Killer Cover Letters and Resumes PDF

INSIDER GUIDE
KILLER COVER LETTERS

& RESUMES 5TH edition
★
WHAT RECRUITERS LOOK FOR ★ SAMPLE COVER LETTERS & RESUMES ★ TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE FOLLOW–UP
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Insider
Guide
Killer Cover Letters & Resumes
5th edition
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Killer cover letters & Resumes
5TH Edition
ISBN: 978-1-58207-959-2
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All illustrations by mckibillo

CHAPTer
1 2 3 4
1 resumes And 5 30 seconds 11 on your mArK, 21 the reciPe For
cover letters to sAtisFy get set, PreP! resume success
At A glAnce
6 The Bottom Line 12 Determine What 22 Building a Resume

you have to offer Master List
6 Looking Good
on Paper 14 highlight the 22 Essential Resume
Skills Firms Want Ingredients
17 Research your 27 optional Resume

Target company Ingredients
31 The Resume Menu

at a Glance
33 Don’t Ruin
the Recipe

5TH edition
5 6 7 8 9
35 Writing And 77 Writing A tAsty 93 digitAl 101 From resume 107 For your
FormAtting cover letter delivery to intervieW reFerence
your resume
36 how Long Is 78 Pique Their 94 This application 102 Following Up 108 Recommended
Too Long? appetites Is Experiencing Resources
Technical 103 anticipate your
36 Polishing 78 General cover Difficulties Interviewer’s 109 Books
your Prose Letter Guidelines Questions
95 Getting Past the 109 Surveys
38 Top-Level 79 The Ingredients of Spam Guard Dogs 104 Send Those
Formatting your cover Letter Thank-you Notes
Guidelines 96 Using online
84 Sample cover application
44 Resume Layout Letters Systems
51 Special cases
58 Sample Resumes
contents
Resumes and
Cover Letters
1
at a Glance
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
AT A GLANCE address each employer’s needs. And the more knowl-

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
30 SECONDS TO SATISFY edgeable you are about a potential position, the

to Satisfy
• Your resume has one primary purpose: to help deter- more equipped you’ll be to demonstrate how you
mine if you merit an interview. A well-constructed can contribute to an organization.
resume by itself won’t win you the job.
• A resume and cover letter are marketing tools THE RECIPE FOR RESUME SUCCESS
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
designed to get the attention of potential employers, • Create a master resume that includes all of the resume
and interest them in learning more about a quality elements you might use, as well as a full selection
product—you. of achievement statements, coursework, volunteer
• Your resume must make you stand out quickly. The activities, hobbies, and anything else you might use
typical resume reviewer will spend less than 30 sec- on a job application.
onds looking at your materials. • The essential parts of your resume include the head-
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
• In a nutshell, your resume and cover letter are less ing (which displays your contact information), an
about where you’ve been than about where you want education section and a work experience section.
to go next. • Optional parts of a resume can include an objective
statement, summary of qualifications, a profile, and
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, PREP! additional information. Your decision to include or
• Start by determining what you have to offer: Examine omit optional parts depends on your background,
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
your employment history, educational experience, experience, and career path.

membership in academic or professional organiza- • Effective resumes are “action-packed!” So after you’ve
tions, and volunteer or community activities. In sketched out your experiences on a master list, write
addition, write down your top accomplishments. them as achievement statements, which emphasize
• The top qualities that most employers want some- actions and results.
Writing a Tasty
times have little to do with work experience—such

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
as communication skills, honesty and integrity, WRITING AND FORMATTING

interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, and team- YOUR RESUME
work skills. • Entry-level candidates and those with five years of
• Pay close attention to the things you do well, because experience or less should limit their resumes to one
they help shape your most valuable professional page. Experienced professionals should write no
attributes. Don’t forget to incorporate your talents more than two pages.
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
and natural abilities into your resume prep list. • Your goal is to distill everything you need to say into
• The chief aim of history gathering is to identify a few carefully chosen words and bullet-pointed sen-
transferable skills to highlight on your resume. These tences that are easy to scan.
include analytical and problem-solving skills; the • There are two basic ways to lay out a resume: chron-
ability to produce results; evidence of intellectual ologically and functionally. Use the format that best
achievement, leadership, and teamwork skills; and reveals your strengths for a particular job.
specific industry and job expertise.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
• It’s important to research your target companies.

Good preparation can be just as important as
impressive credentials. The proper research will
enable you to tailor your resume and cover letter to
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
2 W E T F E E T I N S I D ER GUID E
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
WRITING A TASTY COVER LETTER
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
• Like a good appetizer, all cover letters have one main
to Satisfy
purpose: to whet your reader’s appetite, get them
interested enough to move on to your resume, and
then want to interview you.
• Every cover letter needs to address three areas: why
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
you are writing, what you have to offer, and what
happens next.
• There are three types of cover letters: those that
respond to a specific job opening, those directed to
a specific person, and those that serve as letters of
introduction.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
DIGITAL DELIVERY
• Make sure all your digital materials are in accessible,
printable formats.
• Save four versions of your resume: a Word document
for printing, a PDF for email attachments, a plain
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
text version with line breaks for the email body, and
a plain text version without line breaks for online
forms.
• Don’t be afraid to use online application systems,
especially if a firm directs you there. Follow the
Writing a Tasty
instructions precisely, complete the entire applica-
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
tion, and choose keywords carefully.
FROM RESUME TO INTERVIEW

• If you have submitted your resume and cover letter
directly to someone in the company, follow up with
a phone call or send an email to reiterate your desire
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
to learn more about the position. Don’t become a
nuisance, but do be persistent
• The thank-you letter shows gratitude for the time
the employer has taken to review your qualifications,
and it’s an opportunity to reiterate the fit between
the position and your qualifications and goals.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
FOR YOUR REFERENCE

• Want more info to create your killer resume? Check
out our list of recommended reading and research.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE 3

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
2
The Bottom Line............................ 6
Looking Good on Paper................. 6

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
The Bottom Line resume examples for the most common entry-level
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
› At best, resume readers spend 30 seconds scan- and mid-career positions. The final section contains
to Satisfy
ning a cover letter or resume before sending it to the suggestions for following up on your application, as
“yes” or “no” pile. This is especially true in a com- well as resources that will help you in your job search.
petitive job market where recruiters may receive
hundreds of responses to a single job posting. In 30
Looking Good
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
seconds, your cover letter and resume package need

to convey an image of who you are, your capabili-
ties and strengths, and how you’ve used your abilities On Paper
to achieve results. Ideally, it indicates that you know › You’re ready to begin the job hunt. You’ve
yourself well and have a firm grasp on what you researched the types of positions you want and the
bring to the table. In a nutshell, your cover letter and companies for which you want to work. Now you just
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
resume are less about where you have been than about need to whip together a resume and proceed, right?
where you want to go next and how you are qualified Sounds simple—but writing a resume that raises you
to do so. above the pack and conveys your perfect fit to an
Although insiders tell us “there isn’t one right employer is a challenge indeed, especially if you take
answer” to the question of how to create a good into account how quickly recruiters will scan it. Here
cover letter or resume, they say that the best ones are are some key points about looking good on paper.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
concise, results-oriented, and very clearly presented.

Of course, a great resume alone won’t land you your Resumes and Cover Letters
dream job, but appropriate choices in shaping your Are Marketing Tools
materials make you far more likely to get a call, and The first step in creating killer resumes and cover letters
can even help you to sail more smoothly through the is to understand what they really are and how best to
Writing a Tasty
interview process. This guide will show you the way. use them in a successful job search. Most people think
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
a resume is a document that traces one’s work history

and skills. The cover letter is a formal accompaniment
In a nutshell, your resume to the resume, intended to introduce a job candidate.
and cover letter are less about But resumes and cover letters are much more than
that. They are marketing tools to get the attention of
where you’ve been than about your desired audience, potential employers, and to
Digital Delivery
where you want to go next.

CHAPTER 7
interest them in learning more about a quality prod-

uct—you. How do consumer products companies get
us to buy their products? Marketing. How do financial
For starters, you’ll learn about the best ways to pre- services companies attract more customers? Marketing.
pare for your job search, including how to determine How do political candidates move their campaigns for-
and articulate your strengths and research what your ward? That’s right, marketing.
target companies are looking for in an ideal candidate. Viewed this way, it’s easy to see how important a
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Next, you’ll get the full scoop on how to create a killer killer cover letter and resume are to a job search—and
resume and cover letter, from what information they how much potential these marketing tools have. But
should (and shouldn’t) contain to how they should any successful marketing campaign requires a carefully
look and read. We’ll also review cover letter and crafted message that speaks directly to the needs of
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
its audience. Your resume should make recruiters say, skills, personal interests, and life path to determine your
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
“Yes! This is exactly who we need. I want to meet this overall direction. Your work history should appear as
to Satisfy
candidate to learn more.” a series of thoughtful steps leading up to the present,
rather than a haphazard collection of experiences gained
> TIP through chance and whim. Your path isn’t that linear,
you say? Then it’s your job to carefully select what to
Include a brief cover letter with every resume
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
you send. A key comment in a top sheet can feature from your work history and skill set in order to
catch the reader’s eye and give your candidacy present a clear path.
that extra edge. To light the way, you’ll need detailed knowledge of
your own skills and work history, as well as knowledge
Adopt the Recruiter’s of the job opening and the employer to which you’re
Point of View presenting your resume. Be prepared to customize your
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Many job seekers make the fundamental mistake of resume by judiciously selecting the most enticing bits
viewing the job search in terms of their own needs and to present.
desires. While these are certainly important factors in It’s also important to know the trends affecting your
finding a fulfilling job and career, it is not the most field: Which skills are especially hot? What are the indus-
effective way of approaching employers. try buzzwords? What are the latest tools and technology
Rather than viewing your target employers from the affecting the work in your industry? Be sure to include
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
outside looking in, view them from the inside and place these attention-grabbers when customizing your resume.
yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. You need to understand
what employers look for in the initial review of applica- > TIP
tions, and what qualities will lead you to the next stage
Resumes are chronological. They outline your
in the hiring process—the interview. story. Interviewers want to see how you grew
Writing a Tasty
Recruiters and hiring managers are deluged with through different experiences.
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
applications to online job postings, and in digging
through many hundreds of them each recruiting season, It’s In Their Hands
the same problem tops their list of complaints: generic Each firm has a strategy for processing resumes. Do
resumes and cover letters with no evident connection your homework on their respective businesses, cultures
to the position posted. It seems most applicants are not and staffing approaches to determine their priorities.
fulfilling employers’ needs, or even trying to. While However, within each organization there are different
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
the high number of responses to job postings may be types of resume reviewers. Based on our research, we’ve
an obstacle, the lack of preparation (not to mention grouped them as three different species: general scan-
customization) by most job seekers represents a distinct ners, spike seekers, and idealists. You won’t know which
advantage for the savvy resume writer. type will handle your resume. However, it’s useful to
know how different reviewers sort through their stacks.
Form A Targeted Message
General Scanners
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
A successful job search requires planning and organiza-

tO Interview
tion. You may be mentally vowing to research employ- General scanners have a broad list of attributes in mind
ers and career paths, network with all your contacts, and spend minimal time matching resumes to their cri-
and send out your prospecting letters. But the first teria. Usually, they start by looking for obvious infor-
step is to take a wide view of your entire work history, mation: Did she go to a top school? Has he worked
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
for good companies? What functional knowledge does advertising agency. In college, you minored in visual art
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
she have? It’s helpful if this information stands out on and worked at the campus daily newspaper. You’ve also
to Satisfy
the document. If a general scanner likes what he sees, volunteered as a docent at a local modern art museum
then he’ll read the entire resume. This approach typi- and done some additional freelance design work.
fies the way an investment banking team member reads At first glance, these might seem like a collection
resumes. of experiences only tangentially related to a job as a
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
design director. But let’s start from the beginning of

Spike Seekers the path in college. You have hands-on visual arts skills
Spike seekers love highlights. They’re looking for the and worked on a fast-paced periodical, the campus
one thing that makes a person stand out. Several newspaper. To that, you added time spent as a graphic
reviewers say they must be able to tell a compelling designer, showing that you have first-hand experience
story about a candidate during resume review sessions. in the graphic art industry, know how to put designs
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Often they’ll focus on one or two strong, unique traits together in a real-world context, and have used design
that shined on the resume. in marketing endeavors for the ad agency. Your vol-
unteer work as a docent at the modern art museum
Idealists highlights your personal interest in the visual arts. Your
Some reviewers have an ideal in mind before they start freelance graphic design work shows that you have the
reading. They look for how well a resume measures up ability to manage projects from concept to completion,
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
against that ideal—analytical skills, academic distinc- not to mention an entrepreneurial bent. And finally,
tion (at least a 3.8 GPA and mention of honors), and a you’ve proven that you can manage both projects and
team-type activity such as sports or community involve- other workers with your experience as a production
ment, for example. Other idealists want to see some- manager. This chain of experiences draws a reasonable
thing that might predict how someone will perform. path to a role as a design director for a print periodical.
Writing a Tasty
These idealists are the most difficult to please because The experiences may not have been sequential, but the
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
they each look for different things. way in which you present them can still clearly show
how you would fit into the new role.
INSIDEr SCOOP
“I look for basic smarts, a team player with
leadership skills—the captain of the lacrosse
Digital Delivery
team with a high GPA.”

CHAPTER 7
Connect the Dots

From your self-assessment and employer research,
you should be able to find the connections between
your skills and the employer’s needs and draw a path
between the two. Let’s say that you’re applying for
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
a job as a design director for a magazine, but you’ve

never held this specific position before. You have,
however, worked as a print production manager for
a publishing company, and a graphic designer for an
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 Writing and CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 1 30 Seconds On Your Mark, The Recipe for Formatting Writing a Tasty CHAPTER 7 From Resume For Your
at a glance to Satisfy Get Set, Prep! Resume Success Your Resume Cover Letter digital delivery tO Interview Reference
9
WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE
On Your Mark,
3
Get Set, Prep!
Determine What
You Have to Offer........................ 12
Highlight the Skills

Firms Want.................................. 14
Research Your
Target Company.......................... 17
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Determine What Remember, not all of this information will go end up

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
You Have to Offer on the resume; you’re just collecting details that form
to Satisfy
the “big picture” of your employment history. Seeing

› Before you begin writing, take a good look your work history laid out will help you identify
at yourself. Which elements of your years of wisdom, upward trends in your career, such as responsibility,
experience, and accomplishments belong on a couple increased salary, or other advancement. Your employ-
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
of sheets of paper, and which don’t? What characteris- ment history will also reveal any gaps that you’ll need to
tics make you stand out from the crowd but also show address on the resume or in the interview.
that you’re a team player? What kind of candidate does
your target employer usually hire? Be prepared to think Educational Experience
through your activities and achievements and tell a Gather your school transcripts, standardized test scores,
compelling life story in one to two pages. scholarship applications and awards, and any other
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
In addition to knowing all of the factual information information that may help you paint a picture of
about yourself—including grades, test scores, and dates your academic accomplishments. Calculate your GPA,
of employment—think about how to portray yourself because you might need this information at some point.
in a positive, confident light while telling the true story If you’re concerned about your GPA, calculate it using
of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. You several cuts—overall, major-only, or by year—to see
must have insight into your strengths and weaknesses to which provides the most favorable view to note on your
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
create a compelling resume and cover letter. resume, or at least mention in the interview, if asked.
Get started by cataloguing all of your knowledge Always use a standard 4.0 scale.
areas, skill sets, and abilities. There’s no need to get Review your school curriculum and make note of
fancy here—just brainstorm and create a comprehen- any special areas of study. What was your major? Did
sive list. Your knowledge areas will be drawn from your you have a minor? Did you take any special courses,
Writing a Tasty
education, past employment, vocational training, and such as business communication, economics, media, or
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
professional certifications. Your skills and abilities, on art history? These areas of knowledge may be helpful in
the other hand, have been developed through a vari- applying for certain jobs.
ety of life experiences, including your past internships, Look, too, at your academic record from a skills-
volunteer work, and other career-related activities. and-abilities perspective. For example, did you under-
Following are the main areas to consider when listing take any special projects or collaborative assignments as
your accomplishments, skills and abilities. part of your courses? These may be evidence of team-
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
work and group leadership abilities, talents that most

Employment History employers prize. As you will read shortly, your aim is
The best way to get started building a resume is to to sift your experience—from whatever source—for
map out your employment history. When evaluating a transferable skills.
potential candidate, employers will first look for previ-
ous experience in areas similar or related to the position Membership in Professional or
being filled. Academic Organizations
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Prepare a chronological list of the major jobs you’ve Are you or were you a member of any academic or
held. Include the company names, your titles, manag- professional organizations, societies, or committees?
ers’ names, the time you spent in those positions, start- Make note of any organizations in which you are or
ing and ending salaries, and primary responsibilities. have been involved and describe the role you played
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
chAPter 1
aT a GLaNcE
in each. Write down any notable achievements or how TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
chAPter 2
30 SEcoNDS
you helped these organizations fulfill their aims. Again, List the most significant accomplishments from your
To SaTISFy
entry-level candidates and career changers may be able professional, academic, and personal experiences. Write
to use their memberships in organizations to their down each achievement; then explain why it is signifi-
advantage when applying for a new position. cant to you, how you achieved it, how others helped
you, and how you measure its success. You will need
oN yoUR MaRk,
VOLUNTEER OR COMMUNITY
GET SET, PREP!
chAPter 3
to include information about at least two of your top
ACTIVITIES accomplishments in your resume, preferably with an
Volunteering is a great way to gain valuable experi- indication of the results you achieved.
ence that can be applied to a job. Make note of any Why take this additional step? Effective resumes are
community activities in which you’ve participated. outcome-based. They stress achievements, and don’t
Do you volunteer as a Big Brother or Big Sister? Part just list duties and responsibilities. The easiest way
RESUME SUccESS
ThE REcIPE FoR
chAPter 4
of the Rotary Club? Deliver meals during the holi- for an employer to predict your potential value to the
days? All of these activities can be sources of valuable company is to study your record of accomplishments.
experience to present to an employer. Not only that, If you only list what you did—as opposed to what you
but extracurricular activities such as these also tell an achieved—you risk hiding your unique contributions.
employer something about your motivation, character, We’ve urged you to look beyond your work history
values, and work ethic. when listing what you have to offer in your next job.
chAPter 5
yoUR RESUME
WRITING aND
FoRMaTTING
For entry-level candidates without a lot of work expe- Why? Put simply, a career is developed through an accu-
rience, volunteering is a great way to get some experience! mulation of life experiences, both in and outside of the
Volunteering also has the added benefit of introducing workplace. Wherever you are in your career, it’s to your
you to potential references and networking contacts. advantage to draw from a variety of professional and
personal experiences when presenting your skills and
WRITING a TaSTy
abilities to an employer.
chAPter 6
covER LETTER
SURVEY YOUR STRENGTHS
AND WEAKNESSES
Using the information you’ve compiled so far, think
about the types of work or activities in which you
have consistently succeeded—those situations in which
DIGITaL DELIvERy
chAPter 7
you’ve performed well and felt good about it. The skills
you used in these situations are most likely some of
your strengths. Include evidence of these so the resume
reader can peg you as a strong analyst, born leader, and
effective communicator. Companies will likely explore
these areas in further interviews, so you’ll need to think
chAPter 8
FRoM RESUME
through your examples.

To INTERvIEW
You won’t highlight your weaknesses on your

resume. But omission of information might prompt
an interviewer to question you about these areas. For
example, if your resume lacks information on leader-
chAPter 9
REFERENcE
FoR yoUR

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
ship positions, you compensate by emphasizing other Highlight the

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
strengths. It’s a good idea to think through this before

Skills Firms Want
to Satisfy
your interview because some interviewers still ask the

old “what are your weaknesses?” question. › The chief aim of all your history gathering and
soul searching is to identify the transferable skills that
Hard and Soft Skills you’ll highlight on your resume. What are transferable
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
As we suggested already, you may need to learn to skills? Basically, they are skills and abilities that are
look at skills from a number of angles. Employers and useful in a variety of jobs. Which skills you choose to
recruiters often separate professional skills into two “transfer” onto your resume depends on the particular
sets: “hard” skills and “soft” skills. Hard skills typi- requirements of the position and the culture of each
cally include the more left-brained areas, such as pro- company you’re targeting.
gramming, mechanical aptitude, finance, accounting, The following skill sets can come from experience in
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
marketing, operations, and strategy. Soft skills are the any number of fields, and the list of questions follow-
right-brained areas, such as communication, interper- ing each skill set will help you identify your transferable
sonal skills, collaboration, leadership, motivation, and skills and what you’ve accomplished with them. These
creativity. You may see soft skills referred to as adaptive questions should also help you see that skills or exper-
or self-management skills. tise developed in one context can help you prepare for a
A successful resume displays a reasonable balance of successful career in brand management.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
both hard and soft skills because hiring managers prefer Entry-level and internship candidates may feel espe-
a well-rounded candidate who has a solid knowledge cially challenged when it comes to proving their mettle
base and the personal traits to succeed. This presents to potential employers. Don’t worry. The top qualities
a challenge to candidates from all backgrounds. Those that most employers want sometimes have little to do
applying for technical positions need to demonstrate with work experience.
Writing a Tasty
some soft skills, such as teamwork and communication,

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
while those applying for non-technical positions would Analytical and

benefit from revealing some hard skills, such as finance Problem-Solving Skills
or computer skills. Analytical and problem-solving skills are critical com-
ponents of many jobs, particularly in business and
scientific fields. For example, they are fundamental to
Top Five Things Employers Look
your success in industries such as financial services and
Digital Delivery
for When Reviewing a Resume

CHAPTER 7
consulting, especially during the first few years of your

1 A well-rounded candidate career. In these fields, if you show no evidence of these
skills, you will not get to the interview.
Something that makes you stand out from
2 all the others who are applying for the job
Have you:
A balance of work (or academic) and life • Sifted through data and assumptions and identified
3 experiences
reasonable responses to complex problems?
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Someone who went to the interviewer’s • Synthesized large amounts of information and iden-
4 alma mater (not that she’s biased)
tified trends or issues?
5 A typo—so the recruiter can throw it out • Identified a problem and taken a proactive approach
to solving it?
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
• Done well in courses with heavy analytical and Intellectual Achievement
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
quantitative content? Can you demonstrate superior knowledge of a particu-
to Satisfy
• Performed experiments that required formulation of lar subject? Have you achieved exceptional results in
a hypothesis and collection of evidence to prove or your academic pursuits? Employers are often interested
disprove it? in people who can excel beyond the norm, or who dem-
• Taken courses in mathematics, statistics, or other onstrate drive and ambition in their endeavors.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
subjects that require analytical thinking?
Have you:
If so, you may have the analytical ability employers • Earned honors or academic awards?
seek. • Received academic scholarships or fellowships?
• Taken on challenging courses or a heavy workload?
Ability to Produce Results • Engaged in intellectual pursuits (chess, computer
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
An increasing number of employers—even nonprofit programming, etc.)?
organizations—want evidence that a candidate can pro- • Attended academically rigorous schools?
duce results. Accordingly, your resume should demon- • Done well on standardized tests (SAT, GMAT,
strate successful outcomes and suggest that you have the LSAT, and so on)?
ambition, motivation, attention to detail, and energy • Earned a high GPA?
necessary to achieve an employer’s goals. • Received awards and recognition in the workplace?
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Have you: Leadership
• Brought new customers or revenue into the company? Leadership can be expressed both through your mana-
• Developed new programs or initiatives? gerial experience and through your willingness to take
• Proven that you’re a self-starter who goes above and on responsibility, even if your role is not that of a super-
Writing a Tasty
beyond requirements? visor or team captain. Many employers look for leader-
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Shown the ability to prioritize and move quickly ship qualities in their staff.
among different tasks?
• Set a challenging goal and achieved it? Have you:
• Attended to the details while juggling multiple tasks? • Directed people’s activities?
• Taken an innovative or more efficient approach to • Facilitated meetings?
getting something done? • Led teams in solving problems?
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
• Coordinated outside vendors?
The need for specific, quantitative measurements of • Held a leadership position in a school organization,
your accomplishments should start you thinking about team, or club?
how to track and measure your achievements, if you • Been elected to a post by your peers?
haven’t done that already. • Organized or coordinated noteworthy events?
• Had a position of significant responsibility with a
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
previous employer?
tO Interview
• Hired or fired anyone?

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

chAPter 1
aT a GLaNcE
TEAMWORK INDUSTRY AND jOb ExPERTISE

chAPter 2
30 SEcoNDS
The ability to work with clients or colleagues is a criti- If you have a strong understanding of an industry
To SaTISFy
cal component of most work environments. Employers through experience or academic training, you’ll want
also value employees who can inspire others toward a to highlight this on your resume and cover letter. Of
common goal. Teamwork requires an ability to commu- course, the skills that are considered most important
nicate clearly and to collaborate with managers, peers, vary by industry. Here are some useful ways to think
oN yoUR MaRk,
GET SET, PREP!
chAPter 3
assistants, clients, vendors, and anyone else with whom about your knowledge and past expertise.
you have contact through your work.
Have you:
Have you: • Worked in a particular industry for a good chunk of
• Been a member of a sports team, study group, or time?
committee? • Held various roles within one industry?
RESUME SUccESS
ThE REcIPE FoR
chAPter 4
• Worked effectively with people whose work style or • Held similar functional roles in different industries?
cultural background differs from yours? Been able to apply your functional knowledge from
• Inspired others to take action in an unstructured one industry to another?
situation? • Written a thesis or research paper about a particular
• Taken on the role of a team leader or player? industry, business issue, or other topic?
• Volunteered in a particular field, or followed current
chAPter 5
yoUR RESUME
WRITING aND
FoRMaTTING
Of course you have. We don’t know of any can- events related to an industry or issue?
didate, particularly one with a high level of academic • Participated in conventions, conferences, sympo-
training, who hasn’t been involved in working with siums, or associations in a specific field?
a team. (Gotta love those study groups!) Identify the • Developed specialized skills—such as technical,
teams or groups you’ve joined and think about the roles industry-based, administrative, or in-depth knowl-
WRITING a TaSTy
you played. Employers may want to hear about your edge—from your academic training?
chAPter 6
covER LETTER
ability to make productive contributions, the type of

role you tend to play on a team, or how you’ve worked Now you should be able to write carefully focused
with a team to identify and solve a problem. descriptions of your most interesting and valuable expe-
riences to share with recruiters and hiring managers.
The goal of assessing your skills is to identify what you
can offer an employer, and to demonstrate how hiring
DIGITaL DELIvERy
chAPter 7
you will help a company meet its objectives.

chAPter 8
FRoM RESUME
To INTERvIEW
chAPter 9
REFERENcE
FoR yoUR
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Research Your interest. Every job and every company offers differ-
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
ent opportunities for accomplishment; each will have
Target Companies
to Satisfy
various pros and cons. Proper research will help you see
› Good preparation can be just as important where your goals and the employer’s needs overlap; once
as impressive credentials. The proper research will this is clear, use your resume and cover letter to high-
enable you to tailor your resume and cover letter to light these areas.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
address each employer’s needs. And the more knowl- Research is especially important for career chang-
edgeable you are about a potential position, the more ers and job seekers who worry about being typecast as
equipped you’ll be to demonstrate how you can con- “overqualified.” If this is your situation, your resume
tribute to an organization. Look into a firm’s areas of and cover letter must stress how the position matches
strength and focus. This information will help you your interests and career goals, in addition to benefit-
determine what might appeal to a recruiter at a given ing the employer. Research in this case allows candi-
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
firm, and which items may be best left off your resume dates who have exercised a lot of responsibility in prior
or cover letter. jobs to build a persuasive case for their suitability for a
range of new positions. Failing to do research is often
Learn What the Employer Wants why an “overqualified” candidate’s application gets put
Almost every company is going to ask you, “Why us?” on the “no” pile.
Doing research ensures that you can answer this ques-
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
tion convincingly. Recruiters and hiring managers con-
sistently report that candidates who seem informed
hy Recruiters Love
W
about the organization and the industry are given pri- Candidates Who Do Their
ority in the initial review of applications, and are most Research
likely to succeed later at the interview stage. Thus, you’ll
Writing a Tasty
have a great advantage over other applicants if you are • The candidate of the more
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
does the legwork generic ones that
able to demonstrate that you understand the organiza- fail to address the
for the employer
tion’s objectives (products, services, or operations), its by pointing to the company’s goals.
company culture, and why your skills and experience match between
are ideally suited to its needs. the candidate’s • The candidate’s
qualifications and knowledge of the
the firm’s needs. company results
Know What You Want
digital delivery
in a higher
CHAPTER 7
But it’s not just for the employer’s sake that you should • The candidate likelihood of
demonstrates retention if hired,
do research. To be genuinely enthusiastic, you need be reducing the
knowledge of,
able to state why the employer interests you. Maybe and interest in, firm’s need to
the position is right in line with your career goals. Or the company, repeat costly and
making it easy to time-consuming
maybe you are most excited by the company’s latest replacement
put the candidate’s
line of products. Perhaps a discussion with a current application ahead searches.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
employee about the company culture stimulates your

tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

chAPter 1
aT a GLaNcE
THREE STEPS OF EFFECTIVE words. Make a list of these, and as you revise your
chAPter 2
30 SEcoNDS
RESEARCH resume for the specific opening, include as many of

To SaTISFy
Knowing what to seek and where to find it is the key to these keywords as possible.
effective research. The following three steps will guide Next dig a little deeper to analyze the posting for
you through this all-important research process. specifics that you can address point by point. The job
posting should indicate what an ideal candidate looks
oN yoUR MaRk,
GET SET, PREP!
chAPter 3
Step 1: Analyze the job Description like. To learn how to do this, take a look at the sample
A job description, included in many postings, pro- job description on this page, based on a real posting
vides a great starting place to get a sense of the on an online job board. Pay attention to the italicized
employer’s desired skills and qualifications. Begin by words, because these are key words that provide the
reading over the job description and noting any key- basis for customizing a resume and cover letter.
RESUME SUccESS
ThE REcIPE FoR
chAPter 4
Sports Marketing Internship

Are you interested in a career in marketing? Have you recently completed a marathon, triathlon, century ride, or
are you just an avid sports participant? We are looking for an energetic, active person to join our marketing team
in a summer internship that will be rewarding, educational, and will provide all of the excitement of crossing the
finish line after months of training!
chAPter 5
yoUR RESUME
WRITING aND
FoRMaTTING
About the internship:

The intern will assist in general marketing tasks from program creation and implementation to preparing materials
for programs/events. He/she will help out with general marketing office duties, and will help out at field and
in-store events. The marketing intern will have some in-store tasks as well, in order to learn all aspects of market-
ing in a retail environment. Some roles and responsibilities will fluctuate as help is needed in other areas.
WRITING a TaSTy
chAPter 6
covER LETTER
Qualifications:
• A background in marketing, with related experience
• An active lifestyle
• Excellent communication skills
• Outgoing and energetic (a “people” person)
DIGITaL DELIvERy
• MS Office skills
chAPter 7
• Illustrator
About Our Company:

We are a small, innovative, and growing company with a retail store and an online site. We cater to athletes of
all levels and provide the best brands in sports apparel at great prices. Our grassroots marketing strategy keeps
us very well connected to the active community, and we are always on the go. However, we are much more than
chAPter 8
FRoM RESUME
To INTERvIEW
just a store with weekly programs and events geared toward educating and benefiting our customers. Our team
members are as active as our customers, participating in events right next to them. For more information please
see our website.
Schedule will be 20–30 hours a week, with some evening and/or weekend event work.
You MUST have a flexible schedule!
chAPter 9
REFERENcE
FoR yoUR
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Here’s what the ideal candidate looks like: surmise whether a job at this company is really suited
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
• Goals: career in marketing, learn about all aspects of to you, and addresses your career and workplace needs.
to Satisfy
retail marketing Remember earlier when we talked about enthusiasm
being an important factor in a successful job applica-
• Personal qualities: energetic, active, flexible, outgo- tion? Well, if this is an opportunity that is really right
ing, good communicator, sports lover for you, you probably can’t help but exude some enthu-
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
siasm. If not, you should move on to something that
• Experiences that reflect the ability to: assist others, better suits you.
create, implement, serve at events, work as part of a
team, use computers, understand sports Step 3: Investigate the Industry
Having some knowledge about the industry in which
• Interested in the company because: innova- you want to work can help you anticipate a few of the
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
tive, growing, customer-focused, team-oriented, company’s needs that aren’t specifically stated in the
energetic, and active environment job posting. Consider as well that recruiting and train-
ing new employees is expensive, and most employers
If you were applying for this position, you would hope that anyone they hire will stick around for a while.
demonstrate that your interests, goals, and skills are Having the ability to address a job posting in the larger
exactly what the employer is seeking by using similar context of the industry helps to demonstrate that you
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
words to those found in the job posting in your cover are serious about the job and view it from the stance
letter and resume. of a professional. For these reasons, be sure to find and
flesh out answers to the following questions:
Step 2: Contemplate the Company
Look into the firm’s noted areas of strength and focus • What are the latest developments in the field or
Writing a Tasty
to discover the industries or product areas in which it industry?
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
excels. Make a list of these. Identify elements of your • How is the current economy affecting the field?
experience, education, or personal interests that relate • What trends are being forecast?
to them. Also, explore the following: • How is your targeted company positioned in the
industry?
• How does this job support the other functions of the
department, division, and overall organization? The information you gather from each of the pre-
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
• What are the company’s stated goals and mission? ceding three steps should inform the way in which you
• What is the corporate culture? customize your resume and cover letter, as well as how
• How stable is the company? you conduct yourself during an interview. The more
• Who are its competitors? knowledgeable you are, the better you’ll understand
your potential role and be able to show employers how
Gathering some answers to these questions will you can contribute to their organization. Without effec-
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
help you speak intelligently in your application and tive background research, your cover letter and resume
tO Interview
in an interview. But also, and just as important, ask- will be shots in the dark. You could get lucky, but why
ing these questions from the beginning can help you not illuminate the playing field?
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

The Recipe
for Resume
4
Success
Building a Resume
Master List...................................22
Essential
Resume Ingredients......................22
Optional Resume
Ingredients................................... 27
The Resume Menu

at a Glance................................... 31
Don’t Ruin the Recipe..................33

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Building a Resume your strength. Students with little work experience

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
will want to place the education section near the top

to Satisfy
Master List of their resumes. As your school days grow distant,

› Every good cook knows that a single recipe employers become much more interested in your pro-
can’t please everybody. The same can be said for devel- fessional experience than in the fact that you were edi-
oping a resume and cover letter for a successful job tor of your school newspaper, or what your major was.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
search. One standard resume will simply not work. Get Experienced professionals (those a few years or more
comfortable with the idea that you’ll need to customize out of school) should always emphasize their work
your resume for each position you want to apply for. At history and save education for last. Career changers,
the very least, you’ll want to create several versions of however, may want to place their education section
your resume—one for each industry or type of position near the top of their resumes if they have little or no
you’re targeting. experience in the field they wish to enter but do have
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
The best way to address this need is to create a mas- education or training in that field.
ter resume, a document that includes all of the resume Let’s explore the three essential sections that are the
elements you might use, as well as a full selection of heart of your resume.
refined achievement statements, coursework, volunteer
activities, hobbies, or anything else you might use for a Contact Information
particular job application. A master list helps you keep Every resume starts with a heading that displays the
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
all of your resume ingredients in one place. Then, when two most important pieces of information to sup-
you’re ready to apply for a job, you can simply select the ply to a potential employer: your name and contact
elements and achievements from your master list that information. Seems straightforward, but many people
you think will be most impressive to the employer. make the mistake of sending resumes with old con-
As you’re reading through the descriptions of com- tact information or omitting telephone numbers and
Writing a Tasty
mon resume ingredients in the following section, begin email addresses. Be sure to include the name you use
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
jotting down notes for each section to see where you professionally, a home address, and the personal tele-
have the most material. From there, pare down your phone number or numbers where you are most easily
material to create your master list. reached. Note: If you have a two-page resume, your
name, phone number, and email address should also
appear at the top of the second page.
Essential Resume Get a job search-friendly email account if you
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
Ingredients
don’t already have one. Select an email address that
displays your name. For example: mary_johnson@
› Your resume will always have at least three hotmail.com. (See the Internet delivery chapter of this
parts or sections: guide for additional dos and don’ts on formulating an
1. Contact Information email address.)
2. Experience You want your name to stand out and stick in
the reader’s mind, which is why the heading should
CHAPTER 8
3. Education
From Resume
tO Interview
be highlighted using a bold or an enlarged typeface.

Your contact information always comes first, but Remember, a resume is a marketing piece about you,
you’ll have to choose whether to cover experience and subtle visual tricks like this can be very effective.
before education, or vice versa. Generally, lead with Don’t go crazy, however, by using ridiculously huge
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
letters. Stick with a font size between 12 and 18 points Think about your experience in terms of results
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
for the most effective visual punch. Finally, center produced. Be short on the description of duties and
to Satisfy
your contact information on the page or align it along long on verifiable outcomes. Quantify your results
the left margin. This will make it easier to see if it’s with numbers wherever possible to give the resume
filed in a folder or binder. reader a clearer picture of your accomplishments.
Always remember that your aim is to show in your
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
resume not just the types of experience you’ve had,
> TIP
but also how effectively you performed your duties,
Heads up! Use the same heading on your cover
letter that you create for your resume. This
what benefits you brought to your employer while
looks professional and provides a visual cue working there, and how valuable you’ll be to your next
that the documents belong together. And employer. Finally, fill out your experience list by citing
don’t forget the graphic punch of “branding”
any accomplishments—including awards or special
Resume Success
The Recipe for
your name!
CHAPTER 4
recognition—you achieved at each job.
The table on pages 24-25 is a useful tool for get-
Experience ting started with this crucial step. At the top of each
The most important part of any resume, and the sec- column, you’ll see a major area of competency that
tion many recruiters study most closely, is a job seeker’s employers look for in jobseekers. Below each category
experience. If you are an experienced candidate, this is a list of “action words” that indicate your compe-
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
section will highlight the past jobs you’ve held. Entry- tency. Study the table and circle the action words that
level candidates can fill out this section with a combina- relate to your work, academic, or personal experience.
tion of work experience, extracurricular activities, and Use the extra spaces provided to write additional
volunteer work. action words that apply to your professional record.
To get started on your experience section, create a Effective resumes are “action-packed”
Writing a Tasty
master list of your work history in reverse chronologi- documents. So after you’ve roughed out your
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
cal order. List the month and year that you began and experiences on a master list, you’re going to write them
ended each job, your job title, the name of the com- as achievement statements—phrases that emphasize
pany, and the responsibilities you held. actions and results.
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
Resume Action Words

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Communication Teamwork Management
authored assisted administered
composed backed approved

On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
consulted brokered conducted
conveyed collaborated decided
corresponded contributed delegated
drafted cooperated directed

Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
edited coordinated executed
explained created synergies guided
finessed helped handled
interpreted participated hired
justified partnered with managed

CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
mediated reinvigorated oversaw
negotiated shared project-managed
reported solidified ran
revised strategized regulated

Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
simplified supported supervised
translated united trained
Leadership Initiative Adaptability
coached achieved adapted

Digital Delivery
conducted conceived adopted

CHAPTER 7
enabled created anticipated
facilitated cultivated changed
founded designed complied
governed determined engineered
guided developed improved

CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
headed devised integrated
instructed established invented

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Leadership (continued) Initiative (continued) Adaptability (continued)
led expanded learned
motivated garnered mastered
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
piloted generated modified
prescribed implemented negotiated
recommended initiated problem-solved
taught instituted resolved
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
unified launched retrenched
united originated trained
Analytical Organizational Results/Achievements
analyzed administered built
CHAPTER 5
appraised arranged completed
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
assessed compiled doubled/tripled
broke down coordinated enhanced
calculated distributed grew
Writing a Tasty
categorized gathered made
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
evaluated operated maximized/minimized
examined ordered outpaced
experimented organized/reorganized produced
innovated maintained rebuilt
digital delivery
inspected managed reduced
CHAPTER 7
investigated prepared re-energized
quantified prioritized sold
researched processed solved
reviewed scheduled started up CHAPTER 8

From Resume
tO Interview
surveyed sequenced transformed
systemized synthesized turned around

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

chAPter 1
aT a GLaNcE
Writing Achievement Statements What not to list? There’s no need to list high schools
chAPter 2
30 SEcoNDS
To write an achievement statement, associate each of attended; accomplishments in high school generally
To SaTISFy
the action words you circled with specific skills, abili- apply to enrolling in a college, rather than getting a job.
ties, and experiences. Each achievement statement Listing when you received your degree(s) is optional.
describes what action was taken, in what setting, with Doing so may reveal your age and how current your
what skills, and with what results. knowledge is, which may or may not be desirable.
oN yoUR MaRk,
GET SET, PREP!
chAPter 3
Here’s a basic process you can follow: You can also include in this section special certifica-
tions, licenses, or additional vocational training you’ve
step 1: Analyze Your experience completed. Many job seekers make the mistake of omit-
Action: campaigned for environmental organization ting appropriate professional development training:
noncredit courses, workshops, seminars, conferences,
setting: worked with the public and on-the-job training. Employers value this educa-
RESUME SUccESS
ThE REcIPE FoR
chAPter 4
tion since it often directly relates to the job and is usu-

skills: defined goals, designed campaign, implemented ally more recent. Of course, list only those things that
campaign, conducted outreach, educated public showcase your strengths and are relevant to the job.
To get maximum mileage out of your education,
results: improved public awareness of issues, increased describe honors, awards, and special projects. Use the
visibility of organization, generated 500 new members heading “coursework,” and you can describe the con-
chAPter 5
yoUR RESUME
WRITING aND
FoRMaTTING
($5,000 revenue), acquired $20,000 in donations tents of the curriculum without worrying about the
actual name of each class. By highlighting relevant
step 2: write a results-oriented statement academic work, you can skirt the issue of little work
environmental Advocate, sierra club: Designed and experience or a lack of experience in a particular job or
implemented a campaign strategy to educate the pub- industry, while still presenting yourself as a skilled can-
WRITING a TaSTy
lic about climate change and shape international trea- didate. Below is an example.
chAPter 6
covER LETTER
ties on the issue. Generated more than $25,000 in new

memberships and donations to support the campaign.
bs, sociology, minor in business, 2001
EDUCATION Michigan State University
This section might be more aptly titled “Education
and Academic Achievement.” Information here Coursework included:
DIGITaL DELIvERy
chAPter 7
should include schools attended, degrees conferred • Financial & Management Accounting
and when, and other information regarding your aca- • Statistics & Statistical Analysis
demic achievement, including GPA, SAT/GRE/GMAT • Principles of Sales Management
scores, scholarships and awards earned, honor society • Marketing Strategy & Planning
memberships, class ranking, etc. List only those things
that showcase your strengths. A 3.0 GPA isn’t likely to Sample research project:
impress anyone, nor is a 600 on the GMAT. These are • Discriminant Analysis and Psychographic
chAPter 8
FRoM RESUME
To INTERvIEW
perfectly respectable statistics, but if they aren’t going Profile of Consumer Market Ethnic Foods
to wow the reader, you might as well save the space for
more impressive details.
chAPter 9
REFERENcE
FoR yoUR
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Optional Resume And if you are leading your resume with your edu-
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Ingredients
cational accomplishments, you may want to include
to Satisfy
an objective to prepare the recruiter to evaluate your
› You may want to add additional sections to your achievements in terms of your career goals.
resume if doing so helps a reader to understand how Your objective statement should be specific and
your qualifications fit the position you’re targeting. straightforward, and limited to one or two concise
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Directly after the heading, you can add an objective sentences. Don’t bother with a general one-size-fits-all
statement, a summary of qualifications, or a profile. objective statement, such as “I am seeking a challeng-
And you can close your resume with a section of addi- ing position that utilizes and expands my professional
tional information that lists particular skills or creden- skills.” That tells the recruiter nothing and is simply a
tials, or that reveals your interests and activities. Let’s waste of space.
look at each of these optional resume ingredients and Instead, use the objective to customize your resume
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
consider when it’s worthwhile to include them. directly to the job or company that you are targeting.
The objective can be as simple as, “Seeking an associate
Objective Statement copywriter position in the advertising industry.” Career
An objective statement conveys your immediate changers or those trying to emphasize their transferable
career goals and reason for contacting an employer. skills might say something like, “Looking to put exten-
Professionals with many years of experience in a par- sive customer service and relationship-building skills to
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
ticular career who are applying for a job similar to one work as a public relations account manager.” A well-
they’ve held should skip the objective statement. In crafted objective can function as a thesis statement,
such a case, allow your experience to speak for itself setting the direction in which the resume will follow.
by including one or two extra achievement statements.
Those applying to firms in fields that have formal hir-
Writing a Tasty
ing channels, such as financial services or consult-
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
ing, should also leave out the objective statement.
Submitting your resume is enough to state your objec-
tive in these situations. For applicants in other fields,
an objective statement might be effective in the follow-
ing situations:
• You are applying to a very large company with many
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
similar positions.
• You are an entry-level candidate with little job expe-
rience.
• You are a career changer applying for a job in a field
in which you have little or no prior experience.
• You are applying for a job that is a clear advancement
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
from those you previously held.

tO Interview
• Your work history consists of a variety of experiences.

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
Writing an Objective Statement

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Part I
Write down the kinds of positions, types of organizations or settings, and specific skills
you want to use or develop in your next job.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Position Desired: ___________________________________________________________
Setting: ____________________________________________________________________
Skills or Goals: ___________________________________________________________________

Resume Success
The Recipe for
_________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 4
_________________________________________________________________________________
Part II
Now practice putting the information generated in Part I of this exercise into objective
statements you can use in your resume or cover letter. Below are some suggested phrases to
get you started.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Seeking a challenging ________________ position in the _______________ field that offers an

opportunity to __________________________.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Writing a Tasty
To use ________________, ________________, and _________________ skills in a position as a

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
_______________________.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
A career position that will build on experiences as ___________________, while contributing to

____________________.
Digital Delivery
_________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 7
_________________________________________________________________________________
Seeking an entry-level opportunity in _______________________.

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
To provide ________________ to an organization that ______________________.

CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Summary of Skills
CHAPTER 2
> TIP
30 Seconds
or Qualifications
to Satisfy
Including an attention-grabbing, bulleted list of skills Don’t worry if your cover letter reiterates
some of the information in your resume
or qualifications near the top of your resume can profile. In fact, consider using the cover letter
draw the recruiter into the details of your experi- to expand on one or two points from these
ence. This section can also be titled “Relevant Skills,” highlights.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
“Professional Summary,” “Highlight of Qualifications,”
“Core Expertise,” or the like. Since most recruiters only
spend a few seconds scanning a resume before deciding Profile
to pass or look more closely, a brief list of the strongest If you’re a highly experienced professional, adding a
points that are most relevant to the job for which you’re profile is an excellent strategy for targeting your resume.
applying may be the difference between landing in the The profile provides a snapshot of experience or skills
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
“yes” or the “no” pile. in a particular area, or it characterizes the general scope
An effective summary section might list the following: of your career and your career trajectory. The profile is
• Job-specific knowledge, training, or certifications used in place of, and not in addition to, an objective
• Technical skills or applicable expertise statement.
• An accomplishment that shows you can do the job
• A personal quality or characteristic that’s useful in a Starting your resume with a profile is particularly
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
particular job setting useful in the following situations:
• You have used similar transferable skills in a variety of
What’s more, this section is a useful way to intro- industries or job functions.
duce keywords into your resume. Keywords are terms • You have more years of work experience in your pro-
that are closely associated with a particular job, career, fession than you can reasonably fit on your resume.
Writing a Tasty
or industry, and they tend to be the ones that hiring • You have two or more core areas of expertise that you
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
managers look for. You can often spot relevant key- wish to use together in your next job.
words by looking in job postings where they repeatedly • You have gaps in your work history, or your core
appear as core competencies or desired skills. experience is not sequential.
A summary of skills or qualifications can benefit
candidates who have extensive professional experience When developing your profile, you may want to
and also those whose experience doesn’t exactly match
digital delivery
include the following:
CHAPTER 7
the job description. For the experienced candidate, this • Number of years’ experience in the field or line of
section helps the reader zero in on what’s most impor- work
tant, and for the entry-level job seeker or the career • Relevant credentials or training
changer, the section can be used to highlight transfer- • Accomplishments that relate directly to the targeted
able skills. As with the objective statement, financial job
services, and consulting candidates should leave this
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
section out. Think of your profile as a mini-advertisement. It’s

tO Interview
If you include a summary of skills or qualifications, a direct, high-impact statement formulated to elicit
keep it brief. Think of this section as a series of quick a “Wow!” response. Of course, you need to select
“sound bytes” that will help your reader spot your most the most relevant details and outcomes that apply to
relevant qualifications. the work you are pursuing. Limit your profile to no
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
more than three sentences. Here are some examples of Insiders tell us that interesting or unusual informa-
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
effective profiles: tion in this section can play a significant role in the
to Satisfy
• “Results-driven marketing professional skilled in decision to award an interview. However, be exception-

establishing brands, creating marketing and public ally careful about the kind of information you offer.
relations strategies, and designing effective market- Many people we interviewed say they rejected other-
ing collateral. Six years of experience supporting wise decent resumes because of strange mentions in the
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
aggressive revenue growth and client acquisition.” Additional Information section. For example, saying
you won the Twinkie-eating contest at your fraternity
• “Fifteen years’ experience in architectural engi- by eating 47 Twinkies in 15 minutes isn’t necessarily a
neering and construction project management. selling point if you’re trying to break into the financial
Contributed to high-end projects such as the con- services industry—or most industries for that matter.
struction of the new de Young Museum, multi-story Here are some special points to consider about the
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
residential lofts featuring modern luxury ameni- additional activities section:

ties, and refurbishment of the central dome of San
Francisco’s city hall.” Information Hinting at Gender, Race, or
Sexual Orientation
• “Bringing a master’s degree in cognitive develop- Some organizations want to recruit a varied workforce
ment and extensive studio training in fine arts to to serve a culturally diverse clientele. Mentioning activi-
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
the health care field through clinical art therapy. ties that hint at your gender, race, religion, or sexual
Effective hands-on paid and intern experience assist- orientation may afford you a slight advantage if your
ing in cognitive, emotional, and motor skills rehabil- activities indicate that you belong to a group a par-
itation. Certified Art Therapist and board member ticular employer is trying to recruit. This is a high-risk
of American Art Therapy Association.” strategy, however, and you should carefully research the
Writing a Tasty
company you are targeting—and speak to company

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Additional Information: insiders—before you include information of this kind.

Activities, Additional Skills &
Interests Work Eligibility
This is the spot to tell the recruiter a bit more about The additional information section is the place to state
yourself and add color to your candidacy. Details typi- your work eligibility if you have a work visa or residency
cally include activities, interests, associations, member- status. Many candidates with foreign-sounding names
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
ships, and skills not already covered, such as fluency in prefer to state their citizenship to avoid potential con-
foreign languages. Relevance is the key here; mention cerns about work eligibility.
only those activities that help to qualify you for the job.
For example, stating that you chaired a local charitable Religion and Politics
committee would be relevant to a position requiring If you choose to list religious or political activities, it’s a
teamwork and leadership skills. And don’t go over- good idea to omit the religious denomination or party
board! Three or four activities are enough. An employer designation. For example, cite your accomplishments
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
may become concerned about your commitment to the working on a senatorial campaign without mention-
job if you belong to a lot of clubs or teams and have a ing the candidate’s name. (Remember, the recruiter or
large number of hobbies. employer may have voted for your candidate’s opponent!)
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
The Resume Menu
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
at a Glance
Warning: No resume would ever include all of the
to Satisfy
elements in the table. Only your contact information,
› The following menu spotlights all of the education, and experience are essential. The need for
conventional and optional elements that can make up a optional elements depends on your level of experience
resume. Think of them as pieces of a puzzle; you must and on the unique requirements of a particular job,
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
decide which elements enhance your marketability and profession, or industry. Be sure to check out the sample
the best way to arrange them to demonstrate your value resumes in the next chapter to get a sense of how these
to the company or organization. sections can work together for your benefit.
Common Resume Ingredients
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Section What It Is Remarks
Heading
Name, mailing address, telephone Employer can see your current location
Contact Information
number(s), email address, website. and easily contact you.
Optional Opening Elements
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
One-sentence summary of your
Can add focus to a resume with varied
Objective immediate work goals. Directly follows
or little experience.
the contact information.
Lists most relevant skills or keywords Helps reader quickly identify your
Summary of Skills
relevant to the targeted position. relevant skills.
List of top three or four points about Pre-sells the reader on your value to
Writing a Tasty
Summary of Qualifications
your achievements or experience. the company.
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Enables the experienced candidate to
A “mini-ad” that reveals your expertise
Profile portray core areas of expertise and
and best attributes in a few sentences.
outline career trajectory.
Education
An essential element. Lead with this

Degree, major, institution, location,
Education section if a recent graduate or have
digital delivery
date degree conferred. GPA is optional.
little experience.
CHAPTER 7
Academic awards, scholarships,
Demonstrates leadership or intellec-
Honors and Awards recognition for achievements in fields
tual achievement.
relevant to the job.
Important to list if a required qualifica-
Must be current, especially if licensure
Certifications, Licensure, Credentials tion for certain positions, such as thera-
is a required qualification for position.
pists, accountants, and engineers.
Relevant training, continuing
CHAPTER 8
Training Shows professional development.

From Resume
tO Interview
education, conference participation.

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
Common Resume Ingredients (continued)

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Section What It Is Remarks
Experience
All relevant employment listed in

On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
reverse chronological order (most An essential element. Entries should

Employment History
recent first). Must include date, title, stress achievements or results.
employer, and location.
Helpful for those who have little
Volunteer or community-service Include date, title or role, employment history; describe
organizations organization, and location. job-related achievements and results,
leadership roles.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Experiential training you’ve had as rel- Most useful for new grads or career
Internships evant to skills and qualifications. Can changers, or if internship is part of
include paid or unpaid positions. academic curriculum.
Additional Optional Information
Some employers want to see computer

Computer programs and lab skills, for
Technical Skills competence, even for nontechnical
example.
positions.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Includes title, organization, location, Demonstrates specialized knowledge,

Research project emphasis and outcome, and as well as technical and analytical
skills used. skills.
Publications, presentations, and Shows leadership and advanced
Professional Activities
association memberships. knowledge.
Foreign languages in which you are flu-
Language Skills List only if relevant to the job.
Writing a Tasty
ent enough to conduct business.

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Can reveal leadership, teamwork skills,

List dates, titles (if any), organization,
Activities/Community Involvement drive for results; most useful if skills
location.
are relevant to job.
Lists major experiences abroad, dates,
Good for international positions, or to
Travel and whether travel was through affili-
explain time gaps in work history.
ated organizations or independent.
Digital Delivery
Gives fuller picture of candidate;

List those in which you are accom-
CHAPTER 7
controversial interests not advisable;

Interests plished or that might interest the
takes space away from work-related
employer.
accomplishments.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Don’t Ruin The Liar
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Frighteningly enough, many insiders we talked to said
the Recipe
to Satisfy
they had caught individuals lying about everything
Buzzword Bozos and from what degrees they had earned to where they had
Other Offenders earned them to where they had worked. One remem-
We’ve advised you at length about what recruiters do bered a candidate from a top finance school who lied
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
like to see on your resume. Now let’s take a moment to about being on the board of a prominent charity. It so
highlight some stuff they don’t like to see. Here’s a line up happened that the reader’s spouse was on that board,
of bad “resume chefs” and a discussion of their primary which made for a very interesting dinner table con-
offensives. If your resume exhibits any of the following versation that evening, and an awkward phone call to
negative traits, it runs a high risk of being tossed in the the candidate the next day. Needless to say, he was not
“no” pile, no matter how strong your qualifications are. invited for an interview.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Also keep in mind that you can be fired at any point
The Buzzword Bozo during your employment with a company if they dis-
Buzzword bozos use words in the wrong context or cover that you falsified your job search documents.
words that aren’t meaningful in an attempt to sound
savvy. If you claim to have been “responsible for re-engi- The Jack of All Trades
neering the audit approval process,” you risk appearing Resumes lacking focus are big losers. They include men-
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
more naive than you are. After all, “re-engineering” is tions of membership in seven different clubs without a
just another word for “changing,” and “audit approval leadership position in any of them; experience in five
process” is redundant. Why not lose “approval” and industries in the past four years; and in-depth knowl-
claim to have “changed the audit process?” edge of marketing, sales, manufacturing, finance, and
information systems. Yeah, right. Avoid looking like a
Writing a Tasty
The Experience Inflator dilettante. Groom your resume so it highlights skills
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
The biggest mistake insiders note is the tendency to and experiences specifically related to a career in invest-
overstate experience. Yeah, we know everyone exagger- ment banking.
ates their experience to some extent, but insiders tell us
that if a resume looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Therefore, most of them look at a glowing resume with a
heavy dose of skepticism. Yes, do sell yourself and show-
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
case your talents, but do it without going overboard.
The Title Titillator

Title titillators think a fancy title will make their experi-
ence sound better. Consider the very impressive-sound-
ing title “Director of Strategic Operations.” What on
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
earth does that mean? When in doubt, simplify so as to

tO Interview
make your role and responsibilities clearer, rather than

more obscure. Also, be very sure that the title you choose
is the one that your former employer or reference will
confirm that you had while at their organization.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

Writing and
Formatting
5
Your Resume
How Long Is Too Long?...............36
Polishing Your Prose....................36
Top-Level Formatting
Guidelines....................................38
Resume Layout............................44
Special Cases................................ 51
Sample Resumes..........................58
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
How Long Is Keep It Brief

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Less is more when it comes to writing your resume

to Satisfy
Too Long? statements. Big blocks of text composed of meander-

› Grab your resume master list: It’s time to get ing sentences make it hard to pick out essential infor-
down to the nitty-gritty and create your actual resume. mation. Remember, if you can’t scan your resume in
This chapter will show you how to polish your prose 30 seconds, neither can a recruiter or hiring manager.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
and how to format your resume in a way that enables So write sentences that are short and simple, and that
others see you as the skilled and competent professional develop a single carefully targeted point.
you really are. For the purposes of a resume, this sentence is trying
So how long should your resume be? After all, your to say too much:
resume master list is probably chock-full of great infor- • Gained new accounts by developing and maintaining
mation that runs for several pages. Frankly, there isn’t relationships with key decision makers in various
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
a consistent rule about how short or long a resume markets generating $1.7 million revenue in the form
should be; the optimal length depends on your level of online subscriptions.
of experience and the expectations of the profession or
industry that you’re targeting. Although some guide- It works much better when broken into two
books assert that a resume should never be longer than shorter points:
one page, experienced professionals may need more • Increased client base by 20 percent in the community
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
space than that to explain their background. college, university, and vocational school markets.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: Entry-level candidates • Generated $1.7 million in revenue through develop-
and those with five or fewer years of experience should ment of new accounts.
limit their resumes to one page. Experienced profes-
sionals should write no more than two pages. Only Keep It Simple
Writing a Tasty
curricula vitae (see the Special Cases discussion later in Don’t try to impress recruiters with trendy business jar-
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
this guide) or resumes for upper-level executives with gon. Your achievements should speak for themselves
extensive track records should exceed two pages. without relying on fancy rhetoric to inflate their value.
Even entry-level candidates with little work experience
can write impressive resume statements based on non-
Polishing work activities or achievements.
Digital Delivery
Your Prose
CHAPTER 7
This sentence needs to be trimmed:

› Let’s face it: You’ll never fit everything you’d like • Strategized and enacted superior implementation sys-
to say onto a one- or two-page resume. That means you tems and procedures to leverage increased results of
need to choose powerful, effective words that deliver positive residential client-base feedback, instituting
your message quickly and concisely. Keep the phrase a resulting increase of 100 percent.
“At a Glance” in mind as you write. Your goal is to
distill everything you need to say into a few carefully The straightforward approach is much more impressive:
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
chosen words and bullet-pointed sentences that are easy • Developed streamlined in-home installation process,
to scan. Let’s look at how to use language to help you reducing customer complaints by half.
accomplish this goal.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Be Specific ment statements from the first person point-of-view. To
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Never use general terms to describe your experience or save space and prevent wordiness, however, it’s okay to
to Satisfy
achievements. After all, you’re trying to stand out from remove the “I” from your statements.
all the other candidates, not blend in with them. Use
concrete and specific language, and use numbers and This statement of qualifications is still clear, even
hard facts wherever possible. Instead of “managed many without the “I”:
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
important client accounts,” try “managed 30 accounts • Marketing professional with seven years’ experience;
averaging more than $200,000 each.” specialize in research and strategy development for
privately funded organizations; earned community
This statement is fairly vague: service award through accomplishments in non-
• Logged daily customer inquiries and forwarded them profit fundraising.
to appropriate personnel.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Remove Unnecessary Words
Adding a little detail can turn a basic responsibility To further tighten your resume text, remove articles (a,
into an achievement: an, the), helping verbs (have, had, may, might), forms
• Maintained company’s customer-focused reputation of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were), and pronouns (its,
by processing 30–40 detailed inquiries daily, priori- their) from your resume statements. These extra words
tizing and managing inquiry routing. will be assumed by the reader.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Use the Active Voice Unnecessary words make this statement too long:
To craft a powerful resume, write it using active voice. • Have assisted the faculty of the engineering depart-
Active voice makes you the actor of your statements ment with its research for publications in academic
instead of a passive bystander. Moreover, using active journals.
Writing a Tasty
voice prevents excessive wordiness and helps to keep
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
your statements brief, clear, and simple. This revision is much tighter:
• Assisted engineering department with research pub-
This statement casts the applicant in a passive light, lished in various academic journals.
making it seem as if the promotion just happened
along: Keep Track of Tense
• Selected as interim supervisor for 10–12 employees. Make sure to describe your past duties and achieve-
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
(i.e., Somebody else did the selecting.) ments in the past tense, and your present duties and
achievements in the present tense. For example, if
Rewriting in active voice gives the candidate much you’re listing activities at your current job, describe
more credit for the activity: them in the present tense. However, when describing
• Managed 10–12 employees as summer interim accomplishments that you have completed in your cur-
supervisor. (i.e., The candidate did the managing.) rent job, you may use past tense. Inconsistent use of
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tense is confusing and just plain sloppy. Some job seek-

tO Interview
Write in the First Person ers hold two jobs simultaneously or hold an occasional
Your resume is a direct message from you to a potential long-term side job along with a full-time job. If you still
employer. Therefore, you need to write your achieve- hold the job, list that in the present tense as well.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
This example keeps track of proper verb tense Chek You’re Speling
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
from a past to a present job: Our insiders said one typo wouldn’t disqualify a candi-
to Satisfy
date, but several typos probably would. On the other

hand, any typo is a good enough reason to nix a can-
Nov. 2009–present didate and, depending on the reader’s mood and level
of patience, a typo might be just the excuse needed to
On Your Mark,
Account Manager, Millburg Group

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
whittle down that pile. Use your spellchecker, but also

• Manage sales incentive program compris- be sure to proofread carefully—spellcheckers won’t
ing 200 retailers with 300+ employee catch homonyms (there vs their) or misused contrac-
participants. tions (your vs you’re). And the spell checker can’t catch
•O
versee marketing strategy for agency’s mistakes in the names of companies. Have a friend or
two proofread your resume before you send it out.
Resume Success
biggest client (Krandle Motors); helped

The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
client achieve two consecutive years of

record-breaking new product sales. Top-Level
•D
evelop program-marketing materials;
achieved 20% new client acquisition by
Formatting
second quarter of 2005. Guidelines
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
› We’ve already discussed the fact that your

Formatting
Aug. 2006–Feb. 2009 resume will need to make an impact if it’s going to
stand out from the crowd—but we need to add a dash
Marketing Manager,
of nuance to this picture. In most fields and indus-
Special Programs,
tries, submitting a resume with fanciful formatting or
LockSpeed Marketing Group
Writing a Tasty
unconventional structure is a sure way to stand out—

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Managed creation, production, and imple- and to torpedo your chances.

mentation of new client incentive program; In the case of your resume, superior formatting
new clients included 12 Fortune 500 promotes quick scanning. It directs the eye to the key
corporations. bits of information. To the reader, the design should be
•H
elped sales force achieve 35% higher practically subliminal—it should just work. That’s why
violating standard formatting and layout conventions
Digital Delivery
sales volume through highly effective sup-

CHAPTER 7
port tools, methodologies, and proposals. is a bad idea—it pulls the reader’s attention away from
your content and raises questions about your judgment.
• I mplemented corporate PR strategies,
increasing publicity by 20% and securing
multiple industry awards, including Best
Creative Agency in Southern California.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Guideline 1: Guideline 2:
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Use Formatting to Boost Clarity Write Using Bullet Points
to Satisfy
Recall our earlier discussion on good design: Your goal When it comes to the words on your resume, supe-
is to help the reader grasp key content quickly, not rior writing is all about being concise (and using clear,
marvel at your unusual formatting choices. So, we jargon-free language). One firm’s vice president tells us,
recommend: “If you can’t reduce your resume to one page, I imme-
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
• A single, standard font: Times New Roman, Arial, or diately think you are unable to discern the important
something similar. from the trivial.”
• A readable font size: 12-point preferred, and no One of the best ways to fulfill this goal is to use
smaller than 10. bullets. Why?
• Neutral paper color: white, off-white, or ivory. • Bullets make your resume easier to scan.
• Standard layout: one-inch margins (or larger), left- • Bullets highlight key content.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
aligned lines, and line spacing between sections. • Bullets make your resume more concise.
• And just so you don’t forget…aim for one page in
length! Insiders tell us that hiring managers are more likely
to toss a resume into the reject pile than to spend extra
Bear in mind that dense blocks of type are hard time plowing through clunky prose to find what they’re
to scan and can hurt the readability of your resume. looking for. “I’m impressed when someone has enough
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Even though you’re distilling many qualifications onto confidence to write just one line followed by short bul-
a single sheet, less is still more. Aesthetically speaking, let points,” one hiring manager tells us. “I know can-
your resume should have as much white space between didates can B.S. their way through things by writing
its sections as you can afford, and the sections should be prose,” says another.
smoothly balanced across the page. When you write bulleted statements, remember the
Writing a Tasty
Above all, resist the temptation to use excessive text following:
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
formatting, graphics, or a matrix or graph. Such extras • Keep them short (one line if possible).
eat up space that could be dedicated to trotting out the • Start them with action verbs.
evidence of your qualifications that will win you addi- • Use consistent structure.
tional checks or points, and that will help you to land
in the “call back” pile. Certainly, there are fields where To see the benefits of using bullets, take a look at the
creativity and artistry are appreciated (guerrilla market- following resume by Anya Sahn. This candidate actually
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
ing, for one), but it’s better to err on the conservative has a long work history and impressive experience and
side when you’re not certain. credentials. Look at the original version on page 40-41.
What do you gather after scanning the resume for
ten seconds? Not much. Now compare to the revised
resume on pages 42-43.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
original
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
ANYA SAHN H- (858) 555-9999; C-(858) 555-1010

2300 Lone Ridge Rd. Email: anyasahn@email.com
San Diego, CA 92126
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Objective To secure a position that my education, knowledge, and skills can be utilized and contribute to
the benefits of the organization.
Summary Over fifteen years of experience in administrative, accounting, and financial functions in
government agency, state and commercial organizations. Knowledge in accounts payable,
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
accounts receivable, purchasing, grants and contracts. Graduated with Master of Business
Administration. Proficiency in MS Office Package – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
Proficiency in operating system such as Windows XP, IFAS, HRIS, including Graphics
software. Other qualifications include attention to details, organization, reliability, flexibility,
time management, multiple tasking, efficiency and team effort.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Experience AM PHIL Management & Healthcare Services, Inc., San Diego, CA

Administrator, January 2011 – January 2012
Overall supervision of RCFE facility including resident care management, human resource
management, organizational management, and physical environmental management.
Writing a Tasty
SDCCD – Mesa College, San Diego, CA

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Adjunct Instructor, February 2010 – December 2010

Taught Business course to college-level students; assessment of students’ performance,
calculation of grades, formulation of evaluation tests, giving lectures, record keeping of
student’s grades and evaluation, and participation in faculty workshops and course development
programs.
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
SDCCD – Miramar College, San Diego, CA

Accounting Technician, February 2006 – February 2010
Duties included variety of technical and complex accounting work such as preparation of
financial statements and reports, analysis of accounting data for submission to the President,
Vice Presidents and Deans of Schools. Accumulation of accounting data and preparation of
narrative explanations. Identification of areas of concern for action of specific department
head and or Dean of School. Maintained and reviewed budgetary and fiscal records for more
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
than two schools comparing actual expenses against forecasts. Providing explanations of
variances as necessary. Monitoring of costs and providing frequent reports to management
regarding funds expended and available. Calculation of expenditure projections and savings.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Communicating accounting changes as necessary to operating units. Assisting in budget
to Satisfy
development and interfacing with the departments regarding budget matters and needs. Analysis
of situation independently and adopting effective course of action. Monitoring, assigning, and
verifying, appropriate budget codes, sources, and related information on expenses. Researching
and allocation of budget. Training, providing and communicating information regarding faculty,
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
adjunct instructor, and or staff hiring process.
Palomar College, San Marcos, CA

Adjunct Instructor, August 2005 – January 2006
Taught an Economics course to college-level students, assessment of students’ performance,
calculation of students’ grades, formulation of evaluation tests, giving lectures, record keeping of
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
student’s grades and evaluation, and participation in faculty workshops, and course development
programs.
Escondido Union School District, Escondido, CA

Accounting Clerk III, February 2001 – February 2002
Duties included fund accounting, review of capital project costs, management of accounts
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
payables of more than ten vendors, bank reconciliation, and handling of imprest account.
Source Services Corporation, San Diego, CA

Accounting Assistant, July 2000 – February 2001
Duties included full cycle, full charge accounts payable functions for more than fifty vendors.
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Arnolds Acquisition Corporation, San Diego, CA
Accounts Payable Specialist, February 1999 – June 2000
Duties included full cycle, full charge accounts payable functions for more than ten vendors.
Metro Manila Authority, Philippines

Budget Officer (last held), September 1984 – August 1998
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
Duties included budget administration, participation in all budgeting phases including
preparation, consolidation, review, execution, monitoring and control. Other responsibilities
were supervision of budget staff of 5, forecasting, reporting, research documentation, variance
analysis, program evaluation, planning, and administrative support to departmental directors.
Education Master of Business Administration, National University, 2003-2005

CHAPTER 8
Accounting Program (35 units), Miramar College, 2001

From Resume
tO Interview
Master of Public Administration (15 Units), MLQU, Philippines, 1986

Bachelor of Arts, University of the East, Philippines, 1980-1984
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
revised
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
With some editing, bullet points, and simple formatting,

to Satisfy
this resume is much easier to quickly scan for information.
ANYA K. SAHN
2300 Lone Ridge Rd., San Diego, CA 92126
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
858-555-9999 (h) / 858-555-1010 (c) / anyasahn@email.com
SUMMARY
• MBA with more than 15 years of accounting, financial, and administrative experience in government
agency, state, and commercial organizations
• Extensive knowledge of accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, grants, and contracts
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
• Consistent track record of efficiency, attention to detail, organization, reliability, flexibility, and
effective resource management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
AM PHIL Management & Healthcare Services, Inc., San Diego, CA 01/11–01/12
General Manager
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
• Oversaw all aspects of 60-patient residential care facility, from bookkeeping and scheduling to
maintaining grounds and building.
• Managed staff of 30 administrators and health-care professionals, including hiring, career development,
problem resolution, and scheduling.
• Directed vendors responsible for maintaining supplies, facility cleanliness, patient transportation, and
Writing a Tasty
repairs.
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
San Diego Community College District, Mesa College, San Diego, CA 02/06–12/10
Adjunct Instructor, Business Administration (02/03–12/03)
• Taught business course to groups of 20–30 students.
• Developed curriculum, including lectures, reading material, and tests; maintained even split of C- to
A-level grades.
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
Accounting Technician (02/99–02/03)

• Maintained and audited complex budgetary and fiscal records for several schools, comparing actual
expenses against forecasts, identifying areas of concern and suggesting solutions.
• Played key role in developing $2.5 million budget, working directly with department to identify
available funds and address departmental needs.
• Prepared monthly financial statements and reports and analyzed accounting data for direct submission
to the president, vice presidents, and deans of schools.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
• Performed quarterly budgetary forecasting, based on monitoring costs, tracking expenses against
available funds, and calculating expenditure projections and savings.
• Built data archives and provided narrative explanations of transactions.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Palomar College, San Marcos, CA 08/05–01/06
to Satisfy
Adjunct Instructor, Economics
• Taught economics course to groups of 20–30 students.
• Developed curriculum and assessment scale.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Escondido Union School District, Escondido, CA 02/01–02/02
Accounting Clerk III
• Performed detailed fund accounting, reviewed capital project costs, reconciled bank statements, and
handled imprest account.
• Managed accounts payable for more than ten vendors.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Source Services Corporation, San Diego, CA 07/00–02/01
Accounting Assistant
• Managed full-cycle, full-charge accounts payable for more than 50 vendors.
Arnolds Acquisition Corporation, San Diego, CA 02/99–06/00

Accounts Payable Specialist
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
• Managed full-cycle, full-charge accounts payable for vendors.
Metro Manila Authority, Philippines 09/84–08/98

Budget Officer
• Administered $1.2 million budget and participated in all phases of budget development, including
Writing a Tasty
preparation, consolidation, review, execution, monitoring, and control.
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Supervised 5-person accounting staff, prioritizing projects, training, providing final review on all
financial reports and documents.
• Managed forecast reporting, research documentation, variance analysis, program evaluation, and
planning.
EDUCATION
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
Master of Business Administration, National University, 2005
Accounting Program, Miramar College, 2001
Master of Public Administration, MLQU, Philippines, 1986
Bachelor of Arts, University of the East, Philippines, 1984
COMPUTER SKILLS
CHAPTER 8
Proficient in Microsoft Office and various operating systems such as Windows XP, IFAS, HRIS,
From Resume
tO Interview
and assorted graphics software.

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Resume Layout Resume layout 1

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
› An architect will tell you that form follows

Chronological
function when it comes to designing a building. The
same idea should guide how you lay out your resume.
You want to select a resume layout that reveals your This layout lists employment in reverse
chronological order—that is, the most recent
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
experience in the best possible light while minimiz- experience is listed first. The convention for
ing your potential shortcomings. You can organize many fields (especially business-related fields),
your resume chronologically, functionally, or using a a chronological format highlights continuity
of experience and work history, shows
combination of both styles. Understanding the four progression in responsibility, and emphasizes
basic layout variations that follow—and their relative titles and employer names.
advantages—will give you the information you need to
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
design a compelling resume. Basic Chronological Layout

_______________________________
Contact info
Education
Date, degree, school
Experience
CHAPTER 5
Date, title, organization (#1)

Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
• Achievement 1a
• Achievement 2a
Experience
Date, title, organization (#2)
• Achievement 1b
Writing a Tasty
• Achievement 2b
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Additional information
_______________________________
The college senior’s resume on the next page

follows a standard chronological layout. Notice
Amy’s effective placement of internship and
volunteer work in the resume’s experience section.
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
This resume portrays a candidate who possesses

a compelling blend of analytical, teamwork, and
leadership skills.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Amy Y. Chan
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
amy_chan@URL.com
to Satisfy
Present address: 1642 Oxford Terrace, Palo Alto, CA 94305; (415) 555-5969
Home address: 1465 Kapiolani Blvd., #2222, Honolulu, HI 96817; (808) 555-7854
Education
Princeton University Princeton, NJ
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
• B.A. expected June 2012. Double major in International Relations and American GPA: 3.9
Studies. Extensive coursework (approximately 15 credits each) in Business/Management
and Public Policy departments.
• Secretary of Class of 2012. Elected by peers to plan activities that promote class
spirit and unity among 1,200 undergraduates. Head publicity committee to promote
major class events.
Punahou High School Honolulu, HI
Resume Success
The Recipe for
Graduated May 2008. Class valedictorian. National Merit Scholar. Earned college credit in GPA: 4.0
CHAPTER 4
English, Calculus, Physics, and Spanish.
Work Experience
Smith Communications San Francisco, CA
Public Relations Intern
Summer 2010 to present
• Work with senior account executives to manage relationships with clients in emerging
CHAPTER 5

Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
high technology and healthcare industries.
• Assist with the writing, editing, production, and distribution of press materials, including
press releases and fact sheets.
• Conduct account-related research and compiled findings into complete coverage reports.
• Develop and maintain media lists and editorial calendars.
• Collaborate with office staff to devise publicity strategy and coordinate publicity
logistics for major client events.
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Volunteer Center of San Diego San Diego, CA
Director of Youth Programs
Summer of 2009
• Led the start-up and development of a youth volunteer program that connects 50 high
schools with community organizations in need of volunteers.
• Conducted extensive research to identify participating community organizations, interview
organizations’ leadership, and determine their most immediate volunteer needs.
• Created a comprehensive database of area schools that enabled program to effectively
digital delivery
match student volunteers and community groups.
CHAPTER 7
West Street Library Wellesley, MA
Library Staff
September 2008 to May 2009
• Managed front desk and circulation records.
• Worked part time while completing first year of college in Wellesley, MA: worked an
average of 10–15 hours per week while maintaining a full course load.
Personal
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
• High degree of competency in written and spoken Spanish (founded high school Spanish
tO Interview

club; received first place honors at State Declamation Foreign Language Championships, 2008).
• Demonstrated interest in community service initiatives (president of high school volunteer
organization; honored at 15th Annual Volunteer Awards of Honolulu).
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Resume layout 2
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Functional (Skills-Based)
This layout, which organizes your experiences by

skill sets or industry areas, is particularly suited for
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
career changers, people with little work experience,

or those who have large gaps in their work history.
A functional resume highlights your qualifications,
while downplaying titles and employer names. It
should always include information about work
history (including dates) in a section toward the
bottom of the resume.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Basic Functional Layout

_______________________________
Contact info
Skill/Experience Group #1
• Achievement 1
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
• Achievement 2
Writing and
Formatting
Skill/Experience Group #2
• Achievement 3
• Achievement 4
Work History
Writing a Tasty
• Date, title, organization #1

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Date, title, organization #2

Education
_______________________________
This resume follows a functional layout,

emphasizing skills and downplaying work history.
Digital Delivery
Take a close look at Leticia’s work history—she

CHAPTER 7
has held several short-term positions in varied

fields and with diverse employers (legal service,
association, union, and academic institutions). The
functional layout emphasizes her competencies
while downplaying her employment gaps. Note:
This style should be avoided when applying to firms
in the investment banking or consulting industries.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Leticia Roberts
Address, City, state, zip
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Tel, email
to Satisfy
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Customer & • Responded to in-coming calls for legal services agency, gave information about the
Member Services organization, assessed whether caller could be served by the agency, and directed calls or
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
made referrals when appropriate.
• Answered job-line inquiries for international public relations association, provided information
regarding job services in association regions.
• Searched association’s library files for communication and marketing information requested by
members, or referred members to other association resources.
• Assisted international members of association with planning of chapter events; identified event
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
speakers and provided event materials.
• Distributed materials for regional coordinators of study abroad organization, as well as for host
families and student prospects. Assisted with processing of host and student applications,
coordinated bulk mailings.
• Led small tutorial group for undergraduate political science course; facilitated discussions and
advised students regarding term paper topics and writing.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Computer & • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint and Excel) and the Internet
Administrative • Maintained financial records for legal services agency and research and education department of
international association. Responsible for donor tracking and recognition.
• Edited and updated informational and promotional materials for research and education
Writing a Tasty
department of international association.
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Researched text books and compiled annotated bibliography to complement a syllabus for a college
introductory course in comparative politics; generated ideas for term projects.
WORK HISTORY
12/10-present Administrative Assistant; Child Care Law Center, San Francisco, CA
digital delivery
1/09-9/09 Members Assistant; International Association of Business Communicators, San Francisco, CA
CHAPTER 7
11/07-9/08 Office Support Person; ASPECT Foundation, San Francisco, CA
11/06-4/07 Membership Services Officer; National Union of Teachers, United Kingdom
1/06-5/06 Teaching Assistant; Political Science Department, Bryn Mawr College, PA
Summer 2005 Coder; Medical Research Institute, Alcohol Research Group, Berkeley, CA
Summer 2004 Intern; Buck Institute/College of Marin, Kentfield, CA
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
EDUCATION
tO Interview
2011 Coursework in Asian and Latin American Art History, UC Berkeley Extension
2006 B.A. in Political Science, awarded departmental honors, Bryn Mawr College
2005 Semester program emphasizing art history, Syracuse University in Florence, Italy
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Resume layout 3
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Combination
The second combination layout reveals skill

On Your Mark,
This type of resume includes organizational

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
elements from both the chronological and categories and achievements as they occurred in
functional layouts, providing the most flexibility each employment setting. This layout allows you to
for emphasizing your strengths. This format works selectively spotlight skills or types of experience you
best for jobseekers who may want to stick with undertook for each employer, and it’s an especially
the more traditional chronological format, but good choice if you want to highlight how your
need to emphasize transferable skills, have gaps in skills and responsibilities have steadily increased
their work history, are moving into a new industry, throughout your career.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
or whose most recent job title was less than

CHAPTER 4
impressive.
Two variations of the combination layout follow. Combination Layout B:
The first layout arranges employment settings and
achievements by specific skill categories. This layout
Chronological/Functional
_______________________________
is particularly useful if you want to show how you’ve
Contact info
exercised a relevant skill within different fields or
industries. Date, title, organization (1st)
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Skill/Experience Group 1
Writing and
Formatting
• Achievement 1
Combination Layout A: • Achievement 2
Functional/Chronological
_______________________________
Contact info • Achievement 3
Writing a Tasty
Skill/Experience Group 1 Date, title, organization (2nd)

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Date, title, organization (1st) Skill/Experience Group 3

• Achievement 1 • Achievement 4
• Date, title, organization (2nd)
Education
• Achievement 2
_______________________________
• Date, title, organization (3rd) Following is an example of a resume that uses
Digital Delivery
• Achievement 3 Combination Layout B. Kurt is an entrepreneur and

CHAPTER 7
has experience in every aspect of event planning

• Achievement 4
and management. Therefore, he organizes his
Education achievements into broad skill areas within his
Date, degree, school position description. The resume is strong because
it emphasizes quantifiable achievements as well as
professional awards and recognition.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Kurt Williams, CMP
CHAPTER 2
140 15th Avenue
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
San Francisco, California 94121
415-555-3434
kw@specialevents.com
SUMMARY
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
• Extensive experience in coordinating and organizing people, projects, and events
• Highly skilled at developing and implementing program and marketing strategies
• Proven track record of completing multiple projects accurately and within budget
• Certified Meeting Professional
Resume Success
AWARDS
The Recipe for

CHAPTER 4
Top 25 Meeting and Event Planners in the Bay Area (Bay Area Business Express, 2010)
Top 15 Meeting and Event Planners in the Bay Area (Bay Area Business Express, 2009)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2006-present President Special Events, Inc., San Francisco, CA
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Event Planning
• Managed meetings with 90-2500 attendees with programs ranging from two to six days
• Developed, managed, and administered program budgets from $60,000-$2.9 million
• Administered budget of $2.9 million, realizing $190,000 surplus
• Collaborated with Program Committee in implementing abstract review and acceptance procedure
Writing a Tasty
• Coordinated speakers’ scheduling, hotel arrangements, audio-visual requirements and expense
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
reimbursements
• Managed all on-site operations
Trade Show
• Marketed and managed all logistics of exhibitor trade shows (management of drayage, decoration and
digital delivery
security companies, exhibitor contracts and service manuals) with 12-90 vendors
CHAPTER 7
• Inaugurated trade show for bi-annual conference, realizing 25% net profit on $12,500 in sales
Marketing
• Developed promotional programs and execution of collateral materials (logo, marketing announcements,
preliminary program, call for abstracts, conference brochure, final program, show directory, conference mementos,
convention signage) for conferences of various sizes
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
• Implemented and supervised direct mailing campaigns

• Wrote and edited marketing copy for product literature
• Analyzed campaign results to monitor effectiveness of marketing execution
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Kurt Williams, CMP page 2

Fundraising
• Developed sponsorship packages for bi-annual conference
• Implemented and supervised sponsorship mailing campaigns
• Cold-called targeted sponsor list, realizing $17,500 in donations
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
• Created first-time live, silent auction, resulting in $14,000 income

• Developed cold-calling process for first-time trade show, selling 14,000 square feet, generating $12,500
in revenue
Personnel Management
Resume Success
• Trained and directed registration team in handling of receipts, confirmations, cancellations

The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
• Trained and managed paid staff and volunteer teams of up to 30 people
2004-2006 Projects Coordinator Golden State University, Fairfax, CA

Event Planning
• Coordinated and organized annual weeklong short course exceeding projected attendance by 30%,
resulting in 29% increase in net profits
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
• Managed visiting and distinguished lecturers, including travel, hotel, and dinner arrangements
OTHER EXPERIENCE
2003-2004 Production Manager Digital International, Fairfax, CA
1999-2003 Journeyman Lithographer Colorgraph, San Francisco, CA
Writing a Tasty
1997-1999 President 5 Dimension Printing, San Francisco, CA

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
1. Meeting Professionals International
2. Professional Convention Management Association (local chapter Board of Directors)
Digital Delivery
COMPUTER SKILLS
CHAPTER 7
Macintosh platform: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Filemaker Pro, PageMaker, QuarkXPress
PC platform: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Filemaker Pro, Lotus
EDUCATION
1995 B.A., University of California, Irvine
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Special Cases
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
› The classic career trajectory used to mean
to Satisfy
staying with one company or industry and working
from entry-level assistant to associate to partner, or
some equivalent sequence of duties and titles. In this
Office of Admissions/Physical
model, work experience was continuous and reflected
Education Department,
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
a progression of responsibility. While this career path
Fall 2010 and 2011
remains the perceived ideal for both employers and
job seekers, the reality, in most circumstances, is quite Orientation Coordinator
different. Today’s job seekers often hold positions in (Public Relations)
a variety of settings, begin their careers after taking • Conceived role of public relations representa-
time to explore various options, or balance personal tive for the Sports Complex to enhance the
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
goals (like travel or raising children) with career pur- orientation process; was appointed by the AD
suits. Employers are more open than ever before to as “Czar of PR.”
alternatives to the traditional model of professional
• Won approval for Sports Complex as site of
development. Of course, your resume has a key role in
“Bop Tilya Drop” orientation bash.
explaining why your past experiences provide the neces-
sary qualifications for your future job(s). • Convinced cheerleaders (male and female) to
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
lead Sports Complex tours.
Writing and
Formatting
• Increased Sports Complex usage by more than
SPECIAL CASE 1 15 percent in first year alone. (See enclosed
letter by AD citing personal contribution as
Lack of Work Experience key to exempting SC from budget cuts.)
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
If you don’t have enough experience, expand your
definition of experience to include paid, unpaid,
volunteer, community service, political, tutoring,
sports, and activities within your religious
community. You can even feature classroom
experiences if they support your career goal.
Following is an example of a project a student
digital delivery
created as a lark. It only paid in gym perks, but look
CHAPTER 7
how well it turned out on his resume:
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
SPECIAL CASE 2 SPECIAL CASE 3: REVIEW

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Changing Your
Lack of Work Experience Career Focus
Many students take on extra projects for their If you suspect that the only people who get
interviews are those who are already in the
On Your Mark,
academic departments, for a branch of student

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
government, or for a student organization. industry, you’re partly right. Certainly, many
Sometimes this kind of unstructured “work” can organizations are biased toward experienced
round out the rest of your experience rather nicely. professionals who can “plug in and go.” However,
Here’s how one student sold her classroom employers continually need to bring in new talent.
research as interesting experience to employers: Therefore, if you haven’t already developed a track
record in an organization, industry, or field, you
should try for the next best thing: demonstrating
Resume Success
The Recipe for
that you’ve done the same type of work, albeit in a

CHAPTER 4
different context.
Sample Projects How can you do this? Take a look at the following
examples. This applicant has recent experience
• Analyzed all sectors of the Norsk Hydro in sales, but he would like to capitalize on his
conglomerate in Norway, including industry knowledge of recruitment management systems
and competitive trends, financial management to pursue opportunities in human resources. Let’s
look at how he repackaged his skills in order to
strengths, corporate infrastructure, and transition to a new career.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
historical performance. This resume excerpt of the candidate’s

employment history reveals his sales-oriented
• Prepared comprehensive country profile experiences and achievements.
of Brazil’s business climate as part of
feasibility analysis of investment and
joint-venture potential.
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Developed study of cross-cultural

organizational behavior investigating
corporate communications protocol,
using Pakistan as a model.
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
Recruitment Management, Inc., Charlotte, NC
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
03/11 to present
Sales Manager
Manage national sales process from lead generation to close for recruitment management system,
recruitment research, and recruitment marketing products. Continually strengthen knowledge of
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
current trends in recruitment. Represent company at major industry conferences.
Accomplishments:
• Fastest close in company history (two weeks).
• Continuous production of pipeline with more than $1 million value.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
• Personally manage more than 60 percent of new clients.
CHAPTER 4
• Four consecutive quarters exceeding quota (total sales greater than $675,000).
Anderson Labs, Boston, MA

04/07 to 02/11
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Formatting
Managed a customer base of 150 physicians with varied specialties: emergency medicine, GI,
internal medicine, otolaryngology, and primary care. Promoted three strategic growth products in
CNS (psychosis and Alzheimer’s disease) and gastroenterology. Served as district coordinator for one
promoted product. Mentored new hires within district and assisted district manager with recruitment
Writing a Tasty
and interviewing. Facilitated and presented product sales’ meeting presentations for district. Led
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
district conference calls on business analytics.
Accomplishments:
• Ranked number 1 of 4 in district, number 2 of 24 in region, and number 26 of 500 in nation—01/10
• Ten consecutive months of sales growth—04/10 to 02/11
digital delivery
• Number 1 of 500 market share and YTD growth—02/10
CHAPTER 7
• Six consecutive months with greater than 200 percent to quota—09/10 to 02/11
• Top 10 percent of national sales force—10/07 to 02/10
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
SPECIAL CASE 3: REVISED

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Changing Your
Career Focus
Here is the same employment record repackaged

On Your Mark,
in a new resume to emphasize human resources-

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
oriented skills, responsibilities, and aptitudes.

As you can see, this candidate is focusing on the
transferable skills and experiences that translate
from one field to another. If you’re facing a similar
challenge, be sure to articulate your career goals
clearly and convincingly.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Recruitment Management, Inc., Charlotte, NC

03/11 to present
Recruitment Consultant
Continually strengthen knowledge of current trends in recruitment. Manage national distribution
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
process for recruitment management system, recruitment research, and recruitment marketing
Formatting
products. Represented company at SHRM, EMA, and Spring ERExpo (Electronic Recruiting
Exchange) conferences.
Accomplishments:
• Four consecutive quarters exceeding productivity goals.
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Recruited new client in fastest time in company history.
Anderson Labs, Boston, MA

04/07 to 02/11
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
Managed a customer base of 150 physicians. Mentored new hires within district and assisted
district manager with recruitment and interviewing. Facilitated and presented product sales’
meeting presentations for district.
Accomplishments:
• 2007 Region Diversity Coordinator—appointed by Region Business Director
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
• 2008 Region Leadership Advisory Council—elected by peers.

• District Impact Award Winner—Q1 2008
• District & Region Synergy Award Winner—Q2, Q3 2008
• Region Top Performance Club—06/08 to 07/08, 09/10.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
SPECIAL CASE 4
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Uh Oh, Wrong Degree!
Let’s say you’ve completed a degree in music

history, but now you’ve decided to pursue a career
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
in financial services. Do you need to go back to
school and start all over again? Absolutely not! List
your school and the type of degree you received,
but omit the major.
Stanford University, Stanford, California
Resume Success
The Recipe for
Bachelor of Science, 2011
CHAPTER 4
_______________________________________________
No matter what your major is, you can feature the

coursework that is related to the field you have
targeted, as in this example.
_______________________________________________
CHAPTER 5
Michigan State University,
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Bachelor of Science, 2011
Coursework included:
• Financial & Management Accounting
• Statistics & Statistical Analysis
Writing a Tasty
• Research Methodologies for Social Scientists
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
SPECIAL CASE 5
The Curriculum Vitae:
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
When a Resume Won’t Do

to Satisfy
Used in science and academia, or for executive-level industry positions, the CV is a formal list of all
professional endeavors. There is no limit to the length of a CV. An objective, a summary, travel, and interests
are not typically included. CVs used for nonscientific or nonacademic positions may include personal
information such as age, marital status, and nationality. Here is an outline for a typical academic CV:
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Basic CV Layout, page 1

_______________________________ Basic CV Layout, page 2
_______________________________
Contact info Name, Page 2
Education Skill/Experience Group 3
Date, degree, school • Date, title, organization (fifth)
Resume Success
• Achievement 5
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
• Date, title, organization (first) Publications

• Achievement 1 • Date, title, publisher (first)
• Date, title, organization (second) • Date, title, publisher (second)
• Achievement 2 Professional Affiliation
Skill/Experience Group 2 • Date, title, organization (first)
• Date, title, organization (third)
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Honors/Award
Writing and
Formatting
• Achievement 3 • Date, title, organization (first)

• Date, title, organization (fourth)
• Achievement 4 The sample CV on the next page is for a doctoral
student in the sciences. Henry is applying for a
nonacademic position (in biotechnology), and
therefore emphasizes lab skills rather than
Writing a Tasty
teaching skills in his profile. The CV has no limit

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
to length; therefore, Henry has included all of his

relevant professional accomplishments.
Henry A. I. Yee
Dept. of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology Phone: 415.555.2345 (H)
Digital Delivery
Box 0455 415.555.5555 (W)

CHAPTER 7
University of California, San Francisco email: henryy@cgl.ucsf.edu

San Francisco, CA 94143-0455
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Profile
Bio-organic / medicinal chemist with experience in synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular
and structural biology
• Designed and synthesized myeloid hormone receptor antagonist
• Identified structural determinants of selective myelomimetics
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Education
University of California, San Francisco 2006-Present
Program in Biological Science (PIBS) – Ph.D. program
Specialization: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Anticipated Graduation Date: February 2003
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
University of British Columbia 2001-2005
B.Sc. Combined Honours Chemistry and Biochemistry
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Skills
• Chemistry: Multi-step chemical synthesis, water- and air-sensitive reactions, analytical and prep. HPLC,
flash chromatography, 1HNMR and 13CNMR spectroscopy
• Molecular Biology: Transient transfection transactivation assays in mammalian cells, PCR, SDS- PAGE,
subcloning and site-directed mutagenesis
• Computer: Irix, Linux and Mac OS X system administration, SYBYL, MidasPlus, Molscript, Raster3D,
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
experienced Macintosh user, some perl and shell scripting and Windows experience
Research Experience
University of California, San Francisco 2007-Present
Graduate Student
Research Advisor – Prof. Thomas Smith
Resume Success
Design and Synthesis of Myeloid Hormone Receptor Antagonists
The Recipe for

CHAPTER 4
Designed a small molecule myeloid hormone receptor (TR) antagonist by combining the long alkylamide side chain
of the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI-164,384 with the myelomimetic GC-1. Prepared several GC-1 analogues
with substituents at the carbon atom that bridges the two aromatic rings via 10 to 14 linear step syntheses. Found
that HY-4, the analogue bearing the same side chain as ICI-164,384, bound to MR in vitro and also behaves as a
competitive antagonist in transactivation assays.
Structural Determinants of Selective Myelomimetics

Determined the structural features of the myelomimetic GC-1 that confers its 10-fold preference for binding to
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
the beta isotype of MR in a study comparing GC-1 to 3,5-dimethyl-3’-isopropyl-L-thyronine (L-DIMIT), the non-
Formatting
selective myelomimetic from which GC-1 was designed. Synthesized analogues of GC-1 and DIMIT bearing only
one of their two structural differences. Receptor binding and transactivation studies of the analogues demonstrate that
the oxyacetic acid side chain of GC-1 is the key determinant for its MRß selectivity.
Publications
Writing a Tasty
• Yee, H.A.I., Maynard, J.W., Boxer, J.D. & Smith, T.S. (2011). Structural determinants of selective myelomimetics. J.
CHAPTER 6
Med. Chem., in Press
Cover Letter
• Yee, H.A.I. & Smith, T.S. (2010). Selective myeloid hormone receptor modulators. Curr. Top. Med. Chem., in press.
• Yee, H.A.I., Ng, N.H. & Smith, T.S. (2010). Design and synthesis of nuclear hormone receptor ligands. Methods
Enzymol., in press.
• Yee, H.A.I., Maynard, J.W., Boxer, J.D. & Smith, T.S. (2009). A designed antagonist of the myeloid hormone
receptor. Bioorganic Med. Chem. Lett. 111, 3821-3825.
• Smith, T.S., Yee, H.A.I., Ng, N.H. & Castelli, G. (2009). Selective myelomimetics: Tissue selective myeloid
hormone analogs. Curr. Op. Drug. Disc. Devel. 94, 314-322.
digital delivery
• Castelli, G., Ng, N.H., Yee, H.A.I. & Smith, T.S. (2008). Improved synthesis of the iodine-free myelomimetic GC-1.
CHAPTER 7
Bioorganic Med. Chem. Lett. 101, 3607-3611.
• Yee, H.A.I, Castelli, G., Mitchison, T.J. & Smith, T.S. (2006). An efficient substitution reaction for the preparation of
myeloid hormone analogues. Bioorganic Med. Chem. 8, 179-183.
• Castelli, G., Maynard, J.W., Yee, H.A.I., Boxer, J.D., Ribeiro, R.C.J. & Smith, T.S. (2005). A high-affinity subtype-
selective agonist ligand for the myeloid hormone receptor. Chem. Biol. 59, 399-406.
• Tanaka, S.H., Yee, H.I., Ho, A.W.C., Lau, F.W., Westh, P. & Koga, Y. (2003). Excess partial molar entropies of
alkane-mono-ols in aqueous solutions. Can. J. Chem. 714, 3313-3321. CHAPTER 8
From Resume
Patents
tO Interview
• Smith, T.S., Yee, H.A.I, Castelli, G., & Mitchison, T.J. (2010). Myeloid hormone analogues and methods for their
preparation. U.S. Patent No. 4,220,000.
• Smith, T.S., Castelli, G., Yee, H., Maynard, J., Boxer, J.D. & Ribeiro, R.C.J. (2009). Selective myeloid hormone
analogs. U.S. Patent No. 5,444,444.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Sample Resumes
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
› The resumes in this section demonstrate a

variety of formats, fields, and professional levels. The
examples here are not intended to be copied word for
word, but instead should offer you ideas for creating
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
concise statements that reflect your strengths. These

resumes contain fictionalized names and organizations,
but the information is based on real work histories and
position listings.
RESUME 1
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Emphasis on Education
and Activities
A standard chronological layout is employed to

emphasize Jose’s activities rather than employment
history. This layout works well for someone without
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
a lot of work experience, or whose volunteer and

personal endeavors reflect more relevance and
responsibility than his or her employment. Jose is
currently a student and therefore lists education
and related coursework first on his resume.
Additionally, adding an Objective section helps
set the tone for the reader—the information that
Writing a Tasty
follows will be viewed in terms of how it supports

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
the objective (in this case, a career in business

administration). This format is particularly useful
for students and individuals without steady and
relevant work histories.
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Jose Ramirez | jram2@unlv.edu
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Permanent Address: Campus Address:
247 Lissom Road, Chicago, IL 30123 201 Lincoln Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89154
(773) 555-1333 (702) 444-4444
OBJECTIVE:
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Summer internship in the field of Business Administration
EDUCATION
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Fall ’08 – present
Bachelor of Arts, expected May 2012
Major: Sociology, Minor: Economics, GPA: 3.1
Resume Success
The Recipe for
Related Coursework: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Methods in Economics,
CHAPTER 4
Financial Accounting
ACTIVITIES
Undergraduate Business Society, UNLV Fall ’10 – Spring ‘11
Developed externship opportunities for sophomores and juniors. Contacted professionals in financial and
consulting firms and made arrangements for student placements. Updated student members on current events
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
pertaining to business opportunities and networking; sponsored informational seminars, workshops and speakers.
Formatting
Center For Volunteer Action, UNLV Fall ’08 – Spring ’10
Helped in local non-profit organizations in Las Vegas. Various short-term projects included: tutoring inner-city kids
in multiple subjects, refurbishing dilapidated playground and recreational building, soliciting food donations, and
distributing goods to homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
EXPERIENCE
Intern, Crate & Barrel, Chicago, IL Summer ‘10
Participated in weekly staff meetings with retail recruiting team, assisted in organizing summer staff orientations
and programs. Created fall schedule for university campus recruiters. Reserved booths at local college job fairs, and
arranged rental car and hotel accommodations for recruiters.
digital delivery
Server, Rocket Cafe, Chicago, IL Summer ‘10
CHAPTER 7
Provided friendly customer service in neighborhood restaurant. Worked efficiently as member of team in all aspects
of restaurant operations. Assisted owner/chef in preparing nightly specials, took customer orders, bussed all tables.
Camp Counselor, HoopSters Basketball Camp, Chicago, IL Summer ‘09

Supervised and led activities for youth ages 7-11. Assisted basketball coaches in training and instruction of
children. CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
COMPUTER SKILLS
Familiar with Microsoft Office, HTML, Javascript, and internet search engines
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
RESUME 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Balancing Education,
Memberships, Experience,
and Honors
This resume is technically a chronological layout,
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
but works something like a combo resume by

CHAPTER 3
emphasizing Marlene’s education, professional

memberships, and honors and activities, along
with aspects of her work experience. The objective
statement indicates her short-term goal, as well
as a long-term commitment to her chosen career
path—a wise move, as many employers hire full-
time entry-level employees from their intern pool.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Including her availability at the bottom of the

resume is also helpful to recruiters who might be
planning for the long term, as well. Also, Marlene
cleverly includes a note about financing her own
education through scholarships, showing that she
is not only an excellent performer but a self-starter.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Marlene Whitney | m_whitney@email.edu
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Current Address: Permanent Address:
2323 Putnam Road, University, MS 38677 161 Terra Place, Brandon, MS 39047
(662) 555-4444 (601) 555-5555
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Objective To obtain an internship and eventually full-time employment in the field of marketing

Education University of Mississippi, University, MS
Bachelor of Business Administration Expected May 2013
• Major: Marketing; Minor: Management
Resume Success
• Major GPA: 3.78/4.00
The Recipe for

CHAPTER 4
• Financed 100% of education with academic scholarships

Professional American Marketing Association
Membership Designed and implemented marketing plan for University of Mississippi Speech and Hearing Center,
resulting in a 20% increase in fundraiser attendance

CHAPTER 5
Work Experience Marketing Assistant and Sales Representative Summer 2010
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
User Friendly, Madison, MS
• Increased product exposure to individual market segments by designing and
distributing strategic marketing collateral
• Boosted customer walk-in rate with innovative merchandizing, such as compelling
window and counter displays
Writing a Tasty
• Grew store’s customer base through one-on-one interactions with clientele,
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
highlighting product features and sales information targeted to each individual
• Facilitated product repair flow, recording detailed information and serving as
liaison between customers and vendors

Design Assistant Summer 2009
R. Scott Multimedia and Design, Ridgeland, MS
digital delivery
Improved firm’s design productivity by performing detailed preliminary work, such as importing and
CHAPTER 7
formatting graphics and text in various design applications (e.g., InDesign, PhotoShop, Illustrator)

Honors & Sally McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College (August 2009 to December 2011)
Activities Chancellor’s Honor Roll (3.75 GPA or higher), one semester
National Merit Scholar
University of Mississippi Luckyday Merit Scholarship
University of Mississippi Academic Excellence National Merit Scholarship
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Boys and Girls Clubs of Oxford (2010)

Availability Internships: Summer 2012
Permanent employment: May 2013
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
RESUME 3
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Blending Academic and

Work Experiences
Trey’s resume displays a good synergy between

On Your Mark,
his objective statement, education, skills, and

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
experience. Trey combined academic and work

experience under one heading, as the academic
work applies directly to his stated objective. His
relevant degree and high GPA are emphasized with
bold type. Inclusion of Trey’s honors and activities
indicates that there is more to him than just his
education.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Trey Arnold Santin • tasantin@email.com
Current Address: 1780 Alexander Avenue • Apt. 2B, Washington, D.C. 20009 • (202) 555-2222
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Permanent Address: #88 5th Dr., West Mount Road • Champs Fleurs, Trinidad, W.I. • (868) 555-7777
to Satisfy
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a summer internship in the sciences that will allow me to put my theoretical education to practical applications
On Your Mark,
EDUCATION
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
B.S., Chemical Engineering, expected May 2012, Howard University, Washington, D.C., GPA: 3.88
SKILLS
• Five years’ experience with chemistry laboratory procedures
• Turbo Pascal, C++, HTML, and PeopleSoft
• Familiar with Windows and Macintosh platforms: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
• Basic written and verbal French
EXPERIENCE
Howard University, Department of Chemical Engineering
Undergraduate Research Assistant, September 2008 to present
• Work directly with professor on fuel cell membrane research
• Carefully document experiments to track and evaluate research progress
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
• Draw on laboratory knowledge and experience to select apparatus and procedures and perform experiments
Howard University Trio Programs, Washington, D.C.

Tutor-Counselor, Summer 2009
• Improved students’ classroom performance through one-on-one tutoring sessions
Writing a Tasty
• Mentored and counseled high school students, improving study skills, focus, and self-esteem
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Coached debate teams to win 1st & 3rd place in Annual Trio Day
Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago, Belmont, Trinidad, W.I.

Customer Service Representative, August 2007 to June 2008
• Managed approximately 400 customer accounts, preparing invoices, processing service orders, and selling product
upgrades
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
HONORS & ACTIVITIES
Founders’ Scholarship, Howard University, 2008 to present
CEACS Alumni Network Scholarship, 2008
National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2008 to present
Corning Corporate Team Adoption Team Member, 2009 to present
HUSA International Student Liaison, 2008–2009
Conference Planning Chair, NSBE, 2009–2010
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Telecommunications Co-Chair, NSBE, 2008–2009

Network Operator, CLDC Lab Howard University, 2008 to present
Church Youth Choir Director, 2004–2008
Sunday School Teacher, 2005–2007
Volunteer, School for Disabled Children, 2004–
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
RESUME 4
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Using Education,
Memberships, and Experience
to Support a Career Path
Lila is currently completing her master’s degree in

On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
human resource development and looking for a job

in human resources after graduation. She lists her
education first to emphasize her relevant degree,
along with a list of related skills and membership
in two human resources professional associations.
Emphasizing these items helps direct Lila’s resume
toward her chosen career path, since her related
Resume Success
The Recipe for
work experience so far is limited. But the path is so

CHAPTER 4
clear and straightforward that she could even leave

off the objective statement to make room for other
information that might apply to specific employers.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
LILA MACINTOSH
CHAPTER 2
___________________________________________________________________________________
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
128 Havalin Lane • Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-222-9999 • macintosh@email.com
OBJECTIVE
___________________________________________________________________________________
On Your Mark,
Seeking a human resources position that will draw on my education, relevant experience, and personal skills
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
EDUCATION
___________________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA
Candidate: M.S. Human Resource Development (May 2013)
Glennburge University, Buffalo, NY
Resume Success
The Recipe for
B.A. Psychology (Cum Laude)
CHAPTER 4
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
___________________________________________________________________________________
• Student member of the Society for Human Resource Management
• Secretary for the Glennburge Chapter of SHRM
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
___________________________________________________________________________________
American Red Cross, Philadelphia, PA Fall 2011
Human Resources Assistant
• Managed interview scheduling for candidates and managers
• Performed screening interviews to ensure efficiency in both the recruiting process and use of managers’ time
• Represented the organization at “Meet & Greets” to provide information, forms, and applications to candidates
Writing a Tasty
• Assessed employee fit by administering and scoring Predictive Inventory (personality assessment test) and conducting
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
reference checks
• Conducted candidate follow-ups, offering positions and scheduling physicals
• Ensured all employee information was correctly handled and entered into the EEO database
Philadelphia University, Human Resource Department Fall 2010

Graduate Student Assistant
• Helped employees maintain full benefits and pay status by creating and maintaining system to track hours, sick days, and
digital delivery
time off
CHAPTER 7
• Determined pension enrollment eligibility by tracking employees’ length of service at the University
• Mastered the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) to collect data regarding pension, employee assignments, and
accrued sick leave
• Created and disseminated health benefit information packets
• Managed guest list for annual employee recognition ceremony
• Triaged all incoming queries to manage call volume and provide efficient customer service
SKILLS
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
___________________________________________________________________________________
• Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, and Access
• HRIS, SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), ABStat (statistical software), and Dreamweaver
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
RESUME 5
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Emphasizing Education
and Skills over Experience
Michael’s resume is a great example of the

On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
simple, straightforward approach. He is looking

CHAPTER 3
to start a career in accounting but has no past

work experience in that field. In the top third of
his resume, Michael highlights his accounting
degree, professional development course, relevant
computer skills, and language skills to make his
case. The work experience is kept brief and occupies
the bottom half of the resume, de-emphasizing it.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
MICHAEL CHING
1735-B Lamont Street
Brooklyn, New York 11206
(718) 333-2222; (212) 444-6666
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
m_ching17@email.com
___________________________________________________________________________________
Objective Seeking a challenging entry-level position in accounting support
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Education Bachelor of Science, Accounting, expected May 2012
City College of New York, New York, NY
Professional Microsoft Office Specialist Expert Certification (pending)

Development
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Computer Skills Quicken, QuickBooks, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet research
Writing and
Formatting
Language Skills Bilingual English/Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin)
Work Experience Teaching Assistant (contract) 3/11–5/11

New York Chinese Baptist Church, New York, NY
Writing a Tasty
• Instructed bilingual students one-on-one in practical computer applications and
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
use of the Web
• Perfected interpersonal communication skills by helping non-native speakers
improve English language use and understand U.S. culture
Sales Representative (contract) 5/10–8/10

Vector Marketing, Inc., Flushing, NY
digital delivery
• Improved professional relationship building and communication skills by
CHAPTER 7
conducting public product demonstrations
Counter Server 1/08–6/08

Ambiente Consecutivo, Inc., Louisville, KY
• Assisted in detailed inventory process, tracking supplies and
forecasting ordering needs
• Served customers directly in a high-touch, fast-paced environment; consistently
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
lauded for maintaining excellent customer relations

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
RESUME 6
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
A Career-Changer’s
Emphasis on Skills
Here’s an example of a functional layout, with

On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
skills emphasized and work history downplayed.

Bettina is an accomplished lawyer, but is changing
careers to that of program manager/administrator.
She targets three top skills she believes (based
on careful research!) characterize program
management. In addition to promoting her skills,
this resume reflects the industry and fields with
Resume Success
which she has expertise (disability rights and

The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
education).
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
BETTINA RAY MUELLER
CHAPTER 2
45 Lakeshore Drive
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 555-2773
bamueller@worldnet.att.net
OBJECTIVE:
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Apply my distinct qualifications learned as an attorney to the field of program administration.
QUALIFICATIONS
Organizational skills
• Coordinated day-to-day activity in 20 class action cases involving physical access to public
Resume Success
accommodations
The Recipe for

CHAPTER 4
• Organized litigation project concerning physical and programmatic access in California schools
• Managed intake system for nonprofit law firm receiving more than 5,000 calls a year
• Updated and maintained computer database of 100+ children’s advocates
Communication skills
• Counseled and represented families in educational matters
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
• Resolved families’ legal educational concerns through communication with school district
Writing and
Formatting
personnel and counsel, social workers, and probation officers
• Conducted workshops for community, professional, and parent groups
• Conducted interviews and deposition preparation with clients
Research and writing skills
Writing a Tasty
• Drafted comments to proposed amendments to federal Individuals with Disabilities in Education
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Act
• Wrote federal and state memoranda of law, pleadings, and discovery
• Analyzed and summarized voluminous production documents
• Conducted legal research in substantive areas of education, disability, employment, and civil rights
law
EMPLOYMENT
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
Education Law Center, Intake Attorney, Philadelphia, PA 6/10-6/11
Disability Law Project, Attorney (contract), Philadelphia, PA 3/10-5/10
Honeywell & Associates, Attorney, Philadelphia, PA 9/09-3/10
Disability Rights Advocates, Attorney, Oakland, CA 2/09-6/09
EDUCATION
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Golden Gate University School of Law, Juris Doctor, San Francisco, CA, May 2008
Claremont Pitzer College, Bachelor of Arts, Anthroplogy/History, Claremont, CA, May 2004
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
RESUME 7
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Letting Experience
Speak for Itself
Elizabeth’s straightforward job history speaks

On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
for itself. The path from her relevant education

to internship to full-time position sets up the
logical next step in her career. Thus, Elizabeth
uses the primary section of her resume to explain
her numerous job responsibilities. She has broken
down her achievement statements by area, making
it much easier for a recruiter to scan her detailed
Resume Success
accomplishments. Including her experience abroad,

The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
awards and honors, and other activities shows that

she is a well-rounded candidate—a trait desired by
many employers.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
_______________________
ELIZABETH TACHINAU
CHAPTER 2
16-B Pearl Creek Road, Evanston, IL 60201 | (314) 555-6666 tachinau@email.com
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Experience
Midwest Investment Group, LLC, Chicago, IL June 2008–present
Global Operations Associate, Reconciliation and Control Group
Stock Loan: Balance and settle stock loan borrows and returns for 8 international and 7 domestic accounts daily. Requires close
attention to detail to identify costly breaks, strong communication skills in speaking to traders and account reps, and vast knowledge of
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
stock loan product, laws, and general practices in various countries.
CHAPTER 3
• Improved error identification process by creating a system for compiling, sorting, and distributing all international stock loan
instructions, resulting in faster problem resolution and freeing up traders’ time.
• Streamlined training process by creating guidelines and cheat sheets to shorten learning curve; trained and mentored 3 co-workers on
daily stock loan procedures.
Billing: Audit 8 international and 7 domestic month-end prime broker bills for stock loan fees/rebates totaling $15–20 million per
month.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
• Developed new process that consolidates all daily stock loan breaks, allowing easier identification of monthly issues to enable
company to request specific and relevant refunds.
• Researched and compiled all billing processes to clarify fees being paid and determine additional resources needed.
Prime Broker Accounts: Balance cash of 5 prime broker accounts daily. Identify discrepancies that arise from trades, financing charges,
corporate actions, and dividends. Route issues to correct groups, account reps, or traders. Reconcile trade positions accounts in a timely
manner so that traders can confidently trade on accurate positions.
Futures: Balance cash and positions in same manner as prime broker accounts but on more challenging futures product, requiring an
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
understanding of open trade equity and commission discrepancy issues specific to futures.
Writing and
Formatting
Global Finance, Inc., Chicago, IL January 2007–March 2007
Internship, Asset Management
• Designed a critical orientation and training program for new hires in the Chicago Asset Management group.
• Integrated training requirements of all teams, including client service analysts, internal wholesalers, operations, distribution services,
Writing a Tasty
financial control, business analysis, and compliance.
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
• Collaborated and consulted with middle- and upper-level managers of various divisions to develop a successful training program.
Presented final product upon project completion.
• Generated hypothetical mutual fund performance presentations and Morningstar X-Ray literature for internal wholesalers.
Education
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL June 2008
Bachelor of Arts in Economics; minor in Spanish. Cumulative GPA: 3.70/4.00
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City, Mexico Summer 2006
Summer study-abroad program with research concentration on Mexico’s economic and political status.
Produced 20-page research paper examining the effects of NAFTA on Mexico.
Awards and Honors

Invited to participate in Economics Honors Program
All-Alpha Kappa Psi Academic Team, 2005–2006 CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Activities
Career Peer, Northwestern University Career Services: Advised and educated peers on career-related issues,
presented career information to groups as large as 240 people.
Peer Advisor: Directly supervised and assisted groups of incoming freshmen.
Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity
Alpha Chi Omega Sorority
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
RESUME 8
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Highlighting a Track Record

of Increasing Responsibility
Tiana has amassed more than five years of

On Your Mark,
experience in her career and has followed a linear

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
career path with clear advances in responsibility

and professional status. More than one page is
necessary to detail her advancement and numerous
professional accomplishments. Tiana includes a
brief description of each employer, adding further
specificity to her achievements. This is particularly
important to this career path, as specific industry
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
experience is important in public relations.

Presenting her linear work history in this way, Tiana
is clearly prepared for the next step in her career.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Tiana Rosa deLossi
3917 Powell Street #320 San Francisco 94115 | 415-555-3333 tianadelossi@email.com
On Your Mark,
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
PR Account Manager, Rogue & Partners, San Francisco, CA 06/10 to present
Rogue & Partners is a lifestyle PR agency serving a wide range of internationally renowned brands, including Diamond Hotels,
Seasonale, and Astronica Wine Group.
• Develop innovative campaign strategies by identifying message points, key media outreach, pitch points, and timelines
• Secure high-profile client coverage through local, national, and international media outreach; have landed exposure on two
nationally syndicated talk shows, local news channels, and numerous national magazines
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
• Organize and host high-attendance media launch parties, managing all event logistics and promotion
• Maintain relations with account base through monthly reports and presentations and secure new accounts by leveraging
existing contact relationships; have secured 5 key accounts
• Craft media documents, including press releases and press packs, strategically targeting client brands to specific markets
Publicity & Marketing Manager, Hot Iron Press, San Francisco, CA 11/09–06/10
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Hot Iron Press publishes award-winning illustrated lifestyle books that specialize in food, interior design, and gardening titles.
Writing and
Formatting
• Managed national publicity campaigns from concept to completion for major title releases
• Coordinated author tours, successfully booking high-profile national and local media coverage
• Designed creative mailing packets and press information for national dissemination
• Developed key new relationships with national lifestyle press and broadcast media through networking; built reputation
though recognition for successful campaigns
• Maintained campaign efficiency and innovation by managing freelance publicists and designers
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Marketing & PR Officer, Raza Communications Publishing, San Francisco, CA 08/08–11/09
Raza is one of the world’s largest publishers of television and film publications. The portfolio of titles includes the official magazines
and books for many of the leading entertainment brands in the U.S.
• Successfully designed and implemented global corporate PR and marketing strategies using print and online media
• Developed and managed key international relationships with major media producers
digital delivery
• Performed market analysis and developed future publicity strategies with company directors
CHAPTER 7
PR Assistant, Extreme Motors, San Rafael, CA 04/08–08/08 (contract)
During my time with the company, I gained extensive experience interacting with all sectors of the media from a political,
environmental, and lifestyle perspective. I also developed a better understanding of international public affairs and the corporate
culture of an international business.
• Assisted in developing an emerging strategy to enhance company image
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
• Helped release product information to the press, coordinate major events, and create marketing collateral
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Tiana Rosa deLossi page 2
Managing Editor, Auto Media Inc, San Rafael, CA 06/06–04/08

Under my management, Auto Media became California’s definitive automotive news and information source.
• Promoted to Managing Editor after only 3 months as Marketing Executive
• Increased readership by 500% per month
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
• Developed a 5-year business plan, aiding business development and revenue generation
• Designed a European launch strategy
• Created, commissioned, and managed site content and marketing material
• Wrote/researched news stories and live reports from national events
EDUCATION
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Coventry University, BA, Media, Culture & Communication (Honours) 2004-2008

• Internship, Marie Claire, IPC Magazines, London
• Publishing Program Certificate from U.C. Extension
AWARDS & MEMBERSHIP

• Awarded travel fellowship for outstanding research into cultural geography of Los Angeles and San Francisco
• Committee program member of the Northern California Book Publicity and Marketing Association
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
COMPUTER SKILLS
Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, InDesign, HTML, LexisNexis
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
74 W E T F E E T I N S ID ER GUID E
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
resume Dos and Don’ts
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Here are some dos and don’ts to help you avoid common mistakes while building a stronger,
more refined resume.
DON’T DO
DON’T DO
On Your Mark,
use numbers where appropriate to clearly
Get Set, Prep!

use vague qualitative terms such as “large” or
CHAPTER 3
“many,” which leave the reader with questions describe your accomplishments, as in “led a team
about specifics. of nine sales reps.”
DON’T DO
waste resume space with frivolous information, distinguish the important from the trivial in
such as “Voted mostly likely to succeed in high your background to fit the most relevant and
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
school.” significant elements onto a single page or so.
DON’T DO
try to differentiate yourself with an unconven- stick to a basic, clear format that helps the reader
tional format or tactics such as graphics and glean information quickly and with minimal
colored paper, unless you are applying for a job in effort.
an arts-related field.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
DON’T DO
include reasons for leaving your jobs, salary infor- make your resume a document that focuses on
mation, full addresses of employers, or references your accomplishments and skills.
on your resume.
Writing a Tasty
DON’T DO
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
try to portray yourself as a jack-of-all-trades in the discuss your two or three most relevant strengths
hope that something will strike the reader’s fancy. and illustrate them with experience and
achievement statements.
DON’T DO
get caught in the passive voice trap, writing as if use the active voice with verbs that indicate
digital delivery
things happened to you. “Was sent to Argentina you’re in charge: “Represented firm at
CHAPTER 7
to represent the firm.” international symposium.”
DON’T DO
refer to yourself as a subject begin each achievement statement with an active
(first- or third-person) in your resume: “I helped verb: “Handled all client correspondence.”
prepare correspondence,” or, “Applicant wrote
outreach letters to prospective clients.”
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
DON’T DO
include personal information such as your social be aware that employers are interested in your
security number, age/date of birth, race, or marital eligibility to work legally and may ask for docu-
status on your resume. mentation. Take the time to learn about your
rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

Writing a Tasty
Cover Letter
6
Pique Their Appetite.................... 78
General Cover Letter

Guidelines.................................... 78
The Ingredients of
Your Cover Letter......................... 79
Sample Cover Letters...................84

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Pique Their The “Write” Stuff

CHAPTER 2
Appetite
30 Seconds
Insiders tell us that cover letters are used to assess an appli-

to Satisfy
› Like a good appetizer, all cover letters have one cant’s ability to write clearly and concisely. Count on your
main purpose: to whet the readers’ appetite, get them letter receiving especially careful scrutiny if you are a can-
interested enough to move on to your resume, and then didate in a technology field or if you are an international
want to interview you. In many cases, the cover letter candidate seeking a position in the United States.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
is the first thing the employer encounters about you, so But for anyone, mistakes in the cover letter can
you want to make the first impression a good one. undermine your candidacy. All too often, applicants
A cover letter should always be included with who tout their “careful attention to detail” nullify this
your resume, whether you’re prospecting a potential claim by failing to remove typos and grammatical mis-
employer or following up on a personal recommenda- takes from their cover letters. Not very careful after all!
tion. The cover letter shows that you’ve spent some time The bottom line is that your cover letter speaks volumes
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
and thought on your application, and it gives you the about your communication skills.
opportunity to present a bit of your personality to help
you stand out among other candidates. It should also A Well-Tuned Tone
show that you have a direct and specific purpose in con- The tone of your cover letter in most circumstances
tacting the company—that you know who you are and will be professional but thoughtful, persuasive but
what you can offer them. restrained. Use concise sentences and be direct. At the
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
That said, some employers confess that they don’t same time, be sure to inject plenty of enthusiasm and
read cover letters. Other employers pay no attention to genuine interest into your letter.
cover letters unless they notice a problem (poor writing,
grammatical mistakes, too generic, too long). So, while Custom Content
the lack of a cover letter—or a poorly written one—can In your cover letter, include information that truly tai-
Writing a Tasty
definitely hurt you, a well-written cover letter never lors the application to a particular employer and specific
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
will. And in some cases, it may be your only ticket to job opening. Complement and reinforce the quali-
the interviewing room. fications presented in your resume, using words and
So, how do you write the thing? The first thing phrases from the employer’s job listing and/or website.
to keep in mind is that, like your resume, the cover Here are some points about content you’ll want to
letter is a marketing piece that should grab your keep in mind as you write your letter:
audience’s attention and sell them on the value of the • How you learned of the job or company is impor-
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
product—you. tant to recruiters and hiring managers, especially if

there is a mutual connection that can speak of your
qualifications.
General Cover
Letter Guidelines
• Demonstrate a good fit with the employer’s corpo-
rate or organizational culture. Be sure to back up
› In cooking, basic ingredients form the start of any assertions of personal characteristics by describ-
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
a good dish, but the way you combine the ingredients ing the resulting achievement either on your resume
also affects the outcome. The same is true for your cover or in your cover letter. Ideally, the cover letter refers
letter. Careful choice of words, tone, and aesthetics are to information found on your resume without being
essential to creating a pleasing product. repetitive or redundant.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
• Go beyond the resume in explaining your situation
The Ingredients of
CHAPTER 2
Your Cover Letter
30 Seconds
and career direction. For example: “My career goals
to Satisfy
include gaining leadership experience in the delivery › There are three types of cover letters: those
of financial advising services in a private business developed to respond to a specific job opening, those
setting. I am open to relocation for an appropriate directed to a specific contact or company match, and
opportunity.” those that serve as letters of introduction. The latter
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
type is sometimes called a broadcast letter, and it can
• Avoid discussing weaknesses or making excuses; function like a “cold call” to develop opportunities
instead, concentrate on what you have to offer. The where no immediate job opening exists.
cover letter is not the place to confess your mistakes While your cover letters should follow a basic struc-
or problems. For example, if you’ve been laid off, ture, it’s best to avoid creating a form letter. Your goal
don’t mention that fact. Instead, discuss what you is to entice employers with a clear, concise, and well
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
have done recently to be productive or better pre- thought-out summary that suggests that you offer
pared for this job (e.g. I have recently completed exactly what they need.
training in…. or I have gained valuable marketing
experience volunteering with….). > TIP
Avoid “canned” letters! Recruiters and hiring
• If salary requirements are requested in a job posting, managers tell us that formulaic letters often
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
end up in the “no” pile. The applicant who
Formatting
discuss them in your cover letter. It’s best not to trap
customizes his or her words is more appealing,
yourself by naming a specific amount. Instead, say and will be given preference over others.
something like “my salary requirements are in step
with the responsibilities of the position and the exper-
tise I would offer your company.” If an ad or job post- The Basic Cover Letter Format
Writing a Tasty
ing absolutely requires a salary figure, state a range, Fortunately, when it comes to cover letters, there is a
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
such as “seeking a compensation package to include general recipe to follow. Once you learn it, you’ll be
benefits and a salary in the low- to mid-$30s.” able to vary your approach to suit individual positions,
industries, and employer preferences.
Every cover letter should include:
Top Five Things Recruiters • Your contact information
• Date
digital delivery
Look for in a Cover Letter
CHAPTER 7
• Employer’s contact information
1 Readability • Paragraph 1: Why you are writing
• Paragraph 2: What you have to offer them
2 A sense of the applicant’s personality • Paragraph 3: What happens next
• Closing
How an applicant found out about the job
3 opening
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
Let’s look at the three core paragraphs of your cover

tO Interview
4 Something eye-catching letter in greater detail.
Evidence that the applicant has

5 researched the company
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
The First Bite: the firm’s highly successful PR campaign for Allied
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Why You Are Writing Hospital Corporation. I was excited to learn of your
to Satisfy
Your introduction will be the most customized part of new healthcare clients and am confident that my
each cover letter you write—and yes, you will be writ- training and experience will enable me to make a
ing a unique cover letter for every company to which strong contribution to public relations campaigns.
you apply! A good way to start thinking about your
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
introduction is to list the things that attracted you to • My recent BA in biology, paid and volunteer research
a particular job in the first place. Are your skills so well experience, and enthusiasm for work in the envi-
suited to the job that the description practically restates ronmental science field have led me to pursue
your resume? Have you been using the company’s prod- employment with your company. Therefore, I am
ucts for years? What standout features will distinguish submitting my resume for your consideration.
you from other applicants? Did a mutual friend or
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
colleague tell you about the opening? Were you a vol- Satisfy Their Craving: What You
unteer in the Peace Corps just as the hiring manager Have to Offer
was? These are the kinds of things that will pop out to After you’ve caught your potential employer’s atten-
a recruiter—and will differentiate and personalize your tion, it’s time to tell them what you have to offer. Let’s
application. repeat that: what you have to offer. It is your job to sell
After you’ve listed some of your connections or yourself to the employer. And that means showing them
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
attractions to the job, draft a few openers to see which something you have to offer that will benefit them. You
approach will be the most effective. Does it have to be should know what that is from the research you’ve done
a work of art? No. The key is to have a particular reason on the employer and about the job opening.
for contacting the company. The failure to state this Think of your letter in terms of the reader’s interest
reason is why generic cover letters raise the ire of most and put yourself in the employer’s shoes. What would
Writing a Tasty
hiring managers. If you’re sending a firm the same let- you be looking for? What would get you interested in a
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
ter that you’ve sent to hundreds of other companies candidate? What are the most important qualities in a
because you haven’t taken the time to research their candidate for this position? What about your company’s
company or the job opening, why should they take the culture would make a particular candidate attractive?
time to read your application? The answers to these questions might include spe-
Following are examples of compelling introductory cific skills, talents, experience, or contacts in a field.
statements: Don’t be tempted to fill in this section by restating bul-
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
• While researching opportunities in the legal field, I let points from your resume. That would be a waste of
learned about XYZ LLP’s distinguished record in the recruiter’s time. Craft a few compelling statements
employment law. Because your firm’s specialization that describe your fit with the job so that the reader
matches my training, hands-on experience, and career can quickly assess what you have to offer. Ideally, these
goals, I am enclosing my resume for your review. statements should persuade the reader to look at your
resume and find out more about you.
• Mark Jones, director of marketing at RBC Company, You might summarize your years of experience in a
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
recommended that I contact you about opportuni- trade:

ties with your public relations team. As supervisor • “I bring to your company ten years of success in
during my recent internship at RBC, Mr. Jones delivering increased sales and profits in the con-
witnessed the skills and effort I applied to producing sumer products industry.”
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
• “My strengths in both marketing and management A Satisfying Finish: What
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
will enable me to make a significant contribution to Happens Next
to Satisfy
your regional sales force.” Now that you’ve grabbed the recruiter’s attention and
gotten her interested in your qualifications, don’t just
• “This job represents the perfect alignment of my edu- leave her hanging. Take charge and state what the next
cation and experience in art history, as well as my step will be. These statements should be assertive, but
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
practical marketing skills.” not overly aggressive. Keep in mind that you’re a profes-
sional engaging in business communication to establish
Again, summarize and entice, but don’t repeat your a mutually beneficial relationship. Your final paragraph
resume. can state your intention to contact the employer to set
Now go back to the list of achievement statements up an interview, create a sense of urgency to compel
you created for your resume. Next to that, list the par- the employer to contact you, present an offer that the
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
ticular needs of your potential employer based on the employer cannot refuse, or any other irresistible tidbit
job listing or your research. By comparing these two that you can devise.
lists, you should be able to prioritize the employer’s
needs and match those to your fine qualities. Some Structure to
Once you’ve chosen your highlights, rewrite them Get You Started
into an effective paragraph that follows your introduc- On the next page is a general outline that you can use to
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
tion in a way that makes sense. For example, you and create your own cover letters.
the recruiter are both tennis enthusiasts and you’ve
mentioned that in your opener. Go on to point out
how your love of tennis is based on a sense of friendly
competition and precision, which are the same quali-
Writing a Tasty
ties you’ve learned from your years as a [insert job title
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
here].
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Cover Letter Format

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Your Header
Address
Telephone
Email
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Date
Employer Name
Title
Organization
Resume Success
The Recipe for
Address
CHAPTER 4
Dear __________:
[Why You Are Writing]

I am writing to submit my application for a __________ position in your _________ [city, state or location]
office. I am currently a _________ at ____________, and it is with enthusiasm that I ask to contribute my
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
training and experience to this exciting new position.

Formatting
I have been a ________ working on ___________ for nearly ______ years, and I am committed to
pursuing a career in ___________________. While I have greatly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity
to work at the forefront of these exciting issues while at ____________, I feel the need for a personal
and professional change. Your organization is poised to __________, and it is truly exciting to see the
_______________ in your [city/location] office. This position offers the opportunity to participate in
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
________________.
[What You Have to Offer]

I believe that my work experience makes me well suited to assume the responsibilities of a ____________
position. [Give examples.]
As you can see from my resume, my background in _______ extends beyond my work history at
Digital Delivery
____________. As a result of my experiences, I have become a quick learner who ________________.

CHAPTER 7
[Describe more skills and personal qualities that match the position.]
[What Happens Next]

I would welcome the chance to discuss this opportunity with you at your convenience. If you require any
additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at ___________ or by telephone at
___-___-____. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
Your name
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Cover Letter
to Satisfy
format
On Your Mark,
The preceding cover letter outline is geared toward
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
responding to a particular position opening. The
format could easily be converted to a broadcast
letter by changing the first paragraph to:
I am interested in pursuing career opportunities in

your _________ [city, state or location] office. I am
currently a _________ at ____________, and it is with
Resume Success
The Recipe for
enthusiasm that I ask to contribute my training
CHAPTER 4
and experience to your organization.
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
Continue
to page 84
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
for sample
cover letters.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Sample Cover
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Letters
to Satisfy
› The letters in this section demonstrate a variety

of formats, fields, and professional levels. Don’t take
the examples here as prescriptions. Instead, use them
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
as inspiration for creating concise correspondence that

reflects your strengths. These letters contain fictional-
ized names and organizations, but the information is
based on real work histories and position listings.
Resume Success
Sample Cover Letter 1

The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
A Specific Position
Although somewhat lengthy, this letter does a

thorough job of emphasizing the relevant skills and
goals of the applicant. Note that it is addressed to
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Human Resources and therefore includes the job

number as a subject header. Ideally, addressing an
individual is preferable to just going with Human
Resources Administrator or Hiring Manager; you
can call the organization to inquire about the hiring
person’s name and title. Note, too, that the heading
matches the style and format of the heading the
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
candidate used on her resume.

Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
LETICIA ROBERTS
111 Fox Hollow Rd.
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Buffalo NY, 12077
to Satisfy
716-555-3232
leticia.r@mail.com
June 10, 2011
World Art Museum
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
200 Lafayette Street
San Francisco, CA 94100
FAX: 415-555-9410
RE: Position # 436654, Membership Assistant
Resume Success
Dear Human Resources Administrator:
The Recipe for

CHAPTER 4
I am applying for the position of Membership Assistant with the World Art Museum. I learned of the
opportunity through your online posting on Craigslist.org, and feel that my qualifications are a good
match for the responsibilities of the position.
I have several years of customer service and administrative experience in the nonprofit community.
As Member Services Assistant for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC),
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
I responded to daily requests for the association’s library services department, providing publication
information and resource referrals to association members and the public. I was also responsible
for editing informational and promotional materials, as well as preparing for and working on-site
at the association’s annual international conference. As office support person for the ASPECT
Foundation, I processed applications to the organization’s study abroad program, distributed program
materials to applicants, and used Microsoft Word and Excel extensively. These duties required strong
Writing a Tasty
communication skills, attention to detail, and an ability to both organize and prioritize several tasks at
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
once.
I am very interested in education and the arts. At Bryn Mawr College, I took courses in both art and art
history, and I participated in an educational exchange program through which I studied Renaissance art
in Florence, Italy. Since then, I have taken extension courses through UC Berkeley in Asian and Latin
American art history.
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
As a result of these experiences, I am enthusiastic about continuing to work with nonprofits, and would
like to further explore career possibilities with public arts organizations. A position as Membership
Assistant with the World Art Museum would combine my member services and clerical skills, my
interests, and my career goals. I am confident I can be of value to your organization and the customers
you serve. Please feel free to call me to set up an interview, or if you need more information. I look
forward to hearing from you. CHAPTER 8
From Resume
Sincerely,
tO Interview
Leticia Roberts
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Personal Contact
This letter is quick and to the point. The

introduction can be brief, as the employer has
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
already heard of the candidate through their

mutual contact. Note that the employer is
addressed by her first name; only do this if your
contact has suggested it is appropriate. When
in doubt, include the full name and title of your
addressee.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
Bill Pendleton
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
380 Johnson Ave
Gloversville, NY, 12078
518-555-3900
bp@rmail.com
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
June 14, 2011
Cathy Stevenson
McKinsey & Company
75 Park Plaza, 3rd Floor
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
Boston, MA 02116-3934
Dear Cathy,
CHAPTER 5
Frank William suggested that I forward my resume to you for your consideration. I am a
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
second-year MBA student at the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue
University, and I am currently working as a summer associate at Motorola in Chicago.
As Frank may have mentioned, I am in the top 5% of my class at Krannert, and I was
Writing a Tasty
recently elected president of the MBA student body. In and out of the classroom, I have
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
consistently demonstrated my capacity to make a positive impact, regardless of the
situation. My analytical and personal skills are ideally suited to management consulting,
and I am confident that I would be an asset to McKinsey & Company.
I will call you next Wednesday to discuss next steps. If you’ve any questions regarding my
digital delivery
resume or qualifications, please do not hesitate to call. I look forward to speaking with you.
CHAPTER 7
Sincerely,
Bill Pendleton
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
Broadcast Letter
As mentioned earlier, the broadcast letter can

On Your Mark,
introduce you to a company where no opening

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
or specific match exists. Linda emphasizes

her personal qualities, as well as some of her
background. This letter style is assertive, and
will be most effective if she has done a good job
researching the qualities this firm looks for in
its candidates. The conclusion suggests a very
proactive approach to targeting the prospective
Resume Success
The Recipe for
employer and requires follow-through.

CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
to Satisfy
LINDA S. BRADFORD
305 Locust Drive #12
Los Angeles, CA 90046
310-555-0883
linda.s.bradford@mail.com
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
August 30, 2011
Hamilton Trout
Accenture Consulting
Spear Street Tower
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
One Market Plaza
Suite 3700
San Francisco, CA 94105
CHAPTER 5
Dear Hamilton:
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
I am writing to introduce myself as a candidate for a consulting position at your firm. I have
excellent academic and professional credentials, as indicated on my enclosed resume.
Throughout my professional career, I have adhered to the highest standards of excellence
Writing a Tasty
and have demonstrated strong communication skills, analytical ability, poise, creativity, and
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
dedication.
Accenture’s excellent reputation and corporate clientele are an ideal match with my
interests and background. In particular, I believe my experience in formulating legal
strategies and preparing analyses for complex litigation cases would be an excellent
digital delivery
addition to your Strategic Services Competency Group.
CHAPTER 7
I plan to be in San Francisco the week of September 15 and would like to meet with you
then to further discuss my qualifications. I will call you on Friday and look forward to
scheduling a meeting at your convenience in mid-September.
Very truly yours,

CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
Linda S. Bradford
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
CHAPTER 2
Cover Letter Dos and Don’ts

30 Seconds
to Satisfy
As you start writing the powerful, compelling cover letter that will entice any employer to take a good,
long look at your equally powerful resume, keep these basic principles in mind:
DON’T DO
DON’T DO
On Your Mark,
misspell anyone’s name, confuse their job title address your cover letter to the proper hiring
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
or department, or incorrectly name the job for manager, by name. Don’t know who that is? Do
which you are applying. Pay close attention to some research, or pick up the phone and call. Still
the language used in the job listing, if you’re can’t find out who the correct person is? Then
responding to one, and double-check any address your letter to the name of the human
personal names you use. resources manager who will probably be reading
the letter.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
DON’T DO
try to be too cute or use humor that might not be craft a compelling opening line that will draw the
funny or appropriate to everyone. reader into the body of your letter..
DON’T DO
restate the facts of your resume. Your cover letter point out any connections you have to the
CHAPTER 5
company, either through a colleague, background

Your Resume
should complement your resume by introducing

Writing and
Formatting
you in a personal way, stating your reasons for in the company’s business, or particular interest
applying for a particular position, and enticing the in the company’s service or product.
hiring manager to look at your resume.
DON’T DO
Writing a Tasty
go on and on and on. You should be able to state craft clear, concise sentences that are error-free
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
your case in three to four well-crafted paragraphs. and professional, without being stuffy or fluffy.
DON’T DO
be arrogant or presumptuous. You are the one be convincing and assertive with your letter. You
approaching the employer, after all. don’t want to come off as passive.
Digital Delivery
DON’T DO
CHAPTER 7
use bloated or flowery language. Make your state the next step, as in “I’ll call to set up an
statements clearly and get to the point as appointment,” “I am available on Tuesday
quickly as possible. afternoon for an interview,” or “I’ll follow up
next week to answer any questions you have.”
DON’T DO
rush through writing your cover letter. include all of your contact information in your
cover letter. There is always the chance that your
CHAPTER 8
As we stated before, while cover letters are not

From Resume
tO Interview
always read, a poorly written one will send your resume and cover letter could be separated, and
application to the “no” pile as quickly as a poorly you don’t want to leave a potentially interested
written resume will. hiring manager with no way of contacting you.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 5
91
WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE
Digital Delivery
7
This Application
Is Experiencing
Technical Difficulties...................94
Getting Past the

Spam Guard Dogs........................95
Using Online
Application Systems.....................96
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
This Application puting platforms than Word documents do. In addi-

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
tion, Adobe Reader is a free download and comes

Is Experiencing
to Satisfy
preinstalled on nearly every computer shipped today.

Technical PDF also strips out macros and revisions (sometimes
exposed by your software’s “track changes” tool) that
Difficulties could potentially cause problems.
On Your Mark,
› You may think email is the best thing since the

Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Pony Express, but that doesn’t mean your recruiter 3. Plain text format with line breaks: Formatting
does. Don’t expect the person on the receiving end your resume as plain text allows databases and data
to fumble around with an attached file in a desperate recognition software to read it without the confu-
quest to review your qualifications. If you have any sion caused by formatting. Use this version to cut
doubts about the quality of the format in which your and paste your document into the body of an email
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
resume will arrive, because of platform or application message. In Microsoft Word, use the “Save As”
variables, it’s best to send a hard copy as well. “Nothing option to save your resume (named differently from
is worse than printing an emailed resume with a bunch the first version) as plain text. Select the “Insert line
of garbage symbols in it!” rants a recruiter. Faxing breaks” checkbox.
is almost as fast as email, and often more reliable,
although it’s definitely a good idea to follow up a faxed 4. Plain text format without line breaks: Use this ver-
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
resume with a phone call to make sure it was received sion when you’re cutting and pasting parts of your
in legible form. resume, such as into multiple fields on a Web form.
Let’s take a look at some steps you can take to In Microsoft Word, use the “Save As” option to save
increase the likelihood that your exquisitely planned your resume as plain text, but don’t select the “Insert
and masterfully written resume actually makes it into line breaks” checkbox.
Writing a Tasty
the hands of its intended recipient in legible form.

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Using plain text versions will help you avoid format-

Save Four Versions ting conflicts that can make your document difficult to
of Your Resume read. Unfortunately, in the plain text versions you’ll lose
Once you’ve crafted the perfect resume, be sure to save much of the formatting you took great care to develop
it in four electronic versions: for the presentation resume. To minimize the damage:
1. Microsoft Word or other word processing software 1. Replace bullets with asterisks (*).
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
document: This is your presentation resume—the 2. Offset category headings with a row of tildes (~) or
one with every formatting and stylistic bell and capital letters.
whistle, and which you’ll print on high-quality, heavy 3. Change your margin settings to 2 inches; 60 charac-
bond paper. This is the one that you’ll send to recruit- ters (including spaces) is the maximum line length
ers via regular mail and the one you’ll take with you you should use to ensure your resume displays cor-
when you interview. Keep several copies on hand. rectly in different email programs. This setting will
allow you to see and control where line breaks occur.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
2. Adobe’s PDF format: Increasingly, PDF is the pre- 4. Select a fixed-width typeface like Courier and a
ferred format for sending a formatted copy of your 12-point font size.
resume via email. PDF documents tend to display 5. Add white space for readability.
and print with greater consistency on different com- 6. Do a test run. Email to yourself or a friend.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Getting Past the versions of the software won’t be able to open with-
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
out a converter. So don’t forget to save your materials
to Satisfy
Spam Guard Dogs using the “Save As” command, selecting the older .doc
› Spam and computer viruses have changed format. Along the same lines, never send zipped or
the rules of the road for communicating with poten- otherwise compressed files that the recipient will have
tial employers via email. Many companies now use to manipulate in order to read; a busy consultant isn’t
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
sophisticated filtering to guard company inboxes from going to bother.
potentially hazardous emails. In many cases these filters While we’re at it, here’s a quick note on naming your
delete or divert suspected spam before it even reaches document: Be sure to include your name (at least your
its intended target. You might be wondering how this last name) in the name of the file (Jane_Doe_resume.
affects you, the innocent job seeker. After all, you’re doc) so that it can be reunited with your cover message
not peddling Viagra or get-rich-quick schemes, so your if the two part ways.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
emailed resume should be safe, right? Wrong! Most One last tip for resumes and cover letters attached to
spam filters don’t even bother notifying the sender, e-mails: When you run a spell check before sending off
meaning your email may disappear into a black hole. your attachments, make sure to click on “Ignore All” for
How can you avoid the curse of the overzealous spam any words, terms, or proper names that your spell check
filter? We suggest the following precautionary measures: doesn’t recognize. You don’t want the recruiter to open
up a resume or cover letter filled with red and green
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
First and Foremost,
Formatting
squiggly lines.
Follow Directions!
If a company has advised you not to send email attach- Use a Spam-Filter-Resistant
ments, don’t. In fact, unless a company or recruiter Subject Line
specifically instructs you to send your resume as an Don’t leave the subject line blank, but do keep it short
Writing a Tasty
attachment, send it in the body of your email in plain and sweet. Avoid words that are often used by spam-
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
text format. mers, such as “free,” “offer,” “increase,” and so on. In
We know that plain text resumes won’t win any short, the less your email looks like a spam message,
beauty contests, but they often represent the most reli- the less likely it is to be filtered. If you’re responding to
able way to communicate your qualifications to hiring an online job announcement, you may want to include
personnel. If you simply can’t bear the thought of send- the job title or requisition number in the subject line,
ing a plain text resume on its own, you can always follow keeping in mind that the recruiter receiving your mes-
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
up with a beautifully formatted paper copy in the mail. sage may be responsible for filling multiple positions.
The job posting will often include specific instructions
Two Words: Easy Access for what to include in the subject line. These aren’t sug-
If you have been instructed to send your resume as gestions; Follow the directions that the employer has
an attachment, there’s often an accompanying list outlined.
of acceptable file formats that you should most defi- Leave punctuation marks (especially exclamation
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
nitely pay attention to. If not, we’d recommend either marks) out of the subject line, and don’t use all capital
tO Interview
PDF or Microsoft Word. A word to the wise on Word, letters or colored backgrounds. While it may be tempt-
however: Starting with the release of Microsoft Office ing to use the subject line of an email as a marketing
2007, Word will by default save files using a new for- ploy to grab a recruiter’s attention—Attention! Ace
mat (Open XML, with a .docx extension) that older Analyst Available—we recommend a more conserva-
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
tive approach that will help the person on the receiving ager on your behalf; that way you can check to be sure
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
end track, file, or forward your resume to an interested that your email has been received without incident.
to Satisfy
colleague. When in doubt, include your name and the Alternatively, if you can, follow up on your emailed
position applied for. For example: resume with a hard copy sent through regular mail.
• Grace Adler, Business Analyst
• Karen Walker, Strategy Consultant
Using Online
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
Check Your Resume for Words

that Are Overused in Spam Application
Stay away from action phrases that are also used to mar- Systems
ket unsavory content over email. You may not wish to › Many firms today use online tracking systems
say, for example, that you’ve “enhanced” or “enlarged” to manage their inflow of resumes; some even use their
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
anything, even if these terms are used in a perfectly online systems exclusively. If you fail to properly enter
appropriate way in your resume. A word to the wise your information into the system, you may never be
about numbers: Rather than citing the $50,000,000 in visible in the candidate pool. Recruiters rarely add
sales you’ve personally supervised, change your numeri- hard copy resumes into these systems, so even though
cal reference to $50 million, which is less likely to set off you may prefer human contact, it’s a mistake to avoid
the spam filter alarm bells. the online application process. You do, however, need
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
to be savvy about how these systems work so you can

Send Emails in Plain Text—Not optimize your application materials for the best results.
HTML—Format
How can you tell which is which? If you’re writing an How They Work
email in which you can alter the appearance of text (you Though they differ in the amount of information they
Writing a Tasty
can italicize words, underline text, or change the font), capture, online application systems tend to be quite
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
then you’re likely composing an HTML email. Most similar behind the scenes. Most automatically evalu-
email programs allow you to toggle between the two ate a candidate’s fit against a given open position. They
formats; if you’re using Microsoft Outlook and want to also typically dump your information into a candidate
double-check, click on “Format” in your new message database, for automated matching against positions
window and be sure that “plain text” is selected. that open up in the future, or for recruiter-driven data
searches. Regardless, expect to apply directly for each
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
Use a Professional Email position that interests you, which may involve repeat-
Address ing the whole form-filling process again or creating an
Stay away from clever, cutesy or—even worse—poten- account on the firm’s site.
tially provocative email addresses. You may think that After you submit an application, some systems will
drolltroll@underthebridge.com is absolutely hilarious, send you a confirmation email, some will display it on
but the overworked consultant on the receiving end screen, and some will give you no sign that your submis-
may be less amused. sion has gone through successfully. If the instructions
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
indicate that you are supposed to receive a message and

Play It Safe you don’t, try reapplying, or contact the company to
If you are able, ask a personal contact within the firm ensure that your application has been received.
to forward your resume to the appropriate hiring man-
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Be Thorough and Thoughtful
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Don’t be fooled by the one-sidedness of these systems;
to Satisfy
Key words
recruiters really are on the other end evaluating your
responses. So don’t skip questions, ignore instructions, Industry Terms Market
or bang out your answers without editing them, thereby Analysis segmentation
proving your lack of fitness for consulting. You should Applications Outsourcing
On Your Mark,
Applied research Sell-through analysis
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
treat your responses with the same seriousness and care
you bring to your other written materials. Another tip: Balanced scorecard Six Sigma
Baseline Supply chain
Some of these systems allow you to both enter your
Benchmarking Total quality
information into web forms and upload your materials; management
Branding
unless you are specifically instructed not to, we recom-
B-to-B (or B2B or Personal
mend you do both, because this may make your infor- business-to-business)
Resume Success
The Recipe for
Characteristics
CHAPTER 4
mation more visible to the recruiter. B-to-C (or B2C or busi-
ness-to-consumer) Analytical ability
Business process Attention to detail
Key in on Key Words reengineering Client focus
You may be aware that many firms try to streamline Case team Communication skills
their recruiting process by using specialized software Change management Follow-through
that scans your resume and other materials for key- Commerce chain Intellectual curiosity
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
management
Writing and
Formatting
words and phrases selected by the recruiter. The more Interpersonal
Consultancy aptitude
matches, the higher your application’s score. As this
CRM (or customer Goal orientation
type of software has become more prevalent, career relationship
management) Motivation
advisors have begun suggesting that candidates pepper
Engagement Multitasking ability
their resumes and cover letters with frequently occur-
Negotiating ability
Writing a Tasty
ring keywords and phrases. Enterprise
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
application Persuasiveness
Here’s what you need to know about them: They’re ERP (or enterprise Quantitative skills
generally nouns or short phrases. They include specific resource planning)
Results focus
skills, tools, credentials, attributes, and experiences Five forces
Tolerance of
germane to the job in question. They probably mirror Gross margin ambiguity
some of the language used in the job postings and on Internal consultant
Inventory Tools
the firms’ websites. If you get the chance to interact
digital delivery
management Excel spreadsheet
CHAPTER 7
with employees at the firm, listen to the words they use, Just-in-time (JIT) Financial modeling
keeping in mind that firms specializing in a particular delivery PowerPoint deck
industry or function—such as health care or human Knowledge
management
resources—have their own lingo as well. We’ve com-
posed the list to the right to get you started.
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Having said all this, we should close with a warn- Do Cover Letters Still
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
ing—it’s best to temper your enthusiasm for keywords Apply Online?

to Satisfy
with a healthy dose of good judgment. Particularly if When it comes to online cover messages, we suggest
you’re applying for a consulting position through an you follow the same guidelines we gave you when talk-
on-campus recruiting process at your college or business ing about cover letters in print. If you can do without,
school, your resume will be reviewed first and foremost great (especially if you’ve already answered some open-
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
by a human being (and quite possibly an entire com- ended questions—like “What most qualifies you for the
mittee of them who will decide on your interview fate XYZ position?”—during the application process). If
by consensus). For better or for worse, consulting firms you’re given a text field in which you can paste a cover
have their own unique set of screening criteria that letter, you probably should. If you’re not given one,
enable them to pare down the consulting hopefuls from but have a valid reason to submit a cover letter, simply
the consulting hapless, and at the resume review stage, include it in the same document with your resume. (If
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
it’s typically the perceived quality of the school you’ve you do this, be sure to add a hard page break between
attended (both undergraduate and graduate), your aca- your cover letter and resume so that your formatting
demic achievement (read: GPA and test scores), and the stays intact and the entire package is more presentable.)
quality of your work experience to date that matter.
So don’t get carried away. Never attempt to cut
and splice the entire job description into the body of
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
your resume (or cover letter) in an attempt to cram

in as many keywords as possible. This strategy almost
always backfires; to the recruiters who are reviewing
your resume, you’ll come across as contrived rather than
credible. Rather than trying to outsmart resume scan-
Writing a Tasty
ning software, your best bet is to focus on the skills that

CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
the consulting profession requires and write a resume

that highlights a record of sustained achievement in
these areas.
digital delivery
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 5

From Resume
to Interview
8
Following Up............................. 102
Anticipate Your
Interviewer’s Questions.............. 103
Send Those
Thank-You Notes....................... 104
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Following Up
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
› What a relief! The writing, editing, and proof- If you need guidance on what to say, try adapting
to Satisfy
reading are finally over. You’ve hit “Send,” and your one of these scripts:
perfectly tailored resume and cover letter are with your
prospective employer. Tingles of anticipation run up Sample Script 1
and down your spine as you daydream about the call “This is Kelly Purcell. I sent you an application for the
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
you’ll soon be receiving for an interview. Think you can EMT position a few days ago and am following up to
relax? Think again. Support all that hard work by fol- provide any additional information you may want. If
lowing through with an additional step. If you really, you are available to discuss my qualifications at greater
truly want the job, continue to show your interest after length, I would like to schedule an interview. I can be
you have sent your application. reached today at 555-444-5555. On Thursday and
If you have submitted your application materials Friday, it’s best to call my cell phone, 555-657-6699.
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
directly to someone in the company or to the com- I’m looking forward to speaking with you directly.”
pany’s HR department, place a phone call or send an
email to reiterate your desire to learn more about the Sample Script 2
position. Don’t become a nuisance, but do be persis- “This is Merrill Morgan calling on Wednesday. I’m an
tent. Use the opportunity to present your basic qualifi- MBA candidate from Fuqua with experience in the
cations and affirm your interest in the company. M&A group at UBS. At John Smith’s request, I sent
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Follow these basic guidelines for constructive my resume to you on Monday. I would like to schedule
follow-up, and you won’t go wrong: an interview and will call you on Friday to discuss my
• Be persistent but not pesky. Two calls in one day qualifications.”
are overkill; two calls in one week are probably fine.
• Be prescriptive in your requests. Ask specifically for In the latter script, the candidate leaves a brief mes-
Writing a Tasty
what you want, whether it’s to schedule an interview sage with some information on his background so the
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
or to have a casual chat on the phone. associate or recruiter will remember seeing the resume.
• Keep the ball in your court. You’ll probably feel He is specific about his plans to call back on Friday,
more in control if you can plan the next steps rather which gives him an opportunity to inform John Smith
than wait by the phone. that he followed up on his request.
• Make yourself easily available. Provide a number If you’ve left three messages and all have been
where a message can be left at any time. ignored, you may want to send your resume to someone
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
else at the organization and try the process again. Many

Employers say that at this early stage, there is a fine firms communicate primarily through voice mail,
line between the interested candidate and the pushy although you might have luck using email or even leav-
one. But the hiring staff we interviewed unanimously ing a good old-fashioned message with the receptionist.
said it couldn’t hurt and could most definitely help Tailor your approach to what you’ve learned about how
your application if you take some time to follow up by that particular company communicates.
contacting them in a respectful manner—a few calls or
CHAPTER 8
From Resume
tO Interview
emails, and that’s it.

CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
prepared to explain any lapses between jobs or between
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
your sophomore and junior year, for example. If you
to Satisfy
Prepare Your 30-Second Spiel
traveled, have ready an explanation, or anecdotes, that
The best way to yourself on the describe something you learned during that time. If you
prepare for the phone, in making
took time off to have a baby or resolve a personal issue,
first interview network contacts,
is to know your or in an interview you’ll probably need to supply that information to the
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
resume extremely when the interviewer hiring manager. It’s usually best not to go into a lot of
well. Develop and has not had a personal detail—insiders tell us this is a warning sign,
practice a 20- to chance to review
30-second pitch your qualifications. especially in the cover letter or first interview. But be
that summarizes Preparing your clear and focus on what you accomplished during that
your experience and pitch will help time. Employers want to be sure you can handle intel-
major achievements. you articulate the
lectual rigor, jobs with increasing responsibility, and
Resume Success
The Recipe for
You can base this items listed on
CHAPTER 4
presentation on your your resume. You balancing your personal and professional pursuits.
objective statements should be able to
or professional describe points on Job Hopping
summary/profile. You your resume in a
will use it countless clear, concise, and If you’ve been at several companies in just a few years,
times to introduce convincing manner. or never stayed at one company longer than a year or
two, you risk being perceived as a job hopper. Your
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
resume reader may wonder whether you’ve been fired
Anticipate Your for poor performance. Frequent career changes some-

times indicate that a person has difficulty sticking with
Interviewer’s a situation, working through problems, or committing
Questions
to a job. Many employers look for people who want to
Writing a Tasty
stay around for a while—after all, employee turnover is
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
› While recruiters and hiring managers may costly in real dollars because of time spent in the search
be impressed with the assets listed in your resume, they and the loss of operational knowledge. However, in
will search for potential red flags to probe during the today’s job market, resume readers are more accustomed
first interview. In particular, they will look for gaps to encountering resumes with work histories showing
in qualifications or employment inconsistencies, and several different employers. If you can clearly articu-
may even formulate questions directed at resume weak- late how each job has contributed to your professional
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
nesses. Read your resume with a critical eye, looking development and if you can produce strong references,
for things that might appear odd or incongruent—for you should have no problem addressing any negative
example, position titles that don’t seem to correspond perceptions.
to the duties listed or a series of positions that decrease
(rather than increase) in responsibility. Be prepared to Hometown Hires
address these issues should you get an interview. If you’ve spent most of your academic and professional
CHAPTER
From
life in Boston, an employer may question your sud-

CHAPTER 88
From Resume
tO
tO Interview
Time Gaps
Interview
den interest in joining the Chicago office of a firm.

Resume
One reason recruiters and hiring managers like chrono- Consider writing about your goals or perspectives on
logical resumes is that they want to know whether a relocating in your cover letter; this can be addressed
candidate took time off between school years or jobs. Be with the “why you chose them” paragraph (discussed in
CHAPTER 9
Reference
For Your

chAPter 1
aT a GLaNcE
the “Writing a Tasty Cover Letter” chapter). Be aware The thank-you letter is another tool you can use
chAPter 2
30 SEcoNDS
that an employer who is thinking about flying you out to add extra oomph to your candidacy. Short and
To SaTISFy
for an interview will probably grill you by phone before sweet, this note shows gratitude for the time the
ponying up the funds to pay for you to come out for a employer has taken to review your qualifications,
face-to-face interview. and it’s an opportunity to demonstrate (again) that
you are clearer than ever in your understanding of
oN yoUR MaRk,
GET SET, PREP!
chAPter 3
the fit between the position and your qualifications

Send ThoSe and goals. The thank-you letter has a bonus function,
too: It gives you a final opportunity to address any
Thank-You noTeS weakness or clarify any misunderstanding that may
› sAY thAt All your hard work, your customized have occurred in the interview process. The sample
cover letter, and tailored resume have led to a meeting thank-you letter we’ve included mentions specifics
RESUME SUccESS
ThE REcIPE FoR
chAPter 4
with an employer. Your research into the company and of the meeting, shows appreciation, and reminds the
your own background helped you have a smooth and employer of the candidate’s strengths. Here’s a sam-
convincing interview. Or maybe the interview went ple of an emailed thank you letter that you can use to
pretty well, but there were a few points you wish you model one of your own:
had covered or stated differently. (We’ve all been there!)
chAPter 5
yoUR RESUME
WRITING aND
FoRMaTTING
SAMPLE THANK-YOU NOTE:
Dear Ms. Gonzales,
Thank you again for a most inspiring meeting. I know how hectic your schedule is as you head
WRITING a TaSTy
chAPter 6
covER LETTER
toward the restaurant opening, and how many resumes you must have received for the assistant
chef position, so I am especially appreciative you took the time to meet with me and share your
insights on the business. I picked up a copy of that issue of Gourmet you mentioned, and you’re
so right—that feature article on Tuscany really missed the boat! There’s so much more to Tuscan
cuisine than steak and white beans, as you’ve demonstrated in your cookbook. I look forward to
branching out from Neapolitan cuisine and am sure our regional specializations will prove a fitting
DIGITaL DELIvERy
complement for one another—and a delicious one at that.

chAPter 7
I look forward to continuing our conversation in the kitchen at LouLou in the near future.
Best regards,
Sally
P.S.: Your friend and mine, Ruthie, sends her best, and says to say thanks for the pork chop tips.
chAPter 8
FRoM RESUME
To INTERvIEW
chAPter 9
REFERENcE
FoR yoUR
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 Writing and CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER
CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 1 30 Seconds On Your Mark, The Recipe for Formatting Writing a Tasty CHAPTER 7 From
From Resume
Resume For Your
at a glance to Satisfy Get Set, Prep! Resume Success Your Resume Cover Letter Digital Delivery tO
tO Interview
Interview Reference

For Your
9
Reference
Recommended Resources........... 108
Books......................................... 109
Surveys....................................... 109
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Recommended Researching the Position

CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Resources • The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the

to Satisfy
Bureau of Labor Statistics contains valuable infor-

› The resources that follow represent some of mation on occupational paths. Learn about quali-
the best tools in developing job search materials. They fications, trends, and related occupations at www.
correspond to suggestions we’ve made in this guide bls.gov/oco/.
On Your Mark,
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
about preparation through research, and also provide • Salary.com features searchable salary information by
access to more resume and cover letter information career categories and by location. Use this informa-
and samples. However, be aware that this is but a small tion to research and respond to salary expectation
sampling of the information that’s available to help questions.
you effectively develop killer cover letters and resumes. • WetFeet’s Real People Profiles provide a glimpse of
So use the following as a jumping-off point in your what it’s like to work in a variety of industries, from
Resume Success
The Recipe for
CHAPTER 4
research endeavors and feel free to explore the vast array accounting to venture capital (www.wetfeet.com).
of information that’s out there on this topic. • Job market and hiring trend information from NACE
(National Association of Colleges and Employers)
Resumes and Letters can keep you up to date on your job search (www.
• Get resume feedback from a career or resume adviser. jobweb.com).
Most university career centers offer free resume con-
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Industries and Fields

Formatting
sultations or workshops for students, and for alumni

at a nominal fee. • The U.S. Department of Labor’s America’s Career
• Check out WetFeet’s website for resume advice at InfoNet can give you a sense of the bigger picture
www.wetfeet.com. on wages and employment trends (www.acinet.org/
• Have a look at the Riley Guide, which comprises acinet/).
Writing a Tasty
an extensive compilation of links to information on • The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides its Career
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
writing resumes and cover letters, as well as other Guide to Industries at www.bls.gov/oco/cg/.
useful job search information (www.rileyguide.com). • Search information on associations in almost every
field or industry via online directories: ASAE and
Researching Employers the Center for Association Leadership (www.asaenet.
• Use Google or another Internet search engine to find org/GeneralDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=1796) and
a company or organization’s website (www.google. the Internet Public Library’s database of Associations
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
com). on the Net (www.ipl.org/div/aon).

• WetFeet Industry Profiles give unvarnished insider • Associations often have useful industry and career
information on top companies, including key indi- path information on their websites, and contact-
cators for success such as annual revenue, employee ing members can be a great way to network—one
hiring numbers, and latest trends (www.wetfeet. of the best sources of insider information for your
to
From Resumeand
com). job search.

From Resume
• NewsDirectory.com or Bizjournals (www.bizjournals.

CHAPTER 8
8
tO Interview
Interview
CHAPTER
com) can help you in your search for current infor-

Beyond
mation on companies, organizations, and industry

news.
CHAPTER 9
Reference
Reference
Your
For Your
For
CHAPTER 1
at a glance
Books Surveys
CHAPTER 2
30 Seconds
Your Rights in the Workplace › Here’s more information about the two
to Satisfy
This book does a good job of informing readers about surveys cited in this book:
their rights and responsibilities as future employees.
Barbara Kate Repa (Nolo Press) ResumeDoctor.com provides expert advice to job
seekers, employers, and members of the media.
On Your Mark,
Gallery of Best Cover Letters:
Get Set, Prep!
CHAPTER 3
ResumeDoctor.com is a subsidiary of Personal
A Collection of Quality Cover Letters Department Inc. (PDI), Vermont’s largest indepen-
by Professional Resume Writers dently owned staffing agency.
This provides valuable cover letter samples across a wide
spectrum of industries, and with a wide variety of styles. Since 1956, the National Association of Colleges and
Employers (NACE) has been the leading source of
Resume Success
David Noble (JIST Works)
The Recipe for

CHAPTER 4
information about the employment of college gradu-
Best Resumes for College Students and ates. The Job Outlook report forecasts the hiring inten-
New Grads: Jump-Start Your Career tions of employers and examines other issues related to
Offers resume samples for diverse college majors and the employment of new college graduates. For more
employment situations. information, check out www.naceweb.com.
Louise M. Kursmark (JIST Works)
CHAPTER 5
Your Resume
Writing and
Formatting
Skillstalking
Lists hundreds of skills to incorporate into your job
search documents.
Dick Gaither (Job Search Training System)
Writing a Tasty
CHAPTER 6
Cover Letter
Wetfeet’s Insider Guides
WetFeet’s Insider Guides give you real insight into the
industries and employers that interest you most. Check
out the additional titles available at www.wetfeet.com
to assist you with your job search. You’ll find guides that
focus on everything from how to network and ace your
Digital Delivery
CHAPTER 7
interviews to how to negotiate a good salary.
e-Resumes: Everything You Need to Know

About Using Electronic Resumes to Tap
into Today’s Hot Job Market
From Resume to
Interview
Covers all forms of electronic resumes and explains
CHAPTER
From
their uses, strengths, and weaknesses.

CHAPTER
CHAPTER 8
FromBeyond
tO
tO Interview
Interview
Susan Britton Whitcomb and Pat Kendall (McGraw-Hill)

Resume
Resume
and88
CHAPTER
CHAPTER 9
Reference
Reference
For
For Your

Your
>> The WetFeet Story
WetFeet was founded in 1994 by Stanford MBAs Gary Alpert and Steve Pollock. While exploring their
next career moves, they needed products like the WetFeet Insider Guides to guide them through their
research and interviews. But these resources didn’t exist yet—so they started writing! Since then,
millions of job seekers have used the WetFeet Insider Guides and WetFeet.com to research their next
career move.
In 2007 WetFeet became part of Universum Communications, the global leader in employer branding.
Thanks to the integration of WetFeet into the Universum group, WetFeet products are now used by
job seekers all over the world. In addition to our Insider Guides and WetFeet.com, we produce WetFeet
magazine, which features career advice tailored to undergraduate students.
>> The WetFeet Name

The inspiration for our name comes from a popular business school case study about L.L. Bean, the
successful mail-order company. Leon Leonwood Bean got his start because he literally got his feet wet:
Every time he went hunting in the Maine woods, his shoes leaked. One day he set out to make a better
hunting shoe, doing such a good job that his friends lined up to buy pairs of the boots. And so L.L. Bean
was born.
The lesson we took from the Bean case? Well, it shows that getting your feet wet is the first step toward
achieving success. And that’s what WetFeet is here for: To help you get your feet wet and take the right
steps toward ever-greater career goals, whatever they may be.
>> Your objective: Stand out from the pack.
Thanks to the ease of submitting a resume online, recruiters
today receive literally hundreds of applications for each job
opening they post. How do they sift through these stacks of
resumes, and what can you do to position yourself at the top
of the heap? This WetFeet Insider Guide brings you the latest
wisdom from recruiters and hiring managers to get your resume
noticed. In addition, our career experts analyze a broad range
of resume formats and real job seekers’ resumes to help you
determine the ideal focus and format for your resume.
TURN TO THIS WETFEET

INSIDER GUIDE TO EXPLORE
★ THE CORE COMPONENTS OF A FOCUSED AND ★ RESUME DOS AND DON’TS, AND THE MOST
EFFECTIVE RESUME COMMON RESUME BLUNDERS
★ HOW TO WRITE COVER LETTERS THAT WILL ★ INSIDER TIPS FOR SPECIAL CASES, SUCH AS LACK
GRAB THE ATTENTION OF RECRUITERS OF EXPERIENCE FOR PARTICULAR POSITIONS OR
GAPS IN EMPLOYMENT
★ WAYS TO PACKAGE YOUR SKILLS SO YOU LAND
AT THE TOP OF THE APPLICANT HEAP ★ RECRUITERS’ TOP FIVE RESUME PET PEEVES
WetFeet has earned a strong reputation among college

graduates and career professionals for its series of highly
credible, no-holds-barred Insider Guides. WetFeet’s investi-
ISBN 978-1-58207-959-2 gative writers get behind the annual reports and corporate
PR to tell the real story of what it’s like to work at specific
$ 14.95 U.S. companies and in different industries. www.WetFeet.com
INSIDER GUIDE

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KILLER COVER LETTERS

>> The WetFeet Guarantee

Contact us at 215-546-4900 or orders@wetfeet.com

1518 Walnut St.

Phone: (215) 546-4900

Killer cover letters & Resumes

All illustrations by mckibillo

6 The Bottom Line 12 Determine What 22 Building a Resume

17 Research your 27 optional Resume

31 The Resume Menu

Killer Cover Letters & Resumes

AT A GLANCE address each employer’s needs. And the more knowl-

30 SECONDS TO SATISFY edgeable you are about a potential position, the

your employment history, educational experience, experience, and career path.

times have little to do with work experience—such

as communication skills, honesty and integrity, WRITING AND FORMATTING

• It’s important to research your target companies.

FROM RESUME TO INTERVIEW

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE 3

Looking Good on Paper................. 6

seconds, your cover letter and resume package need

concise, results-oriented, and very clearly presented.

a resume is a document that traces one’s work history

where you want to go next.

interest them in learning more about a quality prod-

A successful job search requires planning and organiza-

WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE 7

design director. But let’s start from the beginning of

team with a high GPA.”

Connect the Dots

a job as a design director for a magazine, but you’ve

Highlight the Skills

Determine What Remember, not all of this information will go end up

the “big picture” of your employment history. Seeing

work and group leadership abilities, talents that most

GET SET, PREP!

through your examples.

You won’t highlight your weaknesses on your

WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE 13

ship positions, you compensate by emphasizing other Highlight the

strengths. It’s a good idea to think through this before

your interview because some interviewers still ask the

some soft skills, such as teamwork and communication,

while those applying for non-technical positions would Analytical and

for When Reviewing a Resume

consulting, especially during the first few years of your

• Hired or fired anyone?

WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE 15

TEAMWORK INDUSTRY AND jOb ExPERTISE

ability to make productive contributions, the type of

you will help a company meet its objectives.

employee about the company culture stimulates your

WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE 17

RESEARCH resume for the specific opening, include as many of

Sports Marketing Internship

About the internship:

About Our Company:

WET F EET IN S IDER GUIDE 19

The Resume Menu

Don’t Ruin the Recipe..................33

Building a Resume your strength. Students with little work experience

Seeking a challenging __ position in the _ field that offers an

To use , , and _ skills in a position as a

To provide to an organization that ______.