YOUSEF ALS
VA
+-803-3292
@GMAIL.COM
CAREER OBJECTIVE
seeking a professional position in finance department that will allow me to use my education
skills with Bank of America
Education
Graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University English language program
2013
Virginia Commonwealth University-Richmond ( VCU )
Bachelor of finance
2014 to 2019
Experience
- Volunteer at Kuwaiti student organization in Richmond ( KSO ) cashier August 2014 to
2015
▪
▪
▪
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Managed the organization financial budgets ( $2,500 )
Managed the organization events
Been assistance for new students who had problems with their budgets
Volunteer at Richmond Kindergarten
▪
▪
Managed couple classes
Helped the students to understand the material in my way
Languages
- Fluent in Arabic
- Fluent in English
Additional skills
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Multitasking
Group leader
Successful money manager
Positive attitude
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Communication
Time management
Awards/Honors
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Full scholarship from Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education
Bronze medal on taekwondo competition
Level 2 on Muay Thai ( yellow belt ) certification
VCU University Career Center
Virginia Commonwealth University
Resume Writing Guidelines
http://www.students.vcu.edu/careers/
Resume Content
Core Content Areas – The basic information to include in your resume.
Name and Contact Information
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Start with your name at the top of the resume, and use a slightly larger font size, caps and/or bold.
Under your name, include your address, phone number with area code, and e-mail address.
Make sure your e-mail address is professional and remove the hyperlink by right-clicking on it.
Do not include salary history or your sex, age, race, marital status or other similar personal information.
Include your name and page number on the top of additional resume pages.
Objective
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Your objective should inform the employer of your immediate employment goal and may include relevant skills.
Keep it brief and specific.
Avoid generic, vague expressions like “a progressive organization with opportunities for growth and development.”
If you are seeking several different kinds of positions, create an objective for each one. You may also consider
changing your objective for each position you apply for, in which case it is very important to proofread each resume
and keep records of which resume you submit to which employer.
Education
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If you are a current student or recent graduate, education should follow the objective.
For each degree pursued or received, include the full name of the school, city and state, degree, and date (or
anticipated date) of graduation. Do not include high school.
List degrees in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent degree.
Include GPA if it is at least a 3.0. You may also include the GPA within your major.
Experience
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You may include paid or unpaid experience, volunteer work, internships and co-op positions.
Just as with education, list this information in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent position.
For each position, include the company or organization name, city and state, your title, and dates (months and years).
For each entry, be consistent in the order this information is listed, and the line that it is listed on. Avoid wrapping text
to the next line.
Example:
Virginia Housing Development Authority, Richmond, VA
Accounting Intern
June 2004–August 2004
Avoid:
Virginia Housing Development Authority, Richmond, VA, Accounting Intern, June 2004–
August 2004
(continued on next page)
VCU CAREER CENTER
Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
907 Floyd Avenue • P.O. Box 842007 • Richmond, VA 23284-2007 • (804) 828-1645 FAX: (804) 828-2060
VCU VCU is an EEO/AA institution
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Page 1 of 10
Resume Content, continued…
Experience, continued…
•
Include a descriptive narrative of your experience, focusing on qualifications, skills, leadership abilities, and
accomplishments. State all information positively and relate your skills and background to the job you are seeking.
Give specific examples of your accomplishments. Quantify when possible to strengthen the impact of your message
(e.g.: “supervised 12 employees,” “managed a $2,000 budget”).
Start each bullet point with a strong, descriptive action verb (see action verbs list).
Avoid complete sentences and personal pronouns.
Use past tense verbs for previous positions, and present tense verbs for current positions.
Avoid phrases such as “duties included” or “I was responsible for…”
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Example:
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Avoid:
Trained new staff members
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My duties included training new staff members
Additional Content Areas
You may choose to include some of the following information to supplement the core content areas. You may also use
some of these headings in place of the core headings described above. Choose the headings that accurately describe
your experience and qualifications, and that are geared toward your objective.
Summary
Profile
Areas of Expertise
Summary of Qualifications
Achievements
Accomplishments
Educational Highlights
Educational Background
Educational Preparation
Academic Background
Academic Training
Education and Training
Related Coursework
Course Projects
Certifications/Licensure
Endorsements
Study Abroad
Scholarships and
Financial Support
Professional Experience
Teaching Experience
Research Experience
Relevant Experience
Experience Summary
Experience Highlights
Career Highlights
Professional Background
Military Experience
Military Service
Work Experience
Additional Experience
Part-Time & Summer Work
Career-Related Experiences
Internship and Co-op
Experiences
Honors/Awards
Honors and Activities
Honors & Organizations
Special Honors
College Distinctions
Publications
Exhibits
Research Interests
Conferences Attended
Poster Presentations
Presentations
Skills
Areas of Knowledge
Capabilities
Technical Skills
Computer Skills
Laboratory Skills
Language Competencies
Volunteer Experience
Volunteer Activities
Civic Activities
Community Service
Extracurricular Activities
College Activities
Activities & Distinctions
Organizations, Activities
and Honors
Memberships
Professional Memberships
Professional Affiliations
Professional Organizations
University Involvement
Leadership Experience
Organizations and Activities
Interests
Travel Abroad
Travel
What Not To Say:
“Accomplishments: Completed 11 years of high school”
“Education: College, August 1880 – May 1984”
“I am very detail-oreinted.”
“I have a bachelorette degree in computers.”
“I worked as a Corporate Lesion.”
“Objection: To utilize my skills in sales.”
“Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.”
“I vow to fulfill the goals of the company as long as I live.”
“Experience: Dealing with customers’ conflicts that arouse.”
“I am a rabid typist”
-taken from Speedygrl.com
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Page 2 of 10
Resume Format
Three Basic Resume Formats – Chronological, functional, and combination. The type of format you use
depends on your particular background and the type of work you are seeking.
Chronological Resume Format
A chronological resume emphasizes your work and/or experiences and organizes your information around dates.
Chronological resumes are easy to follow because they highlight career growth and the names of employers. You should
use the chronological format when your work or activity experience is strong and relevant to your job objective, when
previous job titles are impressive and job history shows growth, and when you want to emphasize your accomplishments.
Disadvantages of this format—your skills may not be highlighted and gaps in your career path may be more visible. List
jobs or experiences in reverse chronological order with your most recent position listed first. See the example on page 6.
Functional Resume Format
A functional resume organizes information under functional headings that highlight your major areas of accomplishment or
strength. Experiences and skills are organized to support your job objective and are not bound by employment dates.
Titles and work history are de-emphasized. You may draw upon all sources of experience (employment, volunteer work,
college activities, and coursework) to describe your skills.
Since the functional resume emphasizes capabilities and skills, it can be useful when you want to enter a different career
field or illustrate your transferable skills. Although the functional resume takes more time and thought to prepare, it may
be more effective than the chronological format if your work experiences have been limited or you wish to focus on special
skills and abilities.
*Note: Employers usually do not prefer this format because it is hard to decipher where the candidate received his or her
skills. Also, this format is more appropriate for someone who is returning to the workforce after some time.
Combination Resume Format
The combination resume includes aspects of both the chronological and functional formats. Work history and skills or
accomplishments are emphasized equally. This format allows you to include a section about prior work experiences and a
section on your functional and transferable skills.
General Resume Format Guidelines:
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Be brief. A one-page resume is adequate. Use two pages only if you have had extensive relevant experience.
Employers typically skim a resume for 3 seconds, which is why format is so critical.
Key words are critical in the resume. Try and use specific key words from the job description throughout the
document. This is extremely helpful, especially when so many resumes are scanned.
Be consistent with font style and size-audience and purpose appropriate.
Margins should be at least .75 all the way around.
Bullets are easy to skim, but take up more space.
If you use tabs, make sure they line up vertically down the page.
Avoid using dashes; use bullets instead.
Use a laser printer whenever possible for printing. Otherwise, your ink may smudge more easily.
Use CAPITAL LETTERS, bold print, or italics to highlight parts of your resume, but don’t use them all at once.
Use simple graphics such as lines to create a border. If your major is in the School of the Arts, you may want to
use your resume to display your design skills or logo.
Create a well-organized and visually appealing resume—appearance is just as important as content.
Use your horizontal space. Don’t let your resume get too vertical, which may cause it to run to two pages.
Print your resume on resume paper-audience and purpose appropriate.
Use matching paper for your cover letter, especially when using a paper color other than white.
Indicate the type of employee you will be by how you have prepared your resume.
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Resume Format, continued…
Scannable Resumes
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The “Electronic Revolution” has made it possible for employers to find job applicants faster and easier. Optical
Character Recognition (OCR) systems look at images (resumes) to distinguish characters (letters and numbers)
and then create a text file (ASCII). Artificial intelligence then “reads” the text and extracts the important
information about the applicant. The purpose of a scannable resume is to match employers’ needs to applicants
who fulfill those needs quickly and thoroughly. Scannable resumes allow employers to search a database of
resumes by using keywords, buzzwords, or descriptors to find matches or “hits.” Ultimately, a computer-friendly
resume is one that maximizes the computer's ability to read the applicant's resume and obtain hits. Finally, it is a
good idea to have two versions of your resume—a scannable version and a traditional version—to take with you
to an interview.
Scannable Resume Content Guidelines
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Use common headings such as: Objective, Education, Employment, Work History, Positions Held, Skills,
Accomplishments, Summary, Highlights, Summary/Highlights of Qualifications, Publications, Licenses,
Certifications, and Honors.
Incorporate important nouns. The scanner will search for descriptive words (keywords) such as: writer, BA,
accounting, manager, Spanish (language fluency), Public Relations Society of America, Arlington, VA, etc.
Use concrete words, for example, it is better to use “managed a team of software engineers” instead of
“responsible for managing, training...”
Use common keywords to define your skills, experience, education, professional affiliations, etc.
Use industry-specific jargon and acronyms. Minimize abbreviations to common ones like BA or BS. When you
use acronyms, also spell out their meanings.
Include specifics such as names of software packages (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.).
When faxing a resume to be scanned, set the fax to “fine mode” so that the recipient receives a better quality.
Scannable Resume Format
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Use any standard resume format—chronological or combination.
Format your name and address with your name on one line and the address on each line appearing below it.
List multiple telephone numbers on separate lines.
Use CAPITAL LETTERS for section headings.
Do not use vertical or horizontal lines, shading, graphics, boxes, charts, or columns on your scannable resume.
Use simple, non-decorative common fonts such as: Arial, Courier, Helvetica, Palatino, or Times New Roman.
Use standard font sizes between 10 and 14 points. Avoid Times New Roman, 10 point.
Do not use italics, underlining, shadows, or reverse (white letters on black background).
Use white space, computers use it to recognize when one topic has ended and another has begun.
Use one side of 8½ x 11” white paper.
Use a laser printer or high-quality photocopier.
Include your name on the top of each page if there are multiple pages of your scannable resume.
Do not fold or staple.
When do you send a scannable resume?
If you:
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are applying to a large company
are applying for an IT position
know your resume will be scanned by a computer
are applying to a company on-line through their website
are e-mailing your resume
are in doubt send both
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Resume Outline
Name
Avoid having
too much white
space, but give
the eye some
room to rest.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Current Address: 1234 Street, Apt. B, City, St Zip, ( ) Telephone #
Permanent Address: 5678 Street, City, St Zip, ( ) Telephone #
Email Address, Cell Phone (be smart about this, have a professional message
& only answer it when you’re ready to talk – not when you’re running to class)
OBJECTIVE:
Needs to be specific. You can have multiple copies of a resume where the only difference is your objective,
but make sure you send the right one! Stress what skills and abilities you will bring to further the
organization’s mission (not what you will get out of it … you’ll definitely get something out of it, we just don’t
mention that).
EDUCATION:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Bachelor of ________________________________________________
Major: ________________ Minor: ___________ Graduation: _______ (Ex: May 2008 or December 2007)
Cumulative GPA: ________ Major GPA: _______ Minor GPA: _______ (only list GPA if it’s above 3.0)
You can list another college you attended here, City, State
Major: ________________ (Don’t list high school. We know you’re smart, you got into college.)
RELEVANT COURSEWORK:
• List class titles, not #s
• Bullets are easy on the eye
• If you can’t fit 3 across, try 2 across
This is a great way to show what you’ve learned in class--esp. when you don’t have work experience
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:
Organization, Title, City, State, MO/YR–MO/YR (or “present” if you’re still doing this)
• Provide action verb: Always start with one
• Demonstrate different action verb: Vary your verbs, no “provided, provided, provided”
• Insert action verb: All past tense or all present tense for each section
Organization, Title, City, State, MO/YR–MO/YR (or “present” if you’re still doing this)
• Use bullets: Allows the employer to read your resume faster
• Apply periods consistently: Put them at the end of each sentence or don’t use them at all
• Give specific examples: Budgeted $1,000 for …
• Quantify whenever possible: Supervised 12 employees …
ACTIVITIES & HONORS:
• List organizations in which you have PARTICIPATED. Do not list activities for the sake of listing.
• Mention leadership positions. Employers want well-rounded students.
• Got an award? List the year
• Dean’s List: Spring 2002, Spring 2003-Fall 2004
• Leave off high school unless it is INCREDIBLY relevant
COMPUTER SKILLS:
• Microsoft Word
• Excel
•PowerPoint
Remember, resumes are all about 1) Timeliness & 2) Relevance. You can adjust the order of your headings based on
that. Always have someone proofread your resume. Print on resume paper. IF you go onto page 2 (and it better be for
good reason) always put at least “Name, Page 2” in the top left corner so if page 2 gets separated, they know to whom
it belongs.
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Chronological Resume Example
Renita Ra m
1234 Main Street • Richmond, VA 23228 • 804-555-1234
ramrr@vcu.edu • www.studentswebsite.com
Objective
To obtain an internship in multimedia design/development to utilize and further develop my
aesthetic sense and artistic skills.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications, expected May 2008
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Major in Advertising
Minor in Media Studies
GPA: 3.4
Relevant Coursework: Multimedia for the Web, Interactive Media Authoring, Multimedia
Writing, Web Communication, Multimedia Law, News Editing, Photojournalism, Scriptwriting, and
Creative Nonfiction
Experience
Freelance Web Designer, Siddall, Richmond, VA, 05/2001-Present
• Create engaging web presences for clients per their requests and requirements.
• Provide consulting services to evaluate and meet client needs.
• Forge and maintain client relationships.
Web Designer, Commonwealth Information Security Center, Richmond, VA, 05/2003-07/2004
• Designed and updated 3 corporate websites for nonprofit organization.
• Fabricated/manipulated web pages, graphics, & JavaScript in an office environment.
• Maintained organized documentation to ensure that application scripts and web pages were
dynamic and readily updatable for future employees.
• Provided advice regarding graphic design and layout issues.
• Instructed people on use of Dreamweaver to edit HTML, as well as website organization.
Pool Manager, Atlantic Pool Service, Springfield, VA, 04/2000-05/2003
• Used communication and management skills to oversee 400-member swimming facility.
• Maintained organized records.
• Communicated with Board of Directors to ensure that the members’ needs were met.
• Utilized lifeguard training and CPR training to save two lives during the 2003 season.
Computer
Skills
Software: Macromedia Flash, Director, Dreamweaver, Fireworks; Adobe Photoshop,
ImageReady, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, Audition; Corel Bryce 5; Microsoft
Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint); Apple Final Cut Pro, Quicktime Pro;
Digidesign Pro Tools
Operating Systems: Mac OS 9, X; Windows 95-XP; Dos; Linux
Languages: HTML; SQL; CSS; ActionScript; JavaScript; Director Lingo; VBA
Awards/
Honors
Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
Best of Festival 2004/King Foundation Award Winner, Fixed Media in the “To
Instruct/Train” category; Won $1000 top prize and attended BEA Festival in Las Vegas, NV
Dean’s List (Spring 2002, Fall 2002, Spring 2003, Fall 2003)
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Combination Resume Example
RAUL A. RAM
Permanent Address:
1223 McMannus Drive
Lake, VA 25607
(804) 555-4321
ramra@vcuedu
Current Address:
123 Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 555-3336
OBJECTIVE
Seeking a management trainee position with XYZ Advertising International
EDUCATION
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Bachelor of Science in Business, Major in Business Administration and Management
International Management track, Minor: Spanish
RELATED COURSES
International Trade
International Relations
Business Spanish
International Accounting
International Marketing
International Business Law
Richmond, VA
May 2004
International Finance
International Management
International Economics
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Phi, VCU
Committee Head of Interchapter Relations
• Coordinate committee meetings and facilitate discussions
• Serve as liaison between local and regional chapters
• Arrange annual social, fundraising, and consulting events
• Organize a social gathering of two chapters for 60 people
Committee Head of Alumni Activities
• Maintained and updated records for more than 500 chapter alumni
• Delegated responsibilities to a committee of 5 members
• Compiled and assembled newsletter for printing
• Distributed newsletter to 500 alumni 3 times per semester
Richmond, VA
September 2003–present
February 2002–September 2003
International Business Club, VCU
Richmond, VA
Newsletter Committee Head
September 2003–present
• Develop activities and assignments for committee members
• Write articles relating to topics and activities concerning international management majors
• Design and send quarterly newsletters to all international management majors
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Greater University Fund
Student Assistant
• Handle all special customer service complaints and requests
• Make 30-40 phone calls per night to solicit donations
Richmond, VA
September 2003–present
Food Lion, Inc.
Assistant Manager/Deli Clerk
• Supervised 6 employees on various functions in deli/bakery department
• Increased productivity of staff by 15% in July 2002
• Recommended duties pertaining to maintenance and productivity on a monthly basis
• Kept a daily roster of all duties and activities to be performed in deli/bakery
• Placed 20-30 written customer orders for deli/bakery products weekly
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Fredericksburg, VA
Summers 2000–2003
Page 7 of 10
References Outline
*Jamie T. Student
1234 Broad Street, Apt. A, Richmond, VA 23284
(804) 555-5678, studentjt@vcu.edu
______________________________________________________________________
References
**(Dr./Mr./Ms./Mrs.) Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip
(Area Code) Telephone #
E-mail address (if he/she has one)
***Relationship
*Use the same header on your references as you do on your
resume for continuity. Also, if your reference page gets
separated from your resume, then the employer has your
contact information. If you don’t have room for all of that, at
least put your “Name, References” in the top, left-hand corner
so they know who the references belong to if separated.
**(Dr./Mr./Ms./Mrs.) Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip
(Area Code) Telephone #
E-mail address (if he/she has one)
***Relationship
**Always put some sort of descriptor here. There is nothing
more embarrassing for a reference checker than insulting the
person they are about to have a conversation with. Ex: “Hi,
is Ms. Knight there?” “This is DOCTOR Knight.” Do your
homework and find out if they have their doctorate or whether
they are married (for women). If you do not know if a woman
is married, Ms. is appropriate and professional.
**(Dr./Mr./Ms./Mrs.) Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip
(Area Code) Telephone #
E-mail address (if he/she has one)
***Relationship
***Optional. This just gives the person checking your
references a feel for who he or she is about to speak to when
calling.
Ex: Mr. Jones supervised me while I worked at #1
Sales Company.
Ex: Dr. Smith taught me Chemistry 101 & Biology 302.
He has known me for two years.
_________________________________________________________________________
Important Reminders about References:
1. Most organizations want 3-5 references. You would use the same outline for each reference as shown above.
2. Print your reference page on resume paper too. You want your cover letter, resume, references and an
application (if applicable) all to match.
3. ALWAYS ask someone to be a reference ahead of time. If someone calls that person out of the blue, he or she
may be upset with you and give you a poor reference. He or she could also be upset because he or she was not
more prepared to speak about your skills and abilities. So always ask first.
4. Avoid using “character” references. These are people like a sports coach from high school, someone from your
place of worship, a parent, or a family friend. These are okay if the organization needs to check out your character
(Ex: The FBI, the police, law enforcement positions, etc.), but for the most part, organizations want professional
references – people who can speak about what you are like at work or in class. So think of supervisors, coworkers, professors you have a good relationship with, etc.
5. After you have an updated copy of your resume, offer to send an e-copy or drop off a hard copy to each of your
references. By sending them a copy of your resume, you enable them to stay up-to-date with what you’ve been up
to and it also helps them to better speak to your abilities.
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Resume Action Verbs
Management/
Leadership
Skills
administered
assigned
attained
chaired
consolidated
contracted
coordinated
decided
delegated
developed
directed
eliminated
enhanced
enforced
established
evaluated
executed
generated
headed
hired
improved
incorporated
increased
inspected
instituted
led
managed
motivated
organized
oversaw
planned
presided
prioritized
produced
recommended
reorganized
reviewed
scheduled
strengthened
supervised
confronted
consulted
contacted
convinced
cooperated
corresponded
defined
directed
drafted
drew up
edited
elicited
explained
expressed
formulated
influenced
interpreted
interviewed
judged
lectured
marketed
mediated
moderated
negotiated
observed
participated
persuaded
presented
promoted
publicized
reconciled
recruited
referred
reported
resolved
responded
spoke
suggested
summarized
synthesized
talked
translated
wrote
Communication
Skills
addressed
advertised
arranged
collaborated
communicated
composed
condensed
Research
Skills
analyzed
clarified
collected
compared
conducted
determined
disproved
evaluated
examined
extracted
formulated
gathered
identified
interpreted
interviewed
invented
investigated
located
measured
organized
researched
reviewed
solved
summarized
surveyed
systematized
tested
Technical
Skills
applied
assembled
built
calculated
conserved
constructed
designed
determined
developed
installed
maintained
operated
programmed
resolved
specialized
upgraded
Teaching
Skills
adapted
advised
arranged
clarified
communicated
conducted
coordinated
critiqued
developed
enabled
evaluated
explained
facilitated
guided
individualized
instructed
motivated
set goals
stimulated
taught
trained
transmitted
tutored
Creative Skills
acted
authored
composed
conceptualized
created
decorated
designed
directed
displayed
entertained
fashioned
formulated
founded
illustrated
introduced
invented
made
modeled
originated
performed
photographed
planned
revised
shaped
Helping Skills
advocated
aided
answered
cared for
clarified
counseled
diagnosed
educated
encouraged
facilitated
familiarized
furthered
helped
influenced
insured
mentored
provided
referred
rehabilitated
simplified
supplied
supported
volunteered
Organizational
Skills
approved
arranged
cataloged
categorized
charted
classified
coded
collected
compiled
corresponded
detailed
distributed
filed
generated
implemented
inspected
maintained
monitored
operated
organized
prepared
processed
provided
recorded
reviewed
scheduled
sorted
submitted
standardized
systemized
updated
validated
verified
Financial
Skills
analyzed
appraised
audited
balanced
budgeted
calculated
computed
developed
estimated
forecasted
managed
marked
planned
projected
reconciled
reduced
researched
More Verbs
accomplished
achieved
acknowledged
adjusted
affected
anticipated
approached
asserted
assessed
assisted
attended
conceived
conciliated
contributed
controlled
delivered
detected
devised
dispensed
effected
electrified
endured
enlisted
exchanged
expanded
expedited
experienced
explored
followed
found
governed
handled
improved
informed
initiated
innovated
integrated
learned
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listened
logged
manipulated
maximized
merchandised
met
minimized
modified
navigated
negotiated
obtained
perceived
perfected
pioneered
preserved
printed
promoted
proofread
proposed
protected
purchased
quoted
ran
raised
read
realized
received
rectified
redesigned
reduced
related
remodeled
rendered
renewed
repaired
represented
reserved
resolved
scanned
screened
selected
served
sketched
sold
sparked
spearheaded
staffed
studied
succeeded
traveled
treated
unified
utilized
Page 9 of 10
Resume Proofreading Checklist
Spelling
Are all the words you are using familiar to you?
All CAPITALIZED words are spelled correctly
Read every word aloud to catch mistakes or left out words
A friend proofread your resume for you
All words that may be easily confused have been checked: accept (to receive),
except (to exclude); all right (is 2 words), alright (is NOT a word); affect (to bring
about change), effect (the result); personal (private), personnel (staff members);
role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve)
Punctuation
Use of punctuation is consistent—i.e. if you use periods at the end of your phrases,
then use them at the end of all the phrases
Exclamation points are not used
Commas are used to separate information instead of periods
There are no commas between month and year
Spell Chequer
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques for my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As swoon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
Grammar
All verbs in each job skill section are in the same tense—i.e. current jobs should be
in the present tense and past jobs in the past tense
All proper nouns are capitalized
Sauce Unknown
Numbers between one and nine are written out, numerals are used for all
numbers 10 and above
Sentences starting with numbers should spell out that number
Date formats are consistent—i.e. pick 11/98 or November 1998 and use it throughout the resume
Capitalize seasons when associated with a date—i.e. Spring 2005
Content
Dates of prior employment are accurate
Address, phone number and e-mail address are correct
Number of returns or spaces between categories or items are consistent
Is your resume all on one page?
Your name is on all pages submitted (resume, reference page and cover letter)
Salary history is omitted (this should be included in a cover letter if requested)
Personal information such as sex, age, race, marital status is NOT included
The word “I” is not on the resume at all
Experience includes organization name, job title, city, state of company, and dates employed
Education and Awards do not include high school
Format
There is plenty of white space—e.g. your resume is not overcrowded and margins are appropriate
The font is the same throughout the resume
Headings stand out from the text to make skills and qualifications easier to find
Bold and italics have been used to make important items stand out
At arm’s length, the text and white space look balanced
Your name is larger than the rest of the text on the page
Only the front side of the paper is used
Final Copy
Resume quality paper was used for the final copy—ivory, gray or white, 100% cotton
The watermark is right side up on the final copy
Items are not stapled
Large manila envelope or envelopes matching resume paper are used
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Page 10 of 10
VCU University Career Center
Virginia Commonwealth University
Job Search Correspondence
http://www.students.vcu.edu/careers/
Cover Letter
What is a Cover Letter?
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A cover letter accompanies the resume, and tells the employer the type of position you're seeking -- and exactly how
you are qualified for that position.
A cover letter highlights the aspects of your experience that are most useful to the potential employer, and you can
earn points for knowing what those aspects are.
Also known as a letter of introduction, letter of application, transmittal letter, or broadcast letter.
No smart job-seeker should send his or her resume without a cover letter. Few employers seriously consider a resume
for a full-time position that is not accompanied by a cover letter; thus, a dynamically written cover letter needs to be
part of your job-search strategy.
Why is a Cover Letter so Important?
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Employers get hundreds of resumes, especially when they advertise a choice position. Employers are also very busy.
Often the person screening resumes skims each for only a few seconds. Your cover letter can call attention to the
skills, talents, and experience the employer is looking for.
Your letter can explain things that your resume can't. If you have large gaps in your employment history or you are
reentering the job market or changing the focus of your career, a cover letter can explain these circumstances in a
positive way.
A cover letter can serve the same function as the "objective" on your resume, and expand upon it. Cover letters give
you the opportunity to target your experience and skills to the specific position you are applying for and should,
therefore, be unique to each position you apply for.
Finally, a cover letter is a little window into your personality. A good cover letter can suggest to an employer, "I'd like to
interview this person; she sounds like someone I'd like to get to know better. This seems like just the kind of dynamic
person this company needs."
Adapted from: Quintessential Careers (www.quintcareers.com) & an excerpt from the 3 rd edition of Dynamic
Cover Letters.
Cover Letter Format
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Use business letter format when writing any job search correspondence, including your cover letter.
Start with your address at the top of the page.
Skip a line and add the date.
Skip a line and add the employer’s name, the company name and the company address.
Skip a line and include your greeting. Start with “Dear” and use the employer’s name if you know it, the appropriate
title and a colon (e.g., Dear Mr. Anderson:, Dear Ms. Williams:, Dear Dr. Lloyd:).
If you do not know the employer’s name, you can use a generic greeting such as “Dear Sir or Madam:,” “To Whom It
May Concern:,” or “Dear Recruiter:.” These generic greetings are very impersonal so another option is to omit the
greeting so that your letter appears more like a memo.
Left justify each line (i.e., do not indent paragraphs) and skip a line between paragraphs.
Include three or four body paragraphs.
End with a professional closure such as “Sincerely,” “Regards,” or “Yours truly.”
Skip four lines for your signature and type your name.
Skip a line and type “Enclosure” or “Enclosures” to indicate that you have enclosed your resume and any other
requested documents.
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Page 1 of 8
Cover Letter Outline
Your Street Address or P.O. Box
City, State Zip Code
Current Date (Month 00, 200_)
Employer’s Name
Title
Company/Organization
Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear (Dr./Mr./Ms./Mrs.) Name:
Write what position you are applying for and where you found the position (newspaper, website, etc.) Ex: I am writing in
response to the Sales Coordinator position posted on www.salesjob.com. Next comes what your degree is in and when
you graduate(d). Ex: I will receive my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry this May.
In the second paragraph, this is your chance to tell the organization why you’re interested. Show that you’ve done your
research on them by referencing specifics on what you are impressed by. Ex: I was very interested to see this position
posted because your organization has an excellent reputation for providing exceptional service to its customers as
demonstrated by winning the Sales Leader of the Year Award for three years in a row. Sales Company #1 has the values
that I admire and is an organization that I would love to be a part of.
Next, take the position description and for each skill/quality they want, list why you have that or how you’ve done that in the
past. The more your cover letter mirrors the position description’s needs, the better. Let’s say the position description
requires someone with excellent interpersonal skills, experience in customer service, and someone with initiative. Ex: I
have worked as a waitress for the past four years and during that time I have learned what it takes to deliver quality
customer service. Having a positive attitude, a listening ear, and being flexible have aided me in better serving my
customers. In addition to that, I have enhanced my interpersonal skills. I serve many customers from a variety of
backgrounds and I am able to please my customers by tailoring my service to their needs. I often go above and beyond
what is asked of me in order to help the restaurant to be as successful as possible. For example, the other day I noticed a
problem that was not in my area of responsibility, but went ahead and fixed it when I had the chance because I knew it
would help my coworker and the restaurant.
In the last paragraph, you want to reiterate your interest, give your contact information and say how you will follow up. Ex:
I am very excited about the possibility of working for Sales Company #1. I may be reached at (804) 555-1234 or via email
at studentvc@vcu.edu. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to further discussing my candidacy with
you.
Sincerely/Warmest regards/Cordially/Yours truly,
(Skip four lines here & DON’T FORGET TO SIGN YOUR NAME! If you are e-mailing your cover letter, skip only one line
and type your name instead of skipping four lines for a signature.)
Virginia C. Student
Enclosure: Resume (You type this whenever you are enclosing something else, like your resume. Delete this if you are emailing your cover letter because your resume will be attached, not enclosed.)
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Sample Cover Letter
406 West Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
September 3, 2007
Ms. Lucy Nelson
Director of Human Resources
Circuit Records, Inc.
123 Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23221
Dear Ms. Nelson:
I am writing in response to the entry-level public accounting position with Circuit Records, Inc., that appeared in the
September 2 edition of The Richmond-Times Dispatch. I am very excited about the opportunity to utilize my education and
experience in public accounting to contribute to the continued success of Circuit Records. As a result, please consider my
qualifications for this position.
I am a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University and plan to graduate in May 200- with a Bachelor of Science in
Business with a Major in Accounting. I recently interned with Mobile Recordings as an Accounting Assistant. This
opportunity gave me exposure to auditing and budgeting, and allowed me to hone my report writing skills. I also have
supervisory experience from several previous part-time positions.
I am proficient in many computer software programs, including QuickBooks; and Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and
PowerPoint. I work effectively under pressure and handle my time efficiently. I have developed excellent communication
skills through my supervisory experience and campus leadership roles, which include serving as Vice President of Gamma
Sigma Iota and treasurer of Beta Alpha Psi, the international honors society in accounting. My co-curricular and extracurricular activities as well as my employment experiences are detailed on the enclosed resume.
I would appreciate an opportunity to talk with you in person about my qualifications and how they match the requirements
for the entry-level public accounting position with your organization. You can reach me any weekday at 555-8888; you can
leave a voice mail message if I am not available when you call. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Sophia Taylor
Enclosure: Resume
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E-mailing a Cover Letter
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Many employers prefer receiving resumes electronically. When e-mailing your resume, you can either use the body of
the e-mail for your cover letter or attach a cover letter.
If attaching a cover letter, include a short e-mail with your full length cover letter attached. Follow the formatting
guidelines above, with several exceptions: delete the enclosure indication; and after your closure, skip one line and
type your name instead of skipping four lines for a signature.
If using the body of the e-mail for your cover letter, you can delete the mailing and return address, the date and the
enclosure indication. Also, after your closure, skip one line and type your name instead of skipping four lines for a
signature.
Because of the quick and efficient nature of e-mail communication, an e-mailed cover letter should be briefer than a
traditional cover letter.
Include your resume as an attachment. You can also cut and paste your resume into the body of your e-mail, which
will allow the employer to view your resume even if they can not open your attachment. When including your resume
in the body of the e-mail, left justify everything, replace bullets with dashes, and start each piece of information on a
new line.
Follow appropriate e-mail etiquette (see below).
E-mail Etiquette
Example of What Not to Do:
To:
From:
Subject:
Cc:
Bcc:
Attached:
steve-hodge@dfwmarketing.com
beerman@yahoo.com
My perfect job!
mymom@hotmail.com
resume.doc; cover letter.doc; transcript.doc; future-goals.doc; 25-page essay.doc; family-photos.jpg;
mydog.jpg;
________________________________________________________________________
I AM WRITING TO APPLY FOR THE MARKETING JOB. THANX! ?
Because your correspondence says a lot about you, you should be aware of basic email etiquette, called “netiquette.”
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When possible, be brief – without leaving out necessary details.
Some messages get right to the point… a little too quickly. The writer should spend some time being polite.
Use proper grammar and spelling.
Avoid using shorthand (plz, thanx…)
3 words with 14 letters that carry a lot of meaning: please and thank you!
Address person with Mr., Mrs., and Dr. when in doubt. If you are replying to a message where the person has used
only his/her first name, then it is okay to address the message using their name. In the example above, begin your
message with “Dear Mr. Hodge:”
Positive Tone – come across respectful, friendly, and approachable.
Avoid using emoticons (smiley faces, etc.) unless you know the person well and have a friendly relationship with them.
Don’t use all uppercase letters as it appears as though you are screaming.
Your email address! What does it say about you? It should be professional. Avoid addresses like
beerman@yahoo.com.
Don’t get too “attached.” Limit email attachments.
Be careful with your subject line. Be aware of word choices, as some filters will consider your message to be ‘spam’
and possibly will not send the message.
If you include a signature line with your emails, be sure that it is professional. Avoid sending quotations. Remove any
automatic signatures by Yahoo, AOL, etc.
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Page 4 of 8
•
Reply with history. Including the history of the e-mail exchanges is a courtesy to the employer. E-mail is the primary
form of communication in most businesses today and some people receive hundreds of e-mails a day. Don’t expect
the employer to remember who you are or your previous e-mail exchanges. Include the history as a helpful reminder.
Sample Cover Letter E-mails
Sample E-mail (if attaching a cover letter):
To:
lnelson@publicaccountingfirmx.com
From:
Sophia_taylor@gmail.com
Subject:
Sophia Taylor - Application for tax associate position
Cc:
Bcc:
Attached: Sophia Taylor resume.doc ; Sophia Taylor cover letter.doc
________________________________________________________________________
Dear Ms. Nelson:
I am very interested in the tax associate position with Public Accounting Firm X and am attaching my cover letter and
resume for your perusal. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration, and I look
forward to talking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Sophia Taylor
Sample E-mail (if including cover letter in body of e-mail):
To:
lnelson@publicaccountingfirmx.com
From:
Sophia_taylor@gmail.com
Subject:
Sophia Taylor - Application for tax associate position
Cc:
Bcc:
Attached: Sophia Taylor resume.doc
________________________________________________________________________
Dear Ms. Nelson:
I am writing in response to the entry-level tax associate position with Public Accounting Firm X that appeared on
washingtonjobs.com on September 2, 2007. I am very excited about this opportunity to utilize my education and
experience in public accounting to contribute to the continued success of Public Accounting Firm X.
I am a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University and plan to graduate in December 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in
Business with a Major in Accounting. I recently interned with Company Y as an Accounting Assistant. This opportunity
gave me exposure to tax, auditing and budgeting, and allowed me to hone my report writing skills. I also have supervisory
experience from several previous positions.
I am proficient in QuickBooks and Microsoft Access and Excel. I work effectively under pressure and handle my time
efficiently. I have developed excellent communication skills through my supervisory experience and campus leadership
roles, which include serving as Vice President of my class and holding an office in Beta Alpha Psi.
Working at Public Accounting Firm X would be a unique and challenging experience that would allow me to continue to
develop my accounting skills. You are welcome to contact me at 865-9876 or Sophia_taylor@gmail.com to further discuss
my candidacy. Thank you for your time and I look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
Sophia Taylor
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Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts
Here are the keys to writing successful (and dynamic) cover letters. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve
success in this important phase of job-hunting.
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Don’t ever send your resume without a cover letter.
Do address your letter to a named individual.
Don’t use a sexist salutation, such as “Gentlemen” when answering a blind ad.
Don’t use such clichés as “Enclosed please find my resume” or “As you can see on my resume enclosed herewith.”
Employers can see that your resume is enclosed; they don’t need you to tell them. Such trite phrases just waste
precious space. And don't use pleonasms (wordy phrases), which also waste space.
Don’t depend on the employer to take action. Politely request action. Indicate an interest in meeting with the employer
for an interview or to further discuss the opportunity. Take the responsibility to follow up yourself and tell the employer
when you will follow up (i.e. within a week) and how you will follow up (i.e. by phone). Then, do so. It is imperative that
you follow up. You will greatly increase your chances of getting interviews if you call the employer after writing instead
of sitting back and waiting for a call. Those who wait for the employer to call them will generally have a long wait
indeed.
Don’t send a cover letter that contains any typos, misspellings, incorrect grammar or punctuation, smudges, or grease
from yesterday’s lunch.
Do use simple language and uncomplicated sentence structure. Ruthlessly eliminate all unnecessary words. Follow
the journalist’s credo: Write tight!
Do write cover letters that are unique and specific to you.
Do speak to the requirements of the job, especially when responding to an ad.
Do keep your letter brief. Never, Never more than one page, and it’s best to keep it well under a full page. Each
paragraph should have no more than one to three sentences.
Do tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribute to the company.
Do distinguish your cover letter from those of other job-seekers by quantifying and giving examples that amplify and
prove the claims you make in your letter.
Do try to answer the question that the employer will be asking while reading your letter: “Why should I interview this
person?”
Don’t rehash your resume. You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are relevant to
the position, but you’re wasting precious space -- and the potential employer’s time -- if you simply repeat your
resume.
Do avoid negativity. Negativity never has a place in a cover letter.
Do be sure the potential employer can reach you.
Do use action verbs.
Don't forget to personally sign the letter in black or blue ink.
Do use e-mailed cover letters, but keep them shorter and more concise.
Source: Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. and Katharine Hansen
Quintessential Careers (www.quintcareers.com) & an excerpt from the 3rd edition of Dynamic Cover Letters.
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Thank You Letter
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At the very least, send one! Thank you letters following interviews are an expected courtesy; however, many
applicants fail to send them. Simply sending a thank you letter will make a positive impression on the employer.
Send a thank you letter within a day or two after every interview for any kind of job or graduate school. Send individual
letters to each person who interviews you.
Express appreciation for the interviewer’s time and consideration of you as a candidate.
Refer to aspects of your discussion during the interview that further confirmed your interest in the job and/or company
or that increased your confidence that you are a good fit for the position.
Reiterate your interest in the position. Employers will not assume that you are excited about the opportunity. It is your
job to tell them that you are.
Continue to address the employer formally (e.g., Ms. Wyatt) unless you are invited to use their first name. Signing an
e-mail with a first name only is an invitation by the employer to address them by their first name. Signing an e-mail
with both first and last names is not an invitation to use the person’s first name. Err on the side of formality. It
demonstrates respect and good manners.
If your previous correspondence with the employer has been via e-mail, it is appropriate to send a thank you letter via
e-mail. A handwritten thank you note on a note card, or a typed thank you letter is the most professional and
courteous method of sending a thank you; however, it is better to e-mail a thank you letter than to not send one at all.
Sample Thank You Letter
James Dalious
838 Marian Way
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 555-1959
November 15, 2007
Dr. Joan Nagle
Technical Design Group Director
Casey Engineering Systems Inc.
81796 Gulick Road
Charlotte, NC 28235
Dear Dr. Nagle:
I want to thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the associate engineer position. I enjoyed meeting you and
learning more about your research and design work.
The interview strengthened my enthusiasm for the position and interest in working for Casey. I believe my education and
cooperative education experiences fit nicely with the job requirements, and I'm certain I could make a significant
contribution to the firm over time.
I would like to reiterate my strong interest in the position and in working with you and your staff. You provide the kind of
opportunity I seek. Please feel free to call me at the telephone number listed above if I can provide you with any additional
information.
Again, thank you for the interview and for your consideration.
Sincerely,
James Dalious
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Sample Letter to Accept an Offer
(This conversation may also occur verbally over the phone)
500 Green Court
Charlottesville, VA 22901
April 3, 2007
Ms. Laurie Breeden
Editor
Imagination
Emerald City, OZ 00000
Dear Ms. Breeden:
Thank you for the time you have spent considering me for the position of editorial assistant. I am very appreciative of your
efforts and also those of Mr. Ken McKain who discussed the position with me and gave me the tour of your offices. It really
helped me gain an understanding of the needs of the position and how Imagination is created and produced.
I am very pleased to accept your offer for the editorial assistant position at the salary of $30,000. I am looking forward to
beginning to work with Mr. McKain and his staff on the "science works" section. The opportunity to use my writing skills in
conjunction with the science background I acquired as an Environmental Studies major attracted me to this opportunity
from the time my friend, Jennifer McKain, told me about her father's work.
I will be moving to Emerald City in early May and will be begin work on May 10, as we discussed. I will call you when I
know what my new address and telephone number will be.
Please let me know if there is any other information you need or if any other details need to be worked out. Thank you
again for offering me this opportunity. I eagerly look forward to becoming part of the Imagination team.
Sincerely,
Noelle Simpson
Sample Letter to Decline an Offer
(This conversation may also occur verbally over the phone)
1216 Emerson Street
Skokie, IL 60208
March 15, 2007
Mr. George Duvall, Manager
Sales and Marketing Division
Colonial Properties, Ltd.
1700 Colonial Parkway
Williamsburg, VA 23176
Dear Mr. Duvall:
Thank you very much for offering me the position of commercial leasing agent with Colonial Properties. I appreciate your
discussing the details of the position with me and giving me the time to consider your offer.
You have a fine organization and there are many aspects of the position that are very appealing to me. However, I believe
it in my best interest that I decline your kind offer. This has been a difficult decision for me, but I believe it is the
appropriate one for my career at this time.
I want to thank you for the consideration and courtesy given to me. It was a pleasure meeting you and your staff.
Sincerely,
Melody Taylor
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Purchase answer to see full
attachment