Resumes and Covering Letters (Examples and How to make an covering letters structures)

Resumes and Covering Letters
A resume records a person academic and personal achievements and capabilities. It is a document that is updated regularly throughout one's career. People usually customise their resumes to suit specific job application. There is no definite way to set out a resume, but there are some convention to follow.

In addition to a resume, people need to keep a record of their achievement testimonials, awarsd, letter of commendation and references. A well-written and neatly formatted resume will serve as a statement of the job
applicant's value to a prospective employer.

A covering letter accompanies the resume. While the resume records one's achievements and highlights the job applicant's potential, the covering letter persuades the prospective employer to read the resume. A covering letter should highlight the skills and knowledge that are especially suited for the job and convey the applicant's enthusiasm.

Resumes have the following features :

STRUCTURE
* Personal details like name, address and contact numbers are at the top of each page
* section headings, for example, career objective, education, computer competency, work experience, achivements, etc.
* arrangement with plenty of 'white space' on the page
* Consistency in spacing between lines and between paragraphs

LANGUAGE
* The use of action verbs to introduce achievements
* The use of briefd and succinct language - short statements and paragraphs
* The use of bulleted lists

Covering letters have following features:

STRUCTURE

* Sender's address
* Date
* Recipient's name
* Recipient's title
* Recipient's address
* Salutation - 'Dear...' (Use the recipient's name)
* Subject line (Purpose of the letter in bold or capital letters)
* Body of letter
* Complimentary close - 'Yours sincerely'
* sender's signature
* Sender's name
* Enclosure: Resume

LANGUAGE

* The use of normal
* The use of positive language
* The use of persuasive language

WRITING PROCESS
GATHERING INFORMATION
Gather examples of covering letters and effective resumes from books and the internet. You may practise writing in response to an advertisement for job that would interest you in the future.

RESUME
Collect all your result and proofs of achievement from your school years to date. Use photocopies and keep the originals in safe place. Organise these document neatly in a clear plastic folder in chronological order of subject/ topic.

Make a list of your academic and non-academic achievements. Recall and list all the times you have had to lead, make decision, be responsible, take iniative or be part of a team.

If you do not have any work experiance, think of relevant work-like activities such as completing tasks, making decision and working with others in school or during the co-curricular activities.

COVERING LETTER
Write this after you have completed your resume. Decide on a job could practise applying for. Consider what the job would entail. Make a list of the tasks you would have to perform and the skills needed for the job. Think of the personal qualities that wouls be required for that job.

Look through your resume and make a list of three or four attributes you can highlight to persuade the potential employer that you would be suitable for the job.

ORGANISING YOUR MATERIAL

Set out information for your resume under the following headings:
* Career objectives
* Education
* Languages
* Work experience
* Achievements
* Personal attributes
* Interest/hobbies

WRITING
Use a word processor to set out both your resume and covering letter. Once your work is saved, you can easily update and change it.

Revising and editing
A completely accurate document is important. You will be judged as disintrested and unworthy of consideration if there are mistakes in your resume or covering letter.

Check your documents throughly for any grammatical, spelling or punctuation mistakes. Your documents need to look organised and easy to read. Use sufficient spacing in your layout.

To guide your revision and editing, ask yourself the following question:
* Have I included all the relevant information about my achievements?
* Is the information accurate?
* Can I prove my statement?
* Is this document laid out in a way that is easy to read with spesific headings, concise statements and bulleted list?
* Is my use of tenses, spelling and punctuation correct?