Learning Portal - Career: Resumes and Cover Letters

5 Steps to Build Your Resume

Step 1 – Research

Tailor your resume to the requirements of each job to demonstrate that you can perform the essential duties of the role. Use the following resources to research and understand the typical job requirements in your occupation:

• Job postings you are interested in applying to. Examine the qualifications/duties listed and match them with your skills, knowledge and experience.

• Labour Market Information resources such as the Job Bank – Explore Careers website. Review career and occupational profiles and understand the required duties and responsibilities. 

Step 2 - Identify Skills

A resume is both a marketing tool and summary of your qualifications. Identifying your main skills and strengths is an essential first step in building an effective resume.

Technical or Industry-Specific Skills

These skills are specific for your industry and the type of jobs to which you are applying.

Example: administrative assistants need to have skills such as the following:

• How to use Microsoft Office software to prepare and format business documents.

• How to manage physical and electronic records.

• How to record day-to-day business transactions.

• How to use Microsoft Excel to create and manage basic spreadsheets.

To identify your industry-specific skills, review the learning outcomes section on your program website as well as your course descriptions.

Essential Employability or Transferrable Skills

Transferable skills are more general and are essential to succeed in any job. You develop and use these skills in a variety of experiences and everyday tasks.

Here are some examples:

• verbal and written communication

• interpersonal skills

• problem solving

• time management

To identify these skills, think of what skills helped you to perform effectively in your job or educational experiences.

The resources below provide examples of essential skills sought by employers:

• CAREER READINESS for the New College Graduate—The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

• Essential Skills and Work Habits for Work, Learning and Life—Ontario Skills Passport

• Essential Employability Skills—Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

• Employability Skills—The Conference Board of Canada

Step 3 – Build your Resume

Use your list of skills and the job requirements that you researched in Step 2 to build your resume. You can format your own resume from scratch, or use a resume template.

Watch this video or read the information below to find out how to create an effective resume. You can also download the How to Build Your Resume video transcript.

Elements of a Resume:

Customize your resume for each job. The following are key sections to include in your resume:

• Your contact information: name, address (optional), email, and phone number.

• Qualifications/skills: relevant skills, knowledge, certifications, etc. that you obtained through your experience. This will make it easy for the employer to find and match your qualifications to their requirements.

• Education: Any diplomas, degrees, or certificates you have earned or are completing. Include your GPA if it is high (3.0/4.0 or higher).

• Relevant experience: Your relevant work experience, academic projects, work placements, co-op, and volunteer experience. Describe your experience using accomplishment statements (see Step 4). When describing your job duties, start with the responsibilities and accomplishments most relevant to the job requirements.

• Other work experience: Work experience that is not related to the job.

• Volunteer/community involvement: Volunteering positions you have held with an emphasis on skills or responsibilities that are relevant to the job.

• Optional additional sections: Awards/certifications/extracurricular activities/interests.

Format and Style

A two-page resume is the standard at this stage, and the format should be consistent, simple, and professional. Use the following format guidelines.

You can use a resume template if you need a starting point. Follow these guidelines to make sure your resume is consistent and easy to read:

• Use white space between sections and headings.

• Make sure your bullets points use the same style and are all aligned the same.

• Dates should be aligned and presented in a consistent format.

• Use industry language and keywords to show that you understand the occupation and industry for which you are applying.

You can use this resume checklist (PDF) when creating your resume to help you remember what to include, what to leave out, and how to structure the document.

Step 4 - Identify Accomplishments

Add "accomplishment statements" to your job descriptions. Accomplishment statements explain how your actions accomplished or contributed something.

Read the steps below or watch the video to learn how to write accomplishment statements. You can also read the How to Write Accomplishment Statements video transcript.

Here are some steps to writing accomplishment statements:

1. Brainstorm: Think about the tasks and activities you performed exceptionally well in your past or current experiences. When thinking about each experience, ask yourself the following questions:

   • How was my performance measured in this position?

   • What value did I bring to this workplace or organization?

2. Use the STAR technique: Make the connection between your actions and a positive result—describe the Situation or Task, the Action you took, and the Result of your action

3. Write the statements: Use this information to write statements that explain what you have accomplished.

   e.g. “Created the department’s first operations manual [action], which increased the effectiveness of the new employee training, and significantly reduced the expenditure of time and resources. [result]”

4. Update your resume: Add these accomplishment statements to your job descriptions.

Tip: To make the most impact, accomplishment statements should:

• Incorporate metrics such as numbers, figures, statistics, percentages when it is possible (e.g., "increased sales by 15%").

• Describe your actions using strong action verbs, such as "completed," "raised," "achieved," "delivered," etc.

• Be relevant to the employer and the position, and make a connection with the job requirements.

Examples

Below are examples of how transferable skills can be phrased as accomplishment statements.

Written Communication

• Skill: Skilled at communicating information in a written format with clarity, accuracy and with a proper use of references.

• Duty: Produced research reports using variety of reliable sources, qualitative and quantitative data.

• Achievement Statement: Prepared over ten accurate, well-researched, concisely written, and properly cited reports,10+ pages long on average, in a two-month period.

Step 5 – Proofread

Grammar and spelling mistakes can cost you an interview. Employers may interpret errors as lack of interest and not review your resume further. Here are a few strategies to help you avoid embarrassing errors:

• Proofread your resume (on screen and a print version). Do not rely solely on spell check. For example, some words can be spelled correctly but used improperly, which won’t be caught by spell check.

• Have a second person proofread your resume. A second set of eyes may see what you have missed.

• Visit the NWP Student Career Centre. Attend a resume drop-in session or make an appointment with a career counsellor.

Use these documents to get started:

• Resume Template

  You can use this template as a starting point for your resume.

• Resume Sample

  An example of a resume for a customer service position.

5 Steps to Build Your Cover Letter

Step 1 – Research

Cover letters must be customized for each employer because they are intended to show why you are a good fit for that specific job. Research the company to which you are applying, and examine their products, services and culture. There are several places you can look to find relevant information:

• their website (the "About Us" page, etc.)

• their publications

• their social media channels

• any other media sources

As part of your research, try to find the name of the hiring manager. Do not be afraid to call the reception or front desk to ask the name of the hiring manager. This can help make your cover letter seem more personalized and well-researched.

Tip: Researching a potential employer is also good preparation for common interview questions, such as “What do you know about our company/organization and why do you want to work for us?”

Step 2 – Begin Writing

Use the information from your research and from your resume to write your cover letter. It should be one page, and the font style and size should match your resume. You can use this cover letter template or start from scratch.

Watch this video or read the information below for advice on how to write your cover letter. You can also download the How to Write a Cover Letter video transcript.

At the beginning of the cover letter, you should include the following information:

• Your name and contact information. Use the same format as on your resume.

• The date of submission.

• The company contact information (the employer name and title, and the company name and address).

• The job title and reference number (if applicable).

• The recipient of the letter. Address the letter to the hiring manager or contact person. If you don’t know their name, write "Dear Hiring Manager."

Introduce yourself to the employer using the 4 Ws:

• Who: Introduce yourself.

• Why: Explain why you are applying and are interested in the company.

• What: Include the job title or the type of job that interests you.

• Where: Include where you heard about the job.

Step 3 – Describe Qualifications

In the body of the cover letter, describe your skills, knowledge and experience that match the key requirements of the job or will allow you to add value to the job and the company. Relate your skills and knowledge to specific academic, volunteer, or work experience. This is your opportunity to elaborate on the experience that you included on your resume.

Emphasize your contributions by phrasing your experience as "accomplishment statements" that demonstrate the impact your had in your workplace or project. Read Step 4 in the Building Your Resume tab to learn how to write Accomplishment Statements. This adds credibility to your cover letter and makes a stronger impression on employers.

Your cover letter is also a place to explain gaps in your resume or highlight asset points, such as willingness to relocate, etc.

Step 4 - Target the Company

Describe why you want to work for the company. The information you discovered in your earlier research will be useful at this stage. Provide a few reasons as to why you are passionate about your occupation/industry and what interests you about working for this specific company.

Step 5 – Proofread

Employers may interpret errors as a lack of interest in their job and use it as a reason not to read your resume. Here are a few strategies to help you avoid embarrassing errors:

• Proofread your cover letter (on-screen and a print version). Do not rely solely on spell-check. Some words can be spelled correctly, but be used improperly, which won’t be caught by spell-check.

• Have a second person proofread your cover letter. A second set of eyes may see errors you have missed.

• Visit the NWP Student Career Centre. Attend a resume or cover letter drop-in session or make an appointment with a career counsellor.

Use these documents to get started:

• Cover Letter Template

  You can use this template as a starting point for your cover letter.

• Cover Letter Sample

  An example of a cover letter for a customer service position.

Checklist

Resume - What to Include

• Your contact information: Name, address (optional), email, and phone number.

• Your qualifications/skills: Relevant skills, knowledge, certifications, etc. that you have obtained through your experience to demonstrate that you would be able to do the job for which you are applying.

• Your education: Any diplomas, degrees, or certificates you have earned or are completing. Include your GPA if it is high (3.0/4.0 or higher).

• Your experience: Your work experience, along with relevant academic projects, work placements, etc.

• Volunteer/community involvement: Volunteer positions you have held, with an emphasis on skills or responsibilities that are relevant to the job.

• Awards / Certifications / Extracurricular Activities / Interests

Cover Letter - What to Include

• Your contact information: Your name, address (optional), email, and phone number in the same format as your resume.

• The date of submission.

• The company contact information: The employer name and title, and the company name and address.

• The job title and reference number (if applicable)

• The recipient of the letter: Address the letter to the hiring manager or contact person. If you don’t know their name, write "Dear Hiring Manager."

• An introduction using the 4 Ws:

  • Who: Introduce yourself.

  • Why: Explain why you are applying for this job.

  • What: Include the job title or the type of job that interest you.

  • Where: Include where you heard about the job.

• Your qualifications and accomplishments: Expand on the knowledge and experience in your resume. Make sure to use Accomplishment Statements.

• Why you want to work for the company: Target that employer and show that you know something about them.

Format and Proofreading

Resume:

• White space: Space is used between sections and headings to make the resume clear and easy to read.

• Consistent bullet points: All bullets use the same style and are aligned to the same place.

• Consistent dates: Dates appear in a consistent format (e.g., written out using words or just numbers)

Cover Letter:

• 1 page, concise and well-written.

• Limited number of sentences starting with “I."

• No run-on sentences.

• Plain paper; no graphics if applying electronically.

General:

• Web-friendly font (such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 11 or 12).

• A simple and professional format. Don't use graphics to highlight information.

• Action words and accomplishment statements: Use strong action words when describing your experience and include accomplishment statements.

• Checklist - Resume and Cover Letter

Avoiding Plagiarism in Your Resume and Cover Letter

Even in resumes and cover letters, it's important to use your own words. Watch the video below (The Learning Portal Ontario, 2020) to learn about how to avoid plagiarism in your resume and cover letters.

Bruyère Continuing Care

Watch this video (Algonquin College Library, 2018) to hear the employer perspective of Hélène Thibault, the Manager of Recruitment and Selection at Bruyère Continuing Care. You can also download the Bruyère Continuing Care Employer Perspective video transcript.

Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG)

Watch this video (Algonquin College Library, 2018) to hear the employer perspective of Torie Billings, HR Manager, and Adam Laderoute, HR Coordinator at Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group. You can also download the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group Employer Perspective video transcript.