Resume Writing Booklet Lake Worth Campus CT Building, Room 104 (561) 868-3066
Palm Beach Gardens Campus BR Building, Room 129 (561) 207-5350
Boca Raton Campus BT Building, Room 125 (561) 862-4325
Belle Glades Campus CRA Building, Room 131.5 (561) 993-1023
WHY WRITE A RESUME? The purpose of the resume is to introduce yourself to an employer by providing information that demonstrates your “fit” for a particular job opportunity. It explains what you would like to do for the employer, describes your qualifications, skills and accomplishments. The goal is to earn an interview! Your resume is your advertising brochure. It is a sales/marketing tool that introduces you to prospective employers. When well written, you provide:
a summary of your education, experience, and skills a sample of your communication skills reasons why you would be an asset to an employer
RESUME FORMATS Chronological: A chronological resume lists work experience in reverse chronological order starting with your most recent job. It is best for the student or graduate with a steady work history and jobs related to the position you are seeking. Employers typically prefer this type of resume because it’s easy to see jobs you have held and when you have worked. See samples on pages 9- 14 Functional: This style of resume lists experience using skill subheadings. Skills are acquired in a variety of ways. Some come from formal training, volunteer experiences, projects, work simulations, or various aspects of jobs you have held. You need to identify 2-3 skill categories that relate to the job you are seeking and then describe how you used or acquired the skills. You might still have a list of jobs in reverse chronological order but only include the name of the employer, location, job title and dates, and it is generally at the very bottom of your resume. This format is best for a new job seeker with no work history, no related experience, and/or large gaps in their work history or one with a variety of unrelated jobs. See samples on pages 15-16 Combination: This type of resume combines the employment history from the chronological resume with the skills section of a functional resume. This format may be redundant and lengthy if not done correctly. RESUME SECTIONS Arrange your sections to support your objective. Think about your strongest qualifications and make certain they appear in the top half of your resume. Below are a list of some of the sections you may want to use. Contact Information Name, phone, and email (professional email address) Address, city, state, zip code Note: It is also acceptable to leave off your street address, especially if you are uploading your resume to an online database.
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Objective (optional) if you have a clear idea of the type of position you want, an objective is probably a good idea. Write one or two sentences describing the specific job you are seeking and what you can contribute to the employer. Make sure the rest of your resume supports your objective. If you want to keep your options open, leave the objective off and address your interests in a cover letter. Example: Seeking an entry level technical support position utilizing help desk and computer trouble shooting skills in order to provide excellent customer service. If you have considerable experience in a field, use a profile or summary instead of an objective. Summary of Qualifications or Profile (optional): A Summary of Qualifications, or Profile, is a summary of your experience and qualifications that relate to the job you are applying for. It is a brief (3-4 lines) statement in a bulleted or paragraph format. It may be used in place of an objective. Include: A phrase that gives an overview of your relevant experience
Summary of your training and credentials
Descriptions of specific skills or accomplishments
Computer skills, foreign languages, personality traits that show you are qualified Examples of Profile statements (Sample for a New Graduate Seeking A Management Position)
Energetic and enthusiastic college student with a passion for customer satisfaction. Ability to develop, motivate and train others with excellent delegation and follow up. Strong leadership and financial skills combined with coursework in business administration and management. Skilled at maintaining strong business relationships with management, customers and vendors.
(Sample for Entry Level Clerical Job)
Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and Publisher Experience in data entry, customer service, and cash handling Excellent organization skills with the ability to learn quickly Bilingual; able to read, speak and write effectively in English and Spanish
Education If you are a currently enrolled student or a new graduate, list your education before work experience. If you have more relevant work experience, put your Education section after your Experience section. School name, city and state
Degree/certificate/college major
Graduation date (month/year) (if graduating within six months) or list (Presently attending)
Honors and grade point average (if over 3.0)
Courses completed related to employment objective
If you have attended more than one school, list them in reverse chronological order (most recent first). You do not have to list past unrelated education.
If you have received more than one degree or certificate from Palm Beach State College, do not list the college name more than once 3|Page
Do not list high school information once you have started in college.
You can also include club memberships and on-campus activities or include this information in a separate section. Experience or Work History What to include: Name of organization and city, state
Job Title
Dates of employment
If you are creating a functional resume, the information above is all you will need to include about your work history. Other information will be included in the Relevant Skills and Experience section. Format for work history, experience and skills on a Functional resume
RELEVANT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Most Relevant Skill (e.g. Customer Service) An accomplishment that illustrates or documents this skill An accomplishment that illustrates or documents this skill An accomplishment that illustrates or documents this skill Another Relevant Skill (e.g. Administrative Support) An accomplishment that illustrates or documents this skill An accomplishment that illustrates or documents this skill An accomplishment that illustrates or documents this skill EMPLOYMENT Organization Name, location, title of job, dates of employment Organization Name, location, title of job, dates of employment Organization Name, location, title of job, dates of employment If you are creating a chronological resume or a combination, include: Description of what you did on the job starting each phrase with an action verb such as improved, performed, assisted, etc. Make the description relevant to the job you are seeking. You do not need to describe everything you did – only things that will be important to the prospective employer. Focus on accomplishments, and be specific. Do not use two word phrases, such as assisted customers. Avoid beginning phrases with “responsibility for…” or “duties included…” Avoid using personal pronouns such as “I”, “my”, “we”, or “they”. Use present tense if currently doing the job (sell computers…). Use past tense if no longer working there (sold computers…). Use numbers and percentages to demonstrate performance on the job (“increased sales by 20% during the past two years.”) .
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If you don’t want to call attention to your dates of employment, type the dates on the right side following the organization name and location. Do not include reasons for leaving, name of supervisor, telephone numbers, or street addresses You can use bullet points or sentences in a paragraph format. Make your sentences positive, brief, and accurate. Other Training or Professional Development (optional) Include relevant seminars and training courses. Don’t forget to include the skills you learned from these experiences. Include the date (month/year) of the training and the title of the training program (and/or the organization that sponsored the training). Community Service or Volunteer Work (optional) You can list any recent volunteer experience if it will help strengthen your resume. If the community service relates to the job you are seeking and you have limited related paid experience, include it under the Experience section on the resume. Skills (optional) Use this section for anything that will not be covered in your Experience section. Examples, include foreign languages; computer knowledge; equipment you know how to use (as it relates to your employment objective) etc. “Bullets” are suggested for this type of listing. Extracurricular or Activities (optional) Include dates of memberships, positions held, name of club or organization, and briefly state any accomplishments or contributions you made. Awards and Recognitions and Honors (optional) Awards and recognitions that are relevant to your employment objective should be listed first. However, any award or recognition will reflect that you are a leader and a contributor. Honors related to your education should be placed in the Education section. References Do not include references on your resume.
SIX STEPS TO A GREAT RESUME 1.
The silent “I”. The word is implied in all statements. Employers don’t need to see this word all over your resume. Most businesses think of themselves as a team and there is no “I” in team. Other words to avoid are: he, she, our, their, my (pronouns).
2.
Use action verbs. Action verbs focus on your skills and hold the reader’s attention. (See Pages 7-8)
3.
Use headline statements when presenting a major “selling point” such as “An award winning sales professional with a quota shattering background is seeking an employment opportunity”.
4.
Avoid using articles. Always cut excessive words. The time you have to convey your message is brief. Words like “a”, “an”, “and” make for long statements.
5.
Use numbers, symbols, and acronyms effectively. The rule is to spell out the numbers one to ten except when citing money ($l million). Figures are eye catching. 5|Page
Acronyms are abbreviations used for programs or organizations (USA). When first using an acronym, spell it out. After that, use the acronym: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in capitals. 6.
Avoid topics that do not support your career objective. References to race, gender, religion, marital status, political or ethnic background may screen you out. Never include a picture.
Tips for Planning Your Resume South Florida is rich in cultural diversity. If you have the ability to speak more than one language, this could be a valuable asset. Include your level of proficiency. Getting paid is not the only criteria for work experience. When you volunteer for a long period, participate in an internship or other unpaid experience, these should be included. These experiences are very useful if you have limited work experience. Market your skills in the most positive way. Avoid exaggerating your role or participation within an organization. Be positive, but always be truthful. Bridge your past experience to current jobs. It’s imperative to demonstrate how your background is related to an employer’s need or job description. Simply listing your past duties may not be effective.
Additional Resume Tips You should:
Use the same font for each section. Changing fonts within your document or using too many different styles or sizes is distracting.
Use margin settings between .75 and 1.0 and fonts between 10pt and 12pt (the font should be easy to read).
Your resume should be tailored and focused to the position you are seeking (not a generic resume). Skills and experience need to be adjusted to fit the job.
Maintain consistency in formatting and punctuation. Eliminate all spelling, typing, and grammatical errors.
Use bold to highlight section headings or other items you want to stand out such as degree and titles, but use it sparingly.
Keep it brief – one page is usually enough but two pages is ok with considerable experience.
Include a cover letter.
Proofread your resume for errors and then have someone with good spelling and writing skills review it. Errors tell a potential employer you are careless.
Write brief phrases. Full sentences are not necessary
Support all activities and responsibilities with results and accomplishments.
Create more than one version of your resume if you are applying for a variety of jobs in different career fields.
Keep it organized and easy to read. Include Palm Beach State College on your resume even if you haven’t finished your degree. 6|Page
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Use action verbs when describing your work experience and accomplishments.
Words to Describe Personality Traits Accurate Adaptable Adept Assertive Broad-minded Capable Competent Confident Conscientious Consistent Creative Dependable Descriptive Detail-oriented Determined
Diplomatic Discipline Eager Effective Efficient Energetic Experienced Enterprising Flexible Goal-Oriented Honest Innovative Instrumental Intelligent Logical
Motivated Organize Persuasive Pleasant Positive Productive Professional Proficient Reliable Resourceful Responsible Self-Successful Tactful Trustworthy
Action Verbs Management Skills
Communication Skills
Research Skills
Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Chaired Consolidated Contracted Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Evaluated Executed Improved Increased Organized Oversaw Planned Prioritized Reviewed Scheduled Strengthened Supervised
Addressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Corresponded Developed Directed Drafted Edited Enlisted Formulated Influenced Interpreted Lectured Mediated Moderated Negotiated Persuaded Promoted Reconciled Spoke Translated Wrote
Collected Critiqued Diagnosed Evaluated Examined Extracted Identified Inspected Interpreted Organized Reviewed Summarized Surveyed Systematized
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Action Verbs Technical Skills
Teaching Skills
Helping
Creative Skills
Assembled Built Calculated Computed Configured Designed Remodeled Repaired Solved
Adapted Advised Clarified Coached Communicated Coordinated Demonstrated Devised Diagnosed Engineered Educated Expedited Fabricated Facilitated Guided Installed Maintained Motivated Operated Overhauled Performed Persuaded Programmed Referred Rehabilitated Represented Troubleshooting Trained
Assessed Assisted Clarified Coached Counseled Demystified Developed Enabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Guided Informed Instructed
Acted Conceptualized Created Customized Designed Developed Directed Established Fashioned Founded Illustrated Initiated Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Originated Performed Planned Revitalized
Financial Skills Administered Allocated Analyzed Appraised Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Computed Developed Forecasted
More Marketed Planned Projected Researched Managed
Achieved Expanded Improved Pioneered Reduced
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Chronological Resume Sample
John Ruiz John_Ruiz@gmail.com, (561) 555-5555
OBJECTIVE Patient-focused recent RN graduate with 5+ years experience in healthcare field and a passion for learning and growing professionally within a dynamic healthcare environment.
CERTIFICATIONS, ADDITIONAL SKILLS and AWARDS NCLEX Candidate Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) CPR certified through American Heart Association Write and speak Spanish, Portuguese and English fluently Delray Medical Center Service Excellence Award Winner, September, 2014 EDUCATION Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL Associate of Science Degree in Nursing, GPA: 3.95
May 2015
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE Hospice of Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, FL April 2014 – May 2015 Preceptorship Performed comprehensive patient assessments on six patients every shift Applied dressings to wounds during different stages of healing Administered medication through subcutaneous and intravenous line Communicated with and educated patients about the dying process Documented health conditions change on patient charts
Clinical Rotations Fundamentals, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Boca Raton, FL Medical/Surgical, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, FL Labor & Delivery, Postpartum Care, Good Samaritan Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL ICU, Adult ER, Peds ER, St. Mary’s Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL
WORK EXPERIENCE Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, FL 2012-2014 Patient Care Tech Obtained and recorded patients' vital signs, intake and output and blood glucose Worked with diabetic, cardiac and oncology patients Assisted patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) Followed isolation precautions and infection control procedures Obtained urine and stool samples Utilized electronic medical records 9|Page
Chronological Resume Sample Jessica Student
500 Beach Street * Jupiter, Florida 33426 * (561) 555-4444 JessicaECE@comcast.net OBJECTIVE Position as a Teacher Assistant in a child care center PROFILE Creative, enthusiastic with a natural talent for building rapport with children. Organized, responsible, and proven leadership skills. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with staff and parents. Fluent in English, French, and Creole. EDUCATION Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 2014 - Present Early Childhood Education, Associate in Science Degree, GPA 3.2 Key Academic Coursework Observation/Assessment in Early Childhood Conflict Resolution in Early Childhood Teaching Children with Special Needs
Health, Safety, and Nutrition Behavior Management in the Classroom Child Growth and Development
EXPERIENCE Green Giant Early Learning Center, Jupiter, FL 1/2013 - Present Teacher’s Assistant ● Assist in all preschool classes for two to five year olds ● Plan arts and crafts projects to complement weekly educational theme ● Supervise children, and interact with parents ● Lead storytelling sessions Whitman Cleaners, North Palm Beach, FL 9/2011-12/2012 Clerk ● Interfaced extensively with customers, performed troubleshooting, and generated solutions Assisted with record keeping, data entry, and office filing Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, Jupiter, FL Summer 2011 Summer Camp Counselor (Volunteer) ● Supervised ten children on weekly field trips to beaches, museums, and recreation facilities ● Worked with small groups of children ages 6 - 11 conducting arts, crafts, and sports activities
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Chronological Resume Sample Bachelor of Applied Science Degree, Supervision and Management
Maggie Student 1221 Lakeview Circle, Delray Beach, FL 33461 (561) 999-9999 BaronM@xxxx.xxx
PROFILE Energetic and enthusiastic with a passion for customer satisfaction. Ability to develop, motivate and train others with excellent delegation and follow up. Strong leadership and financial skills combined with coursework in business administration and management. Skilled at maintaining strong business relationships with management, customers, employees and vendors. SKILLS Customer service Retail operations Cash handling
Social media Supervision Excellent writing skills
Sales and promotions MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher Accounting and bookkeeping
EDUCATION Palm Beach State College; Lake Worth, FL B.A.S. Degree in Supervision and Management General Management Concentration, GPA 3.2 A.S. Degree – Business Administration
8/2015 - present 5/2014
EMPLOYMENT Branch Account Representative Chase Bank; Delray Beach, FL 2014 – present Establish, retain and strengthen relationships with banking center customers and potential customers to achieve team sales goals and provide quality customer service Resolve complex service issues or refer to appropriate associate to guarantee customer satisfaction and retention Process transactions accurately and efficiently to build customer confidence and trust, based on established policies and procedures Function as a scheduled seller or teller depending upon banking center's specific needs Assistant Store Manager Campus Clothing; Boynton Beach, FL 2011 – 2013 Promoted to lead worker and then assistant store manager in less than one year Managed daily close out and shift sales analysis maintaining records of store sales and expenses Handled store merchandising duties and organized various in-store promotions Recruited, interviewed and trained store associates; provided daily supervision for a staff of ten associates and cashiers managing shift changes; reduced staff turnover by 50% Monitored inventory, placed orders and ensured accuracy of ordering and transfers COMMUNITY SERVICE Junior Achievement, West Palm Beach, FL Organize groups of high school students into marketing teams
2013- Present
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Chronological Resume
Jean Student
(561) xxx-xxxx jeansk10@gmail.com PROFILE Current network administrator student with A+, Network+ and CompTia + certification combined with strong customer service skills seeking an internship position. Able to diagnose and troubleshoot a variety of technical issues. Enjoy a challenge, learn quickly and able to solve problems efficiently. TECHNICAL SKILLS Operating Systems: Windows 7 & 8, Windows Server 2008, Ubuntu, Linux Hardware: Cisco routers, switches, wireless access point, RAM, CPU, servers, printers Software: MS Office, Visual Studio 10 Network: Active DNS Directory & domain, Unix & Windows Security, WAN, TCP, ICP Languages: Java, Visual Basic, and SQL
EDUCATION Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL B.A.S. degree, Information Management, Security & Network Assurance A.S degree, Network Administrator GPA 3.5 Computer Club, Phi Theta Kappa & Dean’s List for three semesters
5/2015 - Present 5/2014
RELATED EXPERIENCE Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL 8/2013 – Present Student Assistant – Information Technology Help Desk Troubleshoot hardware, software, printers and a variety of computer component issues Serve as level 1 Information Technology Support taking numerous calls, recording information, and assisting staff and students in resolving basic problems Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL Network Administrator course projects included: Diagnosing, troubleshooting and resolve hardware, software, network and systems problems Configuring software based fire walls and proxy server Handling disaster recovery Configuring installation integration, implementation, and troubleshooting LAN, WAN, TC/IP, IIS Setup and installation of routers, switches, servers and desktop computers
OTHER EXPERIENCE Bellagio Fine Dining, Boynton Beach, FL 8/2013 - Present Hostess/Server Manage the flow of four dining rooms and ensure excellent customer service in greeting and retaining customers Answer phone lines, control seating chart, and welcome customers Assist with order taking and food delivery Manage and reconcile individual daily sales between cash and Point of Sale computer system 12 | P a g e
Chronological Resume Sample for AA Student with No Paid Work Experience Sam Louis 1755 Hibiscus Dr. Boynton Beach, FL 33445 561-555-2345 Louiss@my.palmbeachstate.edu OBJECTIVE Seeking an Office Assistant position PROFILE Energetic and hard-working individual with a strong desire to succeed. Detail-oriented and professional in both performance and presentation. Proven ability to plan and complete multiple tasks within strict deadlines; learn new tasks quickly and communicate effectively. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Access and Outlook. Typing speed is 50 words per minute. Fluent in English, French and Creole. EDUCATION Palm Beach State College, Boca Raton, FL Associate in Arts Degree, G.P.A. 3.8 Member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society EXPERIENCE Palm Beach County Food Bank, Lantana, FL Volunteer Sorting and organizing food for warehouse storage Completing clerical work in the office Assisting at fundraising events
August 2014- Present
April 2013– Present
Delray Beach Public Library, Delray Beach, FL 2012 – 2014 Volunteer Assistant Helped patrons at the public service desk to locate reference materials Assisted patrons with the use of equipment in Accounting Department Maintained membership records and communicated with the accounts department for billing issues
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Future Business Leaders of America, President Interclub Council, Treasurer
2014 – 2015 2015
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Chronological Resume Sample Jane McClure 501 Palm Way, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 JaneMcClure@gmail.com Portfolio OBJECTIVE Challenging entry‐level position with an accredited interior design firm involved in commercial and residential projects. EDUCATION Associate in Science, Interior Design Technology, Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL Expected Graduation Date: December 2015 Major GPA: 3.7 Relevant Coursework: CAD for Interiors Kitchen and Bath Design Sustainable Design Building and Barrier Free Codes WORK EXPERIENCE Interior Design Intern, May 2015 – Present Urban Chic Designs, West Palm Beach, FL Enhance the function, safety, and quality of interior spaces of private homes; prepare drawings and specifications for non‐load‐bearing interior construction, furnishings, lighting, and finishes; design crown molding, built‐in bookshelves or cabinets; coordinate colors, select furniture, floor coverings, and window treatments for clients Sales Associate, May 2012 – May 2014 Bed, Bath & Beyond, Boynton Beach, FL Assisted customers with purchases, created store displays, monitored stock and ordered new items, Operate cash register and balanced cash drawer at the end of the shift, Received Employee of the Month award three times Administrative Assistant, June 2010 ‐ December 2012 Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Boynton Beach, FL Assisted in the coordination and promotion of Chamber events; wrote press releases and copy for the Chamber’s monthly newsletter; assisted with all levels of production for Chamber publications; assisted with advertising for membership drive and other Chamber events; updated, edited, and maintained the Chamber's website AFFILIATIONS Member, Student Chapter American Society of Interior Designers, 2014‐ Present President, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, 2013-2014
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Functional Resume Sample Bachelor of Applied Science, Supervision and Management (General Management)
Yasmine Valdez 3347 Palm Drive West Palm Beach, Florida 33405 (561) 333-3333 yasmineval@comcast.net
OBJECTIVE Seeking an entry- level position in Human Resources SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Strong organizational skills and able to work in a fast-paced environment Excellent file management and administrative support skills Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Publisher, Access, and Outlook Fluent in English and Spanish with excellent writing and public speaking skills Member of the Society of Human Resources Management, student chapter
EDUCATION Palm Beach State College; Lake Worth, Florida Bachelor of Applied Science – Supervision and Management, 8/2015 – Present General Management concentration, GPA 3.5 Associate in Arts Degree, 5/2015 Related Coursework Human Resource Management Organizational Theory & Management Administrative Management Leadership Challenges & Supervision
RELEVANT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Human Resources Assisted in developing position requisitions based on manager request Coordinated orientations and exit interviews for part-time and temporary employees Conducted first-level interviews to screen for appropriate job candidates Completed training programs on EEOC, Workplace Harassment, Labor Laws, and Employee Negotiations Administrative Support Managed front office and coordinated scheduling with other receptionists for a large real estate office Prepared documents and flyers using MS Word and Publisher Answered phone inquiries and served as liaison between realtors and clients Organized and maintained an Access client database
EMPLOYMENT The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida, 1/2015 – 5/2015 - Human Resources Internship Century 21, West Palm Beach, Florida, 9/2012 – 5/2014 - Office Assistant Target, West Palm Beach, Florida, 7/2011 – 8/2012 – Cashier
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Jerome Student (561) 999-9999
jerome@bellsouth.net
OBJECTIVE Seeking a position as a Bank Teller utilizing my strong customer service background EDUCATION Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens, FL Associate in Arts Degree, GPA 3.0
5/2015 – Present
RELEVANT SKILLS / EXPERIENCE Customer Service and Sales Consistently exceeded daily sales quota by 15 – 20% as a retail sales associate Increased the number of repeat customers by providing prompt, courteous, and personalized service to customers Excellent reputation with customers as a competent, knowledgeable and helpful person Increased customer request for assistance in selecting merchandise due to polished and professional appearance Cash Handling
Three years’ experience in fast- paced customer service environments handling cash and resolving problems Maintained an accurate and consistently balanced cash drawer Processed payments by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits quickly and efficiently Provided receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers
Clerical Assisted retail manager in preparing weekly sales reports using MS Excel Completed computer coursework to gain skills in using spreadsheets, creating documents and use of databases Responsible, detail oriented, and perform work with a high degree of accuracy. Familiar with MS Word, Outlook, Access and Excel
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY J. Crew, Palm Beach Gardens, FL TJ Maxx, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Sales Associate Store Associate
3/2015 – Present 8/2013 – 9/2014
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COVER LETTER GUIDELINES When applying for a job, a cover letter should be sent or posted with your resume. It is an opportunity to personalize your resume and sell your skills, experience, and education. A cover letter should complement, not duplicate, your resume. Your cover letter needs to be specific to the position you are applying for, relating your skills and experience to those required in the job posting. Structure your cover letter with 3 – 4 paragraphs writing in complete sentences with no spelling, grammar or typing mistakes. The format below and attached samples should help you get started writing your cover letter. COVER LETTER FORMAT Your name Address City, State, Zip Code Date Courtesy Title (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.), Full Name and Title Name of Organization Inside Address City, State, Zip Code Dear Courtesy Title, Last Name: Identify position for which you are applying and the source of the job vacancy. State your interest; including your job objective. This adds focus to your letter. Use a compliment or, specific knowledge about the company. This creates interest, and the reader is more likely to continue reading your letter. If the letter is tailored to the reader's organization, it reflects that you are genuinely interested in the job and you are not merely sending out form letters. Make a brief statement about your relevant work and/or educational experiences and achievement. Highlight your strengths and abilities and reflect how these can be applied to the job you are seeking. Focus on the needs of the employer and show how you can contribute to the organization. Refer to the attached resume for additional information. Restate your interest in the organization. Indicate your willingness to provide any additional materials, which may be required. You may also indicate that you will be calling to arrange for an interview. If you are difficult to get a hold of and you do not have an answering machine, specify when you can be reached. Thank the reader for the time they took to review your resume and for considering your employment credentials. Complimentary closing, (Full Name Signed) Full Name Typed 17 | P a g e
SAMPLE COVER LETTER *(sent as an attachment)
Lori D. Harris 1520 Perimeter Road – West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
July 29, 2015 Ms. Anita Garcia Human Resources Recruiter ABC Company 1245 New Street West Palm Beach, FL 33411 Dear Ms. Garcia: I am interested in the Administrative Assistant position advertised with Palm Beach State College Career Center. I have excellent qualifications for this position and would appreciate your consideration. My background includes a variety of experiences that would be directly transferable to your position. I have experience in administrative support, cash handling, and customer service. I am proficient in using MS Word and Excel with a typing speed of 50 wpm. My previous jobs have required excellent organizational skills and the ability to learn quickly. I have been told that I handle customers in a professional manner with good interpersonal and communication skills. I have attached my resume for your review and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss how my skills could benefit your organization. You can reach me at (561) 999-9999 or loriharris@gmail.com Sincerely, (Signature) Lori D. Harris
**Note: If you do not have a contact name for your cover letter, you can address the letter to: Dear Human Resources Recruiter or Human Resources Manager
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Emailing a resume Employers may request that you e-mail your resume. In these situations, the e-mail message should follow cover letter guidelines. Your resume is sent as an attachment. Employers use a variety of word processing programs, save your resume as a PDF� document before attaching it to the e-mail message. By saving your resume in this manner, the employer will be able to open it. Emailing a Cover Letter
You need a subject line. Cover letters with blank subject lines will be ignored or deleted. Make it relevant and to the point. If you are applying to be an administrative assistant, put "Administrative Assistant Position" as well as your name so that the recipient can easily find your email at a later point.
Email Sample Cover Letter *(sent in the body of the email) Dear Ms. Garcia: I am interested in the Administrative Assistant position advertised with the Palm Beach State College Career Center. I have excellent qualifications for this position and would appreciate your consideration. My background includes a variety of experiences that would be directly transferable to your position. I have experience in administrative support, cash handling, and customer service. I am proficient in using MS Word and Excel with a typing speed of 50 wpm. My previous jobs have required excellent organizational skills and the ability to learn quickly. I have been told that I handle customers in a professional manner with good interpersonal and communication skills. I have attached my resume for your review and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss how my skills could benefit your organization. You can reach me at (561) 999-9999 or loriharris@gmail.com Sincerely, Lori D. Harris 123 Main Street Lake Worth, FL 33461 561-999-9999
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