MICHAEL A. DUARTE
**** *. ****** ******: 915-***-****
El Paso, Texas 79902 ***************@*****.***
Dear Hiring Professional:
Please consider this letter of introduction as an expression of my interest in exploring career opportunities with your organization. My résumé outlining my education, practical internship, and volunteer professional experience is enclosed for your review and consideration.
As my résumé reveals, I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Print Media, with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. My education is complemented by over eight years of internship and practical experience as a staff and sports reporter for the Prospector and the El Paso Times, where I researched and wrote over 70 sports articles, hard news, and features. Throughout this time, I learned to excel in a fast-paced work environment with fluctuating priorities and workloads, and had a proven track record of success of adjusting to and controlling workload variables to meet of all of my deadlines; qualities that will characterize value to any organization.
I have always had a passion for writing and feel that my energy, creativity, presentation, and communication skills have allowed me to keep my audience engaged and excel in today’s changing media landscape. This has been evident in the recognition I have received by the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association for a Newspaper II Sports Column and winning 3rd place in the State of Texas for a Newspaper II Sports News Story. Because of this, I truly believe that my internship and professional experience would be well suited for a position with your organization.
Although practical in nature, my résumé cannot convey the enthusiasm and energy I bring to new challenges. Confident I can be valued as an immediate and vital member of your team, I would welcome an opportunity to speak with you to discuss your needs and the ways in which I can contribute. In the interim, thank you for your attention, consideration and forthcoming response.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Duarte
Enclosure
MICHAEL A. DUARTE
1012 E. Nevada Mobile: 915-***-****
El Paso, Texas 79902 ***************@*****.***
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Highly motivated and energetic professional with solid academic credentials, internship, and practical wok experience in the field of print and mass media. Possess diverse reporting experience, with excellent creative writing, news, sports, and feature presentation skills; known for demonstrated initiative, with extensive knowledge in the nature of communication technologies and techniques employed in the production of print and mass media. A professional known for accepting difficult assignments, with the ability to quickly and effectively adapt to constantly-changing requirements, demanding deadlines, and travel as needed.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Mass Media Writing News Gathering/Investigation Hard News/Features
Editorial Essays Political Topics College/Sports Issues
Feature/Freelance Writing Intercultural Communications Ad Copy/Layout
Newspaper Layout/Design Magazine Composition/Layout Print Media Graphics
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, & Power Point) & Related Software
Bilingual with Articulate Fluency in English Spanish
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Print Media, Minor in Creative Writing
The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas
PRINT MEDIA EXPERIENCE
EL PASO TIMES, El Paso, Texas 10/2006 – 11/2008
High School Football Reporter
Researched, covered, and wrote sports news stories; attended local high School games, reported scores, conducted coach and player interviews, district standings, and game playoff implication
THE PROSPECTOR (UTEP), El Paso, Texas 06/1998 – 05/2002
Served as a Sports Correspondent, Sports Editor, Staff Reporter, and Contributing Writer over a four-year period: wrote and produced print and featured stories for this student-run newspaper; researched, prepared, and wrote sports news on UTEP basketball and football, college issues, political articles, and editorial essays for both online and print edition.
EL PASO TIMES, El Paso, Texas 06/1999 – 08/1999
Intern
Served as the feature artist for El Tiempo, a premiere weekly entertainment guide, featuring entertainment news, club listings, musical artists, and borderland culture; provided travel information for individuals looking to travel by air, sea, and land in the Living Section of the El Paso Times.
MICHAEL A. DUARTE PAGE 2
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (Continued…)
Riviera Restaraunt El Paso, Texas 4-10-16 -8-10-17
Cook
Manage meal development for this local pub and grill; oversee all general housekeeping duties to ensure all safety and sanitary standards are met throughout all phases of food preparation and cooking in conformance with health codes and regulations.
Oversee the ordering of food, beverages, and supplies; manage all inventories with an emphasis on accountability and implement food and labor cost control programs to reduce expenditures.
Mesa St. Grill El Paso, Texas 5-20-15 – 3-08-16
Cook
Managed the programming of meals to include menu selections, pricing, and portion control; executed all measures and actions to improve food acceptability, issue factors, safety control, sanitation, and menu components.
Managed kitchen inventory; ordered all food and supplies, and conducted daily and weekly inventory control duties; managed all audits to ensure accuracy in cost-control and waste control procedures through strong focus on inventory management to prevent shrinkage.
Avilas Mexican Restaurant, El Paso, Texas 1-15-15 – 5-05-15
Prep/Cook
Assisted with managing all aspects of the kitchen operations and lead the daily feature planning and preparation for all meals.
Provided technical food service and preparation guidance to 5 staff members and 2 maintenance personnel in all phases of the kitchen operations; allocated all labor hours, anticipated hours required to maintain an efficient and streamlined operation, and scheduled the staff accordingly.
Oversaw all general housekeeping duties to ensure safety and sanitary standards were met throughout all phases of food preparation and cooking.
-Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, Sunland Park, New Mexico 11-20-17- 04-12-18
Line cook/Rileyes
-Provided all line cook duties and prep duties, and oversaw all cleaning duties.