Developing an Effective Resume and Cover Letter

1. Developing an Effective Resume and Cover Letter Andrea Wolf, M.Ed., CMF Director, Career Education Center

2. Agenda • Writing an effective resume today • Resume musts and resume myths • Resume sections/format • What’s new and what’s next? • Best practices • Creating a cover letter

3. What is the purpose of a resume? • Used to spark curiosity and interest in you • A marketing tool Know your product (YOU) Know your customer (Employer) • Land an interview

4. Resume MUSTS • Identify your value to the employer • Highlight accomplishments vs. tasks • Use terminology pertinent to social work • Be easy to skim and error-free read • Be the foundation of online profile in LinkedIn

5. Resume MYTHS There are no rules such as: • Must be 1 page • Must be 2 pages • Must have an objective or summary • Must be chronological • Should always be “functional for new grads or career changers The answer is, “It depends”

6. Resume sections and format • Contact Information • Education • Licensure • Experience • Additional Experience • Skills—computer/language • Professional Development • Professional Affiliations • Community Service

7. Reality today: Applicant Tracking Systems Resumes must: • Include the right keywords • Use standard headings for each section • Use a simple format Advice: • Write a MS word file to be emailed and printed • Convert to plain text for clients to upload in automated systems

8. Contact information Compare: Reza May 118 Satterlee, #23, Boston, MA 02115 Home: 617-930-2492, Cell: 617-547-6312, Fax: 781-242-6547 Email: Reza.May@ hotmail.com To: Reza May Reza.May@gmail.com http:/www.linkedin.com/in/rezamay Greater Boston, 617-547-6312

9. Writing A Summary Profile It is an optional section after your contact information. • It is your branding statement as it highlights your professional identity, qualifications and summarizes key strengths. • It helps the reader quickly grasp who you are and find the most relevant information to determine if you are a good fit.

10. Summary Profile MSW candidate with strong background in counseling at-risk juveniles and families, as well as direct practice experience with children and families in an intensive pediatric hospital. Excellent client evaluation skills and the ability to locate and promote appropriate community services for clients. Proven ability to quickly establish excellent working relationships with clients. Recognized by colleagues for creative problem-solving and making astute contributions in treatment team meetings.

11. Writing Accomplishment Statements C= Challenge you faced (problem or opportunity) A = Actions you took (intervention) R = Results you achieved (outcomes or actions attained)

12. Tell your accomplishment story C= Need to develop treatment plans for adolescents in a hospital outpatient psychiatry department A= Worked on team to develop R= Completed 10 Accomplishment/bullet: • Collaborated with a treatment team of clinical social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists and rehabilitation counselors to develop and write 10 thorough treatment plans.

13. Accomplishment statements • Led daily psychotherapy groups using multi-modal approaches including cognitive therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, psycho-educational, and expressive arts. • Provided individual and group psychotherapy services in Spanish to culturally diverse adolescents diagnosed with anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

14. Recognition Accomplishments Written to recognize how you stood out. •  Recognized by supervisor for excellent client evaluation skills and ability to locate and promote appropriate community services. • Recognized by director for astute evaluation skills and ability to quickly engage clients in the therapeutic process. • Demonstrated ability to manage and defuse crises situations.

15. Write one accomplishment statement • Start with an action verb • Attempt to quantify • Show the benefit of what you did

16. Bonus: CAR’s work at Interviews, too! • Interviewers remember stories. • It helps you be prepared and confident if you have your stories already practiced ahead of time.

17. What’s new and what’s next? • Contact information is decreasing • Home address is optional • One phone number, one email address • Links to additional information is increasing: LinkedIn, web portfolio, QR codes to mobile business cards: http://visibility.com

18. Tighter, leaner writing • Pare down content and emphasize key words • Eliminate unnecessary detail • Say more with less Lessons from: • Twain: Sorry I wrote you such a long letter as I did not have time to write a shorter one • Hemingway: Trim it down to the essence • Springsteen: Find the right words

19. What will differentiate you?

20. Cover Letters What is the purpose of a cover letter? When do you send them? Key Points: Tailor not boilerplate Take time to write well Be concise

21. Before Writing the Cover Letter – Analyze the Job Description “T Bar” Employer’s Needs Bullets from job description. Your Qualifications Your knowledge, skills, experience and accomplishments (CAR). Match then write!!

22. Cover Letters: The Body of the Letter 3- 4 Paragraphs: • Introduction: Explain what you are applying for, how you found the opening, and why you are interested in specific job and organization. • Interest Builder: Answer to how your work experience and training qualifies you for this job and provide examples of skills that match their requirements. • Conclusion: Indicate that your resume is enclosed and reiterate your interest in the position. Thank them for their time and consideration.

23. NETWORK! • 70 to 80 % of jobseekers get jobs through contacts! • Connect with everyone you know and meet!

24. Powerful Networking Tools • Online Social Networking Over 120 million members LinkedIn • Informational Interviewing Resources Networking

25. Career Education Center: SSW Career Coaching and Resources • Resume/Cover Letter Reviews • Job Search Strategy • Mock Interviews • Informational Interviewing • Career Transitions • CEC website:www.simmons.edu/cec • Beatley Library SSW Career Guides _____________________________________ 4 appointments per year as alumni

26. CEC Website Resources www.simmons.edu/cec/

27. QUESTIONS ?