ENST

An Academic And Career Advising Guide to:

Resume and Cover Letter Writing

So What is a Resume?

A resume is a document that summarizes your education, experiences, and credentials as they relate to your employment goals.

The resume’s primary purpose is to convince the employer, in a veryshort period of time, of your relevant qualifications and create a first impression that motivates the employer to contact you.

Building an effective resume is an iterative process. It usually takes a few reviews to write effective descriptions aligned towards your employment goal, and to catch format inconsistencies, typos and grammatical errors.

Okay then...So why do I need a Cover Letter?

Basic Information

Appropriate Email!!!!

One Line

No Need to put "phone" or "email"

I'm Ready! Let's Begin!

COMPONENTS OF A RESUME:

Identifying Information (Name, Address, Telephone, and E-Mail)

Education

Relevant Experience (This is a large section!)

Additional Areas (Optional/Helpful)

A cover letter is a marketing tool intended to generate interest in you and get the reader excited about reviewing your accompanying resume.

The cover letter should succinctly articulate your interest and enthusiasm for both the company and specific position, and demonstrates how your unique background, skills and experiences make you an

excellent fit for both the position and organization to which you are applying.

General Resume Tips! - Do This!

General Resume Tips! - NO!!!!

Now, on to the Cover Letter!

General Tips

Make connections between what is on your resume and the position requirements; don’t just repeat what’s on your resume.

Describe specific accomplishments, experiences and skills that demonstrate how you fit the position.

Provide examples to support claims; doing so supports your candidacy and makes you a stronger candidate.

Cite examples from the most relevant areas of your background, including your internship or employment experience, leadership, extra-curricular activities and coursework.

Prepare a unique letter for each position you apply to.

Employers want candidates that want to work for them. Show them that you’ve researched their organization and make a convincing case for why you want to work for them.

Try not exceed one page.

Use a standard typeface (Times New Roman, Calibri, Garamond, Arial) in a font size no smaller than 10-11 pt.

Adjust margins to create space for text. Margins can be as small as .5”. Even with small margins you must allow for white space so the resume is easy to read and eye catching.

Emphasize achievements, accomplishments and abilities, and give specific measurable results when possible

Be consistent in how you format information within (and sometimes between) each section of your resume.

Proofread – check spelling, punctuation, grammar, word usage, dates, etc. One mistake can make the difference in receiving an invitation for an interview!

Have Academic and Career Advising review your resume.

Personal information such as social security number, date of birth, marital status, height, weight, picture, religion, etc.

Name of High School or Any High School Activities

Personal pronouns or articles in describing experiences (I, my, the, etc.)

References or Statement “References Available Upon Request.” References should be listed on a separate page.

Typos!!!!!!!