CAREER COACH HANDBOOK - Summer Search

2011 Summer Search Internship Program 

CAREER COACH 

HANDBOOK

Dear Reader, 

Our Internship team hopes that you are able to reference this handbook often during your time 

as a Career Coach at Summer Search. Please note that this handbook is meant to be a general 

guide and not a set of rules, as each alumnus/a and each job hunt is unique. We trust that you 

have the experience, intellect, warmth, and common sense to incorporate the content here into 

your relationship with your Summer Search student. 

This handbook could not have been possible without the help and support of Summer Search 

volunteers. Specifically we’d like to thank the following members of the Career Advisory 

Network Committee at Summer Search Boston: 

• Katie Munroe 

• Marla Felcher 

• Dennis LaRosee 

• Michelle LaFleur 

This handbook was also made possible by Ines Ariceta, Summer Search Boston Post- 

Secondary Program Coordinator, and Bay Area volunteer, Julie Brown. We are grateful for the 

input from all our contributors and are proud to present this resource for volunteers. 

In addition, the Internship Program could not be possible without your support! Thank you for 

giving your time to our students and for working to help guide the career paths of these inspiring 

young people. 

During your time as a Career Coach, we hope you will get to your know student, understand 

what it’s like to “walk in their shoes”, and feel proud of the impact you are making on their future. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at anytime and thank you again for your support of our 

Summer Search alumni! 

Sincerely, 

Melanie, Cristina, and Alicia 

Melanie Damm 

Volunteer and Career Manager, National Support Center 

T 415.362.5225 x136 

mdamm@summersearch.org 

Cristina Perez 

Bay Area Post-Secondary Coordinator 

T 415.362.0500 x135 

cristina@summersearch.org 

Alicia Reza 

Bay Area Development Manager 

T (415) 362-0500 x101 

alicia@summersearch.org

Table of Contents 

I. Summer Search Volunteer Forms 

a. Summer Search Volunteer Application…………………………..1 

b. Summer Search Volunteer Agreement………………………….2 

c. Career Coach Info Sheet…………………………………..………3 

II. Overview..…………………………………………………………………..4 

III. Getting Started: Building the Relationship………………………………7 

IV. Resume Preparation……………………………………………………..10 

V. Correspondence Preparation…………………………………………...13 

VI. Interview Preparation and Practice…………………………………….15 

VII. 

Coaching on Workplace Behavior………………………………..…16 

VIII. Appendix Table of Contents…………………………………………17

Summer Search Volunteer Application 

NAME ______________________________ EMAIL _______________________________ 

ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________ 

CITY, ST ZIP _______________________________________________________________ 

DAYTIME/WORK PHONE ____________________ CELL PHONE ____________________ 

PROFESSION/TITLE __________________________ EMPLOYER ____________________ 

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT SUMMER SEARCH 

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER WITH SUMMER SEARCH 

SPECIFIC SKILLS & EXPERIENCE. Please list any professional skills that might be 

transferable to our volunteer opportunities. 

WHICH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN See next page for 

descriptions of volunteer opportunities and time commitments involved. 

[ ] Career Coaching [ ] Office Support with Students 

[ ] Sophomore Preparation [ ] Fall Event & Spring Event 

[ ] Spreading the Word [ ] Signature Fundraising Events 

Please complete and return to Alicia Reza, Bay Area Development Manager: 

alicia@summersearch.org ● T (415) 362-0500 x 101 ● F (415) 362-5274 

Summer Search, 500 Sansome Street, Suite 350, San Francisco, CA 94111 

 

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Summer Search Volunteer Opportunities 

CAREER COACHING 

Time commitment = Approx. 3--5 hours/month from Dec—May 

Work directly with Summer Search alumni around writing résumés and cover letters, applying 

for internships, and navigating the process of beginning a career. Help them understand and 

build the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed. 

SOPHOMORE PREPARATION 

Time commitment = Two Saturday mornings in the spring 

Help our sophomores prepare for the challenges of their wilderness trips! Volunteer to facilitate 

our Sophomore Orientation Workshop and support the 3-Mile Run as a running buddy or a 

start/finish line supporter. 

SPREADING THE WORD 

Time commitment = Three hours/event 

Partner with Summer Search staff, students and alumni to host a small event at your home or a 

lunch at your office to introduce Summer Search to your friends, family, and co-workers. 

OFFICE SUPPORT WITH STUDENTS 

Time commitment = Approx. 3--5 hours/project 

Work side-by-side with Summer Search students to provide administrative support in the 

Summer Search office. Help stuff envelopes for mailings, assemble care packages for alumni in 

their first year of college, and other occasional opportunities. 

FALL EVENT & SPRING EVENT 

Time commitment = Approx. 5 hours/event 

Assist with set-up, registration and the family potluck at our student celebration events in the 

fall and spring. Join our students and their families as we acknowledge the amazing 

accomplishments of all our Summer Searchers. 

SIGNATURE EVENT FUNDRAISING 

Time commitment = Approx. 4--8 hours/event 

Solicit your corporate and individual contacts to sponsor our signature fundraising events in the 

spring and fall in San Francisco, North San Francisco Bay, and Silicon Valley. 

 

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Summer Search Volunteer Code of Conduct 

Thank you for joining the Summer Search family by offering your time and support to our staff and students. 

Summer Search strives to provide a fair, fun and impactful environment for our volunteers. This enables the 

community to continue supporting, promoting, and participating in organizational programming. 

Volunteers can expect the following from Summer Search: 

1. An orientation to the volunteer program which includes general information about Summer Search and its 

history as well as context about our volunteer opportunities and how these opportunities support and align with 

our programs. 

2. Clear instruction about responsibilities and expectations for each volunteer opportunity, including specific tasks 

or objectives to be achieved. 

3. An appointed Summer Search staff contact, as well as ongoing support from Summer Search’s Volunteer & 

Career Manager and Committee members when appropriate. 

4. An introduction to any students with whom they may interact. 

5. Opportunities for social interaction with Summer Search staff, committees and board members, students, and 

other volunteers whenever possible. 

6. Confidentiality of personal information, whether provided formally or informally. 

In turn, Summer Search will hold all volunteers accountable to the highest degree of professional 

decorum. We ask the following of each volunteer: 

1. Self-select a volunteer opportunity in-line with your abilities, interests, and time constraints. 

2. Be open to volunteer opportunities recommended to you by Summer Search based on our needs and volunteer 

allocation processes. 

3. Be upfront and direct with your staff contact about any task or activity that you are not comfortable performing 

or not capable of doing. 

4. Volunteer for the agreed amount of time on a schedule that works for you as well as Summer Search and/or 

students when applicable. 

5. Notify your staff contact as soon as possible if you cannot perform your volunteer duties because of extenuating 

circumstances. 

6. Conduct yourself in a professional, appropriate, and ethical manner at all times with students, staff, 

board/committee members, and other volunteers. 

7. Answer all Summer Search and/or student-related emails and phone calls within 1 – 2 business days. 

8. Enjoy your time with Summer Search and reflect upon the impact you’ve made. 

By my signature below, I declare that I have read, understand, and agree with all parts of the Volunteer 

Contract and will strive to fulfill all parts therein. 

Additionally, I understand that photographs may be taken of me during the course of my time spent on Summer 

Search premises and/or at Summer Search-related events and activities, whether as a volunteer, guest and/or 

visitor. I understand that these photographs may be used by Summer Search for promotional, marketing, and 

educational purposes, and in a variety of media. By signing below, I authorize Summer Search to use my 

photograph along with my name and date taken for the purposes expressed above. 

__________________________________________________________________________ 

Name (please print) Signature Date 

Please complete and return to Alicia Reza, Bay Area Development Manager: 

alicia@summersearch.org ● T (415) 362-0500 x 101 ● F (415) 362-5274 

Summer Search, 500 Sansome Street, Suite 350, San Francisco, CA 94111 

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2011 Summer Search Internship Program: Career Coaches Needed! 

WHO WE ARE: Summer Search is a high-impact program that gives low-income students the 

opportunities and support they need to transform their lives, achieve their own potential, and 

create change as role models and everyday leaders. Learn more at www.summersearch.org. As a 

part of our continued efforts to support our students as they go on to pursue college and explore 

various career options, we leverage the support of professionals within their community to 

prepare these students with both the “soft skills” and “hard skills” they need to secure 

competitive internships. 

WHY VOLUNTEER AS A CAREER COACH As a Career Coach you’ll have the opportunity 

to work one-on-one with a Summer Search college student. These students are diverse, highachieving 

individuals who have proven themselves by being active participants in the Summer 

Search program throughout high school and are continuing to leverage this network for 

academic and career advancement. By working with a student, you’ll have the opportunity to use 

your professional experience and knowledge to advise them on job searches, résumé and cover 

letter writing, interviewing, and more as they apply for summer internships. 

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: 

∗ A working knowledge of current job search and application methods, including 

résumé and cover letter writing, as well as many “soft skills” needed to acquire a job, and a 

comfort in advising others on these competencies. Summer Search will provide some tools 

and training materials on this. 

∗ An outgoing, friendly attitude that will enable you to create a lasting relationship with 

your student. 

∗ A commitment to attend a kickoff meeting on December 16, 2010 and to work with your 

student from January through May of 2011 at least 1 – 2 times per month, often virtually. 

INTERNSHIP TIMELINE: Please note the following dates that are relevant to intern hiring: 

October – December: Send completed volunteer application to Summer Search 

December 16, 2010: Volunteer Orientation Workshop 

January – April: Help your student apply for internships, understand hiring processes, and 

prepare for interviews 

May: Wrap up career coaching as students prepare for their summer internships 

HOW TO APPLY: Please send the following to Alicia Reza at alicia@summersearch.org: 

1. Completed Summer Search Volunteer Application 

2. Signed Volunteer Code of Conduct form 

3. A copy of your most recent résumé 

Thank you for supporting Summer Search alumni! 

 

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Overview 

A. What is Summer Search 

The mission of Summer Search is to find resilient low-income high school students and 

inspire them to become responsible and altruistic leaders by providing year-round 

mentoring, life-changing summer experiences, college advising, and a lasting support 

network. 

Summer Search is maintains a unique commitment to providing ongoing and long-term 

support for low-income young people who show leadership potential. Founded in San 

Francisco in 1990, Summer Search now operates seven offices nationwide helping to 

place more than 1,100 high school students annually on a path of positive change. 

In Summer Search in the Bay Area in 2010: 

• 84% of students qualify for free or reduced federal lunch. 

• $26, 115 is the median income for a Summer Search family of four. 

• 92% of graduating seniors are the first in their family to go to college. 

B. What is the Career Coach Program 

The Career Coach Program provides an opportunity for volunteers to work directly with 

Summer Search students around career preparation and applying for summer 

internships. The Career Coach Program allows internship candidates (college-age 

Summer Search alumni) to benefit from the caring support, professional skills and 

experiences of our volunteers. Together, each Career Coach-Student pair will work to 

prepare the student for a summer internship, which is a vital experience in a competitive 

job market and often the student’s initial entry into a professional work environment. 

C. What do we hope to accomplish 

Our goal is for each Career Coach-Student pair to establish a productive and mutually 

rewarding mentor-mentee relationship, focused on preparing the student to become a 

strong candidate for a professional summer internship as well as a valued employee. 

There are several tasks each Career Coach-Student pair will work on between January 

and June. Specifically, each Career Coach will: 

• Help the student create a resume aimed at securing a summer internship. 

• Help the student write and customize cover letters. 

• Help the student learn and practice interviewing skills. 

• Help the student with written and verbal business communication as they 

interact with potential employers 

• Help the student learn and practice job search skills. 

 

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• Help the student understand the importance of networking skills. 

• Help demystify the process of starting a career and prepare the student to 

enter the office environment. 

In addition to “hard” skills, it is expected that Career Coaches will work with students on 

“soft” skills such as professional conduct and expectations and the components of a 

good work ethic. 

At the end of the program, students should be well-prepared to apply and interview for 

internships, and to subsequently become exemplary employees. 

D. Ground Rules and Relationship Expectations 

Each volunteer is expected to submit a signed copy of the Summer Search 

Volunteer Code of Conduct, which outlines the expectations of the volunteer role. 

E. Process: Program Components at a Glance 

1. Recruit Summer Search Students for internship program 

2. Recruit Career Coaches 

3. Match each student with a Career Coach 

4. Career Coach orientation meeting 

5. Career Coaches and students work together on resumes, cover letters, 

applications, hard and soft skills 

6. Students secure internship positions 

7. Students placed in and internships commence 

F. Timeline 

November 

• Summer Search begins student recruiting for internship program 

• Summer Search begins recruiting Career Coaches 

• Summer Search begins lining up internship opportunities with partner 

organizations (through spring) 

December 

• Career Coach Orientation 

January 

• Summer Search notifies Career Coaches and Students of their pairing 

• Career Coach and student meet ASAP at a mutually agreed upon location to get 

to know one another. Face-to-face meeting is strongly encouraged; if that is not 

possible, talk by phone. Goals: 

1) Career Coaches understand student’s career interests 

2) Student learns about Career Coach’s education and career path 

 

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• Career Coaches begin coaching student on networking and job search skills 

February - March 

• Work on resume writing and formatting 

• Work on correspondence 

a. Prepare cover letters 

b. Prepare correspondence 

c. Phone etiquette 

d. E-mail etiquette 

• Students begin applying for summer internships 

April 

• Work on interview training and mock interviews 

May 

• Possible additional interviews 

• Employer decisions made 

June 

• Internships begin 

• Career Coach feedback survey 

 

 

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Getting Started: Building the Relationship 

A. Goals 

Understand student’s career goals and help them leverage the resources 

they need to achieve those goals. 

Establish an engaged and productive working relationship between the 

Summer Search student and his/her Career Coach. 

Set expectations for communication and interaction. 

B. Ideas for Action 

• Soon after being matched, meet together (in person if possible) or over the 

telephone. 

• Establish ground rules for how the Career Coach-Student pair will work together, 

including timeliness of responses, consideration of schedules, etc. 

• Career Coach and student meet for a business style lunch. Career Coach to 

provide feedback on student’s business etiquette and behavior (e.g., arriving at 

meeting place on time, dressed appropriately). If needed, Career Coach to train 

student on business lunch etiquette. 

• Discuss importance of student sending a thank you note or e-mail after lunch. 

• Career Coach to instruct student to send a thank you e-mail. Career Coach to 

provide feedback on e-mail style (e.g., grammar, spelling, and tone) and content. 

• Have student identify 3-5 jobs or organizations of interest based on positions 

available through Summer Search or internet search. Career Coach discusses 

options with student and helps generate further search ideas based on student’s 

interests. Begin discussion with student about networking. 

C. Resources 

1. Guidelines and Discussion Topics for the Career Coach-Student Pair 

a. Career Coach should ask student questions to learn more about his/her 

interests and background, such as: 

• What is your major 

• What classes are you taking 

• What classes do you like Dislike 

• Have you thought about what you want to do after college 

• What’s your dream job 

• Have you had internships/jobs before What did you like/dislike about 

them 

• What else interests you (Music, art, dance, exercise, nature, animals, 

volunteering to help others, etc.). Explore any of those interests and 

 

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the kinds of involvement/interest they have. Does it relate to career 

aspirations 

b. Career Coach should share information about their own background and 

career experience, such as: 

• College major 

• First job and how you got it 

• General career experience and areas of expertise 

• Helpful anecdotes relating to your own experience 

c. Guidelines on behaviors to assess and give feedback on during business 

lunch: 

i. Did the student arrive on time If not, did they communicate the 

delay to you 

ii. Was the student dressed appropriately 

iii. Did the student give a friendly, appropriate greeting Was the 

handshake firm Did the student make eye contact 

iv. How were the student’s table manners 

• Use of utensils 

• Did he or she wait for both of you to be served, or just start 

eating when served 

• How did he or she treat the wait staff 

v. Did the student use appropriate language and expressions Did he 

or she hold up his or her end of the conversation 

vi. How was the student’s posture 

vii. Did anything strike you as just simply “off the mark” 

viii. Did he or she say “Thank you” 

Note: Reinforcing positive behaviors by noticing and commenting can build confidence and 

increase the likelihood that the student will continue to behave in those ways. Did anything 

he/she did or said strike you as particularly nice Surprisingly mature 

2. On-Line Resources to Help Get the Career Exploration Process Started 

a. Encourage the student to explore internship and career options based on 

their interests and skills. 

‣ http://online.onetcenter.org/ 

Students can keyword search a career/occupation title and get a 

thorough overview of what that job entails on a daily basis, as well as 

what tasks, duties, and responsibilities are part of the job. This site is 

useful when trying to think of the right “verbiage” for a resume (ex: they 

could look up “Waitress” or “Sales Associate” and find the most 

compelling way to describe their job at a restaurant or clothing store). 

 

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‣ http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ 

The “Occupational Outlook Handbook” provides a great overview of 

different career paths including job summaries, education 

requirements, work environment, salary, etc. 

‣ http://www.bridgew.edu/CareerServices/majors/default.html 

“What Can I Do with This Major/Degree” is a useful and powerful tool 

that allows students to view types of jobs/ industries/ opportunities 

available, based on their major. It really goes above and beyond the 

traditional ideas and helps students think outside the box based on 

transferable skill sets (ex: an English major doesn’t have to be a 

teacher; they could work in Publishing or Marketing). 

‣ http://typefocus.com/s_complimentary.html 

This free online personality assessment will help students analyze 

personality characteristics such as level of introversion and 

extroversion and discuss how that relates to certain career paths. 

Understanding personality will help students find a good fit for 

internships and future careers. Students can take this test for FREE – 

after they fill out the questionnaire it will give them feedback on your 

personality. Please make students aware that the site will also try to 

CHARGE them for a more comprehensive report--You do NOT have to 

pay! We are simply recommending that they fill out the personality 

questionnaire to get the FREE report. 

b. Places to Find Internships: Search Engines 

‣ http://college.monster.com 

‣ www.internqueen.com 

Note: When applying for internships on Internqueen, students should 

specify that they are a Summer Search student—site moderators will 

promote Summer Search students to hiring managers! Encourage 

students to watch the video, it’s right on target! 

‣ www.internships.com 

‣ www.internships4you.com 

‣ www.internshipprograms.com 

‣ www.idealist.org (For nonprofit positions) 

‣ www.careerbuilder.com/jobs/keyword/internships/ 

‣ www.simplyhired.com 

‣ www.juju.com 

‣ www.craigslist.org 

 

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Resume Preparation 

A. Goals 

Create a resume that best presents the student’s experiences, education, 

interests, work ethic and values. 

Educate the student about the elements and style of effective resumes. 


• Have student list and describe education, work, volunteer, and other 

accomplishments (hobbies, music, art, etc.) that may contribute to the creation of 

a resume that speaks not only to the specific schools and jobs, but also to the 

student’s spirit, energy and work ethic. 

• Similarly, be sure that the student includes Summer Search involvement on their 

resume. 

• Have student write a first draft of the resume. 

• Career Coach reviews and comments, student revises resume. 

• Continue the cycle until both parties are satisfied with the result. 

• Have student investigate career center at his/her university if available and report 

back on center’s job-search process and/or specific jobs of interest. 

• Begin to educate student on relationship between resume and cover letter. 

C. Resources 

1. Guidelines and Discussion 

a. General Career Development Questions 

• What do you want to accomplish in life 

• What do you like to do in your free time 

• What were your favorite classes and academic subjects in school 

• What are you good at What skills do you like to use 

• What activities do you like to participate in on a daily basis 

• What issues are important to you What are your passions 

• What type of environment do you work best in 

• If you could have any job in the world, what would it be 

b. Resume Starter Questions 

• What degree are you pursuing in college What is your major, minor, 

concentration 

• What academic classes in your major have you completed 

• Have you done a study abroad or study tour 

• Have you held any jobs Part-time, temporary, full-time 

 

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• Have you done an internship in related to your area of study 

• Have you completed a semester long project related to your major 

• Are you involved in your community 

• Have you volunteered for a one-time event or an ongoing 

commitment 

• Are you involved in any clubs/organizations or student leadership roles 

on campus 

• Have you attended any professional conferences or given a 

presentation before 

• Have you received any awards, scholarships, or honors for your 

accomplishments 

• Do you speak any other languages or have any strong technical skills 

c. Resume Critique Questions 

(source: Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert, November 19, 2009) 

http://college.monster.com/benefits-entry-level-resume/articles/354-use-this-entry-levelresume-critique-checklist 

• Does the resume look original and not based on a template 

• Is the resume inviting to read, with clear sections and ample white 

space 

• Does the design look professional rather than like a simple typing job 

• Is the resume’s length and overall appearance appropriate for an 

internship 

• Does the resume provide a visually pleasing, polished presentation 

• Is the font an appropriate size and conservative style 

• Are there design elements such as bullets, bolding and lines to guide 

readers’ eyes through the document and highlight important content 

• Is there a good balance between text and white space 

• Are margins even on all sides 

• Are design elements like spacing and font size used consistently 

throughout the document 

• Are all resume sections clearly labeled 

• Is the work history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent 

job first) 

• Is the resume targeted to a specific career goal and not a one-size-fitsall 

document 

• Are bullets quantified by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts 

or other concrete measures of success 

• Do the bullets or phrases begin with strong, varied action verbs 

• Is the resume written in an implied first-person voice with personal 

pronouns, such as I, me and my, avoided 

• Is the content flow logical and easy to understand 

• Is the resume as perfect as possible, with no careless typos or 

spelling, grammar or syntax errors 

 

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2. On-line resources and videos 

‣ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/564/01/ 

‣ http://careertv.com/career_videos.phpcategory=cv 

3. Sample Resumes: SEE APPENDIX 

 

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Correspondence Preparation 

A. Goals 

Create a cover letter that best conveys the student’s interest in and 

suitability for a specific job opportunity that she/he has identified. 

Continue discussion about relationship between cover letter and resume. 

Teach student how to revise and customize cover letters for different job 

opportunities. 

Practice e-mail correspondence to plan and set up interviews, meetings, 

etc. 

Practice e-mail correspondence to follow up meetings or calls, such as 

thank you notes. 

Teach importance of correspondence timeliness and accuracy (e.g., correct 

grammar and spelling, no typos). 


• Have student search on internet for a specific job opportunity that interests 

him/her. Then, have the student create the first draft of a cover letter for this job. 

• Career Coach works with student to revise the letter until both parties are 

satisfied with a final draft. 

• Career Coach to comment on spelling, grammar and content of letter. 

• Have student identify a second job that interests him/her. Then, have student 

revise the first cover letter to reflect his/her interest in the job. Career Coach to 

comment on spelling, grammar and content of letter. 

• Career Coach reinforces/reminds student to check on-line and with college 

career center for job postings. 

C. Resources 

1. Guidelines and Discussion 

a. A cover letter is simply a letter that introduces the information you are 

sending to another person. Basically, it explains why you are sending it, in 

general terms what it contains, and describes any action you are asking 

the other person to take upon receiving the information you are sending. 

The cover letter for the resume is a special, and critically important, kind of 

cover letter and should be given a lot of attention since it is also used to 

position you as a strong candidate for the internship or position. Some 

other instances when cover letters are appropriate include: 

i. When sending follow up information requested by an interviewer or 

their representative, sending unsolicited, but relevant, information 

related to a topic of discussion (for example, you and the other 

 

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person found you were both interested in a particular event or topic 

and you are sending a relevant and interesting article that would be 

of interest). 

ii. In general, a brief a cover note is appropriate whenever sending an 

attached document to anyone. Why are you sending it Do you 

require a response or answer If so, let them know. 

b. Thank you notes are always important and should be sent after each 

meeting and/or each scheduled phone meeting. Also, thank you notes are 

important to send if the other person takes exceptional interest and does 

something beyond the usual (like sending information related to your 

favorite hobby). 

c. Correspondence is often necessary as you plan for meetings to clearly 

establish or confirm the meeting time and place. These should be brief 

and clearly relay the correct information (double check for correctness!). 

When others send you correspondence to set a time and place for a 

meeting, it is good to send a short reply so they know for sure you got it. 

For example, “Thank you. I look forward to seeing you then.” would be 

appropriate. 

d. Most correspondence is done by e-mail these days. However, in matters 

of business, e-mail IS business correspondence and should use 

appropriate language, full sentences, and appropriate punctuation and 

grammar, just as if you were writing a letter (except it does not need some 

of the formal formatting that a letter would require). The exception to this is 

that a cover letter should be created and formatted as a letter in a 

separate document that is attached to an e-mail. 

2. On-line resources 

‣ http://www.bu.edu/careers/pdfs/cover-letter-book.pdf 

http://internships.about.com/od/coverlettertipssamples/a/CLTemplate.htm 

‣ http://jobsearch.about.com/lr/sample_internship_cover_letters/79318/1/ 

‣ http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/articles/resumescover 

‣ http://careertv.com/career_videos.phpcategory=letter 

3. Examples of good and bad cover letters: SEE APPENDIX 

 

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Interview Preparation and Practice 

A. Goal 

Prepare the student to schedule, plan, participate in, and follow up on 

interviews in a manner that demonstrates high professional standards and 

presents the student as a strong job candidate. 


• Career Coach to discuss with students how to interview effectively. 

• Discuss typical steps leading up to an interview, including: 

a. Telephone etiquette 

b. Managing the calendar 

c. Getting the necessary logistics right (time, place, directions, etc.). 

d. Travel planning and timeliness 

• Career Coach to conduct a practice interview with student over the phone, and 

provide feedback on student’s performance. 

• Career Coach to conduct a practice interview at his/her place of business (if 

possible), and provide feedback on student’s performance. 

• Summer Search staff to arrange a “coach swap,” in which students will conduct 

interviews with a Career Coach other than the one they’ve been working with. 

The “new” Career Coach will provide feedback on student’s performance. 

• Student to send follow-up thank you e-mail to “new” Career Coach. Career 

Coach to provide feedback on note’s style (e.g., grammar, spelling, tone) and 

content. 

• Career Coach to discuss typical follow up steps: thank you note, keeping track of 

any promised follow up tasks, etc. 

C. Resources 

1. Guide questions for Career Coach to ask students during practice interviews: 

SEE APPENDIX. 


‣ http://careertv.com/career_videos.phpcategory=interview 

‣ http://internships.about.com/od/interviewing/tp/InterviewingTip.htm 

‣ http://www.youtube.com/watchv=S1ucmfPOBV8andfeature=related 

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=3eHsUBP0ceI 

 

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Coaching on Workplace Behavior 

A. Goals 

To help student understand the importance and value of acting in a 

professional manner. 

To teach student how to act in a professional manner. 


• Career Coach will outline workplace basics, such as: 

• What to expect in an office environment. 

• How offices are typically set up. 

• How to navigate lunchtime and breaks. 

• Career Coach will coach student on good professional practices, such as: 

• Arriving at work on time or early, without exception and with no excuses. 

• Providing professional e-mail and voicemail communication. 

• Appropriate e-mail and personal cell phone use in the office. 

• Proper attire. 

• Appropriate language. 

• Appropriate socialization with co-workers outside of the office (please 

keep in mind some students are under the legal drinking age). 

C. Resources 


‣ http://www.quintcareers.com/first_days_working.html 

 

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Appendix 

I. Career Toolkit (Source: Katie Munroe, Volunteer) 

a. Sample resumes 

i. Poor quality resume………………………………………..18 

ii. Average quality resume……………………………………19 

iii. Excellent quality resume…………………………………..21 

b. Sample cover letters 

i. Poor quality cover letter……………………………………23 

ii. Average quality cover letter……………………………….24 

iii. Excellent quality cover letter………………………………25 

c. Interview preparation 

i. Mock interview questions………………………………….26 

ii. Interview questions for employers………………………..27 

II. Resume Building Toolkit, (Source: Julie Brown, Volunteer) 

a. Overview……………………………………………………………28 

b. Body of a Resume: Definitions and Descriptions……………...28 

c. Resume Formatting Guidelines………………………………….31 

d. Researching a Job and Modifying Your Resume……………...32 

e. Cover Letters………………………………………………………33 

 

18

POOR QUALITY RESUME 

Source: Katie Munroe, Career Counselor, December 2010 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Cally Counselor 

Education 

UMass Boston, Boston MA 

Bachelor’s degree, Psychology, September 2008-Present 

Charlestown High School, Charlestown, MA 

High School Diploma, September 2004-June 2008 

Honors 

• Dean’s List 

• Psi Chi Honors Society 

123 Broad Street, Boston, MA 

Callygirl@aol.com 617-617-6171 

Related Coursework 

• Psychology of Personality, Child Psychology, Social Psychology, Research Methods, Criminal 

Psychology, Biopsychology, Neuropsychology, Psychology of Learning, Social Psychology, 

Clinical Psychology, Adolescent Psychology. 

Comment [c1]: Unprofessional e-mail 

Comment [c2]: Spell out University of 

Massachusetts, Boston 

Comment [c3]: Bachelor of Arts or 

Science 

Comment [c4]: You do not need to list 

the dates you’re attending college, just 

your intended graduation date, May 2012. 

Comment [c5]: Once you get to 

college, you do not need to list anything 

from High School unless it’s 

ABSOLUTELY related to your career path. 

Employment 

Waitress, TGIFridays, Sept 2009-present 

• Served tables of guests. 

• Took orders and efficiently relayed them to the kitchen. 

• Multitasked while serving tables 

Sales, Old Navy Sept 2008-present 

• Helped customers with clothing choice. 

• Assisted with cleaning the dressing rooms. 

• Worked the register. 

Camp Counselor, Camp Sunshine, Maine, Summer 2008 and 2009 

• Responsible for campers daily activities 

• Supervised arts and crafts as well as field games. 

Skills 

• Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Internet 

Comment [c6]: Must include the 

location of the job including the city and 

state. 

Comment [c7]: All of the verbs should 

be present tense rather than past tense 

since Cally is still working here. 

Comment [c8]: How many guests 

Give a range of people per table or 

number of tables you work within an hour 

or a shift. 

Comment [c9]: What did you 

multitask 

Comment [c10]: Use a stronger action 

verb such as Operated the register during 

customer transactions and handled money 

efficiently and securely. 

Comment [c11]: This should be 

italicized to be consistent with all the other 

job titles. 

Comment [c12]: Never use the term 

“responsible for”, instead explain what that 

means. 

Comment [c13]: You do not need to list 

Microsoft three times if they are all from 

the same Office software. 

 

19

AVERAGE QUALITY RESUME 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

John Johnson 

11 Long Road • Boston, MA 02222 • 617-617-6171 • jjohnson@yahoo.com 

EDUCATION 

Babson College, Bridgewater, MA Graduation date: May 2011 

Bachelor of Science, Accounting 

Overall GPA: 3.418 

HONORS and AWARDS 

Dean’s List, 5 semesters 

Academic Merit Scholarship 

National Honors Society 

RELEVANT COURSEWORK 

Managerial Accounting, Managerial Finance, Marketing Principles, Human Resource 

Management, Computer Applications, Statistics Economics, Business Law 

Comment [c14]: Keep the GPA to 1 

decimal point not 3 

Comment [c15]: Who gave you the 

scholarship and when did you receive it 

Comment [c16]: Do not include items 

from High School unless they are directly 

related to your career interest. 

WORK EXPERIENCE 

Office Assistant, September 2007 - Present 

College of Management, Babson College 

• Perform general administrative tasks around the office and deliver documents 

around campus 

• Participate in open houses 

Laborer, June 2006 – Present 

Smith and Bros. Landscaping, Lynn, MA 

• Lay out lawn seeding 

• Trim grass, bushes and shrubbery by safely using machinery 

• Manage soil, mulch, and overall landscape for appropriate plant life 

Intern, Summers 2008 and 2010 

Treasurer’s Office, Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 

• Assisted within preparing spreadsheets for Treasurer meetings 

• Conducted research on the perception of government spending in the media 

• Compiled written report and presented results to management 

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 

President, Fall 2010-present 

Comment [c17]: Even when you list a 

college, you must include the city and 

state of its location. 

Comment [c18]: Too general. Discuss 

what those tasks are such as filing, 

photocopying, answering phones. 

Comment [c19]: Needs more detail, 

what do you do at the open houses 

Comment [c20]: The bullets here are 

too focused on the labor and not as much 

on the customer service side. Include 

details of working with customers, filling 

out billing information, and reporting back 

to company. 

Comment [c21]: What kind of 

spreadsheets Excel Put the name of 

software you use in the bullets. 

Comment [c22]: Where did you get 

your information from The internet, 

newspapers, reports, etc 

 

20

AVERAGE QUALITY RESUME cont’d. 

Source: Source: Katie Katie Munroe, Munroe, Career Career Counselor, December 2010 2010 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

 

Student Government Association, Babson College 

• Serve as the liaison to the undergraduate student body 

• Manage the executive board committees 

• Oversee a budget of $175,000 and determine how to allocate funds to students 

COMPUTER SKILLS 

Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access 

Comment [c23]: This position, 

although volunteer, is clearly very related 

to John’s major and career interest. Rather 

than having it at the bottom, he should 

make a Related Experience category and 

place the Office Assistant, Intern, and 

President positions under it, and put the 

Laborer position in a new category called 

Additional Work Experience because it’s 

least relevant. 

 

21

EXCELLENT QUALITY RESUME 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Maria Media 

22 General St. Apt. 1 Boston, MA. 02222, (617) 617-6171, mmedia@student.bridgew.edu 

EDUCATION 

Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 

May 2010 

Bachelors of Arts in Communication, Minor in Public Relations 

GPA: 3.2 Dean’s List, spring 2008; spring 2009 

London Study Tour, Communication Studies Department 

January 2010 

Studied the cultural differences in media communication while visiting several large advertising 

firms in London 

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE 

Institutional Communications Department, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 

February 2010 - Present 

Media Intern 

• Assist the Director of News and Media Outreach through social networking sites, 

press releases, news logs. 

Conference and Events Service Office, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 

August 2007 - Present 

Senior Event Planner 

• Plan 50+ annual University events ranging from small staff meetings to Winter 

Commencements. 

• Collaborate with a variety of on campus service providers from catering, and 

operations to Information Technology to ensure the success of each individual event. 

Hill Holliday, Boston, MA 

June 2010 - August 2010 

Media Intern 

• Budgeted clients’ time slots for commercials in order to reach a specific target 

audience. 

• Analyzed four different clients and learned about their particular markets and 

competitors to develop appropriate advertising strategies. 

• Developed a mock campaign for the Chili’s restaurant brand and presented to 

company executives. 

Comment [c24]: She right justifies all 

of her dates to balance out the page and 

alleviate the resume from looking too “left 

heavy”. 

Comment [c25]: Discusses the focus 

of the study tour which is related to her 

career interests. 

Comment [c26]: She explains here 

how she assists the Director and 

capitalized it because it is a job title. 

Comment [c27]: Quantifies the number 

of events 

Comment [c28]: She gives the reason 

why she is doing this task. It is results 

oriented. 

La Sociedad Latina, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA 

September 2007 - May 2010 

 

22

EXCELLENT QUALITY RESUME cont’d. 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Vice President; Public Relations Officer 

• Served as Vice President and assisted with the planning and finalization of event 

details. 

• Served as Public Relations officer from 2007 to 2009, helped to market LSL 

upcoming events through flyers, student announcements, facebook, and other social 

networking sites. 

Comment [c29]: She includes her 

student leadership experience in this 

category because it includes marketing 

and communications skills necessary for 

her career interest. 

OTHER EXPERIENCE 

Spirit of Boston, Boston, MA 

May 2008 - December 2008 

Hostess 

Comment [c30]: She has created this 

category to show that she has held other 

employment but they are not as important 

to her communications career and that is 

why they are simply listed with no 

descriptions. 

Crossroads for Kids, Duxbury, MA 

2006 - August 2007 

Summer Camp Counselor 

June 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

• Color Magazine All Inclusive Awards, Volunteer Planner, Boston, December, 2009 

• Leadership Summit, Participant, Bridgewater State College, October, 2009 

• Fenway Comcast Latino Festival, Volunteer Planner, Boston, August, 2009 

• PR Advanced Conference, Participant, Boston University, 2009 

• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Member, BSU, Spring, 2009 

• Latino Leadership Conference, Participant, Boston University, 2007 

SKILLS 

Computer: Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop 

Language: Fluent in English and Spanish, intermediate proficiency in American Sign Language 

Comment [c31]: She has created a 

category to include some of her volunteer 

work and conference attendances which 

show that she is motivated to learn about 

the industry and grow as a professional. 

Comment [c32]: She has qualified her 

level of understanding for these 

languages, fluent vs. proficient.. 

 

23

POOR QUALITY COVER LETTER 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Nancy Nonprofit 

600 Eastern Ave 

Boston, MA 02222 

January 20, 2010 

Adrienne Kimmell 

Political Director / Foundation Director 

Lee Family Office 

131 Mt. Auburn St., Suite 3 

Cambridge, MA 02138 

Dear Adrienne: 

I would like to apply for the communications associate job at the Barbara Lee Family 

Foundation and Barbara Lee Political Office. I am the ideal candidate for this position 

and really would like to work at an organization that is geared towards enhancing 

women’s place in society. 

I am currently seeking a position that will match my passions and provide me with 

experience for my future career. Currently, I am taking several classes related towards 

social justice issues including Gender in Everyday Life, Psychology of Women, and 

Women in the Media. I have several transferable skills including communication and 

people skills. I have learned these from writing press releases for my local newspaper 

and interning at WBUR 90.9fm Boston. I have also volunteered in the development 

department at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. 

Overall, I am a very hard worker and remain persistent in achieving my goal. I feel 

strongly that I would do an excellent job in this position and could bring a lot to the table. 

I am prepared to roll up my sleeves and work as hard as I can for such a well-respected 

woman and her organization. 

Attached, please see my resume that details my work experience. I will call you within a 

week’s time to schedule an interview and to discuss this position further. Thank you for 

your time. 

Sincerely, 

Nancy Nonprofit 

 

Comment [c33]: Never address them 

by their first name, it’s too informal. 

Comment [c34]: Every job title should 

be capitalized. 

Comment [c35]: This can come off as 

arrogant to employers, instead she should 

focus on her skills and interests. 

Comment [c36]: Too “me” focused. 

She wants the company to see that she 

can contribute as well, not just take. 

Comment [c37]: What did she learn in 

these classes, why is this important 

Comment [c38]: Why is this important 

She must detail what she does there and 

the skills she has learned and relate them 

back to the position she’s applying for. 

Comment [c39]: This paragraph is too 

focused on “soft” skills. She is only 

mentioning her personal characteristics 

rather than her concrete, measurable 

skills. She should go into more detail as to 

why she’d be a good fit for this 

organization and talk about why she is 

drawn to it and interested. 

Comment [c40]: This is too forward. 

She should mention the opportunity for an 

interview but never assume that she will 

automatically get one and schedule it on 

her own. 

 

24

AVERAGE QUALITY COVER LETTER 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

June 26, 2010 

MARK MEDICINE 

25 Open Road ▪ Boston, MA 06222 ▪ (617) 617 - 6171 ▪ mmedicine@yahoo.com 

Comment [c41]: Good use of contact 

info format from resume, it will look 

consistent on both documents. 

Ryan Sherman 

Boston Medical Center 

Cardiac Rehabilitation 

Preston Family Building 

3 rd and 4 th Floor 

732 Harrison Avenue 

Boston, MA 02118 

Dear Mr. Sherman, 

I am writing you to inquire about an internship at Boston Medical Center in the Cardiovascular 

Center dealing with Cardiac Rehab. Currently, I am a sophomore at Boston University and I will 

be receiving my Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a concentration in Health Fitness. 

My Interest in helping and educating people about the importance of exercise and healthy living 

habits has really prompted my desire to attain this position. 

All my life, I have always been very involved and active in a variety of sports. In my high school 

career, I was a 5 th place All-American in Judo and a State Wrestling Champion. In my collegiate 

career, I was a three-year Varsity Wrestler and a place winner in the New England 

Championship. My love for sports and my competitive nature really made me fall in love with the 

Exercise Science program. However, my main motivation to pursue my degree in this field and 

to pursue a career in Cardiac Rehab is my passion to help and work with people. I come from a 

family where hypertension, high blood pressure, and myocardial infarction are very prevalent 

and I want to help individuals and their families in the same situation. In addition to my 

academic knowledge of the field, I have also volunteered at a Cardiologist/Cardiac Rehab clinic 

in Brazil. The clinic had a phenomenal facility and I got a first hand glimpse of how to assist 

patients. The cardiologist would review the ECG reading with me and I found their dedication to 

help their patients carry on healthier and longer lives fascinating. My experience with them really 

solidified my desire to pursue an internship and further my education in this field. 

I believe this internship will give me the necessary experience to market myself to a potential 

employer upon graduation and to help direct my decision on what to pursue my graduate 

degree in. I would welcome the opportunity to schedule an interview at your earliest 

convenience. Feel free to contact me at: (617) 617-6171 or e-mail at mmedicine@yahoo.com. 

Sincerely, 

Mark Medicine 

Comment [c42]: It’s more formal to use 

a colon : rather than a comma , 

Comment [c43]: This information is on 

his resume and doesn’t need to be 

repeated in the cover letter unless he is 

focusing on the courses he’s taken in the 

major. 

Comment [c44]: Does not need to be 

capitalized. 

Comment [c45]: It’s ok to bring in a 

personal note as to why you’re interested 

in this field, but do not harp on it and focus 

2/3 of the paragraph on your past. Instead, 

move forward using your personal touch 

as an introduction. He does not need to 

explain his awards and accomplishments 

in each sport. 

Comment [c46]: Again, a bit too 

focused on his story and the personal 

side. 

Comment [c47]: Great closing 

sentence for that piece. However, he did 

not focus on what skills HE learned. 

Rather he focused on what he observed. 

Concrete skills that are measurable and 

provided with examples are the most 

important. 

Comment [c48]: Too focused on what 

he is going to get out of the internship than 

what he can bring to the table and offer to 

the employer. 

 

25

EXCELLENT QUALITY COVER LETTER 


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Tinisha Teacher 

520 Pine Street Boston, MA 02222 ▪ 617-617-6171 ▪ Tinisha.Teacher@gmail.com 

September 14, 2009 

Dr. Robert Tyrell 

Headmaster 

The English High School 

144 McBride Street 

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 

Dear Dr. Tyrell: 

I am writing in regards to the English Language Arts Teacher position I saw posted on the Boston Public 

Schools’ website. I strongly believe that I am qualified for the position and would be a good asset to the 

staff and school community based on my leadership and teaching experiences. 

Over the past two years, I have engaged in teaching classrooms at three different schools within urban 

and suburban environments. During my student teaching at Brockton High School, I was exposed to the 

unique population of students that an urban setting provides along with the challenges. From this 

experience, I gained a widespread understanding of different cultures and learned how to adapt my 

teaching techniques according to different learning styles. Beyond my classroom teaching experience, I 

have also served as a Resident Assistant in a first year and upper classmen residence hall. One of my 

many RA responsibilities included conflict resolution. I received very thorough training, including 

mediation, policy enforcement, and roommate issues and helped my residents work through problems 

using various strategies. I also worked on conflict resolution within my staff by encouraging open 

communication and team building activities. Programming was another large part of my job. I completed 

different educational and social programs and bulletin boards, which required thorough planning. At least 

two weeks in advance, I had to submit a program proposal that listed my learning outcomes for the 

program, a description, and a fund request. Each month I created a bulletin board on my floor that taught 

my residents something new or helped build community. My experiences in conflict resolution will help me 

with classroom management and facilitating programs will help with planning lessons and carrying them 

out. 

I am especially excited to teach in the Boston Public School system. As a Boston Public High School 

graduate, I am eager to give back to the school system that gave me so much. I really believe in your 

learning communities and think they are a great way to get students involved in their learning and 

becoming more familiar with their peers and school staff. It is a strong reason why I am interested in 

working at English High School. 

I am eager to discuss with you the kind of contributions I can make to the English High School 

community. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you in person and I plan to follow up with you 

next week about my candidacy. Feel free to contact me at 617-617-6171 or 

Tinisha.Teacher@gmail.com. Thank you for your kind attention to my application. 

Sincerely, 

Tinisha Teacher 

Comment [c49]: She briefly explains 

WHY she would be a good asset rather 

than just claiming that she would be. 

Comment [c50]: She quantifies her 

experience and shows that it is related 

right from the start. 

Comment [c51]: Here she discusses 

what she learned and is explaining how 

this will be important because she’s 

applying for a job at an urban school. 

Comment [c52]: This shows she has 

great interpersonal and conflict skills which 

are important in a classroom setting. 

Comment [c53]: Here she gives 

specific details about the tasks and 

projects she did. 

Comment [c54]: This is the perfect way 

to bring it back to the job she’s applying 

for. You must explain why the skills or 

experiences you have are related to the 

job. 

Comment [c55]: This proves she has 

done her research about the school and 

knows the environment. 

Comment [c56]: This is focused on 

what she can do for the school and not 

what the school can do for her, perfect! 

Comment [c57]: Appropriate 

mentioning of an interview, not direct and 

pushy. 

 

26

INTERVIEW PREP 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Sample Mock Interview Questions 

• Tell me about yourself and why you are interested in this position. 

• What excites you about working in this career/field/profession 

• How have your educational and work experiences prepared you for this position 

• Tell me about how you perceive your strengths. Your weaknesses. How do you 

evaluate yourself 

• What characteristics do you think are important for this position 

• What can you contribute to this company, organization or school 

• What goals would you set for yourself in this position How are you planning to 

achieve them 

• Take me through a project where you demonstrated leadership skills. 

• Give an example of a problem you have solved and the process you used. 

• What type of technical/computer skills do you have 

• Can you describe you organizational style 

• What types of situations put you under pressure, and how do you deal with the 

pressure 

• Describe a situation where you had a conflict with another individual, and how 

you dealt with it. 

• What are your team-player qualities Give examples. 

• Give an example of a situation in which you failed and how you handled it. 

• Tell me about a situation when you had to persuade another person to your point 

of view. 

• What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction 

• What challenges are you looking for in a position 

• What are your expectations of your future employer/supervisor/coworkers 

• How would your friends describe you Your professors 

• What else should I know about you 

27

INTERVIEW PREP cont’d. 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Interview Questions to Ask the Employer 

At the end of your interview, it’s important to have questions prepared to ask your interviewer. 

This shows that you have researched the company, examined the job description, and you are 

sincerely interested in the position. This is your time to ask the employer some thoughtful 

questions and also make sure the position is a good fit for your values, interests, personality, 

and skills. Your questions may be centered on the company, department, position, supervisor, 

or the selection process for example. See which questions apply to the position you are 

pursuing and have them prepared to ask the day of your interview! 

Company: 

• How does the company support and 

promote personal and professional 

growth 

• What type of experiences do you 

believe are most important in shaping a 

successful career at this company 

• Could you explain the company’s 

organizational structure 

• Is there a structured career path at the 

company 

• What do you consider to be the 

company's strengths and weaknesses 

• What are some of the skills/abilities you 

see as necessary for someone to 

succeed in this job 

• Could you give me an example of a new 

assignment I could take on in the first 

month 

• What challenges might I encounter if I 

take on this position 

• Can you tell me more about my day-today 

responsibilities 

• Assuming I was hired and performed 

well for a period of time, what additional 

opportunities might this job lead to 

• Will I receive any formal training for this 

position 

Department/Supervisor 

• Could you describe to me your typical 

management style and the type of 

employee who works well with you 

• What are the department’s goals, and 

how do they align with the company’s 

mission 

• How will my leadership responsibilities 

and performance be measured By 

whom 

• What personal qualities or 

characteristics do you most value in a 

co-worker 

• How would you describe this 

department’s work environment 

• Are there any weaknesses in the 

department that you are particularly 

looking to improve 

• How soon are you looking to fill this 

position 

• I really enjoyed meeting with you and 

am very interested in this opportunity. I 

feel that my skills and experience would 

be a good fit for this position. What is 

the next step in your selection process 

• Are there any additional company 

resources you suggest I review while 

waiting to hear about your decision 

• May I contact you next week to followup 

28

RESUME BUILDING TOOLKIT 

SUMMER SEARCH RESUME WORKSHOP CONTENT (edited) 

Source: Julie Brown, Volunteer 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Summer Search Resume Workshop 

By Julie Brown 

Overview 

There is no one perfect way to write a resume. Experience, education, skills and goals will vary 

greatly from person to person and year to year. All of these will impact your resume and effect the 

best way to present yourself to prospective employers. However, there are standard guidelines 

and best practices available to help individuals put their best foot forward. This seminar is 

designed to introduce you to those standards and help answer questions that are specific to you 

and the jobs you are pursuing. 

The volunteers have over 140 years of working experience in fields as varied as accounting, 

marketing, architecture and retail merchandising. In organizing this seminar, we have raised 

many questions ourselves about the validity of alternative approaches and options. We expect to 

continue to learn as we work with you to help you in your pursuit of employment after college. We 

applaud your dedication to being here and are pleased to be able to offer our guidance. 

Mentors: Julie Brown, Susan Mukaeda, Laura Kelly, Gina Lambright, Anne Morrisey, Ann 

Trunko and Nancy Kalsched 

Agenda/Packet Contents 

1. Body of a resume- descriptions and definitions 

2. Formatting Guidelines 

3. Researching a job and modifying your resume 

4. Cover letter guidelines 

1. Body of a Resume: Descriptions and Definitions 

Body of a Resume: Objective Statement 

• The purpose of an Objective Statement is to quickly and concisely tell the potential 

employer what type of work you are pursuing and to target your resume for a specific 

position. 

• Your Objective Statement should be brief – ideally no more than one to two lines. 

• Taylor your statement for each new job or position for which you are applying. If the 

statement works for more than a few very similar jobs, then it is probably too general and 

needs to be better targeted. The statement must be specific. 

• Objective Statements should answer questions like: what is your goal, what qualifications 

do you have, what position are you seeking, and within what type of 

organization/industry. 

• If you include a statement, place it directly underneath your name and contact 

information. 

Examples: 

OBJECTIVE 

To secure an entry-level laboratory position utilizing my scientific research and laboratory 

skills in the oncology research department at Genetech. 

To obtain a governmental affairs position utilizing my Dutch and German language skills in 

 

29

an international capacity. 

To contribute my strong background in tax law to US and Japan tax-summer internship 

position at White and Case LLP, Tokyo office. 

Body of a Resume: Education 

• The purpose of this section is to convey your educational degrees/credentials, 

background, accomplishments, awards and honors. 

• Information should include: school name, school location (city, state), date of 

diploma/graduation, degree achieved (undergrad and above), honors or awards and any 

brief description of key activities (save more in-depth descriptions for later). 

• Educational history should be listed chronologically with the most recent/current school 

at the top. 

Example: 

EDUCATION 

University of California at Davis, Davis, CA June 2010 

B.S. in Chemistry 

Deans List achieved in 6 out of 8 semesters. 

El Camino High School, Fremont, CA June 2006 

Cumulative GPA: 3.85 with honors classes in English, Math and Latin 

Senior Class President, Varsity Soccer and Track, and President of Science Club 

Body of a Resume: Experience 

• The purpose of this section is to communicate your work history: describe your work 

responsibilities and duties, and highlight any effective projects and achievements you 

accomplished on the job. 

• Information should include: employer, location of employer (city and state), dates of 

employment, job title, and then the description. 

• This section may include full-time, part-time, internships, related volunteer work or 

relevant campus activities. Experience does not mean it must be paid - unpaid 

internships and volunteer work qualify. 

• It is best to use action words to describe your experience and skills. Be as thorough as 

possible. 

• Experience should also be listed chronologically with the most recent/current position at 

the top of this section. 

• Full sentences are not required; use phrases to keep experience succinct. 

Examples: 

EXPERIENCE 

Peet’s Coffee, Davis, CA April 2008 - Present 

Retail Salesperson and Barista 

Responsible for opening Peet’s Covell Street store on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 am. 

Worked 

with team of 3 to satisfy each customer’s needs with sales of product/drinks or by providing 

information on offerings. Made suggestion to management to structure and merchandise whole 

bean 

offerings differently in front of store which resulted in 10% increase in sales for fiscal year 2008. 

Genetech, South San Francisco, CA June 2007 - August 2007 

Intern - Product Marketing Department 

Collaborated with other student intern on market-expansion research project. Responsibilities 

included reviewing third-party research, analyzing surveys, communicating with research team, 

observing focus groups and writing up observations, creating market recommendations, and 

presenting recommendations to senior product marketing team. Work resulted in two 

recommendations presented to senior Genetech management team 

 

30

Body of a Resume: Summer Search 

• The purpose of this section is to describe the Summer Search program and make it appropriately 

stand out on your resume. 

Example: 

MERIT SCHOLARSHIP 

Summer Search Leadership Development Program 2007-Present 

North San Francisco Bay Area Office 

Selective 3-year leadership development program comprised of intensive mentoring, college 

and 

financial aid advising, and two scholarship experiential learning opportunities; Summer Search 

expects its students to successfully graduate from college and be civically engaged, giving back 

to 

their communities. 

Body of a Resume: Activities 

• The purpose of the “Activities” section should be to highlight organized/structured athletics, 

clubs, organizations and other college or outside activities. 

• It is best to focus on activities that demonstrate some skill, trait or experience that is relevant to 

the job posting/opening. 

• This section should be structured chronologically with the most recent/current activities 

at the top. 

Example: 

ACTIVITIES 

Sonoma County 4-H Member, Sonoma, CA 2004 - Present 

Joined 4-H to become more experienced in handling animals and animal care. Trained with a 

team to 

plan, organize, and host events, orientations and trips. 4-H Club Vice President from 2006- 

2008. 

Was awarded the 2006-2007 4-H All Star Award and Outstanding Member Award in 2008. 

Outward Bound Wilderness, White Fish, MT Summer 2007 

Participated in a 3-element course with rock climbing, kayaking and backpacking over a twentyfour 

day trip. Was awarded “Most Courageous” medal of the team. 

Body of a Resume: Skills 

• The purpose of the “Skills” sections should be to showcase your skills that relate to the 

position/career field that you are applying for: computer skills, office skills, technical skills, 

language skills, etc. For computer skills, even if it is only word processing skills, list familiarity 

with computer systems, applications and programs. For languages, state the degree of your 

proficiency in reading/writing and speaking. 

Example: 

SKILLS 

Personal: Strong customer service, public speaking, and communication skills 

Computer: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) and EAMS/WCAB systems 

Languages: Danish: fluent in reading/writing and speaking, French: proficient in speaking 

Body of a Resume: Interests (optional) 

• The purpose of the optional “Interests” section is to let the potential employer gain some 

insightful information about what makes you special/unique, and can be a plus on your resume 

by helping decision-makers remember you over another candidate. 

Example: 

 

31

INTERESTS 

Biking, gourmet cooking, trekking and reading books on politics and history. 

Additional Resources: 

Skill Set Descriptive Examples 

Computer Skills: Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, 

Quickbooks, Photoshop, website development, social media websites proficiency (twitter, 

facebook, etc.) 

Personal Skills: Highly organized, detail oriented, excellent people and communication skill, 

self starter, foreign language fluency exceptional attention to detail, ability to effectively multitask 

in a deadline driven atmosphere. Outstanding written and verbal skills as well as 

interpersonal skills, superior analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills, selfmotivated 

go-getter who is driven to achieve results creatively 

Links to good websites: 

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/Best-College-Resumes/Sample-Resume/ 

http://www.eresumes.com/entry-level-resume.html 

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/teenstudentgrad/a/studentresume.htm 

Links for lists of action words: 

http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/skills/resumes/verbs.html 

http://www.professional-resume-example.com/resume-keywords.html 

Proofreading Checklist 

1. Spelling - use your word processor but read it yourself carefully. Ask two people who are not 

familiar with your resume proofread it for spelling and grammar. 

2. Punctuation - Read your resume backwards several times while looking for any missing or 

incorrect punctuation. Also check that you are using punctuation consistently. 

3. Layout and Spacing - make sure your use of margins, type fonts, type styles, space between 

sections, etc. is consistent and pleasing to the eye. Make sure it has white space and does not look 

too dense. 

4. Numbers and Facts - double-check all of your dates, numbers and figures for consistency. 

5. Clarity and Content - read your resume out loud to several different people to check for any 

awkward, missing or extra words. Ask yourself, is this communicating what I had hoped 

6. Confirm Contact Information - make sure you verify that your name, address, zip code and any 

other personal contact information is correct and current. 

2. Resume Formatting Guidelines 

Formatting a Resume 

• Stick to traditional format - Creative work for professions such as graphic arts, 

architecture and advertising can be shown in portfolios or books and should not interfere 

with the resume format. 

• Use a common word processing program - Resumes are often updated and 

modified. Use a program that is easily accessed such as MS Word. 

• Aim for a one-page resume - Multiple pages can be lost or separated. Use the 

following tools to keep information concise: font size, phrasing alternatives and editing. 

• Keep it Visually Simple - Limit indentations and italics. Limit font sizes to 10 pts to 12 

pts; 12 pts is best; do not use smaller than 10 pts. Do not use more than 2 types of fonts 

and 2 font sizes. 

• Ink Colors - Use black ink. 

• Paper Format - Use 8.5” x 11” high quality, heavy weight bond paper in conservative 

 

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colors – white, ivory, light grey. Keep margins no less than 1” and no more than 1.5” 

• Computer Format - Print a copy before sending out to ensure format is consistent with 

screen image. Use locked Word files or pdf format to ensure your resume is not modified 

after sending. http://www.labnol.org/software/adobe-pdf-guide-tutorial/6296/ 

Fonts 

Sans Serif fonts are block letters and tend to look better online. Use for headings and captions. 

Good choices are: 

Arial 

Geneva 

Helvetica 

Verdana 

Serif fonts are more traditional and tend to look better in print. Some computer scanners 

cannot read Serif fonts well. Use for body of text. Good choices are: 

Times New Roman 

Garamond 

Georgia 

Century Old Style (used in banking, brokerage industry) 

3. Researching a Job and Modifying Your Resume 

Example Entry Level Position Examples 

Associate Web Content Editor 

We are seeking a hands-on Associate Web Content Editor who will work closely with Product 

Management, Design, Engineering and Marketing to build scalable and innovative consumer 

portals. (can collaborate on projects, follows through, works well with others, self starter,) 

Write, edit, manage, produce and source site content (excellent proficiency of the English 

language and grammar, website design) 

Improve site engagement through user management and guerilla marketing (creative) 

Content, page and document creation, basic HTML coding, QA and testing of new functionality, 

routine site maintenance tasks (Detail oriented) 

Utilize external visitor traffic reporting tool to analyze, report out on and make game 

changing recommendations (Analytical, multi-task,) 

Beginning-to-end completion of specific projects as required (follow-through, works 

independently, can meet deadlines) 

Help Desk/Entry Level Systems Administrator 

Exponential growth has hastened our need for help desk/entry level system administrators. This 

position is ideal for people who are: 

curious about technology and ready to be challenged by real world applications 

eager to get started on their system administration career (self starter) 

looking to be rewarded for their hard work with good pay, rapid promotions, and lots of perks 

support leading edge IT systems that will allow you to expand your experience and skill set. 

(proficiency with computers) 

work with advanced network and service management systems and tools. (proficient in 

computers) 

work with an outstanding group of I.T. Professionals. (work well in group, collaborate) 

Entry-Level Pharmaceutical Sales (Base + Commission) 

All candidates should possess strong communication skills, demonstrate an ability to quickly 

learn new information and be able to verbally communicate a pattern of success. The required 

background varies but a 4-year degree is a MUST. 

Individuals have been from a variety of industries including: recent graduates, account 

representatives, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, customer service representatives, industrial 

sales executives and nurses. This industry will often hire people from a variety of academic and/or 

professional backgrounds. In some cases relocation may apply.(self starter, positive attitude, able 

 

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to work independently, Isn’t discouraged by “no”, motivated) 

4. Cover Letters 

A cover letter is invaluable for entry-level professionals. A thoughtfully written cover letter can 

distinguish you from the crowd by allowing you to go into greater detail about your unique skills 

and qualifications that make you the best fit for the role. 

Make sure you do your homework, as the effort put forth in your cover letter can be critical. 

There are several types of cover letters that can be sent to employers and contacts. Be sure to 

choose a type of cover letter that reflects how you are applying for the job or the type of job search 

assistance you are requesting. Your cover letter should be designed specifically for the purpose you 

are writing and customized for each position you seek. 

Cover letters can be sent via e-mail as an attachment or in the body of your e-mail message. 

Types of Cover Letters 

Resume Cover Letters 

When you’re writing a cover letter to apply for an advertised job, you will be sending a traditional 

cover letter with your resume. Your cover letter should be customized for the job you are applying 

for, so the reader can see, at a glance, why you are a top candidate for the jobs. 

Prospecting Letters 

Prospecting letters are letters inquiring about open positions at a company, rather than letters 

applying for a specific job opening. This letters should also be customized so the reader knows 

you have an understanding of the company and its mission. When sending prospecting letters, 

include a copy of your resume. 

Networking Letters 

Networking letters are letters written to contacts requesting job search assistance or career 

advice. Referral letters are used to write to a mutual connection asking them to refer you to a job 

opportunity or requesting assistance with a job search. Letters of introduction are used to refer a 

candidate to a prospective employer. There are also general networking letters you can use to ask 

for job search help. Again, send your resume with your networking letter so the reader can see 

your background and experience. 

Guidelines For Cover Letters 

When well crafted and targeted to the opportunity and employer, a cover letter can give you a 

significant edge over the competition. If you’re searching for your first job or looking to take your 

career in a new direction, don’t miss this chance to make a strong first impression and set yourself 

apart from other contenders. Here are some guidelines: 

Avoid a generic salutation. If possible, don’t start your note with “To whom it may 

concern” or “Dear sir or madam.” Instead, call the company to ask the hiring manager’s name 

(as well as the correct spelling) and title if it’s not apparent in the job posting. Addressing the 

letter to a specific individual will demonstrate both motivation and resourcefulness. 

Keep it focused. Hiring managers don’t want to read a novel, so limit your note to two or 

three short paragraphs. Explain why the job interests you and what qualities you can bring to 

the position. Your interest in rock climbing isn’t applicable unless you are applying to a firm 

that caters to sports enthusiasts, for example. 

Customize the content. It’s important to target each letter to the actual job opening. You 

can determine which professional accomplishments to focus on by looking at the job posting. 

For example, if you are applying for a position that involves managing a small team, play up 

your interpersonal skills and previous experience overseeing small groups. Expand upon one or 

two key points from your résumé—perhaps how you oversaw a successful product launch—to 

better key into the potential employer’s needs. 

Showcase your top assets. There is a fine line between confidence and cockiness. Saying 

you are the best “Web designer west of the Rockies” is less effective than explaining how your 

redesign of a client’s Web site increased sales for the company by 10 percent or noting that you 

 

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won a prestigious award for your work. 

Address any concerns. The cover letter also is a place to address any issues that may give a 

hiring manager pause, such as gaps in employment. Briefly explain why you were out of work 

and, more important, what you have been doing since then to keep your skills up-to-date. 

Don’t make demands. Avoid asking for a specific salary or making other work-related 

demands (“I prefer working from home every Friday”). The purpose of your letter is to explain 

what you can do for the company, not vice versa. 

Be honest. Don’t stretch the truth about your accomplishments. Even seemingly minor 

misrepresentations—saying you managed the daily operations of a firm’s help desk when you 

actually co-managed it, for example—can come back to haunt you during the reference or 

background check process. 

Check for errors. A sure way to take yourself out of the running for a job is to have a typo or 

grammatical mistake in your cover letter. Ask a trusted friend or family member to review the 

document before you send it out. Seventy-six percent of executives we interviewed said just one 

or two typos in a résumé would remove applicants from consideration for a job; 40 percent said 

it takes only one typo to rule candidates out. 

Find a place. When applying for a position electronically, paste your cover letter into the 

body of the e-mail message you send to the hiring manager or into the appropriate space on an 

online application, if possible. Keep in mind that not all online job services will allow you to 

take this step. 

Cover Letter Templates 

Contact Information 

The first section of your cover letter should include information on how the employer can contact 

you. If you have contact information for the employer, include that. Otherwise, just list your 

information. 

Your Contact Information 

Your Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your E-mail Address 

Date 

Employer Contact Information 

Name Title Company Address City, State, Zip Code 

Salutation Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name: 

Body of Cover Letter: The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you 

are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up. 

First Paragraph: The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are 

writing. Mention the position you are applying for. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you 

have one. Be clear and concise regarding your request. Convince the reader that they should grant 

the interview or appointment you requested in the first paragraph. 

Middle Paragraphs: The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to 

offer the employer. Make strong connections between your abilities and their needs. Mention 

specifically how your skills and experience match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are 

interpreting your resume, not repeating it. Try to support each statement you make with a piece 

of evidence. Use several shorter paragraphs or bullets rather than one large block of text. 

Final Paragraph: Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for 

the position. Include information on how you will follow-up. State that you will do so and indicate 

when (one week's time is typical). You may want to reduce the time between sending out your 

resume and follow up if you fax or e-mail it. 

Complimentary Close: Respectfully yours, 

Signature: 

Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter) 

Typed Signature 

 

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CAREER COACH HANDBOOK - Summer Search

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