Resumes & Cover Letters

Resumes

A resume is often your first opportunity to demonstrate your qualifications and value to employers. This document should clearly showcase your relevant experiences, skills, and education in a format that’s easy for hiring managers to scan quickly. A well-crafted resume opens doors to interviews and positions you as a strong candidate worth considering.

Please read the following guidance to get started. Be sure to check out the resume examples on our resources page and make an appointment with a carer coach for more help.

• Do not use a resume template – Although they can be attractive, resist the temptation to start with a resume template and fill in the boxes. Resume templates often lead to multiple serious issues. To avoid these unnecessary problems, we strongly advise beginning with a blank document and creating your own simple format.
• Tailor for each position – Customize your resume to include keywords and skills that align with the specific job requirements rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
• Use action verbs and quantify achievements – Start bullet points with strong past tense action verbs (link to resume verb list in resource library) and include specific numbers, percentages, or metrics whenever possible to demonstrate impact. Use the “WHO” Method to create bullet points that get attention.
• Keep it concise and relevant – Early career resumes are usually limited to one page. As people progress in their careers, their resumes can grow to be slightly longer, but they should always keep the focus on the target position and the last 10 years of employment.
• Format for readability – Use consistent formatting, clear section headers, and adequate white space to ensure easy scanning by both human readers and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
• Proofread meticulously – Eliminate all spelling, grammar, and formatting errors as these can immediately disqualify you from consideration.
• Use an appropriate format – Adjust your resume format to suit your current needs. For example, people early in their careers typically use a reverse chronological format but people with decades of experience are often better off using a skills-based format. Furthermore, certain job applications may require different types of resumes like federal jobs which require a federal resume. A curriculum vitae (commonly referred to as a CV) is a longer version of a resume that, in the United States, is only used for positions in academia and research. If you are unsure about what format or type of resume you need, make an appointment with a career coach through Handshake for one-on-one guidance.

Make an appointment with a career coach to meet in person or virtually and get support while building your resume.

Cover Letters

A cover letter is a one-page document that accompanies your resume when applying for jobs, internships, or other professional opportunities. Even when employers do not explicitly state that they require a cover letter, there is often a strong expectation that applicants will submit one. The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce you, emphasize your most relevant skills and experiences, and explain why you are an excellent fit for the position. A well-crafted cover letter not only conveys your enthusiasm for the role and organization but also demonstrates strong communication skills. a

Tailored cover letters can help you stand out from other candidates. So, don’t just repeat the information in your resume. Cover letters are opportunities to tell the employer more about who you are as a professional. It’s okay to refer to a point on your resume but be sure to use your cover letter to provide more detail and context. Don’t skip cover letters to save time and effort. Your cover letter is a chance to emphasize to the employer why you are a good fit for their position and inspire them to interview you.

Properly formatting your cover letter is essential to make a strong first impression. Most cover letters are written in business letter block format. Also, be careful when getting assistance from AI. While AI tools can generate cover letters, they often sound generic and lack personality, making them easy to identify as AI-written.

• Research the company and role thoroughly – Reference specific company values, recent news, or job requirements to show that you understand what the organization does, recognize what they need, and are genuinely interested in working for them.
• Tell a compelling story – Connect your experiences to the job requirements by explaining how your background makes you uniquely qualified for their specific position.
• Keep it concise and focused – Limit it to one page with paragraphs that flow logically from introduction to closing.
• Personalize whenever possible – Address the letter to a specific person rather than “To Whom It May Concern” and mention how you learned about the opportunity.
• End with a strong call to action – After thanking the reader for reviewing your application material, express enthusiasm for the next steps and indicate how you’re eager to learn more about the opportunity.
• Use AI strategically – Utilize AI to help you generate text to get you started or as a way to polish drafts you created. Do not submit AI content without personalizing it first. Recraft AI-written text so that it is your own and does not sound generic.

Make an appointment with a career coach to meet in person or virtually and get support while writing cover letters.

References

References are people who know you through a past or current affiliation. If an employer is interested in hiring you, it is likely that they will call your references to verify that you’ll be a good fit for their position. It is ideal that you know your references through professional experience. However, if you are early in your career, it is understandable to provide references you know through other contexts such as athletics, volunteering, and coursework.

So, while applying for jobs, be ready with at least three individuals who know you well and can speak to your qualifications and character. You’ll need their names, organizations, positions, and contact information. Always ask them if they are willing to serve as a reference for you, verify that they will say positive things about you, and regularly update them about the status of your job hunt.

Your list of references does not belong on your resume. In the past, it was customary to include references on resumes. However, nowadays, references are provided differently. Therefore, do not use precious space on your resume for this information. Instead, you may be prompted for your references while completing an online application form on a company’s website or asked to email them following an interview.

Also, recognize the difference between a reference and a referral. A referral is someone who currently works for your target organization and can speak about your suitability. In other words, a referral is a friend you have on the inside. When the time is right, this person may be willing to advocate for you. The information they can provide to the hiring manager about you will reduce the risk of hiring you. This can increase the chances of you scoring an interview and getting an offer.