6 – RESUMÉ AND COVER LETTER (STEP 2 OF JOB CAMPAIGN)

Objective:
Purpose of a resume
Differences between a general and a targeted resume
Language and technical aspects of a resume
Prepare an effective resume and cover letter

During the initial screening, an employer spends only a few seconds on each
resume. Then a busy hiring manager may spend an additional few moments to
review the selected resume. That’s why it is important to grab attention
immediately. The resume should be targeted to the company and the position you
seek. Information you provide should be clear, concise, and organized. It should
contain some keywords that will help summarize or focus on special topics. The
format and paper used for the resume should be of good quality and free of the
wrinkle or excessive folding. The resume should communicate to the prospective
employer that you have what they are looking for and you are the best candidate!
[Adapted from Diane Domeyer, ED, OfficeTeam]

Resumé or CV
It is a marketing tool that summarizes your qualifications. Resumé should clearly and
convincingly shows what you have done in the past and what you intend to do in the future. It
should be written concisely and clearly. Employers in the USA spend only about 20 to 30
seconds per resume and employers in Bangladesh may spend less time (from teacher’s
experience) on a resume. The term CV or curriculum vita is often used to refer to a resumé. The
main purpose of these instruments is to make an employer interested enough to invite you in for
an interview.

The difference between a resumé and curriculum vitae (CV):

A resume is a summary of your skills, experience, and education. A Curriculum Vitae includes a summary
of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications,
presentations, awards, honors, affiliations, and other details. In Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Asia,
employers may expect to receive curriculum vitae. In the United States, a curriculum vitae is used
primarily when applying for academic, education, scientific, or research positions. It is also applicable
when applying for fellowships or grants. While a resume is brief and concise - no more than a page or
two, a Curriculum Vitae is a longer (at least two pages) and a more detailed synopsis. (Alison Doyle,
about.com)

resumé or resume
1. A brief account of one's professional or work experience and qualifications, often
submitted with an employment application.
2. A summary: a resumé of the facts of the case.
French, summary, from past participle of résumer, to summarize, from Old French
resumer, to resume
 curriculum vitae (pl. curricula vitae Abbr. CV)
A summary of one's education, professional history, and job qualifications, as for a
prospective employer. Came from Latin curriculum vītae, the race of life: curriculum,
course + vītae, genitive of vīta, life.
Source: American Heritage Dictionary

Curriculum Vitae is Latin for the course of life, while resumé is French for summary. Both these documents:
• Are specially written for the specific jobs you are applying for
• Should represent you as a qualified candidate
• Are used to get you an interview

A CV presents a full history of your academic credentials, so the length of the document is variable. CVs
are used by individuals seeking fellowships, grants, and teaching/research positions in postsecondary
institutions or high-level research positions in the industry. Graduate school applications typically request
a CV, but in general, are looking for a resume that includes any publications and descriptions of research
projects.

In contrast, a resume presents a concise picture of your skills and qualifications for a specific position, so
length tends to be shorter and dictated by years of experience (generally 1-2 pages).

In some European countries, CV is used to describe all documents including the resume and the
job application (cover letter). In the United States and Canada, CV and resume are sometimes
used interchangeably.

If case you are not sure which kind of document to submit, ask the potential employer for clarification.

Styles or the language, tone, and content

1. General resumé is designed without focusing on a vacant post. It can be used for different jobs and
companies. Since such resumé does not have a clearly defined audience, it is less effective as a marketing
tool.
2. Targeted resumé is designed for a specific job position.

Formats or the arrangement of contents

1. Chronological Resumé: The chronological resumé seems to be the most popular format used. This
type of resume usually contains an objective and/or career summary statement and a chronological listing
(from most recent to past) of all your employers along with related accomplishments. Educational
information is included along with certifications and special skills.
This type of resume may be fine for someone who is experienced, but if you are switching careers or are
just entering the workforce, this type of resume is not effective.

2. Functional Resumé: Take the time to develop a strong functional resume. Functional resumes
highlight your abilities, such as hiring, managing, or coaching, rather than your chronological work
history. You'll still need to summarize your work history, but this is usually done at the bottom of your
resume. A functional resumé is particularly useful for people who:
• Have gaps in their work history.
• Are reentering the workforce.
• I have frequently changed jobs.
• Are looking to transition into new careers.
 • Don't exactly fit the mold of what recruiters are looking for in the positions.

The reason functional resumes work well in these situations is that many of us have acquired skills while
working that are very transferable. For example, if you have worked as a retail manager, chances are you
were responsible for hiring, training, coaching, evaluating, and handling employee relations issues.

3. Mixed or Combination format

Typical Sections of a resumé

A resume does not have a fixed number of sections. However, the most common sections needed to
clearly promote a candidate are listed below:

Opening (name, address, mobile phone, email, tweeter account, blog address, etc)
Personal statement
Career Objective (candidate’s long-term professional goal)
Objective (candidate’s immediate or short-term goal)
Education
Academic Degrees
Vocational or technical degrees
Training (short courses)
Professional Experience
Employment
Internship (for recent graduate applicants)
Relevant Activities
Professional activities
Social activities (volunteer work, membership of special interest group, etc.)
Special Achievements (Awards, recognitions, etc.)
Transferrable Skills
Technical or hard skills
Soft skills
References (Persons who know about your skills and achievements)
 House 15, Block J, Road 27
SAMPLE
Banani, Dhaka 1213
0174677X57, salman@live.com

SALMAN CHISTI

OBJECTIVE Seeking a managerial position in Sales and Marketing where my skills and experience
would contribute to the organizational goals of the employer.

ACHIEVEMENTS Sales and Marketing

Helped prepare a database of retail shops that sell electric goods in Bogura,
Rajshahi, Pabna, and Natore, which allowed clearer and efficient
communication and planning. Sales volume increased steadily particularly of
electric oven, blender, and LED lights. (Ref. Rescon Ltd)

SKILLS Great analytical skills

Organizational skills
Proficient in writing emails and report
Advanced knowledge of MS Excel

WORK EXPERIENCE Assistant Manager (sales), Radon Limited, Rupganj

May 2018 – present
Internship at Oriental logistics, Gulshan
January-March 2018

EDUCATION MBA, American International University-Bangladesh

Evening classes, Expect to complete in 2021

BBA, American International University-Bangladesh, 2018

Major in Marketing, CGPA 3.35/4.0

HSC, Gulshan model school & college, 2014

Dhaka Board, Science Group, GPA 4.65/5.0

SSC, Kalachanpur High School, 2012

Dhaka Board, Science Group, GPA 4.0/5.0

REFERENCES Miskin Ali Dr. Emon Chakraborty

Manager, Rescon Ltd Associate Professor, AIUB
Mobile: 01745667741 Mobile: 01645443391
Email: miskin@gmail.com Email: emonchak@aiub.edu
Cover Letter
To be considered for almost any job, you will need to write a letter of application. Such a letter introduces
you, explains your purpose for writing, highlights a few of your experiences or skills, and requests an
opportunity to meet personally with the potential employer. Usually, a resumé is attached to the cover
letter. The cover letter complements the resumé. The letter should be printed on good quality typing
paper. For example, Conquer’s Brilliant White paper, 100-120 gsm.

Sample job application/cover letter

House 15, Block J, Road 27

Banani, Dhaka 1213
0174644557, salman@live.com

May 18, 2019

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Personnel Manager, GTEZ
92 Gulshan Ave
Gulshan, Dhaka 1212

Dear Mr. Emerson:

I am applying for a managerial position in marketing. At a recent business meeting, I spoke to Mr.
Manik Sen on your staff, and he told me that a mid-level manager position was open at GTEZ
Ltd.

I graduated from American International University Bangladesh with a Bachelor of Business

Administration degree in marketing. During my internship, I received valuable lessons in
marketing and business practices from several local companies. Later I used those lessons and my
academic skills to be successful as a junior sales manager. My ability to organize data and use it
effectively to improve communication and sales, helped my employer reach its yearly sales target
for the first time.

I would like to meet with you for an interview at a time convenient to you. I am enclosing a
resumé with details of my qualification. Should you have any question, I will be available at
01932438741 during office hours.

Sincerely yours,

Salman Chisti

Enclosure
Questions and short answers
1. Where do you start your job campaign?
Learn about yourself. A complete or thorough “self-analysis” needs to be conducted. This should
include complete interest, skills, experience assessments. Once a candidate knows what he/she has and
where he/she wants to go, he/she can look for the right job in the right way.

2. What can you discover from “self-analysis”?

These assessments will help you obtain a clearer picture of your qualifications and career preferences.
This will assist the candidate to identify the right career path and job.

3. Distinguish between solicited and unsolicited positions.

Solicited position means a specific job for which employers are seeking applicants. An unsolicited
position means a job that is available but is unlisted or unadvertised.

4. What information should you normally omit from your resume?

Personal information including height, weight, marital status, birth date, number of children, and religious
affiliation should not be mentioned. Also, the applicant should not put a signature on the resume. In
Bangladesh, these standards may not be applicable, especially when an employer specifically asks for that
information.

5. Why is your resume vital to your job campaign?

The resume shows your strengths and accomplishments for the position or the career field to a potential
employer.

6. What is meant by the phrase “scanning a resumé”?

This means changing hard copies to an electronic database for storage and processing.

7. What should be included in a Summary of Qualifications?

Accomplishments and qualifications related to the position. If the CV is longer than one page, then this
section is added at the beginning so that the potential employer gets a quick idea about your qualifications
including relevant education and experience.

8. When would you include high school information in your resumé?

Generally, In Western countries, high school information is not mentioned in the resumé. It should be
included only if you have developed job-related skills while in High School and you have planned to use
those skills.

9. How should business references be chosen for the resumé?

Individuals who know you and will give a positive recommendation, including former employers. Better
not to list any political or religious figure.

10. Where is the reference section located?

References are placed on a different page, separate from the resumé. However, it can be at the end of a
resume.

11. What are the important sections of a resumé?

Opening (name, address, contact number), Career Objective or Objective, Education, Experience, Special
Skills, and Reference.

12. What are the two styles of resumé?

General resumé for a job that is not custom-designed for a particular job. Targeted resumé is specially
designed for a particular position.

Exercise: True or false?

1. An individual profile for your job analysis inventory includes height, weight, birth date, marital status,
number of children, and religious affiliation.
2. You should determine your job preferences before beginning a self-analysis.
3. The resume is the primary tool in securing an interview.
4. The first step in a job campaign is to obtain information about employment opportunities.
5. An example of your job preference analysis is whether you are willing to relocate and, if so, to what
geographic location.
6. Your most important business communication will be about your employment.
7. One of the first places to begin your job search is your campus career center.
8. The term solicited position means a specific job for which you have been solicited to apply.
9. All communication with prospective employers should focus on how your skills and abilities can
contribute in the position for which you are applying.
10. One goal of developing networking contacts is to create awareness that you are seeking employment
opportunities.
11. Use a specific career objective for a targeted position.
13. A targeted resume is less powerful than a general resume.
14. If your high school record is fairly recent and shows considerable accomplishment, include it in your
resume; otherwise, omit it (Not applicable in Bangladesh).
15. The Summary of Qualifications section is optional on a resume, but some employers like to see a
summary statement in the opening so they can match your qualifications to the position requirements.
16. The Education section should always follow the resume opening.
17. Employers are more interested in your previous job responsibilities than your job achievements.
18. Keywords are generally verbs that describe you and are placed at the beginning or the end of the
resume.
20. You should prepare a separate reference list to accompany your resume. (Usually practiced in the US)
21. At a job/career fair you will have the opportunity to contact many prospective employers in one day.
22. When setting job and career targets, consider personal factors and values.
23. In a resumé, you are encouraged to provide information on your interests, preferred leisure activities,
health, and physical characteristics.
24. Potential employers consider references from your friends as the best type of references because they
know you.
25. The chronological resume format presents information within each section by date, beginning with
the most recent date.