Earthsoft Foundation of Guidance

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Index Preparing effective resume Writing covering letter Examples

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Preparing effective resume

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Road Map
Role of the Resume Types of Resumes Resume Formats Resume Sections Additional Documentation Miscellaneous Tips Sample Resumes On-line Resources

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Job objective
Answers the question, what do I want to do? State the type of position you are seeking or the actual job title Consider including how you will benefit the employer not what you are seeking from the employer

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Balancing

Strategies for Success

Balancing Style with Content

Controlling the Focus

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What is a Resume?
Resume is your belief of profile, qualifications, skills, experiences & achievements Purpose of the resume is To get you an interview To capture the readers interest and attention To convince your ability to fill-in the position

Resume always helps you To build a career As an opportunity to impression first time To convey suitability & possible contribution To project as someone who understands what is important to the organization and can contribute to its success
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Purpose of resume
To open doors for an opportunity To share education, experience, skills, past performance, achievements, personality & personal details To convey suitability for the job & convince employer that you are worth an interview To get an interview to enable you to share more details about you & your expertise To answer possibly the employers question, What can you do for us? Ultimately, to get a job at a dream organisation
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Its a sample to judge

Your resume is a reflection of you! Its considered to be a sample to judge you! Your resume is an example of how best clarity you have, structured output you can translate & document you can deliver Your resume is your personal knowledge representation, to convey your personality Employer to decide in 10sec to keep it or pass it First impressions are lasting ones.

A well written resume sets you apart from all other applicants.
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Types of Resumes
A Paper Resume To be clean Use at job fairs, interviews, career breakfast, etc An Electronic Resume Submitted online, mostly using job portals or at employers website A word file as an attachment for on-line submission or sharing by emails An HTML Resume Includes links to homepage; to be avoided
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Attributes in demand
Employers always want highly energetic, & able to motivate team expert in the subject matters good in execution ethical well organized & following etiquette problem solvers growth oriented, ownership & responsibilities takers leaders! Do you fit in above?
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Standard Sections
Header Name, email, mobile no. Your career objective Details in reverse chronological order Education Relevant courses Seminar, Academic projects, White papers Honors , Activities Work experience Employment history Skills, duration & last used Projects Personal information
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The Header Section

Name - first line should be your name Mobile number including country code Email address Use your UWEC email address Dont use BIGBOY@HOTMAIL.COM Larger than the largest font used in body Avoid using decorative fonts Dont use black or gray shaded backgrounds Exclude titles Mr., Mrs., Ms.,

Include following personal information at last

Date of Birth Marital status Blood group Permanent address Current address
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The Objective Section

Make statement clear, concise, and to the point Bad: I want to get a job To attain an internship in the computer industry. Good: To attain an internship in the computer industry working with database or network security. Avoid being overly specific to single company To attain a position at 3M Pharmaceutical working on Objectives from the perspective of organisation To attain a web application programming position where knowledge of Java and the Struts framework will add value the overall development process. To be a senior professional in Service Delivery Management in a growth oriented and technology driven IT organisation
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Education & Courses

List academic & non-academic qualifications Include a table & chronological order for Higher schooling & college Courses either unique or considered as elective Include following Duration in year (from to), educational degree, university/college, grade/division/% marks, main subjects

Followed by self explaining seminar & project title, brief description, and attributes Allied courses with attributes - leadership, public speaking, foreign language, computer

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The Honors/Activities Section

This section should convince that you are a leader To use self explaining title & brief description honors & awards bagged during college academic or extracurricular activities leadership positions held membership in various organizations relevant volunteer work hobbies or activities

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Work Experience
Align resume to capture attributes in demand Describe appropriately relevant experience to the job & be consistent in wording To capture work experience in reverse chronological order in table format, header & detailed responsibilities Duration from & to in month-year, name of organisation, designation / role, key responsibilities, knowledge, skills & abilities gained & utilised, contribution, accomplishments Good to mention url of past companies
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Work Experience
Include as applicable Metrics indicating success in previous jobs. Big-name employers or impressive job titles Promotions or increased responsibilities. Highlight marketable specific skills if any & if market demands Be sure to not leave gaps however be honest if there is a gap Use present tense for current job responsibilities and past tense for previous responsibilities Reason for leaving could be optional
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Experience
Dont need name of supervisor, address, or contact information Dont emphasize duties but outcomes Increased efficiency of by 20% Improved user navigation experience on Avoid passive language such as Responsible for, Duties included, or Worked on in descriptions
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Skills Section - IT
This is where you emphasize your technical skills Programming Languages Put in order of familiarity, Can use Exposure to : Platforms Nice to list Windows and Linux Packages Eclipse, Oracle 9i, MS SQL Server, Rational Rose To list the real products having worked on Development Methodologies Rational Unified Process, Extreme Programming, Agile Development Awareness of SDLC Expertise in Estimation methodologies
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Skills Section- Mechanical

This is where you emphasize your technical skills Knowledge of Design & development Production cycle or methodologies Hydraulics/ Pneumatics Machining & Fabrication Welding technologies Material science CAD-CAM, AutoCAD, Ansys, 3-D packages Quality norms & their acceptance levels
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Detailing Accomplishments
Detail each accomplishment Prepare a separate sheet answering following Prioritize your accomplishments What about the accomplishment makes it stand out as something special? How did you initially involve? What did you do? How did you develop, design, create, implement plan, program, product, service, procedure? What was especially enjoyable about doing it? What are the quantifiable results & benefits of accomplishment to you & organisation?
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What Is an Accomplishment?
You accomplished or achieved more with the same resources the same results with fewer resources Improved operations, efficiency, process orientation, reviews, accuracy, better formats & periodic reports, simply made things easier Brought in the quality aspects, objectives & actual achieved, and further improvements Resolved panic problems with little or no increase in time, energy, cost, personnel, etc Accomplished something for the first time.
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What did you do?

Did you strategise the growth architecting a business? Did you took initiative & resolved any problems, or accepted any opportunities or met any challenges Did you create or develop or design a new department, program, procedure, plan, service, or product? Did you identify a need & implemented a plan, program, product, service, procedure, etc.? Prepare original reports, papers, documents, process? Did you participate in any technical contributions? Did you participate in any major management decisions or organizational changes? Did you implement or participate in any sales and/or profit and/or cost saving recommendations?
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How did you do it?

Answering following questions might help: Did your results save cost, generate new business, increase sales/profits? Did your results improve efficiency (efforts, duration, manpower, procedures)? Did results make an impact on the organization? Can your results be measurable?

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Caution
Avoid excessively general statements Claiming improvements without explanation Citing reductions in costs or increases in efficiency without quantified measurements Taking credit for progress without providing some element of detail Mentioning projects not worked for Using terms such as excellent, world-class, superior, etc. without independent evaluation that provided the rating Obvious false statements
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The Projects Section

Using this section correctly can differentiate you! Show impressive & relevant projects you have contributed Each project should have attributes like name, domain, efforts, duration, generic technologies, key & latest technologies To write appropriate Brief project description Benefits achieved by clients & organisation

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Interests & References

Personal Interests List your interests, but do not generalise. Instead
simply saying 'football', say you have played for a local club for last four years & now holding a post of Treasury Officer.

References Provide 2-4 professional references at the end Share full name, designation & context of knowing them, no family members Pick individuals that think highly of you & are familiar with your work, from recent work history Seek consent from them before using names
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References
Choose references carefully; they should convey your ability to perform for the position You should provide References when the employer asks for The number of references as requested You must contact people on your reference list Get their prior agreement to be a reference Let them know job(s) you have applied Provide them a copy of your resume List on the same quality bond paper as resume Should have the same heading information
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References: Example
J onathan R. Student
1431 West 35th Street Austin, Texas 78736-1332 512-233-2323 jrstudent@gslis.utexas.edu

REFERENCES

Name & Address Information Best reference for the position

Gwendelyn M. McGruntheon Librarian, Central Branch Austin Public Library 1274 West 59th Street Austin, Texas 78739 512-555-5555 mcgruntheon@apl.cities.tx.us

2nd best reference

J ackson R. Williams, Ph.D. Professor School of Information The University of Texas at Austin SZB 564, MC: D7000 Austin, Texas 78712-1276 512-471-2742 williams@gslis.utexas.edu Wilber H. Proctor Principal Leander High School P.O. Box 576 Leander, Texas 78622 512-278-5555 lhproctor@lhs.tenet.net

3rd best reference

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Optional sections
Relevant coursework Split work experience in two (relevant experience and other work experience) Research experience Community service Volunteer experience Extracurricular activities Professional memberships Publications/presentations Licenses/certifications
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Online Resume
Most large employers will upload resume to a central database Use appropriate keywords for better retrieval Samples : Unix, C++, Java, hardware, networking, trouble-shooting, testing, security, data mining, cloud, managed services, data warehouse , etc Dont use italics, underlining or graphics Use bold only for headers Use black ink on white background
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Delivery of resume
Emailing your resume Write appropriate body in email Attach resume as a PDF or Word document Check before submitting your resume Make sure to check it thoroughly, for spelling, grammar and clear representation of your profile Check that the content is relevant to the reader or business to encourage to contact you Send resume to you, check email body & attachment, get it printed & verify
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Review Steps
One can apply limited jobs per day & month for a portal Search for the job online Input right search criteria like experience, technology, location city or country, ECTC Read header information & make a judgment for suitability of job, responsibility, organisation, etc Match education, experience, skills with requirements, duties, skills and apply if suitable Note contact details of recruiter for the most suitable job, you may want to contact
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Result oriented action statements

Passive: Duties included Website re-design. Active: Worked on successful Website re-design. Active w/Results: Created an effective association Website that resulted in a 25% increase in hits within 2 weeks through usability testing and re-design as a member of a 3-person team. Passive: Responsible for cataloging. Active: Provided cataloging function in mid-sized public library Active w/Results: Managed a trouble-free migration of a card catalog system to an online catalog system through a comprehensive cataloging vendor selection process Passive: Responsible for childrens programs. Active: Managed successful childrens library programs. Active w/Results: Increased participation in a childrens summer reading program by 20% through the redesign of the program and the development of Web-based marketing
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Dos
Act as a professional Be consistent in font type & size, get the words & punctuation correct Be simple, use easy-to-read word & flowing statements Pleasant layout - to be clean, concise & well formatted, Bulleted & bold at specifics Be truthful and don't be afraid selling your skills Be clear about your profile & job Keep balance of information & presentation Focus on strengths and accomplishments Check & recheck to eliminate spell mistakes
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Dos
Use template Be sequential & logical, Make your points clear Use past tense and choose right action verbs Share your achievements & strengths Make your resume results oriented, give proof to back up your capability statements and what you can do List relevant work Include attitude like - Team Player, Involved with ,Contributed to , Served on ,Volunteered to ;

Demonstrate leadership, cultural awareness

communication,
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Do not
Do not use ugly format Do not lie, manipulate, exaggerate to match Just listing the duties, it is not impressive Refer yourself with the third person Images, fancy fonts, letters in upper case, spelling mistakes, broken English. difficult buzz words Coloured paper or type, glazy photographs Jargon and acronyms that other people might not understand .eg. CRO, TB, SOX History more than 15 years old
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Do not
Avoid lists of boring sentences Photographs Personal Family health information References Folded resume Avoid abbreviations and acronyms Never use pronouns as I, me, my, our Never type (use a laser, jet printer) No fancy fonts, binders, layouts

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Tips
Limit it to two pages if you have little experience Place name & page number on all pages Use a good quality white colored bond paper Use a 12 point font; keep consistency for font type & size across Do not fold or staple the resume Use language & keywords aligned to job Minimize bold lettering, italics, underlining. Provide factual education, skills, experience & achievements to meet job requirements
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A successful resume
Shows purpose and direction Consistent (verb tense, format, etc.) Factual Dynamic Visual appeal (balanced statements, sufficient margins, consistency, etc) Well-organized Reads like a good newspaper story - with headlines and leading phrases Zero typographical errors Printed on quality resume paper
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Resume Examples
Jonathan R. Student
1431 West 35th Street Austin, Texas 78736-1332 512-233-2323 jrstudent@ischool.utexas.edu EDUCATION MS in Information Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. Expected: May, 2004 Focus on providing programming and reference services to children and young adults BA, University of Houston, Houston, Texas. Major: American History 1865 1945, Minor: Political Science EXPERIENCE Library Assistant, Austin Public Library, Austin, Texas. 2000 to Present Planned and conducted childrens summer reading program under supervision of Childrens Librarian resulting in over 15,000 participants. Supported childrens reading program by developing Web-based list of resources. Provided print and online reference services to children and adults in a branch library serving over 35,000 patrons. Communicated childrens services at the branch by developing appropriate bulletin board presentations and displays. Taught children and adults Internet applications and World-Wide Web resources. Teaching Assistant, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 2002-2003 The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. Updated curriculum for professor for classes in Materials for Children and in Planning and Management of Services and Programs for Children and Young Adults by Web-based research. Developed and maintained Web pages that supported the learning objectives of classes. History Teacher, Leander Independent School District, Leander, Texas. 1993 to 2000 Taught American history to approximately 150 sophomore and junior students Developed district-wide lesson plans to meet TAAS objectives as member of curriculum revision team. Provided parents with materials to assist students experiencing difficulties with class work. SKILLS Operating systems: Windows 3.11 through Windows XP Software & Database: MS Office 97, 2000, & XP (Word, Excel, Access, Excel, PowerPoint), Dreamweaver, Front Page , Filemaker Pro, Dow Jones, Lexis/Nexis, Dialog, OCLC, MARC Spanish language: Read and write with little difficulty, speak Spanish with some assistance. ORGANIZATIONS Program Chairperson, Student Association of the School of Information (SASI) Member, Student Chapter, American Library Association (ALA) Member, Texas Library Association (TLA)
MS in Information Studies, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. Expected: December 2005 Focus on providing programming and services for children and young adults BA, University of Houston, Houston, TX. 1997 Major: American History SKILLS Operating systems: Windows 3.11 through Windows XP Software & Database: MS Office 97, 2000, & XP (Word, Excel, Access, Excel, PowerPoint), Dreamweaver, Front Page, Filemaker Pro, Factiva, Lexis/Nexis, Dialog, OCLC, MARC Spanish language: Read and write with little difficulty, speak Spanish with some assistance. EXPERIENCE Childrens Librarianship: Developed meaningful academic and reading programs for children for over six years; planned and conducting a childrens summer reading program with over 15,000 participants; provided print and online reference services to children and adults in a branch library serving over 35,000 patrons; developed bulletin board presentations and library displays about childrens library services and programs for a branch library. Web Development: Developed Web-based list of resources to support public library childrens reading program; developed and maintained Web pages that supported learning objectives for classes in Materials for Children and in Planning and Management of Services and Programs for Children and Young Adults. Training Program Development: Taught children and young adult library patrons the use of Internet applications and World-Wide Web resources; researched resources for curriculum updates of graduate-level classes in Materials for Children and in Planning and Management of Services and Programs for Children and Young Adults; taught American History to approximately 150 sophomore and junior students; developed district-wide lesson plans to meet TAAS objectives as member of the curriculum revision team; developed specialized programs to help high school students succeed in the classroom. POSITIONS HELD Library Assistant, Austin Public Library, Austin, Texas Teaching Assistant, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas History Teacher, Leander Independent School District, Leander, Texas EDUCATION 2000 to Present 2002-2003 1993-2000

Jonathan R. Student
1431 West 35th Street Austin, Texas 78736-1332 512-233-2323 jrstudent@ischool.utexas.edu

1997

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Good Examples (1)

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Writing covering letter / email

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Why a covering letter/email?

Content of cover letter is same as email body Transmit your resume to a potential employer Stimulate interest in you and in your resume Provide critical pieces of information: Why are you qualified to meet their needs? What makes you different from others? What you can do for the employer? How will you meet their goals for the future? How you will benefit the employer? How will you add value to the organization? Communicate what you expect & next action
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Things to Consider
Effective cover letter/email require substantial research about the job & about the employer Covers letter must be written for specific position and directed to a specific person It demonstrates written communications ability It should have following without any spelling or grammatical errors
Salutation Introductory paragraph Body of letter (1 or 2 paragraphs) Closing paragraph & Complementary close Name List of enclosures
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Cover Letter (1)

Why do I need to write a cover letter? It acts as verbal introduction to the employer To seek attention on your relevant background Send it to a person, not a place Avoid To Whom It May Concern, Worst case Dear Recruiter: First sentence should tell why you are writing I am writing in regard to your posting listed on Ms.Sarita of ED cell suggested that I As you may recall, I spoke with you briefly at.. Indicate why are you interested in the company
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Cover Letter (2)

Opportunity to convey some basic information:
What position you're applying for Who you are Why you want the job What you have to offer

Highlight your skills

Close with a request of action

2-4 statements for in-depth description like education, experience, skill, contribution, knowledge, etc Each statement should be stand alone & clear

Like Kindly grant an appointment to enable me to share more details Like Please advice next step. Shall appreciate your guidance.
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Cover Letter (3)

Must convey the above objectives in a single page and tempt the employer with some key points from your resume Review company website, Find out about the company & highlight this in your cover letter Employers look for two points: Someone who can do the job Someone who wants to do the job Covering letter helps to convey your enthusiasm

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Sample(1)
Role you are applying for

Why you are applying Why they should read on and interview you

Show you are familiar with their business

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Sample(2)
Relevant to current business situation Set the scene

What you are interested in

Additional 3rd party referees talking your capabilities

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Sample(3)

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To achieve
Get the readers attention, but avoid catchy phrases and gimmicks Show your enthusiasm for the position Stimulate the interest of the employer Convey why you are writing - State the position or assignment for which you are applying Mention the resource used in finding out about the opening or how you learned of the opening

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Introductory Paragraph
Include when youre graduating from University and with what degree, and future career plans (only if theyre related to the position) Provide a transition sentence that links your education, experience, and skills to the need Provide a strong case for how your qualifications provide what the employer needs Highlight key strengths like education, skills, total experience (work experience, volunteer experience, class projects), achievements
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Main paragraph
Include certain skills you want to highlight that are mentioned in the job posting Where and how you developed those skills (academic background/training, work experience, personality traits) Achievements that relate to the field in which you are applying, without duplicating exactly what is included in your resume How you would make a good fit in the company based on its mission, goals, and current projects
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Closing paragraph
Your resume is included which gives a more complete view of your qualifications Youd like to further discuss the job opportunity or you desire an interview Restate your interest in the position. State what you expect next - interview. State what you will do as follow-up & when How you can be reached (phone number and email) to answer any questions Thank the person for his/her time and consideration
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Print Cover letter format

Your Street Address City, State Zip Code Date Name of Person Job Title Company/Organization Street Address City, State Zip Code Dear Mr./Dr./Ms../Mrs. XXXXXXXXX First paragraph: Second paragraph: Closing paragraph: Sincerely Your Name
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Printed Cover Letter

1431 West 35th Street Austin, Texas 78736-1332 512-555-5555 jrstudent@ischool.utexas.edu

Jonathan R. Student

November 25, 2004

Name & Address Information

Date
Name & Address Information Salutation

Ms. Mary M. Henrico The County of Henrico Personnel Department 4301 E. Partham Road Richmond, Virginia 23273-7032 Dear Ms. Henrico: Please find enclosed my rsum and application for the North Park Public Library Childrens Librarian I position (Number 1501-0126-0) advertised on your Website. The Childrens Librarian position provides a wonderful opportunity to positively influence the lives of children and young adults, as well as use my experience and educational background for the benefit of the library and the community. Through my experience with a public library childrens reading program and my four years experience as a classroom teacher, I have developed a keen understanding of how to produce successful childrens programs. With almost two years experience in delivering print and online reference services, my knowledge of reference resources will provide immediate assistance with reference and readers services to patrons of all ages. My coursework in collection development and in planning and managing services for children and young adults reinforced the experience I gained while working with childrens library programs. I am thoroughly computer literate and can provide training in the librarys new computer lab by teaching PC operating systems, office automation software, Internet search skills, and general Web use. I also have substantial experience in Web page development that will benefit the current objectives of providing online information about childrens activities and assisting patrons with the development of their own Web pages. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Becoming a childrens librarian at the North Park Public Library is an exciting prospect for me. I look forward to meeting you and discussing ways in which my education and experience will match the needs of the Library, now and into the future. Sincerely,

Introductory Paragraph
Body of Letter Closing Paragraph Complimentary Close Signature Printed Name Enclosures

Jonathan R. Student
Jonathan R. Student
Enclosures: Application and Rsum

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Organize Your Career Search

Keep copies of all submissions, by organization. For each organization, keep: Job announcement Notes while researching job and organization Copy of resume Copy of cover letter Copy of references Keep all documents in binder or file box or file folder that is readily accessible.

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Use action words

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Bad statements & incorrect spell

Education: Curses in liberal arts, corses in computer science, courses in accounting Personal: Married, 1992 Sangeet Proven ability to track down and correct erors. Disposed of $2.5 billion assets Accomplishments: Oversight of entire department Cover Letter: Thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear from you shorty!

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On-Line Resources
www.collegerecruiter.com www.developercareers.com www.writinglettersandresumes.com www.professional-resumes.com www.1stresumes.com www.a1resumes.net

Free

www.10minuteresume.com www.crsresume.com www.resumeservice.com Additional resources on resumes are available online at: Google search like Presentations, eBooks, Tips

Not Free

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Thank You

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