Writing an Effective Resume and Cover Letter

1. Writing an Effective Resume and Cover Letter Liz Freedman, Career AdvisorHubbard Center for Student Engagement (765) 658-6004 lizfreedman@depauw.edu

2. Purpose of a Resume • Market your skills, abilities, and accomplishments • Secure an interview – get in the “yes” pile • Grad School/Gap Year Experience • Informational interviews • To inform your references • It is NOT the be-all end-all

3. General Tips • Be specific to the job/internship • Typically one page; margins no smaller than .75 • Times New Roman /Arial; size 11 or 12 (16 for thename) • Avoid italics, underlines, boxes, vertical lines, etc. • Show to someone in the field • Proofread!

4. Resume Sections • Heading • Objective • Education • Experience • Leadership and Community Service • Skills • Other ideas?

5. Heading • Name • E-mail Address • Address • Phone Number • Other ideas? Liz Freedman (765) 658 – 6004 lizfreedman@depauw.edu 408. South Locust Street, Greencastle, IN 46135

6. Objective • Optional field • Tailor it for each position – be specific! • State what you can provide to the employer; not what they can provide you Liz Freedman (765) 658 – 6004 lizfreedman@depauw.edu 408. South Locust Street, Greencastle, IN 46135 OBJECTIVE Seeking the position of Video Production Assistant with the Indianapolis Indians where I may utilize my proven skills and experience in digital audio editing, production, and design.

7. Education • Highlight your degree • May include coursework, honors, and study abroad Liz Freedman (765) 658 – 6004 lizfreedman@depauw.edu 408. South Locust Street, Greencastle, IN 46135 OBJECTIVE Seeking the position of Video Production Assistant with the Indianapolis Indians where I may utilize my proven skills and experience in digital audio editing, production, and design. EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in Communications May 2015 DePauw University, Greencastle, IN Minor: Media Studies GPA: 3.7/4.0 Coursework Included: Public Communication Controversy, Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural Communication, Electronic Journalism, Film and Culture. Honors: Dean’s List, Honor Scholar Program, Media Fellow

8. Experience • You can include two sections, the first being specific to your field • Liz Freedman • (765) 658 – 6004 • lizfreedman@depauw.edu • 408. South Locust Street, Greencastle, IN 46135 • OBJECTIVE • Seeking the position of Video Production Assistant with the Indianapolis Indians where I may utilize my proven skills and experience in digital audio editing, production, and design. • EDUCATION • Bachelor of Arts in Communications May 2015 • DePauw University, Greencastle, IN • Minor: Media Studies • GPA: 3.7/4.0 • MEDIA ARTS EXPERIENCE • Audio Production Intern May 2013 – July 2013 • Media Company, Indianapolis, IN • Produced 60 second radio spots by cutting, editing, and processing sound effects • Trained and supervised five volunteers to help produce broadcast quality audio • Performed digital audio editing and mixing using Pro Tools

9. Constructing Bullet Points • Use action verbs • Focus on accomplishments, or the “how” and “why” • Quantify when possible • Match relevant skills Examples: • Supervised four student workers by monitoring productivity, delegating tasks, and providing developmental guidance • Exhibited creativity and strong communication skills by developing informational pamphlets • Discovered business opportunities with new and existing clients to increase market share and profitability • Trained over 100 end users on various computer applications, which increased productivity and end user confidence • Implemented and maintained a phone system which resulted in a cost reduction of $40,000 per year

10. Bullet Points: Good to Great • Good: “Organized rush activities for fraternity.” • Great: “Developed new rush strategies; doubled number of prospective members.” • Good: “Helped students with their homework.” • Great: “Tutored five students in biology which increased test scores an average of 10 points.”

11. Leadership and Community Service • Combine leadership positions and volunteer activities into one section • One bullet point per experience, if space allows • Remember: these can be professional! LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Active Member, D3TV, DePauw Student Television August 2012–Present Vice President, Alpha Chi Omega January 2012–Present Volunteer, Riley Children’s Hospital March 2008–August 2011

12. Skills • Optional section • Stick to technical skills, not interests • Personality attributes belong in the objective SKILLS Proficient in Pro Tools; Digital Performer; Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point; Adobe Photoshop; Adobe Audition; Moderate in Spanish

13. Examples & Resources • http://www.depauw.edu/files/resources/education-first-resume-sample-2.pdf • http://www.depauw.edu/files/resources/event-planning-resume-sample-2.pdf • http://www.depauw.edu/academics/centers/hubbard/resources/career/

14. Cover Letters • Purpose • Entice the employer to read your resume • Highlight 2-3 skills/experiences that align with job description • Showcase your writing skills • It is not to reiterate everything on your resume • Keep in mind • VERY specific; may change with every application!

15. Cover Letter Sections • Heading/Date • Greeting • Intro paragraph • 1-2 body paragraphs • Conclusion • Enclosures (depending)

16. Heading/Date • Your contact information • Date • Company contact information 408 South Locust Street Greencastle, IN 46135 (765) 658-6004 September 1st, 2013 Joe Smith Marketing Director Emmis Communications 40 Monument Circle, #700 Indianapolis, IN 46204

17. Greeting • Find out their name! • When all else fails: • “Dear Hiring Manager”, • “Dear Human Resources Professional”, • “To Whom It May Concern”, 408 South Locust Street Greencastle, IN 46135 (765) 658-6004 September 1st, 2013 Joe Smith Marketing Director Emmis Communications 40 Monument Circle, #700 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Dear Mr. Joe Smith,

18. Intro Paragraph • Why you are writing • Where you saw the job posting or Who referred you • What makes you the perfect candidate Dear Mr. Joe Smith, Please accept this letter and attached resume as consideration for the position of Marketing Assistant with Emmis Communications, which was recently recommended to me by Chris Munn in the Center for Student Engagement at DePauw University. My passion for and education in the Media Arts combined with my varied professional experiences in communications settings make me an ideal candidate.

19. Body Paragraphs • Prove the skills you mentioned in the first paragraph • Describe an accomplishment/project – tell a story! • CAR Method • Use 2 paragraphs when… As a Communications and Media Studies student at DePauw University, my education has prepared me to excel in the communications and marketing fields. Additionally, as an Audio Production Intern for Media Company I have gained extensive knowledge in radio production as well as assumed leadership roles within the organization. Within 3 months of interning, I was given the responsibility to both train and supervise the organization’s five volunteers. In this role I lead the station’s annual pledge drive by training the volunteers on proper customer service and phone etiquette, and I also advertised the drive through several media outlets including writing an article for the local newspaper, creating a 60 second radio spot, and designing posters to be placed throughout several local businesses. At the end of the drive we were able to raise over $15,000, which is more than any previous year. It is this effort and passion I hope to bring to the Marketing Assistant position at Emmis Communications.

20. Conclusion/Enclosures • Reiterate why they should hire you • You would like to meet in person • How to contact you - if writing that you will contact them, follow up! • “Thank you for your consideration.” My resume is attached for your review. I firmly believe my background qualifies me for consideration, and the skills I have obtained can be transferred in order to help the many different needs of clients at Emmis Communications. I look forward to speaking with you about this opportunity and can be reached at the phone number listed above or by email at lizfreedman@depauw.edu. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Liz Freedman