Résumés and cover letters are important tools to get an employer’s attention and let them know you are the perfect fit for the job they are hiring for. They are what get you an interview. Here are some tips and resources to help you write your résumé and cover letter. For additional information, to check out a book, or pick up a how-to pamphlet, come by the Transfer and Career Center.
Résumés
Résumés are a one page handout for employers that show what a great candidate you are for the specific job you are applying for. Resumes are not what get you a job! However, they can lead to an interview.
Resumes are:
- A one to two page summary of your job experience, education, and career goals
- A list of qualifications that show your suitability for the job you are applying to
- A response to a job listing along with a cover letter that explains your goals
What should be included in a resume?
- Contact information
- Objective (optional)
- Summary (optional)
- Relevant Skills
- Work Experience (or any experience)
- Education
- Awards, Honors, and Activities (optional)
How should a resume look?
- Clean, neat, and organized
- Free of spelling errors and grammatical mistakes
- Easy to read and understand
ResumeGenius.com offers a free online resume builder that is easy to use and perfect for those writing their first resume.
For more information on what should be included in a resume, attend a workshop or review the workshop online. You can also check out any of the many print resources we have in the Transfer and Career Center for help on writing your résumé.
Cover Letters
A cover letter is in addition to your resume. The objective when writing a cover letter is to ask for an interview. A great cover letter addresses the following:
- Introduce yourself (background and experience as it relates to the position)
- Highlight your most notable qualifications, experiences, and skills
- Identify the value you bring to the job
- Capture the reader’s interest
- Motivate the reader to call you for an interview
Cover letters also need to be:
- Clean, well-organized, easy to read, and free of spelling and grammatical mistakes
- Written in professional language
- Tailored to the job you are applying to
- Include your contact information
Cover letters need to be tailored to the exact job you are applying to. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you research what others have written for those specific jobs. For example, if you are applying for Medical Assisting jobs, Google search “Medical Assisting Cover Letter” for some ideas on how to begin your own. You might also try online cover letter tools such as ResumeBuilder.com.
For more information on how to write a cover letter, check out any of the many print resources we have in the Transfer and Career Center.