City of Winnipeg
Resumes, Cover Letters and Interview Tips
Presented by:
Talent Acquisition Services
Resumes, Cover Letters and Interview Tips
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What Is A Resume?
Thefirstimpressionapotentialemployerhasofyou
ASummaryofyoureducation,experience,skillsand
accomplishments
Atoolthathighlightsyourqualifications
Yourfirststeptowardsapotentialinterview
Resumes, Cover Letters and Interview Tips
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What To Include:
1. Profile/Objective
2. Accomplishments
3. WorkExperience
4. Education,ProfessionalDevelopmentandTraining
5. ProfessionalAffiliations/Groups
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1.
Profile/Objective
3‐5sentencesinlength
Focusonyourknowledge,jobskillsandstrengthsastheyrelateto
thepositionyouareapplyingfor
Tellsanemployerwhatyouarelooking for
e.g.“Professionaladministratorwithfinancialandmarketingtrainingand
experience.Stronginterpersonalandcommunicationskillswithabilitytowork
underpressureandmeetdeadlines.Seekingafull‐timeopportunitywithroomfor
growthandadvancement.”
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2.
Accomplishments
Workorvolunteeraccomplishmentsthatyouareproudofthatalso
highlightyourqualificationforthepositionyouareapplying for
Setyourselfapartfromthecompetition
e.g.RecipientofascholarshiptoUniversity/College,oranawardfromwork
foryourcontributionstothecompany.
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3.
Work Experience
Identifytheexperienceyouhaveobtainedfromprevious work
Besuretheyalignwiththeskillsthatareimportantinthejobyou
areapplyingfor
Identify2‐5skillsandlistrelatedworktasksordutiesundereach
one
e.g.“StrongCustomerServiceSkills
•
Assistedinthedevelopmentofa‘CustomerAppreciationDay’
•
Greetedallincomingcustomersanddirectedthemto
appropriatedepartment
•
Handledalltransactionsinatimelyandaccuratemanner”
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4.
Education, Professional Development and Training
Includenameofdegree,certificate,diploma,license,courseor
workshop
Indicateifeducationhasbeencompletedorisin progress
Includenameofinstitution
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5.
Professional Affiliations
Listanyprofessionalorcommunity‐basedmemberships,
associationsoraffiliations
e.g.BoardMemberoftheWinnipegStreetNurserySchoolCo‐op
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Main Types of Resumes
1. Chronological
2. Combination–ChronologicalandSkills‐based
Source: Simply Hired Staff (2018, April 10), The 3 Main Types of Resumes from https://www.simplyhired.com
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Chronological
TheformatoftenusedformostCityofWinnipegjobopenings
Experience,education,etc.arealllistedindescendingorder,withdatesshown,withthemost
recentitemsappearingatthetopofthepage
Startbylistingthemostrecentworkposition.Eachjobtitleshouldbefollowedbya
descriptionoftheduties,accomplishments,andskillsinthatposition
Afterworkexperience,listyoureducationinasimilardescendingformat
Thisformatallowsthehiringmanagertoseeataglancewhatrecentexperienceyoumayhave
andwhataccomplishmentsmaybethemostrelevantinyourrecentpast
Source:SimplyHiredStaff(2018,April10),The3MainTypesofResumesfromhttps://www.simplyhired.com
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Chronological Resume Example
Experience
December2016‐Present
AdministrativeCoordinator
CityofWinnipeg,Winnipeg,MB
Responsibleforanalysisofmonthly,weekly,and,dailysalesreports.Achieved100%accuracyinsalesreportsinpast
twoyears.
Responsibleforschedulingtrainingclasses,seminars,andconferences.
June2015‐December2016
AdministrativeSecretary
ProvinceofManitoba,Brandon,MB
Researchanddesignsalesandtrainingpresentations,requiringfluencyinPowerPoint,SlideShark,andPrezi.
Responsibleforschedulingathree‐personsalesandtrainingstaff.
Education
St.Mary'sUniversityofMinnesota,Winona,MN
June2015
B.A.,PublicRelations
Source:A.Doyle(2018,March22),WhatisaChronologicalResumeFormat?fromhttps://www.thebalancecareers.com
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Combination – Chronological and Skills-based
Groupsrelevantskillsandexperienceastheyrelatetothequalificationsofthejobyouare
applyingfor
Combinationresumesworkwellforjobseekerswithasignificantamountofworkexperience,
andwhoalsohavestrongskillsandaccomplishments
Yourjobhistorywillfollowwithabare‐boneslistoftitlesheldbyyearandmonthtoprovide
contextandworkhistory
Source:SimplyHiredStaff(2018,April10),The3MainTypesofResumesfromhttps://www.simplyhired.com
Resumes, Cover Letters and Interview Tips
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Combination Resume Example
Relevant Experience
Sales & Marketing
• Made direct presentation to retail store owners and buyers, marketing Christmas ornaments and gift
items imported from other countries
• Co-hosted sales seminars for potential real estate partnership investors
• Followed up by phone to verify their commitment to invest in the partnership
• Canvassed by cold calling for contributions to a nonprofit organization
Organization & Customer Service
• Resolved wide range of customer problems, applying diplomacy and assertiveness to delivery
delays, fee and budget discrepancies, property management decisions, airline emergencies and
communication barriers
• Organized the logistics of speaking engagements and investment seminars: location -catering –
seating – literature – speakers – travel
• Maintained extensive financial records regarding individual and corporate clients
Employment History
2014 – PRESENT Office Manager/Bookkeeper United States Navy, San Francisco
2012-2014 Global Import Sales Self-employed, selling to Bay Area stores
2010-2012 International Flight Attendant Transamerica Airline, Oakland
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Resume Do’s:
• Shouldbeorganizedandwell‐formatted
•
Usepropergrammarandcorrectspelling
•
Bepositive,accurate,fact‐based
•
Useconsistentfontstyleandsize
•
Shouldincluderelatedinformationtothejobbeingappliedfor,suchashowyoumeetthe
qualificationsofthejob.
•
Beginsentenceswithactionwords(i.e.‘Developed’,‘Facilitated’,‘Organized’)
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Resume Don’ts:
• Use“Me”or“I”
•
Useslang/abbreviations
•
Listpersonalinformation(i.e.height,race,age,maritalstatus,oraphoto)
•
Includesalaryinformation
•
Exaggerateormisrepresentyourself
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What Is A Cover Letter?
• Introducesyouandyourresume;whyyouarethebestpersonforthejob
•
Providesasampleofyourwrittencommunicationsskills
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Include Key Words from the Job Posting
• Ifthepostingstatesthatanemployerislookingforsomeonewith
“excellentcustomerserviceskills:
Describeyourcustomerserviceskillsinyourcoverletter
e.g.“Ihavemanyyearsofcustomerserviceexperience,includinginperson
andoverthephone.”
• Addressyourcoverlettertothenameofthepersonlistedinthe
jobposting
Ifnonameismentioned,use:“DearHiringManager”
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Include Information Related to the Organization
• Whataretheorganization’sinterests,valuesandgoals?
• Reflecttheseinyourcoverletterasrelatedtoyourexperience.
• Hint: Checkoutourwebsite!
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What to Include in a Cover Letter:
• Heading(yourcontactinformation,date,employeraddress)
•
Introduction(greeting,jobpostingnumber,statementastowhyyouarewriting)
•
Body(describeyourkeyqualificationsandwhyyouarethebestpersonforthejob)
•
Closing(statement,salutation,signature)
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Cover Letter Do’s:
• Writeinfirstperson(i.e.use“I”)
•
Keeptoapproximately1pageinlength
•
Makeitclearandeasytoread
•
Providecontactinformation
•
Describehowyoumeettheemployer’sneedsandhowyoucancontribute
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Cover Letter Don’ts:
• Usemultiplefonts/formats/flashypaper
•
Useabbreviations
•
Providepersonalinformation(e.g.age,gender,religion,aphoto)
•
Repeatyourresume,wordforword
•
Useexclamationpoints
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Remember….DO NOT:
• Applyforjobsyouarenotqualifiedfor
•
Exaggerateyourqualificationsorbedishonest
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Interviews:
• Helpdetermineiftheapplicantisqualifiedforthejobtheyappliedfor
•
Giveapplicantsanopportunitytolearnmoreaboutthejobandthe
organization
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Interview Tips
• Researchtheorganizationthatyouappliedat(i.e.lookingatWinnipeg.ca)
•
Understandthequalificationsrequiredforthejobandpreparetodiscusshowyoumeet
them
•
Bringanydocumentationwithyouthathasbeenrequested
•
Thinkaboutpotentialworksituations,andhowyoumighthandlethoseintheworkplace
•
Beontime:
Knowwheretogoandhowyouaregettingthere
Getthere10‐15minutesearly
Source:www.employaid.com
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Interview Tips Continued
• Turnoffyourcellphone
•
Donotchewgumorcandy
•
Listencarefullytotheinterviewquestions;ifyouneedthequestionrepeated,donotbe
afraidtoask
• Provideanexampleofwhereorhowyouhavedemonstratedtheskillbeingaskedabout
(i.e.maybefrompreviousworkorvolunteerexperience).
Source:http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/interview.shtml
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Interview Tips Continued
• Individualswhoareselectedforaninterviewmaybescreenedbyabehaviourbasedinterview
method.Itisgoodtopracticebeforeaninterview!
• Anexampleofabehaviourbasedquestionis:“Tellmeofatimethatyoudemonstratedexcellent
customerservice,whathappenedandwhatwastheresult?”
• Whenanswering,trynottogeneralizeyouranswers,astheinterviewpanelisassessingyour
behaviourandyourskillsbasedonspecificsituationsthatyouhaveencountered.Instead,answer
usingtheSTARmodeltodescribeacondensedversionofyourexample.
Situation
Task
Action
Result
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Interview Tips Continued
• Askanyquestionsthatyouhaveattheendoftheinterview
•
Questionexamplesyoumightconsideraskinginclude:
Whatisatypicaldaylikeforthepersoninthisposition?
Arethereopportunitiesformetolearnandgrow?
Whendoyouthinkyouwillhaveadecisionmadeaboutthisposition?
• Thanktheinterviewerorinterviewpanelfortheirtimebeforeleaving
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Remember
Itisnormaltobenervousduringaninterview–tryto
staycalmandtakeadeepbreath.
City of Winnipeg
Thank you