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Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters

This course is part of Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization

Instructor: Charles Duquette

Financial aid available

55,357 already enrolled

(324 reviews)

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9 assignments

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There are 4 modules in this course

How can you bring your resume to the top of the pile? How can you present yourself to prospective employers using the language they already speak inside their organization? This course will give you answers to those questions. You will learn how to convert a boring resume into a dynamic asset statement that conveys your talents in the language that an employer understands.

After completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Identify the real purpose of a resume. 2. Identify relevant competencies for a position. 3. Adapt your resumes to Applicant Tracking Systems (resume screening software). 4. Write powerful and convincing accomplishment statements using your accomplishments inventory to strategically assemble the most relevant evidence of competency for a specific position. 5. Use the resume skills tier method to strengthen your resume. 6. Write summary sections and objective statements aligned to a job position. 7. Take advantage of web resources to find power language for your resume. 8. Produce a strong resume in a format that is suitable both to your background and the position you're interested in. 9. Produce strong cover letters that use A.I.D.A. to help you achieve your career goals. 10. Produce effective follow-up letters that help you stand out from the competition.

Preparing to Write

In this module, you'll learn to how position your resume to a specific marketing purpose, how to align your resume with the specific needs of the hiring organization, and how to ensure your resume ranks high on the relevancy scales used by top-notch organizations today.

What's included

6 videos 4 readings 2 assignments 1 peer review 1 discussion prompt

6 videos • Total 47 minutes

• The Real Purpose of a Resume • 5 minutes • Preview module
• Focusing Your Resume • 7 minutes
• Identifying Relevant Competencies • 8 minutes
• Understanding 21st Century Competencies • 11 minutes
• Gathering Your Materials to Write • 8 minutes
• Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems • 6 minutes

4 readings • Total 40 minutes

• Lists of Competencies • 10 minutes
• Competency Readings • 10 minutes
• 20 Questions • 10 minutes
• Background Resources • 10 minutes

2 assignments • Total 60 minutes

• Concept Quiz • 30 minutes

1 peer review • Total 60 minutes

• 20 Questions • 60 minutes

1 discussion prompt • Total 10 minutes

• Discuss Competencies • 10 minutes

Writing a Winning Resume

In this module, you will learn how to construct powerful accomplishment statements, how to write effective summary sections and job objectives, how to select action words to present you as a doer and achiever, and how to use two web resources that can help you find powerful language for your resume.

6 videos 5 readings 2 assignments 1 peer review

6 videos • Total 50 minutes

• Writing Strong Accomplishment Statements • 10 minutes • Preview module
• Using the Resume Skills Tier Method • 6 minutes
• Writing Summary Sections • 6 minutes
• Writing Objectives • 7 minutes
• Finding the Right Words • 6 minutes
• Using the Resume Dictionary and COCA • 12 minutes

5 readings • Total 50 minutes

• Example Accomplishment Statements • 10 minutes
• Example Resume Tier Method Statements • 10 minutes
• Example Resume Summary Statements • 10 minutes
• Action Word Resources • 10 minutes
• Writing Accomplishment Statements • 60 minutes

Choosing a Resume Format

In this module, you'll learn how to select the best resume format to support your experience and career goals. You'll learn how to prepare resumes for electronic submission and for submission to OCR engines. You learn the benefits of using an internal resume in your annual review process, and you'll learn what never to put on a resume.

6 videos 2 readings 3 assignments

6 videos • Total 54 minutes

• The Most Popular Resume Format • 9 minutes • Preview module
• Other Popular Resume Formats • 8 minutes
• Two Special Resume Formats • 8 minutes
• Other Special Resume Formats • 9 minutes
• Electronic, Scannable and Internal Resumes • 8 minutes
• What You Should Never Put on a Resume • 10 minutes

2 readings • Total 20 minutes

• Example Resume Formats • 10 minutes
• Federal Resume Formats • 10 minutes

3 assignments • Total 90 minutes

Writing a winning cover letter.

In this module, you'll how to prepare an effective cover letter and how to use marketing strategies to get you cover letter to work for you. You'll learn how to use similar strategies to write a follow-up letter after interviews.

4 videos 1 reading 2 assignments 1 peer review

4 videos • Total 31 minutes

• Powerhouse Cover Letters • 5 minutes • Preview module
• Constructing the Letter • 10 minutes
• Creating a Sense of Urgency • 6 minutes
• The Follow-Up Letter • 8 minutes

1 reading • Total 10 minutes

• Example Cover Letter • 10 minutes
• Concept Review • 30 minutes
• Write a Cover Letter • 60 minutes

Instructor ratings

We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni. The university’s faculty includes two Nobel laureates, 10 Pulitzer Prize winners, 69 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. Located just outside Washington, D.C., the University of Maryland is committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus, and discovers and shares new knowledge every day through research and programs in academics, the arts, and athletics.

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Learner reviews

324 reviews

Showing 3 of 324

Reviewed on Jul 15, 2020

Very beneficial for professionals into career coaching, training, and teaching professional course students

Reviewed on May 11, 2023

This course is exceptional, very informative, easily understood and I will definitely recommend it to others.

Reviewed on May 20, 2016

I really liked this course because it is very specific, shows very good examples and provides practical resources.

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Frequently asked questions

When will i have access to the lectures and assignments.

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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

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Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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