VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE

COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION CLASS

Homework Assignment #1
Resume & Cover Letter

Fall 2017
 VICTOR VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE EDUCATION
ASSIGNMENT #1—RESUME & COVER LETTER

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESUME AND COVER LETTER

Your typed resume and cover letter should be printed on 8 ½ x 11 standard size, high-quality
paper, which may be colored, but not flashy. These assignments should be turned in as you
would present them to a prospective employer. Submit the assignment in a plastic or manila
folder. Do not put assignment in clear plastic protectors.

You may also use other references such as internet sites, library resources, etc.

Fall 2017
 RESUME GUIDE

Introduction

Resume is a French word meaning "summary." This is precisely what your resume should be, a
summary of the pertinent facts about yourself—your personal, educational, and work history.
Resumes serve to introduce you and your qualifications to prospective employers. Because it
helps form an all-important first impression of you, your resume should be considered an example
of your best thought and work. A resume is a picture of you in words. Besides your qualifications,
it should reveal good organizational and written communication skills.

Remember, the resume is only one of many job-hunting tools. One of the most important aspects
of the job search is personal contact with the person who has the power to hire you.

Before You Write

Take some time to pull together all the background information that you have about yourself. We
suggest keeping a file of this information for future reference—include dates of previous
employment, promotions or grades, achievements, honors, and course lists. Also, keep copies of
all resumes and other employment correspondence that you send.

Decide to whom you are writing your resume or what you want the resume to accomplish. There
are several styles of resumes:

Chronological an arrangement of your qualifications in reverse chronological order, that is,

the most recent listed first.

Functional an arrangement in order of importance regardless of the time of occurrence.

Analytical an arrangement by skills and abilities possessed.

If you are applying for several different kinds of positions, you may need several different resumes.

Samples of the above resume styles can be found on the Internet or on Microsoft Word.

Fall 2017
Writing a Resume

Fundamental rules about resume writing:

1. There are infinite varieties of styles that can be used. Choose the format that
is most commonly used in the industry you are applying for a job in and
presents you the best.

2. Every concept in the resume should be in order from the most important to
least important, not only down the page, but within the categories on the page.

3. Only items leading directly to setting up the interview process should be

included. In other words, there should be a reason for everything that you
want to include.

4. Compose your resume in a businesslike and grammatically correct format.

Make sure you are specific about dates, job titles, employers, interests, and
accomplishments; be complete, descriptive and specific without being too
long, and truthful and accurate without exaggeration or distortion.

5. Use action verbs in the past tense (directed, supervised, etc.).

6. Use what is called the telegraphic style; omit all personal pronouns (I, we,
etc.).

7. A one-page resume is adequate, acceptable, and preferred. If possible, keep

the resume to one page.

8. Organization and layout of the resume should reflect neatness and

orderliness. Decide on a resume style and remain consistent within this
framework. Sufficient spacing and indentation are important as well as
adequate margins.

9. Salary requirements, abbreviations, busy words, reasons for leaving, and

personal opinions should be excluded.

10. You have thirty seconds to get a reader's attention when they read your
resume.

Fall 2017
Organizing Your Resume

The following items are commonly included in the resume:

1. Heading

The word "resume" is optional on your resume.

2. Name and Address

Include your name, address, zip code, telephone number with area code, and
e-mail address on the first page, only your name should appear on the second
page.

3. Objective

The job objective is the "soul" of your resume and should be given first and
foremost consideration. The job objective says what you want to do and it
should say it as clearly and concisely as possible. Consider using the
company name as part of your objective statement.

Decide the type of a job for which you are best equipped by reason of your
temperament, personal preferences, capabilities, and experience—then state
it. If it is in sales, what kind? Is management your goal? Any travel
restrictions? This would then be stated "Position in tangible sales leading to
management. Prefer limited travel.” Unless you have strong geographical
preference, do not state any, it serves only to narrow the scope of your
availability.

Suppose you do not have a definite or well-defined objective, or perhaps you

have several, you may consider comprehensive job counseling, or at least
discuss your background with an employment counselor to determine the best
statement of your objectives. In any event, we urge you to avoid the "all
purpose" or "will do anything" type of objective. You cannot sell a product
successfully unless you are specific about its advantages to the buyer.

4. Education

Beginning with the most recent year, include school, degree, and area of
emphasis. Grade Point Average (GPA) may be included, if favorable.
Education should be emphasized if your full-time paid work experience is less
than two years. A list of courses in your major may be desirable.

The further you are away from school, the less educational detail is required.
Present your education clearly and concisely—fitting it to your particular
situation. Make certain that the name and locations of schools are correct, as
well as the dates attended, especially if your education shows a continued
effort of self-improvement, as indicated by fairly recent courses.

Fall 2017
 A recent graduate has little but education for sale. Therefore, he/she should
cover this area thoroughly, listing not only majors, and minors, but any and all
subjects related to the field of interest. Extracurricular activities are important,
for they indicate a well-rounded personality and demonstrate a social
awareness. This importance, of course, diminishes with time—so again, the
older you are, and the further away from school, the fewer items you should
list.

Do not omit your education because it is limited. This may eliminate you from
being considered, so anticipate this by elaborating on it where possible, by
listing company courses, home-study courses, etc. This indicates a desire for
self-education readily understood by the often sympathetic employer who, like
you, may not have had the opportunity for extensive formal education.

5. Experience

Use descriptive job titles. Experience should include part-time, full-time,

summer, and other employment as well as military and important volunteer
experience. Also include the name of the company and a brief job description.
Use action verbs and skill words in the description.

6. Honors and Activities

List organizational and professional memberships and activities that have

importance to your prospective employer.

7. Travel

State your willingness to travel on the job. It's best to be willing to travel any
amount required by the position that you are applying for. If you are not willing
to travel, don't mention this one area.

8. Locate

Mention if you are willing to relocate, willing to for the right position or
potential, or prefer to remain in your present area.

9. Professional Status and Memberships

List the names of key professional or trade associations in which you hold, or
recently held, memberships. Include any offices held or important committee
chairmanships.

10. Military

This item is normally used to show status, service completed, and

service-related accomplishments.

Fall 2017
11. References

References are no longer part of a resume, you would provide them if asked;
and if the employer routinely wants references, he/she will provide a process,
usually an application, to collect this information. The phrase "References
furnished upon request" would only be used if you need it to fill up a page.

12. Examples of categories for resume headings

Objective Skills
Areas of Knowledge Personal
Areas of Experience Relocation
Work Experience Hobbies
Volunteer Work References
Summer Work Relevant Experience
Part-Time Work Summary
Education Business Knowledge
Major Classes Employer Contact
Honors Highlights of Background
Educational Highlights Allied Health Core Experience
Professional Highlights Career Achievements
Teaching Experience Special Training
Availability Interests
Foreign Language Travel
Foreign Travel Community and Other Activities
Student Activities Certification
College Activities Current Military
Community Service Position Earnings
Licensor Reason for Change
Memberships Affiliations
Equipment Skills Responsibilities
Machines

Always have your resume checked and proofread by someone else.

Fall 2017
Examples of Keywords

It is important to use WORK WORDS or ACTION VERBS in describing your

experience on your resume. Words such as administered, coordinated,
developed, supervised, consulted, managed, and prepared, are key words in
telling employers what you have accomplished. Listed below are action verbs that
could be included in your resume.

Achieved Delegated Experienced Invented Purchased

Administered Demonstrated Formed Justified Reduced
Analyzed Designed Formulated Keynoted Reorganized
Arranged Detailed Founded Maintained Researched
Attended Developed Generated Managed Simplified
Built Devised Handled Motivated Sold
Clarified Directed Implemented Negotiated Solved
Conducted Discovered Improved Operated Succeeded
Constructed Doubled Increased Organized Supervised
Consulted Earned Initiated Performed Tailored
Controlled Established Innovated Pioneered Trained
Converted Evaluated Inspired Planned Transformed
Coordinated Executed Installed Prepared United
Correlated Expanded Integrated Promoted Verified
Created Expedited Interviewed Provided Wrote

Reproducing the Resume

Ideally, you should write a resume for a job. You should submit an original resume
with each job application. If you intend to use a number of resumes, you may
reproduce them. When reproducing your resume, use bond or better stock paper.
Several common methods exist for doing this.

Fall 2017
 THE COVER LETTER

A cover letter should accompany your resume. Typically, a cover letter has
three major sections.

The first states the purpose of your letter and identifies the specific position or
type of position for which you are applying. You can also mention how you
learned of the position or the employing organization.

The second section indicates why you are applying for the position you seek
and briefly summarizes your qualifications. This section should also include
why they should be interested in you. Usually in this section you would refer
the reader to your enclosed resume.

The third section suggests the next step in the employment process, such as
arrangements for a personal interview, an answer to your letter, a time when
you will contact them further, and so forth. Then, thank them for their
consideration and close.

Some additional suggestions:

The cover letter should be brief, concise, clear, easy to read, and businesslike.

Address the letter to a specific person with a complete and correct title if
possible; (i.e., Mr. Henry Smith, Vice President). If you are unable to obtain
the name of a specific person to whom to address the letter, you may use a
title such as Personnel Director, General Manager, etc.

Do not overdo and include the identical information already mentioned in your
resume; keep the letter concise. In all correspondence, be careful about
English usage, sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, correct spacing, and
neatness.

Ask someone else to critique your letter.

Fall 2017