Writing Your Résumé
If you've done your prewriting work, creating a résumé should be fairly straightforward. Simply fill in each section with your information. The activities below will help you use parallel construction and telegraphic style.
Writing with Parallel Structure and Telegraphic Style
All similar elements in your résumé should use parallel structure, which means the same grammatical form. For example, each work experience item should list job title, employer, dates of employment, and duties—in that order, with the same punctuation and treatment for each element. By contrast, lists of skills and qualifications might all be adjectives:
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Lifeguard—Campground Pool, Summers 2016 to present: Work closely with manager and liaison, guard Olympic-sized pool, . . .
- Stocker/bagger—Rioldi's Market, Fall-Spring 2017 to present: Work closely with store manager, stock shelves, . . .
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Physically fit, focused, rule-oriented, friendly, hard-working, punctual, organized, committed
- Experienced with Campground Pool as patron and lifeguard
Note how the tasks under "Work Experience" are not listed as complete sentences. That is because if every sentence began with "I," your résumé would sound repetitive and annoying.
I work closely with the manager and the liaison. I guard an Olympic-sized pool. I enforce the pool rules. I perform rescues and administer first-aid.
Instead, you can use telegraphic style. This approach drops the "I," starting each idea with a verb that names what you do. The style also leaves out unnecessary articles (a, an, the) and does not require end punctuation.
Work closely with manager and liaison, guard Olympic-sized pool, enforce pool rules, perform rescues, administer first-aid
Write your résumé with parallel structure and telegraphic style.
Create your résumé, filling in each section. Make sure bulleted items are parallel in structure. Render sentences in telegraphic style, beginning with a verb and leaving out articles and end punctuation. Model your work after the following sample student résumé.
Reading a Student Résumé
Read a sample résumé.
As you read this draft, notice how the writer puts the parts together.
Listen to "Joyce Copeland's Résumé"
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Sample Résumé
Opening Joyce Copeland
1212 Maplepark Rd.
Burlington, WI 53105
jcopeland18@bdistricths.edu
(262) 555-3198
EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE
Part-Time Reporter, Burlington Standard Bugle
Middle WORK EXPERIENCE
- Freelance Writer—Burlington Standard Bugle, 2016 to present: Write articles on spec and submit for publication (six articles published)
- Editor in Chief—Burlington High School Gazette, 2017 to present: Manage staff of 10 writers, establish beats, run schedule, enforce deadlines
- Writer/Copy Editor—Burlington High School Gazette, 2016-2017: Write, copy edit, proofread, and design articles; sell ads; run membership; distribute papers
- Assistant—Cantore Floral, 2016 to present: Work with customers, run register, replenish flowers, cut and prep, monitor Web site orders
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Detail-oriented, fact-focused, objective, deadline-driven, accurate, and correct
- Eloquent, prolific, hard-working, determined, friendly, and cooperative
- Skilled in interviewing, researching, writing, fact-checking, copy editing, proofreading, and designing
- Proficient in Google docs, Quark, InDesign, HTML, and Drupal
EDUCATION
- High School Diploma, Burlington District High School, June 2018, 4.02 G.P.A.
- Accepted University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Journalism
AWARDS AND HONORS
- Katherine Anderson Journalism Scholarship
- Letter and Bar for Newspaper
- Quill and Scroll Society
Closing References available upon request
Teaching Tip
Help students understand that the model résumé shows one organizational plan, but they can modify it to better present their case. For example, if the job requires a specific certification, the student might want to move education above experience to show that they have the certification. The point is to provide a professional résumé that presents the applicant in the best light.
Teaching Tip
After students complete their résumé, have them list references: teachers, staff members, employers, and prominent community members. Have them ask their top three picks if they will provide references for them. Then have students get the person's (correctly spelled) name and title, street address, email, and telephone number to provide when requested by the employer.
Writing Your Cover Letter
After creating your general résumé, you should develop a cover letter that targets a particular job opportunity. Your cover letter should connect with the contact person, express your interest in the job opening, and highlight your chief qualifications for the job. The activities that follow will guide you.
Writing in Business-Letter Format
Your cover letter should follow standard business-letter format. Fill in each of these parts to get started:
- Heading appears flush left with your name on the first line, your street adress on the second, your city and state and ZIP on the next, and your email address on the fourth line.
- Date tells when the letter is sent, with two to eight blank lines afterward.
- Inside Address appears flush left with the receiver's full name and title on the first line, the company name on the second, the street address on the third, and the city and state and ZIP on the fourth, with a blank line afterward.
- Salutation appears flush left with "Dear" followed by "Mr." or "Ms." and the person's last name (if the person's gender is unknown, use the full name without a "Mr." or "Ms.") followed by a colon, with a blank line afterward.
- Body is the main part of the message, which you will complete in the next activity.
- Complimentary Close is the word "Sincerely" or "Yours sincerely," flush left followed by a comma, with four blank lines afterward.
- Signature Block is your name set flush left on one line, with your title on the line below. Sign your name in pen above the signature block.
- Enclosure Note is the word "Enclosure" set flush left followed by a colon, with the word "Résumé" after it. (If you have more than one enclosure, you can list each on a separate line and number them. See the sample at the end of this lesson.)
Fill in the letter format.
Fill in each section of the letter format.
Writing the Beginning
Now that you have completed the technical bits of the letter, you can focus on your message. Your letter needs to connect to the job's gatekeeper (the person who decides whether your résumé gets considered for the position). Your lead sentence should clearly state the position and indicate your interest in it.
Write a lead sentence.
Try out some of these strategies for writing the lead sentence of your cover letter. Read the examples for ideas.
- State your interest in a straightforward way.
I'm writing in hopes of becoming a part-time reporter for the Standard Bugle.
- Use a connection on staff.
Your copy editor Jan Hill told me that you are seeking part-time reporters and encouraged me to send the enclosed résumé.
- Mention your history with the organization.
Having published six local stories in the Standard Bugle already, I was thrilled to see your ad for a part-time reporter.
- Name your chief qualification.
As editor in chief of my school newspaper, I am ready to serve my larger community as a part-time reporter for the Standard Bugle.
Write your beginning.
Start with your lead, and then provide background that points to your résumé and your chief qualifications for the position.
Writing the Middle
In your middle paragraphs, you should focus on the key experience, education, and skills you have that suit you for the position.
Write your middle.
Think about what the job requires, and highlight your qualifications. Think from the perspective of the employer, and mention ways you that your performance will meet the needs of the organization.
Writing the Ending
Your ending paragraph should restate your interest and chief qualification and call the reader to take the next step in the hiring process.
Try ending strategies.
Write a sentence for each ending strategy. Read the examples for ideas. Then choose the best sentences and use them to build an effective ending for your cover letter.
- Restate your interest in the position.
Reporting for the Standard Bugle would allow me to shine a light on the many amazing events here in my home town.
- Match your chief qualifications with the job.
My extensive community connections, clear writing, attention to detail, and deadline orientation will provide the Standard Bugle with accurate, consistent reporting.
- Point to the résumé and other attachments.
Please see the enclosed résumé and the clippings from my previously published articles in the Bugle.
- Call the reader to take the next step in the hiring process.
Please call or email if you would like to set up an interview, which would allow me to share my whole portfolio of articles.
Write your ending.
Use some or all of the strategies you tried above as you build an ending paragraph for your cover letter.
Reading a Student Cover Letter
Read a sample cover letter.
As you read this draft, notice how the writer puts the parts together.
Listen to "Dear Ms. Wilcox"
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Sample Cover Letter
Heading Joyce Copeland
1212 Maplepark Rd.
Burlington, WI 53105
jcopeland18@bdistricths.edu
Date May 2, 2018
Inside Address Leslie Wilcox, Editor in Chief
Burlington Standard Bugle
301 S. Chestnut
Burlington, WI 53103
Salutation Dear Ms. Wilcox:
Opening Your copy editor Jan Hill told me that you are seeking part-time reporters and encouraged me to send the enclosed résumé. I've worked closely with Ms. Hill on the six articles that I have written on spec for the Standard Bugle and would love to report on much more local news for the paper. You'll find clippings of these articles enclosed along with my résumé.
Middle As my résumé shows, I am editor in chief of my high school newspaper and have also worked as a writer, copy editor, and proofreader. I design many articles, pages, and spreads for the paper, using InDesign, and I am proficient in HTML and Drupal coding for online design. In addition, I have many connections throughout the high school, the regional sports teams, and the two community theaters in town. I look forward to broadening my community connections with any beats I would cover as a part-time reporter.
Ms. Hill can vouch for the quality of my writing and editing. I have learned a great deal from her feedback and now provide copy that needs very little editing. She can also tell you about my willingness to take direction, ability to learn, work-ethic, and deadline orientation.
Closing I hope this letter and résumé demonstrate both my qualifications and eagerness to work for the Standard Bugle as a part-time reporter. If you agree, please email me at jcopeland18@bdistricths.edu or call me at (262) 555-3198 to discuss next steps. I look forward to hearing from you!
Complimentary Closing Sincerely,
Signature Block Joyce Copeland
Writer/Editor
Enclosure Note Enclosures:
(1) Résumé
(2) Article clippings