1. RÉSUMÉ WRITING
CDN1001

2. MODULE OVERVIEW
• Create a standardized North American
résumé
• Create and tailor a standardized cover
letter
• Successfully apply for a relevant job

3. WHAT IS A RÉSUMÉ?
How long do employers typically look at a résumé?
A) Less than 30 seconds
B) 1 minute
C) 2 minutes
• If you answered “A”, you are correct.
• Employers often get hundreds of résumés for a
single opening, they do not have the time to study
each one
• This increases the importance of the smallest
details!

4. WHAT IS A RÉSUMÉ?
A résumé is a one to two page summary of experience,
education and skills. The résumé acts much like an
advertisement for a company trying to sell something.
The résumé is your advertisement and you will need to
spend a good deal of time creating, proofreading, editing
and perfecting your résumé. Don‟t cheat yourself, work
hard on it!

5. STANDARD RESUME STAGES
As a rule, résumés should
include:
Contact Details
Career Objectives
Education
Work Experience
Skill Highlights

6. CONTACT DETAILS
John Smith
265 Yorkland Blvd. Toronto, ON M2J 1S5
416-485-2098 | john.smith@cestarcollege.com
• Bold and enlarge your name so it stands out
• Make sure proper names and street
abbreviations are CAPITALIZED appropriately
• Have a professional looking e-mail address
• Do not include links to your online profiles

7. CAREER OBJECTIVES
• “My goal in a career at ABC company is to put my particular skill-set and
years of experience into practice to become a valued member of your sales
team.”
• There are many creative and different
objectives to be found in résumé templates
online
• Try to mention the company‟s name and/or
position in your objectives
• Keep your objectives to one or two sentences

8. EDUCATION
• Pursuing ****** of ****** in ****************
Lambton College, Toronto ON
Anticipated Graduation: May, 2013
• Bachelors of Commerce in International Finance
University of Toronto, Toronto ON
Graduated: May, 2012
• Include any awards you have won (e.g.
Bursaries, Scholarships, Dean‟s List, etc.)
• Include any certifications you have earned
• You can share your GPA but it is not usually
necessary

9. WORK EXPERIENCE
Help Desk Technician
ABC Tech - Beijing, China
Oct, 2010 – July, 2011
•
Provided extensive networking and desktop support, account
maintenance and printing assistance to students and faculty.
• Use „action words‟ to begin resolved complex technology
• Assisted with troubleshooting and each point (e.g.
„Provided‟, „Operated‟, „Developed‟, „Implemented‟)
problems as the “go-to” person for IT issues.
and use the active and past tense
• Awarded “Employee of the Month” for three consecutive months
• Use bullet points rather than paragraphs or long
sentences to explain your
responsibilities/achievements
• Aim for 3-5 responsibilities/achievements per job
• Quantify your success (e.g. "Increased profits by
10%”)
• If you do not have work experience, list any
volunteer work done or extra-curricular activities you
have participated in

10. SKILL HIGHLIGHTS
•
Fluent in English and Mandarin. Conversational French and Punjabi
• Proficient in Visual Basic 6, C#, ASP.Net, C, C++, XML/HTML, MS
Access, MS Project and MS Visio
• Self-motivated and maintains a high level of energy
• Strong verbal and personal communication skills
• Include any business-oriented software even if it
isn‟t necessarily related to the position
• Focus on relevant skills/experience to let the
prospective employer know that you have taken
the time to create a resume that proves you are
qualified for the position
• Include no more than 5 highlights (i.e. prioritize
your skills)

11. RÉSUMÉ FORMATING FAQs
Should I place Education above Experience or vice versa?
Students usually include the Education section directly after the objective.
However, if you have experience that relates directly to the job you are
applying for, you should place the Experience section above Education.
How important is the format?
The importance of the format lies in its consistency. Remember to stick
to one format. It shows off your organizational abilities.
Should I use complete sentences when describing jobs?
Not usually. Use action phrases instead. Leave out unnecessary words.
Try to match your skills and experience with the employer's needs.

12. RÉSUMÉ TIPS
Do:
• Spellcheck!
• Left-justify the entire
document
• Use a standard font, size
10-12 only
• Avoid boldface, underline,
graphics, shading and tabs
(might cause problems
when submitting résumés
electronically)
• Number, and include your
name, on every page
• Proofread several times
Don't :
• Print on coloured paper
• Include inappropriate information
(e.g. age, marital status, etc.)
• Include photographs
• Use the pronoun “I”
• Have a résumé longer than
two pages
• Use the same „action words‟
more than once
• Include your secondary
education

13. PREPARING YOUR RESUME
• If you don‟t have a résumé, now is a good time to start
• Even if you already have a résumé, consider that different work cultures
include different information or have a different format. You are advised
to start a new résumé!
• Spend 10min looking at the websites below for ideas on how you want to
organize your résumé
lambton.optimalresume.ca (under Samples)
www.youth.gc.ca
www.monster.ca (click Career Advice)
www.jobsearch.about.com

14. COVER LETTERS

15. STANDARD COVER LETTER STAGES
As a rule, cover letters should
include:
Contact Details &
Salutations
“Introductory Paragraph”
“Skill/Experience
Paragraph”
“Wrap Up Paragraph”

16. CONTACT DETAILS & SALUTATIONS
John Smith
265 Yorkland Blvd. Toronto, ON M2J 1S5
416-485-2098 | john.smith@cestarcollege.com
April 21st, 2015
RE: Marketing Coordinator Position (JOB ID#1235)
• Your contact details should look the same as
To Who Iton your résumé to provide consistency
May Concern,
• Include the date and job title/code
• When possible, try to find out the name of the
person who will be conducting the hiring.
Otherwise, use “To Whom It May Concern,”

17. THE 3 PARAGRAPHS
• Introductory Paragraph
The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are
writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you found the job
listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one.
• Skills/Experience Paragraph
The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer
the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you
are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating
it.
• Wrap Up Paragraph
Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for
the position. Include information on how you will follow-up.
• Complimentary Close
• e.g. “Respectfully yours,”

18. COVER LETTER TIPS
Do:
•
•
•
•
Use the same contact details as your résumé!
Use the same font and formatting as in your résumé
Include the date, position title and job posting ID#
Ensure that the first and second paragraphs are tailored to the job to
which you are applying
• Keep your cover letter short and to the point

19. PREPARING YOUR COVER LETTER
• Spend 10min looking at the websites below (same as
before) for ideas on how you want to organize your
cover letter
• Begin preparing your cover letter but do not write the
experience/skills paragraph (2nd paragraph)
lambton.optimalresume.ca
www.youth.gc.ca
www.monster.ca
www.jobsearch.about.com

20. Assignment #3
• Complete a new résumé using the format
discussed in today‟s class
• Select the position you would like to apply for
• Read the instructions on the handout
• Tailor your cover letter and résumé to reflect the
duties and requirements
• Applications must be submitted by e-mail no
later than 5:30pm tomorrow