Resumes, References and Cover Letters

Resumes

A resume is the one document that can either get you an interview or leave you out of one.  It is important that employers can easily obtain relevant and concise information, but with specific details.  Below are some general tips and examples.

Resume Guidelines

Items to include:

• Header with your name, address, email (must be a professional email address!), phone number, and LinkedIn URL (personalized)
• Education
• Section headers such as: Experience, Volunteer Work, Leadership Roles, Honors and Distinctions, etc.
• Targeted bullet points (each starting with various action verbs) describing your accomplishments, as relates to the job description for the job you are applying for

Formatting:

• 1/2 or 1 inch margins on all sides
• 10-12 pt. font
• Professional style font (Times New Roman, Calibri, Helvetica, etc.)
• One page (unless you have two full pages of relevant information – Various Action Verbs)
• Single-spaced
• NO TEMPLATES!

Sample Resume

References

Typically, a reference sheet includes three to five professional references with contact information for each.  Professional references may include supervisors, coworkers, or professors.  Make sure to ask permission before listing the reference.  Provide the references with a copy of your résumé, and alert them when to expect calls from employers.

If the references will need to write a letter of recommendation, also ensure you give them at least a month’s notice, give them a specific deadline, and provide all directions needed to successfully complete the letter (Do they put it in a sealed envelope and give it to you?  Email it to someone?  Mail it themselves?)

Sample Reference Page

Cover Letters

This document provides the space for you to clearly articulate why you are the best person for this internship/job and how you meet all of the qualifications.  Make your cover letter interesting to read, concise (one page maximum), personable, and detailed.

Sample Cover Letter