COMM 202 – TUTORIAL #4

Alison Buchanan | T30 + T37Sit in groups of 5! Name tents up! Hand in one copy of your Cover Letter!

AGENDA

Cover Letter Peer Review

Resume Overview

Action Items

1

2

3

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Write your table number on ALL of your documents

2. Put your documents in a pile in the middle of the table

3. Get out your marking utensils

For each new rubric section, pass document to the RIGHT

COVER LETTER PEER REVIEW!

…and a GREAT resource for you later

CL FORMATTING

• Left aligned (NOT justified)• No indents on paragraphs• Sections are apparent:

1. Opening paragraph

2. 2-3 Skills-Matching paragraphs (bullets are fine)

3. Closing paragraph

CL FORMATTING – ADDRESS

Date

Contact NameTheir TitleCompanyAddressCity, Province Postal Code

RE: Position Title

Dear Mr. / Ms. Their Last Name OR Hiring Manager

[Opening Paragraph]

These spaces are important

If unknown, this can be

omitted

AVOID: “To Whom it May

Concern”“Dear Sir or

Madam”

Country is typically unnecessary

unless applying outside of Canada

No indented paragraphs in a business letter

CL FORMATTING – SIGN OFF

Sincerely,

Your NameBCom Candidate 20XXSauder School of Business

Attached: Resume

Regards,Best,

Written signature optional (provide

more space if including)

Attached: Resume, Transcript

Use “Enclosed: …” only if sending application by mail

BCom BTM Co-op Candidate 2016

These spaces are important

CL OPENING

• How do you like the hook?

• Is there keen, genuine interest and/or passion for the position?

• Is there a clear expression of the skills/experience matching the job posting?

• Is company research integrated (and indicates interest)?

• If name drop is used, was it well-integrated?

CL SKILLS MATCHING

• Are there specific skills matched to the job description?

• Do they reference specific examples that leverage experiences/qualifications?

• Are the highlighted experiences specific and concise?

• Do they indicate transferrable skills?

• Do the results show strength or success?

*suggested minimum of 2 skills/attributes matched

CL CLOSING

• Are skills reiterated in a different (not redundant!) way?

• Is sincere interest expressed?

• Is there a gracious thank you and call to action (request for meeting)?

CL BRANDING

• Is their research insightful? Have they gone the distance to show how they will “fit” into the industry or organization?

• Did they use industry terms seamlessly?

WHO WOULD YOU HIRE?Of the applications on your table, who has…

• Who had the WOW factor?

• Did they show CAN, WANT, & FIT?

• What was GOOD about their application?

• What do they need to work on?

RESUMES!

From this…

RESUMES!

…to this!

HEADER

• The banner at the top of the page that contains your basic information

PROFILE

• A brief self-intro and preview to your resume – REFER TO YOUR JOB POSTING

EDUCATION

• Showcase your academic journey

PERSONAL BRANDING

• Presenting YOU throughout the document

MARKING

If you have over 2 errors, we will deduct 40%*!

TYPOS FORMATTING ERRORS

SPELLING & GRAMMAR

MISSING INFO DASHES VS. HYPHENS

INCONSISTENCY

* Per document

ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS

ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS

• Your best self on paper.

STAR TO RATSEmployers do not want to hear your stories,

they want to see your accomplishments!

FLIP IT

Result (Proof)

Action

Task

Situation

DUTY-BASED STATEMENTS

• “Assisted customers in finding styles and sizes”

• “Opened/closed the store, in charge of till and end of night deposits”

✗

This is a job description!

ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS

• “Assisted customers in finding styles and sizes”

• “Opened/closed the store, in charge of till and end of night deposits”

✔

This is how we know you’re good at it! NO DUTY-BASED STATEMENTS

Surpassed quarterly sales targets by 35% by providing friendly, personalized service, anticipating future seasonal needs, and cross-selling similar merchandise.

Assigned key holder status in just one month after demonstrating excellent attention to detail during closing processes; specifically commended for prompt and accurate deposit counts.

RESULT VERBS

ATTAINED EXCEEDED

ELIMINATEDINCREASED

DECREASED MAXIMIZEDMINIMIZEDREDUCED

SAVEDSURPASSEDIMPROVEDCREATED

GENERATEDENHANCEDOPTIMIZED

ESTABLISHED

**Try not to repeat words!!

RESULT

Two types of results:

QUALITATIVE• Positive feedback

• Promotion/increase in responsibilities

• Implementation

• Awards • Examples?

QUANTITATIVE• How much?• How many?• Numbers• Percentages

• Examples?

ACTIONS

Do your results match up with your actions?

Are those skills relevant to the job?

What skills did you see?

SITUATION & TASK

• What other context is necessary to understand the information?

ONE MORE EXAMPLE

Led Varsity Volleyball team to the PacWest BC Provincial Championship gold medal by exemplifying camaraderie and teamwork in both practices and high-pressure games.

ONE MORE EXAMPLE

Led Varsity Volleyball team to the PacWest BC Provincial Championship gold medal by exemplifying camaraderie and teamwork in both practices and high-pressure games.

Results

Actions

Task/Situation

ACTIVITYTake one of your skills-matching paragraphs and

rewrite it as an accomplishment statement!

FINAL NOTES: INTEGRATION AND FORMATTING

• Bullets• Dates• Locations• Margins• Spacing• Alignment

• Periods• Dashes• Verb tense

Consistency is key. Keep an eye out for these easy mistakes:

ACTION ITEMS

Watch the resume e-module and review “Outline to a Chronological Resume” (to be emailed)

Complete your resume DRAFT for next class (bring two copies)!

Sign up for Office Hours on COOL

Have an awesome reading break!

!

Puppy o f the week

Puppy fo r nex t week