Resumes and Cover Letters

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Resumes and Cover Letters

Resumes

A resume is a brief, informative document summarizing your abilities, education, and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and differentiate you from other candidates.

 

A resume is a marketing tool and an extension of your professional brand. An effective resume showcases your experience, achievements and strengths, relating them to a specific position by using key words and highlighting relevant experiences. Remember, there is not one “correct” resume for you to use - the best resume is the one that clearly and effectively communicates your skills, abilities, and future potential.

 

When it comes to developing effective application materials, it is often a good idea to view templates and examples to develop strategies. Several are listed below. You can also view and utilize templates through Microsoft Word and Canva.

 

Ensure that your resume can pass the six-second test.

  • Make your resume is highly “skimmable”
  • The human eye works in a Z-pattern, think of this when organizing your resume.
  • Forget the professional statement – Instead, open with a one-line “headline” stating your occupational specialty.
  • Two Columns of bullet points with concrete skills.
  • Don’t be a jack of all trades. Specify and tailor your experience to the position you're applying for.
  • Avoid subjective, ambiguous language such as “a passionate self-starter”
  • Use Numbers – A resume is about your hard skills best told through numbers.

Format Tip #1

Keep your resume simple and concise, yet tailored to each position to which you apply. 

Format Tip #2

Companies want to see keywords and descriptions of experiences that align with what they are seeking from a candidate.

Format Tip #3

The format should be well organized and easy to read. Check out our resume samples and templates below!

Format Tip #4

Review the elements of a good resume!

 

Click Here!

Resume Samples

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Cover Letters

Your cover letter is a way to introduce yourself to organizations in a narrative form that will accompany your resume. Use your cover letter to describe your qualifications as well as your interest in both the job and organization so the employer will want to interview you. Since the primary purpose of a resume and cover letter is to “market” you, always keep the organization’s hiring needs in mind.

Cover letters show your interest in a position and showcase your writing abilities. They link your resume and background to the position, showcasing your knowledge of the employer and highlighting relevant skills.  Cover letters should be personalized for each position.  Hiring managers may read hundreds of cover letters in a year and can easily spot a generic or poorly prepared letter.

Format Tip

  • As with your resume, your cover letter should be tailored to the job to which you are applying. Choose two or three of the key qualifications the position is seeking and address how you have acquired that experience.

Cover Letter Outline

 

FIRST PARAGRAPH

Why are you interested in this position and employer? What in the position description got you excited about the opportunity?

  • The main purpose of the first paragraph is to explain why you are interested in this position and employer, and to grab the reader’s attention.
  • If someone has referred you to the organization (a current employee, friend, family member), you should include his or her name in the first sentence.

 

MIDDLE PARAGRAPH(s)

What 2-3 experiences connect your skills to those listed in the position description? What makes you a good fit?

  • Tell your story: describe your qualifications for the position using specific examples from academic, work, volunteer, leadership, athletics, and student organization experiences.
  • Connect your accomplishments, skills and knowledge directly to the position and employer.
  • Focus on key areas of your background and do not simply repeat statements from your resume.

 

FINAL PARAGRAPH

Can you summarize your interest/qualifications in one statement?

  • Give a final statement of your interest and qualifications.
  • Thank the employer for their time and consideration.

 

Cover Letter Samples

Resume and Cover Letter Feedback

Once you have used the above resume and cover letter advice, templates and samples to build or update your resume and draft your cover letter, we recommend that you share your drafts with the Vocation and Career Services to ensure that your resume and cover letter will stand out to employers.

Schedule an appointment with Vocation and Career Services to review your resume and cover letter by emailing career-services@reinhardt.edu.

Contact

Office of Vocation and Career Services
Hasty Student Life Center
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
career-services@reinhardt.edu
770.720.5548