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Resumes and Cover Letters

Resumes and Cover Letters

    The employer's first impression of a candidate is often the resume and cover letter.  You only get one chance for a first impression, make it dynamic!  Take advantage of the opportunity to sell yourself to the employer by focusing on the employer needs. Below are some helpful tips regarding writing resumes and cover letters.

The Basics

Resume

  • Your resume is your personal marketing tool.
  • Should be one page, it's a highlight of your skills, abilities and qualifications, not everything you've ever done.
  • A resume should be clean, clear, consistent and concise.
  • Be creative with space, minimize margins (can be as small as 0.5 and no larger than 1inch), minimize font (as small as 10pt).
  • Avoid using paragraphs; short, bulleted statements are much easier to read quickly (especially since your resume may only get a 30 second glance).
  • Describe your experiences to highlight skills and knowledge that are relevant to the type of position you are seeking.
  • The objective should determine your direction and everything else listed on the resume should support the objective.
  • The content should show your education, experience, skills, and accomplishments.
  • Use action words at the beginning of each bullet point phrase to describe your experience.
  • Quantify examples whenever possible.

 

Cover Letter

  • Never send a resume without a cover letter.
  • The cover letter should complement the resume and further explain it, not repeat it.
  • NEVER use To Whom it May Concern, find out to whom the letter should be addressed.
  •  Should be brief and concise as possible, while still inciting interest.
  • It is an open-ended opportunity to sell yourself; so take advantage of it! 
  • Cover letters should be specific to each position in which you apply, write a new one for every position.

 

Reference Page

References should be professors, job and internship supervisors, or advisers for student clubs or organizations. People who can attest to your academic ability, work ethic, and leadership skills. References should not be relatives or friends.

  • You only need to send your references when asked.
  • Always ask before listing someone as a reference and keep them informed in your job search.
  • The reference page should include the same heading as your resume.
  • Three to five references should be listed.

 

Developing your Resume


Below are typical sections that are included in a resume. You might include additional sections or not include all of those listed below. List the sections in order of importance for the position in which you are applying or the field in which your resume is tailored.

 

Contact Information

Your name should be at the top of the page, in larger font and/or bold, something that makes it stand out.

Your address, city, state, and zip code should be next. Followed by your phone number and email address. 

Objective

An objective clarifies and conveys your immediate career goals. It lets the employer know why you are contacting them.

      -To obtain full-time employment in public relations.

      -Seeking internship in publishing.

 

Education

You will want to include Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA. The type of degree Bachelor of Arts or B.A. and your major and minor (if you have one). Graduation month and year should be listed rather than dates of attendance.

     -Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA

     -B.A. English, May 2009

     -GPA: 3.8

Experience

This is the most important part of your resume, don't sell yourself short! This section is not just intended for paid employment, meaningful experiences that foster marketable skills are great experience! Don't pass over leadership positions in student government, volunteer work, clubs or fraternities or sororities in order to list mundane jobs like waiter, cashier or babysitter. List in the following manner:

     -Title, Organization, City, State, Month year- Month year

  • List accomplishments and skills gained
  • Use phrases beginning with action verbs (see page 3)

 

Activities

These are organizations you are involved with that are not relevant or significant enough to be listed in the experience section. Include the name of the organization and the dates of involvement.

     -Whitman College Varsity Volleyball, 2006-Present

     -President, Alpha Chi Omega, Jan-Dec. 2006

 

Skills

List any computer, language, lab or other skills necessary or related to the position to which you are applying.

 

Volunteer

This section can include your volunteer work. Remember that volunteer work is an excellent way to gain experience. Relevant volunteer work can be listed with in Experience. Volunteer work that is not directly related can be listed in this section.  

 

Honors

Academic honors such as scholarships, Perry Grant, Abshire Grant, Order of Omega, Phi Beta Kappa, etc. Be sure to include the date you received the honor or were inducted into the honor society.