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Resources from the Temple University Career Center

All of the following information has been created by the Career Center - please visit their site for additional Career Assistance.

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Resume

Resume Writing

The Importance of a Resume

95% of your competition will be eliminated on paper.  A resume can get you past the first line of defense and into a face-to-face meeting with someone who has the power to hire you.  Employers view hundreds of resumes a week and often make an interview/no-interview decision in less than 30 seconds.

Introductory Tips for Resume Writing

Always keep the reader in mind. The professional resume allows you to present your experience in a format that is easy to read and commands attention from the reader.  Remember, this is not a job description but rather your personal marketing document. A reader should be able to put your experience into context.  Make sure that after 30 seconds the reader has gotten to the bottom of the page and wants to learn more about you.  Consistency is key!  A resume should be free of grammatical and spelling errors. 

RESUME WRITING OVERVIEW:

Purpose
The resume is designed with one purpose in mind—to generate enough interest to get you an interview. Do not send it out unless you are completely satisfied with the message it conveys. Most resumes are discarded. Give the prospective employer reasons to separate yours from the crowd by giving indications of how your background and skills are transferable to his/her work environment.

Format
There is no standardized format to follow, but what is critical is that it is graphically easy to follow, concise, and consistently formatted from one section to the next with appropriate headings and subheadings. Ensure that it is aesthetically pleasing to look at with careful use of “white space” and, above all, has no spelling or grammatical errors.

Content
The key is to highlight your background concisely, focusing on the items you feel would be appealing to a prospective employer. Use action words that convey a message of proficiency, accomplishment, and drive. What is most important is that the employer projects your skills, experience, and training as transferable to his/her work setting. The one compelling question you should ask yourself regarding whether or not an item should be included on your resume is “Will this enhance my chances of getting an interview?”

Style
The resume can be chronological, functional, or some variation of the two. The chronological approach (by dates) is generally used when there is a logical sequence of events to list and an historical perspective is most appropriate. The functional resume may be more appropriate when one wishes to highlight particular functions, skills, strengths, or areas of expertise.

Focus
Remember to tailor your resume to accentuate your individual strengths and significant features of your background that distinguish you from the competition. It needs to be a reflection of you and what you are capable of doing in the workplace. Sell yourself with confidence—with the primary focus being: experience, specialized training, and transferable skills.

Some items of “universal appeal” to consider when describing your background and your transferable experiences/skills include:

  • Customer service/customer relations experience
  • Supervisory or management responsibility
  • Promotions or increased responsibilities
  • Use of communication/interpersonal skills
  • Basic computer/technical skills  (e.g. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel; Type XX wpm)
  • Meeting deadlines or working in a high pressured environment
  • Report writing or presentations
  • Independent decision making/problem solving responsibilities
  • Working as a member of a “team” toward a common goal
  • Providing training
  • The use of numbers to substantiate what you have done (e.g. increased sales by 20%; balanced a $200,000 budget)

Suggestions

  • Be consistent with font size, margins, abbreviations, punctuation, bold, etc…
  • Don’t use smaller than a 10 pt. font or larger than a 12 point font.
  • Use an appropriate amount of white space.
  • The resume should be a concise statement of your background and qualifications.  One page is generally sufficient, however, a particularly capable and experienced candidate might need two pages.  If a second page is required, make sure to include your name at the top and do not staple (use a paperclip)!

Honors, Awards, and Activities
Include items that are indications of you excelling and distinguishing yourself. Of particular interest to employers are group activities and leadership roles. Also, emphasize any activities that required voluntary involvement, whether school related, community related, or informal. Academic honors should be included, such as Dean’s list, honor roll, etc.

Additional Specialized Skills, Proficiency, Equipment, Procedures, etc.
Any additional skills, equipment worked with, familiarity of specific procedures, etc. that you feel you could bring to an employer in addition to what has already been mentioned.
Include items that you feel would be transferable to the prospective position you’re targeting, even if you feel it is not necessarily a requirement of the position, but could be helpful (e.g. computer skills, speaking a second language, etc.).

RESUME DO’S AND DON’TS:
DO

  • Limit your resume to one page
  • Use a one-inch margin on all sides
  • Avoid abbreviations
  • Quantify accomplishments wherever possible
  • Place all dates on the right side of the resume
  • Maintain consistent font style, spacing, indentation, capitalization and bullet style
  • Use a font size that is easy to read – 11 or 12 pt. is recommended
  • List experience in reverse chronological order
  • Use phrases that start with ACTION VERBS
  • Maintain consistency with verb tense with phrases in the experience section

DON’T

  • Use meaningless words or phrases such as “seeking a challenging position”
  • Start phrases in the experience section with “responsible for” or “my responsibilities included”
  • Begin phrases with “I” or use complete sentences
  • Exaggerate your experience or your GPA
  • Use a font smaller than 10 pt.
  • Include any demographic information (age, race, gender) or photographs on your resume

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Cover Letter

Cover Letter Writing

The Difference Between a Resume and a Cover Letter

The difference between your resume and cover letter is that your resume should provide the reader with a better understanding of who you are. Your cover letter should connect the dots for the reader and show how your previous experiences apply to the job for which you are applying.

DEVELOPING THE BODY OF THE COVER LETTER

  1. Research – Read the job description.
  2. Select – From the job description, select 2-3 key responsibilities or qualifications that you possess.
  3. Substantiate – For each of the 2-3 responsibilities or qualities that you have picked, develop a specific example that represents how you have previously performed similar tasks or displayed similar qualities/skills. (This evidence can come from your previous work or academic experiences.) 

WRITING A COVER LETTER

Sample Cover Letter Outline:

Your resume heading with contact information

Date

Name of contact person, Title
Organization name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear (contact person);

Try to identify the person with the power to hire (department heads, etc.), and avoid personnel or “Dear Sir/Madam” if possible (use the internet to do your research).

Opening Paragraph

Indicate the position for which you are applying or the general field to which your background applies. Mention how you became aware of the position (e.g. through advertisement, referral, etc).  Next, in general, state the 2-3 job responsibilities or qualities you chose from the job description that distinguish your candidacy and meet the needs of the prospective employer. Here, you are providing the employer with a “thesis statement” indicating what you can bring to the company/organization in a general sense. (This will generate interest, if on target.) Also, you may want to indicate your availability, if it is not immediate.

For example:  I am a senior at Temple University majoring in Communications. I am interested in ________ position and became aware of this position through _______ Corporation’s positing on the OwlNetwork. I believe that my organization, communication, and presentation skills make me an ideal candidate for the ______ position.

Body of the Letter

Provide evidence that supports the 2-3 job responsibilities or qualities you found in the job description and mentioned in the “thesis statement” of your first paragraph. In other words, you will be explaining how your experiences and training relate to the responsibilities or qualities that you have chosen to highlight from the job description. The purpose of the body of your cover letter is to briefly connect your experiences to the key responsibilities and qualifications of the job for which you are applying. The goal of your cover letter is to generate interest in the resume itself. Be sure you use the language (jargon) of your field. Also, use words that imply action.

For example:  As a Marketing Assistant for Planners Inc., I demonstrated my organization skills by planning an event for 100 people. I was responsible for everything from the accommodations and the registration process to the programming and workshop schedule. The event was successful and registration numbers increased for the following year. Furthermore, I was asked to continue planning the conference annually.

Closing Paragraph

Refer to the documents you have enclosed, such as your resume and other requested materials and ask for a meeting (interview) at the employer’s convenience. In this paragraph, you should also provide your contact information again so that this information is accessible. You also want to avoid confusion if your resume and cover letter were to become separated. If the position was not advertised, you may want to assert yourself by indicating that you will call the employer within one to two weeks to determine if he/she has any further interest.

For example:  Enclosed please find my resume and writing sample. I am available for an interview immediately and can be reached by phone at (215) XXX-XXXX or via e-mail at XXX@temple.edu. I will follow-up in two weeks to confirm your receipt of my resume and to determine if you have further interest in my candidacy. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

4 SPACES FOR YOUR SIGNATURE

Your name typed
Enclosure

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Networking

Networking Basics

Basics:

  • Leave no stone unturned
  • Be resume ready
  • Start Close to home
  • Who do you already know?  Seize every opportunity to publicize your job search: clubs, professional organizations members, volunteer contacts, merchants, civic leaders, neighbors, classmates, former classmates, school alumni, teacher/professors, coaches, coworkers former coworkers, bosses, friends’ bosses, religious affiliation members even the cab driver, everyone!
  • Make a list of people you know
  • Keep a record of your contacts
  • Find a reason to call
  • Use your Temple alumni association
  • Check out professional organization web sites for networking events or join a local chapter

Networking Tips

Breaking the Myths about Career Networking

Create your own Nepotism

FAQs about Career Networking

Getting the Word Out about your Job Search

The Thirty-Second Spot or Elevator Pitch

This is an introduction to who you are and what you are looking for.  Choose your words carefully—this is no time to wing it.  How you represent yourself will determine if you get any further with this contact.  Be short and concise, but add a specific instance to grab attention.

A strong thirty second spot should…

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Interviewing

Interviews

Informational Interviews

Informational Interviews can be used to explore career options and expand your network. You can ask people in your network for informational interviews, or you can ask for them to recommend others with whom you should speak about a career path or industry. Approach an informational interview request via e-mail, phone or mail. Be sure to indicate that you are asking the informational interviewee to provide you with 20-30 minutes of his/her time to discuss his/her experiences in his/her job or career field. Interviews are best held in person, but can also take place via the phone. E-mail should be your last resort.

Your informational interview request should:

  • Include a brief introduction about yourself;
  • Indicate why you are writing to this individual;
  • State your interests or experiences in the person's field, organization or location;
  • Why you would like to converse. Be straightforward; tell him/her you are asking for information and advice.
  • Should always include a sentence about how and when you will contact this person again.

Informational Interview Resources

 Asking for -- and maximizing -- the informational interview - CNN.com

Informational Interview

Informational Interview Tutorial

Informational Interviewing: Get the Inside Scoop on Careers

Thank You Notes

A thank you note is one of the surefire ways to make yourself memorable and let someone know their time was valued after a networking meeting, function, or interview.

  • Always write (e-mail is fine) within twenty-four hours of your phone call or interview
  • Get the names right and spell all names correctly! 
  • Remind them why you’re contacting them
  • Thank them in specific terms. Reference an element of your conversation.
  • Keep it short and focused
  • Attach a business card or copy of your resume, if appropriate

Click for Sample Thank You Note

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Social Media and Professional Communication

The importance of what you put out there

Facts

79% of United States hiring managers and job recruiters surveyed reviewed online information about job applicants. 

70% of United States hiring managers say they rejected candidates based on what they found online.  

~2009 Microsoft Survey

Follow these tips to enhance your professional communication and online image:

  • Ask trusted managers, supervisors, professors, etc. for recommendations after you’ve been connected to them. It’s an easy way to manage sources for references and build your credibility.
  • You can post a “What are you doing..?” status on LinkedIn similarly to Facebook and Twitter. This is a great way to inform professional business contacts of your professional accomplishments.
  • There’s no limit to how much information you put on your LinkedIn profile. Give details about specific job descriptions, titles you’ve held, and your specific responsibilities.

LinkedIn Grad Guide

How to Build a Professional Student LinkedIn Profile

How to Network Professionally Online

How to Conduct Essential Employer Research on LinkedIn

LinkedIn Etiquette Guide

  • Keep private conversations private. Do not use wall posts or comments to share personal stories, emotions, relationships, etc.
  • Do not have yourself tagged in inappropriate pictures, and do the same for your friends. Avoid tagging your friends in pictures that could get them in trouble (remember, once you post it, someone can always find it).
  • Not everyone wants to be your ‘friend’. Some consider Facebook to be a strictly friendship based networking site. If you’re looking to build a professional rapport, consider approaching someone through LinkedIn or Twitter.

10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know

  • Twitter is a great resource for tracking specific companies and industries. Try looking at www.wefollow.com to find companies or people to keep an eye on.
  • Don’t be afraid to promote yourself (humbly). If you get a promotion, find a job, or were delegated a task at work share it with others. Remember they’re following you as well.

20 Simple Twitter Tips for you Job Search

How to Use Twitter as a Job Search Tool

From Tweet to Hired (download free e-book)

Tip: Do a search for your name on www.pipl.com to find out where your name is appearing online.

  • Manners still apply to email! Address and sign your emails and remember to say ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘you’re welcome’, etc.
  • Tone is important. Sarcasm, humor, anxiety, etc. are harder to communicate through email. Emotions need to be clearly defined when appropriate.
  • Be professional. Avoid abbreviations, use proper punctuation, don’t use emoticons J, spell words the way they sound (u instead of you), use ALL CAPS, or send professional emails from cute or suggestive email addresses.
  • Spelling and grammar should all be correct! Use spell check and proofread every email.
  • Make the subject of your email stand alone – from the subject it should be obvious why you are writing.
  • Reply to emails within 2 days and include the original email message when replying.
  • Wait to fill out who the email is ‘to’ until the end to avoid sending an incomplete message.

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