Designing Persuasive Resumes and Cover Letters A Talk Prepared for Changshu Institute of Technology

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Designing Persuasive Resumes and Cover
LettersA Talk Prepared for Changshu Institute
of Technology

• Baotong Gu
• Georgia State University
• bgu_at_gsu.edu
• July 10, 2008

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Overview

• Resumes
• Content Design
• Format Design
• Cover Letters
• Content Design
• Format Design
• Applying to Graduate Schools in the U.S.

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Resume vs. Cover Letter Whats the Difference?
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Resume Content Design

• What fortune 500 personnel administrators most
  want to see on resumes
• Your name
• Your telephone number
• Your college degree
• The name of your college
• The jobs you have held
• Your address
• Your major course of study in college
• The names of companies that have employed you
• The dates of your employment
• The date you graduated (or expected to graduate)
  from college

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Resume Content What to Include

• Name
• Contact information
• Objective
• Education
• Work experience
• Activities honors
• References (maybe)

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Resume Content Name

• Whats there in a name?
• Is it big enough to catch your readers
  attention?
• Does it stand out well so that if theres only
  one thing your reader can remember it will be
  your name?

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Resume Content Career Objective

• Strike a balance between specific and general
• To write user documentation for a computer
  software company
• Technical writer specializing in user
  documentation
• To work in a business corporation
• An interpreter for a large foreign trade
  corporation
• To be a communication specialist in international
  business settings utilizing my four years of
  experience in foreign trade

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Resume Content Education

• What to include
• School
• Degree
• Major
• Graduation date
• Minor
• GPA (maybe)
• Honors
• Significant/relevant courses

• Education
• B.A. in English, July 209
• Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu
• Concentration International Business English
• GPA 3.5
• Education
• Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu
• BA in English, July 2009
• Concentration International Business English
• GPA 3.5

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Resume Content Work Experience

• What to Include
• Job title
• Company name
• Dates of employment
• Description of duties

• Professional Experience
• Research Associate, 09/2004-present
• School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
  Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
• Synthesizingß-naphthalene sulfonic acid
• Synthesizing high-polymeric ß-naphthalene
  sulfonic acid-formaldehyde
• Researching on properties of Synthesized
  high-polymeric ß-naphthalene sulfonic
  acid-formaldehyde
• Synthesizing alkyl naphthalene sulfonic
  acid-formaldehyde
• Researching on alkyl anion surfactants
• Intern, 07/2004-09/2004
• Department of Industry Quality, BeautyCos
  International Co., Ltd., LOREAL, China
• Testing chemical properties of over five hundred
  pieces of raw chemical materials
• Testing the purity of over three hundred pieces
  of raw chemical materials
• Intern, 06/2002-09/2002
• Department of Chemical Development, Suzhou
  Tianhua Materials Co., Ltd, China
• Synthesizing a new type of esterified starch
• Researching on properties of the esterified
  starch EMSIZE E20
• Publishing a paper, Synthesis and Research of
  Esterified Starch, in Tianhua Chemicals

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Resume Content Activities Honors

• In most cases, a simple listing of
  one-to-two-line items.
• If very little work experience but significant
  amount of activities, arrange in the same way as
  work experience section.

• Activities Honors
• Three-month Internship Grant from BeautyCos
  international Co., Ltd. L'OREAL China, 2004.
• Peoples Fellowship, Nanjing University, 2003
• Three-month Internship Grant from Suzhou Tianhua
  Materials Co., Ltd., General Agent of
  Emsland-Starke Unternehmens Gruppe In Germany,
  Suzhou, China, 2002
• Excellent Intern Award, Suzhou Tianhua Materials
  Co., Ltd, China, 2002
• Excellent Score Award in College English Test
  Band Six (CET6), Ministry of Education, China,
  2002
• Peoples Fellowship, Nanjing University, 2002
• Peoples Fellowship, Nanjing University 2001
• Excellent Paper Award, School of Chemistry and
  Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, 2001
• Excellent Score Award in College English Test
  Band Four (CET4), Ministry of Education, China,
  2001
• Top 100 Scores in Jiangsu Province, National
  College Admissions Tests, China, 2000
• Straight As in the 2000 Senior High School
  Graduation Examinations, 2000

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Resume Content Summary of Qualifications
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Resume Content What If I Dont Have Anything?

• What to Include When You Dont Have Anything
• Career Objective
• Education
• Computer Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Communication Skills
• Significant/Relevant Courses
• Significant/Relevant Projects

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Resumes Format Design

• Minimalist design
• Rule of Proximity
• Hanging indent
• Visual hierarchy
• Design consistency
• White space
• Page focus
• Column alignment

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Cover Letter Content Design

• First Paragraph
• Purpose of the letter
• Position title advertised
• Source of advertisement
• Why you are applying (a brief overviewing
  statement of your qualifications)
• Next Paragraphs
• No more than one major qualification each
  paragraph
• Clear topic sentences at the beginning about the
  major qualification
• Good supporting details for your claim of
  qualification (could use several details to
  support your qualification)
• Reasonable length
• Last Paragraph
• A summarizing statement of your qualifications
• Request for further contact
• Your own contact information

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Cover Letter Content First Paragraph

• Less Effective
• I am applying for the job you recently
  advertised. I can offer my knowledge in the areas
  necessary for the position as well as in related
  areas.
• More Effective
• I am applying for the mechanical technologist
  position advertised in the CPC Annual. I can
  offer Boeing my knowledge of avionics and
  aircraft electrical systems along with a strong
  background in nondestructive testing and advanced
  composites.

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Cover Letter Content Next Paragraphs

• Less Effective
• My work toward a Bachelor of Science degree at
  Purdue University has provided me with knowledge
  that is ideal of projects such as those at your
  company. I also can offer my knowledge and
  experience in other areas. This extensive
  knowledge, I believe ,makes me an ideal, if not
  the perfect, candidate for the position you have
  open.
• My studies at Purdue University have also allowed
  me to become qualified in three important areas.
  The qualifying certificates I have obtained will
  make me an extremely valuable addition to your
  staff. This knowledge could be applied in the
  many projects now underway at your company.
• More effective
• My work toward a Bachelor of Science degree in
  Aviation Technology, with an emphasis on
  avionics, is ideal for projects like Boeings
  remanufacturing of older Chinook helicopters or
  in the design of fly-by-wire systems. I also can
  offer my knowledge of advanced composites to the
  design of the Boeing 360 or to the manufacturing
  of composite parts for the Boeing jet transports.
  
• My studies at Purdue University have also allowed
  me to become level-one qualified in three
  nondestructive testing (NDT) areas. The
  qualifying certificates I have obtained are in
  the areas of Eddy Current, Magnetic Particle, and
  Liquid Penetrant testing. This knowledge of NDT
  could be applied in the testing and development
  of many projects now underway at Boeing
  Helicopters.

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Cover Letter Content Last Paragraph

• Less Effective
• I would like to meet with you to discuss your
  organization and my qualifications. I can be
  reached at the above address and telephone number
  and I look forward to speaking with you. Again, I
  believe that Im perfectly suited for the
  position you have open and believe that my
  services would greatly improve the quality of
  work at your company. Thank you for your time and
  consideration.
• More Effective
• I would like to meet with you to discuss your
  organization and my qualifications. I can be
  reached at 404-123-5678 or johnsmith_at_hotmail.com
  and I look forward to speaking with you. Thank
  you for your time and consideration.

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Cover Letter Format Design

• Block Style
• Everything left justified, including your own
  address on top and signature block at the bottom
• No indentation at the beginning of paragraphs
• Single space within paragraphs and double space
  between paragraphs
• Modified Block Style
• Your address on the right
• Recipients address on left (no overlapping on
  lines)
• Indentation or no indentation at beginning of
  paragraphs
• Signature block on the right about two-thirds
  across the page, should be aligned with your
  address on top

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Cover Letter Openings Good or Bad

• I recently read of your opening for a field
  geologist. One of my professors, Dr. R. D. Loner,
  worked for you, and claims that you company was
  beneficial to her career. My taking the position
  would be a great opportunity to advance my career
  in geology.
• I have spent many summer vacations hiking and
  camping in Yosemite National Park, and would like
  to return to the park as an employee.
• Please consider my application for the
  business-oriented programming position advertised
  in the Boston Globe. I will graduate in May from
  Eastern University, with a B.S. in Electrical
  Engineering Technology.
• Texaco is a very important leader in the
  development and distribution of the worlds
  energy resources. Would your company have a place
  on its RD team for a mathematician with
  experience in computer programming?
• While attending Eastern University, I have
  closely followed your companys financial
  statements, and have become highly interested in
  your sales growth. Therefore, when Roberta Lowny,
  Vice-President of Sales for Bando Sportswear,
  informed me of an opening in your fabric sales
  division, I decided to write immediately.

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Cover Letter Closings Good or Bad

• I would like an interview with you as soon as
  possible.
• If my qualifications seem to interest you, would
  you kindly consider the possibility of contacting
  me at home (247-754-9867) any weekday after 3
  P.M.?
• I know I can succeed as a technical writer in the
  software industry. I look forward to hearing from
  you about my placement in your company.
• I hope you agree that I am the type of engineer
  DGH is seeking. Please allow me to further
  discuss career opportunities with you.
• I feel well qualified for the position as Park
  Naturalist, and hope you will consider me for the
  job. If you need more information or wish to
  contact me for any reason, feel free to call at
  265-446-5467 any weekday after 4 P.M.
• If your department has a place for an
  enthusiastic intern, I hope you will consider me.
  I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my
  application with you directly.
• I would like to arrange an interview with your
  company to discuss this position. Please phone me
  at your convenience.
• I am hardworking, efficient, eager to learn, and
  anxious for the opportunity to apply my skills.
  Please consider me for a summer position.

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Applying to Graduate Schools in the U.S. What We
Consider

• TOEFL
• GRE
• GPA
• Personal Statement
• Recommendation Letters
• Cover Letter
• Writing Sample
• Resume (often optional)

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Applying for Funding

• Types of funding available
• Teaching Assistantships (TA)
• Research Assistantships (RA)
• Fellowships
• Whats Considered
• Personal Statement (understanding of the field,
  research potential, your philosophy, enthusiasm,
  etc.)
• Work (teaching or research) Experience

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Application Process

• About 1 year in advance (August or September)
  Inquiry letter to the department Graduate
  Director
• October TOEFL and GRE tests
• October to December prepare your application
  package application forms, cover letter, resume,
  personal statement, letters of recommendation,
  writing sample
• December to March send in your application
• March to May decision from the department

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• Good Luck!
• Questions?
• bgu_at_gsu.edu