned, not what you have doneyou have done

Write your objective to match your purposeWrite your objective to match your purpose

Make sure your resume conveys what you Make sure your resume conveys what you have to offer, not what you wanthave to offer, not what you want

College of Engineering College of Engineering Career CenterCareer Center

www.egr.uh.edu/careerwww.egr.uh.edu/career713713--743743--42304230