Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters

About this course: How can you bring your resume to the top of the pile? How can you present yourself to prospective employers using the language they already speak inside their organization? This course will give you answers to those questions. You will learn how to convert a boring resume into a dynamic asset statement that conveys your talents in the language that an employer understands. After completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Identify the real purpose of a resume. 2. Identify relevant competencies for a position. 3. Adapt your resumes to Applicant Tracking Systems (resume screening software). 4. Write powerful and convincing accomplishment statements using your accomplishments inventory to strategically assemble the most relevant evidence of competency for a specific position. 5. Use the resume skills tier method to strengthen your resume. 6. Write summary sections and objective statements aligned to a job position. 7. Take advantage of web resources to find power language for your resume. 8. Produce a strong resume in a format that is suitable both to your background and the position you're interested in. 9. Produce strong cover letters that use A.I.D.A. to help you achieve your career goals. 10. Produce effective follow-up letters that help you stand out from the competition.

Created by:  University of Maryland, College Park

• Taught by:  Charles Duquette, Lecturer/Marketing Coordinator

  Maryland English Institute

Basic Info Course 4 of 5 in the Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization Level Intermediate Commitment 4 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

Help from your peers

Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

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University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 37,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs. Its faculty includes three Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 47 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. The institution has a $1.8 billion operating budget, secures $500 million annually in external research funding and recently completed a $1 billion fundraising campaign.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Preparing to Write



In this module, you'll learn to how position your resume to a specific marketing purpose, how to align your resume with the specific needs of the hiring organization, and how to ensure your resume ranks high on the relevancy scales used by top-notch organizations today.


6 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Reading: You Can Help Produce Better MOOCs
2. Video: The Real Purpose of a Resume
3. Video: Focusing Your Resume
4. Video: Identifying Relevant Competencies
5. Reading: Lists of Competencies
6. Video: Understanding 21st Century Competencies
7. Reading: Competency Readings
8. Discussion Prompt: Discuss Competencies
9. Video: Gathering Your Materials to Write
10. Reading: 20 Questions
11. Reading: Background Resources
12. Video: Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems

Graded: Concept Quiz
Graded: Concept Quiz
Graded: 20 Questions

WEEK 2


Writing a Winning Resume



In this module, you will learn how to construct powerful accomplishment statements, how to write effective summary sections and job objectives, how to select action words to present you as a doer and achiever, and how to use two web resources that can help you find powerful language for your resume.


6 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Writing Strong Accomplishment Statements
2. Reading: Example Accomplishment Statements
3. Video: Using the Resume Skills Tier Method
4. Reading: Example Resume Tier Method Statements
5. Video: Writing Summary Sections
6. Reading: Example Resume Summary Statements
7. Video: Writing Objectives
8. Video: Finding the Right Words
9. Reading: Action Word Resources
10. Video: Using the Resume Dictionary and COCA
11. Reading: Lists of Competencies

Graded: Concept Quiz
Graded: Concept Quiz
Graded: Writing Accomplishment Statements

WEEK 3


Choosing a Resume Format



In this module, you'll learn how to select the best resume format to support your experience and career goals. You'll learn how to prepare resumes for electronic submission and for submission to OCR engines. You learn the benefits of using an internal resume in your annual review process, and you'll learn what never to put on a resume.


6 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Video: The Most Popular Resume Format
2. Video: Other Popular Resume Formats
3. Reading: Example Resume Formats
4. Video: Two Special Resume Formats
5. Video: Other Special Resume Formats
6. Reading: Federal Resume Formats
7. Video: Electronic, Scannable and Internal Resumes
8. Video: What You Should Never Put on a Resume

Graded: Concept Quiz
Graded: Concept Quiz
Graded: Concept Quiz

WEEK 4


Writing a Winning Cover Letter
In this module, you'll how to prepare an effective cover letter and how to use marketing strategies to get you cover letter to work for you. You'll learn how to use similar strategies to write a follow-up letter after interviews.


4 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Video: Powerhouse Cover Letters
2. Video: Constructing the Letter
3. Reading: Example Cover Letter
4. Video: Creating a Sense of Urgency
5. Video: The Follow-Up Letter

Graded: Concept Review
Graded: Write a Cover Letter
Graded: Concept Quiz