Resumes, Curriculum Vitae, and Cover Letters

Resumes

A resume briefly highlights your relevant and aligning qualifications, to a position or program of interest. This document includes your education, work experience, internship, research, transferable skills, service-learning, technical skills, and more.

This is used when applying for part-time or full-time jobs, internships, and some academic programs. Be sure to thoroughly review applications requirements before submission.

Resume Tips

• Tailored for each application
• 1-2 pages of concise content
• Highlight aligning and relevant experiences
• 2-5 accomplishment (bullet point) statements per experience
• Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors
• Schedule an appointment with Career Services for a resume review

Chronological Resume Examples

• Resume with internship, research, and technical skills
• Resume with student teaching experience, volunteer roles, and activities
• Resume study abroad, activities, and skills
• Resume with certifications, research, coursework, internship, and military experience
• Resume with internship and activities
• Resume with academic projects, internship, coursework, and national student exchange
• Resume internship, observation experience, and activities
• Resume with skills and activities

Functional Resume Example

• Sample functional resume

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

It is important to note, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume are two different documents. While they both provide an overview of your professional and educational experiences, they are utilized in different settings. A CV is commonly used when applying for international jobs, graduate programs, and teaching or research positions in higher education.

CV Tips

• No page limit
• Tailored for each application
• A detailed overview of academic and professional experiences
• Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors
• Schedule an appointment with Career Services for a CV review

CV Examples

• Sample CV 1
• Sample CV 2
• Sample CV 3

Cover Letters

A cover letter serves as the introduction to your resume. It is specific to each position and demonstrates interest in a particular employer or job. It should include expanded information from the resume, without repeating content. This is often the first contact with a prospective employer; it should be concise, well-written, and demonstrate effective communication.

The cover letter typically consists of three sections: the introduction, body, and closing. Within these three paragraphs, include your interest in the organization, highlight your qualifications for the position, demonstrate how your career goals align with the opportunity, and note the benefits you can provide the employer.

Cover Letter Tips

• Proofread the cover letter to ensure no spelling or grammar errors
• Personalize each letter, make every attempt to address each letter to a specific individual
• Highlight relevant qualifications
• Limit the cover letter to one page, be concise and compelling
• Avoid overusing the word “I”
• Vary writing style, try to offset long sentences with short ones
• Sign the cover letter
• Use font and format that match your resume to make a consistent application package

Resource

• Resume and Cover Letter Guide

Career Fairs

Career fairs are a great opportunity to meet and engage with potential employers. Recruiters attend career fairs to discuss their organization, services, products, and employment needs. Before attending a career fair, research the organizations attending, choose professional dress, print copies of your updated resume, and prepare an elevator pitch. During the career fair, share your elevator pitch with recruiters, ask questions to the employers, and request their contact information to follow up. Send a thank you message and connect on LinkedIn after the career fair or connect with recruiters on LinkedIn within a few days of the career fair.

Career Fair Preparation

A career fair, also called a job fair, job expo, or career conference, is an event where recruiters are available to those who are interested in learning more about internships and jobs. it is a great opportunity to meet and network with potential employers. Representatives discuss organization, services, products, and employment needs.

Career Fair Tips 

• Determine goals for attending the event (e.g., seeking a specific employment opportunity, networking about future positions, or learning about industries in a geographic area).
• Research organizations attending the career fair and review employers’ websites, social media, and additional news articles.
• Prepare and wear business professional dress to the career fair.
• Print and bring copies of your updated resume to give to employers.
• Prepare and utilize an elevator pitch that includes a short introduction of your education, skills, experiences, professional interests, and goals.
• Ask questions to the employer and request a business card to follow-up after the event.
• Reflect on the career fair after the event and take notes on interactions with employers.
• Write a thank you note or email and follow-up with prospective employers within 48 hours of the event. It serves the purpose of putting your name in front of the employer after the event and reminding the recruiter of your interest in the position and organization.

Sample Questions to Ask Recruiters

1. What advice would you give a student about to graduate with a [major or program name]?
2. What types of opportunities are typically available to new college graduates?
3. Are there specific courses or requirements you look for in a prospective employee’s experience?
4. What is the hiring process at [company or employer name]?
5. What are the projections for future changes within your organization?
6. How does [employer name] train its new employees?
7. What opportunities does [employer name] offer for individual professional development?
8. What specific skills and qualifications does your organization look for in its employee candidates?
9. How does [company name] measure performance?
10. May I have your business card?