Job Seekers
Résumés & Cover Letters
A well-written cover letter and résumé are your first step to making a positive impression on a potential employer and landing an interview. Below are general tips for writing a winning cover letter and résumé. For more in depth tips, tricks, and trends, attend one of our no-cost job preparation workshops.
Well-Written Cover Letters:
- Clarify the specific job you are applying for
- Are addressed to the specific hiring manager within the organization
- Briefly tell the employer the skills/experience/qualifications that make you qualified for the job
- Entice the employer to take the next step of reading your résumé
- Give a general overview of your interest in the job
- Include your contact information
- Are signed by hand
Resumes that Win Interviews Are:
- Accompanied by a well-written cover letter
- Targeted to each job opening/description
- Concise, clearly stated, organized, and easy to read
- Built to create value by identifying what unique skills/experience you bring to the employer
- Accomplishment-oriented, with measurable or quantifiable achievements
- Includes action verbs
- Reviewed to verify correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
- Does not include information regarding your age, sex, religion, political affiliation, family, salary, Social Security Number, or health.
- Formatted for print and electronic versions
- Written using Chronological, Functional, or Combination résumé formats
- Provided in plain text for an online application
