Hey Everyone,
This week we are going to talk about cover letters and resumes. To be completely honest with you all I had never even heard of a cover letter until about 2 years ago. It is important to have a cover letter written up for a job that you want; you can send it in with your resume when you apply and take it with you to your interview. Interviewers see that you took the time and effort to make a cover letter specific to them and the company they work for.
I am going to include a cover letter I wrote up about a year ago when I was trying to get a job with as a supervisor at a Residence Inn in Seattle. The heading of my cover letter matches my resume as you will be able to see. You can read over my cover letter if you haven’t written one yet and want to get a basic overview of what one should look like.
So, since we are talking about cover letters and resumes… please answer the following questions:
What are some ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
What are some questions about cover letters you’ve had?
What are some questions about resumes that you’ve had or do you have any advice to share?
Share a cover letter you have created, and share any resources you’ve found about resumes or cover letters.
Dear David Baisch,
Marriott is a great company to work for, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my entire time here. I have worked at three Marriott properties, two full service and one select service, and it has always been a goal of mine to move from the full service property back to a select service hotel in a supervisor position.
I am always looking for opportunities to learn more about front desk operations. I switched my schedule around so that I would be able to work overnights. I wanted to learn more about what happens at night and the behind-the scenes work that happens to set up the day shifts for success. By being on overnights, I was also given the opportunity to get more exposure to different roles and situations.
I’ve had the opportunity to work through numerous challenges in my career in hospitality. From my experience at two Marriott properties and my educational background, I feel that I am prepared to handle the opportunity and challenge of a supervisor role.
I have stayed in a few Residence Inn properties and they are quite clearly one of the best select service Marriott brands. I would love to learn and grow in a supervisor position at the Residence Inn because I am ready to take on that responsibility and it would be fantastic to continue to grow my career with Marriott. No hospitality company has a better service culture and I have always appreciated what I've learned from them.
My ability isn’t limited to the front of the house either. I’ve been able to make and improve processes for each overnight shifts much more efficient, and for that, I was awarded the “Midnight Star” award for “Associate of the Quarter” by hotel management. During my time at both properties, I have made it my goal to make current processes and procedures run more efficiently and effectively.
Thank you for your time,
Ashley Glass
To highlight my interdisciplinarity I would express the knowledge I have obtained in all my areas of study.
ReplyDeleteHow to write a cover letter that you can post on a career search site that will be affective, but without being position specific?
Don’t really have any questions or advice about resumes really. I guess just be as specific as possible when listing your job skills
This is a generic cover letter that I have posted on job sites :
Dear Sir or Madam,
My name is Robin Murray and I am seeking employment here in the Orlando area. I am currently a part time student at the University of Central Florida working toward my Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
I have been unemployed since the end of 2007 due to my pregnancy and birth of my son. I am now seeking to return to work. My most recent employment was with a material’s supply company and prior to that with a pre-employment company doing criminal background screenings.
I have an Associate’s Degree in Crime Scene Technology and a certificate in Computer Related Crime Investigations that I received from St Petersburg College.
Please feel free to contact me via telephone or email.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Very truly yours,
Robin L. Murray
I feel highlighting my knowledge in different areas can really express my interdisciplinary dicsiplines. As shown in my civer letter below.
ReplyDeleteIs it better to have a cover letter that is specific or overall general for all job types?
Does it matter what format is used for a resume, regardless of job type?
A tip I might give is, not making the cover letter to long, but long enough to catch the employeers attention. So that way there are somethings you can share and highlight at the interview face to face.
Here is a link to a great resume resource: http://www.rockportinstitute.com/resumes.html
The following is my cover letter I wrote a few months ago.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to further pursue a position at your acility. Also being sent along with this is my resume for your review.
My previous jobs have given me the experience and tools to handle a stressful and demanding environment. Though my current job is not the typical office job, I can consider it more than that. With my past office experience at Executive Protection agency, which I worked for in the hectic environment of New York City, made me better prepared and open to all situations. I am interested in this position as I have related skills and knowledge.
Currently, I am a full time student at Keiser University and part time student at the Uniersity of Central Florida. I have recently received my Associates in Arts at Seminole State College of Florida. I am also a part time traveling cheerleading instructor and judge with the Universal Cheerleaders Association. Here I provided excellent and consistent service to all customers.
It is important for me to add that I’m great at multitasking. I am a dedicated, calm and hard working. I am confident enough to say I would be a great asset for company.
If you do wish to arrange an interview, please contact me at the above telephone number or e-mail me at ...@yahoo.com. I truly do look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Stephany Maldonado
Your interdisciplinarity can be highlighted in any resume or cover letter. Just mention it somewhere that you feel is the most appropriate place.
ReplyDeleteWho would think that a minor in Cultural Anthropology would have anything to do with Engineering? Well it does because of the huge effort among companies to recognize the ethics and diversity of its employees. You never know when your multiple talents might become useful.
I'm fortunate now to be on the receiving end of cover letters. They need to be well written because they are the first impression you make. Students who are bilingual with a language other than English need to be particularly careful. Have someone proofread your cover letters. I have a very intelligent employee who works for me and he speaks and/or reads 4 languages. I have nothing but admiration for him as I am not bilingual and I am not proud of that fact. However, his writing makes him appear to be less intelligent than he is because of the noun/verb, verb/noun differences in language. He's mastered it in his speech, but I can't imagine how difficult it is to write in a language different from your native tongue.
Keep your cover letters short and to the point. If you're applying in response to a requisition or advertised position, focus on your training and talents that fit that position. Particularly mention experiences or hands on training that might enhance your educational achievements. Be specific as generalities won't work in today's market. Exude self confidence without sounding pompous. Let them know you can do the job and are excited to further your knowledge even more with what they have to teach you. For instance:
I'm responding to Requisition 12345, advertising a position for a Mechanical Engineer with aerospace design experience using Pro/ENGINEER solid modeling software.
I've worked in the Aerospace industry for over twenty years and have 20,000+ hours of Pro/E solid modeling experience using both Intralink and Windchill database management systems. I've worked with the sheet metal and surfacing applications as well. I'm fluent with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing and have worked with optics, electronic packaging and test equipment in addition to purely mechanical design. I've interfaced with customers and vendors and have mentored several early career new hires. I have extensive leadership training and recognize the importance of communication and team work.
I feel certain that I can do the job you have advertised and hope that you will consider me for the position. I would truly appreciate the chance to work for your company.
Regards,
Deb Tanner
@Stephany - I like how you did your cover letter. Personally I think a cover letter should be specific to a job if you are applying to a specific job; but I think it also can be general (such as with posting to job sites). I didn't know you were a cheerleading instructor; that must be fun.
ReplyDelete@Deb - wow your cover letter is really impressive! In your opinion do you think it is a good idea to place a general cover letter together to post on a job site (like career builder)?
ReplyDeleteHello everyone,
ReplyDeleteThe topic of interviewing will be discussed in next week's blog so you do not have to complete the Informational Interview Assignment this week. You are more than welcome to take a look at it and work ahead if you are so inclined. Thanks.
http://www.perfectinterview.com/ucf
@Stephany - I also agree with Robin and Deb that your cover letter should include details about how your talents and abilities apply specifically to the job you are appplying for.
ReplyDelete@Deb - Thank you for mentioning the importance of proof-reading your cover letter (and anything you submit in writing to the company in which you are applying). Errors in grammar and spelling really do give the impression that you are less intelligent and not serious about what you are doing. I always proof-read my own work and have at least one other person proof-read it as well.
A resume is a great way to show your interdisciplinarity. You can include all of the skills that make you an asset to a specific workplace as well as show how your skills have already been used in the workplace.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never made a real cover letter so I really don’t know where to start. I’ve never had to worry about cover letters when getting a job.
Keep your resume focused on what you’re most proud of and what you want your employer to know about you rather than just filling it with as much as possible.
I’ve never made a cover letter so I just made this short one based on what I’ve learned
To Whomever it may concern,
My name is Steven A. Ramos Jr. and I am a fulltime undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida currently working towards a bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies with focuses on Psychology and Education.
I have been studying fulltime without working for two years now and am looking for a return to work at your company. I have previous experience working as a server and cashier for the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando Florida for 2 years.
Thank you for your time and feel free to contact me at your leisure.
Steven A. Ramos Jr.
@Deb
ReplyDeleteYour cover letter example is crazy good. It is so detailed, I didn't think about putting the specific job opening by number code and everything, this would make any employer take you seriously from the start.
@Stephany
You're right about the cover letter, it shouldn't look like an essay, just something to catch the employers attention and keep them interested
I could highlight my interdisciplinarity in my resume by stating all my focus areas and exactly what I studied throughout my time in college.
ReplyDeleteSome questions about cover letters I’ve had include: Resumes can have cover letters? And What exactly should I include in a cover letter?
Some advice when creating a resume is to make it extremely easy to read.
Share a cover letter you have created, and share any resources you’ve found about resumes or cover letters.
My name is Leah Masson and I am a current student at the University of Central Florida. I am studying Education, Behavioral and Social Sciences and Health Sciences. I have been working at your company for about 4 years and am very hopeful to receive a higher position. I have should dedication, reliability, and enthusiasm over my time working here, but I think that I can offer more to the company through a high level position.
Sincerely,
Leah Masson
@Jennifer, thanks for posting that. I guess I go confused on the assignments.
ReplyDeleteHey everyone,
Great posts! You have some great advice floating around out there and should take it all into consideration when making your cover letters and resumes.
I think highlighting my interdisciplinarity would be fairly easy in just trying my best to showcase my many strong suits and support them through my education.
ReplyDeleteQuestions: Really? More Paperwork? Why isn't a resume good enough? It's my laziness but it's true.
Advice: Keep it simple and to the point. Don't act like you know the person or like they want to hear your life story.
A Recent Cover Letter:
Pat Sebastian
Dear Ms. Whoever,
I am currently a part-time records document management specialist and have eight months of experience in this position. As I have been a Valencia Community College staff member for nearly two years, I am familiar with the policies and procedures of all the duties related to records and document management.
I consider a job well done when I have completed my work ahead of schedule and take pride in everything I do. I feel comfortable multi-tasking in an office environment and providing assistance to other members of the Admissions and Records team. Based on these qualifications I am ready to assume the full-time responsibilities of a Records Document Management Systems Specialist.
In addition to the experience shown on my resume, you will find that I:
Demonstrate proficiency in all Banner applications pertinent to records management.
Am eager to cross-train and learn new facets of the admissions and records process.
Work well with other team members in a leading or supporting role as necessary.
My knowledge, experience and work ethic will make for a seamless transition into this new position. Given the opportunity, I am certain that I will continue to succeed at Valencia Community College. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Pat Sebastian
@Steven It's easy to write a cover letter for a specific job req that you have experience for. It isn't easy when you're first getting started and don't have a lot of experience. In that case you just have to rely on your education, highlight any experience you have and exude self-confidence, energy and desire. Above all- STAY POSITIVE!
ReplyDelete@Jennifer, Thanks for reinforcing the importance of proof-reading. I almost didn't talk about the bilingual problem, but it is so important. For someone to get passed over for a job because of a situation like that is really a loss for both the applicant and employer. It is not something that would be an issue once you get the job, as most companies recognize diversity and expect employees to ask for help with something like that. Remember, Einstein couldn't spell worth a hoot and most doctors need editors for all their publications.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that when writing a cover letter for a resume that you should put down your interdisciplinarty when you feel it's most important.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the questions - I don't really have any except for: Do I list my work experience on my cover letter, or do I put that somewhere else in my resume?
My cover letter would be something like:
To "Name of Video Game Company":
My name is Charles Cowart, and I am currently an undergraduate student at University of Central Florida, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a minor in Digital Media. I will be set to graduate in August 2011.
I am interested in working at your company for an entry level position in Quality Assurance Testing. My degree that I am seeking and my work experience has allowed me to gain the necessary skills needed in order to fulfill this position.
A resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity by showing all of the skills and knowledge you learned in your areas of study and your minor. I’ve never had to write a cover letter before so questions I have are whether to make the cover letter brief and to the point or to make it longer with lots of information. Advice for writing a resume that I would give is to be very specific and make sure to list all of your prior work experiences and accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Josh S. Ember and I am in search of employment here in Orlando, FL. I have been a full time student for three years now and am seeking my bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on psychology and biology and a minor in health science at the University of Central Florida.
I have only worked over the summer the past few years of my college life, but before that I worked year round. My prior work experience includes stringing tennis rackets, being a tennis instructor, and working at Publix. I feel that I have the knowledge and qualities needed to be successful with this position. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Josh Ember
@Leah, I agree that you should probably list your areas of study and your minor on a cover letter. I’ve never written a cover letter before so I don’t really know what to include, but I know it’s supposed to be short and to the point.
ReplyDelete@Steven, I’ve also had jobs in the past, but I’ve never had to worry about writing a cover letter before. I also think that you should include all of your skills and be very specific when writing a resume.
What are some ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
ReplyDeleteI think that my whole resume should have my areas of interest by showing my experience at my current job and how my IDS education has changed and therefore enhanced my job. Also on my resume I like to let employers see how important is to have more than one are of interest and how with our personality and knowledge we can take on more than one role in their company.
What are some questions about cover letters you’ve had?
Should cover letter be very detailed or more generic?
Are cover letters only a good idea for job seeking or are they also a good tool to have when applying for graduate school?
Also can you give me a good example of an entry level position cover letter?
For what I can see most of the cover letter including your have already work experience but I have no experience on my field yet, can you help me please.
What are some questions about resumes that you’ve had or do you have any advice to share?
I feel that is quite difficult to “summarize” all your experience and education on just one page. Do employers only seek people that are capable to show their whole life on one piece of paper?
I’m asking this question because I have hear many times that a resume shouldn’t be longer than one page and even when I try to stick to the one page rule I still end up with two at least.
Share a cover letter you have created, and share any resources you’ve found about resumes or cover letters.
I feel that I would need to create a cover letter for an entry position upon graduation:
Dear Sirs:
I would like to be considered for the position of teachers assistant. I’m enclosing my resume with this letter and I believe that all my education and personal skills are perfect for this position.
Upon my graduation from the University of Central Florida I would have completed bachelors in Interdisciplinary studies. With enfaces in education and behavior and as well as a minor in communication science and disorders. Through my education I have also developed excellent interpersonal and leadership qualities witch in my opinion are extremely necessary for children’s education today.
My experience also as a customer service representative for a government agency has taught me to value individuals and acquire dynamic and effective problem solution strategies. I love working with children and as a mom myself I wouldn’t give anything but the best to my students.
I look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Luisa Mejia
I also found this website that help on building the correct type of cover letter
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverletters/a/aa030401a.htm
@charlesc
ReplyDeleteI think is a good idea to keep cover letter short and sweet, i like that you go right to the point.
@stevenramos
ReplyDeleteI also feel the same way, I have no experience in my field but as I read our blog it is true that finding a job is also about confidence and demonstrating good working ethics and the willingness to learn and just being proactive and motivated.
@ Deb,
ReplyDeleteYou really gave some great insights about cover letters.It personally helped me a lot.
@ Luis,
I agree that it is difficult to keep a resume to one page. I'm eager to hear if anyone replies to you about that.
@ Ashley: no problem
ReplyDelete@ Luisa: I've done some research and there does not seem to be a hard and fast rule that resumes HAVE to be ONE PAGE. But in my opinion and from what I have read, resumes should probably not be longer than two pages. Your resume should highlight your education, work experience and skills, not list every single detail about your life and experiences. Recruiting managers "read for speed" and are looking for what is relevant to the position. Here are some websites I found that may be helpful in further answering your questions about resume length:
http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_length.html
http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/resume-writing-tips/one-page-or-two-page-resume/article.aspx
+What are some ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
ReplyDelete--My resume can highligh my interdisciplinarity by showing the different classes I've taken in my major/minor areas. In my resume, I can discuss my areas of focus.
What are some questions about cover letters you’ve had?
+What are some questions about resumes that you’ve had or do you have any advice to share?
--I don't really have any questions about resumes I've had, but I do have a little advice to share. Well written resumes and cover letters make a big difference during an interview. When I applied for the job I have now, I was literally competed against hundreds of other applicants for a very 'hard to get' job. When I went into the interview panel, I had brought multiple copies of my cover letter/resume for each person sitting on the interview panel. I could tell they were impressed and they all took a moment to look it over before beginning the interview. I think it really added to my interview, and showed that I was organized, professional, and had a real interest in the job.
+Share a cover letter you have created, and share any resources you’ve found about resumes or cover letters.
--I don't actually have the cover letter I used with me (I'm working out of town right now) but I will try my hardest to replicate it!
To whom it may concern:
I am interested in obtaining a position as a law enforcement officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. I would like to be a part of helping conserve the wildlife and environment within the state of Florida, as well as protecting the people that enjoy the outdoors. I believe I can be an asset to the agency by helping patrol thousands of acres of land, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters of the state. Conserving fish and wildlife for future generations is something that I'm very passionate about, and I believe will have an impact in this career. Please consider me for the position of law enforcement officer.
Sincerely,
Heidi Simons
So that was not exactly what I wrote but pretty much summed it up! :)
@Deb - Solid cover letter. You highlight your experience really well.
ReplyDelete@Luis - I too have trouble fitting everything on 1 page. However, I recently got a job using a single page resume so it worked out okay. I just used my most recent and relevant job experience and included references and a cover letter.
My resume can highlight my interdisciplinary by show casing the different areas I have worked in and how they pertain to my future career.
ReplyDeleteI have never written a cover letter and was wondering if I could include hobbies that can somehow relate to the job?
I don't have any questions about resumes, but I wanted to mention that career services on campus have people that can help you with your resume. They are really helpful and the lady I worked with did a really good job helping me fix my old resume.
To Whom it may concern:
I am writing due to my interest in your rehabilitation department internship. I am planning to attend graduate school for Occupational therapy and wanted to gain more experience. I have completed over 100 hours in externship experience with physical and occupational therapists. I also completed an internship with Pastoral Care at Florida Hospital.
Over the years I have gained much leadership experience, and I am a quick learner. I am really passionate about helping other and I hope to gain more understanding about occupational therapy at your facility.
Thank you,
Jazmin Peralta
@Luisa: I really enjoyed reading your cover letter. Thanks for the link to the website! :)
ReplyDelete@Heidi:I think it is amazing that you want to help with wildlife conservation. I've been a vegetarian for three years, and trying to go vegan. Therefore I think it's great that there are other people that are also concerned about the environment and animals.
kudos to you!
@ jennifer: Thank you for your help, by putting myself on the other side I can see how they look for key things on a resume it makes so much more sense now, thank you.
ReplyDeleteDo you automatically include a cover letter when sending in your resume?
ReplyDeleteAfter you know your three areas you want to go into I think you work experience and volunteer work should fall into one of those three areas so your employer see you have some kind of knowledge of the job. I have never made a cover letter but what i understand from looking it up a cover letter is a letter sent along with other documents to provide additional information. I think you should always have multiple people look at your resume it is good to have different opinions. I have a problem with my resume because it is really boring. All of my opportunities are volunteer no real work experience. One thing I think is a positive is all of my volunteer work is long term at least a year or more.
ReplyDelete@Luisa - You're very welcome. The information was helpful to me as well!
ReplyDelete