The York Road Literacy and Employment Initiative

Workshop 3: Résumés and Cover Letters, Continued; Preparing for a Job Interview

Allen Brizee, PhD

Assistant Professor of Writing

Loyola University Maryland

Giuliana Caranante

Psychology-Writing Major

Loyola University Maryland

Goals and Outcomes

This workshop will help you complete your résumés and cover letters and prepare for a job interview.

After the workshop, you should be able to: Complete an effective résumé Complete an effective cover letter Prepare for a job interview

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Overview Name Tags Folder Contents How do I Complete My Résumé? How do I Complete My Cover Letter? How do I Prepare for a Job Interview? Conclusion

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés How do I Complete My Résumé?

Review: Reader-centered approach: two main goals?

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés

What you did but also tailor to desired position

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Résumés

Traditional résuméStylist; Cutz Beauty Salon, Baltimore, MD 2004 - 2013 Worked as a hair stylist Tracked inventory and created product displays

Reader-centered résuméStylist; Cutz Beauty Salon, Baltimore, MD 2004 - 2013 Worked as a hair stylist while beginning to learn make-up Tracked inventory, created product displays, and found new

products for store Had the highest return customer rate of any stylist in store

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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RésumésCashier; Giant Food Stores, Baltimore, MD 1998 - 2004 Stocked shelves and worked registers

Cashier; Giant Food Stores, Baltimore, MD 1998 - 2004 Stocked shelves, assisted customers, and performed point-

of-sales transactions Created a tracking system to record products customers

requested but store did not carry Promoted to head of the Front End of the Store and assisted

other cashiers Received Employee of the Month award, September, 2003

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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RésumésCivic and Volunteer Activities Active member of the Richnor Springs Neighborhood

Association Volunteer hair stylist for senior citizens and children in the

Govans area Volunteer at GEDCO/CARES food pantry

Continuing Education CARES employment workshops: How to Use the Internet

and MS Word; How to Write Effective Résumés and Cover Letters; Preparing for a Job Interview

Enoch Pratt Free Library MS Office Suite workshops: Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Practice Continue working on your draft résumé

Tailored to job and organization How you will help them Worry about formatting later – focus on writing the

reader-centered descriptions of your job/volunteer responsibilities

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover Letters How do I complete my cover letter?

Review: Reader-centered approach: ??

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Cover LettersOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

Main points:1. Good match2. Help them

1. Begin with strong topic sentences

2. Move from general to specific information

3. How you will help them

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Cover LettersOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

Topic sentence Examples How you will help them

My experience at Cutz Beauty Salon has taught me so much about today’s emerging beauty products. I am passionate about using the latest products to enhance a daily beauty routine. For example, I have focused on finding affordable hair products that allow customers to shorten their style time. My clients love learning about new products, and I have increased product revenue at my store by 5%. This knowledge is valuable to every customer that enters Sally Beauty and would help me support your excellent customer service.

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Cover LettersOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

Topic sentence Examples How you will help them

Similarly, working for so many years at Giant Food Stores taught me valuable interpersonal communication skills. I completed numerous inventory workshops and learned how to create a truly successful sales team. These skills will help me assist the customers of Sally Beauty and support your mission of excellent customer service.

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Cover LettersOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

Topic sentence Purpose and how you will help them Thanks and contact information

Sally Beauty is the largest distributor of top professional and hair care brands in the world. This is due to the effective customer service and high quality of inventory at each local store. I would like to speak to you further about how my interpersonal skills and strong knowledge of emerging beauty products can assist you in continuing to develop your vision by assisting customers in a Sally Beauty store. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and enclosed résumé. If you have any questions, please email me at Davis22@hotmail.com or call me at 222-222-2222.

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Practice Continue working on your draft cover letter

Tailored to job and organization Good match How you will help them

1. Start with strong topic sentences

2. Follow that with an example from your résumé

3. Explain how your experience matches the job and how it will help them

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Lunch Break! We have meat and veggie subs, water, and chips

Continue working on your letter during lunch

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Lunch

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Preparing for a Job Interview “You only have one chance to make a first impression.”

Past experiences Do’s and don’ts

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Preparing for a Job Interview With some preparation, you can succeed!1. Research the organization

a. Size and age of organization

b. Mission and goals

c. Profit vs. non-profit

d. Products, accounts, etc.

e. Competitors

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Preparing for a Job Interview

2. Research the positiona. Responsibilities

b. Daily tasks and supervisor

c. Physical labor and/or technology

d. Location

e. Benefits and salary

f. Commuting requirements

g. Special licenses or training

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Preparing for a Job Interview

3. Contact your referencesa. At least three

b. Compose references list with contact information (same font and format as résumé and cover letter)

4. Review your résumé and cover letter and be prepared to discuss them

a. How you are a good match

b. How you can help them

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Preparing for a Job Interview

5. Dress to impressa. Professional attire and impression

b. Conservative appearance (cologne, makeup, jewelry, piercings, tattoos)

c. Contact CARES staff if needed

6. Rehearse and be prepared for common questions

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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During a Job Interview

1. Arrive early

2. Bring extra copies of résumé and cover letter

3. Be confident – you made it past the first hurtle!

4. Be positive

5. Positive non-verbal communication (find a home for your hands, eye contact)

6. Be respectful (last names, cell phones, gum, etc.)

7. Be gracious (thank interviewer for her/his time)

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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After a Job Interview

1. Send a thank you letter within seven days

2. If you haven’t heard from the employer within ten days, you can call to inquire about position

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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PracticeOverview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

Search the Internet for some common job interview questions

Write responses to them Talk with your neighbor about how you responded

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Conclusion Today we worked on

Completing an effective résumé Completing an effective cover letter Preparing for a job interview

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion

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Conclusion Remove flash drive by double-clicking on icon at bottom right of desktop

Please consider sharing contact information with the group to stay in contact

Please fill out the feedback form Thanks for your time

Allen Brizee: habrizee@loyola.edu

Giuliana Caranante: gmcaranante@loyola.edu

Overview

Résumés

Practice

Cover Letters

Practice

Job Interview

Practice

Conclusion