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!