resumes and cover letters… …that get you noticed!

Resumes and Cover Letters…

…that get you noticed!

Computer Science March 2012

Erica Anderton

CAREERS CENTRE Real help. Real advice. Real careers

Marketing Yourself

Sellers

Products

Buyers

Compare products to identify what best meets their needs

Conduct market research to understand buyers’ needs Understand

strengths of product to promote it effectively


Getting an Employer’s Attention

How will your

application stand out

from the others?


Resumes ‘Rights’

Short phrases in bullet point form

Clear headings & categories

Relevant, detailed information

Addressed to the employer’s needs

Descriptive language - active verbs


Descriptive / Active Language

I assisted with running an expo for school leavers

Coordinated bookings and payments for 70 booths at

a school leaver expo

I was part of an organising committee for a careers

event

Liaised with employers to secure 5 guest speakers

from different industries


Resume ‘Wrongs’

Graphics and borders

Irregular fonts and cluttered layouts

Irrelevant personal details

Too long or too short

Generic resumes (non-targeted)

Spelling mistakes

Claims not backed up


SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Well developed interpersonal skills

• Excellent team player

• Organisational and time management skills

• Ability to problem solve and show initiative

• Self motivated and adaptable

UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS


Example Skill Statements

• Contributed ideas and took minutes in committee meetings

• Prepared a mail merge letter for 100 employers requesting

sponsorship for a fundraising dinner. Secured sponsorship of

$1500

• Developed resources and session plan for Year 12 School

Science tutoring

• Competent user of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint - used

throughout tertiary studies for class presentations,

assignments and group project work


Building Evidence of Skills

Tasks

What did I do?

Value

What did I achieve?

Relevance

What skills do I have?

Organised a

careers forum

for engineering

when I was the

2011 UEC Vice-

President

managed the budget

liaised with employers

to secure 3 guest

speakers

organised venue and

catering

Organisational

Liaising/Interpersonal

Decision making


CV - Sample Sections

Personal Details

Christine (+Family Name)

24 Baker Street, Shenton Park WA 6008

(08) 9437 8564

0407 225 991

[email protected]


Education

Tertiary

2009 - current University of Western Australia

Bachelor of Computer Science

Majoring in Web Technologies and Systems

• Distinction level average

• Awarded Woolston Scholarship for highest overall mark in first year

Secondary

(Only include if recent and with significant achievements)


Employment

Aug 2009 – Sep 2010

Western Software Services, Perth

Support Officer

Responsibilities:

• Researched software and hardware products

• Tested new software before installation

• Installed software and hardware systems

• Developed and wrote training protocols for new staff

• Updated recording system with support issues


Discipline Related Employment

Aug 2009 – Sep 2010

Western Software Services, Perth

Support Officer

• Researched software and hardware products

• Tested new software before installation

• Installed software and hardware systems

• Updated recording system with support issues

Other Employment

Mar 2010 – current

Shenton Park IGA Supermarket

Sales Assistant • Balanced the cash register at end of service

• Trained new staff and organised part-time staff rosters

• Resolved difficult customer queries

• Provided timely and efficient service in short staffed pressure situations


Computer Skills

Programming - Java, UML, C++ (Advanced)

Data base - Oracle 9i (Intermediate)

Website Development – Dreamweaver, Flash (Advanced)

MS Office – Word, Excel, Access (Advanced)

Communication Skills

Oral presentations of reports and university projects

Successful Liaison with 10 business groups to secure event sponsorship of over $10,000.00

Languages

Indonesian - fluent speech and written

Japanese – conversational


Professional Memberships

APESMA – Student Member

Australian Computer Society - Member

Extra Curricula Activities

2010 Inspire Student Mentor - visiting rural and

remote schools to speak to Year 12 students about

university study and life


Employers like to see that you are a team player and that you have interests outside of Uni!

Interests & Hobbies


Referees

• Full Name

• Position

• Organisation

• Contact telephone

• Mobile

• Email


Cover Letter Essentials

Opening statement

Current position

Evidence of suitability

Motivation

Conclusion

Tailor your LETTER

for each application you submit


Opening Statements

“I am writing to you as I am interested in a career in

Software Engineering with your company”

“I recently attended a Careers Talk given by Mr

Smith your Software Manager and was particularly

interested in……..”

“My research of the Games Development sector

has led me to approach your organisation with a

view to being considered for Contract Project work.”


Current Position

“As a graduating student in Computer Science,

I am interested in developing a career in the

production field …”

“Currently I am in my final year of a Bachelor of

Computer Science Degree at the University of

Western Australia, majoring in Software

Management and Systems…”

“My current work as …”


Evidence of Your Suitability

“Through my part time employment I have developed skills in …..

• Communicating with customers to identify needs and make suitable recommendations of purchases

• Researching, implementing and analysing software test results

• Ability and discipline to work alone or in a team

• Report writing and business communications”


Evidence of Your Suitability

“As the UWA Student representative for the Young Computer Society Committee UWA, my responsibilities included:

• arranging committee meetings and taking minutes

• booking venues and organising catering

• organising industry guest speakers”


Motivation

“ I would welcome the opportunity to work

and acquire first-hand experience with a

company at the leading edge of games

development.”

“ Working for Parker Solutions would be very

appealing as I would love to contribute to the

pioneering research and development you

do regarding medical diagnostic equipment.”


Conclusion

“Please find enclosed a copy of my resume. I am available to discuss this application at your convenience.”

“Thank you for your time and consideration.”


Proofread & Review

FEATURE FILMS ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF

SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE

EXPERIENCE OF YEARS


Addressing Selection Criteria

The position requires the ability to

demonstrate a sound level of competency in

the following areas:

Achievement of Outcomes

The proven ability to prioritise, monitor and co-ordinate

personal (and team) workload(s), and problem solve with

minimal supervision (or independently) to achieve results.

Communication Skills

Demonstrated communication skills (both written and

verbal) and interpersonal skills including the ability to build

and maintain positive relationships and resolve conflict

with stakeholders (at all levels).

Research Skills

The ability to collect, analyse and present information in

order to solve problems.

Underline key words and think of where,

when and how you’ve demonstrated them


Common Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively

• Good organisational and administrative skills

• Proven ability to work as part of a team

• Analytical, conceptual & problem solving skills

• High level interpersonal skills


Creating a Statement

I am an enthusiastic team worker. Whilst participating on joint

projects at university within my Computer Science degree, I

tended to initiate and encourage others to develop strategies

and time-lines for completing projects. Within group tutorials I

researched our topics before class and actively participated in

group activities and discussions. My involvement at this level

resulted in our team projects being well prepared, presented

on-time, and achieving excellent grades. My lively

participation in tutorial groups has been favourably

acknowledged in feedback from the program co-ordinator.

Factual

statement


Writing up

S

T

Situations or experiences where you have demonstrated

your skills & qualities

Tasks you have undertaken that may relate in some way

to the tasks involved in the job you are applying for

A Specific examples that reflect the way in which you Act or

behave in certain situations

R Results or outcomes of your actions that show their

effectiveness and quality


Example #1

Communication Skills – written and oral

I possess well developed oral and written communication

skills which I have utilised throughout my working career.

At XYZ Corporation I was required to liaise regularly with

people at all levels and prepare written documents. I

enjoy writing and have received good feedback about my

writing style.


Example #2

During my past two professional positions I worked as a part

of close, interdependent, multi-discipline teams. During this

time I developed important skills in teamwork including:

• the ability to help the team come to a workable decision and implement strategies to achieve decisions, demonstrated by my facilitation of a recent research planning day, resulting in a thorough, innovative team planning report

• how to communicate openly and productively, specifically the ability to communicate opposing ideas in a respectful and thought-provoking manner

• flexibility in undertaking tasks when other members had a heavier workload by volunteering to take on some of their data entry and administrative tasks so that the overall flow of work could be maintained

Demonstrated ability to work well in a team


Helpful Hints

• Facts not beliefs

• Don’t write a thesis!

• Relevant, concrete examples

• Link to the duties/tasks of the position

• Don’t just list experiences

• Focus on actions & outcomes

• Proof read


Useful Resources

UWA CareerHub – look at the ‘Useful links’ and the ‘Career & Job Resources’ sections

Application review service (4 working day turnaround)

Resume, letter, selection criteria & application guides (Reid Library – details on our website)


Beating the Competition

Ensure your documents are:

Well laid out Relevant to employer’s needs Expressed well

Interesting to read

Correct in spelling & grammar

Individual & original


www.careers.uwa.edu.au

Graduate & vacation jobs

Employer events

Casual and part time jobs

UWA CareerHub

(jobs, web links, resources, events)

Career advice

Resume reviews

Job search workshops

Career mentoring

resumes and cover letters… …that get you noticed!

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