Resume and Cover

Letter Writing

presented by:

Career Opportunities Center

3rd floor Norwood Hall
573-341-4343
campus.umr.edu/career
Career Opportunities Center
What is the resume?
 Your sales tool

 1st example of your communication skills

 Your ticket to the interview

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Resume Tips
 Scanned in 10 seconds – make sure important
information stands out

 Create section by section so it’s not

overwhelming

 Write long on first draft – edit later

 Focus on accomplishments, not routine duties

 Proofread – then have someone else proofread

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Common Resume Sections
 Heading

 Objective

 Education

 Experience

 Computer Skills/Language Skills

 Honors & Activities

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Optional Resume Sections
 Certifications

 Highlights of Qualifications

 Volunteer Experience

 Military Experience

 Others ?
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Heading
 Name in bold – usually centered

 Name 2 fonts larger than rest of document

 Address – school & permanent

 Phone number

 E-mail
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 Heading Sample

Joe Miner
657 State St. 573-555-6258
Rolla, MO 65559 miner@umr.edu

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Objective
 Clear – do not get to wordy

 State position seeking

 General for COC InterviewTRAK

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 Objective Sample
Objective
To obtain a co-op or internship in the mechanical
engineering field

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Education
 Reverse chronological order – UMR first

 Provide: Degree
Minor
Emphasis

 Expected graduation month and year

 GPA – cumulative and major

 Can include courses and projects

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 Education Sample
Education
University of Missouri – Rolla May 2007
B.S. Mechanical Engineering GPA: 4.0
Minor: Mathematics

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Experience
 Reverse chronological order

 Paid and unpaid

 Job title – bold

 Dates and locations of employment

 Job descriptions

 Action Verbs
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 Experience Sample
Experience
Wal-Mart Jan – Aug 2006
Sales Associate Rolla, MO
• Provided customer service
• Budgeted cash register each evening

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Computer Skills
 Format that can be scanned quickly

 Courses you have had or currently taking

 Can categorize in sections if needed:

 Applications
 Languages
 Operating Systems

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 Computer Skills
Sample
Computer Skills
MS Office AutoCAD Matlab HTML
Fortran Visio Quattro Pro Windows 95

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Honors & Activities
 Titles of Scholoarships

 University, community, high-school

activities

 Leadership roles – bold

 No dates or amounts

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 Honors & Activities
Sample
Honors & Activities
Eagle Scout
Missouri Miner Scholarship
Deans List - UMR
Alpha Phi Alpha – President

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Bolded Items Recap
 Name
 Degree
 Minor
 Emphasis
 Job Titles
 Leadership Roles

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Resume Design
 Font style – easy to read

 Font size (10.5 – 12)

 Margins size (.5 – 1”)

 Undergraduates – one page

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Cover Letter

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Cover Letter
 Introduction to you and your resume

 Emphasize why you are the candidate for the

position

 Explain situations that are unique on your resume

 Thank them for their time and consideration

 Samples – website and career guide

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Reference Page

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Reference Page
 Always ask

 3 people minimum

 Variety of references

 Keep them informed

 Use resume heading

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 Reference Page
Example
Joe Miner
657 State St. 573-555-6258
Rolla, MO 65559 miner@umr.edu

References

Name
Title
Address
Phone
E-mail
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Resume and Cover
Letter Writing

Questions?

presented by:

Career Opportunities Center

3rd floor Norwood Hall
573-341-4343
campus.umr.edu/career
Career Opportunities Center