Resume and Cover Letter

Format, Language Style and General

Guidelines
Questions First
1) what jobs are you applying for and what
skills, knowledge and tasks are required
of them?
2) the components of cover letter and
resume,
3) the types of resume
4) the language styles of cover letter as
well as business letter in general.

Outline
A. Format
Resume
Controversies
Components
Types
Cover Letter


B. Language Style

C. General Guidelines
Appearance matters
Questions for
discussion
D. School Application
Trivia
Controversies
over the format of Resume
One page or not. (Usu. one page for college grads.)
To be unique and creative or not. (with
caution.)
Including hobbies and extracurricular
activities or not.
Personal data (e.g. age and marital status)
and photo.
Follow the general principles and use your
resume as your personal ad to show the
best of your qualifications.
Resume: Components
Heading
Objective (examples)
(optional) Qualifications (qualification summary)
Education
degree, school, date graduated, major,
GPA, honoraries, scholarships, offices held.
Experience
dates employed (from ~ to~)
employer, division, position title, key
responsibilities (& achievements)(examples).
Extracurricular Activities OR Activities and Honors
Personal data & References
Types of Resume
Chronological (reverse chronological
order) (example)
Linear (example)
Functional/Skills emphasizes the
functional areas in which the applicant is
strong at; organize experience by
functions one serves or skills one has.
(example)

Format 1: Chronological

Responsibilities
in Block; use
verbs
Source: Beatty;
Another example
Format 2: Linear: listing responsibilities
Samples
linear
Format 3: Functional
Another example
Another example
Format 3: Skills (2)
Another example
source
C
po

Heading & Objective

Heading: NAME, address and phone no.
Make it stand out!!!
Objective: 1. Should be supported by the
other parts of the resume; 2. can be
directed at a specific job, or put in more
general way; 3. (Shows your understanding
of the nature of the job.)
e.g. 1. Secretary: a secretarial position which
utilizes interpersonal, organizational and
computer skills, and which provides chances
to learn business management.
Component 1:
Objectives(2)
2. Marketing: a position in charge of marketing
project direction, product management, sales
promotion, general administration for consumer
goods company.
3. Secretarial Job in a International Trading
company: A position involving computer skills,
high demand of English, basic knowledge of
international trade in relation to fashion business.
An entry position in Public Relations department.
A management position in marketing, finance, or
production. Resume: Components
Component 1-2: Qualifications
to emphasize skills and achievements required by or
useful for a particular job or company.
e.g.
Strong background in Business Administration practices
and concepts
2- year experience and summer internship in educational
administrative office
Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
Good English communicative skills: speak and write very
well
Experience as leader of college organization
Quick learner: able to grasp instructions accurately and
complete tasks as requested
Industrious, dependable, detail-minded

Component 2:
Education
To be placed before Experience when it is
more significant than the latter.
Give proper titles!

Fu Jen Catholic University
Bachelor of Arts in English, expected June, 2004
GPA: Grade Point Average (see next page)
Major Related Courses: (dont list the general
ones)

Component 1-2: Qualification
Summary: How
1. Extract key points to emphasize your
accomplishments and skill set, but
keep the summary fresh, crisp and
engaging.
2. Two ways: a. one paragraph with no
more than 5 lines; b. bullet points
(source)
Component 1-2: Qualifications:
be Concise
Abilities-- in noun or adj. phrases (be consistent);
accomplishment, verb phrases.
Omit I and articles to keep your resume brief
and to the point.
Examples:
I completed a 5-month internship in a busy
administrative office.
Resume writing: Completed 5-month internship in
busy administrative office.

Component 1-2: Qualifications:
yes or no
Objective or Summary better just
choose one of them. If you want both,
objective comes the second
Yes or no? For new entrants into the
workplace, you likely have not had
enough experience to warrant a
summary. (source)
More here (how to produce a strong summary)

Component 1-2: Qualification Sample
GPA
General Scale in
Taiwan:
80-100=4.0
70-79=3.0
60-69=2.0
50-59=1.0
49 and below=0.0
In U.S.:

90-100=4.0
80-89=3.0
70-79=2.0
60-69=1.0
59 and below=0.0
Explanation: http://www.ustudy.org.tw/us_help/chp4/chp4-GPA.htm
Online GPA calculation:
http://www.sunmoon.pair.com/vec/gpa/gpa_rule.html
Component 3: Experience
Responsibilities at work
e.g. secretary:
Transcribed dictation from three advertising
agency account executives. Accomplishments:
became expert with a word processor;
increased typing speed from 50 to 75 words per
minute; increased accuracy to 97%.
e.g. instructor, language institute
Taught English conversation and grammar to
classes of children ranging from age 7 to 10.
Accomplishments: used lively methods to
interest children of different ages, . . .
Component 3:
Experience --Responsibilities at work
e.g. translator, waitress
Communicated with customers in fluent English
and Chinese, sometimes translating between
the two languages.
e.g. administrative work, PR
Negotiated and arbitrated conflicts among team
workers
Developed a climate of enthusiasm, teamwork,
and cooperation
Introduced student projects as well as creative
ways of advertisements to different companies.
Cover Letter: Components
Opening: 1. Your reason for writing; 2. Make
a point that you think will be interesting to
the addressee;
Highlights: Give examples of the qualifications
which make you a good candidate.
Closing: ask for an interview.
Format: Use block format (all justified left) ,
single spaced, double-spaced between
paragraphs.
Language: specific and professional
Objective: A good job with a famous
company.




Objective: A part-time English tutor.
An assistant position in procurement department which
utilizes my skills in computer applications and negotiating
deals and familiarize me with all facets of modern
procurement management.
An English instructor in a language institute which allows me to
make full use of a variety of teaching methods to make
students talk spontaneously, correctly and meaningfully.
Language: specific and concise
Objective: A translator


Experience: Raised a lot of funds for
student activities.


Experience: Taught a kid creatively.

A translation job which utilizes and further improve my abilities in general
research, two-way translation between English and Chinese, as well as
specialized knowledge in literature and religion.
Raised over 15,000 dollars from three companies for
department annual play, 2000.
Used film scripts and lyrics to increase a high-school
students vocabulary. Used Role Play to let a class of 15
eight-year olds speak only in English.
Cover Letter: Opening
(1
st
Par.) From the website of 104
Occupation Agency, I understand that
you are offering a working opportunity of
the general assistant with requirements
of high demand of English and basic
knowledge of trading and computer
skills. Thats it?
From the website of 104 Occupation
Agency, I understand that you are
offering a working opportunity of a
general assistant with requirements of
high demand of English and basic
knowledge of trading and computer skills.
As one who fits your qualifications and
wants to learn more about trading
business, I would like to apply for this
position.
As an English major, I have not only
mastered English and computer skills, but
also acquired a fair amount of knowledge in
trading business. From the website of 104
Occupation Agency, I understand that I am
exactly the person you ask for. I would,
therefore, like to apply for the position of
general assistant you offer.
Cover Letter: Closing
I look forward to meeting your need in
any possible interviews, and thank you
for your consideration.
I look forward to discussing how my
qualifications meet your needs in an
interview, and thank you for your
consideration.
Cover Letter: Highlights
As both translator and receptionist at I-Lan
Childrens Folklore Festival, I accommodated
the needs of 14 foreign performers from English-
speaking countries and introduced to them both
cultural and geographical features of Taiwan. I
helped solve their problems in daily matters and
unexpected situations to make them feel
comfortable in Taiwan. Besides, together with
the other staff members, I designed leisure
activities to promote cultural interchanges
among us. This experience improved the skills of
communication and reception I have acquired at
school in and out of class.
General Guidelines
Research the companies you are
applying for well, and address what
they need in your resume and cover
letter.
Be self-assertive and matter-of-fact; do
not exaggerate or flatter.
Be concrete: use verbs more than
adjectives.
Appearance matters: what is
appearance?
Appearance
grammar and spelling;
spatial arrangement of resume; font
and spacing;
printing and paper qualities.
What else? A bit of creative and
elegant decoration if possible.
Discussion
Which of the following jobs can we
apply for right after graduating from
college without getting another degree?
How do you present the objectives or
responsibilities of the following jobs?

Jobs you are considering
English Teacher of middle and elementary
level
marketing in the foreign company
Secretary
tour leader
Editor, translator, journalist
Salesman
PR
Librarian
Tour Leader
entertains and manages people in ways that are
fascinating, remarkable and exciting.
Serves as the primary point of contact and an adviser
to the group that s/he manages.
well-equipped with the historical background,
geography, current affairs for every destination and
be updated on the various aspects of each destination
especially when most tourists nowadays have traveled
widely and are well informed.
Has an out-going personality, decisive, organized,
possesses good speaking and people skills, inquisitive
and above all a strong sense of Ethics.
knows what needs to be done before departure,
before boarding, on-board, on-arrival and at the end
of the tour.
Application Trivia
1. How to type on a form.
How to type on a form
1.Acrobat Reader 5.0

6.0
2.150%~200%(
PowerPoint
)
3.PowerPoint

A4
How to type on a form (2)
4.acrobat reader
PowerPoint
A4

5.
PowerPoint

alt
( Based on
http://prattflora.com/mfastudy/mfa05apply.htm )
References:
Beatty, Richard H. The Resume Kit. New
York : Wiley , c1991.
Bostwick, B. E. Resume writing : a
comprehensive how-to-do-it guide. New
York : Wiley , c1990.
OWL from Purdue U.