Revisit the job posting for which you customized your resume in Exercise 5. Now write a cover letter for that position. How will you express interest in this specific company? Which experiences will you highlight? Exchange letters with a classmate for feedback.

Exercise 5

After you incorporate feedback on your generic resume, revise your resume for a particular job. Find a job posting that interests you and tailor your experience and other information to fit that description. Use guidelines throughout this chapter to include what is most relevant and valuable to the employer. Integrate keywords from the job posting where relevant. Also use the questions in Figure 3 to guide you.

Figure 3

Transcribed Image Text:

Example: The leader of a conservative political organization applying for a marketing position at Ben & Jerry's. Is the item relevant to the position and valuable to the employer? Yes, I organized and hosted several campus events that had good turnouts. I created graphics, marketed events on social media, and partnered with other campus organizations. Is the item either recent or your only example using the competency (knowledge, skill, or ability)? Sort-of both. I don't have a lot of marketing experience other than selling candy bars for a church fundraiser when I was 13. Could the item cause an employer to disqualify you? It's possible. I love Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Obviously, it's not just for liberals, but I'm not sure whether they would hire someone like me. On the other hand, maybe I wouldn't want to work there. It might be a difficult place to be myself. Is the item important to your identity or to demonstrate your authenticity? Pretty much. I'm proud of my membership in the organization, and my political views are an important part of who I am. Is the item accurate and does it reflect well on your integrity? Yes, the leadership position carried a lot of responsibilities, and I was involved in a few senior-level meetings with campus administrators. It feels dishonest to remove it. DECISION: I'll leave it on my resume. Without it, I'm not really qualified for the position. I'll take the risk and, if they call me for an interview, I'll see how I feel about the environment and whether it's the right fit for me.