Practical Writing--Resume and Cover letter

Who am I? And Who Can I become?Part I Brief IntroductionThree sad facts about our self-awareness1. Most of us lack a clear goal, be it short-term or long-term.2. No one of us could offer an in-depth and overall understanding of ourselves. Our self awareness is generally messy.3. Let alone to work out a personal development plan! You are hardly different from others except your PHYSICAL APPERANCE!Read the following article by Steve Pavlina.Personal branding is basically the way you market yourself to the world. Your personal brand is what other people think of you. In some ways it’s outside your control, but you obviously have some influence over it.Personal branding is unavoidable. As others interact with you, they’ll automatically form mental assoc iations that connect you with certain labels, often within the first few seconds. You can’t avoid being labeled, and other people can’t avoid labeling you. It happens automatically because our brains are wired to recognize patterns and form associations. The labels people attach to you become part of your personal brand.If you type an email, you’re branding yourself. If you have a conversation with a friend or family member, you’re branding yourself. How you dress, what you eat, and how you talk all contribute to your brand. Think of your brand as the summation of all the associations about you that are stored in people’s minds.Your external brandYour external brand is how you project yourself to the world. There is an element of choice here. You can decide what to say or write in order to convey a certain image. Your projected image will influence what others think of you and how they might choose to interact with you. You may stumble upon this image accidentally, or you candeliberately target a specific type of image.I think the best external image to project is the one you believe best reflects who you really are. Being yourself simply means being honest.In my view it makes little sense to pretend to be something you’re not. I don’t pretend to be a t herapist with a Ph.D in psychology because that isn’t who I am. I could pick up a Ph.D from an unaccredited “degree mill” school and call myself Dr. Pavlina, but what’s the point? That mindset assumes that in order to get what I want, I must pretend to be something I’m not. But how can I get what I want if I have to disconnect from myself to get it? To me the whole notion of projecting a false image makes no sense. It can only stem from a lack of acceptance of who I am.When people project an obviously fals e image at me, it only causes me to brand them in a negative way… with labels like fake, phony, insincere, disconnected, inauthentic, shallow, and so on. Those labels automatically trigger other associations like: probably wants to sell me something, going to throw up now, and where’s the fire escape?On the other hand, I think there’s some value to projecting an image that fits who you really are. For example if you’re a very neat and organized person, but you have a scruffy beard, you’re broadcasting an i ncongruent message, whether you agree with it or not. This is why facial hair and salespeople don’t go well together. Many people think that if you have facial hair, you’re trying to hide something, and that isn’t good for work that requires you to build trust. Many years ago I heard about a salesperson who increased his sales just by shaving off his beard.Paying attention to your external image needn’t become an ego trip. Really it’s just the opposite. Becoming aware of how others see you helps you identify blind spots within yourself. Then you can work on those blind spots to help you become more internally congruent. For example, our bearded salesperson may realize he (hopefully not she) was sabotaging his results because he didn’t really want to work in sales anyway.Sometimes there are practical problems with getting your external brand and your self-image to match up. This is why I can’t dress myself. If I were truly being myself, I’d probably dress like an off-duty Star Trek character, but since I als o don’t know how to shop for clothes, I still dress like it’s 1989 instead of Stardate 42523.7. But when I look deeper into this problem, I see it points me to a bigger issue — that I still need to learn to delegate. The right person, such as an image consultant, could probably fix this problem for me. So the internal-external inconsistency is really there to help point me in the direction of positive growth. Time to say goodbye to Thrilla Gorilla.Your internal brandIn addition to your external brand, which is how most people think about personal branding, you also have an internal brand. This is what you think of yourself.What 3 adjectives would you use to describe yourself? Take a moment to think about that, and jot them down. Is this a brand you feel good about? Does it really resonate with you? Is this the same image you project to the world? If you could change those adjectives, what would you change them to?If I were to do this exercise, I’d probably pick intelligent, curious, and direct. Other w ords I could use to describe myself include honest, growth-oriented, happy, independent, unconventional, deep, compassionate, purposeful, ambitious, conscious, focused, disciplined, strategic, responsible, thorough, persistent, practical, funny, holistic, clever, creative, accepting, and inspired. Ask me tomorrow, and I might pick different adjectives, but these are the ones that popped into my head right now. Your choices may be totally different than mine, but this is how I think of myself at this particular time.Now ask yourself if your internal personal brand matches the external brand you project to others. You don’t necessarily know what others think of you, but you should at least know if there are any parts of yourself you don’t fully accept which y ou try to hide from others. If you find some areas you’ve been hiding, consider that your lack of self-acceptance may be blinding you from seeing these aspects as the assets they really are.For example, if you see yourself as introverted, you could see that in a negative light (shy, antisocial) or in a positive light (intelligent, deep). If you sometimes describe yourself in negative terms, see if those terms also have a positive side. Consider focusing on the positive aspects instead.I’m colorblind, so I could certainly see that in a negative light. I could internally brand myself as limited, defective, or impaired. But instead I choose to focus on the positive aspects. I see the world differently than most people, so that gives me the opportunity to be original, insightful, and non-superficial. My colorblindness also helps me connect with people, since I always need help picking ripe fruit, and when I try to do it on my own, it often gives others a good laugh.Brand interactionIt’s expected that your internal brand and your external brand won’t completely coincide, and that’s OK, but those incongruencies can create interesting interactions that help you grow in unexpected ways.For example, people sometimes send me emails indicating they find me a bit qu irky or strange. That’s how they see me, but it isn’t really how I see myself. However, I can understand why people see me this way because I’m really curious about a lot of things, I like to learn through direct experience, and I especially enjoy creative undertakings. So while I don’t try to be intentionally quirky, I must admit that is a side effect of my general approach to life. By understanding that this is how others see me, however, I can acknowledge it up front, such as by poking fun at myself for undertaking yet another strange experiment, even though it doesn’t seem that way to me. When I do something strange and don’t acknowledge the strangeness, people can feel disconnected from me, but when I show that I’m aware of their perceptions, it keeps us connected.Once you’ve gotten yourself assigned a few adjectives in someone else’s mind, it can be very difficult to change that. So just make the best of the adjectives you’ve been assigned. When you learn how others see you, you can “play back at them” by acknowledging their expectations. Instead of trying to fight your own branding, roll with it and turn it into a strength. This actually helps you reconnect your external brand with your internal one.If I see myself as curious, while others see me as quirky, I can accept the quirkiness label and run with it. I can see how quirkiness still aligns with my internal brand. Quirkiness connects well with being creative and unconventional. It can also fit with intelligence because some people associate quirkiness with genius. Geniuses are strange people with odd personality quirks, right? By acknowledging and accepting what other people think of me, I can help to bring that projected image into better alignment with my own self-image. This helps other people connect with me as I am instead of connecting with a false projection of who they think I am.This morning I did some spontaneous personal brand testing my family. Erin brands me as “insightful, courageous, and passionate.” My 7-year-old daughter, Emily, des cribes me as “tough, big, and strong.” I told her I brand her as “cute, creative, and sneaky.” Erin brands Emily as “funny, mischievous, and caring.” Emily described her 4-year-old brother as “little, clean, and bumpy.” Everyone is right because these bran ds all exist in their minds.Personal branding has a lot to teach us about personal growth. It’s a rich place to explore. I encourage you to try the earlier exercise with your friends, family, and coworkers. Ask everyone to describe you with 3 adjectives. You’ll learn a great deal from it.Incidentally, the Stardate I mentioned earlier (Are you geek enough to have already Googled it? Or worse… recognized it from memory?) is from an episode that really brings home the importance of personal branding. If you aren’t a Trekkie and have no idea what I’m talking about, well… methinks you’ve got bigger problems than personal branding.If I ever get bored of the tagline “Personal Development for Smart People,” I think I’ll go with “Tough, Big, and Strong.”Robin Good gives 10 steps to creating a personal brand. Great stuff.1.Think like a free agent.2.Discover what sets you apart and market it shamelessly.3.Get visible.4.Stop networking, and build a network.5.Add value - and then some.6.Accelerate your brand power by getting in sync with a major trend in your field and moving to the head of it.7.Marry an important, ethical cause as a complement to what you like to do.8.Share before looking for profit.9.Help others become as successful as you.10.Question yourself and your approach systematically - get forever curious.Part II Market yourself through cover letter and resumeSome key points:1. Basically, it’s not what you are that matters to the market, but the way you say what you are. Put in a different way, you can make a difference! There are a variety of strategies you can employ to identify and distinguish yourself, language skills being the particular means.2. To get hired, you need to get an interview opportunity and in turn you need a resume and cover letter to market yourself.3. Make yourself a resume and cover letter that can establish you as one standing out from your competitors and keep my words in mind, “in this world, people are almost the same and at least they generate the same impressions on others. You will make a different self if you want a life different from others.”4. Use the language skills in advertising and include your own slogan in your cover letter. You may express your understanding of yourself, people, the society and even the world in slogan-like words, and in most cases, we may call these things motto, saying, quotation, etc.I. The ABCs of a cover letter:1. Cover letters generally fall into one of two categories:1) Letter of application: applying for a specific, advertised opening. See:2) Letter of inquiry: expressing interest in an organization, but you are not certain if there are currentopenings.2. All cover letters should:Explain why you are sending a resume.Don't send a resume without a cover letter.Don't make the reader guess what you are asking for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation; are you inquiring about future employment possibilities?Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization— a flyer posted in your department, a web site, a family friend who works at the organization. It is appropriate to mention the name of someone who suggested that you write.Convince the reader to look at your resume.The cover letter will be seen first.Therefore, it must be very well written and targeted to that employer.Call attention to elements of your background—education, leadership, experience —that are relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific as possible, using examples.Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in a job advertisement that might not be covered in your resume, such as availability date, or reference to an attached writing sample.Indicate what you will do to follow-up.In a letter of application— applying for an advertised opening — applicants often say something like "I look forward to hearing from you." However, if you have further contact info (e.g. phone number) and if the employer hasn't said "no phone calls," it's better to take the initiative to follow-up, saying something like, "I will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you require any additional information regarding my qualifications."In a letter of inquiry— asking about the possibility of an opening — don't assume the employer will contact you. You should say something like, "I will contact you in two weeks to learn more about upcoming employment opportunities with (name of organization)." Then mark your calendar to make the call.3. Cover Letter Format Guidelines:Your Street AddressCity, State Zip CodeTelephone NumberEmail Address Month, Day, YearMr./Ms./Dr. FirstName LastNameTitleName of OrganizationStreet or P. O. Box AddressCity, State Zip CodeDear Mr./Ms./Dr. LastName:Opening paragraph: State why you are writing; how you learned of the organization or position, and basic information about yourself.2nd paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the employer or type of work the employer does (Simply statingthat you are interested does not tell why, and can sound like a form letter). Demonstrate that you know enough about the employer or position to relate your background to the employer or position. Mention specific qualifications which make you a good fit for the employer’s needs. This is an opportunity to explain in more detail relevant items in your resume. Refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed. Mention other enclosures if such are required to apply for a position.3rd paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for a position or to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities or hiring plans. State what you will do to follow up, such as telephone the employer within two weeks. If you will be in the employer’s location and could offer to schedule a visit, indicate when. State that you would be glad to provide the employer with any additional information needed. Thank the employer for her/his consideration.Sincerely,(Your handwritten signature)Your name typedEnclosure(s) (refers to resume, etc.)Note:1. The contents of your letter might best be arranged into four paragraphs. Consider what you need to say and use good writing style. See the following examples for variations in organization and layout.2. Use a search engine to find a sample. Put in your information and revise it to be unique and personalized.II. ResumeA resume is a personal summary of your professional history and qualifications. It includes information about your career goals, education, work experience, activities, honors, and any special skills you might have.Content layout:Chronological format and variationsSkills formatHow to choose a format for your resumeChronological format and variations:The most common resume format is called "chronological." It's simply a resume that lists your education and experience in reverse chronological order - most recent items first - and it's a good way to start a draft of your resume. Most of the samples are variations on the chronological format. You may also hear the terms "functional" or "creative" used to describe resumes. These are just variations on the chronological format that use headings that best showcase your background and qualifications.Skills formatA skills resume combines the skills you have from a variety of experiences - paid work, volunteer work, student activities, classroom work, projects, you name it - and groups these skills by category of skills that relate to the kind of job you're seeking. This format works best when a traditional resume just doesn't work to make you look like a good candidate even though you have relevant skills. A Career Services advisor can look at your first resume draft and help you decide if a skills format might be the best approach to use.How to choose a format for your resumeLook at the samples, and the features of each. Choose the combination of features that matches your background.DON'T choose a resume style simply because the fictional student in a sample has your major. Students in any major can use any resume style.You may choose any style regardless of the type of employment you are seeking, whether internship, co-op, or permanent employment.DO choose a format which best shows how your individual credentials support your objective.If you are unsure, start with a chronological style (the most traditional), have your resume critiqued, and revise your resume as needed.Sample format of a resume. (Do not just replace the content with your info.)一定要根据职位描述填写内容，不能千职一面。