COMM 202W06: Resumes

T35 & T36

Hand in Cover Letter Drafts please :)Sit in groups of 5.

Tutorial 4

Agenda

1. Cover Letter Peer Review

2. Accomplishment Statements

3. Action Items

Cover LetterPeer Review

Instructions

1. Write your table number on ALL your documents2. Put your documents in a pile in the middle of the table3. Get out your marking utensils

Each new slide section

PASS DOCUMENT TO THE RIGHT

Formatting

o Left aligned (NOT justified)o No indents on paragraphso Sections are apparent:

1. Opening paragraph2. 2-3 Skills-Matching paragraphs

(bullets are fine)3. Closing paragraph

Formatting - Address Line

Date

Contact NameTheir TitleCompanyAddressCity, Province Postal Code

Re: Position Title

Dear Mr. / Ms. Their Last Name OR Hiring Manager

[Opening Paragraph]

These spaces are important

If unknown, this can be omitted

AVOID:“To Whom it May

Concern”“Dear Sir or Madam”

Country is typically unnecessary unless applying outside of

Canada

No indented paragraphs in a business letter

Formatting - Address Line

Formatting – Sign off

Sincerely,

Your NameBCom Candidate 20XXSauder School of Business

Attached: Resume

Regards,Best,

Written signature optional (provide

more space if including)

Attached: Resume, Transcript

Use “Enclosed: …” only if sending application by mail

BCom BTM Co-op Candidate 2016

These spaces are important

Opening

o How do you like the hook?o Is there keen, genuine interest and/or passion for the

position?o Is there a clear expression of the skills/experience matching

the job posting?o Is company research integrated (and indicates interest)?o If name drop is used, was it well-integrated?

Skills Matching

o Are there specific skills matched to the job description?o Do they reference specific examples that leverage

experiences/qualifications?o Are the highlighted experiences specific and concise?o Do they indicate transferrable skills?o Do the results show strength or success?o Suggested minimum of 2 skills/attributes matched

Conclusion

o Are skills reiterated in a different (not redundant!) way?o Is sincere interest expressed?o Is there a gracious thank you and call to action

o request for meeting?

Branding

o Is their research insightful? Have they gone the distance to show how they will “fit” into the industry or organization?

o Did they use Industry Terms?

Who would you hire?

Of the applications on your table, who has…o Who had the WOW factor?o Did they show CAN, WANT, & FIT?o What was GOOD about their application?o How can you improve yours?

Marking & Errors

Spelling & Grammar Typos Formatting

Missing Info Dashes vs. Hyphens Consistency

2 or more errors on resume2 or more errors on cover letter

Total potential deductions

20% deducted (of total)

20% deducted (of total)

40%

ResumeAccomplishment Statements

From this…(2011 & 2012)

To this!(2016 - Business)

Duty Based Accomplishment

vsThis is a job description!

This is how they know you’re good at it!

Duty Based

Developed website to boost traffic.

Accomplishment

vs

Duty Based

Developed website to boost traffic.

Accomplishment

Boosted the website’s average rate of monthly hits by 34% by updating it with new features and content

such as an interactive world map, a student involvement section, and a homepage newsfeed—all of which

catered to local business students

vs

A big change to STAR stories…

from STAR to RATS

Why???

o Employers do not want to hear your story, but your accomplishments!

Flip it! (RATS Statements)

Result (proof)

Action

Task

Situation

Action Verbs

Attained ExceededMaximizedIncreased

DecreasedEliminatedMinimizedReduced

SavedSurpassedImprovedCreated

GeneratedEnhancedOptimized

Established

**Try not to repeat words!!

Results Types

Qualitativeo Positive Feedback

o Promotion/Increase in Responsibilities

o Implementation

o Awards

o Examples?

Quantitativeo How much?o How many?o Numberso Percentages

o Examples?

R

Action A

Do your results match up with your actions?

Are those skills relevant to the job?

What skills did you see?

Task & Situation

o What other context is necessary to understand the information?

TS

ACCOMPLISHMENTBoosted the website’s average rate of monthly hits by 34%...

—…by updating it with new features and content such as an interactive world map, a student involvement

section, and a homepage newsfeed

—…all of which catered to local

business students

RESULT

ACTION/TASK

SITUATION

Examples

Activity

Take one of your skills matching paragraphs and rewrite it as an

accomplishment statement!

Action Items

Skills Matrix due February 12th @ TurnItIn

2 Hard copies of Resume Draft & an updated Cover Letter to next Tutorial! (also your job posting)

Watch the resume e-module + review “Outline to a Chronological Resume” + Resume Style slidesbefore next tutorial!

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