Resume Tips
A resume is a marketing tool used to summarize your skills, attributes and experience. It should give the employer an excellent sense of who you are and what you have to offer. Employers usually take 20-30 seconds to review your resume so be sure your resume is in good order, organized and clean. Using bullets, bolding titles and having sub-titles are some good ideas.
Your resume can be 1-2 pages long but no more than 2. Don't try to squeeze too much information onto one page - but don't try to expand your information onto two pages if you don't have enough. Display your contact information on the top of both pages. Don't forget to include your phone number and email address! Do not include your SIN number, birth date, marital status or age on your resume.
The first section an employer should read on your resume is your education. The program you are in and the school(s) you are attending or have attended. You do not need to include your high school information unless you completed your diploma with a distinction (such as honours or French immersion).
The next section should be your work experience. Be sure to include the title you held, the name of the company and the location. Include 3-5 bullets explaining in detail what your position entailed (your duties).
Below your work experience be sure to include volunteer and extra-curricular activities. Employers are very interested in knowing how involved you are in your community. It shows them what kind of person you are in these sections. Complete these sections like you did your work experience - include 1-2 bullets explaining what you did during these times. Never abbreviate! If you worked with our S.M.I.L.E. program, for example, write it out.
Next, if you have certifications, list them or an interests section is always a nice section to add. Simply list these either with bullets or without.
Last but not least your reference section, due to the privacy act we are not able to list our references personal information unless the employer specifically asks for references. If they do, list the name, company, phone number and email address. If they don't ask, make a separate form listing your references and take them to the interview with you. Be sure your contact information is on your reference sheet.
Always, inform your references of the jobs you apply to - the more information you provide them, the better a reference they can be for you!
Click here to see a sample resume.(pdf)
Cover Letter Tips
The cover letter has two main goals:
1. Get the potential employer to read your resume.
2. Combined with your resume, get them interested enough to schedule an interview with you.
Cover letters are like sales pitches targeted to a specific market (one company). You are the product. In order to market yourself, a cover letter must:
- Add a personal touch to your application, giving the reader some insight into you as an individual.
- Highlight and explain specific relevant points in your resume.
- Answer the questions, "Why should you hire me?"
- Serve as an example of your written communication style.
It is recommended you write a cover letter for all positions you apply for.