Workshop Package
Resume and Cover Letter
UVIC’s Student Resume Guide
is an excellent resource with samples for many program areas
Mary Davies
Career and Placement Officer
College of the Rockies
2700 College Way, Box 8500 | Cranbrook, BC | Canada | V1C 5L7
250-489-2751 [Ext. 3441] | 1-877-489-2687 [Toll-Free]
Job Search Websites
(Many sites have an ‘auto-send’ feature to send new postings directly to your email)
Local Sites:
Watch the job board outside the gymnasium
College of the Rockies Job Board – on campus jobs are posted here (most in September)
WorkBC – Cranbrook/Kootenay Employment Agency
Kijiji.ca – many local employers post here
Other Sites:
Canada Indeed - use the “Get new jobs for this search by email” function on the right
Simply Hired - use “create email alert” on the left
Workopolis – must create a profile to receive “job alerts”
wowjobs.ca - use the “ Save this search as an Email Alert orRSS Feed” on the right
Fort McMurray online
Trades Training BC
Industry info sites and samples of Trades Resumes/Cover Letters:
Click on “Apprentices”button on right, “Getting Started” section, then “Resume and Cover Letter Guide”
Elevator Pitch/30-Second Script
A quick summary of who you are…what your skill set is… and why you’d be a perfect candidate.
It should inspire the person you’re speaking with and lead them to want to know more….
- Who you are:
“Hi, I’m….
- One or two highlights from your background:
For example: your education, work history, skill set, relevant hobbies…
- Your strengths and your goals:
“I’m a very hard worker and love working with people, so my goal is to get a full time customer service job for the summer where I can use those skills, and continue to work part time throughout the school year.”
SAMPLE OF A COVERING LETTER FORMAT
Your Name
Your Email| Your Phone| Your Address (Optional)
Date
Employer's Name (if known)
Company Name
Street Address
City, Province Postal Code
Dear “specific name”or “Hiring Manager(s)”:
Cleary indicate the position you’re applying for. Show that you have done some research and know something of the company
Demonstrate how your accomplishments, experience and abilities (including volunteer or school experience) qualify you for THIS position (be specific to the qualifications listed in the job posting). Put your strongest assets here. Show some of your personality so this doesn’t look like a form letter.
Describe any other important education, work history or background that is of value to this employer. Emphasize competencies that are listed in the job posting; relay your confidence and SHOW that you are a strong candidate for the position.
State your enthusiasm and desire for an interview. Thank the employer.
Sincerely,
Your Full Name
Enclosure:
WRITE A COVER LETTER
Your Name
Your Email| Your Phone| Your Address (Optional)
Date
Company Name______
Street Address______
City, Province Postal Code______
Dear Hiring Manager:
I am applying for the position of ______. I’m excited by the opportunity to work with ABC Company because ______
______
As a first year ______student, I’m knowledgeable in ______, and my experience______will help me to be successful as a ______
I will be available full time for the July and August, and afternoons/evenings and weekends during the school year. I would love a chance to show you how hard working I am.
I look forward to hearing from you to discuss any opportunities you may have. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Full Name______
Enclosure:
185 POWERFUL VERBS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR RESUME AWESOME
Source: The Daily Muse Editor [January 7, 2014]
You Led a Project
If you were in charge of a project or initiative from start to finish, skip “led” and instead try:
1. Chaired2. Controlled
3. Coordinated / 4. Executed
5. Headed
6. Operated / 7. Orchestrated
8. Organized
9. Oversaw / 10. Planned
11. Produced
12. Programmed
You Envisioned and Brought to Life a Project
And if you actually developed, created, or introduced that project into your company? Try:
13. Administered14. Built
15. Charted
16. Created
17. Designed / 18. Developed
19. Devised 20. Founded
21. Engineered
22. Established
23. Formalized / 24. Formed
25. Formulated
26. Implemented
27. Incorporated
28. Initiated / 29. Instituted
30. Introduced
31. Launched
32. Pioneered
33. Spearheaded
You Saved the Company Time or Money
Hiring managers love candidates who’ve helped a team operate more efficiently or cost-effectively. To show just how much you saved, try:
34. Conserved35. Consolidated / 36. Decreased
37. Deducted / 38. Diagnosed
39. Lessened / 40. Reconciled
41. Reduced
42. Yielded
You Increased Efficiency, Sales, Revenue, or Customer Satisfaction
Along similar lines, if you can show that your work boosted the company’s numbers in some way, you’re bound to impress. In these cases, consider:
43. Accelerated44. Achieved
45. Advanced
46. Amplified
47. Boosted / 48. Capitalized
49. Delivered
50. Enhanced
51. Expanded
52. Expedited / 53. Furthered
54. Gained
55. Generated
56. Improved
57. Lifted / 58. Maximized
59. Outpaced
60. Stimulated
61. Sustained
You Changed or Improved Something
So, you brought your department’s invoicing system out of the Stone Age and onto the interwebs? Talk about the amazing changes you made at your office with these words:
62. Centralized63. Clarified
64. Converted
65. Customized
66. Influenced
67. Integrated
68. Merged / 69. Modified
70. Overhauled
71. Redesigned
72. Refined
73. Refocused
74. Rehabilitated
75. Remodeled / 76. Reorganized
77. Replaced
78. Restructured
79. Revamped
80. Revitalized
81. Simplified
82. Standardized / 83. Streamlined
84. Strengthened
85. Updated
86. Upgraded
87. Transformed
You Managed a Team
Instead of reciting your management duties, like “Led a team…” or “Managed employees…” show what an inspirational leader you were, with terms like:
88. Aligned89. Cultivated
90. Directed
91. Enabled
92. Facilitated / 93. Fostered
94. Guided
95. Hired
96. Inspired
97. Mentored / 98. Mobilized
99. Motivated
100. Recruited
101. Regulated
102. Shaped / 103. Supervised
104. Taught
105. Trained
106. Unified
107. United
You Brought in Partners, Funding, or Resources
Were you “responsible for” a great new partner, sponsor, or source of funding? Try:
108. Acquired109. Forged / 110. Navigated
111. Negotiated / 112. Partnered
113. Secured
You Supported Customers
Because manning the phones or answering questions really means you’re advising customers and meeting their needs, use:
114. Advised115. Advocated
116. Arbitrated / 117. Coached
118. Consulted
119. Educated / 120. Fielded
121. Informed
122. Resolved
You Were a Research Machine
Did your job include research, analysis, or fact-finding? Mix up your verbiage with these words:
123. Analyzed124. Assembled
125. Assessed
126. Audited
127. Calculated
128. Discovered / 129. Evaluated
130. Examined
131. Explored
132. Forecasted
133. Identified
134. Interpreted / 135. Investigated
136. Mapped
137. Measured
138. Qualified
139. Quantified
140. Surveyed / 141. Tested
142. Tracked
You Wrote or Communicated
Was writing, speaking, lobbying, or otherwise communicating part of your gig? You can explain just how compelling you were with words like:
143. Authored144. Briefed
145. Campaigned
146. Co-authored
147. Composed / 148. Conveyed
149. Convinced
150. Corresponded
151. Counseled
152. Critiqued / 153. Defined
154. Documented
155. Edited
156. Illustrated
157. Lobbied / 158. Persuaded
159. Promoted
160. Publicized
161. Reviewed
You Oversaw or Regulated
Whether you enforced protocol or managed your department’s requests, describe what you really did, better, with these words:
162. Authorized163. Blocked
164. Delegated / 165. Dispatched
166. Enforced
167. Ensured / 168. Inspected
169. Itemized
170. Monitored / 171. Screened
172. Scrutinized
173. Verified
You Achieved Something
Did you hit your goals? Win a coveted department award?Don’t forget to include that on your resume, with words like:
174. Attained175. Awarded
176. Completed / 177. Demonstrated
178. Earned
179. Exceeded / 180. Outperformed
181. Reached
182. Showcased / 183. Succeeded
184. Surpassed
185. Targeted
JOE HARDWORKER
Address, Cranbrook, BC ● Phone: 250-555-5555 ● Email:
PERSONAL PROFILE
for example…Hard working tourism student who is meticulous about cleaning and organizing. Very fast and efficient, looking to work 2-3 days per week, evenings and/or weekends. Eager to contribute my positive nature and hard work to the janitorial team at Bee Clean.
EDUCATION
ABC Program
College of the Rockies, Cranbrook, BCDate Complete
Graduate, ABC Secondary
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Job TitleDate
Company, Town, Prov
- Include an overview of your job duties, use bullets
- Accomplishment statements - Show your strengths, what did you excel at, what would your supervisor say were your strengths
Job TitleDate
Company, Town, Prov
- Show what you did in your job, use bullets
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Page 1/2
JOE HARDWORKERAddress, Cranbrook, BC ● Phone: 250-555-5555 ● Email:
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
ABC ProgramDate Complete
College of the Rockies, Cranbrook, BC
Graduate, ABC SecondaryDate (optional)
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Job Title May 2016-Aug 2016
Company, Town, Prov (Summer Job)
- Show what you did in your job, use bullets
- Accomplishment statements (what made YOU good at this position)
- “Consistently received positive feedback on my friendly customer service”
- Always on time, happy to work overtime and ready to work with short notice
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
PERSONAL INTERESTS
JOE CHAPEAU
7130 Forest Court #2 ● Mississauga, ON L5C 2G8
905.248.3268 ●
EDUCATION______
ABC ProgramDate Complete
College of the Rockies, Cranbrook, BC
Related coursework:
Graduate, ABC High school
Town, Province
QUALIFICATIONS
Related Certifications
One
Two
Three
Related Skills
Ability to
Strong organizational
Professional
Three years’ experience
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Job Title Month year-Month year
Company, Town, Prov
- Show what you did in your job, use bullets
- Accomplishment statement
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Job/Project/Volunteer Title Month year-Month year
Company/Organization/Event etc.
- Description
Page 2 of 2
Sample Resume for those with no work experience – choose headings that apply to describe your skills and personal experience
JILL HARDWORKER● Phone: ● Email:
PERSONAL PROFILE:
for example…Hard working and outgoing kinesiology student looking for first time employment. Very organized and efficient, looking to work 2-3 days per week, evenings and/or weekends. Eager to contribute my positive nature to the customer service team at Tim Hortons.
SKILLS SUMMARY (languages, computer skills, math or cash skills, relevant unpaid experience such as house cleaning, one or two personal attributes that will contribute to success in the job)
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION
Program Complete April, 2019
College of the Rockies
LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS (Were you in the top of your class or win any awards, did you belong to any clubs or teams, organize an event(s) or fundraise or volunteer to coach or help other students, peer tutoring classmates or reading to younger students etc.)
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE (Include any work you may have done for family or friends such as housework, babysitting, running errands for elderly neighbors etc.)
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE (or Community Involvement)
PERSONAL INTERESTS
1