This workshop is presented by the Office for Career and Alumni Success at SCAD. SCAD: The University for Creative Careers® The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees at distinctive locations and online to prepare talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers degrees in more than 40 majors. Visit http://www.scad.edu.

1. Intro to
Cover Letter and
Résumé
Development
Cheryl Edenfield
Career Adviser
School of Communication Arts
School of Fine Arts
cedenfie@scad.edu
912.525.5203

2. Session Agenda
• Writing your cover letter
• Developing your résumé
• Developing your brand
• Questions?

3. Writing your cover letter

4. Writing your
cover letter
• Header
• Paragraph one
• Paragraph two
• Paragraph three

5. 1: Header
Your information
• Name
• Address, city, state, zip
• Phone, email and Web address
• Date
• Potential employer’s name
• Title
• Company
• City, state, zip
• Salutation
• (Dear name of
• potential employer),

6. 2: Paragraph one
• Think of your “Dream”
company. Write a few
sentences on why you would
want to work there.
• An Example:
• Your contemporary approach to
branding is an aesthetic I
admire and would like to work
under.

7. 3: Paragraph two
Now list six skills you have to
work for this company. You can
break it down in groups.
• Professional
•Conscientious
•Resourceful
• Technical
•CAD
•Adobe Suite
• Fine Art
•Graphite
•Screen Printing

8. 4: Paragraph three
• Quickly write how excited you
are about the prospect of
working for the company
• List enclosed items
• Indicate plans to contact the
employer, if appropriate
• Thank the employer
• Signature

9. Six characteristics of
strong cover letters
• Address a specific person, preferably the
person in charge of hiring for the
department.
• Refer to a specific position and where you
discovered the listing.
• Show initiative and knowledge of the
employer (refer to what they do, note
samples of their recent work, etc.).
• Point out specific skills and experience
that relate to the employer’s needs.
• Expand and draw attention to areas noted
on the résumé.
• Initiate the next step. Use the last
paragraph to state how you will follow
through.

10. Developing your résumé

11. Developing your
résumé
• Header
• Objective
• Education
• Professional Skills
• Career Related Experience
• Honors and awards, activities,
exhibitions, publications

12. 1: Header
• Your information
• Name
• Address, city, state, zip
• Phone, email and Web address
• This section should match
what’s on your cover letter

13. 2: Objective
• Listing an objective is optional.
It is not required because your
cover letter discusses your
objectives. If you include an
objective on your résumé, be
specific.
• What position are you seeking?
• In what area?
• What skills are you seeking to
use?

14. 3: Education
• List your degree and major
• Name of college/university
• Location of college/university
• Expected graduation date (if not
already graduated)
• Grade point average is optional
and can be included if 3.5 or
above.
• Scholarships (optional)
• Other colleges/universities
attended
• Don’t include high school
information

15. 4: Professional skills
• Brainstorm then categorize
professional skills.
• List specific skills pertaining to
the position you are seeking.
• Include information you have
learned in class that can be
applied as professional skills in
a work setting, including
relevant software experience.

16. 5: Career related
experience
This section can include
freelancing, internship, volunteer,
full-time and part-time
experience. List information in
chronological order, most recent
first.
• Your title
• Company/client
• Location
• Start and end date (or project
date)
• Description (of the project,
responsibilities and
accomplishments)

17. 5: Other experience
Other experience includes
positions (full-time or part-time)
that are not necessarily career-
related. In this category, market
your transferable skills, including:
• communication
• training
• sales
• customer service
• management
• foreign language

18. 6: Other categories
to consider
• Honors and awards
• Professional organization
memberships
• Extracurricular activities
• Exhibitions
• Publications

19. Résumé dos
• Review your résumé with a career
development specialist.
• Design your descriptions to focus on your
accomplishments using action verbs to
indicate your skills.
• Proofread to avoid mistakes.
• Limit résumé information to one page.
Academic CVs are usually two pages or
longer.
• Send résumés with cover letters unless
directed otherwise by the employer.
• Laser-print résumés onto quality paper.
Your résumé, cover letter and portfolio
are your personal marketing package.

20. Résumé don’ts
• Avoid personal pronouns such as I, me,
we, etc.
• Do not list hobbies or interests unless
they specifically pertain to your career
goals.
• Do not list personal information such as
age, health, race, marital status, etc.
Performing arts majors with casting
résumés including head shots are the
only exception.
• Do not list references on your résumé; list
them on a separate sheet of paper. Do
not write “references available upon
request.” This is understood.
• Do not include high school references
unless you are a first- or second-year
student.

21. Reference Page
• Select three to five people who know
you well: professors, employers or
internship supervisors. Ask
permission before listing someone as
a reference. Let your reference know
what jobs you are applying for and
give them your résumé. List your
references’ current contact
information including e-mail
addresses.
Tips
• Acquire and maintain contact
information. Update references based
on your search.
• Don’t include the reference page with
your résumé when sending it out.

22. Word.docx
Your first resume will more than
likely be just a Microsoft Word
document like this one.

23. Make it simple.
Make it unique.
• Layout: it should be easy to read and
highlight your skills.
• Typography: try to stick to one font family.
• Show your work: include a link to your
portfolio.
• Print quality: print it in black and white.
Make sure it's still readable.
• Proofread: spelling, grammar, spacing.
• Your name is your filename.

24. These are “living” documents. They will grow and
change as you do. Your résumé as a freshman or
sophomore will be completely different than the
one you create as a senior.

25. Developing your personal brand

26. Your cover letter and résumé can
help you develop your personal
brand because you have to ask
yourself the same questions.
Who are you? What are your skills,
passions, specializations.
What do you want to achieve? Plan your
communication to be clear and consistent.
Answer them with your visual presentation.
Image credit http://www.sestyle.it/

27. Do research Use others as a starting point

28. Samples found via Pinterest search for “resume design”

29. Resume and business card sample.
Image credit: Kelli Marie - http://www.designworklife.com/2012/04/20/kelli-marie-personal-stationery/

30. Take notes digital, photos, Xerox, written

31. SCAD Career and Alumni Success resources
Career Toolkit • College Central Network • Job Wire

32. Visit www.scad.edu/careers then select “Learn more” under
“Jobs and Internships”

33. Select links for Career Toolkit, Job Wire and College Central (for students, faculty, alumni and employers)
on the Job and Internships page.

34. Contact Us
Bradley Hall, fourth floor
912.525.4653
careers@scad.edu
www.scad.edu/careers