Writing a Resume and Cover Letter

A resume is a marketing tool that presents you to the reader in terms of your abilities, accomplishments, and potential as a future employee. The single most important function of your resume is to "sell" you to an employer. The most challenging part of this selling job is that it has to be done in about 45 seconds, the average time devoted to the reading of most resumes. Therefore, like any good advertisement, your resume must focus the reader's attention on your most valuable skills and qualifications immediately.

The first step in writing a good resume is to examine yourself, the "product," to determine what you have to offer as an employee, considering your unique combination of educational and work background. As the "consumer," the employer is looking for someone to fill a particular need in his/her organization, and it is your task to determine what the employer is looking for and show how your qualifications are a good match. This is not easy, and it is not uncommon for students to write several drafts of a resume before it is effective.

There isn't one perfect way to write or format a resume. You need to determine which format is right for your particular situation. You may even want to develop several resumes if you are considering several different career options. To help you get started, pick up a Resume Handbook from the Career Center. It includes step-by-step guidelines and many sample resumes. Bring in a rough draft and a Career Center staff member will offer suggestions for improving it or simply adding the finishing touches.

Cover Letters
As an applicant seeking employment, you will find yourself writing several different types of job search correspondence including letters of application (cover letters), letters of inquiry about your status, thank-you letters, and acceptance letters. Every letter is an opportunity to make a good impression on the recipient.

The cover letter should not be a simple reiteration of what has already been stated in your resume. Instead, a cover letter should complement the resume by giving a more detailed account of your relevant qualifications or describe qualifications not found on your resume. One way to make your cover letter stand out is to include references to the company or organization that show you have done your "homework" about that company. For examples of how to accomplish this, pick up a copy of the Cover Letter Handbook in the Career Center. It lists many ideas about organizing the content of your cover letter and provides a number of examples. Career Center staff members will also critique cover letters and give you ideas about how to add professional "polish" to your correspondence.