Résumés & Cover Letters

Think of your résumé and cover letter as your personal marketing materials. They highlight how your strengths and skills fit the job and needs of the organization. The resources below can help you build skills to write effective résumés and cover letters.

1. Brainstorm your skills and experiences.
2. Build your college résumé.
3. Then, customize your résumé to the positions you are seeking.
4. Next, write your cover letter for these positions.

Skills and Experiences

Résumés tell your professional story in a way that demonstrates to employers how you are a good fit for the position and company. Begin by brainstorming the skills and experiences you develop while in college. Career advisors provide these resources to help you get started.

• Résumé Brainstorming Guide (presentation)
• Résumé Brainstorm Template (handout)

The College Résumé

The résumé for college students and recent graduates highlights your experiences on and off campus. It includes what you have done in the classroom and how you explored your academic and career interests. You can describe these experiences by writing about your accomplishments. Career advisors provide these resources to help you write your résumé.

• Résumé Writing Guide (presentation)
• Accomplishment Statement Template (handout)
• Résumé Rubric (handout) - Use this to evaluate how you can improve your résumé.

Customize Your Résumé

Now that you have written a general résumé, use these resources to customize it to each position you seek.

• Customize your Résumé Guide (presentation)

The Cover Letter

Now that you have reviewed the position you seek and have customized your résumé, you are ready to write the cover letter. Career advisors provide these resources to help you start your draft.

• Cover Letter Guide (handout)
• Cover Letter Samples (handout)