Resumes and Cover Letters

Cover Letter Guidelines:

1 page, 3 paragraphs, single spaced; Individual letters tailored to each application; Write your resume first; Elaborate on related skills you listed in your resume; Stay away from abbreviations (Street vs. St.); Use matching paper; Find out to whom the letter should be addressed (contact=check spelling, degree, title or no contact=hospital director, human resources, employment directed, office manager, etc.); Remember to sign your name; Keep copies of each one you send; If you do not hear from anyone within a week, follow-up to make sure they received it.

Purpose of a Resume:

A resume is a brief summary of relevant work experience, education, and qualifications for a specific job position.

Effective Resumes Should:

Be concise and to the point (directed and customized); 1 -2 pages at maximum; Speak to job-related abilities and transferrable skills per the job description and requirements; Provide relevant information; Be individually customized to each position; Represent and explain your potential per the job description and requirements.

Always Remember To:

Be consistent with formatting; Accurately represent yourself (employers do verify); Watch your grammar, spelling, and tense (employers often eliminate candidates based on mistakes they find in documents); Customize resumes for each position; Details that matter=How you use the resume space, Font sizes, Indenting, Making sure that when using an editing tool like boldface that it matters, etc.; Proofread; Focus on job descriptions and your qualifications; Do not fold or staple if delivering or mailing hard copies.

Two Kinds of Resumes:

Chronological and Skills-Based/Functional.

Cover Letter Paragraph 3:

Close by stating your interest in something (hearing more about the position, discussing opportunities available, expressing what you could contribute, meeting with them and their team members, etc.); Thank them for their time and consideration.

Minimally, Resumes Should Include:

Contact information=Do Not include your home address (this is a safety issue and not necessary), and E-mail address should be professional (not personal); Directed objective statement; Educational Credentials; Work experience; Professional references.

Essential Skills in Veterinary Medicine:

Critical thinking; Interpersonal skills; Communication ability; Physical endurance; Mobility; Motor skills; Hearing ability; Visual ability; Tactile/Olfactory abilities; Professionalism.

Ask Yourself:

Is your current resume format working for you; Would your resume go on the "keep" pile; What changes could you make to communicate more clearly to the employer; Are you writing to the employer's needs; Are you missing important information; Are you formatting things correctly within sections; Are there consistency problems within the document; What could you do to make it easier to read at a glance.

4 Common Resume Mistakes:

Lack of focus (trying to do too much with one document); Not answering the employer's most important question (what is the employer's most pressing question?); Not using the right document format to fit your background and current goals; Using I/me/my statements (proper tense=past tense or 3rd person).

Skills-Based/Functional Resume:

Most common format; Create a summary of experience headings that highlight your core skill sets; List bullet point phrases underneath (be 'generally specific'); Focus on the job description to inform headings (such as leadership skills, clinical experience, customer service experience, administrative or communicative skills, etc.)

References:

Only have references that can speak to your professionalism and work ethic (people who can really sell you); Yes=Previous/current supervisors, previous co-workers, professors/instructors; People who have seen you in the work environment or work-preparation (internship) environment; Always ask your references BEFORE listing them and keep them as informed about the positions you are applying for as you can; Usually provide 3-5 references; Be as current as possible; NO=Family, friends, boyfriend/girlfriend, or personal references (unless asked for).

Transferable Skills:

Skills that matter to an employer no matter what the job is; Can include computer skills, communication, time management, organization, etc.

Cover Letter Paragraph 1:

Tell why you are contacting them (recent graduate seeking a position in the Denver area); Let them know where you heard about them (job placement website, CACVT, etc.); Refer them to your enclosed resume.

Resume Content Should Include:

Use action verbs to start phrases (strong verbs that launch the descriptive statements used to describe skills and duties); Add details whenever you can (the how and what); Do not write "Provided assistance" when you can say "Provided assistance to a Veterinarian during surgical procedures by monitoring patient's vitals"; Highlight transferable skills from past experiences; Focus on the employer's needs.

Chronological Resume:

Works if you have been in one or similar fields and can show an increased pattern of responsibility; People use this format as a default, but it usually does not work for most people; Format should be in reverse chronological order (newest/most recent experience first).

Important Formats:

Education format=Degree/certificate, date obtained, name of institution, city, and state; Work Experience format=Job Title, dates employed, name of organization, city, and state; Date's format=Month/Year (XX/XXXX) with all dates aligned.

References Format:

First/last name and relationship to you (important piece to identify the references); Name of Origin/Job title; Phone number; Email.

Bullet Point Phrases:

Format=Action verb, answer the what, and answer the how; Describe the duty or skill in a way that translates; Use a variety of action verbs (past tense or 3rd person); Craft your phrases one section/job title (depending on format) at a time; Modify phrases and sections; Order according to the particular position.

Essential Action Verbs in Veterinary Medicine:

Formulated; Developed; Persuaded; Performed; Maneuvered; Operated; Assessed; Observed; Distinguished; Demonstrated.

Cover Letter Paragraph 2:

Highlight qualifications listed on your resume; Point out specific skills or experience; Emphasize elective courses, specialized training, computer skills, etc.; Talk about your personality strengths; Traditional letter format.