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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Resume
& Cover Letter Guide
Trends, Tips & Templates
Bentley University
Alumni Career Services
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 4
THE PURPOSE OF A RESUME ............................................................................................................................................. 4
HOW A RESUME IS READ ................................................................................................................................................. 4
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 5
WHO READS YOUR RESUME – AND WHAT THEY LOOK FOR .................................................................................................... 5
Initial Screener: ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Applicant Tracking Software: ................................................................................................................................. 5
Human Resources (HR): ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Hiring Manager: .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Team Members: .................................................................................................................................................... 6
ELEMENTS OF AN OUTSTANDING RESUME ........................................................................................................... 7
TARGETED .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
CONCISE ....................................................................................................................................................................... 7
BRANDED ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
ROI-FOCUSED ............................................................................................................................................................... 7
PREPARING TO WRITE YOUR RESUME .................................................................................................................. 8
DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
WHY WRITE ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS? .................................................................................................................... 8
ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU WRITE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS ................................................... 9
“HARD” ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS ......................................................................................................... 12
“SOFT” ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS .......................................................................................................... 13
CREATING SUMMARY STATEMENTS ................................................................................................................... 14
AN EFFECTIVE SUMMARY HAS THREE PARTS ....................................................................................................................... 14
HOW TO WRITE A SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................... 14
KEY SKILLS .................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Examples: ............................................................................................................................................................ 15
SETTING EXPECTATIONS ................................................................................................................................................. 15
BRAND STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Alternative to the word “Summary” .................................................................................................................... 16
SAMPLE RESUME EVOLUTION
............................................................................................................................. 17
“BEFORE” RESUME SAMPLE ............................................................................................................................... 18
“AFTER” RESUME ............................................................................................................................................... 19
"BEFORE” AND “AFTER” ANALYSIS
....................................................................................................................... 21
RESUME RESOURCES ......................................................................................................................................... 22
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
GRAMMAR RULES .............................................................................................................................................. 23
RESUME ACTION VERBS ..................................................................................................................................... 24
RESUME FAQS .................................................................................................................................................... 25
PURPOSE: ................................................................................................................................................................... 25
FORMATTING: ............................................................................................................................................................. 25
SUMMARY: ................................................................................................................................................................. 26
WORK EXPERIENCE: ...................................................................................................................................................... 27
SAMPLE RESUMES ............................................................................................................................................. 31
RESUME REVIEW CHECKLIST
............................................................................................................................... 44
COVER LETTERS .................................................................................................................................................. 47
COVER LETTERS: INTRODUCTION
......................................................................................................................... 48
TEMPLATE FOR A TRADITIONAL COVER LETTER
.................................................................................................... 50
Paragraph One: Opening and Introduction ......................................................................................................... 50
Paragraph Two: Prove you are the best person for the job ................................................................................ 50
Paragraph Three: Closing Paragraph and Next Steps ......................................................................................... 51
SAMPLE TRADITIONAL COVER LETTER
.................................................................................................................. 52
INTRODUCTION: T-STYLE COVER LETTER
.............................................................................................................. 54
SAMPLE T-STYLE COVER LETTER
.......................................................................................................................... 55
COVER LETTER CHECKLIST
................................................................................................................................... 56
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Introduction
The Purpose of a Resume
Your resume is a
marketing tool
designed to get you an interview
. It needs to position you as a top
candidate, with the skills and education that match the requirements in the job posting. The resume
needs to be engaging and position you confidently, honestly, and persuasively.
How a Resume is Read
In 2012, The Ladders commissioned ground-breaking research
1
on how recruiters scan resumes: where they
look, what they look for, and how long they review a resume. The study found that “recruiters spend only
six
seconds
reviewing an individual resume” and making their initial “fit/no fit” decision. These findings show the
importance of a highly targeted, concise resume with no extraneous information.
The second finding showed how recruiters spent those six seconds. The study’s “gaze tracking”
technology showed that recruiters spent
almost 80%
of their resume review time on the following data
points:
Name
Previous position start and end dates
Current position/employer
Current position start and end dates
Previous position/employer
Education
1
http://cdn.theladders.net/static/images/basicSite/pdfs/TheLadders-EyeTracking-StudyC2.pdf
“Beyond these six data points, recruiters did little more than scan for
keywords to match the open position, which amounted to a very
cursory “pattern matching” activity. Because decisions were based
mostly on the six pieces of data listed above, an individual resume’s
detail and explanatory copy became filler and had little to no impact on
the initial decision making.”
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Introduction
Who Reads Your Resume – and What They Look For
Your resume will be read by various people – an initial screener, Human Resources, the hiring manager, and
members of the team. Each group has unique needs and focuses on different parts of the resume. Let’s
explore each audience and what they seek.
Initial Screener:
Your resume may get a “first pass” review by an initial screener. They will look at specific details to make sure
the resume matches the position/company needs. Their goal is to cull the candidate pool quickly. Some of the
information they seek is:
• Are you located where the job is?
• Do you
have required degree and/or certification?
• Do you have
experience in line with the job requirements?
• Do you have
specific software or other technical skills?
• Do you have related industry expertise?
Applicant Tracking Software:
Increasingly, the initial scan is performed electronically by Applicant Tracking Software (ATS), a software
application designed to help recruit employees more efficiently. It is estimated that roughly 50% of all mid-
sized companies and almost all large corporations use some type of applicant tracking system.
ATS systems primarily use keyword searches to find candidates that most closely match the requirements of a
position. To increase your chances of being selected, use the keywords in the job posting.
Human Resources (HR):
Whether the initial screen is electronic or human, the next reviewer is likely to be from the corporate Human
Resources department. They seek to answer three questions:
1. Do you have the skills/education/experience to do the job?
2. Will you be a good fit with the corporate culture?
3. Are there any red flags that may indicate problems?
For the first point, HR will review your skills, matching yours to those required. They will also ensure your
education and previous experience match the job requirements.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
HR usually spends more time on the second point. They carefully read the summary, noting tone and word
choice as personality indicators. They focus on your previous employers and how long you were in each
position. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are carefully assessed. Sloppy formatting or cut-and-paste errors
rarely slip by their eagle eyes.
Red flags may pop up during this review. Having a number of jobs in a short period of time or gaps between
periods of employment are typical red flags. HR will look more closely at these situations to see if they can
determine the cause. Some red flags are minor and won’t stop you from moving to the next level, while others
are too big to ignore. We’ll cover how to deal with red flags in the Summary section.
HR also looks at the resume holistically. Does the entire thing hang together? Does it tell a story of a person
who provides increasing value to the organization? A survey conducted by Reppler
2
found that 91% of
organizations use, or plan to use, social media as part of the background check. Be sure your online presence
will further your career, not derail it.
Hiring Manager:
The third type of reviewer is the hiring manager. This person will look very closely at your previous
employment, education, and most especially – your accomplishments. They look for a candidate who can do
the job with enthusiasm. They seek a person who has a passion for the work and a visible commitment to the
industry. Membership in professional organizations is one indicator.
Team Members:
This group reviews your resume to make sure your skills match the needs of the job. They are also looking for
clues about your fit into the company culture, and more specifically – the team. They often like people who
share similar backgrounds, educational credentials, or have the same interests. While all previous reviewers
are likely to look you up on social media, this group will almost certainly do so.
Your resume has to provide the information each reviewer needs – in a very concise manner.
2
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/infographic-how-recruiters-use-social-media-screen-applicants/
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Elements of an Outstanding
Resume
As described in the previous section, recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds reviewing a resume,
and the majority of the time is spent in specific areas. The following elements will help your resume
stand out from the crowd.
Targeted
The first key element of a great resume is that it is targeted to a specific role or type of role. Focus on
the skills required for the job you seek; delete anything extraneous.
Concise
The “six-second resume” requires you to tell your story in as few words as possible.
Branded
Have a clear understanding of who you are, and what differentiates you from other candidates. Get the
information across as succinctly as possible in your Summary.
ROI-Focused
Prospective employers want to know what you have accomplished in previous jobs using key skills.
Know, and express your value to the organization.
“When I am looking at a resume I look to really see how this person was a
value-add to the companies they've worked or interned for. What did they
bring to the team? It is important to have everything quantified - hiring
managers are always looking at numbers; did you reduce costs in a certain
amount of time, or process a certain amount of paperwork in a given week?
Please document this work on your resume!”
Kayt Kelley
Financial Recruiter
Kelly Services
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Preparing to Write Your
Resume
Data Collection
Before you begin writing your resume, it is very important to do some self-reflection and self-assessment.
Taking the time now to do this will help you:
• Be objective about your strengths and weaknesses
• Effectively communicate your accomplishments and transferable skills
• Target the right job for you that combines your interests, skills, values, and personality
Complete these two key steps:
1. Gather as much information as possible about your best skills.
a. Use a self-assessment tool, and/or ask people who know you well
b. Collect data from performance reviews and LinkedIn recommendations
2. Look past the tasks to what you achieved (from the boss’ viewpoint) and how the organization
benefited from having you in the position.
Why Write Accomplishment Statements?
One of the hallmarks of an excellent resume is the use of accomplishment statements for each job entry.
Accomplishment statements or "success stories" are written proof of the results, achievements, and successes
from your past work experience. They are the core of your marketing campaign and demonstrate what is
UNIQUE about you as well as provide proof of the VALUE you can bring to a prospective employer.
In the previous section, you were asked to consider what you accomplished in each of your previous jobs. You
will use this information to show a prospective employer what you can do for them. The best way to predict
what you will do in the future is to look at what you've been able to accomplish in the past. Accomplishment
statements are the best way to showcase results.
Accomplishments can be drawn from your professional work experience or from experiences in other areas,
such as:
• Positive impact of your work in an organization
• Developing new skills
• Enhancing existing expertise
• Receiving recognition, special award, promotion or commendation
• Performing (or being selected to perform) higher-level tasks
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Accomplishment statements may be comprised of:
• Something you learned on the job
• Something you improved, made better, faster, easier, automated, standardized
• Goals you met or exceeded
• Recognition for performance
Ask Yourself These Questions to Help You
Write Your Accomplishment Statements
“Have I ever…………………………?”
• Invented or improved something?
• Achieved more with fewer resources or money?
• Saved the company money or found a way to reduce costs?
• Improved productivity?
• Saved time?
• Increased sales?
• Done something newsworthy or noteworthy?
• Designed a new process, program, or product?
• Developed and implemented a new procedure or program?
• Completed something on time or ahead of schedule?
• Completed a project under budget?
• Identified new markets?
• Demonstrated outstanding leadership skills?
What is the Difference between Duties/Responsibilities and Accomplishments?
Duties and responsibilities typically refer to items that were listed on your job description, i.e., what you were
supposed to do.
Accomplishments or success stories give specific examples of what
YOU
actually did and the
IMPACT
your
efforts had on your employer.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Examples:
Duties and Responsibilities From Job Description
Accomplishment Statements on Your Resume
Responsible for sales in Northeast region.
Managed a team of three account executives and
two inside sales representatives. Produced $6M in
new revenue in less than 12 months.
Responsible for relationships with benefits
providers. Provide competitive benefits plans to
employees.
Researched new dental providers and managed
the RFQ process with providers. Signed contract
with local firm resulting in a 10% cost savings to
the company.
Responsible for the startup of a manufacturing
facility.
Led the planning, design, and construction of a
multi-purpose manufacturing facility in Japan.
Improved product quality and delivery time for
local customers.
Responsible for implementing a new IT system for
a growing firm.
Planned, designed, and implemented a
comprehensive business and IT strategy to shift
growing firm to a decentralized IT architecture.
Reduced operating costs by 40% saving the firm
$1 million over three years.
Is it necessary for each statement on the resume to be accomplishment oriented?
While including accomplishment statements is strongly advised because they make your resume more
substantive, incorporating a combination of accomplishment statements with descriptions of duties and
responsibilities is acceptable.
HOW TO WRITE ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS:
There are three steps to writing an accomplishment statement. The first is to identify the
Problem,
Action and
Results (PAR)
for each one of your work experiences. The second is to write out your PAR statement, and the
third is to transform your PAR statement into a bullet that can be used on your resume.
1.
P
= Problem, challenge or opportunity that existed
2.
A
= Action you took to solve the problem
3.
R
= Result or Outcome of your efforts
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Example:
Problem
Ø Company was experiencing many customer complaints (20+) on a monthly basis. They complained that
the software was hard to install and the installation instructions were difficult to understand.
Action
Ø Collaborated with R&D to develop a more user-friendly installation package.
Ø Established a "hot line" to handle these complaints.
Ø Purchased and implemented software to track customer complaints and resolution.
Result
Ø Decreased customer complaints from 20 to less than five complaints per month.
Resulting Accomplishment Statement on Resume:
Decreased customer complaints by 75% monthly by initiating the design of a new user-friendly installation
package.
Recommended and implemented a new customer hotline and software application, resulting in increased
customer satisfaction and more timely resolution of customer complaints.
Example:
Problem
Ø Summer camp facilities owned by non-profit Community Outreach were no longer adequate. They were
too small and there was not enough outdoor equipment.
Action
Ø Organized a community event that raised money to build new camp facilities. Managed a team of 30
volunteers for a local fundraising event.
Result
Ø Raised over $65,000 in one weekend which allowed Community Outreach to build two new camp facilities.
Resulting Accomplishment Statement on Resume:
Organized a highly successful fundraising event for Community Outreach and managed a team of 30
volunteers.
Raised over $65,000 in one weekend, which allowed this local nonprofit to design and build two new inner-city
camp facilities.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
“Hard” Accomplishment
Statements
Using numbers, percentages, and facts to convey accomplishments and results
• Grew loan portfolio from $75M to $225M and managed $50M in deposit accounts; portfolio generated
over $3M in revenue.
• Assisted clients with achieving portfolio growth rate of 25-30%, a higher return than market trends.
• Reduced day’s sales outstanding (DSO) by 10% through attentive relationship management, frequent
credit review, and proactive collection initiatives.
• Revamped invoicing system to reduce processing time from three weeks to five days.
• As Sales Manager, produced $6.5M in revenue in 2004 with aggressive client development.
• Developed aggressive marketing campaigns and channel marketing programs that increased revenue
from $5M to $25M over a four-year time period.
• Initiated revolutionary lead tracking system that resulted in a 25% increase in new sales leads being
transferred to direct sales team. New leads resulted in $2M in incremental revenue over two years.
• Managed all merchandising decisions across four product categories and 13 stores. Restructured product
lines, renegotiated vendor agreements, and spearheaded new sales programs, resulting in a 45% increase
in new product sales over a three-year period.
• Selected and installed a new purchasing, receivables, and payables solution. Reduced purchase order
time from four weeks to one, while staff productivity increased by 35% and company saved over $90K in
annual overpayments.
• As part of management team, successfully completed Customer Relationship Management (CRM) project
one month ahead of schedule and $250K under budget.
• Developed and implemented strategic manufacturing plan including the realignment and consolidation of
six plants worldwide. New plan resulted in a 40% reduction in headcount and a 25% increase in inventories.
• Managed data center for hosted small business applications. Reduced hosting costs by 35% while
maintaining superior service levels.
• Led a team of three IT analysts in the analysis of firm’s software maintenance costs. Made
recommendations to senior management team that ultimately led to a yearly cost savings of $55K.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
“Soft” Accomplishment
Statements
Using words to convey accomplishments and results
• Developed profitable relationships with clients based on excellent customer service, plus thorough
understanding and assessment of client’s credit needs for working capital, acquisition, and investment
purposes.
• Improved cash reporting system and internal control procedures.
• Exceeded revenue goals by maintaining volume, increasing business, and renegotiating contracts with
multinational accounts.
• Played a pivotal role in landing ABC account in pharmaceutical industry. Convinced ABC to leave
competitor by substantially improving perception of firm with ABC.
• Developed and implemented innovative marketing communication plans which significantly increased
firm’s coverage and reputation in national, business, and trade publications.
• Led the development of a “New Product Introduction” kit to assist account executives with assimilating
information on new products. The kit’s comprehensive nature significantly reduced follow-up calls to
product and marketing teams and increased sales team’s ability to introduce new products more
effectively.
• Performed primary and secondary research on worldwide competitors and created internal knowledge
management system to disseminate information rapidly. Up-to-date competitive positioning caused positive
changes in product strategy and resulted in releases of products more suited to customer requirements.
• Implemented new employee training program that dramatically increased productivity and morale in key
business unit.
• Led a cross-functional team to evaluate customer complaints; identified sources of dissatisfaction and
recommended new workflow process that greatly enhanced employee morale and customer retention.
• Designed and implemented competitive compensation programs resulting in improved employee
productivity and morale.
You can see more examples of effective accomplishment statements in the
Sample Resume Section of this Guide
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Creating Summary Statements
A summary statement is a powerful resume tool that quickly describes who you are and shows how
well your skills, education, and experience align with those in the job description.
In the 6 seconds a reviewer spends on your resume, they might only have time to read your summary. That
means your summary needs to be able to stand alone and provide enough information for the reviewer to
determine whether to proceed with your candidacy.
The problem with most summaries is that they contain mostly adjectives and opinions, rather than facts and
results.
Examples:
• "results-oriented professional"
• "hard working," "dedicated," "strong work ethic" and related personal traits
• "excellent interpersonal skills," "excellent communicator"
• "dedicated to providing superior personalized customer service"
• "creative and successful problem solver"
Starting your summary with a statement of tenure like "13 years accounting experience" is another common
mistake. It focuses on the time you were in a position rather than on what you were able to achieve. You can
create interest in your candidacy by stating what you’ve accomplished for previous employers, showing the
kind of results your new employer can expect.
An effective summary has three parts
• A branding statement that tells the reader about your experience and key differentiators
• A few sentences showing achievements (high level, not much detail) using key skills; utilize objective
statements of fact instead of opinions
• Setting expectations by reframing of red flags into positive statements
How to write a summary
The first sentence of your summary is a branding statement that clearly indicates who you are and what you
do as well as your most powerful differentiator.
Examples:
• Experienced accounting professional with extensive Sarbanes-Oxley reporting experience.
• Emerging marketing professional with corporate social media expertise.
• Seasoned financial analyst with comprehensive treasury experience.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
• IT professional especially skilled at global implementations/updates of CRM and ERM systems.
In each case, notice the first part of the sentence describes who you are and the second part (after the word
"with"), indicates experience which differentiates you from other candidates and is desirable to the employer.
Key Skills
The best resumes are highly targeted and focused on a specific position or type of role. The only way to
produce a targeted summary is to carefully review several job descriptions for the position in which you are
interested. To identify the skills required print 10 job postings for the role or range of roles you seek. Take a
highlighter and identify the skills required in each posting, and then go back with a different color highlighter
and mark the skills common to all of them. These are the key skills for this position.
Consider how your experience, education, and skills reflect those skills and identify results you have achieved
through the use of these skills.
Examples:
• “Proven sales ability” Maximize relationship with channel partners and end customers to grow sales
• “Strategic thinker” Leverage revenue development, operations and alternative financing skills to create
and implement cohesive and targeted strategies focused on seizing market opportunities ahead of
competition
Setting Expectations
In addition to positioning you for the job, summaries can turn red flags into positives. A prospective employer
or recruiter expects to see a certain profile in candidates. Usually, candidates for a specific position have
similar backgrounds like education, skills, and prior work experience. If your profile is not what they expect, a
single well–worded sentence in your summary can both properly set expectations and showcase this
difference and turn it into a positive.
Examples:
• Candidate seeking a permanent position after a series of temporary/contract positions.
"Ability to master and utilize new content developed as a highly sought after contractor in varied
industries.”
• Working mother with five year employment gap.
"Experienced financial analyst returning to the workforce after five year sabbatical to raise
family."
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Brand Statement
Alternative to the word “Summary”
Research indicates that many recruiters avoid reading summaries simply because the majority are poorly
written and don't add value. To increase the chances of your resume being read you might want to
replace the word “Summary” or “Profile” with a job title and/or key skills.
Examples:
•
Senior Accounting Professional with Big 4 Experience
This combines a broad job title and specific
industry experience
•
Marketing Associate with Significant Social Media Expertise
This combines a specific job title and
skill set
•
Accounting/Corporate Tax/Compliance
This contains no job title and instead focuses on key skills
You'll note the first two examples look a lot like branding statements. If you use these (or something
similar) for your section header, don't repeat the same phrase in your branding statement. Instead,
provide a little more detail. For example, under the section heading “Senior Accounting Professional
with Big 4 Experience," the branding statement might be "Public accountant at Deloitte and PwC with
international experience." The third example can be followed by the usual branding statement.
You can see examples of effective summary/profile statements in the
Sample Resume Section of this Guide.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
SAMPLE RESUME EVOLUTION
We've discussed a number of ways to improve the impact and effectiveness of a resume by targeting it
to a specific position, adding an effective summary statement, and creating accomplishment
statements for each position. Each of these elements draws the reviewer's eye to key information.
In this section, you’ll see a resume “before" and "after" these elements are included. The subject of the
resume, "Walter Waltham," is a career changer. Walter received an undergraduate degree in marketing.
After graduation, he held two marketing positions of increasing responsibility.
During this time, Walter realized he was more interested in finance than marketing. As a working
professional, he attended graduate school to earn a Master of Science in Finance.
Even though Walter’s "before" resume included his new degree, an outstanding GPA, and relevant
coursework, he wasn't being selected to interview for the finance positions he sought. A recruiter told
Walter his experience was too marketing centric, and his skills didn't transfer easily to the type of
position he wanted.
Take a moment to review the "before" resume to see Walter’s original resume. Then review the “after”
resume to see the new and improved version of the resume that helped him land his new job.
We've outlined the changes we made to strengthen this career changer’s resume and position him for
his new career on page 17.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
“Before” Resume Sample
Walter Waltham
175 Forest St.
Waltham, MA 02452
781-891-0000
EDUCATION
McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Candidate for Master of Science in Finance GPA: 3.58 2012 - 2015
Relevant coursework: Equity Valuation, International Financial Management, Investment Administration, Risk Management
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Bachelor of Science in Marketing May 2010
Founder, Marketing Club
SKILLS
Microsoft office applications, Microsoft project, Microsoft access, Microsoft FrontPage, Visible Analyst, Bloomberg
EXPERIENCE
Mayflower Brokerage Services, Inc., Boston
Marketing Manager 2013 - 2015
Established first regional office in Boston, marketing institutional brokerage and investment banking services nationally. Met
with firms throughout the country to develop relationships. Analyzed customer needs and drafted marketing plan. Prioritized
marketing plan and expenses. Led an evaluation of the website by contracting a usability study; worked with web
development group to implement changes.
New England Investments, Inc., Waltham, MA
Marketing Specialist 2010 - 2013
Critiqued and rewrote business plan, focusing on short-term goals and financials for presentations to potential investors.
Analyzed market opportunities through competitive analysis and product evaluation. Researched application service
providers based on price/requirements and negotiated contract with selected vendor. Develop marketing strategy based on
consumer and local business research. Assisted in other marketing projects when needed.
Consolidated Telemarketing Co., Boston, MA
Assistant Supervisor 2008 - 2010
Supervised a call-center team. Resolved all represented issues from trade errors to service quality. Implemented and led
weekly training sessions. Responsible for a successful employee development program including training all new employees.
Acquired excellent customer service skills.
Cell Phone Kiosk, Burlington Mall
Cellular Telephone Salesperson 2003 - 2008
Worked part-time. Received "hot shot" award three times
ACTIVITIES
Reading, watching movies, travel
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
“After” Resume
Walter Waltham
175 Forest St. ● Waltham, MA 02452 ● 781-891-0000 ● walterwal[email protected]
SUMMARY
Recent Master of Science in Finance graduate with business development and marketing experience. Experienced in sales
forecasting and revenue recognition, pricing and vendor contract negotiation. Top performer that has met or exceeded
operations and revenue goals in past three positions. Strong analytical skills include advanced Excel, financial modeling,
Bloomberg and Visible Analyst.
EDUCATION
Bentley University - Graduate School of Business, Waltham, MA
Master of Science Finance GPA: 3.58
May 2015
Relevant coursework: Equity Valuation, International Financial Management, Investment Administration, Risk Management
• VP and Controller, Graduate Finance Association
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Bachelor of Science, Marketing
May 2010
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Everest Financial Management and Advisory Corp., Boston, MA
Financial Analyst, Intern
2/15 - 5/15
• Increased client net worth 12% by developing custom asset allocation strategy through analysis of mutual funds and
stocks to present alternatives to high net worth clients
• Added five new high technology clients to the financial advisors corporate client base through effectively marketing
corporate services along with research on the technology sector
Mayflower Brokerage Inc., Boston, MA
Marketing Specialist
2013 - 2015
• Partnered with management to establish first regional office in Boston, marketing institutional brokerage and
investment banking services
• Instrumental in the firm's signing a strategic new client in the biotechnology sector
• Developed 20 new relationships including Pfizer, Gillette, and Target through 100+ sales meetings
New England Investment Inc., Waltham, MA
Market Analyst
2010 - 2013
• Assisted in raising $500,000 in angel funding by collaborating with senior management on the development of a new
business plan, with an emphasis on financial analysis
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
• Achieved 30% increase in website traffic by analyzing new business opportunities through competitive and market
analysis; recommended and signed three strategic partnerships
Consolidated Telemarketing Co., Boston, MA
Assistant Supervisor
2008 - 2010
• Met and/or exceeded team performance goals by creating employee development program including weekly training
• Achieved 85% customer satisfaction rate (up from 68%) by timely issue resolution
• Earned performance award for excellent customer service skills twice
SKILLS
Advanced Excel skills include pivot tables, V-lookups, and financial modeling scenarios. Proficient with Bloomberg, Microsoft
FrontPage, Visible Analyst, Lotus Notes, HTML, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Project, Outlook and Access
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Big Brother, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association of Greater Boston, 2008 through present
Reading Mentor, Literacy Volunteers of America, 2006 – present
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
"BEFORE” and “AFTER” Analysis
The changes made in Walter's "after" resume helped him secure a corporate financial analyst role.
Let's review the changes and why they were made.
•
Standardized Fonts
: Notice how sleek and modern the "after" version appears. The "before"
version used a creative font for Walter’s name, and Times New Roman for the body. The "after"
resume uses Arial rounded MT Bold for his name, Arial for his contact information, and Arial
Narrow for the body.
•
Summary
: By adding a summary, we tied together his degrees in finance and marketing, and
highlighted his transferable skills. Walter is showcased as a top performer with sophisticated
financial analysis skills.
•
Reformatted Education
: Walter’s new degree pops by utilizing standard formatting in the
education section.
•
Standardized Work Experience Section
: Walter's previous work experience is much easier to
read by clearly formatting the company name, his title and tenure in the role, and bulleting his
achievements.
•
Added Internship
: Experience utilizing new financial skills was shown by adding Walter’s
internship as a financial analyst.
•
Finance-Focused Achievements
: In the first version, Walters achievements were marketing
focused and described from a marketer’s point of view. Because his future job would be very
different from his previous positions, Walter’s accomplishment statements needed to be
revised. Notice that now they are more financially focused and transferable skills are highlighted.
•
Repositioned Technical Skills
: Walter’s technical skills were moved to the end of his resume
except for those required in the job posting. Critical technical skills were mentioned in the
summary.
•
Edited Job History
: The cell phone kiosk job that Walter held during undergraduate school was
deleted as it was not relevant to the position he sought.
•
Deleted Activities Section
: Resume best practices do not include hobbies like reading or
watching movies. This section was deleted.
Community Leadership Section Added:
Walter earned his graduate degree and maintained a high grade
point average while being active in two community organizations. These roles were added to his resume
in a section called community leadership.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Resume Resources
23
Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Grammar Rules
Rule
Comments
• Capitalize the names of
foreign countries, nationalities
and languages
• Do not capitalize industries or
disciplines such as marketing,
finance or biotechnology
• Proper names/titles are
capitalized
• Abbreviate states for employer
locations
• For percentages, consider
using the percentage sign
• Except in the body of a
job description, e.g.,
responsible for sales in
Massachusetts
• Write out years completely
• It is not necessary to include
months
• Spell out address information,
such as street, unless space
is an issue
• Numbers less than eleven
should be written out
• Numbers beginning a
sentence should be written out
• Use numbers for large
monetary amounts
• When referring to monetary
amounts from overseas,
translate the amount into U.S.
• You can either spell out
million or use upper
case “M”
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Resume Action Verbs
Management
and
Leadership
Skills
Communication
Research
Technical
Skills
Teaching
Organizational
Financial
Creative
administered
analyzed
assigned
attained
chaired
contracted
consolidated
coordinated
delegated
developed
directed
evaluated
executed
improved
increased
organized
oversaw
planned
prioritized
produced
recommended
reviewed
scheduled
strengthened
supervised
addressed
arbitrated
arranged
authored
corresponded
developed
directed
drafted
edited
enlisted
formulated
influenced
interpreted
lectured
mediated
moderated
motivated
negotiated
persuaded
promoted
publicized
reconciled
recruited
spoke
translated
wrote
clarified
collected
critiqued
diagnosed
evaluated
examined
extracted
identified
inspected
interpreted
interviewed
investigated
organized
reviewed
summarized
surveyed
systematized
assembled
built
calculated
computed
designed
devised
engineered
fabricated
maintained
operated
overhauled
programmed
remodeled
repaired
solved
trained
upgraded
adapted
advised
clarified
coached
communicated
coordinated
developed
enabled
encouraged
evaluated
explained
facilitated
guided
informed
initiated
instructed
persuaded
set goals
stimulated
approved
arranged
catalogued
categorized
chartered
classified
coded
collected
compiled
corrected
corresponded
distributed
executed
filed
generated
incorporated
inspected
logged
maintained
monitored
operated
ordered
organized
provided
purchased
reviewed
verified
administered
allocated
analyzed
appraised
audited
balanced
budgeted
calculated
computed
developed
forecasted
managed
marketed
planned
projected
researched
acted
conceptualized
created
designed
developed
directed
established
fashioned
founded
illustrated
instituted
integrated
introduced
invented
originated
performed
planned
revitalized
shaped
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Resume FAQs
In this section, we've collected some of the most common questions asked by Bentley alumni. For ease
of reference, we categorize them by topic and refer back to the relevant guide pages.
Purpose:
Q:
What is the purpose of a resume?
A:
The resume has several purposes. (See page 4)
• Marketing tool designed to get you an interview.
• To position you as the top candidate.
• To showcase the skills and education which match the requirements in the job posting.
• To engage the reader and position you confidently, honestly, and persuasively.
• To remind the interviewer of you after you're gone.
• To serve as the basis for justifying the hiring decision to others.
Q: What are the unbreakable rules of resumes?
A:
There are two – no grammatical errors or misspellings; and don’t exaggerate!
Formatting:
Q: Should my resume contain my full street address?
A:
If your street address will be a benefit (if you live nearby), you can list it. Otherwise, it’s fine to skip it.
If you do include your address, there is no need to include specifics such as apartment number.
Q: Should my resume have my legal name or the name by which I am known?
A:
Both. Recruiters and hiring managers need to be able to find you, so consistency across platforms is
key. List your legal name followed by the name you’re known by in parenthesis.
Q: Does it matter what I name my resume file?
A:
Yes it does! As you can see in the comment above, name your file with your first and last name,
perhaps adding the position title you seek. Avoid naming it “resume.”
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Q: In what format should my resume be saved?
A:
You’ll need two versions. The first is a PDF, to be used whenever your resume is to be attached to
an email. This insures that it will look and print exactly as you intended no matter what browser or
operating system the viewer is using. The second is a TXT file, to be used whenever you cut and paste
the contents of your resume – often an online application form. This format strips away all formatting,
keeping just the text. It’s not very attractive, but will preserve the content and avoid viewing and printing
errors.
Q: What are the best fonts to use on my resume?
A:
Use sleek san serif fonts like Arial, Arial Narrow, or Calibri. Avoid curly serif fonts like Times New
Roman because they don't scan as well.
Q: I’ve seen so many resume formats. How do I know which one is best for me?
A:
Recruiters and HR professionals are virtually unanimous in their preference for the chronological
resume. It is differentiated by having work experience in chronological order – starting with the most
recent and going back. Although it is tempting to use a functional resume (especially if you’re a career-
changer), they are not as well-received. In fact, recruiters will often ask candidates to rewrite their
resume into chronological order.
Summary:
Q: What is the purpose of a summary section?
A:
A summary statement concisely describes who you are and shows how well your skills and career
highlights align with those in the job description. (See page 12 for additional details)
Q: My resume has an objective. Why should I remove it?
“As a recruiter, my pet peeve is receiving
resume file named “resume.” Drives me
nuts and makes the search for their
materials so much harder.”
Fran Blanco
Director New Business
Contact Communications
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
A:
The objective is all about what you want; the summary focuses on what you can do for the
prospective employer. The objective statement is an artifact from a very different job market. With more
jobs than qualified candidates to fill them, organizations sought to woo prospective employees. Job
candidates used the objective section to indicate how a company could get their attention, for example
with a fast career track. These days the equation has been turned inside-out; organizations have their
pick from a huge pool of qualified applicants.
Q: What is a “branding statement?”
A:
The branding statement is the first sentence of your summary section. It describes who you are
followed by a key differentiating skill. Below are some examples. (See pages 12-13 for more detailed
information).
Q: What do you mean when you say a resume should be focused on a specific job? Shouldn’t it be all
about my skills and accomplishments?
A:
A hiring manager expresses the skills they need in the job posting. Targeted resumes focus on those
skills, and delete anything extraneous. Describe how you’ve used key skills listed in the job posting; and
delete any skills not mentioned. For example, if you have extensive experience creating financial
models, but you seek a position in marketing, this is probably an extraneous skill set.
Work Experience:
Q: I’m changing careers. How can I structure my resume when the jobs I’ve held don’t match the job I
want?
• Accomplished customer care and project manager with IT service
management, support, and call center experience.
• Emerging marketing analytics professional with recent MBA and
healthcare technology experience.
• Accounting professional with Big 4 experience.
• Marketing assistant with social media and analytics experience.
• Senior finance executive that has led organizations through peak
growth, extensive mergers & acquisitions, and restructuring.
• Strategic business analyst with strong record of reducing
significant risk factors through audit program enhancements.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
A:
The best approach is to find the skills you have which transfer to the new position. Start by
investigating the core skills needed for the position you seek. Then consider how you’ve used those
skills in the past. Focus the summary and accomplishment bullets ONLY on the skills required for the
new position. The Walter Waltham before and after resumes are an excellent example of framing your
experience for the job you seek rather than the jobs you held in the past. (See Jane Gray sample
resume)
Q: How can I explain an employment gap?
A:
It’s best to disclose possible red flags early and in a positive light
.
One sentence in your resume
Summary will do it. Check out this example, which deals with a gap in the second sentence of the
Summary: “Finance professional with Fortune 100 experience. Returning to workplace after sabbatical
to raise family.”
Q: How do I create a quantifiable result statement when my job is not at all quantifiable?
A:
Most resumes list tasks instead of results. You can use “hard” metrics such as “increased customer
satisfaction by 20%,” but many times these are not available. You can use a “soft” measure instead:
“noticeably increased staff morale.” (See pages 8-12 for detailed explanations and examples)
Q: The company I worked for has changed names. Which name should be on my resume?
A:
This is very common as organizations merge, are acquired, or re-brand. Your resume should have
the company name as it was when you worked there, followed by the new name in parenthesis. An
example would be ABC Co. (Now Big Conglomerate Inc.)
Q: The company I worked for went out of business. How should that be shown on my resume?
A:
This answer has two parts. First – you should list the company as it was when you worked there –
name and location. The second (and perhaps more critical) part of the answer is access to people who
could serve as references. LinkedIn is a great tool for keeping up with colleagues throughout your/their
careers. Make sure you keep track of your former managers, especially for recent positions as you will
likely be asked to provide their contact information as references.
Q: I worked multiple contract positions while I was unemployed. How do I list this?
A:
If you worked for multiple organizations assigned to you by a single placement agency, list the
agency name followed by bullets with specific details. This would include the company and your title
there. You may also include achievements for longer positions. See Example #1.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
On the other hand, if various different agencies hired you for temporary or contract positions, list the
company where you worked, followed by the placement agency name in parenthesis. See Example #2
below. (See an example in the Heather Fairfield)
Example #1:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Accountemps, Boston, MA
Accounting Contractor
2014 - 2015
• Performed accounting functions for a variety of companies including EMC Corporation, IBM
Corporation, Fidelity Investments, and State Street Corporation.
Example #2:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EMC Corp., Hopkinton, MA (Through Accountemps)
Q: I consulted during my period of unemployment. How do I list that on my resume?
A:
If you were self-employed as an independent consultant, it is beneficial to include this information on
your resume. Provide a description of the type of service you offered and an overview of some of your
client projects. (See an example in the Jane Gray resume)
Education:
Q:
I have more than one degree. How do I list them?
A:
If you have multiple degrees, list the higher level, most recent one first followed by the earlier degree.
Remember that the purpose of your resume is to market YOU, so boldface your degree not the
granting institution. See the “Walter Waltham" resumes for an example.
Q: What if I attended multiple colleges before earning my degree?
A:
You can choose to list both colleges (see example below). Most people opt to list only the institution
that actually granted the degree.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
EDUCATION
Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Bachelor of Science
, Finance, summa cum laude May
2015
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 2010 -
2012
Coursework toward Bachelor of Science
Q: I spent a year abroad in college. How do I list this?
A:
If you studied abroad and this experience could interest a potential employer, include it in Education
section. See example below.
Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Bachelor of Science, Finance May 2015
American Business School, Paris, France
2012
Study Abroad Program
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Sample Resumes
*Always make your resume unique to you. These are for reference only and
should not be copied verbatim.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
James L. Bentley
1220 Seaside Blvd. Marblehead, MA 01915 508.555.5555 [email protected]
www.linkedin/jbentley
SUMMARY
Master of Science in Finance candidate with exceptional quantitative finance skills. Extensive skills in
statistical arbitrage, quantitative risk modeling, and database management. Proficient with business
applications. Knowledge of Fixed Income, Equity, and FX models. Previous achievements include
optimizing and enhancing processes while delivering outstanding customer service. Risk management
experience includes designing new analysis to identify trends and opportunities and automating
processes.
EDUCATION
Bentley University – McCallum Graduate School of Business, Waltham, MA
Master of Finance, candidate GPA 3.62
August 2016
Relevant courses – Applied Modeling (Continuous probability, Brownian motion stochastic processes, Ito
calculus), Time Series (decomposition, ARIMA, GARCH, VaR), Fixed Income (bonds, repos, swaps,
MBS), Equity Valuation (fundamental research, financial statement analysis), Derivatives (options,
futures, hedging)
Babson College, Wellesley, MA
Bachelor of Science in Business Management
May 2010
Concentrations: Computational Finance, Information Technology
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Medical Technology Group, Boston, MA
2010 - 2014
Analyst – Actuarial Department (2012 – present)
• Reduced delivery time of reports to clients and internal employees from months to minutes by
independently designing and programming automated reporting systems (SA & OA) in SAS and
VBA
• Ensured continuous delivery of highest level of service by meticulously documenting all
processes and code; providing ongoing educational support
• Optimized tracking of indemnity payments through Specialty Analysis (SA) – Classifying medical
complications of closed claims
• Simplified the process of updating records by redesigning database to eliminate repetition
• Enhanced the database to aid in tracking practices and preparing appraisals
• Surpassed customer requirements and expectations through direct client interaction
Analyst – Risk Management Department (2010 – 2012)
• Improved Risk Management by designing new analysis to detail payment trends and identifying
opportunities
• Identified poor performing areas by Office Appraisal (OA) – Benchmarking physicians against
their peers
• Maintain accuracy Risk Management and Actuarial groups by continuously reviewing/updating
data management and statistical modeling
Graduate Student Resume
33
Resume & Cover Letter Guide
• Automated assessment reporting and sustained future written policies by developing Access
database
TECHNICAL SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Finance: Bloomberg Certified, FactSet, CRSP, Thomson, MetaStock, exposed to MSCI Barra
Programming: C#, Visual Basic .NET, VBA, SQL, PHP, HTML, CSS, exposed to C++, ColdFusion
Statistical Packages: Base SAS (Macros), R, SPSS, MINITAB, exposed to MATLAB
Simulation / Optimization: Palisade Decision Tools @Risk, Oracle Crystal Ball, ARGUS
Database: MySQL, Microsoft Access, Oracle Hyperion, exposed to kdb+, Time Series db Structure
Other: Unix, Procomm Plus, Elluminate, Saba Centra, IS4W, Adobe Fireworks, AutoCAD
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Association for Finance Professionals, Boston chapter, 2014 – present
Risk Management Association of Boston, 2010 – present
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
LAURA GOLDEN
618 Newbury Drive, N. Andover, MA 01845 978-222-2222 laura.golden6@gmail.com
www.linkedin/lgolden
SUMMARY
Emerging recruiting professional. Sourced top performers and increased applicant pool by 30% to 50%.
Successfully utilized social media to publicize and attract new candidates. Trusted with confidential
materials in HR and political settings.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Worldwide Software Inc., Boston, MA
Recruiting Assistant June 2014 - Present
• Coordinated annual industry conference which 92% of attendees rated as "excellent"
• Increased company awareness by attending 12 regional college career fairs in which booth was
among the busiest
• Sourced 17 new top performers last year through well attended monthly recruiting events
• Increased online job applications 30% by maintaining current web page job descriptions and job
postings
• Established new candidate sourcing by creating Twitter account and posting openings daily
• Doubled the qualified candidate pool and increased search efficiency of MBA recruiting database
Massachusetts State Senate, Boston, MA
Senate Page
,
Offices of Senator Edward Markey Jan. 2013 - May 2014
• Decreased time required to produce daily itineraries by automating process through macros in MS
word and Excel
• Maintained consistently superior customer satisfaction by answering constituent questions quickly and
accurately
• Enhanced process of answering constituent questions quickly and accurately by creating FAQ
documents
• Established social media presence by creating Facebook page which received over 2000 "likes" in
three months
• Increased communication among staff by creating a daily update email
• Trusted with access to confidential, political information
The Athena Institute, New York, NY
Administrative Intern
Feb. 2013 - May 2014
The Athena Institute
focuses on women’s issues in Hollywood and popular culture
• Provided new client resource by assisting founder with creation and publication of e-book of women
directors
• Enhanced existing popular resource by updating list of screenplays by women writers
• Contributed to the publication of a list of screenplays by women screenwriters
• Increased prospective donors list 30% through online research and analysis
• Increased page views and click through rate 55% by analyzing and optimizing keywords using Google
analytics
Somerfield Women's Film Festival, New York, NY
Early Career Resume
35
Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Production Assistant June 2013 - Feb. 2014
• Assisted in successful film festival launch by providing logistical and administrative support
• Significantly increased program awareness by active promotion on social media (Twitter and
Facebook)
• Helped program achieve 30% increase in Festival donors by identifying new prospects
Bentley University Athletic Office, Waltham, MA
Assistant to Soccer Coach Sept. 2010 - May 2012
• Increased pool of potential recruits by analyzing high school player statistics and creating MS Access
database
• Helped maintain high recruiting yield rate by providing campus tours and information sessions
EDUCATION
Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Bachelor of Arts, Sustainability, Magna cum Laude
GPA: 3.7
May 2014
SOFTWARE/TECHNICAL SKILLS
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access; internet research; social media.
ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS
Senator, Bentley University Student Government. Pre-Law Society (Member)
SENIOR MARKETING MBA PROFESSIONAL WITH EXTENSIVE ONLINE MARKETING SKILLS. Strategic
marketing skills have generated extensive revenue growth, increased revenues, and increased business
partner revenues. Achieved several multimillion dollar new product launches. Produced $3M revenue
from previously negative product line.
Deep expertise generating revenue through e-commerce and online products.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Belvedere Services Company, Boston, MA 2009 - Present
Provider of strategic government alliances between advertisers and consumer segments under strict
privacy
Director of Magazine Business Division
(October 2011 - Present)
■ Increased revenues from $3.7M to $6M in less than 12 months through highly targeted online
marketing
■ Increased business partner revenues 30% by developing innovative cobranded advertising
■ Developed $2M projected additional revenue through strategic partnership with magazines.com
■ Generated additional $500K in annual revenue by closing deals with 10 new magazine publisher
partners, including Rolling Stone, Martha Stewart Living, and Wall Street Journal
Anna M. Salmon
200 South Street • Arlington, MA 02476 • 978-222-2222 • [email protected] • www.linkedin/annasalmon
Mid-Career Resume
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
National Sales Director, Magazines
(March 2010 - October 2011)
■ Generated $3M from previously negative margin product line by revising pricing model and
partnerships
■ Met or exceeded revenue and production goals for national sales and marketing teams
■ Grew revenue from $0 to $3M in less than a year by closing deals with eight partners (including
Time Inc., largest publisher in the world) in less than eight months
■ Grew the Time Inc. partnership from $500,000 in 2008 to over $1M in 2010
Marketing Manager, New Product Development
(July 2009 - March 2010)
■ Assisted in introduction of three new product lines projected to yield $4M first year revenue by
managing ideation, development, focus groups, and in-market testing
■ Generated $2.7M new revenue by developing gaming magazine business from startup to
national rollout
■ Created new and incremental revenue by creating analyzing market opportunities and creating
online products
■ Maintained profit margins by analyzing product sales data and projecting future sales
■ Analyzed product sales data and created sales forecasts
■ Significantly increased sales leads by leading cross functional teams for multiple pipeline
initiatives
■ Maintained brand consistency by working directly with third-party vendors and outside creative
agencies on print and web products
Flower Power Inc.
,
Quincy, MA
$50M importer and distributor supplying florists and large national supermarket chains
Director, Sales and Marketing
2007 - 2009
■ Increased revenues 15% by planning and developing sales goals, policies and programs for b-2-b
marketing and sales activities
■ Generated over $5 million in sales in 2006 by negotiating and signing on four new product lines
■ Increased monthly sales from $4,800 to $63,000 on Black Widow product line through aggressive
marketing
■ Decreased inventory and costs 35% by implementing innovative online buying program for
customers
Anna Salmon [email protected]
■ Contributed to a 15% total customer account growth in less than six months, by capitalizing on
customer relationship management, account recovery, and customer segment analysis, and
creating the company’s first marketing department
■ Brought in over $350,000 in non-customer account sales in the first six months by hiring and
developing new positions for outside sales representatives
■ Significantly increased brand and services awareness by coordinating and managing customer
and sales force training seminars, floral industry trade shows and conferences on topics such as
maximizing sales, marketing, product training, and cost control
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Target Marketing Inc., Cambridge, MA
Marketing consulting firm targeting small business clients in New England area. Client portfolio
included a wide
array of industries including high-tech, residential land development, stone masonry, bridal salons,
rest homes,
and medical centers.
Co-Founder and Marketing Consultant
January - August 2007
■ Increased sales 56% by developing and implementing marketing plan which increased the
number of residents from 18 to 32 in less than four months
■ Generated a steady stream of residual income for rest home by creating a waiting list of
prospective clients
■ Tripled sales in two months and expanded business throughout East coast for small stone
masonry company through streamlined online presence; developed lead generation system to
maintain steady sales flow
■ Established marketing plan and evolution of online marketing with CEO of small engineering start
up
EDUCATION
Bentley University - McCallum Graduate School of Business, Waltham, MA
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
, Marketing Management
May 2010
Bachelor of Science (BS
),
Marketing
May 2007
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher and Project Manager; Google
analytics; Dreamweaver; HTML
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
New Business Development Consultant & Activity Leader
Horizons for Homeless Children – Roxbury, MA
Board Member, Planning Committee,
New England Aquarium – Boston, MA
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Big Brother Big Sisters,
Active Member since 2007
Boston Food Bank Leader,
Organize 2 events per year to support obtaining healthy food options for those
in need
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
J
ANE
R.
G
RAY
1200 Osgood Street, Newton, MA 02468
617-444-4444 n Jane.Gray@verizon.net
H
UMAN
R
ESOURCES
/
R
ECRUITING
M
ANAGEMENT
P
ROFESSIONAL
Global HR/recruiting executive transitioning to graduate career services advisor. Award-winning, key
resource instrumental in the achievement of global diversity and key talent acquisition corporate initiatives.
Consistently over delivers on aggressive goals. Extensive expertise in sourcing and recruiting worldwide top
talent, facilitating successful assimilation into the corporate culture, and retention of top performers.
Instrumental in reversing talent drain in specific department. Excellent program design and delivery skills.
Provides exceptional value to graduate school programs.
E
XPERIENCE AND
A
CHIEVEMENTS
East New England University Graduate School Career Services, Boston, MA
Human Resources Executive-in-Residence
2014 - present
■ Achieved 98% placement rate for domestic graduates of MBA and MS programs
■ Regularly invited to participate in "Focus Your Career" programs for students unsure of career paths
■ Delivered well received job search skill development workshops by utilizing extensive corporate and
recruiting knowledge
■ Assisted in development and delivery of new service offering in response to increased number of alumni
in career transition
■ Maintained high job placement rate by assisting domestic and international students to enhance
interview skills through mock interviews, and create/polish resumes through resume clinics
■ Generated two graduate school internships by developing five new company recruiting contacts through
employer outreach
■ Noticeably increased subscribership in biweekly department newsletter by writing new editorial column
Big Financial Services Co., Boston, MA
Recruiting Consultant, Wealth Management
2012 - 2014
■ Recruited 120+ candidates yearly (exempt and non-exempt), managing 30–45 concurrent requisitions
■ Significantly increased quality and size of applicant pool by strengthening sourcing and recruiting activities
including analyzing and streamlining vendor list, invigorating employee referral program, developing
contacts in employment agencies and placement offices, participating in college recruiting events and
career fairs
■ Insured efficient, cost-effective recruiting efforts by adding three new high-value vendors and removing
two low performers
■ Strengthened sourcing and recruiting activities
Career Changer Resume
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
■ Increased number of good fit hires by building strong relationships with hiring managers and executive
management; learned team culture and dynamics to identify and source appropriate hires
■ Assisted in meeting company diversity recruitment goals by coaching hiring managers in strategic recruiting
practices, fair treatment, and diversity development practices
■ Significantly increased team value to the organization; was promoted from contractor to permanent
employee after three months
Monolith Bank & Trust, Boston, MA
Employment Specialist
(Independent Contractor)
January - August 2012
■ Significantly increased the caliber of candidates sourced, screened, and hired for a wide variety of
departments
■ Enabled organization’s rapid growth by hiring 12 top performers, including three senior managers, in five
months
■ Earned company award for hiring the most people (five) in one week
■ Exceeded department sourcing, interviewing, and hiring goals; original two month contract extended to
eight months
Jane R. Gray 617-444-4444 [email protected]
Global Financial Services Co., Boston, MA
Multiple Positions
1991 - 2012
Recruiting Manager (
2009 - 2012)
■ Set records for both recruitment and retention by building a highly effective HR recruiting program
■ Successfully introduced US and corporate culture to high potential employees around the world
■ Successfully recruited 50+ experienced candidates in six months, setting new records for recruiting speed
and effectiveness
■ Achieved the best retention record in the company by creating and executing individualized career
development plans in tandem with management team, implemented follow-up, training, and mentoring
programs to ensure progress
■ Developed Global Development Program (GDP), recognized as one of the best in the country, to assist in
the achievement of strategic corporate initiative to integrate worldwide business talent by profiling and
approving international candidates for high-level US rotational assignments
■ Developed formal coaching/mentoring programs to facilitate each candidate's professional and cultural
transition
■ Company named Fortune's 8th Best Company to Work For by collaborating closely with national leader of
the Advancement and Retention of Women Program; a key factor to achieving award
■ Enhanced internal referral program by creating an experienced hire database
■ Facilitated new hire fit into corporate culture by developing and delivering biweekly new-hire orientation
communiqué
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Assignment Director
(2006 - 2009)
■ Stemmed talent drain by instituting an effective career development program for 200-member audit staff
■ Improved retention by 25% by serving as liaison between audit staff and management with a focus on
employee relations and staff retention
■ Increased department effectiveness by developing programs to build staff knowledge and experience
while balancing Department and client needs
■ Created a platform to identify and discuss issues proactively by conceiving, launching, and leading
Scheduling Advisory Committee
■ Facilitated smooth staff integration after major merger and an acquisition by leading corporate cultural-
change initiatives and educational programs that improved employee relations during challenging periods
Scheduling Manager
(2003 - 2006)
Audit Assignment Coordinator
(1991 - 2003)
E
DUCATION
Ecole Technique Supérieure De L’état, Brussels, Belgium
Bachelor of Arts (equivalent), Major: French
T
ECHNICAL SKILLS
Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Internet applications; proprietary business and HR
applications
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Ashun Patel
Waltham, MA ● 888-555-666 ● email: [email protected] ● linkedin/ashun.strategist
DATA – DRIVEN MARKETER | ANALYTICAL STRATEGIST | BUSINESS ANALYST
Master of Science in Marketing Analytics candidate with 14 years of global work experience as a Sales
and Marketing Manager. Extensive experience as a data-driven marketer able to effectively deliver
customer & business insights to C-suite. Expert in leading cross-functional and geographically dispersed
projects to significantly increase Customer Market Share. Established international brands and improved
market penetration by using data analytics to identify profitable consumer segments. Adept at effectively
managing revenue size of $20M per year and delivered positive EBIDTA margins in the highly
competitive Telecom Industry in India & Africa. Pivotal in providing key business inputs to develop
Business Intelligence platforms by interaction with R&D and Technical teams.
EXPERTISE
• •
Tableau Expert
• Branding & Digital
• Managing Revenue of $51M
• SPSS & Advanced Excel
• Sales & Market Research
• Social Media Marketing
• •
Regression Modeling
• Deliver insights to C-suite
• Marketing Budget of $5 M
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2014 - 2018
COMPANY A, State or Country
General Manager - Marketing
• Led an experienced team of 25 people comprising of business analyst , product managers and
digital marketing specialists to deliver an annual gross revenue of $ 51M by managing the
entire marketing portfolio and marketing budget of $ 5M in the eastern region of India
• Established an impetus on market research division in association with IMRB India to conduct
online, telephonic and focus group surveys to improve Top 2 CSAT scores by 5%
• Improved the EBIDTA margin by 10% with the help of key business insights to reduce costs and
improve revenue per customer derived through extensive use of business analytics
• Improved the per customer level revenue with my team by managing Customer Lifetime Value
leading to an increase in Customer Market share by 1%Led the role of growth marketing to
improve revenue market share by 1% per year
COMPANY B, State or Country
Deputy General Manager -Marketing
2012 - 2014
• Designed the unique “My Airtel, My Offer” platform by working along with IT and IN
teams to offer customized segmented offering to consumers aimed at improving the Lifetime
Value of the customer
Experienced Resume
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
• Led the team focused on improving Lifetime Value of customer by using customer data and
combining the use of analytical tools including SPSS, Microsoft Access and using the
Teradata BI platform
• Conceptualized and launched new digital marketing campaign “Aapla” both on Digital &
OOH aimed at building regional connect and improving customer acquisition by 10%
• Improved the revenue per year from $70 M to $80 M with extensive use of business analytics
to improve customer acquisition by specific regions and reducing customer attrition by 2%
• Led project to make each region profitable by identifying key insights on business
challenges by region and implementing a strategic plan to improve profitability
COMPANY C, State or Country
2009 - 2012
Senior Manager - Marketing
• Implemented SAS business analytics tool in the largest telecom circle in India to aid in business
decision making
• Launched the first digital marketing campaign in the telecom industry in India by working with the
ad agency Madison
• Designed the product portfolio for 3G implementation on the basis of the consumer survey and
perceptual map of other competitive brands
• Led the internal capital investment project “Bull’s Eye” worth $10M in partnership with the team
from NTT Docomo (NTT of Japan) to drive disproportionate growth in customer acquisition and
10% reduction in customer attrition
• Effectively managed a marketing budget of $10 M to launch services of Tata Docomo in the state
of Karnataka
COMPANY D, State or Country
2008 - 2009
Product Manager - Marketing (June 2008 – Aug. 2009)
• Introduced the money transfer platform for the first time in Tanzania called Z-Pesa
• Developed a new innovative platform for electricity bills (“LUKU”) with a team of 4
people resulting in a 30% subscription in the first financial year
• Managed the Marketing & Sales Promotion budget of $ 3M
Manager - Marketing (Jan 2008 - May 2008)
• Developed two new products along with my supervisor which resulted in reduction in customer
attrition by 2%
• Played a pivotal role in implementing the Teradata BI tool within the organization by being the
key SPOC from business team and working along with IT, IN and Arbor teams
• Introduced the Virtual Calling Card product for the first time in India which resulted in increase
in ISD calling adoption by 15% among customers during the span of 6 months
EDUCATION
Bentley University Graduate School of Business, Waltham, MA
May 2019
Master of Science in Marketing Analytics, candidate GPA: 3.76
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Panjab University, University School of Business, Chandigarh, India
2003
Master in Business Administration , Marketing & Human Resources
Dr. MGR Engineering College, University of Madras, Chennai, India
2000
Bachelor of Technology, Chemical
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Digital Analytics Association, President
● American Marketing Association, Member
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
RESUME REVIEW CHECKLIST
Your resume is an advertisement of your skills and experience focused on a specific job
that makes an
emotional connection with the reader. It is designed to get you an interview — not a job.
FORMAT NOTES
Layout 11-12 pt. font _______________________________________
Arial/Tahoma/Calibri
½ - 1 inch margins
Save as .PDF
Length 1 page if <5 years’ experience
_______________________________________
(2 pages max.)
Format Chronological _______________________________________
Grammar 3
rd
person _______________________________________
Active verbs
Capitalize: Proper Nouns & Titles
CONTACT INFO
Name Larger font, bold _______________________________________
Address Optional _______________________________________
Phone Mobile phone only _______________________________________
Web Email address and LinkedIn URL _______________________________________
SUMMARY
Content Branding Statement (Not Objective) _______________________________________
Enable employer to see you as
qualified_______________________________________
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Convey value you bring to the job
Describe job you are seeking
_______________________________________
Maximum impact areas/industries
Disclose possible “red flags” positively
_______________________________________
Add “Tipping Points” _______________________________________
EXPERIENCE NOTES
Time Span Not more than 10 years
_______________________________________
Heading Company, City, State, Position Title, _______________________________________
Years of Employment (not months)
Optional Company Profile/Position Summary _______________________________________
Focus Needs of prospective employer
_______________________________________
Descriptions Mapped to job description & summary
_______________________________________
Results How you made a difference _______________________________________
Quantifiable/Measurable
EDUCATION
Location Top/bottom depending on relevancy
_______________________________________
Degrees Highest degree first _______________________________________
GPA Recent grads only and >3.0 _______________________________________
Credentials Certifications, Licenses,
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Prof. Designations (could also be in _______________________________________
contact info or summary)
TECHNOLOGY
Location In summary, job description, or _______________________________________
separate section depending on
relevancy
ACTIVITIES
Interests If relevant _______________________________________
Leadership & Organization, position, years and _______________________________________
Community achievements (if relevant)
Service
REFERENCES Not necessary
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
COVER LETTERS
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Cover Letters: Introduction
A great cover letter can differentiate you from other candidates. It presents your education, skills, and
experience in a different way than your resume, and allows you to focus more precisely on the needs of
the employer. Even if the cover letter is not required, it's generally a good idea to provide one. A well-
written cover letter will:
• Create a positive first impression
• Convince the reader to read your resume
• Demonstrate how you fulfill the company’s needs
• Showcase your accomplishments in a way that is relevant to the position
• Showcase additional accomplishments that are not on your resume
• Demonstrate your work ethic and commitment to going above and beyond (especially if the
cover letter is not required)
• Explain any gaps in employment
A prospective employer will review your cover letter (and resume) with one question in mind: "what can
you do for me?” The most important thing to keep in mind when writing a cover letter is to keep it
focused on the employer (and the position) instead of on you. The second most important thing to keep
in mind is that people are busy, and there are many applicants for each position. Keeping your cover
letter targeted and concise will make you stand out.
Most cover letters are submitted electronically, usually as an attachment along with your resume. They
may be read on-screen or printed; choose standard fonts and clean formatting that will be effective on
both platforms. Be sure to create your cover letter with both spell-check and grammar-check turned
on.
Helpful Tips
• Identify your audience and target your letter by imagining yourself in the prospective employer’s
position
• Keep it short and to the point by eliminating all unnecessary details
• Write in active voice
• Read the cover letter at least three times, then put it aside and reread once more
• Have others read your letter to edit and proofread
Try to answer the question the employers will be asking themselves as they read your letter: "Why
should I hire this person? What value can this person add to our company?"
Personalize your cover letter with Dear Mr. or Ms. X (last name). Utilize LinkedIn, the company website,
and any other tools and connections possible to get the name of the hiring manager. Always research
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
whether the person is male or female. Never assume someone’s gender based on his or her first
name. (For example, Randy and Sandy are names that can be used by both males and females). If you
are unsure, call the company’s main number and ask.
Use the generic "Dear Hiring Manager" or “Dear Recruiter” only as an absolute last resort. Your
resourcefulness in tracking down the name of the hiring manager is an example of taking the extra step
and will differentiate you.
Some people create one cover letter and use it for everything. Generic cover letters don't make a very
good impression – in fact they may give the impression that the writer couldn't be bothered to do a little
research and spend some time writing a more focused letter. It is far more effective to write a targeted
cover letter.
Be sure to save your cover letter with the name of the company and the date so that you can quickly
find it when you are called in for an interview!
Additional Resources
Quint Careers Website:
http://www.quintcareers.com/covres.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter_tutorial.html
Two Column Cover Letter:
http://www.bentley.edu/alumni/news-and-events/spotlight/magic-cover-letter
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Template for a Traditional Cover
Letter
Your Name
City, State Zip Code
Date
Mr. or Ms. Name of Recruiter
Recruiter’s Title
Company or Organization
Street Address
City, State and Zip Code
Dear _______:
Paragraph One: Opening and Introduction (i.e., why you are interested
in them.) Who you are, why you are writing and how you learned of the open position.
• If someone referred you to the company and the person WILL speak highly of you, then don't
hesitate to mention their name. Be sure to get prior approval when using someone's name in
the cover letter.
• Convey enthusiasm and eagerness to work for the company.
• Include a “grabber” statement. Research the company and find something very compelling to
say about why you want to work for them. Avoid very "general" statements such as "I would like
to work for an industry leader."
• Summarize in ONE sentence the value you can add to the company.
• Use the job description as a guideline and make the MATCH between what the buyer wants
and what you, the seller, have to offer.
Paragraph Two: Prove you are the best person for the job
(i.e., why they should be interested in you.)
• Give evidence of your skills and accomplishments.
• Provide several accomplishments with astounding detail.
• Showcase different accomplishments than those on your resume.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
• Demonstrate knowledge about the company and the issues they are facing. The organization
is looking for you to do the matching work for them. If you can understand their needs and
communicate your ability to solve their problems you will be more likely to get an interview.
Paragraph Three: Closing Paragraph and Next Steps
Restate your eagerness about working for the company.
Request an interview. (optional)
• Thank the reader for their time and attention.
Sincerely,
(Two spaces)
Your Name (Typed)
cc: Name (if you were referred by someone)
Att: resume (if applicable)
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Sample Traditional Cover Letter
Ms. Susan Holmes
200 Lexington St. ● Waltham, MA 02154 ● 781-891-2000 ● [email protected]
Date
Mr. John Smith
Vice President of Corporate Marketing
XYZ Software Inc.
285 Appletree Way
Boston, MA 02215
Dear Mr. Smith:
Mr. Steve Johnson suggested I write to you regarding my interest in the Marketing Manager position
posted on your company website. Forrester Research ranked XYZ Software as the market leader for
web-based learning, and I am eager to work for a company on the leading edge of Internet software
development. I am currently a second-year MBA student at the Graduate School of Business at Bentley
University. After attending your company information session, I am confident I can make an immediate
contribution to XYZ Software by applying marketing skills that I have developed during my previous
work as well as my academic studies.
As Marketing Manager at eLearning Magazine, I helped the company develop and implement marketing
programs to compete effectively in a crowded marketplace. Using qualitative and quantitative market
research, I analyzed the firm's strategic position and recommended market and partner opportunities to
strengthen its competitive advantage. Several of these partner agreements have led to increased sales
opportunities and revenues for eLearning Magazine. I also developed targeted PR campaigns, which
greatly enhanced eLearning's image in the magazine and trade show market.
Prior to my experience at eLearning Magazine, I managed lead generation programs for ABC Software
in
Boston, which resulted in a 25% increase in total leads generated over a one-year period and an
increase in direct sales revenues of $1.5M.
I am eager to continue my career in the web-based learning marketplace and bring my marketing and
communications experience to XYZ Software. I welcome the opportunity to learn more about your
needs and provide you with additional details regarding my background and how I can contribute to
your organization. I am available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you in advance for your
time and consideration.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Sincerely,
Susan Holmes
cc: Steve Johnson, Director, Marketing Communications, XYZ Software, Inc.
Att: resume
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Introduction: T-Style Cover
Letter
A two-column cover letter, while not written in a traditional format, can still be very effective.
The two columns make it easy for the recruiter to see that you are the perfect match for the
position.
First paragraph:
- The title of the position for which you are applying
- How you learned about the job
- Why you want to work for the company—a “grabber statement”
- The name of someone you know in the company if applicable
Second paragraph:
- Present your qualifications for the job formatted in two columns “Your Needs and “My Qualifications”
- Under the first column list three or four skills or qualifications the company is seeking (based on the job
description)
- In the second column describe how your education/experience match the organization's needs.
Third paragraph:
- Reiterate your interest in the position
- Convey your availability for an interview
- Your plan to follow up with them
- Thank them
This format makes it very easy for the recruiter to see that you are the perfect match for the position. This
template also allows you to see for yourself if you are a good fit for the job. After all, if you can't complete the
second column (because you don't have what the company wants/needs) you may well be wasting your time
applying for this job and may want to focus your efforts on positions for which you are a better match.
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Sample T-Style Cover Letter
Ms. Susan Holmes
510 Forest Street 781-891-
2000
North Andover, MA 01451 [email protected]
Ms. Nancy Bigwig
Corporate Recruiter
Sigma 11
414 Main Street
Waltham, MA 02452
January 30, 2016
Dear Ms. Bigwig:
I was very excited yesterday to find, on LinkedIn, the posting for the Managed Services Project
Manager – IT Implementations position with Sigma 11 in Waltham. I was speaking with Tom
Johnson about it, and he offered to forward this letter and my resume to you. I worked with Tom at
my current position for a couple of years. I both admire him as a professional and consider him a
good friend.
What excited me about the opportunity is the description of the job, which I think perfectly matches
my background, and your recent acquisition by XYZ Software. I suspect that your team is
energized by the deal and the potential for growth. I’d like to contribute to that growth and energy.
Here are just a few skills and areas of experience that make me a good fit for the job.
Requirement
• 6 years experience in related fields
• Working knowledge of Project Management Best Practices
• Ability to multi-task between concurrent assignments and to work in a fast pace organization
• Ability to develop strong professional relationships and to influence peers, managers and other
teams
Skill/Experience
• 7+ years experience managing IT projects
• SkillPath Fundamentals of PM, ITIL v3 Certified, SAS70
• Manage up to 20 concurrent clients in an environment that requires rapid revenue recognition
• Average client tenure: 5 years; all current clients referenceable; 98+% client retention; effective
management of non-reports on internal teams; strong influence on C-level
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Cover Letter Checklist
A great cover letter can differentiate you from other candidates. It presents your education, skills,
and experience in a different way than your resume, and allows you to focus more precisely on the
needs of the employer.
FORMAT NOTES
Layout 11-12 pt. font
Arial/Tahoma/Calibri
¾ - 1 inch margins
Save as .PDF - unformatted .txt file
Block style format aligned on the
left margin _______________________________________
Length 1 page
3 paragraphs _______________________________________
Grammar
1st person – don’t overuse the word ‘I’
Active verbs
Capitalize: Proper Nouns & Titles _______________________________________
Heading (return address) or Letterhead
Name
Mailing Address (optional)
City, State Zip Code _______________________________________
Date
Month (spelled out) and year _______________________________________
Recipient Information
Name
Position
Company
Address and Zip Code _______________________________________
Greeting/Salutation
Dear Mr/Mrs person’s last name
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Dear Recruiting Director or
Dear Marketing Director
followed by a colon _______________________________________
Opening and Introduction Paragraph
Who you are – your status statement
Position you are applying for
How you learned about position
Grabber Statement
Why do you want to work for the company
Use unique information pertaining
to the company
Name of person who referred you _____________________________________
Descriptive Paragraph
Tailored to job posting
Identify what the employer is looking
for (skills, experience)
Use of KEY TERMS from posting
Confidently state how your skills
and experience would meet their needs
Give a TASTE, not regurgitation, of resume__________________________________
Conclusion Paragraph
Reiterate interest in the position
Convey availability for interviews
Plan to follow-up with them, indicate
date/time
Thank them _____________________________________
Close
Sincerely, Sincerely yours, Yours truly
followed by a comma _____________________________________
Signature
First and Last Name _____________________________________
CC: Name and position of anyone you
reference in the letter _____________________________________
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Attachment(s)
Use if you are attaching your resume or
any other document references
in your letter _____________________________________
References
Not necessary in cover letter _____________________________________
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Resume & Cover Letter Guide
Bentle
y U
niver
sity
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452 USA
Email address
URL
Phone: +1 781-xxx-xxxx
BENTLEY UNIVERSITY is more than just one of the nation's top business schools. It is a lifelong-
learning community that creates successful leaders who make business a force for positive change.
With a combination of business and the arts and sciences and a flexible, personalized approach to
education, Bentley provides students with critical thinking and practical skills that prepare them to lead
successful, rewarding careers. Founded in 1917, the university enrolls 4,200 undergraduate and 1,000
graduate and PhD students and is set on 163 acres in Waltham, Massachusetts, 10 miles west of
Boston. For more information, visit bentley.edu.