Resumes & Cover Letters

Resume: Where to Start

Start here with the Dartmouth CPD's Standard Resume Template and here with Dartmouth CPD's Resume Guide. 

It can be useful to create a "master resume." This is a resume in which you list all your jobs, internships, relevant classes, volunteer work, student organization involvement, large research or class projects, etc. It can (and likely will be) longer than a page. Think of it as a database for your experiences. Each time you go to apply for a job, create a copy of this resume and then pare it down, focusing on what is most pertinent to the specific job for which you are applying. 

Your resume does not need to only be a list of internships or jobs. Are you a member of club? Do you play a sport? Do you participate in an undergraduate fellow program or do research? All of these can demonstrate critical skills and competencies. The key is using your bulleted explanations to show how they are relevant. 

Key things to remember: 

• Use a simple readable font, no smaller than 10.5pt. 

• Your final resume should be one page single-sided.

• Your resume should be tailored to the job for which you are applying. Use language from the job posting in your resume and highlight relevant skills. 

• SPELL CHECK, SPELL CHECK, SPELL CHECK. Writing skills are important for all jobs. Check your spelling,  grammar, and punctuation.

Cover Letter: Where to Start

Start here with the Dartmouth CPD's Cover Letter Guide. 

Some useful strategies: 

• Start by listing your relevant experiences and skills. Then pick 3 that you want to highlight in your letter. 

• Research the organization your applying to. Do they repeatedly mention certain values that you can emphasize? Is there a specific thing about there work environment that appeals to you? 

Key things to remember: 

• Use a simple readable font, no smaller than 10.5pt, that is the same as your resume. Do not double space your letter. 

• Your cover letter should only be one page single-sided. 

• If you have a header on your resume, then include it on your cover letter. The two documents should match. 

• Your cover letter should be tailored to the job you are applying to. Use language from the job posting and focus on highlighting relevant skills. 

• SPELL CHECK, SPELL CHECK, SPELL CHECK. Writing skills are important for all jobs. Check your spelling,  grammar, and punctuation.

Other Resources

The Center for Professional Development offers assistance tailoring your resume or cover letter for a specific application. You can schedule coaching appointments here.

Center for Professional Development: Public Sector Resume Template.

Center for Professional Development: Cover Letter Quick Tips

Center for Professional Development: Using AI in Resumes and Cover letters. 

Note: Many positions in the US Federal Government discourage the use of AI in writing cover letters or filling out other parts of their applications. 

Additionally, fact check all information supplied by an AI, especially when applying to jobs that are relevant to current events. ChatGPT 4, for example, is currently only trained through 2021, meaning it is not aware of the Russia-Ukraine war or the Israel-Palestine conflict.