1. careers
2. resume writing and advice

Creating Your Resume, Cover
Letter and References
CREATE A RESUME TO MARKET YOUR SKILLS
WRITE AN EFFECTIVE COVER LETTER
DEVELOP A REFERENCE LIST
PREPARED BY THE WCTC CAREER CENTER
PURPOSE OF A RESUME
Formal, organized summary of your skills, job-related
experiences, and education that shows you are qualified
for the job.
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Sparks the employer’s interest to call you for an interview.
Tool to market your skills, work experience and
accomplishments.
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Choosing the Right Format
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There are 3 formats to choose from:
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Chronological is chosen when you:
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Functional/Skills Based is chosen when you:
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Can show progression/advancement in jobs
Have no gaps in employment history
Want your work history to stand out
Are changing careers
Have gaps in your employment history
Are a recent graduate
Have little paid work experience
Are re-entering the workforce
Have a complicated work history
Combination is chosen when you:
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Have at least some professional experience in your field of interest
Want to feature your skills related to the position
Sections of a Resume
Chronological
Format
Functional
Format
Combination
Format
Heading
Job Title
Summary
Education
Experience
Heading
Job Title
Summary
Education
Skills
Experience
Heading
Job Title
Summary
Education
Professional Skills
Related Experience
The Education and Experience sections may be switched in sequence
depending upon most recent activity. For example, recent graduates
would place Education before Experience.
Chronological Resume Sample
Summary:
Brief statement
that identifies
purpose and
qualifications
Education:
School, location,
degree, date
Experience:
Job title, company,
location, years,
detailed responsibilities,
skills developed,
quantified and qualified
accomplishments
Functional Resume Sample
Summary:
Highlights relevant
skills and
accomplishments
Experience:
Company, job
title, location,
years
Education:
Placed before
Experience to
highlight degree
and acquired
skills
Combination Resume Sample
Summary:
Top marketable
attributes based on
desired job and
how you can benefit
the company
Education:
School, location,
degree, years
Experience:
Job title, company,
location, years,
responsibilities, skills
developed, quantified
accomplishments
General Resume Tips
Be consistent
in spacing, font
style and size
Make good use
of white space
Use columns
for a more
organized
appearance
Be sure all
verbs are same
tense within
individual
sections
Heading
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The heading should include:
 Name
(bolded and in larger font than rest of heading)
 Address
 Phone number (only one is necessary)
 Professional email address (only if checked regularly)
Example:
MARK GRAHAM
27 Rock Road ● Miami, FL 33422
561.555.2244 ● [email protected]
Summary
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This section is your “billboard” highlighting the skills that
you offer the prospective employer
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Needs to grab the employer’s attention to insure they
will continue to read your resume
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Use similar key words and adjectives used in the job
posting to convince the employer you are a strong
candidate for the position
Can be 3 to 5 bulleted phrases or a 2 - 3 sentence
paragraph
Summary Example
Summary of Qualifications
•
Over 9 years management experience in the shipping industry
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Experience in both warehousing and container freight operations
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Proven ability to meet deadlines and generate profits under difficult
conditions
Strong record of providing personable and professional customer
service daily
Successful history of promoting productive labor relations with
management and coworkers
Summary Example
Registered Nurse
Healthcare professional offering five years experience providing quality
care in both hospital and clinical settings. Solid knowledge of
comprehensive nursing care procedures and excellent direct patient
care skills. Successful in managing time, prioritizing tasks, and
organizing projects. Creative problem solver. Effective staff and
patient relations skills. Associates degree in Nursing from Waukesha
County Technical College.
Education
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For recent graduates with little related work experience, the Education
section will usually appear after the Summary.
If you have work experience in the field for which you are applying to,
Education appears after the Experience section.
List your most recent or related degree first.
Technical diplomas, training certificates and completed coursework can
be included in this section.
If you have a Bachelor’s Degree, Associate’s Degree or Technical
Diploma, do not include your high school information.
Students who are currently attending college can state:
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2010
Education Examples
Example 1
Waukesha South High School
Diploma
Waukesha, WI
Example 2
Waukesha County Technical College
Completed General Educational Development
Pewaukee, WI
2009
Example 3
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene
Anticipated graduation date: May 2011
Milwaukee, WI
2009 - Present
Example 4
Waukesha County Technical College
Associate Degree in Health Information Technology
Medical Coding Specialist Technical Diploma
Phi Theta Kappa Academic Honor Society
Pewaukee, WI
2008
2006
Example 5
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Milwaukee, WI
2009
Example 6
Carroll University
Completed 32 credits of coursework towards Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Waukesha, WI
Experience Section for a Chronological Resume
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List your experience in reverse chronological order – most recent first
Only include jobs you have held in the past 10 to 15 years because they are
most relevant
Experiences can include: Paid employment, volunteer work, internships and/or a
clinical assignment
For each job include a bulleted list of responsibilities, accomplishments, and
skills you developed
Examples:
Welder
2002 - 2009
XYZ Company
Pewaukee, WI
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Performed layout, fabrication and installation of rigid frames, base plates and connectors requiring
full penetration welds
•
Skilled in oxy/acetylene cutting and quality inspection averaging 50 units per day
If you have more work experience beyond 15 years that is relevant to the position you are
applying for, rather than list the years indicate:
Welder
ABC Company
Prior to 2002
Milwaukee, WI
Experience Section for a Functional Resume
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Includes a separate skills section highlighting your qualifications
Employment section will only include your job title, employer, location and years of
employment
Example:
RELATED SKILLS
Sales
•
Set monthly sales record 4 months in a row, surpassing 7 sales associates
•
Provided accurate cash handling including balancing a drawer of over $5,000 daily
Customer Service
•
Effectively resolved customer concerns with patience and sensitivity
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Greeted customers and assisted with item selection to generate repeat business
•
Handled multiple line telephone system to answer customer inquiries and provide direction
EMPLOYMENT
Customer Service Associate
Dietary Aide
Office Assistant
Walgreens, Waukesha, WI
Linden Grove ,Waukesha, WI
First Realty, Waukesha, WI
2009 to Present
2007 to 2009
2005 to 2007
Using Action Verbs
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Choosing the most effective words to describe your responsibilities,
skills, and accomplishments will make your resume more appealing
Click to see a list of action “buzz words” that seem to open doors:
Action Verbs
Examples:
BEFORE: Managed customer service department
AFTER:
Hired, supervised and scheduled 4 customer service employees,
maintaining good teamwork and very low turnover
BEFORE: Increased monthly sales
AFTER:
Consistently exceeded company monthly sales quotas by 50%
Other Sections You Can Include…
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Military Experience
Community Involvement
Professional Associations
Licensures
Honors/Awards
These sections can be added in addition to the main categories.
Military Experience Section Example
Military Experience
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, Westbury, New York 2000-2010
Air Force Recruiter
2003-2010
Non Prior Service Recruiter
2002-2003
Medical Service Specialist - NCIOC Recovery Room
2000-2002
Getting Started
You will need the following information:
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Employment History from the past 10-15 years- Job titles, company
names, dates and locations (city and state only), your job skills,
responsibilities, and key achievements
Identify your specific skills related to the job – Consider the employer’s
job announcement or review a general job description to determine your
“proven” transferable skills (see www.online.onetcenter.org).
Education/training- School, location, major/minor, degree, dates, courses
you have completed
Cover Letters
In most cases, you will need a cover letter in addition to
your resume that:
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Is a business letter to introduce you to the employer
(demonstrates your written communication skills)
Summarizes and highlights your qualifications, skills and
experiences relevant to the position requirements
Allows you to positively present information about yourself and
your interest in the company
Cover Letter Content
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Heading: Copy and paste your resume heading onto your
cover letter to create a “Matched Set”
Date you are sending out the letter
Inside Address: Include the name of the person, job title,
company name and address. If faxing, include the fax
number or if emailing, include the email address
Greeting: Dear Ms.___: or Dear Mr. ___: and use the last
name followed by a colon. Current business etiquette
suggests not to use “Mrs.” or “Miss”. If you are unable to
obtain a last name, write Dear Human Resource Manager:
or Dear Hiring Manager:
Cover Letter Content
Body of Letter:
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1st Paragraph: Identify the position and how you found out
about it
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2nd Paragraph: Show the employer how your skills and
experience fit the job and will benefit the company
(research the company)
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3rd Paragraph: Thank them and refer to a positive future by
saying that you look forward to hearing from them soon to
discuss possible opportunities
Cover Letter Tips
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You may include your special circumstances. If you are
returning to the workforce after a gap in employment or
wish to transition careers, use the cover letter to explain
and communicate your situation.
You may use personal pronouns, but try to limit the use of
the word “I” or starting every sentence with the word “I”.
Select the same font style as you used in your resume.
Cover Letter Tips
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Stay away from should, would, and could statements
Do not say “I feel…”, “I think…”, “I believe…” or “I
wish…”
JUST SAY IT!
Example:
BEFORE: I believe my skills would be an asset to your company.
AFTER: My knowledge and skills will be an asset to your company.
Don’t forget: The cover letter is the “bait/hook” to read your resume. It is
your formal introduction to the reader. Be careful to not repeat what
you have included in your resume.
Cover Letter Closing
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To close the letter write:
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look
forward to hearing from you soon.
Signature:
Use “Sincerely,” drop 3 or 4 lines and type your
name. Remember to sign it if you are mailing or
faxing your resume packet!
Cover Letter Sample
Use same
heading as
resume
1st paragraph tells
how she found out
about the position
Describes how
she is qualified
by focusing on
her experience
Expresses desire to
move forward in
the process and
shows she has
done research
about the company
Thanks
employer
Brief Cover Letters for E-Mail
E-mail cover letters are characterized by the following:
Brevity. E-mail cover letters are short and succinct, but long enough to include the top two or three
most significant selling points of your career, experience, qualifications and credentials. Although you
want to keep these letters brief, you don't want to totally eliminate all substance.
Ease of readability. Because you'll type these letters as e-mail messages (usually with your
resumes as an attachment or as part of that same message), their presentation is plain, easy to read
and quick to review.
A meaningful subject line. Use the subject line of your cover letter to communicate why you're
writing and include an important point about your background. Never send an e-mail cover letter
with a blank subject line or a generic "resume" subject. Let your readers know why you're writing so
that they'll be motivated to open your e-mail.
Your cover letter is an employer's first impression of you. Too many job seekers make the critical error
of ignoring the importance of a well-written cover letter. If your cover letter is skimpy, sloppy or
boring, your resume could go straight into the trash. Don't let this happen to you.
From: Create A+ Cover Letters With These Smart Tips
By Wendy S. Enelow and Louise M. Kursmark CareerJournal.com
Brief Cover Letter for E-mail Samples
Email Subject Line: Orthopedic Surgery Center- Surgical Tech position
Email Subject Line: Loss Prevention Officer Job posting
Dear Hiring Manager:
Dear Human Resource Coordinator:
Your posting on milwaukeejobs.com for a Surgical Technologist at the
new Aurora Health Center in Ozaukee County captivated my interest.
My experience and devotion to the field make me the perfect match for
the position. I can offer Aurora Health Center the following:
I am interested in your posting on indeed.com for a Loss Prevention
Officer. I can offer Kohl’s:
-Over 5 years experience as a Surgical Technologist in a fast-paced
orthopedic hospital setting
-Expertise in surgical preparation procedures and protocol
-Ability to follow through on surgeon’s orders correctly and efficiently
-Proven record of excellence in patient care
-Over 3 years retail loss prevention experience including both customer
and employee monitoring and timely completion of necessary
documentation and paperwork
-Proven ability to apprehend shoplifters in a timely manner without
disruption of customers’ shopping experience
-Depth in law enforcement training as evidenced in my educational
experience
As an individual who shares Aurora’s dedication to superior service and
patient care, I am eager to join your surgery team at Aurora Health
Center in Ozaukee County. My resume is attached. I look forward to
hearing from you soon.
I share Kohl’s commitment to customer satisfaction and believe that
effective loss prevention is a critical component to that satisfaction. My
resume is attached for your review. I look forward to discussing my
qualifications and this position with you in greater detail soon.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Jane Applicant
John Applicant
References
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Be prepared to provide a list of references (3 or 4 individuals) at the
time of the interview. Unless asked, do not automatically send your
references with your resume.
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Choose your references carefully. Do not use relatives!
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People who make the best references are:
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Former supervisors (with whom you got along), former coworkers, former
teachers, colleagues
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Friends, neighbors, and community or volunteer acquaintances can be used as
general character references
List name, relationship/title, company, location, phone number, email
Always contact your references and ask their permission before giving out their
names! Tell your reference the type of position for which you are applying and
discuss your strengths that they can highlight when contacted.
Reference List Sample
MARK GRAHAM
27 Rock Road ● Miami, FL 33422
561.555.2244 ● [email protected]
References
Mary Brown, Supervisor
Montgomery Company
Miami, FL
561.333.1457
[email protected]
John Smith, Former Manager
ABC Company
Milwaukee, WI
414.123.4567
[email protected]
Ann Jones
Program Instructor – Accounting
Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee, WI
262.125.1400
[email protected]
To view additional resume samples that are listed on WCTC’s
web page, after clicking here: WCTC Resume Samples, look
on the lower right hand side
You can have your resume reviewed by a
professional. Contact the Career Center at
262-695-7848 to set up an appointment to
reserve your spot in the Resume Review/Lab.
Good luck in your job search!
Prepared by the WCTC Career Center