Resumes & Cover Letters

Resumes and cover letters are an important part of your job search because they are often how you make a first impression to a potential employer. An employer will often base the decision on whether to invite you for an interview because of the information you provide on your resume and in your cover letter. Your resume and cover letter should be two documents that concisely tell an employer your story and why you are the best candidate for the job!

Resume Tips

• There should be no false information.
• Check your resume for correct spelling and grammar.
• ALWAYS have someone review your resume before submitting.
• One page – As a college student you should be able to include all relevant information on one page.
• Tailor your resume to the position – Include relevant information about skills, experiences and education that the employer is seeking.
• Use  action verbs –Don’t use the phrases “Responsible for” or “Duties include.” Each phrase should start with an action verb.
• Well-organized – Your resume should be easy to read. Select one font and keep the formatting simple. No need to bold, italicize and underline everything. See the resume samples for ideas of how to format your resume.
• Add quantitative information – If you raised funds, how much? Did you tutor students? If so, how many and how often? Did you increase sales? If so, by how much?
• Show accomplishments – Employers want to see that you made an impact. Did you improve a process? Save money? What was the result of your time there?
• Be careful with acronyms – Spell them out the first time and don’t  assume everyone will know what they mean.
• Have industry professionals critique your resume, if possible.
• Do not include:
  • Personal information such as age, gender, marriage status.
  • Photographs
  • Personal Interests that are not relevant to the position
  • References – they should be on a separate page
• High school information – Your resume should focus on your college accomplishments. We suggest you only include high school information if you are a freshman, if your high school has a strong alumni network, or if your high school accomplishments are unique.
• Find more resume tips here. 

Resume Examples– courtesy of the University of Wisconsin Economics office

Reference List Example– courtesy of the University of Wisconsin Economics Office

Cover Letters

Your cover letter is another opportunity for you to tell the employer how you are the perfect fit for the position. You should always include a cover letter with a resume.

The cover letter consists of 3-4 paragraphs that are tailored to that specific position and  describes how your skills, experiences and education have prepared you for that specific position.

Cover Letter Tips

• Do what you can to find a name and title to include in the salutation. Make sure to verify the spelling and gender of this person.
• Use the same font and heading as your resume for consistency.
• Do not send the same cover letter for every position, you can always use the same template but make it personal to the position.
• Do not repeat the same information that is on your resume. The cover letter should complement your resume.
• See more cover letter tips here.