Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon Portland Community College

Tanya Maldonado

Contact information for Tanya Maldonado

Resume, Cover, and Business Letters

Resumes

Communicating your value – by showing skills in their context

Program Resume/Cover Letter examples

Click on the PDF below to download or scroll through the “Writing an Effective Resume” Presentation

Writing an Effective Resume presentation

The Resume

The resume is a targeted presentation of skills you want to use in your future not a litany of your past. Current styles address accomplishments versus a laundry list of duties or responsibilities. Please avoid cutting and pasting your job description as your information. It will sound like what it is – flat and impersonal. You can begin to round out that duty list by adding details such as:

  1. What the purpose of the project or task was?
  2. Did you work as part of a team or independently, was it your idea?
  3. Whom did it benefit or serve?

Recruiters are really interested in looking at the substance in the resume, not reading a cover letter that speaks to capabilities. We want to see actions, achievements, outcomes, work history, and an individual’s capabilities based on tangible evidence and skill set.

Preparing to Write Your Resume or CV

A trick to describing your past experiences is to ask yourself, what was my relationship to people, data, things, and ideas? Then think about what is transferable to the new career target. That is the only subject matter you list on the resume!

More Resume Writing Tips
Tools for Accomplishment Statements
Accomplishment Statements
PAR Statements

(Problem – Action – Results)

Samples of a PAR formula statements

Verb List

From Emerald Publishing – www.cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1025/0017/files/Verb_List.pdf?5917869711963636450

Resume Checklists and Word Tips
Resume Checklist
Federal Resumes

Information and workshops from The Office of Personnel Management

Federal Resume Tips

Federal resumes are very different from corporate resumes – they can be 4-6 pages and are very detailed. Explain everything, even if it is repetitive. If it is not listed on your resume the human resources staff will not make assumptions.

Applicant Tracking Systems and Resumes
Tracking System Info

Cover Letters and Correspondence

In short, this is a professional correspondence where you will present your relevant skills, education, knowledge of the organization and work/volunteer experience.

Cover Letter Webinar Recording – Covers purpose of a cover letter break down of information with a few references to addiction counseling related skill sets as an example.

Cover Letter Tips
Professional Email and Business Letters
Professional Writing Tips
Effective Writing Tips

LinkedIn – Job Search 2.0 Group – a blog from Sharon Russel

Writing Tips
  • Tip #1: Never write in lengthy sentences
  • Tip #2: Be clear about what you want to say
  • Tip #3: Keep your ideas well-organized
  • Tip #4: Proofread your writing

PCC – Sample Resumes by Program

  • Honor Roll Policy
  • Honor’s List – 3.25-3.49
  • Dean’s List 3.50-3.74
  • President’s List 3.75-4.0
  • Highest Honors 3.75-4.0 Cumulative average awarded upon graduation
Addiction and Human Services
Business Administration
Criminal Justice Administration

Transferable skills – active listening, speaking/communication, critical thinking, service orientation, perceptivity and diversity, coordination, and monitoring.

EMT
Fire
Health Information Management
Medical Assistant

The AAMA recommendations to CMA’s and students for resumes. www.aama-ntl.org/membership/career-center#.U1bmQPldWSo

Information on DP and MA Employment Resumes

This is how to list your program certificates:

  • Patient-Centered Medical Home, Oregon Health Authority, date expires
  • HIPAA Compliance Training, Portland Community College, date expires
  • Immunization Training for Adults and Pediatrics, Portland Community College, date expires
  • Vaccines for Children, Oregon Immunization Program, date expires
  • BLS CPR for Healthcare Providers, American Heart Association, date expires
  • Bloodborne Pathogens Training, Portland Community College, date expires

This is an example of how to write up your Education, Health Fair, and Poster Presentation:

Portland Community College Medical Assisting Program expected certificate Mo/Year
Eligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA) national exam Mo/Year

Poster Presentation – PCMH Model – Medical Assistant Accountability mo/Year

  • Researched (list the part) and shared results with the team to develop a poster presentation
  • Will present to healthcare audience survey findings and EHR systems and/or documentation

Community Health Fair and Screening Event, Portland Community College mo/Year

  • Created patient education material using health literacy guidelines. Performed the following screening procedures; blood pressure, BMI, distance, and color vision screening
Pre-Directed Practice Resumes
Post-Directive Practice – Job Search Resumes and Cover Letter
Medical Laboratory Technologist

Review MLT Skills

Resume Tips – Remember to list: Your rotations and hours. Rotations vary depending on the discipline:

  • HCU = Hematology/Coag/UA (18 days = 144 hours)
  • CH = Chemistry (14 days = 112 hours)
  • BB = Blood Bank (10 days = 80 hours)
  • PH = Phlebotomy (12 days = 96 hours)
  • M = Micro (10 days = 80 hours)
MLT Resumes and Cover Letters
Ophthalmic Medical Technology

Note – federal resumes are different than corporate resumes – list everything even if it is repetitive.

Resume Tips – Remember to list
  • Child screening experience and list your certificate in the education section Certificate Children’s Vision Screener – Prevent Blindness America
  • OMT scribe certificate
  • The date you plan to sit for the exam
Write-up for vision screenings
  • Community Vision and Eye Health Screening Event, Portland Community College 2/2018
    • Created patient education material using display boards to share knowledge on conditions that can cause blindness such as AMD and Glaucoma. Also presented a low vision education board, and “how vision works board”
    • Screened patients visual acuity, checked their peripheral vision, screened for AMD, imaged the retina and optic nerve, and screened patients for high eye pressure (IOP). Demonstrated patient education and soft skills, and provided community resources for vision and eye health care.
  • OHSU Community Vision Screening
    • Participated in a community vision screening event in partnership with the OHSU mobile van program. Check patients into the exam, screen patients for vision abnormalities or eye diseases, perform VA, IOP, CVF, EOM, check angles, autorefraction, refractometry, and dilate patients for an ophthalmologist. Help patients choose glasses if needed, and check patients out of vision events with referral information.
  • Jikei Japanese Student Exchange
    • Intercultural exchange with Orthoptist students from Osaka Japan. Give a tour of the OMT lab showing Jikei students tools used in the US, present examination techniques that are done in the US, and share Pacific NW culture.
OMT Resumes and Cover Letters
Paraeducator

Sample Resume

Paralegal

Sample Skills and Qualifications

  • Remember to include employer-related training if relevant
  • Your resume needs to address your skills and experience in communication, client service, analytical/logical reasoning, research, technology, legal procedures, and time management
  • Typical skills you will need to show on a PL resume are:
    • Analytic, critical thinking and research, oral and written communication, and technology skills. Ethics, time and project management; teamwork, personal and interpersonal skills. Here is a list of skills from a job opening 10.2022 – PL skills 2022.docx
PL Resumes and Cover Letters