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Lecture 2: Resume & Cover Letter
Assignment Tasks: Assessment

Assessment Grade (%)

Resume (VMock) Submission 50

NUS TalentConnect Profile Completion 10

In-Class Quiz & Lecture Attendance 40

Total 100
Q: What is a resume?

Answer:
A record of your past
achievements and
experiences

Answer:
A marketing tool that job
seekers use to communicate
their unique value to
employers.
How long does it take for recruiters
to glance your profile?

6
seconds
Lecture Objectives

Resume Development
STEP

1 • Analyse the Job Description (J.D.).

STEP • List Experiences and Skills:

2 • Education, CCAs, Internships or Part-time jobs, Volunteer
work, etc.
• Significant contributions & achievements.
• Organise these experiences into relevant sections.

STEP
Match your skills to the J.D
3 •
• Be results-oriented, formulate C.A.R. statements.

STEP

4 • Proof-read and apply finishing touches.

Lecture Objectives

STEP

1 Analyse the Job Description (J.D.)

JOB
Knowledge, Skills and Attributes (KSAs) listed in J.D.

ORGANISATION
Values, Mission, Goals, Milestones, News
Releases, Reputations
RESEARCH

INDUSTRY TRENDS
Latest happenings (local, abroad)

Go beyond the company website

– use your network, alumni, LinkedIn, Glassdoor
Analyse Job Description
Skills
Types of Skills:
Technical Skills
Skills that are necessary to
perform a job
Can be easily demonstrated and
proven with certifications or
degree
E.g. Coding, Laboratory Techniques,
Pedagogies, languages
Transferable Skills
Skills that can be broadly applied
to other jobs/ industries
Usually developed through life
and experiences
E.g. Communication, Time-
management, Teamwork, Leadership,
Problem-solving, Multi-tasking etc.
Analyse Job Description

World Economic Forum:

Top 10 Skills & Workforce Strategies in 2020

1 Complex Problem Solving 6 Emotional Intelligence

2 Critical Thinking 7 Judgment & Decision Making

3 Creativity 8 Service Orientation

4 People Management 9 Negotiation

5 Coordinating with Others 10 Cognitive Flexibility

Source: Future of Jobs Report, World Economic Forum
Activity: Analyse Job Descriptions: Faculty to adapt

Sample JD 1 (Internship with TTSH)

Analyse Job Description

Sample JD 1 (Internship with TTSH)

Who are we The

The candidate
candidate should
should have:
have:
looking for? • Good CAP / GPA
• Eager to learn
Identify Technical
• Good Team Player
and Transferable
• Interest in healthcare industry
skills
Excellent Interpersonal
•• Excellent Interpersonal Skills
Skills and
and
Communication skills
Communication skills
• Creative Problem-Solving skills
• Creative Problem-Solving skills
Activity: Analyse Job Descriptions: Faculty to adapt

Sample JD 2 (Internship with Carousell – Data Analyst)

Job Descriptions:
data reports,
• Provide data reports,visualisations
visualisations
andand analysis
analysis in a timely
in a timely manner
manner
• Identify and resolve gaps and issues in the data
businessmanagement
• Generate business management and
and operational
operational reports
reports
• Propose long term solutions to increase data integrity

The Candidate should:

• Detail oriented
Detail oriented
• Strong critical
Strong critical thinking
thinking
• Able towork
Able to workinin
aa fast-paced
fast-paced environment
environment
• Data-driven and
Data-driven and passionate
passionate about
about solving
solving problems
problems
• Strong familiarity
Strong familiarity with
with data
data frameworks,
frameworks, tools tools
(SQL, (SQL, R or Excel)
R or Excel) and and
programming languages
programming languages (e.g.
(e.g.
Python)
Python)
Activity: Analyse Job Descriptions: Faculty to adapt

Sample JD 2 (Internship with Spurwing )

Identify the types of technical and transferable skills

Responsibilities:
• Support PR executives in their daily tasks and new business and
collaborateononresearch
marketing initiatives including collaborate research projects,
projects, report
report
generationand
generation and maintenance,
maintenance, andand proofread
proofread to produce
to produce accurate
accurate and and
high-quality work
• Generate sentiment
sentimentanalysis
analysis report
report and
and communicate
communicate the the insights
insights to to
stakeholders

Requirements:
• Proficient in using design
designsoftware
softwareandand programs
programs (e.g.
(e.g. Photoshop,
Photoshop,
MailChimp)
MailChimp)
• Demonstrate a positive,
positive,thoughtful
thoughtful attitude
attitude to work.
to work.
• Possess good research,
research,writing
writing and
and organisation
organisation skills,
skills, with with
very very
strong
strong attention
attention to detail to detail
• Fluent in English,
English,and andcompetency Mandarin
competencyininMandarin would
would bebe advantageous
advantageous
Analyse Job Description

You need to get past the ATS

Analyse Job Description

Think of Job Descriptions as

the Map to point you to what to
write about in your resume...
Analyse Job Description

Review the JDs of your target jobs & make a list of

the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes required

Knowledge Skills Attributes

Knowledge of quality Interpersonal &

Team-player
control procedures communication skills

Knowledge of FDA Creative problem-solving

Highly meticulous
requirements skills

If you want to be selected, you

need to demonstrate you have
these KSAs in your resume...
 List Experiences and Skills (W.I.S.E)
STEP

Use your
Work Experience experiences to
demonstrate
International Exposure
how you have
Student Life Activities each of the
Education and Qualifications different KSAs
in the JDs
List Experiences and Skills (W.I.S.E)

Year 1 Resume

Summer Vacation Internship

Part-time work / N.S. experience

before Freshmen year

Co-Curricular Activities from J.C.,

Poly or Freshman year

Volunteer Experience (if any)

List Experiences and Skills (W.I.S.E)

Year 2 Resume

Student Exchange Programme

Case Challenge Competition,

Hackathons etc. (if any)
List Experiences and Skills (W.I.S.E)

Year 3 Resume

Global Internship Exposure

Credit-bearing Internships
Year 4 Resume

Final Year Project

Software Competencies
STEP

3 Write C.A.R statements about your

experiences to demonstrate your KSAs

Writing Good C.A.R. Statements

C.A.R.

Competency + Action + Result

 STEP

3 Putting It Together (C.A.R.)

For each experience, include a bulleted skills statement, following this formula:

Competency verb + details of Actions + Result = C.A.R.

• Begin each bullet point with a strong competency verb
(e.g. “researched,” “analysed,”, “publicised”, “recruited”,
“negotiated” etc.).

• Summarise how you carried out the duties and what your
contributions and achievements were.

• Whenever possible, quantify the results of your efforts.

• If results are not tangible, share the rationale.

Putting It Together (C.A.R.)

Action Verb for Resume

Putting It Together (C.A.R.)

Avoid Listing Job Descriptions

- Use C.A.R.
C.A.R
.

Before C.A.R. After C.A.R.

Part-Time Tutor Part-Time Math Tutor

• Taught English and Math lessons • Conducted English and Math

lessons for five Primary 6 students
• Responsible for marking and improved their grades from
assessment papers Band 3 to Band 1

• Assisted students with Math • Incorporated fun experiments and

questions short animation videos in my lesson
to trigger interest and deepen
• Answer parents’ queries students’ understanding of core Math
concepts

• Provided timely feedback through

weekly emails to their parents
Putting It Together (C.A.R.)

Avoid Listing Job Descriptions

- Use C.A.R.
C.A.R
.

Before C.A.R. After C.A.R.

Part-Time Cashier Part-Time Cashier

• Worked in SS Supermart • Managed purchase transactions

weekly by meticulously handling
all the money with 100% accuracy

• Responsible for collecting money • Provided excellent customer

as cashier service and awarded ‘Best
Employee’ of the month

• Helped supervisor with ad hoc • Re-organised organic food

duties sections to feature fast moving
products prominently, thus
increasing sales by 20%
STEP

4 Apply Finishing Touches

Clear & Uncluttered Layout

• 1-page, not more than 2

• Black font with white background,

balance of text with white space

• Simple, formal and readable font

(Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana);
font size: 11 or 12

• If submit via email, save resume and

cover letter in pdf as attachments, and
include a brief note in email body
stating your purpose
Apply Finishing Touches

Vmock

Log-In with
Student Email
Cover Letter
Cover Letter

How Is It Different From a Resume?

 A well-written 1-page Cover Letter that
complements your resume

 A persuasive piece which allows you to

elaborate:

• Why are you motivated to apply for

the internship

• How your interests & values align

with the organisation’s

• Why are you a good fit for the

company and why the employer
should grant you an interview
Cover Letter

Is It Necessary? Required

 Indicates initiative
Optional
Not
Mentioned
 Justifies your passion in
the industry & your keen
interest in the role

 Provides a glimpse of
your transferrable skills
and personality

YES
Cover Letter

Sell yourself in your Cover Letter

Cover Letter Template
Your Name and Contact Details

HI
Date

Dear Mr/ Ms XYZ (Hiring Manager’s surname)/ Hiring Manager / Recruiter,

Subject: Application for the position of <position name>

Paragraph 1: Briefly introduce yourself and share your motivation why

WHY you want to join this company/industry

Paragraph 2: 2-3 skills (that matches the JD), supported by

specific examples.

BYE Paragraph 3: Closing and call to action.

Yours Sincerely,
Cover Letter

Cover Letter Format

• Not more than 1-page

• Simple formal and

readable font (Arial,
Times New Roman,
Verdana) with font
size: 11-12

• Free from typo- and

grammatical-errors
Cover Letter

Example: Let’s Try!

What do you think of this? Good enough?

My research and internship experiences trained me to be humble as I

strive to learn continuously. From my research projects, I have learnt to
adopt a logical yet creative mindset in problem solving. I have also
honed my verbal and written communication skills.
Cover Letter

Compare: Let’s Try!

Provide ample elaboration:

I have developed strong communication skills, both written and oral,
through the various research projects and internships I have undertaken
in university. During the past four years, I have produced close to 30
forms of written communication, including essays, scientific reports,
thesis, emails, posters and presentation slides. These experiences not only
honed my ability to write in a clear and concise manner, but also trained
me to tailor my style of writing to suit the needs of the target recipient.
Cover Letter

Common Mistakes

Stating the obvious “Your firm is renowned for excellence

in the fields of …”
"My name is....."

Lack of research “It would be my privilege to start my

career here.”
“I am interested to join you as you are one
of the top pharmaceutical companies.”

Focusing too much “I am interested in...." (multiple times)

on yourself "I believe this is a great opportunity for me to
learn and contribute to your top-notch company
which I strongly feel has the appropriate
resources and mentorship to groom fresh
graduates like myself.”
Cover Letter

Common Mistakes

Self-doubt “Although I have no experience in....”

Making bare “I strongly believe I have the necessary skills,

assertions as to your experience and aptitude to thrive and contribute
competencies in a meaningful way to your firm.” (without
elaborating why)

Not showing “I was tasked to…”

initiatives and not “I was asked to…”
taking ownership
Reminder

Please upload your final version of

Resume to Vmock by end of week 4
(8 Sep 2019, 2359 hrs)