Résumés, Cover Letters, and Thank-You Letters

Résumés

A résumé summarizes your skills and strengths for an employer. This is no time to be modest. Be sure to describe yourself with the most glowing words you feel comfortable using.

Before you begin, ask your friends, advisors, teachers, and supervisors how they would describe you. Most people are not able to see themselves clearly and need the help of others for this step

There is no one "correct" form for a résumé. Though there are certain pieces of information that should always be included in a résumé, you can arrange the parts as you wish and decide which optional information to include.

First, decide whether to begin with a functional style or a chronological style of résumé.

Functional résumés emphasize your skills, without specifying the job or course you learned each skill. Use this type of résumé if you lack work experience, which is something that is very common among high school students.
(See Sample Functional Résumé)

Chronological résumés emphasize your past work or education. They specify what you did in each job or course, whether or not it was related to the type of job you want in the future. Use this type of résumé if you have experience or training in the type of job you want to find.
(See Sample Chronological Résumé)

A few employers are suspicious of functional résumés because they think you are trying to hide something. On the other hand, a good functional résumé may help you look like a much better candidate than a chronological résumé, particularly when you lack work experience. A functional résumé focuses on the skills you have that employers are most likely to value, while chronological résumés force employers to sort through work experience that is not applicable.

Microsoft Word has a résumé wizard that is very helpful. Once you are in Microsoft Word, follow these steps to access many different résumé formats:

1. On the File menu, click New.
2. Click the Other Documents tab.
3. Double-click Résumé Wizard.
4. Follow the steps in the wizard.

Whichever basic résumé style you choose, you can modify it to suit your needs.

Cover Letters

It is customary to send a cover letter with a résumé. It may seem like unnecessary work, but it helps to make a good impression. Because cover letters can be less formal than résumés, they may contain information that you do not wish to include in your résumé.

There are two basic types of cover letters:

Broadcast letters are designed to be sent to people who may have a job opening in the future but who have not yet announced an opening.
(See Sample Broadcast Letter)

Letters of Application are sent to employers who have announced an opening.
(See Sample Letter of Application)

Both types of letter should have these sections:

Beginning: Name of the position or type of job you are seeking. If you are applying for a specific opening, explain how you found out about the opening.

Middle: Highlight your most important qualifications for this position. If you think your résumé covers everything, simply refer the reader to the résumé. If you can think of any interesting examples that demonstrate why you would be an excellent candidate for the job, include it in this section.

Closing: Ask for an interview, tell the employer how to reach you, and state that you want a response.

The letter could be very short or could take a full page. Usually, cover letters, like résumés, should not fill more than one page.

Thank-You Letters

Make it part of your normal routine to follow up your interview with a prospective employer with a thank-you letter. When writing a thank-you letter, follow the same format as a cover letter and ensure the following information is covered:

• Remind the person with whom you interviewed of the date and reason you met.
• Confirm that you want the job.
• Explain that you would like to follow up.
• Ask for a second interview if applicable.
• You should always thank the interviewer for the interview, and you should always let the interviewer know to keep you in mind for future opportunities if you do not get the position.

Interviewing Tips

Prior to completing a résumé or going to a job interview, it is essential that you complete a personal inventory list. A personal inventory list should include the following items:

• Transcript
• Social security card (number)
• List of names, addresses, and phone numbers of employers and professional references
• List of the responsibilities of each of your previous jobs
• List of certificates, honors, and accomplishments over the past five years

Knowing this information and having it readily available will be helpful when completing employment applications. It will also help you tremendously in successfully interviewing for a position.

Knowing the company you are interviewing with and the responsibilities of the position for which you are interviewing is also essential. People are most successful during interviews when they are able to sell the prospective employer on why they are the best candidate for the position. This is achieved when you convey how your skills or experience are a perfect match to the responsibilities associated with the position.

Most major companies have a Web site that you can view prior to your interview. Although it is not absolutely necessary that you know something about the company to get hired for a job, most employers are very impressed when you do your homework. It is also beneficial for you to know that you are interviewing with a reputable company that will offer you valuable work experience. In the event the company doesn’t have a Web site, do some research in the library or call ahead and speak with a company representative.

When researching an employer, here are examples of information you should look for:

• How and when the company was founded
• Stock's trading symbol and performance
• Recent news articles
• Organizational structure (who's in charge)
• Industry competitors
• Product information

Questions employers frequently ask during interviews:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why are you interested in our company?
• What would you say are your weaknesses? Why?
• What are your strengths? Why?
• What have you heard about us (the company)?
• If hired for the position, where do you see yourself in ___months or years?
• Tell me about your education.
• If you could go back and reverse a decision you made in life, what would it be and why?
• Tell me about your previous work experience.
• What types of contributions have you made to your school and community?
• Give me an example of a time when you had to meet a deadline. What was the situation? How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?
• Why do you think you are the best candidate for the job?
• If hired for the position, what impact do you think you will be able to make to the business?

Sample questions for you to ask during an interview:

• What are some of the things you like about working for your company?
• What qualities are you looking for in an ideal candidate?
• What characteristics do the high achievers in your company seem to share?
• What is your company philosophy?
• Does this position offer room for advancement?
• Can you confirm the schedule for this position? (Make sure the work schedule doesn't conflict with your school schedule and activities.)

Dressing for success

If you are interviewing for a professional job, here are recommendations on how to dress to make the right impression:

• Business Suit - conservative style and dark color, properly fitted (not baggy), clean and pressed
• Long-Sleeved Shirt - with subtle pattern, white or blue
• Matching Tie - length should reach belt buckle and be properly fitted around neck area
• Conservative Laced Shoes or Loafers - polished, should match dress belt
• Dress Socks - color should match suit; do not wear sweat socks

When in doubt as to how you should dress for the interview, dress professionally!

Other tips

• Practice good posture by sitting upright and looking straight into the eyes of the interviewer.
• Give a firm handshake when you introduce yourself and when you leave.
• Do not play with hands or objects - keep feet flat on floor.
• Eat a balanced meal so that you will have energy throughout the day.
• Enunciate and speak loud enough to be heard.
• Do not wear cologne.
• Maintain good oral and physical hygiene.

Searching for the Right Job

Searching for the right job can sometimes be understandably intimidating. By using the following tips, your search can be easier.

How can I use my personal contacts?

Some of the best jobs are filled before they are announced in public. People you know, and the people they know, are a great source of job leads. Try this:

• Ask your friends, relatives, or acquaintances if they know of any openings.
• Talk to your neighbors and people you meet. Tell them what you are looking for and ask if they know anyone who hires people with your skills.
• If there are professional or trade associations for your field, join them and let the people you meet there know that you are looking for a job.

Once you hear about a possible opening, ask if you can use the name of the person who told you about the opening. Employers often feel more comfortable when they know how you learned about an opening.

Call the employer immediately. Ask if the opening still exists and if the person doing the hiring has time to talk with you about the position.

If the employer indicates that there are no openings now, ask if openings are expected in the near future and agree on a time when you will call back again.

Can I find a job through a newspaper?

Many newspapers have "Want Ad" sections each day, but the weekend papers usually has the longest lists of openings. When you are looking in newspapers or journals, you will find there are three types of "Want Ads."

• Employment Agency Ads - These ads are placed by employment agencies. They may look like actual jobs, but the person you call will try to talk you into letting them find a job for you.
• Bordered Ads - Many of the biggest ads are intended to keep the name of the company in front of the public. The jobs they offer may be in other states or may require hard-to-find special skills.
• Employer Ads - These ads may be very brief, but they offer real jobs. Usually they will provide a phone number to call for more information or an address where you can send a résumé.

Other job-hunting sources of information:

• Visit Mr. DeLeon at the CDC to find out about any possible job openings
• Watch for news stories about companies that might be relocating to your area
• Use state employment service agencies.
• Attend professional conventions (job fairs).
• Consider temporary help agencies.
• Apply in person to a place you would like to work at, whether or not they are advertising a position.

Success at Work Tips

Once you are able to secure employment, you will quickly find that your employer's expectations are very similar to those of St. Benedict's and your parents. To ensure success at work, here are a few tips:

• Be on time.
• Show up to work when scheduled.
• Dress appropriately for work.
• Meet or exceed performance guidelines.
• Be courteous and polite.
• Respect peers and management.
• Offer suggestions and ideas.
• Subscribe to the company's philosophy.

Links

Here are the best places on the Internet to search for jobs and research careers:

www.ajb.org
www.careerbuilder.com
www.joboptions.com
www.career.com
www.jobbankusa.com
www.jobtrak.com
www.monster.com
www.headhunter.net
www.careerplanning.about.com