Hola Mentees I've got great news! We are almost half way done with the semester! With that said, we will be covering topic #4 cover letters and resumes. I'm sure you all have heard about a cover letter and resume. Despite how time consuming and in depth resumes and cover letters can be, they are a necessity when trying to enter the work force.
A resume is a written document that lists your work experience, skills, and educational background. It is used as a marketing tool for all you future job seekers! A cover letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience. A cover letter typically provides detailed information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for. Effective cover letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences. A resume and cover letter are extremely important because they are what gets you "face time" or an interview. You can be a wonderful speaker, have a great personality, or great work ethic but if you look awful on paper, chances are you will not get a call back or an interview. I know this for a fact because i once had an awful resume/cover letter. I knew i had to make changes and create an exciting resume that stood out. When i was in Cornerstone this topic really helped me to improve my cover letter and resume. The website http://www.thejobexplorer.com/coverletter/ can help you through the process and give you great tips! Also, i found a brief but detailed video on tips on creating a resume/cover letter that sells http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihl1NZAmAD4&feature=fvw
Posting Assignment- Please answer the following questions for the next posting.
-What are ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
-What are some questions about cover letters you have?
-Share your best cover letter.
-What are questions about resumes that you have and/or share some advice.
-Share any resources you've found about cover letters and/or resumes.
PLEASE be sure to sign your name to your posting so you can be given credit and post on time/ Late penalties will be given and are never fun. :) Happy Blogging :)
Bonnie Beaumont
Group 16
Your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity by showcasing your strengths in various subjects. Under Education you could divide your degree by area/minor and list a couple key courses that represent your interest and acquired knowledge in each area. The courses should be chosen with regards to the viewer’s interest/establishment/etc. to better sell your product (you!).
ReplyDeleteIf you’re unaware who the actual person reviewing your resume will be, what is the best line of address to avoid sounding generic?
Hope Diehl
My interdisciplinarity can be highlighted by giving examples of how my 22.5 year Air Force career and my formal education have become integrated. I’ve worked long and hard during my career and now I’m interested in giving back to my community by volunteering on local political campaigns. My skills in the Air Force and interdisciplinary education can be beneficial in running a successful political campaign.
ReplyDeleteLinda DIggs
Here is my question regarding cover letters. Do all résumés require a cover letter? Since I have no plans to re-enter the workplace, I am using a cover letter to seek a volunteer position. I feel this is a good practice and it will give me the professional edge I seek for a volunteer position. My cover letter and résumé lets them know I want more than an envelope-stuffing volunteer position.
ReplyDeleteLinda Diggs
Here is my best cover letter:
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Sellis
I was referred to you by Rod Hagen, from J2 Enginering in Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. He recommended you as an excellent source of information on political campaign management.
My goal is to secure a volunteer position in political campaign management. I would appreciate hearing your advice on volunteer opportunities in Brevard County.
Thanks so much, in advance, for any insight and advice you would be willing to share. I look forward to contacting you early next week to set up a telephone informational interview. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Linda Diggs
Linda Diggs
The military has an excellent program for all of their personnel that are leaving the military. Whether you have served two years or 22 years, as I did, the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) allows you to start planning your transition from the military to the civilian world within 12 months prior to your separation from active duty. The Department of Defense developed this program about 15 years ago. Specially trained transition counselors and online tools provide special transition benefits information, employment workshops, automated employment job-hunting tools and job banks, veteran benefits information, and disabled veterans benefits information. It’s a wonderful program and the most important thing I learned was how to apply for my Veteran’s Administration Education Benefits.
ReplyDeleteLinda Diggs
Here's something funny I found while looking up resume info, thhis was an actual entry on a resume: Leadership Experience: “I am the leader of a 6,000 member clan on World of Warcraft.”
ReplyDeleteIs this what our future leadership has to offer? God bless America!, we're going to need it!
Linda Diggs
You can highlight your resume by showing details of what you can offer an employer. Past experiences and how you work with others I believe is extremely important. Show the steps you have taken to get the job your at now. Having interpersonal/organizational communication, business and health as my areas of study will help make it much easier. By narrowing the focus on what the employer is looking for, you may want to give more information of accomplishments in that particular area if there is one that you studied.
ReplyDeleteChristina Hope
I went to look at both sites you listed, but they were unavailable. How detailed should a cover letter be? I looked online and the ones I found seem really long. Is that the norm? I somehow thought they were short and sweet : )
ReplyDeleteChristina Hope
My Cover Letter:
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Smith,
I was referred to you by Mr. Arvind Madan, from Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company, who informed me there that you were hiring for new sales representatives .
I have been working in the hospitality business for the last eight years. I am confident that my work experience and well-rounded educational experience has prepared me for making an immediate contribution to big pharmaceutical companies. I understand the level of communication required for success in this field as well as professionalism.
I will be contacting you early next week to discuss the possibility of arranging an interview. I would love the opportunity to discuss how my experience and education will benefit you.Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Christina Hope
Christina Hope
I have found over the years that too much information just annoys a potential employer. They want it short and specific. I remember writing my first resume and I wrote a novel. Luckily, I had someone proofread it before I gave it out to anyone. I just thought they would want to know everything. But now I know, short and to the point. They want to be able to pick out key words that tell them about you without having to take notes on it foresay.
ReplyDeleteChristina Hope
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI found information on funny cover letters. It does catch your attention, but do you think that is appropriate?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.coverlettercentral.com/cover_letter_1.htm
Dear Mr. Smith:
I'd like to outline immediately the great skills I've obtained from 12 years within the cleaning field. This position is probably in high demand, so please consider the degree of experience I possess, along with my last name (a sign that I'm right for this position and within the appropriate industry).
What some don't understand is that there's an art to cleaning and general maintenance. Time management, cleaning strategies and long-term equipment care, are factors that are key to effective maintenance. A cleaning person can't lift a lid and sprinkle any available cleaning solution with the hopes that those stubborn stains will dissolve. A more scientific and proven method is needed to complete the job accurately the first time.
If given the opportunity, I'm sure I can pinpoint areas where your cleaning crew is missing the mark with improper swirl techniques. It sounds simplistic; however, inadequate cleaning can be costing your business thousands from a lack of employee productivity that results from unwanted odors and unsightly toilet blemishes.
Let me bring fresh air back to your restrooms. Once I've finished, individuals will enter your stalls and no longer be afraid to take a deep breath.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
John J. Camode
Christina Hope
Linda Digs-A cover letter is not always necessary but it is always a good idea. It gives enough information about you and your capabilities so that the employer will be interested in talking with your personality.
ReplyDeleteThe letter should relate specifically to the company and person to whom you are writing. If you haven't already done so, find out as much as you can about each firm and individual you plan to ask for an interview. Try to talk with some one who has been working with the firm, ask for literature, such as the annual report that explains the firm and its policies, check the company's WEB SIT E, or check out the firm at Hoover's Online, The Wall Street Journal's Career Journal or Wet Feet's Company Profiles. If you go through the trouble to make a great resume I would suggest making a cover letter as well.
Christina Hope-I too have found that while doing research about cover letters some are longer than others. In my opinion short and sweet and just the ticket. I try to look at it as if I were an employer looking to hire. I would not want to read an essay just to find out about someone, however it should be detailed enough to where the employer understands why you want to work for them, skills, quailities etc. Also, I think the funny cover letters are a great way to catch someone's attention. Now a days with the way so many kids are going to school and earning Bachelor degrees you need to stand out from the crow and a funny end such as yours "Let me bring fresh air back to your restrooms. Once I've finished, individuals will enter your stalls and no longer be afraid to take a deep breath." is great, just make sure you make it unique and you dont copy and paste it from a website you found. You dont want the employer to have seen that particular phrase a 100x. You want him to think you created the phrase on your own.
ReplyDeleteWhat are ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
ReplyDeleteBy putting down my lists of experiences, and educational background, prospective employers can easily see my interdisciplinarity. By having everything laid out simply for them to see, it gives them an opportunity to see the great diversity that interdisciplinary studies allows us to have.
Callie Gaines
What are some questions about cover letters you've have?
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is the best method for drawing in an employer with a cover letter?
What are some key words to use to have them pick me out of a crowd?
Callie Gaines
What are questions about resumes that you have and/or share some advice?
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, resumes have become one of the more important aspects of getting hired at a job. Before the employer ever gets the chance to meet you for an interview, they can weed out the un-desired through just by stacking the resumes up against each other. By having a resume that can stand out, an employer may be much more likely to choose you over someone else with the same qualifications.
Callie Gaines
Share any resources you've found about cover letters and/or resumes.
ReplyDeleteBestsampleresume.com
jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php
Callie Gaines
MY BEST COVER LETTER
ReplyDeleteTo whom it may concern:
I recently read about a job posting for a Large Mammal/ Hoofstock Zookeeper at the Denver Zoo. I am very interested in this opportunity and I feel as though my education and experience would be of great value to your team.
You indicate that the responsibilities required would be a good knowledge of the collection of animals, as well as a good track record with animal husbandry. From working at Sea World over the last 3 years, I have been able to provide excellent animal husbandry to not only a variety of reptiles, but also to penguins and salt water aquariums. Also, with my coursework in Biology related classes, I have gained the knowledge to bring the scientific aspect to my work as well (i.e. observations of animals).
Attached is a copy of my resume, which gives more details about my qualifications.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you further about this great opportunity with the Denver Zoo.
Sincerely,
Callie Gaines
Orlando, FL
32828
(727)-742-6284
callie.gaines@gmail.com
Hope Diehl
ReplyDeleteIf you’re unaware who the actual person reviewing your resume will be, what is the best line of address to avoid sounding generic?
Always assume you don’t know who is reviewing your resume. It may be passed along to the higher ups of the company or to other people in management. I believe the best way to start off your resume is to address the job which you are applying for and state why you are qualified for that job within one to two sentences. It may sound generic because everyone is applying for the same job and all may have similar skills. There are other ways to stand out. For example, request to turn your resume into the manager yourself, smile, introduce yourself, shake his or her hand, and possibly give a follow up call to see if your resume has been reviewed.
“Your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity by showcasing your strengths in various subjects.”
Stay true to your degree. You are an IDS student! Let employers know and let it reflect on your resume. You are a great asset to their company because of your diversity of knowledge.
Nicole Perez
Linda Diggs
ReplyDeleteHere is my question regarding cover letters. Do all résumés require a cover letter?
A cover letter is not necessary for all resumes, but the advantages may work in your favor. If an employer is going through a lot of applicants resumes then a cover letter is a quick way for them to see if you are what they are looking for. An impressive cover letter may allow you to show off all of your skills relevant and non-relevant to the job. For your situation with volunteer work a cover letter may be all you need. You could describe what it is you would like to do and include a clause in there such as further information available upon request, however your resume sounds impressive so including it could not hurt.
“My cover letter and résumé lets them know I want more than an envelope-stuffing volunteer position.”
This is a point well made. Your resume can make or break you. You may be applying for management and get an offer for envelope-stuffing.
Nicole Perez
Christina Hope
ReplyDeleteHow detailed should a cover letter be? I looked online and the ones I found seem really long. Is that the norm? I found information on funny cover letters. It does catch your attention, but do you think that is appropriate?
A cover letter is not meant to hold a lot of detail. It should be highlighting your skills, experience and education. As far as length, there is no designated length to a cover letter, however you are suppose to be highlighting your keys skills as opposed to telling your life story. Use as much space as you need to put the key descriptions in about yourself. If I had to put a limit, I would say no more than one page. My perspective on funny cover letters is different from Bonnie. I believe your cover letter and resume should be very serious and professional. While a funny cover letter may attract an employers attention, it may not be the attention you want. Some people are very serious, especially about work and work ethic, so until you make it to the interview and have the opportunity to feel that person out, hang on to your jokes.
“You can highlight your resume by showing details of what you can offer an employer.”
As opposed to listing on a bullet point customer service experience list something like : display excellent customer service skills. This small detail may separate your resume from the rest.
Nicole Perez
Callie
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is the best method for drawing in an employer with a cover letter?
What are some key words to use to have them pick me out of a crowd?
I don’t believe there is a method to drawing in an employer with your cover letter. Cover letters are like a gateway to your resume. If your gate passes inspection then its on to your resume. Explain yourself your skills and why you are applying for the job. Have a friend or relative (or both) read it over. Ask them if they would hire you. Like I said to Hope, there are other ways to make yourself stand out.
Key words that may make an employer pick you out of a crowd would depend on what you are applying for. Know the field you are applying for and integrate some of its vocabulary into your cover letter and resume. A word of caution, use the vocab in the right context! If you are unsure about how a word should be used and you just want to make your resume or cover letter sound good, you may end up sounding like a fool. Always know what you are talking about in your cover letter and resume so that you don’t flop during the interview.
“By having a resume that can stand out, an employer may be much more likely to choose you over someone else with the same qualifications.”
Like I have said previously in this post, people generally applying for the same job are likely to have the same qualifications. Not us! We are IDS students so our qualification (relevant or not) exceed the average applicants. Use this to your advantage and make your resume stand out.
Nicole Perez
The only way I can think to highlight interdisciplinarity in a resume is by listing particular experiences (e.g., work, classes, internships, research, projects, etc.), all of which fall into the normal content of a resume, anyway. A sense of interdiscplinarity does not seem like something you can just fabricate; one either has experience working in areas that defy disciplinary boundaries, or one does not. Of course, this lack of insight may simply be the result of my background and reasons for declaring an interdisciplinary major—I did not simply decide I wanted to study a range of subjects, the subject matter I am interested in is just inherently interdisciplinary. I therefore would not feel the need to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of my experiences, because the experiences are essentially interdisciplinary, in and of themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a cover letter seems pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, I have no existing cover letters to share.
Kyle Larimer
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteInsight and Resources on Resumes:
ReplyDeleteAside from the resume basics such as formatting and content, I found three insights that were particularly helpful: (1) develop a focus for your resume—tailor the content and presentation in accord with what your potential employer will be looking for; (2) be sure to highlight factors that set you apart from other job candidates—for some jobs/resume formats, this can be accomplished by including a succinct “branding” statement aside your header; and (3) endlessly revise, and seek the advice of others.
http://www.quintcareers.com/resres.html
http://www.cmu.edu/interdisciplinary/buzz/articles/spring02.html
Kyle Larimer
I feel I need to qualify my rather obtuse comment regarding the highlighting of interdisciplinarity. Interdisciplinarity is difficult to highlight because, by definition, it is the merging of disparate principles into an irreducible product. Employers will not be able to perceive the interdisciplinarity from individual course titles, and perhaps not even from the overall degree work. If interdisciplinarity is to be communicated, it must be shown through projects and experiences, which exemplify the application of interdisciplinary principles.
ReplyDeleteKyle Larimer
Christina Hope "i just thought they would want to know everything" LOL I can remember doing that too, writing a novel,as you said. They want it short and sweet, and isn't that so much easier for us?
ReplyDeleteLinda Diggs, with all of your experience, how long is your resume? I'm just curious.
I've never written a cover letter prior to about a week ago, and if it were strong I'd share it, but it's kind of embarassing ;). So I don't have a "best" cover letter. Yet.
Hope Diehl
Form can make or break a resume. Microsoft Word, which fortunately can be found on just about any computer (do some people live w/out it?), has wonderful, free templates that if everyone hasn't already, they should take advantage of.
ReplyDeleteHope Diehl
-What are ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
ReplyDeleteWays that my resume can highlight my interdisciplinary specifically would be to write down all the ways I am involved in Special Education, Psychology and Sign Language OUTSIDE of school. This will give the reader a better understanding of how and why I might likely be the best candidate for the specific job.
-Carly Frost
Questions about cover letters-
ReplyDeleteShould I when writing my cover letter be listing off all the qualifications I have in paragraph form or should it be different information that is in my "education, honors, etc?"
MY BEST COVER LETTER:
Dear Mr. Johnson:
I have my Masters degree in Exceptional Education from the University of Central Florida and have been referred to you by Meredith Scott to this job opening. The job opening of supervisor of the Exceptional Education program in Orange County is what I am applying for.
I have spent four years in an Exceptional Education classroom assisting a teacher in her everyday lessons. I have also planned daily lessons in the classroom and instructed the students in their daily activities. I have also focused on tutoring the students one on one while the teacher educated the rest of the classroom.
Please inform me when you would like to set up a time to meet, I would appreciate an opportunity for an interview for this position. I will be happy to answer any of your questions at this time and to explain further my experience that makes me qualified for this job position. My phone number is stated above and evenings are the best time for me to be contacted.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Carly Frost
-Carly Frost
-What are questions about resumes that you have and/or share some advice.
ReplyDeleteA question I have about Resumes is how long should they be? Just a page? Should it be set-up the way Professor Spraker showed us in the power point? Some advice I have learned is to ask for help-this has been very helpful-there are some places you can go on campus or even from a friend who has done one before. Don't spend all your time and energy stressing over you're resume when there are plenty of resources out there! Also, I have found that with resumes, this is one of the few times it's appropriate to brag about yourself and the accomplishments you've made. :-0
-Carly Frost
Some ways a resume can highlight interdisciplinarity is by displaying the multiple areas of knowledge and experience a student has. It is essentially the poster board for an interdisciplinary student to be able to showcase achievements and knowledge in many different areas. For me, I can often use my resume to showcase my volunteer experience in hospitals while showcasing the work I’ve done with the Beta center of Central Florida.
ReplyDeleteShawnee Bailey
Some questions I’ve always had about cover letters is it a necessary to use a cover letter when submitting a resume to any position or should it be saved for a more concrete position? Also, how many paragraphs should ones letter be or what is the recommended length of the letter? I have heard many conflicting information regarding resumes. Some have suggested including references, while some recommend not including one. Is it recommended to have references included in a resume? One major suggestion is to keep it to a minimum of one page, consistent font and using the bold feature for certain headliners. One major resource I often use when writing a cover letter or resume is the UCF career services. They have proved to be a very useful resource for me, provided me with multiple formats for my resume as well as alternative words to use when describing experiences.
ReplyDeleteShawnee Bailey
My best cover letter:
ReplyDelete12084 Lake Cypress Circle
Apt 106
Orlando, FL, 32828
PDI
Orlando, Florida
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am contacting you in reference to the advertised position on your company’s website for a Sales Representative. I believe I am a great candidate for this position as I am a student at the University of Central Florida majoring in Health Sciences, with over seven years of experience in sales. This position would be a great start for me to gain the experience I need in the healthcare setting. I strongly believe my appreciation for learning and experiencing different aspects to the healthcare setting is sufficient to excel in this position.
I first became interested in health and safety as a young volunteer for Springtree Retirement Home, where I aided and assisted residents. I became a firm believer that helping people in this setting was the wave of the future when I became a volunteer at the Coral Springs Hospital and developed a relationship with patients of all different walks, all facing unique issue of their own. I have since developed a strong passion for the healthcare industry and everything it encompasses.
Besides the interest I possess in this particular discipline, I am also currently pursuing a degree in Health Sciences, with a minor in Health Services Administration, thus, it is my belief that the acquisition of said degree will afford me the knowledge I need to fully dedicate myself to a career in Health Sciences. It is my main goal to learn and perform tasks that would make me successful in this area.
With everything I have learned over the past few years in both the educational and career capacity, I truly feel that I have what it takes to compete and achieve in this field. I am very interested in discussing this with you in person. If indeed you think I am a proper candidate for your posted position, feel free to contact me for an interview when it is convenient for you and/or your staff. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance,
Sincerely,
Shawnee Bailey
Shawnee Bailey
Hope
ReplyDeleteYou should not be embarassed by your cover letter especially if you ever plan to share it with employers. If you would like you can send it to my e-mail and maybe I can help you with it. NM.RandazzoPerez@gmail.com
I want to remind everyone, although your posting deadline is Sunday please do not wait until last minute to post. Sunday's we start on another topic and move on. Posting at your deadline does not allow us (the mentors) time to review your assignment and respond. The purpose of the blog is to discuss the subject you (the mentees) are working on. Thank you for understanding.
Nicole Perez
Regarding Linda Diggs 6/25/10 post about the fellow who used his World of Warcraft leadership experience in a resume.
ReplyDeleteVery funny indeed, I LOL’ed.
I remember reading about a similar situation a few years back. A young programmer named Steve Gillette, who was responsible for a considerable portion of the back-end programming work for CNET.com (a large-scale product review and software hosting website) before it was acquired by CBS. Gillette also had a hand in several successful startups.
However, when applying for a senior position at Yahoo!, one of the decisive reasons for his selection by the company, albeit strange and nontraditional, was his extensive leadership abilities gained through his participation as a “Clan Leader” in the online PC Game, World of Warcraft.
At its core, this game, as well as all others, is a simulation. Simulations have long been used for training, analyzing, and prediction, etc. They use molecular modeling to discovery new drugs; they safely train our pilots, and can even maximize the effectiveness of our highway to reduce traffic.
The experience that one learns when playing video games for enjoyment purposes has been referred to as “accidental learning.” The tasks that the gamers are posed with require the participation of large groups of people. Success can only be achieved through the complex coordination of a plethora of variables. Group chemistry, communication, proper talents and actions all contribute to this.
The article refers to the position of a World of Warcraft “Guild Master” (Leader of one of these groups of players) as a “total immersion course in leadership.” To successfully manage the schedules of hundreds or thousands of players, bringing people together on a daily basis in a structured manner to share their knowledge and resources, is a cumbersome task. The complexity of these successfully operating “Guilds/Clans” is not something to disregard. Most of them have complex organizational structures, and management is very similar to real life companies.
So back to Steve Gillette. He was offered the position of Senior Director of Engineering Operations, and he took it happily. “I used to worry about not having what I needed to get a job done," he says. "Now I think of it like a quest; by being willing to improvise, I can usually find the people and resources I need to accomplish the task.” Spoken like a true gamer.
Article: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/learn.html
- Matthew Schaller
A resume is the perfect tool for a person to highlight their interdisciplinary. Having previous experience in a number of disciplines, whether it be through multiple career fields, job types, education, or (ideally) a combination of the above, is a great way to emphasize such interdisciplinary. An employer can learn a lot about a person’s skill set through a resume, before even meeting him or her. It is also essentially the way that you'll be able to "get your foot in the door", and be offered an interview where you can display your true character in person.
ReplyDeleteBecause of this, the importance of an effective resume is profound. In order to market yourself effectively in such a situation, focusing on the diversity of your past experiences (both through work and education) can really set you apart from a resume pool of people with more "linear" experiences. I.e.: One field, one business, one industry, etc
- Matthew Schaller