Tips for Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Cover Letter Tip #1: Keep it brief. Your letter should not go over one page. Use short paragraphs and bullet points whenever possible. Avoid flowery or excessive words when fewer words will get your point across equally well. Tip #2: Be assertive and proactive. Explain what special skills and qualities you can bring to the job. Don't explain what the job will do for you. Avoid empty cliches, such as “I am a self-starter” or “I'm a people person.” Use active words and phrases. Avoid “are” and “is.” Tip #3: Tailor the cover letter to the specific company. Don't write generic praise about the company. Be as specific as you can and demonstrate your knowledge of the company. Research the company using its own website, as well as business information sites such as www.hoovers.com. Check news sources for recent company events that you can reference in your letter. Tip #4: Revise your cover letter for each application. Different aspects of your background will fit different jobs. Focus on relevant job experiences and skills. For instance, an employer for a research position probably wouldn’t be interested in your creative writing skills. Tip #5: When writing about non-professional experiences, translate them into “business- speak.” Explain how your class-related, extracurricular or volunteer activities have prepared you for other kinds of work. Compare: "I was president of the French club." vs. "In my term as president of the French club, I developed valuable leadership skills as I organized a 10 person team to undertake fundraising activities."
Tip #6: Address your letter to an individual rather than a department. Call the company directly to identify the proper addressee. Use formal language (Mr., Ms., Dr.) when addressing them, and never just their first name—even if you know them personally. Tip #7: Appearances count. Use high-quality white paper; it’s thicker than typewriter or printer paper. Avoid elaborate or colored stationery. Print a clean final copy to send, not a photocopy. Tip #8: Let the employer be the judge of your skills. State your skills and qualifications, but don’t tell the employer that you are the best person for the job. It can appear arrogant and presumptuous. Impress the employer with your skills, and let them conclude you are the best person for the job.
Job Placement Resume Cover Letter Handout 4.04.07
Tip #9: Proofread! Typos will land your letter in the trash. Check grammar, spelling and especially the spellings of names. Have somebody else read your letter—they can pick up on things missing from your letter. Before mailing, make sure you’ve included your resume and any other requested items. Tip #10: Follow up with a thank-you note. A thank-you note demonstrates your interest in the job and will help them keep you in mind for the position. Resume Writing A good resume is vital. It's your calling card to a prospective employer - one that lays out your qualifications and hopefully gets you a job interview. Remember, most employers will spend less than five minutes reviewing your resume. Follow these guidelines to make sure your resume gets you noticed. Be sure to include these basics: Contact information: Full name, phone number, school and permanent addresses, email address. Education: School, degree, date of completion, honors, special course work. If you're still in school, provide your expected date of completion. Experience: In addition to work history, include relevant non-professional experience, such as internships, extracurricular activities and significant volunteer work. Skills: List any computer systems, office equipment and software programs you are experienced with. Other categories: If they are relevant, include publications, awards, leadership positions or other notable achievements. Chronological: To emphasize your work history, list your jobs and activities, beginning with your most recent experiences. Functional: To emphasize your skill sets, group your experiences under categorical headings, such as Leadership or Technology Support.
The two most popular formats are:
The key is to pick a format that presents your achievements effectively, and is easy to read and comprehend. See below for samples of a number of resume formats. Tips for a Winning Resume: Keep it brief. Try to keep your resume to one page. There are cases where a resume might be longer but one page should suffice for students and recent graduates. Write lean sentences and use bullet points to be succinct. Provide meaningful descriptions of your experiences. When detailing your job history, use short sentences or fragments to demonstrate your relevant experience.
Job Placement Resume Cover Letter Handout 4.04.07
Use strong action words. For example: "developed and implemented a new filing system"; "created two new membership programs." Use formatting to help you out. Capitalize and use boldface, italics or underlining to help organize the information. Proofread. Use spellcheck, double-check your contact information and make sure your formatting is consistent. Ask a friend or family member to proofread it as well. Check for errors that spellcheck programs miss (i.e. there vs. their; to, too or two). Custom fit your resume. Revise your resume for each job application to make sure it fits the opportunity at hand.
The final test: Take a look at your resume from arm's distance. Is it confusing and textheavy? Or is it easy to find the information you need? Do whatever is needed to make your resume reader friendly.
Job Placement Resume Cover Letter Handout 4.04.07