effective resumes and cover letters for computer science joan mccurdy-myers director
DESCRIPTION
Effective Resumes and Cover Letters For Computer Science Joan McCurdy-Myers Director. AS YOU WAIT, PLEASE …. Discuss the strengths & weaknesses of Robert Wood’s resume with the person next to you. WORKSHOP GOALS. To show how to effectively market yourself in resumes and cover letters - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Effective Resumes and Cover LettersFor Computer Science
Joan McCurdy-MyersDirector
AS YOU WAIT, PLEASE …
Discuss the strengths & weaknesses of Robert Wood’s resume with the person next to you
WORKSHOP GOALS
To show how to effectively market yourself in resumes and cover letters
How? By understanding the following:
• Needs of employer (RESEARCH)
• What you have to offer employer(Relevant SKILLS & EXAMPLES)
• How to highlight that you have they’re looking for (FORMAT)
FROM THE EMPLOYER’S VIEWPOINT
How long does an employer spend looking at a resume the first time through?
Survey question: When considering an application, which document do you pay more attention to?
resume?
cover letter?
Weigh both equally?
DEBRIEF OF ROBERT’S RESUME
What did you think of Robert’s resume?
What were its strengths? - What could be improved? (content and format)
COMPONENTS OF A RESUME What are they?
- Common resume components - Other sections
* Note: The order and contents of your resume may change depending on the position
For more info … Click on Resume & Cover Letter Toolkit,
“Prepare Content- Resume and Cover Letter”
http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/toolkit.html
HOW TO TAILOR YOUR RESUME
AND COVER LETTER1)KNOW what the EMPLOYER WANTS- List the key skill sets sought
2)KNOW what YOU have to OFFER- What are your relevant strengths?
3)MAKE THE MATCH between 1 and 2- Select 3-5 skills; provide concrete examples and focus on accomplishments
EMPLOYERS SAY..
Employers of new grads were asked…Which do you place greatest importance on
Paid Experience?
Volunteer & extra-curricular experience?
Weigh paid and unpaid experience equally?
SKILLS
Employers of new grads want evidence of skills i.e. what you can do for them because you did it somewhere else (paid, unpaid, course work)
Give concrete examples in your resume and cover letter as proof of your skills
SKILL SETS
Kinds of skills:
• technical/specific e.g. computer, lab, languages, program-specific
• transferable e.g. written & verbal communication, organizational, analytical, problem-solving
• self-management/personal e.g. initiative, flexible, confident, self-motivated
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP IDENTIFY YOUR
SKILLS Online and print resources available through the Career Centre- “Careers by Major” info., Career Centre website (Under “Explore Careers” Tab)
www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/careers_by_major.html
Individual career counselling appointments
- Skills card sort and other self-assessment tools
ROBERT’S 2ND RESUME
20 sec test
What are the specific strengths of Robert’s 2nd resume compared to his 1st resume?- Look at both format and content
How does it market Robert for the Software Developer position?
ACCOMPLISHMENT-BASED RESUMES
Go beyond listing duties to include:
a)HOW you performed your tasks
(to demonstrate skills)
b)RESULTS you generated (increased
profits, positive evaluations, solved a
problem)
c)The SCOPE of your responsibilities
(through the use of #s)
Start bullets with ACTION WORDS
AVOID saying “DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITES
included”
Give PROOF of your SKILLS
Use ACCOMPLISHMENT-BASED statements
ORDER points based on
importance/relevance
ALWAYS REMEMBER …
Identify 2 changes could you make
Once you’ve revised your resume, sign up
through UTM Career Centre website for an
individual resume critique…Same day
only.
LOOK AT YOUR OWN RESUME…
Marketing tool that shows your RELEVANT skills and accomplishments
Links to employer NEEDS
Uses a FORMAT which highlights the match
Persuasively answers the question:
WHY SHOULD THE EMPLOYER CONSIDER
YOU FOR THIS POSITION?
COVER LETTER:EFFECTIVE MARKETING
COVER LETTERS
Take a quick look at Robert’s cover letter
Identify some strengths and weaknesses of this cover letter.
EMPLOYERS WERE ASKED…
When considering an application, employers pay more attention to which document?• Resume: 53%• Cover Letter: 6%• Weigh both documents equally: 41%
*Advice: To an employer, your cover letter demonstrates your written communication skills and conveys your personality!
COVER LETTER: FIRST PARAGRAPH
Why writing? Why would the employer be interested in you?
Clear “thesis statement” indicating what you have to offer the employer
Refer to job ad or type of work
Ask yourself “What are the three things that I want the reader to remember about me?”
Need to be RELEVANT to the position
COVER LETTER: 2nd & 3rd PARAGRAPHS
Give examples of the relevant strengths (skills, experience, academics) identified in thesis
Focus on what you can contribute i.e. how you meet what employer needs (posting & research)
Make relevant reference to organization
COVER LETTER: CLOSING PARAGRAPH
Thank you
Propose action (request interview); provide contact info. (phone/email)
Can also reiterate fit for the position
RESEARCHING AN ORGANIZATION
Why research?
How to research:
Job posting Organization’s website Web resources Networking – talk to people!
RESEARCHING AN ORGANIZATION What to research?
What are the activities/services/projects of the organization?
What is their philosophy/mission statement/ values?
Who are their clients?
What are their accomplishments and also failures, challenges, future goals of the department?
ROBERT’S IMPROVED COVER LETTER
Read through improved cover letter
What did Robert do differently to make this cover letter more effective?- List at least 3 things that make his improved cover letter better than the first one
What 2 things could you do to improve your cover letter?
WRAP UP
UTM Career Centre Resources:
Our website: “Resume and Cover
Letter Toolkit” - Additional RCL samples,
Electronic Resumes, Top 10 Resume and
Cover Letter Tips and more…
Online sign-up for individual critiques
starts at 9am. Spaces fille very quickly.
Evaluations Please We appreciate your feedback.
Thank you!