What is a Resume?
A resume is a concise document summarizing an individual’s education, work experience, skills, achievements and qualifications for a specific job application. Typically, resumes are tailored to the job or industry in which the individual is applying. They are usually one or two pages long and are intended to provide a snapshot of the applicant’s professional background and capabilities.
Why are they important?
- Resumes serve as the first impression that a potential employer has of a job applicant.
- Resumes provide a quick overview of the candidate’s qualifications and suitability for the position.
- Resumes allow applicants to showcase their relevant skills, experiences and achievements that align with the requirements of the job they are applying for.
- Resumes demonstrate the applicant’s interest in the specific position and company, increasing the likelihood of being noticed by recruiters.
- A good resume increases the chances of being invited for an interview, where applicants can further demonstrate their qualifications and suitability for the role.
What is a CV (Curriculum Vitae) & Cover Letter
A curriculum vitae (CV) is a comprehensive document outlining an individual’s academic and professional background, including education, research experience, publications, presentations, awards, affiliations and other relevant information. CVs are commonly used in academic and research settings, as well as for certain job applications.
While a CV provides a detailed overview of a person’s qualifications and experiences, a cover letter complements the CV by allowing the applicant to personalize their application and demonstrate their fit for the specific job and organization.
Why are they valuable?
- CVs provide a detailed overview of an individual’s academic achievements, research contributions and professional qualifications, which are essential for academic positions, fellowships, grants, jobs and research opportunities
- CVs allow individuals to highlight their publications, conference presentations, research projects, volunteer hours and other scholarly activities, demonstrating the depth of their expertise and the breadth of their contributions to the field.
- Comprehensive documents like a CV encompass an individual’s entire academic and professional history, and provide a complete record of qualifications and experiences relevant to a particular career path or academic discipline
Task
- Select three different resume samples from a field you are interested in. (Need more samples? Here are more samples. And even more samples. And guess what? Still more samples!)
- Analyze the key components and identify what makes each one effective or ineffective.
- Determine what components you can add to your own resume.
- Find the template you think reflects you best and begin to create your own resume.
- Have a peer review your resume and check for typos.
- Select three different CV and Cover Letter samples. (Here are more samples…and even more).
- Analyze the key components and identify what makes each one effective.
- Determine what components from the various CVs you like best.
- Create your own CV and cover letter, being sure to quantify your achievements, use action verbs and use consistent formatting for each.
- Have a peer review your CV and cover letter and check for typos.
Ideas to help you with this task:
1. Purpose: Before you start writing, you need to determine the purpose and audience of your resume and cover letter. Your purpose may be to apply for a part-time job or an internship. Your audience could be an employer, an admissions officer, a potential supervisor or a funder.
2. Notes: Make a list of all your relevant information, including your name, address, phone number, email address, education, work experience, skills, achievements and extracurricular activities.
3. Format: There are different formats for resumes and cover letters, so choose one that fits your purpose and audience. For example, if you’re applying for a creative job, you may want to use a more colourful and artistic format, whereas if you’re applying for a more traditional job, you may want to use a more formal and professional format.
4. Intro: Your opening should catch the reader’s attention and make them want to keep reading. You could start with a brief summary of your skills and experience or a statement about why you’re interested in the job or program.
5. Highlights: Your cover letter should emphasize your relevant experience and skills. Use bullet points and concise sentences to make your points clear and easy to read.
6. Keywords: Use words that are relevant to the job, idea or program you’re applying for. This will help your resume get noticed by the right people.
7. Examples: Don’t just list your achievements, provide evidence of them. If you’ve won an award, mention the name of the award, the date you won it, and what you did to earn it.
8. Edit: Before you submit your resume and cover letter, proofread and edit it carefully. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure your formatting is consistent.
9. Feedback: Ask someone you trust to review your resume and cover letter and provide feedback. This could be a teacher, mentor, parent or friend. Incorporate their feedback to improve your documents.
Cover Letter Template
Your cover letter should highlight why you’re perfect for the position you’re applying for. It should be no more than a page in length, including an introductory paragraph that states why you’re applying for the position, a middle paragraph which states your unique skills and experiences, and a closing paragraph to thank the person who is considering your application. It should summarize why you are a great fit for the position and motivate the person who is hiring to set up an interview.
Sample Format:
Name: Your full name
Contact Information: A telephone number, address and professional email address
Date: The date of application
Greeting: Try to find out the name of the person who is weighing applications, or who the application should be addressed to, and begin with Dear Name, Dear Company Name, etc.
Opening Paragraph:
- Start with an attention grabbing first sentence by introducing yourself enthusiastically
- State why you’re applying for the position, why it excites you and why you are perfect for the position
- Explain how the position will help with furthering your passion and goals
- Make each cover letter specific to the position you are applying for
Middle Paragraph:
- State your best and most relevant skills that compliment the position
- Discuss how your experiences will allow you to succeed at the position
- Avoid repeating your resume and instead add more details to your highlights
Closing Paragraph:
- Thank the person/company who is hiring for considering your application
- Make any final clarifications regarding your qualifications
- State your interest in making it to the next step of the hiring process – Example: “I look forward to hearing from you.”
Closing:
- Address the closing
- – Examples: Sincerely, Respectfully, Regards, Thank you for your consideration, etc.
Name
Signature
Resume
Your resume is a one page reflection of your background, top skills, education and experience that makes you the perfect fit for a position. It should be clear, cleanly formatted and can quickly summarize your qualifications.
Name and Contact Information
- Include your full name, phone number, email address and sometimes your mailing address
Objective
- A statement that summarizes your goal(s) and relevant experience and skills that fit the position you are applying for
Skills
- List all relevant skills you possess that fit with the job (technical, interpersonal and transferrable)
Professional History
- Add your professional history in order of recency and include a short description of the position, time period/length of employment and a few achievements during your time in the position
- Try using concrete numbers when you can to measure your impact at the position and highlight the key skills you learned that are relevant to the position you are applying for
- If experience is limited, add volunteer positions, internships or job shadowing experience
Education
- List your highest education achieved and highlights or awards
- Add participation in clubs, leadership positions or organizations that will help improve your appeal
Tips:
- Look at sample resumes in the field you are applying for to check for tone and key words
- Look for a variety of resume examples to get ideas on formatting, wording, presentation, etc.
- Select your words carefully – words that fit with the job description and are high impact phrases
- Have several people review your resume
- Check spelling, formatting and grammar
- Keep it to one page – employers view resumes on average for 30 seconds
- Use clear section headings in your resume
- Ensure you have a professional email address
- Be honest
- Tell a story in your cover letter that highlights your passion or skills
- Personalize each cover letter and resume you are using to apply for a position
- Review the job application to ensure you are hitting the key requirements and specific skills
- Use a clear font and stick to 10-12 point size
- Save your documents as a PDF file unless directed otherwise
Create a LinkedIn Profile
1. Choose a professional profile picture and make sure it’s appropriate for the audience you’re targeting. Dress professionally and make sure your face is clear and visible.
2. Write a compelling headline. Your headline should be a brief summary of your skills and experience. It should give potential employers an idea of what you can offer them.
3. Write a strong summary. Your summary should be a brief overview of your skills, experience and achievements. It should be written in a professional tone and highlight your unique qualities.
4. Include your high school and any other relevant education you’ve received, such as additional courses or certificates.
5. List any work experience you’ve had, including part-time jobs and internships. Describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role.
6. List your skills and areas of expertise. Be specific about the skills you possess and provide examples of how you’ve used them.
7. Include any awards or achievements you’ve earned. This could include academic awards, athletic awards or leadership awards.
8. Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your interests and career goals. This can help you connect with professionals in your field and stay up-to-date on industry news.
9. Connect with other LinkedIn users, including classmates, teachers and professionals in your field. This can help you expand your network and find new opportunities.
10. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Update your education, experience and skills as needed. Share relevant articles and information to show that you’re active in your field.
11. Follow LinkedIn best practices, such as using keywords, optimizing your profile for search and customizing your URL. These can help you get noticed by employers and recruiters.