CV & COVER LETTER WORKSHOP

1. CV & COVER LETTER WORKSHOP Thesis Writers Anonymous Fall 2013

2. CV & COVER LETTER WORKSHOP PART 1: • Overview - Resumes & CV’s PART 2: • Cover letters PART 3: • Coaching and individual work

3. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? RESUME • No publications • Typically 1-2 pages • Dynamic • Content and structure change to match each position CV • Publications & talks • Typically 3-5+ pages • Dynamic • Content and structure change to match each position

4. There are many ways to be successful

5. Best strategy: small is beautiful  Invest a lot of energy into a few applications

6. Apply key concepts to individualize each application • Demonstrate deep understanding of the organization • Show, don’t tell your qualifications • Paint a picture of who you are • Explain why you feel it’s a potential match • Craft your story • Organize your structure • Quantify your impact • Hand-pick your words • Design your layout

7. Your quest is to show a match. Use your CV and cover letter to make the case. Organization You Mission Position Culture Projects Goals Skills Personality Values Goals Match

8. There is an art to sophisticated persuasion:

9. Show, don’t tell

10. Step #1: Listen carefully. Every organization has a song; weave the melody into your application.

11. Do your research • Mission/vision/strategic plan • Financial statements • Hiring manager • Key staff • Position • Current projects • Competition

12. Craft your story • Draw a map of your journey • Select which experiences you will share • Make your tale have a theme

13. Organize your structure • Meaningful headings • Chronological order within each unit • Company name • Time (years worked) • Title/role • BRIEF Description of the job

14. Make it easy to skim • Top  Bottom • Most important to least • Left  Right • Quantify your impact

15. Quantify your impact

16. Quantify your impact

17. Hand-pick your words • Be consistent: • Start each bullet point with a past-tense power verb • Vary word choice to illustrate breadth and depth http://technology.wgschools.org/reading-s

18. Design your layout for easy access • Pick one classy font • Use white space to help info “pop” • Bold important info • Italicize sparingly • Stick to bullet points

19. Other tips: • Do not lie! • You can, however, be selective about what you share. • Don’t worry about bragging; let the facts speak for themselves • Keep additional info BRIEF and relevant

20. LinkedIn should be a tease • Don’t share all of the details; make them want to find out more

21. Cover letters

22. Apply key concepts to individualize each application • Demonstrate deep understanding of the organization • Show, don’t tell your qualifications • Paint a picture of who you are • Explain why you feel it’s a potential match • Craft your story • Organize your structure • Quantify your impact • Hand-pick your words • Design your layout

23. The cover letter formula • I am writing to express interest in XX position… • I am interested in the position because… • This may be a great match for me because… • I look forward to speaking with you further about this opportunity…

24. Show what a great writer you are DO NOT: • Regurgitate your CV • Use flowery language • Smother your piece with jargon • Use persuasive language • Tell a chronological story DO: • Illustrate a deep understanding of the company and position • Show your sophistication • Be humble yet confident • Make them want to get to know you • Explain why it’s a potential match

25. Some cover letter tips: • Lift their language – job description • Pay close attention to mission statements • Come up with smooth segues • Show a bit of your spirit • You cannot have one mistake – proofread!

26. Jaime B. Goldstein ADDRESS HERE September 13, 2012 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express interest in the Coordinator of Writing Initiative position in the Biological Engineering department at MIT (mit-00009041). Having a brilliant mind is simply not enough. Great ideas may never reach their full potential if they are not communicated effectively to others. Through clear articulation, collaboration and progress are possible. In today’s world, scientists need to be writers too. It would be an honor to coach and support the students of the Biological Engineering Department to become better writers. The Biological Engineering Department seems to attract some of the most innovative thinkers - people who have deep scientific roots and the flexibility to cross disciplines and solve some of the world’s most challenging mysteries. It would be a very rewarding experience for me to help the undergraduate population polish their writing skills so that, regardless of their career paths, their insights will have the potential to make a real difference. As a writer, teacher and administrator, this position feels like a particularly good match for me right now. I have coached and mentored students of all ages – from the middle school to the graduate level. I am familiar with the scientific world from my self-designed undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Non-Fiction Writing and, unofficially, I have been my husband’s editor for years (he is a Biotech Scientist at Abbott Labs). I am excited by the entrepreneurial nature of this position; it sounds exhilarating to work with your top-notch faculty and administration to figure out how best to support the goals of the Biological Engineering Department through a peer tutoring program and a winter writing workshop. Additionally, I am attracted to the part-time nature of this role; I recently had a baby and am seeking a stimulating position that will work with my family’s needs. Writing can be an art form, an expression of self, and, most importantly, a tool to connect people and ideas. MIT’s Biological Engineering Department shapes the minds and practices of this next generation of leaders. I have no doubt that many of your students will make substantive contributions to society; I would feel proud to have played my part as their Writing Coordinator. I hope to be considered for the position and look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Jaime B. Goldstein

27. Formal letter format Express Interest in the position Jaime B. Goldstein ADDRESS HERE September 13, 2012 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express interest in the Coordinator of Writing Initiative position in the Biological Engineering department at MIT (mit-00009041). Having a brilliant mind is simply not enough. Great ideas may never reach their full potential if they are not communicated effectively to others. Through clear articulation, collaboration and progress are possible. In today’s world, scientists need to be writers too. It would be an honor to coach and support the students of the Biological Engineering Department to become better writers. The Biological Engineering Department seems to attract some of the most innovative thinkers - people who have deep scientific roots and the flexibility to cross disciplines and solve some of the world’s most challenging mysteries. It would be a very rewarding experience for me to help the undergraduate population polish their writing skills so that, regardless of their career paths, their insights will have the potential to make a real difference. As a writer, teacher and administrator, this position feels like a particularly good match for me right now. I have coached and mentored students of all ages – from the middle school to the graduate level. I am familiar with the scientific world from my self-designed undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Non-Fiction Writing and, unofficially, I have been my husband’s editor for years (he is a Biotech Scientist at Abbott Labs). I am excited by the entrepreneurial nature of this position; it sounds exhilarating to work with your top-notch faculty and administration to figure out how best to support the goals of the Biological Engineering Department through a peer tutoring program and a winter writing workshop. Additionally, I am attracted to the part-time nature of this role; I recently had a baby and am seeking a stimulating position that will work with my family’s needs. Writing can be an art form, an expression of self, and, most importantly, a tool to connect people and ideas. MIT’s Biological Engineering Department shapes the minds and practices of this next generation of leaders. I have no doubt that many of your students will make substantive contributions to society; I would feel proud to have played my part as their Writing Coordinator. I hope to be considered for the position and look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Jaime B. Goldstein Understand the organization & role Explain the match Close & next steps

28. Your application is just the start! • Formal email correspondence • Interview preparation • Proper “thank you” notes

29. Don’t forget:

30. Get started improving your CV. • Start now: quantifying your impact and apply the concepts of this talk to your CV • Print out three job descriptions that are interesting and weave in some buzz words • Make an appointment: bewritinglab@mit.edu