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Focus on Youth Shares Resume and Cover Letter Tips

Did you miss our resume and cover Letter workshop with the YMCA on May 10 and are struggling to get started on writing your Focus on Youth (FOY) application? If so, we got you covered! Here are some helpful tips on how to write a resume and cover letter from the YMCA Hamilton’s Employment and Training Services team.

You can also sign up for YMCA’s upcoming Resume Writing and Interview workshops on June 7 and June 9, 2022. For more information about YMCA workshops, or to sign up, call 905-540-9679 or email [email protected] and [email protected]

Click here to learn how to apply to Focus on Youth

10 Tips for Writing a Resume

1. Be clear and concise! Include only relevant information.
2. Do not exceed three pages in length. (One or two pages is fine for FOY.)
3. Your resume needs to highlight your best work. Tailor your resume to the position by emphasizing skills and qualifications highlighted in each student job ad.
4. Use action verbs when describing duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments.
5. Provide examples of how you have demonstrated your skills and abilities through your education and/or work experience (paid, unpaid, volunteer, extra-curricular).
6. Write about previous jobs in past tense.
7. Use a simple format by avoiding italics, underlining, and shading in the body of the resume and use standard fonts (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman) with a minimum size of 11. Avoid using pictures and graphics.
8. Do not include personal information such as your date of birth or Social Insurance Number (SIN).
9. Proofread to ensure there are no spelling, typing or grammatical errors.
10. You will be asked for references if you are selected for an interview.

10 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter

1. Emphasize how your skills and qualifications match those of the position requirements.
2. Highlight why you are the ideal candidate for the position by emphasizing the top qualities that set you apart.
3. Structure your cover letter with an opening paragraph, mid-section and closing paragraph.
4. Do not exceed two pages in length. (One page is fine for FOY.)
5. Write your cover letter in your own words.
6. Include a header with your full name, telephone numbers (e.g., home, cell) and email address.
7. Provide a professional email address that is appropriate for the workplace.
8. Address the cover letter to “The Hiring Manager” or “To Whom it May Concern.” The hiring manager’s name and mailing address are not required.
9. Indicate the Job ID number from the job ad and job title in the Subject Line
10. Proofread to ensure there are no spelling, typing or grammatical errors.

Visit our FOY webpage for more information about the program. For further assistance with your Focus on Youth application, please contact [email protected]