Developing a Résumé
A résumé is a targeted personal marketing document that summarizes your education and experiences to highlight your qualifications as they relate to the position (part or full-time jobs, internships, leadership positions, scholarships) you are seeking. It is also a way to obtain an interview.
Design and layout matter! Highlight skills in bullet form rather than burying them within the phrase and keep headers to the left as the reader will scan top to bottom and left to right. Many organizations use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) when reviewing résumés, before a human would ever see what you have submitted. Then, recruiters may spend as little as six seconds on an initial review of your resume. Therefore, you want to make sure your résumé is aligned with the job description and provides action verbs about your qualifications and experience.
General Résumé Sample Download in Word
Writing a Cover Letter
A cover letter is a one-page business letter that expands upon your relevant experiences and skills, demonstrates your writing skills, and clarifies any issues (experience, GPA) that need to be addressed. It answers (a) why you are interested in the job and (b) why you are qualified for the job.
First Paragraph:
- Your reason for applying, including the specific title of the job and organization
- An attention-grabbing summary of your personal traits and skills that make you a great fit for the position and organization
Second Paragraph:
- Connect skill listed in the job description with your past work, volunteer, or leadership experiences (focus on past successes and outcomes)
- This section should expand on what is listed on your resume, so refrain from directing them to your resume
Closing Paragraph:
- Appreciation of the reader’s time and attention
- What do you want the next step to be (i.e., your hopes for them to follow-up)
- End the letter with Sincerely, three spaces, and your name
Typical Cover Letter Mistakes:
- Sending a resume without a cover letter
- Appearing generic, not tailoring how your skills/experience match the specific needs of the job/company
- Allowing misspellings or incorrect grammar/punctuation
- Rambling, focusing on your whole story instead of just the relevant part (you have the interview to expand)
Preparing for the Interview
Interviews are how employers evaluate you as a fit for their organization and determine if you possess the needed skills to perform in each position. They are also how you communicate your interest in the position and that your skills and personal traits align with the organization’s needs.
Before You Interview:
- Research the company/position for which you are applying
- Think about how to leverage your strengths, accomplishments, and interests to the position
- Prepare specific examples to use when answering questions
- Prepare an appropriate, professional outfit to wear
- Plan to arrive early
- Bring a folder/portfolio to hold resume copies and a pen
During the Interview:
Think about how you impress the following to the recruiter
- Presentation: Soft smile, good eye contact, firm handshake, etc.
- Preparation: Did your research on the company, understood the expectations, showed preparedness for the job, etc.
- Verbal Communication: Persuasive and passionate, presented ideas logically, did not ramble, etc.
- Direction: Demonstrated personal and professional goals, showed confidence, seemed self-motivated, etc.
- Leadership: Came across as a leader who can move others to action, gave the impression you could set and follow through on goals, etc.
- Sincerity: Communicated with a genuine attitude that seemed honest and was not embellished, etc.
- Interpersonal Skills: Enthusiastic, energetic, motivated, mature, good listener, etc.
- Flexibility: Able to achieve goals in the face of adversity, able to develop effective alternatives to achieve goals, etc.
- Problem Solving: Uses a logical approach to arrive at reasonable conclusions with common sense, etc.
- Productivity: Thrive under high pressure, successful in managing multiple priorities, etc.
- Teamwork: Able to work well on a team, inform, inspire, and influence others, etc.
Interview Wrap-Up:
- Obtain a business card from each interviewer
- Write thank you letters immediately after interviews
Preparing for Employer Questions
Employers want to know if you have the skill set needed to perform successfully on the job and contribute positively to their company/organization. Understanding the job description provides insight into what type of questions you might hear. Before you begin interviewing, rehearse possible responses, and discuss them with the Office of Career Development. Practice to be sure you can communicate clear, unrehearsed answers to interviewers.
Behavioral Interview Questions
Recruiters typically use behavioral-based questions to probe your past behavior in jobs, classrooms, group projects and activities. Listen to the question to identify what quality or attribute they are evaluating.
- STAR Method: an effective strategy to answer behavioral-based questions. When asked this type of question, utilize the following steps:
- Situation: Briefly outline background information to frame the situation.
- Task: Briefly narrate what you were trying to accomplish.
- Action: Give examples of how you utilized relevant skills and qualities to resolve the situation/achieve goal/task.
- Result: Briefly summarize the positive outcome.
Questions to Ask Employers
It is typical in an interview for the recruiter to ask, “What questions do you have?” You should have 3-5 questions prepared that demonstrate a sincere interest and awareness of the company and position. Here are a few sample questions you might ask:
- Are there any qualities you are looking for in the candidate who fills this position that I have not addressed yet?
- What tasks would you expect me to accomplish in my first 30, 60, or 90 days on the job?
- Are there any additional expectations not outlined in the job description?
- Six months from now, how will you know I was the right person for this position?
- What is the next course of action after today?