Resume Writing and Cover Letters

Academic Advising and Career Center • (916) 278-6231 www.csus.edu/careercenter

Purpose of a Resume

To secure an interviewFocuses relevant skills and

knowledge for audienceAcknowledges accomplishments Tailored to the position for

which you are applyingUpdated throughout college

and professional career

Styles of Resumes

Chronological

Combination

Resume Categories

Heading

Objective (optional)

Summary of Qualifications

(optional)

Education

Certifications, licenses

Work Experience, Professional

Experience

Related Experience

Additional Resume Categories

Affiliations

Community Involvement

Professional Development Classes

Publications

Projects and Research

Workshops/Seminars Conducted

Interests (work-related)

International Experiences

Heading

NameStreet addressCity, state, zipEmail addressTelephone number with area

codeCentered or right justified

Objective

List the job title, position, or department to which you are applying; company name or industry.

Objective may be omitted for some purposes, such as a generalized resume for a career fair

Avoid wordy objective statements; simple is better

Objective Samples

OBJECTIVETo obtain a position as a Human Resources Assistant with Allison Health, Inc.

Sample Objective #1:

OBJECTIVETo obtain a position as a Computer Programmer with proficiency in C/C++ and assembly language noted for producing clean, readable, and imaginative code

Sample Objective #2:

Education

Degree(s)

Major(s)

Concentration(s); Minor(s)

School(s) where you received a

degree

Graduation date

Overall and/or Major GPA (optional)

Expected: graduation date

Education Sample

EDUCATIONBachelor of Arts in Communication StudiesMinor: SpanishCalifornia State University, Sacramento, May 2009

EDUCATIONBachelor of Science in Communication StudiesConcentration: Public RelationsMinor: SpanishCalifornia State University, Sacramento, Expected: December 2009

Education Section Examples #1 and #2:

Sub-categories within Education

These provide an excellent way to highlight information related to your school accomplishments

The information should relate to the requirements of the position in priority order

Samples of Sub-categories within Education

Achievements Credentials Language Skills Honors Awards Related Coursework Projects Class Projects Computer Skills Certifications Licensure Scholarships

Sample of Sub-categories within Education

EDUCATIONBachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, Digital MediaMinor: Computer ScienceCalifornia State University, Sacramento, May 2010

Honors: Golden Key National Honor SocietyCertification: C++ Programming

Language Skills: Bilingual and biliterate in SpanishComputer Skills: Microsoft Access, PowerPoint, Excel

Showcasing Your Leadership Experiences

Awards/AchievementsCampus Activities: Orientation leader, Peer

mentorUniversity ServiceRecognition: Senior Sales, Manager,

SupervisorProgram or Project LeaderPublicationsOrganizations, ClubsVolunteering

LEADERSHIP PROFILE • Three year membership in the Honor Society, including acting

as Treasurer and President for one year • Five years volunteer experience at Loaves and Fishes • Three years experience as a recreation leader at the Boys and

Girls Club of Sacramento

COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT Recreation Leader, Boys and Girls Club, Sacramento, CA 2008-

2009 Volunteer, Loaves and Fishes, Sacramento, CA 2005-2010

Examples of Showcasing Your Leadership Skills

ACTIVITES Treasurer, Queer-Straight Alliance, California State University, Sacramento,

CA 2010 Member, Art History Club , California State University, Sacramento, CA 2009

WORKSHOPS PRESENTED Effective Marketing Tactics, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sacramento State, CA 2008 Career Options, Philosophy Club, Sacramento State, CA 2007

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Leadership Conference, California State University, Sacramento, CA, 2011

Examples of Showcasing Your Leadership Skills

School Experiences in Resumes

Technical skills and knowledge, Internships and volunteer work Projects, group work, assignments Senior project and/or other research

projects/assignments Lab courses Soft skills, such as communication,

leadership, organization, and research skills

Student clubs and organizations Course content skills and knowledge Community engagement opportunities

Chronological Resumes

Advantages

Known, Conventional

Good for work history

that relates to the

position

Employer can see job

duties for each position

Emphasis on job titles

and dates

Disadvantages

May not highlight most

relevant skills

Reflects gaps in

employment history

May not highlight skills

and knowledge from

school and volunteer work

Combination Resumes

Advantages Includes skills acquired

from school and other experiences

Emphasizes skills most relevant to the position

Underplays chronology, limited experience, “job hopping”

Helpful to those who have limited job related experience, are transitioning from the military, or who are changing careers

Disadvantages Employers may be

unfamiliar with style or wary that you are trying to “fix” something

Employer cannot see job duties from each position

Work Experience in a Chronological Resume

In reverse chronological order by date

Job titleCompany/OrganizationDepartment/DivisionCity, StateDates of Employment Action-verb sentences in priority

order and written to reflect skills/knowledge relating to the job

Sample of Work Experience in a Chronological Resume

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Instructor and Networking Assistant January 2008 - PresentTechnology Resource Center, Hansen University, Happy Valley, CA• Instructed 120 college students in web-designing and multimedia video production during the summer.

MIS Intern Sept 2006 - Dec 2008Globe Central, Inc., San Francisco, CA• Installed, configured, enhanced, and maintained computer systems for the Human Resources Department with 50 employees and workstations.

Skills Section in a Combination Resume

Three skill categories that relate to the position or purpose of the resume

Always include a Work History section after the Relevant Skills and Knowledge section The Work History section only

includes the Job Title, company or organization name, City, State, and date range.

The date range can be express by year only or month and year.

Sample of Skills Section in a Combination Resume

RELEVANT SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Program Development• Prepared and taught health education programs to students in

stress management, relaxation and exercise.• Implemented a smoking education and cessation program in

the residence halls for freshman and sophomore students; 85% of

students attended.

Management and Supervision• Supervised a staff of up to 15 personal trainers in a center

that specialized in professional and college athletes.

Project Management• Directed a 15-person team that conducted a nutrition health

survey of 1,000 school age children, ages 9 – 17.

Action-verb Statements

Describe skills, knowledge and/or accomplishments that relate to the position, industry, department, or company

Begin with past-tense action verbs

Are quantifiable, if possibleAre usually no more than two

linesAre written in priority order in

relation to the skill set required for the position

Action-verb Statements

Taught a technical workshop. (First Draft)

Designed and taught a workshop on web-based video.

Designed and taught a 10-week training session for 20 Consulting Department employees on Web-based Video Production.

Sample Action-verb sentence #1:

The following is an example of an action-verb sentence demonstrating the progression of creating a sentence from a first draft through a more developed and comprehensive sentence.

If you were a group of employers, what would you look for in a resume?

Activity

References

References are listed on a separate page with the same heading as your resume and include your reference name, business title, business address, telephone number, and email address

Printed on the same paper as your resume

Same heading as your resume with a title, for example, REFERENCES or Professional References

Personal references are not acceptable.

Cover Letters

Are an essential part of your application packet

Must be written for each job for which you are applying; avoid generic cover letters

Avoid “essays”; keep your letter simple and pertinent to the job and/or purpose of the letter

Personalize the letter by including information about the position/company/organization.

There are many types of business correspondence, including cover letters

One page. Keep to a minimum sentences that start with “I”

Sign your letters in black ink. Use 100% cotton paper or the same resume paper as your resume

Letters should have plenty of “open space”

This handout is provided by the Academic Advising and Career Center at California State University, Sacramento and is intended for personal non-commercial use. 2013

Sections:

Your name and contact information Inside Address: Employer’s name and

company address Salutation Body Closing Enclosure (Resume)

Cover Letters

Briefly introduce yourself and your interest in the organization/position

Mention how you heard about the position, if someone referred you, or you met the recipient at a previous event or meeting

First Paragraph

Highlight your background, with examples, as it relates to the position or purpose

Focus on skills and accomplishments

What attracts you to the company or organization

What makes you unique?

Middle Paragraph(s)

Appreciation for considering your application

How to contact applicant

Thank them for their time and consideration

Closing Paragraph

Thank you

The Career Center offers drop-in services where you can obtain assistance with questions about resumes, cover letters, interviewing techniques, and other aspects of your job search. If you need help beginning to write a resume or if you have a draft that you would like critiqued, visit the Career Center in Lassen Hall.

Thank you, The Career Center Staff