Resumes, Cover Letters, & Portfolios: Necessary Tools for Landing the Interview

Gr 10 Up—Hosts Curtis Dvorak and Grace de la Rosa take viewers through the process of creating a resume, preparing a cover letter, and creating a digital portfolio. Both DVDs contain the same basic material and use most of the same expert speakers. They distinguish themselves by the job applicants interviewed. The first disc features two applicants, a male and a female, one an entry-level prospect, the other with a few years of experience. The second title includes two ex-convicts, one with a job and the other searching for employment. Both programs stress the importance of doing research, proofreading, and targeting the cover letter and resume specifically to the available position. The information is presented in a clear and engaging way, and important points are showcased on the screen in bold fonts. Each segment is about five minutes long, just enough time to convey the key points without losing the interest of viewers. However, more close-ups of what a proper cover letter looks like and a more concrete example of a digital portfolio would have been helpful, as would suggestions for additional resources, such as the Department of Labor and the local library. (The only job sites mentioned are Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com.)