Creating a Powerful CV and Cover Letter

Why is a Resume so Important?

• Organizes your thoughts.
• Helps you recognize skills and interests.
• Makes you feel good about yourself.
• Markets your functional skills better.
• Turns your education into a career reality.
• Helps you achieve your goals.
Creating your CV
• Your Contact Information
• Your Goal or Objective
• Education and Academics
• Skills
• Honors and Awards
• Activities
• Workshops, Seminars and Related Programs
• Internships, Work-Study Programs and Tech Prep Programs
• Service-Learning and Volunteer Experiences
• Work Experience

CV Writing Format
1. Your name – Goes at the top of your resume
2. Your address – Placed directly below your name. How you choose to place your name is a matter of
the style.
3. Resume Objective – Tells your employer what job you are applying for or whether you are
submitting your resume for any job that fits your qualifications.
4. Profile or Summary of Qualifications - Your short statement of why you feel you are an appropriate
candidate for the job. This section is an optional section.
5. Employment History - A reverse chronology of your work experience. Generally, your resume needs
to list the details of only your last three positions or the last ten years of your employment experience.
If you have extensive work experience, you may want to follow the employment history section with
a bulleted list of additional experience, like that on the sample below.
6. Education - Unless you are still in school or a recent graduate, your resume needs to list only 1) the
name of your college or trade school, your degree, and the year of graduation and/or 2) the name of
your high school and the year you graduated.
7. Skills - Organize skills into the order they are most relevant to your job, or subdivide them into
categories so that an employer can easily see what additional attributes you’ll bring to the job.
8. Activities - Another optional section for either professional or community projects in which you
participated.

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 Cover Letter Goals

• Makes employers want to look at your resume

• Gets potential employers interested in you.
• Impresses them with your experience and skills related to a job opening.
• Shows your interest in their company and customers.
• Shows that you are dependable, professional and determined
• Asks for an interview or indicates the job seeker’s follow-up plan.
Creating the Cover Letter
• Your name & address
• Date
• Contact Person’s Name and Address
• Salutation
• Opening Paragraph
• Middle Paragraphs
• Contact Information and Closing

What is a Cover Letter?

A cover letter introduces you and your resume to a potential employer, explaining both your reasons for writing and
your qualifications for a specific position.

Purpose A cover letter is always sent with your resume to introduce yourself to an employer and to
communicate your interest in being considered for a position with that organization. The cover letter should make note
of some of your qualifications for the job and get the employer interested in reading your resume. Each cover letter
you send will be different. The last paragraph of a cover letter should include a request for an interview.

Tips for Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Address each letter to a specific contact person.

If you do not know the name of a contact, call the organization and ask for the name of the Manager or Director of
the department that interests you. If you can't find a contact name, write "Dear Director," but only as a last resort.

Describe your accomplishments and experiences

in a way that focuses on the needs of the employer. Cover letters need to be tailored to the employer and position
for which you are applying. Avoid creating one cover letter and mass mailing it to employers.

Research the employer.

Your letter should reflect that you know something about the organization and the type of industry in general. Each
letter should be unique to that organization. Do not use a letter that looks like it could have been sent to anyone.

Conclude the letter by directly asking for an opportunity to meet and/or talk with the employer.

Include your contact information. It is appropriate to contact the employer one to two weeks after you send the
letter to confirm they received your application and to inquire about the status of opening and your application.
Letters should be typed (10-12 point font), and no longer than one page. Avoid graphics.

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 Double check spelling and grammar.

Letter paper should match your resume.

Keep a copy of each letter you send.

Format of a Cover Letter: (Full Block Form)

Date

Your Street Address

City, State, Zip / PIN
Phone number

Mr. or Ms. Employer

Title
Organization
Street Address
City, State, Zip

Dear Mr. or Ms. Employer,

First Paragraph (1-2 sentences): Tell why you are writing. Name the position, field, or general area about
which you are asking, as well as how you heard of the opening or organization (i.e., newspaper, website) and
be specific.

Second Paragraph (4-6 sentences): Mention one or two qualifications you think would be of greatest interest
to the employer, addressing your remarks to his/her point of view. Tell why you are particularly interested in
this type of work. If you have had related experience or specialized training, point it out. Expand on a few
key points of information stated in your resume.

Third Paragraph (1-2 sentences): Thank the employer for taking the time to consider your application to the
position. Close by either making a specific request for an interview, or by letting the employer know you will
look forward to hearing from them regarding the status of your application. You can close by again thanking
the employer for their consideration.

Sincerely,

Your signature
(Type your name)