Career Development Center
248 Hardway Hall
Phone: (304) 367-4541
Careers@FairmontState.edu
Phone: 304-367-4141
Monday | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Tuesday | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Wednesday | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Thursday | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Friday | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Saturday | Closed |
Sunday | Closed |
Mailing Address
Fairmont State University
1201 Locust Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
PURPOSE OF A RESUME
A resume is a professional introduction of you! It’s your opportunity to entice a potential employer with your abilities so you will be invited to interview. A resume is a summary of your personal history and qualifications to show why YOU are the best candidate for the job. This is your first impression, so make it a good one! Keep in mind, most employers will spend less than 30 seconds reviewing your resume. Remember to keep your resume focused, use the right language for your industry, and effectively communicate how your skills add strengths to prepare you for the job for which you are applying.
Resume Format Example
Your Name Here
Permanent Address: 123 Street Address, City, State, Zip, Phone Number: (Cell and/or Home), Email address:
(use discretion – what image does your address convey? When posting resume online list only Name/Phone/Email to avoid identity theft)
OBJECTIVE: Use concise language to describe the position you are seeking – be job/career specific, do not write a paragraph, but limit it to one sentence. (Optional)
SUMMARY OF SKILLS: Match your skills & qualifications with those listed in the job posting or those skills related to job/career, and place them in this section using individual words or bulleted statements. (Optional)
EDUCATION: List degree. Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science and Major/Concentration/Minor - Graduation Date, Name of School and City/State (Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV) List GPA (only if 3.0 or higher) and academic honors/scholarships if desired.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE: Job Title, Name of Company/Organization, City/State and Dates; Do not list street address, supervisor’s name, phone, or wage) • List other work experience that is less relevant • Include transferable skills utilized in each role;
ACTIVITIES: Include cross-cultural experiences, extracurricular activities and volunteer/community service. List membership and leadership positions and related campus or professional organizations;
SKILLS: List foreign languages, computer and other technical skills;
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
PURPOSE OF A COVER LETTER
A cover letter is written in business format, as a letter you write to a prospective employer when applying for a job. You may sometimes see it referred to as a “Letter of Interest” or “Application Letter.” Your cover letter should not introduce your resume, but supplement the information on your resume.
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TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD COVER LETTER
When writing a cover letter, include the following: Address it to the person who will interview candidates, by name if possible; Create font style and font size for content and each section heading, no larger than 12pt. Keep cover letter short (one page) if possible and to the point; Make cover letter "employer focused" rather than “job-seeker focused," meaning, talk about how you can meet their needs, not how they can meet your needs; Prepare each cover letter individually; Avoid using a form letter.
COVER LETTER GUIDE
Your Cover Letter Should Be:
1. CONSISTENT WITH THE RESUME
2. EASY TO READ
3. RELEVANT TO EMPLOYER’S NEEDS
4. IN RESPONSE TO THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
AVOID...
COVER LETTER OUTLINE
Your Present Address (Contact information of applicant can be stacked vertically or horizontally across the page as on resume)
City, State, Zip Code
Date
Name of Contact Person
Title Organization/Company
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear (Contact Person - Be formal: Dr./Mr./Ms./Mrs.) *if not certain if married female, use Ms.
Opening Paragraph (should address interest and define career objective)
2nd Paragraph (should develop your career objective and identify what you have that they want – your resume should provide facts to support this)
3rd Paragraph (should highlight specific experience)
4th Paragraph (should request an interview) Be positive in your attitude!
COVER LETTER SAMPLE
1201 Locust Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
September 12, 2014
Michael Lynch
Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Admissions Office
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Dear Mr. Lynch,
I am interested in applying for the position of Admissions Counselor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth listed on the university’s employment opportunities website. I believe that my educational background, skills, and work experience have prepared me well for the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in marketing provided me with knowledge in the areas of consumer behavior, strategic marketing, and promotional strategies. This education will be an asset in successfully representing the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as an Admissions Counselor. While working as an admissions assistant at Shepherd University, I found my passion for recruitment and communication with prospective students and their families. In this position, I became very effective in developing working relationships with my clients, while perfecting marketing and public relations methods for recruiting. My professional goal is to further expand on these skills in the role of Admissions Counselor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
In addition to my recruiting experience, I gained a lot of professional advancement through my marketing internship with Breakthrough Events Inc. I mastered efficient teamwork, learned successful event planning techniques, and effectively employed variety of marketing strategies. Both of my employment experiences required frequent utilization of social media for marketing and public relations purposes. The enclosed resume further outlines my skills, experiences, and qualifications for the position of Admissions Counselor.
I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss my qualifications for the position. I will contact you the week of June 29 to follow up on the status of the search. Please contact me at 304-876-4356 or Frederick.Falcon@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to schedule an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Frederick F. Falcon