Resume and Cover Letters

Preparing a Resume, Cover Letter or Portfolio

As you prepare your job search materials, remember that you don't want to restrict your focus to your resume and cover letter. Make sure you have an excellent online presence, as well.

Resume

A resume is a selective summary of your professional experiences and qualifications in the context of where you want to go next. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of your every activity or accomplishment.

  • Review the Resume Guide [PDF]: Find instructions for resumes including an outline, checklist, and samples.
  • Use action verbs to convey both achievement and enthusiasm in your resume.
  • The skills you illustrate in your resume must match the requirements of the job. Resumes serve as a marketing tool to get you to an interview. In a resume tailored for a particular opportunity, you select the "message" of accomplishments that will show you are qualified for that particular job.
  • Create multiple resumes to suit a variety of opportunities. If you are applying to multiple types of jobs or multiple types of employers, you will likely find more success in your job applications by creating multiple versions of your resume.
    • Because a resume concisely summarizes your experience, education and skills as they relate to a specific career field or job, it is important that you are familiar with the industry, career field and organizations that interest you.
    • You will write a more effective resume if you do this research and are informed about potential employers. 

As you develop your resume, answer these 3 questions:

  1. What do you want to communicate about yourself as a professional?
  2. Who is your primary audience, and what do they need to know about you?
  3. How will they receive the resume (e.g., paper, electronic, plain text, modified via an online application system?), and what do you need to do to make the most of the medium?

Employers evaluate resumes quickly. Tailor your resume to meet their needs. Here are some suggestions to help you focus your edits. They address the issues of form, function, feedback, and electronic resumes.

Form deals with appearance

  • Templates: Avoid resume software templates. They are often not compatible with applicant tracking systems and do not allow you to present information in the most effective format.
  • Length: For college students and recent college graduates, use a one-page format.
    Font: Choose a basic, easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica in a 10- to 14-point size. Use black ink.
  • Paper: Use 8-1/2 inch by 11 inch paper in a light color such as white or off-white.
  • Spacing: Margins of 1 inch and double spacing between headings improves readability.
  • Layout: Use bullets, bold, capitalization, and underlining sparingly to call attention to the most important information. Leave some white space to create an uncluttered look.
  • Format: Present information in reverse chronological order (newest experience first). Common headings include:
    • Education
    • Experience
    • Skills
    • Activities
    • Community Service
  • Professionalism: Eliminate all typos and misspellings by asking others to proofread your resume. 

Function conveys an impression of you that meets the reader's needs

  • Image: Decide what image you want your resume to communicate. Does it show that you are a leader, a team player, an artist, an innovator, a salesperson, or something else?
  • Content: Select 3 core qualities that define you and are of importance to the position for which you are applying. Make sure that your resume focuses on skills and accomplishments that reflect these core qualities.
  • Style: Start off sentences with action verbs to convey enthusiasm and achievement.
  • Avoid: Do not reveal confidential personal data such as social security number, driver's license, or credit card numbers on a resume.

Feedback allows others to offer ideas for strengthening your resume

  • Sources: Consult Career Services, professors, family, friends, and professionals in your field.
  • Review: When you receive feedback, decide if the changes suggested are useful.  

Electronic resumes and technology

  • Email text resumes: If you copy the text of your resume into the body of an email, use left-hand justified, plain text format. Avoid using tabs, bullets, underlining, bold, and graphics.
  • Email attachment resumes: If you email your resume as an attachment, use your name in the document title.
  • Online resumes: Follow the directions on the website where you are submitting the resume. Directions for online submissions vary widely.
  • Scanned resumes: Use key word phrases relevant to the position, employer, and career field. Use capitals, bullets and bold for emphasis. Avoid underlining, graphics and italics.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is often your earliest written contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression. A cover letter should complement, not duplicate, your resume. Its purpose is to interpret the data-oriented, factual resume and add a personal touch. View our Cover Letter Guide for formatting tips and examples.

Are cover letters necessary?

Generally, a cover letter should accompany each resume. The cover letter allows you to demonstrate your ability to write and offers the first statement of why you feel you should be hired. 

A portfolio is a portable collection of material that provides graphic evidence of your accomplishments, skills, and abilities. It that documents the scope and quality of your experience and training.

  • Start a master portfolio to collect all professional documentation.
  • Prepare an internship portfolio according to faculty assignment.
  • Develop a customized portfolio to meet a specific goal, such as a job search.

Contents of a master portfolio

  • Updated resume copies
  • List of references
  • Brochures or web page printouts on your employers, internships, professional affiliations, and/or community service sites
  • Complete job descriptions of positions you have held
  • Transcripts and test scores
  • Projects from class, internship work or organizational involvement
  • Class papers
  • Examples of skills (e.g., Excel, Python coding, Adobe, etc.)
  • Media such as fliers, ads, news clippings
  • Letters, memos, articles
  • Project planning lists
  • Evaluations
  • Letters of recommendation or appreciation
  • Duplicate materials as examples

What customized portfolios can be used for

  • Providing a competitive edge and visual impact during job interviews
  • Reviewing before interviews for reminders of achievements
  • Applying for graduate school
  • Negotiating raises and promotions
  • Marketing your business

Conducting your job search with a customized portfolio

  • Determine which skills and qualifications you are seeking to demonstrate.
  • Prepare a small, customized portfolio with selected items from your master portfolio.
  • Focus on items that relate to the position you are seeking.
  • Use a quality binder with clear plastic sheet protectors.
  • Use outstanding examples, diverse materials, section tabs, and color (if appropriate).
  • Show relevant samples in response to questions if interviewer indicates interest.

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