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COVER LETTER AND RESUME WRITING SEMINAR August 2, 2012 11:30AM-1:00PM Engineering Theater

A Guide to an Effective Cover Letter Sample Cover Letter Rsums That Get Noticed Rsum Writing Tips Sample Rsum

RISE THROUGH THE RANKS

CAREER EVENTS SERIES 2012

A GUIDE TO AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER

It must be brief and concise; a good cover letter does not exceed four paragraphs. You must highlight your qualities that are most relevant to the person whom you intend to receive the letter. Every cover letter must be unique to the person to whom you are sending it. A personal touch goes a long way. It is also best to include a cover letter with your rsum even if it isnt required. While coming up with one may be a little tedious, getting it to land you an interview is enough payoff. You may use the sample in the next page to walk you through creating an effective cover letter.

UP CAREER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS http://upcapes.org

SAMPLE COVER LETTER

29 July 2012 Address the letter to the individual who would be handling your application, and make sure that the details you use are accurate. Ms. Nicole Pury Initiative Engineering, Inc. A-Tower 2281 Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext. 1231 Makati City Dear Ms. Pury, It is in the opening paragraph that you state the reasons why you are writing. You may explain how you heard about the position, and introduce a bit of yourself. I am a Civil Engineering student, in my last year of studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and will be graduating Magna cum laude in a few months. I had the pleasure of attending the company talk, at which your own Antonio Stark was present, and heard from there that your company is interested in hiring fresh college graduates to work in your Quality Management Department. I believe that my strong academic background, well-rounded nature and interests, and my natural sense of leadership are in line with your requirements. It is in this light that I would like to be considered for the position of Quality Control Engineer. The following are the skills, qualities, and experiences that I feel have prepared me to take on the position of Quality Control Engineer: I was able to learn about Quality Assurance Engineering in my summer internship under Octavio Oconer, PhD, at the test department of Octopus Construction Co. Lastly, I have proven my skills in leadership, communication, and management from the time I spent in key positions in my student organizations. Restate the position of interest in the conclusion of your letter. Politely thank the person you are contacting, and inform them that you intend to follow up with a call. Do not forget to include your contact details. Enclosed is my rsum containing additional details that may be pertinent. I would gladly appreciate an opportunity to discuss this position and my qualifications with you in the next week. Thank you for consideration. Yours Sincerely, Pedro C. Parker 42 Webber Street Marikina City 1621 0918 888 8888 pedroparker@gmail.com

You must exhibit the relevant qualifications. Put focus on your academics, and back it up with your experiences.

RSUMS THAT GET NOTICED

Rsum came from a French word meaning to summarize. In essence, a rsum is a summary of your experiences, qualifications, and interests. It advertises you clearly and concisely to a chosen audience, here being a prospective employer. As such, it would be wise to tailor your rsum to showcase your abilities in an employers point of view. Here are a few guidelines you may follow when writing a rsum.

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Keep professional documents professional. A rsum may outline a few of your interests, but first and foremost must represent your professionalism. Be sure to spell out your addresses and other pertinent details. Make sure that the email address you use is appropriate for work, and viable to use in business. Brevity is the soul of wit. Shakespeare got it right, and it is as true for literature as it is in rsum writing. Keep it brief and concise. Only include the most relevant details in the selection of your experiences and skills. Too many extraneous details may distract the reader from the experiences you want highlighted. Experience brings validity. In listing your significant achievements, it would be well to be more detailed. This part should be edited to bring focus to the qualifications you possess, based on what a prospective employer may be looking for. Focus on the task assigned, and its method of execution and solution. Indicate for whom and with whom the task was performed, why, and how. A good accomplishment statement usually follows the Problem-Action-Result format. Identify the problem and the goal to be achieved. Explain the project at hand and elaborate on the steps taken to achieve the objectives. It must be clear why the project was undertaken and what the desired result was.

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Qualifications are priority. Your qualifications must especially be highlighted. Make sure to incorporate whatever skills possible, such as language and programming. DO NOT EXAGGERATE your proficiency. It would not be well to have the qualifications on your rsum exceed your actual skills when put to the test in an interview. Make an impression. Employers are not just aiming to get a position filled; theyre also looking for the proper person to fill it. It is good to list your experiences outside academia and work. A rsum should also be representative of the unique interests that define you. Employers will most likely be interested in more than ones qualifications.

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UP CAREER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS http://upcapes.org

RSUM WRITING TIPS

Content is only one part of writing a rsum. Even with sparkling qualifications, a rsum might not be effective if presented incorrectly or inefficiently. The following are some dos and donts for proper rsum presentation.

Be brief and concise. Try to use phrases instead of sentences, and avoid overly verbose descriptions. Do not lie or exaggerate. Customize your rsum depending on the position you are applying for. Bullet points can be good, but make sure they dont exceed two lines. Avoid using personal pronouns such as I or my. Quantify your achievements and experiences.

Begin your phrases with verbs. Do not modify previous job titles. Use only one font and a decent font size (10-12). Revise, revise, and revise. Eliminate all possible errors, grammatical or otherwise. Make sure your rsum looks professional, and clean. Do not get too creative with it.

Pedro C. Parker
21 New Mexico Apartments, Castro Street, Barangay Shield 1129 Permanent Address: 42 Webber Street, Marikina City 1621 +632 690 8080 (H); +63918 888 8888 (M) / pedroparker@gmail.com OBJECTIVE An engineering position that shall maximize my knowledge and leadership skills in setting a long-term career goal in the construction management industry.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 2009 to present College of Engineering, University of the Philippines - Diliman Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Candidate for Magna cum laude [GWA 1.409] Candidate for Most Outstanding Civil Engineering Student (MOCES) 2012 2005 to 2009 Philippine Science High School - Diliman Consistent Directors Lister (GWA 1.5 above) for 4 years President of the Student Association 2008-2009 WORK EXPERIENCE 2011 to 2012 The Energy Department of Initiative Engineering, Inc. Specifically invited by Head of Operations Nicole Pury Was privileged enough to listen in on the committee for the reparations made to the damaged Bifrost Rainbow Bridge in Batangas. 2008 to 2009 Intern D.M. Consunji, Inc. Reported directly to the Project Manager and was assigned to 2 out of the 3 departments of the 3-hectare Construction Project: Construction and Procurement. Trained on Cost Estimation and Scheduling. Performed site inspections for quality control. Lectured on the organizational structure of engineering contractors and on site operations and procedures. CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES UP Career Assistance Program for Engineering Students (UP CAPES) Project Manager for Career Networking Event (July 2012-present) - Led a team of 20 members in organizing a dinner gathering for 150 top Engineering Students and Leaders, and over 10 companies. Member, Jobfair Logistics (July 2010-February 2011) - Prepared the booth layout across 4 floors for over 80 companies. Facilitated the storage and security of company items. UP Association of Civil Engineering Students (UP ACES) Co-head for Applications (June 2010-October 2010) - Facilitated 40 applicants in their fulfillment of their requirements to become a member of ACES. Vice President for Internal Affairs (January 2011-present) Handles the interpersonal relationships within the organization and oversees the dissemination of announcements to more than 100 members. UP Red Cross Youth (UP RCY) Head, Medical Mission (May 2010) Organized a Medical Mission in Zambales attended by 20 volunteers. Coordinator, Ondoy Relief Operations (September 2009) Gathered more than 50 volunteers and facilitated a relief operation in Barangay San Andreas, Novaliches. OTHER DATA Has excellent leadership and communication skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. Knowledgeable in AutoCAD, Dev C++, and Java. Modeled for LOreal in 2008.

THE 2013 CAREER HANDBOOK TEAM

Ma. Karenina Lardizabal Vice President for Publicity and Publications Florante Magboo Circulations Director Jona Nichole Lovino Creative Director Gerard Christopher Lahoz Technical Director Ralaine Princess Bulatao Project Manager for Career Handbook Mark Gilbert Baltazar Rowane May Fesalbon Daniel Ruperto Gaerlan Brylle Anthony Mostacho David Tan Writers Miguel Andro Urbano Norifel Teddie Cadiang Marc Lester Chicano Printing and Distribution Ida Nicola de Jesus Rosslyn Dizon Christopher Obniala Layout Artists

NAVIGATE
Career Path Orientation Seminar July 24: 1:00-2:30PM, Engineering Theater July 25: 1:00-2:30PM, Engineering Theater July 26: 11:30AM-1:00PM, EEE LC 2

TRANSCRIBE
Cover Letter and Rsum Writing Seminar August 2: 11:30AM-1:00PM, Engineering Theater

EQUIP
Workshop on Image-Building August 13: 8:00AM-12:30PM, Engineering Theater

TRANSMIT
Job Interview Talk and Simulation Seminar August 28: 11:30AM-1:00PM, P&G Room Simulation September 3-7

SALUTE
Jumpstart Your Career: Networking Event September 22