                        RESUME  AND  LETTERS

Successful communication typically consists of a resume, cover
letter, and a thank you letter or note after a job or information
interview.

The resume should be well typed, clean, easy to read, and highlight
the main points that you want to interest the reader in.  The
function of a resume is to get an interview, not a job.  The
interview is for securing your desired job.

The resume consists of five primary sections.  These are:
Objective   :  The position that interests you.
Achievement :  One or two line statements demonstrating what you
               have accomplished in the past, implying what you can
               do for your next employer.
Experience  :  Besides the normal dates, employer name, and
               employer's city, you have a second opportunity to
               describe your accomplishments.  Do not use the word
               "I"; it is assumed.
Education   :  Only list associations and extra curriculum activity
               if it strengthens your position for the job being
               sought.
Reference   :  Normally, references are not listed in a resume.
               State only that you have good references available.

A resume should not exceed 2 pages.  A resume highlights your
achievements.  It isn't necessary or desirable to attempt to give
every single detail of what you have been doing for the last ten or
twenty years.


Sample resume, cover letter, and thank you notes can be printed out
from the print section.


Sample Resume.

                        Steven  A.  Windthrope
                         466 Career Path Drive
                          San Jose, CA 95129
                            (408) 555-8628


OBJECTIVE:      Management position in Procurement with progressive
                company offering opportunity for advancement based
                upon achievement and results.

ACHIEVEMENTS:  - Direct Procurement function for $850 million baking
                 company with professional staff of 15.
               - Saved $36 million per year through computerization
                 of raw materials tracking and forecasting.
               - Realized $18 million annual savings through
                 conversion to biomass fuels.
               - Negotiated 2 year shipping carton purchase contract
                 worth savings of $1.3 million annually.

EXPERIENCE:     HILTON PAPER COMPANY, Inc.,  San Jose, CA
1983 to         SENIOR PURCHASING AGENT
Present         Reported to the Manager of Procurement for this $850
                million baking company.  Responsible for purchasing
                of all vital supplies including:  Knock-down
                containers, poly wrap, shrink packages, etc.
                Annual purchase volume is $18 million.
                Accountability includes procurement, delivery,
                storage, and distribution to different departments
                as needed.  Negotiated contract for knock-downs for
                20% under normal purchase cost.

                Developed and successfully installed computer
                system for forecasting changes in demand for vital
                supplies based upon changes in the sales forecast.
                Resulting inventory adjustment has saved an
                estimated $575 thousand annually.

1980-1983       BRANDON PAPER COMPANY,  Santa Clara, CA
                VITAL SUPPLIES BUYER
                Reporting to the Manager of Procurement for this
                $110 million conversion of consumer paper products.
                Responsible for $4 million budget in the purchase
                of vital supplies in support of manufacturing
                operations.

                Managed the purchase, delivery, storage and in-
                plant distribution of all supplies purchased.
                Negotiated new poly wrap contract with 10%
                reduction in cost (annual savings of $200 thousand).

EDUCATION:      B.A., University of Southern California, 1980
                Major: Business Administration,  G.P.A 3.8/4.0
                President Student Government Association
                Janzen Scholarship (4 years)

REFERENCES:     Excellent references available upon request.



                           COVER  LETTERS

Cover letters do precisely that - they cover your resume.  They
should be viewed as an advertisement for the resume.  They should
capture the reader's attention, stress the employer's needs, provide
examples of how your skills can fill the employer's needs and
invite him or her to read the resume in-depth.

Cover Letter Rules:
1.  Type the cover letter on good quality paper.
2.  Address it to a specific name and title.  When this is not
    available, use functional title (Ex: "Dear Personnel Manager").
3.  The writing style should be direct, powerful, and error free.
4.  Use no more than one page.  Do not try to recap your resume.
5.  Three paragraphs will normally cover what you need to convey:
      Paragraph one:     Your interest and purpose.
      Paragraph two:     Stress what you will do for the employer.
                         Be positive and present a few of your
                         unique accomplishments and skills that
                         relate to the position.
      Paragraph three:   Request an interview and indicate when you
                         will call for an appointment.
6.  If possible, use the same language/wording that the employer
    used in his/her ad or announcement.


Cover letter in response to an ad in the San Jose Mercury News.

                           John Forrester
                        1212 Bayleaf Avenue
                         San Jose, CA 94598


December 4, 1994


Personnel Director
Computer Group Inc.
34533 Main Street
San Jose, CA 95124


Dear Personnel Director:

I was very pleased to learn about Computer Group's opening for a
systems programmer, as advertised in the San Jose Mercury News.  I
have a fairly extensive and diverse background in data processing
and I believe that I have a great deal to offer your organization.

I have used both mainframe and micro based systems on a range of
applications in both large and small organizations, and have always
enjoyed a position with a challenge.  Along with experience in C
language that you requested in your ad, I also have extensive
experience writing and debugging in Pascal and Fourth Generation for
stand alone and network installations.

I would enjoy the opportunity to visit Computer Group and would like
to meet with you to discuss how well my skills might fit your needs
for a system programmer.

Sincerely,


John Forrester



                          THANK YOU LETTER

The importance of a short thank you letter cannot be over
emphasized.  A thank you letter will provide the following benefits:

1.  It demonstrates that you possess courtesy and consideration.
2.  It brings you to the forefront of the interviewer's mind.
3.  It provides an additional opportunity to advertise yourself.
4.  It demonstrates that you are truly interested in the position.

A thank you letter (or note) can be very short and even somewhat
generic.  It can be typed or handwritten if you have legible
penmanship.  Be sure to send your thank you letter to the job or
information interviewer as soon as possible after the interview.


Example of simple thank you letter.


                           Henry Forester
                            123 Main Way
                       Santa Clara, CA 95112



January 4, 1994


Mr. John Smith
Sales Manager
Star Products, Inc.
2400 Apple Way
San Jose, CA 95233


Dear Mr. Smith:

I enjoyed our meeting last Thursday and appreciated the opportunity
to discuss Star Product's need for an equipment salesperson.
After reviewing this need with you, I believe that I possess the
energy, drive, determination, and ability to help increase Star
Products' sales volume.

Again, let me state how much I was impressed with your company
and would enjoy the opportunity to work with Star Products, Inc.

Sincerely,



Henry Forester



Next, take a look at the "Database for maintaining job search lists"
from the submenu.
