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Resumes, Cover Letters and Interview Practice
All Portland Public School students are required to write a resumé to graduate. Resumés, cover letters, and interview skills are not just for getting jobs. They are also often required for:
- The college admissions process (for highly selective schools)
- Earning scholarships
- Getting internships and volunteer positions
- Informational interviews
- Job shadowing
Stop by the College and Career Center or schedule an appointment with us anytime! Amy Potter (College Coordinator, apotter@pps.net) and Tanya Leib (Career Coordinator, tleib@pps.net) are here to help you achieve your goals!
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How to Write a Resume
Video: How to Make A Resume, from NovoResume.
This is a fantastic overview of what should be included in and how to format a great resume. Most hiring managers spend no more than 30 seconds looking at resumes. It's important to write and format your resume so that it stands out!
Sample Resumes
Note: It was trendy, for a while, to include an "Objective" at the top of your resume. This practice is falling out of favor with hiring managers. Instead, either skip it entirely or consider including a "resume summary" which quickly summarizes your skills and work history for hiring managers.
Template 1: HS Resume, no work experience
Resume Tools
Get Schooled: free resume templates, Resume Builder, Review and Interview Coach
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Cover letters
A cover letter is a narrative piece explaining why you're applying and why you're a good fit for the job/internship. It should be highly personalized for each job application.
Prepare for Your Interview
City of Portland Sample Interview Questions
City of Portland's Summer Job Interview Tips
How to respond to the question, "Tell Me About Yourself"
Job Shadows and Informational Interviews
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Why Is It Important to Send a Thank You Note?
(Adapted from Harvard Business Review, How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview, by Christopher Littlefield)
Beyond being a nice gesture, there are multiple benefits to sending a follow-up message after an interview (within 24 hours).
- It creates a positive connection with the interviewer(s).
- It helps you stand out from the crowd.
- It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and people skills.
- It confirms your interest in the job.
How to Write a Thank-You Email After an Interview
HOW TO WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE/EMAIL
Your email should be short, sincere, and sent within 24 hours of your interview. Here are a few key components you should include in your message.
1. Be thoughtful about how you address your email — and who you send it to. Address the email to the person who interviewed you and make sure you spell their name correctly.
2. Match the tone and formality of the communicator. A simple way to demonstrate your attention to detail is to match the interviewer’s professionalism and communication style. Review past exchanges to see if they started their messages “Dear” or “Hi,” and if their email signature closed with “Best regards” or “Thanks.”
3. Thank the person for their time and consideration. Expressing your appreciation for people’s time signals self-awareness and thoughtfulness, two characteristics that will be highly valued by most hiring managers. You may say something like, “I know you are busy, and I just want to thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.”
4. Briefly highlight your draw to the organization. You may say something like, “I really enjoyed talking about X” and add something that would be unique to your interview, like “talking about environmental policy” or “hearing about your love of travel.” Share something that brings them back to your conversation together.
5. Express your continued interest in the job opportunity. Make your interest and excitement explicit. Hiring managers know people are often applying for multiple jobs and don’t want to waste time on candidates who are not genuinely interested. So make it clear by saying something like, “I am excited about the possibility of joining your team and being able to work side by side to accomplish X.”
6. Offer to answer any questions. You can say something like, “I know that picking the right person for your team is not easy, so if you have any questions or concerns, know I am here to address them.”
