Fttg resume and cover letter workbook by Career Works

Transitions…….

Your Personal Path to a New Career Fast Track Transition Group Resume & Cover Letter Workbook

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 1

Introduction This manual is focused on helping you prepare to enter the job market. There are three phases to this program:   

Job search tools Job discovery strategies Interview management skills

The first phase of the program helps you develop the job search tools you will need to get started, including your resume, list of references and cover letters. The next phase provides proven methods for penetrating the open and hidden job markets. You will be introduced to the best techniques for networking, answering ads and using recruiters and/or employment agencies. The interview management phase is critical. How you conduct yourself in the interview determines whether or not you get a job offer. We will help you learn how to excel in interviews by researching the company, preparing for different types of interviews and weaving accomplishments into responses to questions. We will also discuss positive impression techniques.

This program does:    

Give you knowledge about how to find a job Help you prepare a resume Provide models, techniques and advice that helps you find jobs quickly Show you how to effectively prepare for interviews

This program does not:   

Give you a job Refer you to an open job Make contacts on your behalf

The job market is very competitive! Our goal is to give you the knowledge and tools to help you obtain the best possible job in the shortest amount of time with the least amount of stress.

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 2

Job Search Quiz Before going further, you may wish to test your current knowledge about finding a job. T

A resume should never be longer than one page.

About two-thirds of all jobs are filled through employment agencies and newspaper ads.

Most interviewers will have formed a first impression four or five minutes into the interview.

Because college graduates are expected to have a resume, it will never be necessary to complete an application.

A good resume contains statements that document your accomplishments.

A good reference list will have a mix of employers and faculty who can speak to your strengths and accomplishments.

When managers hire people, they look at their education, experience and, equally closely, at their personality.

Because of the changing economy, college students are facing less competition for jobs than two years ago.

It is important to discuss salary requirements early in the interview to get that part of the discussion out of the way.

10.

When asked to describe your background in an employment interview, you should spend no more than two minutes, unless questioned further.

11.

A good job search will leave no stone unturned - meaning the use of ads, agencies and networking.

12.

It is okay to smoke in an interview if you have asked permission.

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 3

Target Market Before we begin to develop the resume, let's take a moment to record your thoughts about the type of job or jobs you want to pursue. Using the form below, fill in the criteria that will define the organizations you would prefer to join. An example is on the next page. Target Market

Criteria

Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

1. Functional Area(s) (Career Categories or Fields)

2.Industry(ies)

3. Geography

4. Company Size

5. Compensation

6. Company Style/ Corporate Culture/ Business Strategy

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 4

Target Market (example)

Criteria

Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

1. Functional Area(s)

Systems Analyst

IT Project Manager

Systems Consultant

2.Industry(ies)

Banking or Insurance

Insurance

IT consulting firm

3. Geography

Midwest, Carolinas or

Chicago

California

Medium or large

$100 million

(Career Categories or Fields)

4. Company Size

$100 million+

Small $10 - 20 million

5. Compensation

$40,000

$50,000

$45,000

6. Company Style/ Corporate Culture/

Professionally managed to traditional

Traditional

Entrepreneurial

Business Strategy

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 5

Job Search Tools The Resume A resume is an essential part of your strategy to obtain a job. It is your sales brochure and communication tool used to highlight your qualifications and skills in support of your professional objective. The resume reflects your real world experiences and is a symbol of your achievements. In most situations, the resume is the first impression a future employer has of you. This tool has to quickly and accurately show the employer how you can positively contribute to their company. Therefore, the resume has to be an effective marketing piece that will differentiate you from the other candidates. An effective resume will tell the employer who you are, where you have been and what you can do for them. It will tell them what kind of work you want (professional career objective), your attributes, and accomplishments that highlight your skills. Most importantly, an effective resume will get you an interview, and it helps the interviewer remember you with a positive impression.

Resume Format Chronological The most frequently used and accepted format is the chronological resume. It lists work experience in reverse chronological order, outlining your job history from the most recent job backwards, with greater emphasis on the most recent job. It provides clear and concise information on job titles, responsibilities and accomplishments. The chronological resume is helpful when:    

Your career history shows growth and development Your job objectives are similar to your recent experiences Your previous employers have been very prestigious You are applying for a position in highly traditional fields or organizations

The chronological resume is not helpful when:     

Your work history is scattered Your professional objective is different from your experience You have minimum employment history You have changed employers frequently You have been absent from the job market for a while

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 6

Functional The functional resume will stress your qualifications, with less emphasis on employers and dates. Skills and accomplishments are listed under categories such as "Sales Experience" instead of under job titles. Because many employers are suspicious of this format, the decision to use it should be weighted very carefully. The functional resume is helpful when:    

Your objective is different from your experience You want to emphasize skills and abilities not used in recent work experiences Your experience has been gained in different, relatively unconnected jobs You are entering the job market after an absence

The functional resume is not helpful when:  Your past employers have been prestigious  You want to focus your attention on the pattern of your career growth

Essential Parts of the Resume All resumes should contain certain vital information, including:

Heading Name, address, telephone number(s) and email address.

Professional Career Objective A concise statement of what you want to do.

Employment History Company name, length of employment and job titles should be included. This section might include volunteer, co-ops/internships and community service.

Responsibilities Statements (Scope of Position) Selected information from your job description that a potential employer might find of interest.

Accomplishment Statements These statements show your achievements and contributions to an organization. Keep in mind how your profession measures performance. © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 7

Professional Development and Training List the skills you have acquired (e.g. Excel); if you speak a foreign language; areas you have received additional training in (e.g. for Nursing, you might include CPR training).

Education Summarize your educational background. Name and location of college/university attended. Grade point average, major and minor areas of study if you graduated within the last 5 years.

Memberships Include membership and offices held in professional associations, boards, and community activities that support your professional career objective.

Other Categories These could include honors and activities relevant to your objective, projects and publications you have worked on or military experience.

What Does An Effective Resume Look Like? Content: "Do" the following:  Describe specific responsibilities and highlight accomplishments.  Support all accomplishments with specific results. Try to quantify and qualify your accomplishments wherever possible .  Draw attention to what the market is buying.  Check spelling and grammar.  Type and proofread the final copy. Utilize the space on the paper.  Use active words.

"Do not" do the following:  Do not include anything that will raise doubts about your skills and/or cause you to be screened out.  Do not list references. Reserve them for the interview.  Do not leave any gaps between employment dates.  Do not include personal information such as age, marital status, or number of children.  Do not exaggerate or misrepresent yourself.  Do not include a snapshot of yourself.  Do not include an address for your personal website. © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 8

Overall  Everything on the resume must support your professional career objective.  Keep the target market in mind. As you look at your resume, be able to answer the question, "Would I interview this person?"

Style  Avoid using "I" statements.  For current or most recent jobs use the present tense. All previous jobs and all accomplishment statements should be in the past tense.  Write out all numbers up to and including nine. Use numerals for 10 to 999,999.  Use a direct and active writing style. Use short phrases and keep paragraphs under six lines .  Use key words that are appropriate for the job you are seeking.  Do not use abbreviations.  Use capital letters, dashes, underlining or bullets to emphasize certain items.

Format and Layout  Keep your resume to one or two pages.  Include your name, phone number and a page number on the second page.  If your resume is two pages, make sure all key selling points appear on the first page.  Make sure the resume is easy to read and scan. Make it visually appealing.  Do not use odd-sized paper or overly fancy stock, color, style, or font.  Do not use decals or fancy artwork.  Pick a format and stick with it.  Have headings and initial phrases that support your main message.  Devote more space to recent job and work experiences.  Layout the resume so that job descriptions or a sentence on the first page does not run over to the second page. Sample resumes follow……………..

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 9

NAME Address City, State, Zip Telephone Email

OBJECTIVE To secure a position utilizing marketing education and demonstrated skills in sales, customer service, communication and team leadership.

EXPERIENCE FISERV, Inc., Brookfield, WI 2003-2008 A global leader in the processing of financial data and related services to the financial industry. Fiserv Vision Business unit that provides solutions to increase productivity, enhance customer service and produce revenue opportunities for both POD and online, real-time operating environments. Usability and Design Analyst Designed and constructed portal screens for view and update applications.  Functioned as lead designer on initial stages of View and Update screen conversion project.  Researched and recommended icon designs for Portal 3.0.  Assisted in creation of screen layouts, supporting Relationship Pricing project.  Provided accurate documentation of field descriptions for Transcend batch processing program.  Increased skills through participation in corporate sponsored training programs including Communication for Results and Power of Working Together.  Collaborated with clients to customize screen release as a member of the project team, increasing customer productivity and communications.  Researched, analyzed and recommended implementation of a project management tracking program designed to increase divisional efficiency and communication.

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 10

Page 2

NAME THE FINISH LINE, Madison and Racine, WI National retail store specializing in athletic shoes and apparel.

1998-Present

Sales Associate - Part Time Process all customer transactions including sales, returns and exchanges.



Consistently achieve "Top Gun" award for obtaining the highest multiple and accessory sales percentages.



Train new employees on sales techniques, customer service and store procedures, improving productivity, sales and morale.



Member of improvement team charged with new store layout and enhancing product placement and merchandising, contributing to store's record of high sales volume and profitability.

ROADRUNNER FREIGHT SYSTEMS, Milwaukee, WI Privately owned national long haul freight carrier.

2001 to 2004

Dock Specialist Worked intermittently throughout school years. Operated forklift to unload inbound freight and load outbound semi-trailers. Consolidated freight to optimize deliveries. Trained new employees.

EDUCATION University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin BBA, Marketing, December 2004 Cumulative GPA: 3.35/4.00; Dean’s List TRAINING AND SPECIAL SKILLS Knowledge of personal computers; Microsoft Office Suite, Dreamweaver, HTML

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES Mu Kappa Tau Professional Honorary Marketing Society of the University of Wisconsin-Madison UW Intramural Basketball Kenosha Running Club

PERSONAL Financed 1/3 of college education by working multiple jobs, often simultaneously. This included commuting back and forth from Madison to Kenosha, working 50-60 hours/week during summers and 20 hours/week during school years. © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 11

BACKGROUND SUMMARY MANUFACTURING background in a variety of jobs including machining, with cross training on numerous other machines including CNC lathes, mills, and grinders. Functional skills include:      

Ability to read blueprints. Precision to maintain +/-0.001tolerances. Operation of various CNC and manual lathes and mills. Computer skills include Word, Works, and Excel. Proficient with dial and Vernier calipers and various micrometers. Detail oriented with strong organizational skills. MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE

KI (KRUEGER INTERNATIONAL), Green Bay, WI 2000 to 2008 Privately owned global office furniture manufacturer offering auditorium/lecture hall seating and tables, flexible workstations and wall systems with $650 million in annual revenue. Press Operator Coordinated incoming jobs, ordered supplies, printing, binding and maintaining of all records.  Established inventory control system:  Created spreadsheets using Excel and Works to track materials.  Introduced a system to track Job orders.  Organized filing and work-in-process systems.  Met tight deadlines over 95% of time.  Ensured highest quality for printing, meeting precise specifications for each job.  Minimized downtime on changeovers, organizing similar jobs for faster production.  Saving thousands of dollars in printing errors by proofreading master copies of documents prior to printing. LIBERT MACHINE CORP., Green Bay, WI CNC 1997 to 2000 Machinist Worked with a Hyundai CNC lathe.  Performed set-up, problem solving, programming and editing.  Wrote programs in G code.  Diagnosed various problems with tooling; edited programs to correct problems.  Worked within tight tolerances +/-0.001. DOC MACHINE WORKS, Green Bay, WI CNC/Lathe Machinist Operated and performed set-ups on a manual lathe and Bridgeport mill fabrication. MOD TECH INDUSTRIES, Shawano, WI CNC Machinist Worked with a variety of CNC 'machining centers.

1996 to 1997

1996

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE ARLIE'S RESTAURANT, Green Bay, WI Waitress Waited tables, continuously met or exceeded up-selling goals.

2002 to Present

EDUCATION Diploma, Machine Tool Operation - Northeast Wisconsin Technical College - Green Bay, WI, 1996 © Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 12

BACKGROUND SUMMARY PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN with extensive experience in product assembly and quality inspection. Skilled in operating a variety of production line machines and tools. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY KRUEGER INTERNATIONAL, Manitowoc, WI Manufacturer of office furniture.

1999 to 2007

Production Technician Responsible for complete assembly of office wall panels and doors including locating components, quality inspection and preparation for shipping.  Cross-trained in numerous positions to ensure production coverage.  Collaborated with safety team to develop and implement a facility safety inspection plan.  Traveled to customers' locations to service product through rework, which resulted in 100% customer satisfaction.  Performed ISO 9000 certification to ensure products met all ISO 9000 standards.  Read blueprints for specialized electrical panel completion and checked final specifications. BADGER CYCLE, Manitowoc, WI Motorcycle sales, service, and retail store.

1995 to 1999

Secretary/General Bookkeeper/Parts Manager Responsible for general office work. Prepared paperwork for new and used sales of bikes. Helped customers find needed parts and maintained inventory of all parts.  Invoiced, pulled, packed and shipped all customer orders.  Entered all warranty information into computer file to generate manufacturer reimbursements.  Ordered and unpacked all incoming parts and shipped outgoing orders. DOW CANVAS, Manitowoc, WI Manufacturer of recreational fabric covers.

1993 to 1995

Sewer Responsible for sewing boat covers and leather products.  Performed rethreading and product inspection.  Worked a variety of positions in retail operations. EDUCATION Graduate - Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, WI

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 13

BACKGROUND SUMMARY PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN with extensive experience in performing diverse manufacturing and assembly functions. Background includes working in both team and independent environments. Experienced in ISO 2000. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY KRUEGER INTERNATIONAL, INC., Manitowoc, WI A major office furniture manufacturer.

1999 to 2008

Production Technician Responsible for setting up auto welder, running adhesive machine, upholstering wall panels, and packing products for shipping.  Organized work to meet quality standards to achieve a 98% on-time shipping.  Cross-trained in various job functions throughout the plant.  Trained other employees to maintain required quality standards.  Created and implemented new ideas to help improve production. L UKASKI FARMS, Manitowoc, WI Dairy farm.

1982 to Present

Laborer Assisted in management of family farm. Responsible for bookkeeping, cleaning and maintenance of milking equipment. ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, Green Bay, WI

1982 and Prior

Certified Nursing Assistant Responsible for meeting a variety of patient needs.  Prepared patients for testing and medical procedures.  Assisted patients in meeting a variety of daily needs. EDUCATION Graduate - Ashwaubenon High School, Green Bay, WI TRAINING Certified Nursing Assistant ~ Woodside Lutheran Nursing Center Red Cross/First Aide/First Responder

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 14

BACKGROUND SUMMARY PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATOR with experience in both education and business. Strengths include organization, communication, being a team player, motivating others and ability to work under pressure. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY KRUEGER INTERNATIONAL, INC., Manitowoc, WI Major manufacturer of contract and commercial furniture.

1992to 2007

Production Technician Responsible for scheduling welding, assembly, and manufacture of office furniture and wall panel systems.  Cross-trained in numerous positions to ensure production coverage.  Performed ISO 9000 certification inspection to ensure products met all quality standards.  Maintained on-time shipping at 98% by organizing material flow and production output. BRILLION PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Brillion, WI

1995 to 1999

Special Education Teacher, (P-K-9) Set up curriculum of academic and community experiences.  Supervised five educational assistants.  Worked with inclusion teachers in grades 1-8. SYBLE HOPP SCHOOL, DePere, WI

1994 to 1995

Cognitively Disabled Teacher Intermediate Level (ages 10-14)  Designed curriculum for functional skills, fine/gross motor skills, leisure, personal care and community experiences.  Developed sign language skills and facilitated communication with nonverbal students.  Worked with augmentative devices and developed hands-on learning. ALDINE SCHOOL DISTRICT, Houston, TX

1992 to 1993

Fifth Grade Teacher  Taught 25 students including three ESL (English as a Second Language) and six special education students.  Gained experience working with minority students.  Served as technology integration and gifted and talented coordinator.  Taught both elementary and middle school levels (1992 and prior). EDUCATION B.S. Elementary Education and C.D. Certification, Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI Licensure: 42-108 Elementary Education (K-8) 47-806 Mild/Moderate Cognitive Disability (P-9) Graduate - Sheboygan Falls High School, Sheboygan Falls, WI AFFILIATIONS Manitowoc County Exp Executive Board of Directors Chair-Fairest of the Fair Red Cross Director County District & State 4-H Representative

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 15

1999 to 2003

Production Technician Responsible for complete assembly of office wall panels and doors including locating components, quality inspection and preparation for shipping .  Cross-trained in numerous positions to ensure production coverage.  Collaborated with safety team to develop and implement a facility safety inspection plan .  Traveled to customers' locations to service product through rework, which resulted in 100% customer satisfaction.  Performed ISO 9000 certification to ensure products met all ISO 9000 standards.  Read blueprints for specialized electrical panel completion and checked final specifications. BADGER CYCLE, Manitowoc, WI Motorcycle sales, service, and retail store.

1995 to 1999

1993 to 1995

Production Technician Responsible for sewing boat covers and leather products . • ,Performed rethreading and product inspection. Worked a variety of positions in retail operations.

1993 & Prior

EDUCATION Graduate - Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, WI

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 16

Developing a Professional Career Objective The professional career objective defines what you want to do. It provides the direction you need as you plan your search and takes into consideration your vision, skills, traits, values, interests, motivators, and overall experience. It is easily understood, focused, and usually a simple phrase or sentence. Since your education and experiences support it, it will help to decide what to emphasize in your resume. Well written professional career objectives have two parts: (1) skills to be used; and (2) your experiences. Look at the "Target Market" form in the Introduction to help you write your objective.

Develop your professional career objective:

Examples: Human Resources major/Marketing minor interested in a position to enhance skills in college recruitment, employee retention, and employee orientation. Civil Engineering major interested in a position in a local-level government agency emphasizing application of quality and statistical analysis.

Writing Accomplishment Statements An accomplishment is something you did that benefited your employer, school or organization. Some would be normal elements of your job and others would constitute performance above the call of duty. Accomplishments would include times when you:              

Created, designed or developed a novel or different approach Reduced costs Solved a problem Increased productivity or efficiency Developed an idea Identified a need and satisfied it Helped train another person Received an award or commendation Increased sales Improved quality or customer service Implemented a project on time or within budget Filled in for a supervisor Made a suggestion Worked overtime to complete tasks

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 17

Most accomplishment statements should begin with action verbs and should be brief - one to three typewritten lines. Accomplishments can be quantitative or qualitative. Ones expressed in numbers tend to be more attention grabbing; therefore, if you can express a result numerically, do so. Using the SOAR technique will help you identify the skills you used in each accomplishment. SOAR is an acronym for situation, obstacle/opportunity, action, and results. By using this technique, we can turn each accomplishment into a story that will be on your resume and in your mind during an interview. During the interview your story will include all four parts of the SOAR technique. Your resume accomplishment statements will only include the action and results parts of SOAR. Situation (describe the situation) Obstacle/opportunity (describe the obstacle or opportunity) Action (list the action you took) Results (describe the results obtained and the benefits to your employer)

Developing Accomplishments and Success Stories The SOAR technique will help you develop accomplishment statements and success stories that will highlight your skills and competencies. For this exercise, develop the three most successful work related achievements you have had.

Work Experience Accomplishment #1 Situation:

Obstacle/opportunity:

Action:

Result:

What skills did you use to achieve this accomplishment?

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 18

Accomplishment #2 Situation:

Obstacle/opportunity:

Action:

Result:

What skills did you use to achieve this accomplishment?

Accomplishment #3 Situation:

Obstacle/opportunity:

Action:

Result:

What skills did you use to achieve this accomplishment?

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 19

Accomplishment #4 Situation:

Obstacle/opportunity:

Action:

Result:

What skills did you use to achieve this accomplishment?

Accomplishment #5 Situation:

Obstacle/opportunity:

Action:

Result:

What skills did you use to achieve this accomplishment?

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 20

Accomplishment #6 Situation:

Obstacle/opportunity:

Action:

Result:

What skills did you use to achieve this accomplishment?

Examples of Accomplishment Statements on a Resume 

Designed and implemented a retention program that resulted in a 45% decrease in new employee turnover.



Coordinated fund raising events for three campus organizations and developed innovative pledge cards and solicitation methods that increased donations 36%.



Wrote online tutorial quizzes for Customer Service that increased average satisfaction scores from 72 to 94.



Received recognition from management for recycling process that saved $10,000.



Received award for providing outstanding customer service.



Developed procedures and conducted product testing that reduced scrap by 10% in metal casting department.

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 21

Preparing Your Resume for a Document Scanner Research the company before you write the resume. This will let you become familiar with the types of skills and key words that a particular company uses. A large number of companies use electronic scanners or optical character recognition software to sort resumes in the hiring process. Call the company and ask if a scanner will be used to review resumes. If the answer is "yes," then there are things you can do to make your resume scanner-friendly. Scanners are programmed to search for key words, phrases, and skills from the job description. It is in your best interest to call the company and ask for a complete job description of the position. The scanner can be programmed to search for particular categories, such as a specific foreign language. Again, pay close attention to the categories and special skills mentioned in the job description. List computer proficiencies using standard words and spellings that is, UNIX, Windows XP. When formatting and laying out your resume use white or ivory paper, make sure your margins are wide, and use your white space efficiently. These items will make the resume easier to scan. The scanner is very sensitive, so do not use bold type, italics, or fancy typefaces. Finally, faxes and even some dot matrix printed letters do not scan well. During the job search you might be asked to submit your cover letter and resume online. If this is the case, pay special attention to the instructions to "cut and paste" your resume. Keep in mind each company or job search website could have different instructions for submitting your cover letter and resume.

Resume Draft Use the following worksheet to being a draft of your resume. Following the worksheet is a list of action verbs you can use to begin accomplishment statements.

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 22

Resume Worksheet __________________________________ (NAME IN ALL CAPS AND BOLDED) _________________________________ (Address) _______________, __ _____ (City, State, and Zip) (Area Code and Telephone Number) (Email)

PROFESSIONAL CAREER OBJECTIVE _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ WORK EXPERIENCE ____________________________________ EMPLOYERS NAME IN ALL CAPS

__________________ Start year to completed year

________________________________ (City, State) _____________________________________ (Position Title, Bolded) ______________________________________________________________________________ __(Scope of Position)_____________________________________________________________

(Accomplishments) 

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 23

___________________________________ (PRIOR EMPLOYER)

__________________ Start Year to Year Completed

___________________________________ (Position Title) _________________________________________________________________________________ (Scope of Position)_________________________________________________________________ (Accomplishments) 

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION (Degree, name of college, city and state, date of degree and major) AFFILIATIONS/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE _____________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL SKILLS _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 24

Effective Sentence Openers (Action Verbs) Absorbed

Defined

Handled

Observed

Secured

Accelerated

Delegated

Headed

Obtained

Selected

Accomplished

Delivered

Helped

Opened

Served

Achieved

Demonstrated

Hired

Operated

Set up

Acted

Designed

Hypothesized

Organized

Shipped

Added

Determined

Originated

Showed

Administered

Developed

Identified

Outlined

Sold

Advised

Devised

Illustrated

Overhauled

Solved

Analyzed

Diagnosed

Implemented

Oversaw

Sorted

Applied

Differentiated

Improved

Appraised

Directed

Incorporated

Packaged

Standardized

Approved

Discovered

Increased

Patrolled

Structured

Arranged

Disseminated

Informed

Performed

Studied

Assembled

Distributed

Influenced

Persuaded

Summarized

Assisted

Diverted

Initiated

Photocopied

Supervised

Attained

Doubled

Innovated

Picked out

Surpassed

Attended

Drove

Inspected

Pioneered

Synthesized

Automated

Duplicated

installed

Planned

Instituted

Positioned

Tabulated

Balanced

Earned

Instructed

Posted

Taught

Bought

Edited

Integrated

Prepared

Traced

Budgeted

Eliminated

Interpreted

Presented

Tracked

Built

Employed

Interviewed

Presided

Traded

Enabled

Introduced

Processed

Trained

Carried

Enacted

Invented

Produced

Transferred

Catalogued

Encouraged

Invested

Programmed

Translated

Centralized

Enlarged

Investigated

Promoted

Trimmed

Changed

Enlisted

Provided

Tripled

Checked

Ensured

Published

Turned around

Clarified

Equipped

Classified

Established

Launched

Cleaned

Evaluated

Learned

Qualified

Undertook

Closed

Examined

Lectured

Questioned

Unified

Coached

Executed

Led

Collaborated

Exceeded

Leveraged

Recommended

Upgraded

Collated

Expanded

Listed

Recorded

Used

Compared

Expedited

Located

Recruited

Utilized

Compelled

Experimented

Logged

Rectified

Composed

Extracted

Lowered

Redesigned

Verbalized

Reduced

Verified

Judged

Staffed

Purchased Uncovered

Updated

Computed Conceived

Facilitated

Maintained

Refined

Condensed

Fed

Managed

Withdrew

Conducted

Finalized

Marketed

Repositioned

Withstood

Controlled

Financed

Masterminded

Reorganized

Won

Converted

Folded

Measured

Reported

Wrote

Conveyed

Forecasted

Mediated

Researched

Coordinated

Formulated

Merged

Reshaped

Corrected

Fostered

Minimized

Resolved

Corresponded

Found

Moderated

Responded

Counseled

Furnished

Modernized

Restored

Modified

Restructured

Motivated

Reviewed

Created Cut back on

Generated Grouped

Revised

Dealt with

Guaranteed

Negotiated

Decided Decreased

Guided

Notified Numbered

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Scheduled Searched

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 25

Reference List Your list should be typed on a separate sheet of paper using the same stationery as your cover letter and resume. List three to six names of references with their job title, addresses, telephone number, and email address. Then list your relationship to the reference in parentheses, such as (Present Manager). It is suggested that you include no more than six references; you want to direct prospective employers to your best references rather than randomly calling ones from a long list. When choosing your references there are certain things you must keep in mind. First, put your reference list together with your professional objective in mind. You want references that are familiar with your work and can speak positively of the skills, work abilities, and experiences listed on your resume. Select references whose titles are impressive for the level of job you are applying for and who can communicate well. You might want to have a college professor who can speak to your academic success. If you have completed or are currently completing an internship, you will want your current supervisor. If you have completed a major project during your work experience, you should ask that client to serve as a reference. If you are a member of a professional organization, consider someone from that group to serve as a reference for you. After you have selected your references, remember to call them and ask for permission to use their name. Share with them the following:   

A copy of your resume The reason you are seeking this job What skills you will need highlighted

You may want develop a "cheat sheet" for your references that will list your major accomplishments, career objective, reason for seeking this job, strengths and areas of improvement. If you know an employer is going to call references, call them and explain the position for which you are being considered and what the company will most likely want to know about you. Finally, do not attach a copy of your references to the resume - save it for the interview.

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 26

Reference Comments for Jeffery T. Green Summary of major accomplishments   

Honored as University student of the year in 20_. Developed a web-site for sponsoring company which averaged 60 hits a day and increased sales in one year by 38%. Developed an intern-mentor program for a division of a Fortune 500 company decreasing internship turnover by 56%.

Work style    

Good team player Seeks solution rather than placing blame Takes pride in communicating well with supervisors and peers Thinks win-win

Strengths     

Self-confident Learns well from experiences Strong customer service skills Works well under pressure Exercises good business judgment

Areas to improve  

Impatient when projects get delayed At times, he expects too much from himself

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 27

SAMPLE - REFERENCE COMMENTS

Reference Comments - Practice Sheet Fill in this practice sheet for a discussion with a potential reference.

Reference comments for __________________________________________________

Summary of major accomplishments

• • • • Work style

• •

• • Strengths

• • • • Areas to improve

• • •

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 28

SEYMOUR GLASS 1100 Clearview Drive Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53127 262-555-0000 sglass@wi.rr.com

REFERENCES

Dr. Christine Moore Associate Professor of Finance ABC University PO Box 3456 Anytown, NY 00000 (212) 726-8902

Mr. Albert Green Director of Finance Acme International, Inc. 246 Elm Street Somewhere, NY 00000 (212) 171-8645

Dr. Maya Lourdes Professor of Business Communication/English Writing ABC University PO Box 3456 Anytown, NY 00000 (212) 726-8846

SAMPLE LIST OF REFERENCES ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 29

Writing Cover Letters The resume is your marketing and communication tool. However, because you cannot cover everything in a resume, the cover letter is very important. Even if you are personally meeting with a prospective employer, a cover letter should accompany your resume. The letter is a typed business letter on standard size paper, 8 Â˝ by 11, which matches the paper used for your resume. The purpose of the cover letter is to serve as an introduction for you and your resume; it provides a personalized message outlining your specific skills and value-added contributions to a prospective employer. Remember to have someone review your cover letter. It should reflect the same level of professional writing as your resume. The cover letter should be in a format that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of each job request. The next two pages contain the format for a cover letter and a sample cover letter.

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 30

YOUR NAME Your Address City, State, Zip Code Telephone Number Email Date

Name, Title Company Name Street Address City, State, Zip Code

Dear (indicate who): Find out who the position reports to and address the letter to that person. In many cases the advertisement will indicate who you should direct the letter to. If not, call the company, try to find out who the position reports to and direct the letter to that person. If you do not have a name, you should omit the salutation rather than offend the reader. First Paragraph Explain why you are writing in a way that arouses interest. Display your knowledge of the company or group. Second Paragraph Highlight your accomplishments, concisely articulate your qualifications and identify the relevant job title. Third Paragraph Answer the questions: "Why should I interview you?" "Why should I hire you?" Relate your experiences to the company or group. Show how you fit into their organization or particular situation. Fourth Paragraph Take the initiative, request action, ask for an interview, request a time to meet, or inform the employer of when you will call. Remember to always thank the employer for their time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Signature (use blue or black ink) Your Name (typed)

Enclosure: Resume

FORMAT FOR COVER LETTER ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 31

WILLIAM H. STONE 1701 West Elm Street San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 321-9087 email Date

Ms. Tanya Paine Human Resources Manager Austin Motor Company 176 Sunset Road Milwaukee, WI 53201

Dear Ms. Paine: I am responding to your listing in the January 12, 20_, Post Tribune for a human resources generalist in your New Berlin office. Austin is well known for its rapid growth and its innovative approaches to human resources management -- especially diversity recruitment and retention, as evidenced by your recent award from the chamber of commerce. I have recently completed my third year in human resource management and have already completed including some responsibility as a benefits administrator. In addition, I have been active in creating recruitment programs for college interns and mentoring programs for management training programs. As the human resources professional at a Fortune 500 company, I coordinated campus visits, student interviews, and helped build the pay plan for a small motor and engine plant, I developed and implemented the behavioral interviewing process. I was also a member of the company's diversity committee. I look forward to meeting with you and discussing how my background and experience can add value to your human resource initiatives. Thank you for reviewing my resume, and I will contact your office next week to determine an appropriate time to meet. Sincerely,

William H. Stone Enclosure

ÂŠ Career Works Fox Valley, LLC

Fast Track Transition Group

Page 32