UTS Careers 2018 Resume Cover Letter Workbook PDF

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Careers

Resume & Cover Letter Workbook

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RESUME & COVER LETTER WORKBOOK

Resume Checklist General Resume is 1.5-3 pages in length (1.5-2 pgs for undergraduate, 2-3 pgs for post-graduate) First page contains your most relevant qualifications and experience There is minimal white space on the pages – layout looks well-spaced Section headings stand out from general content (bold, underlined, larger font or all caps) Same font throughout resume10-12 pts (can be different size for headings) Consistent formatting throughout (justification of text, position of dates and titles) Avoid using personal pronouns (I, me, you, him, her) Activities listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first) for Education, Employment, ExtraCurricular Activities All spelling is correct – Australian/UK English Explain unfamiliar acronyms when you first mention them – e.g. “High-definition video (HDV)” Where possible, include relevant key words/phrases mentioned in job advertisement

Contact Details Your full name is the largest font of the resume and at the top of the first page Avoid using an email with numbers Include one phone number – preferably your mobile Residential address is optional Do NOT include your photo, date of birth, gender, marital status or details about your family (for Australian resumes, some other countries may require this info)

Career Objective 2-3 lines stating your position (student/degree program), your skills and your career interests Highlight your relevant experience and interest in the industry

Education When applying for internship, grad position or new to an industry, education section is first Most advanced degree first Full degree title, including major, on first line followed by academic institution – e.g. Bachelor of Engineering, Civil If currently undertaking your degree, include expected graduation date – e.g. March 2015-November 2018 (expected) Remove outdated education – e.g. higher school certificate 3+ years old Any scholarships, academic achievements or awards should be in dot point format under the degree where the achievement/award was made Can include a few relevant courses or key projects in dot point format

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RESUME & COVER LETTER WORKBOOK

Employment/Experience Each position has 3-6 dot points of responsibilities Order responsibilities with most relevant first Responsibilities incorporate transferable skills and give context /details - should be 1-2 lines Appropriate tenses used – past tense for previous positions, present tense for current positions Begin each dot point with an action verb – e.g. “developed, coordinated, analysed” Avoid using personal pronouns (I, me, you, him, her) Dates include month and year start and end dates – e.g. Jan 2016 – Jun 2016 Achievement statements are specific and quantified – use numbers and statistics if possible

Skills Include 3-4 core/transferable skills with supporting evidence – e.g. communication, team work, organisation, project management, etc. Bold skill topic – e.g. “Organisational and time management skills - Demonstrated by successfully arranging the end of year ball for the UTS IT Club” List technical skills/programs – for technical roles this may be a separate section Include any foreign language skills and proficiency level – e.g. “fluent Hindi, conversational French”

Additional Sections Include any extra-curricular organisations and your membership status – e.g. UTS IT Society – Events Officer, Forest Lodge Rugby – Assistant Coach Include month and year start and end dates – e.g. May 2015-Present Include any professional associations and membership level – e.g. Engineering Australia – Student Member Any relevant certifications – e.g. First Aid Certificate, White Card

Referees Typically write – “Available upon request” If you do include (2 Referees) – should have referee’s full name, organisation, position title, relationships to you, business email address, telephone

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Sample Resume

Godfrey is seeking an internship or graduate position in IT and is highlighting his relevant tech skills and IT experience. His current casual position at the library is moved to page two.

Godfrey Gamer Note: residential address is optional

www.ggamer.com.au 0402 988 766 [email protected]

Education

If you are completing an undergraduate degree, it might make sense to include your high school especially if you had accomplishments or a high ATAR

Bachelor of Science in Games Development Feb 2014 – Dec 2017 (expected) University of Technology Sydney (UTS) • High distinction average (85%) • Industry Based Learning Scholarship Faculty of Engineering and IT UTS, 2015 • Finalist, Software Design – Environmental Sustainability Imagine Cup, 2014 NSW High School Certificate Richmond High, Richmond • Student exchange program to Japan and China • ATAR 89.8

Mar 2009 - Dec 2013

Technical Skills Tech skills don’t need supporting evidence, simply list them. If tech skills are important for your field, include on pg. 1

Languages Systems Software Hardware

This section could be titled “Relevant Experience” as well. This allows you to highlight your relevant experience even if it’s not the most recent.

Begin all dot points with an action verb. Use past tense for past jobs, present tense for current jobs.

C++, C#, XML, Java, HTML, Pascal, Python, Perl, SQL Windows (XP, NT, Vista), Linux (Red Hat, Ubuntu, Fedora), Macintosh Redmap, Citrix Adobe CS4 (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Reader, Flash, Fireworks, Version Cue), MS Office (Word, Publisher, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook) Network and memory cards, RAID array controllers, solid-state drives, peripherals, cisco switches, hubs

Professional Development • •

Australian Computer Society - Student Member IT Professionals Industry Event – Attendee

Oct 2014 – Current Mar 2015

IT Experience Web Design Internship Dec 2015 – Feb 2016 Webworks Pty. Ltd • Developed program parameters with key stakeholders including clients, writers, designers, system administrators and other IT staff • Created the website content including design, graphics, links, forms and programs ensuring cohesion, functionality and aesthetics • Maintained and updated the website Key Achievement • Designed a new advertising banner for FoodWork Co. which increased website traffic by 60%

Casual Employment

Incorporate transferable skills in responsibilities

Library Assistant Aug 2011 – Current Richmond Public Library • Organise and track library items ensuring proper documentation and categorisation • Maintain customer database and process overdue notices • Assist in the production of publicity displays and multimedia kits Retail Assistant Jan 2009 – Jun 2011 K-Mart • Processed all point of sale functions • Provided excellent customer service to patrons and resolved customer complaints • Organised and displayed merchandise to drive sales of latest items

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Extra-curricular Activities

You can include short descriptions of your experience if it’s not clear what the role is or organisation does

Team Assistant UTS Computer Games Boot Camp

Jan 2015 – Nov 2015

Events Coordinator UTS IT Club

Mar 2015 – Aug 2015

Volunteer Computer Tutor Richmond Public Library

June 2014 – Nov 2014

UTS Team Participant Sydney to the Gong Ride raising $3000

May 2014

Core Skills Choose 3-4 core skills and support with evidence. Also, include any foreign languages and fluency level

Team skills - Acknowledged by peers and academics in final year team project for building a Wide Area Network Monitoring System for ‘real life’ clients, where we achieved a Distinction grade Creativity and design skills – As displayed through my website design work for Webworks Pty. Ltd and my competency using Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Reader, Flash, Fireworks and Version Cue Organisational and time management skills - Demonstrated by successfully arranging the end of year ball for the UTS IT Club Intercultural skills - Developed good intercultural understanding as a high school international student on exchange in China and Japan

Although you typically put “referees available upon request” on your resume, be sure to have 2 referees ready to give to an employer when they ask for them.

Other Languages - Fluent speaker in Mandarin and Japanese

Referees Available upon request

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Career Objective This is an optional section, however if written well, it can be highly effective in expressing your career aspirations to prospective employers. Designed to give resume content a focus point, a career objective is a brief statement that enables employers to quickly understand how and where you are choosing to utilise your qualifications and skills with a focus on the future. It can be balanced between being specific and flexible and should be tailored according to the different roles and employers you are targeting.

Consider what you can offer to the organisation, think about the overall goals/aims of the organisation you’re applying to and identify the contribution you can make.

Examples Business: Final year Commerce student seeking part-time Customer Service role with a small to medium enterprise, utilising my initiative and problem solving skills in order to maintain the company image and ensure all customer needs are met. HR: Seeking Generalist HR role with a small to medium enterprise, utilising my communication and problem solving skills in order to deliver input into both compliance-oriented and strategic projects. Event Management: Seeking an Event Management position with a multi-national corporation, utilising my communication, planning and organising skills to contribute to the systematic design of event management systems. Life Sciences: To utilise my interest and qualifications in life sciences as well as my natural interpersonal and well developed communication skills to work in a sales or marketing role in the pharmaceutical or scientific equipment industries. Engineering: Seeking a graduate position in logistics that allows me to use strong analytical and numeracy skills and an aptitude for transport modelling, to assist in the development of efficient logistics. Pharmacy: To secure a Pharmacist Internship in a hospital pharmacy where I can assist as an active member of a health care team in the provision of professional pharmaceutical services and patient counselling, while utilising the clinical skills, knowledge and experience I have acquired throughout my professional, academic and clinical experience. Nursing: I am seeking a Graduate Nurse position in an aged care area of speciality, which will allow me to utilise my sound understanding of advanced patient care techniques for older patients and my demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with patients, family members, physicians and other medical professionals. Education: Obtain a position as a Primary School Teacher to utilise my teaching skills and qualifications, to support the learning and development of children, where I can offer quality education to students and play a part in the physical, emotional and intellectual growth of children. Legal: To contribute my legal expertise, practical experience, excellent negotiation skills and customer service abilities as a Junior Lawyer in a commercial law firm, to develop to become an established legal practitioner. Research: Seeking a Graduate Research Assistant role where I can use my highly developed biological research and teamwork skills. My long-term interest is in plant genetics research.

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Activity What is your current situation? Please tick the situation that reflects you: Current student Recent graduate Experienced hire

What area/s are/were you studying? What is the position you are applying for? Specify the position title you are aiming for and your specific interest area in that industry

What can you offer? Highlight your relevant competencies for the role. If you are applying to an advertised role, you may base this on your alignment to the criteria as indicated in the job advertisement. Also think about the goals of the organisation and how what you can contribute to help achieve them. Write two competencies below that you can contribute to the position: 1. 2. If you would like to explore what you can contribute please refer to the below resources to assist you: >bit.ly/empskills >careerhub.uts.edu.au (login required) via Home page > More on Abintegro

What are your career goals (optional)? What is your short-term career goal (next 2 years)?

What is your long-term career goal (next 5 years)?

Do these goals relate to the position? Yes – you may include this in your Career Objective No - do not include

Write your own Career Objective: Using the activities from above where applicable and reviewing the examples write your own Career Objective.

Review your Career Objective: Imagine you are a Recruiter, review your Career Objective and consider does your Career Objective convey (please tick): Why do you want the position? Why are you suitable for the position? What competencies you can contribute?

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RESUME & COVER LETTER WORKBOOK

Education Alternative headings: • Qualifications • Education and Training

Purpose In this section you can include your current qualification, previous qualifications, HSC or equivalent and other training courses. Most recent qualifications are listed first. You may also wish to include a short description of a thesis or special project if relevant. If you have considerable experience, information on secondary schooling is not necessary.

Example Master of Journalism 20XX – 20XX University of Technology Sydney Thesis: “How social media is upsetting traditional news outlets and impacting readers’ attention” Bachelor of Business (Majors: Marketing and Management) 20XX - 20XX University of Technology Sydney Results: Credit Average Electives included: (list only subjects relevant to the position you are targeting) Associate Diploma in International Marketing TAFE, Ultimo Results: Distinction Average

20XX - 20XX

Higher School Certificate Birrong Girls High School

20XX

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RESUME & COVER LETTER WORKBOOK

Employment Alternative headings:

• Experience • Relevant Experience • Casual Experience

Structure

• Use reverse chronological order (most recent position first). • Provide month and year start and end date or write “Current” for current position. • Write 3-5 brief responsibility statements using dot points for each position • Order responsibilities based on most relevant to position applying for. • Bold both your position title and company. • Include transferable skills used in your responsibilities. • Use action words in the past tense, for example, ‘developed,’ rather than, ‘development of’ for former position. Use present tense for current positions. • Be quantitative where appropriate, for example, ‘trained six new staff.’

Incorporating Skills into Responsibilities

Try to make it as easy as possible to recognise the transferable skills you have developed by incorporating skills into your responsibilities.

Compare the following: Responsibilities

Responsibilities with Skills Incorporated

Assisted customers in person and over the phone

Provided high standard of professional communication and customer service to all guests in person and over the phone

Supervised a team of 6 wait staff

Practiced effective team and leadership skills through supervising a team of 6 wait staff

Managed 10 tables per shift

Demonstrated effective time management, punctuality and organisational skills managing 10 tables per shift

Completed projects and tasks

Developed efficient time management and multi-tasking skills through managing competing projects and tasks

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Example No. 1 Place your position title before the company to highlight your role Include month and year, even if you started and ended the position in the same year

Incorporate transferable skills and methods to responsibilities

Include quantifiable data whenever possible for achievement statements

Marketing Assistant

Feb 2015 – Aug 2015

Creative Media Company, Sydney • • • •

Researched and analysed consumer categories via a SWOT analysis to determine strengths and weaknesses of current product packaging. Drafted media releases and communications for approval by Marketing Manager. Compiled written report with outcomes and recommendations for consideration. Proposed an alternative marketing strategy.

Achievement: Elements of my proposed online marketing strategy were successfully implemented, resulting in a 30% traffic increase on the client’s website

Example No. 2 Include city location (or city and country if international)

Structural Engineer

It’s okay to provide a brief description of the company, especially if it’s small or international

A consulting engineering firm with numerous service capabilities in structural & civil design and project management. • Modelled and reviewed designs of steel structures for commercial projects using Finite Element Analysis Software (Strand7) • Worked on a variety of design tasks including timber design and verifying the strength capacity of bolt connections for different projects in accordance with Australian Standards • Liaised with senior engineers for technical advice to ensure accuracy of design models • Compiled and maintained records of all engineering outputs in compliance with company procedures

Provide context to your responsibilities

January 2014 – December 2015

Frank &Snowden Pty Ltd, Delhi, India

Achievements: Finalised and completed commercial projects ahead of schedule by using engineering software to prepare simulation models

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Action Words for Employment Responsibilities Accelerated Accomplished Achieved Activated Acquainted Acquired Addressed Administered Advised Amended Amplified Analysed Anticipated Applied Appraised Appropriated Approved Arbitrated Arranged Assembled Assessed Assimilated Assisted Attained Audited Augmented Authorised Averted Avoided Balanced Bought Budgeted Built Calculated Captured Centralised Charted Checked Coached Collaborated Collated Collected Combined

Commanded Compiled Completed Composed Compounded Computed Conceived Concluded Condensed Conducted Confirmed Consolidated Constructed Consulted Contracted Controlled Converted Conveyed Co-opted Coordinated Corrected Corresponded Counselled Created Criticised Cultivated Cut Decentralised Decreased Defined Delivered Demonstrated Designed Detected Determined Developed Devised Diagnosed Directed Discharged Discovered Dispensed Disposed Disproved

Distributed Diversified Documented Doubled Drew up Drove Earned Edited Effected Eliminated Enacted Encouraged Enforced Engaged Enlarged Ensured Established Estimated Evaluated Examined Executed Expanded Expedited Extracted Facilitated Familiarised Finished Forecasted Formed Formulated Founded Generated Guided Identified Imparted Implemented Improved Improvised Incorporated Increas...