Resume & Cover Letter

Resume Tips and Tricks

~Resume Word Choice Tips~1. Make sure your sentences include only important information! Simplify sentences that include too much detail whenever possible. For example:
    • Instead of this: Worked at the Lincoln Square Recreation Center providing excellent administrative support- answering phones at the front desk, filing class information alphabetically into different drawers, responding to emails professionally and ordering supplies like basketballs, tennis balls, and scorekeeping tools.
    • Try this: Worked at the Lincoln Square Recreation Center providing administrative support by answering phones, filing, responding to emails and ordering supplies.

2. Use numbers whenever possible to enhance understanding of your experience: For example:
    • Instead of this: Worked as part of a team of front-of-the-house staff and offered professional service at events such as conferences, weddings and parties.
    • Try this: Worked as part of a team of 4-8 front-of- the-house staff and offered professional service at 50+ person events such as conferences, weddings and parties.

3. Use strong/active verbs when describing your job responsibilities. For example:
    • Instead of this: Give excellent customer service and crowd management to events that included sporting and entertainment.
    • Try this: Facilitate excellent customer service and crowd management to events including sporting and entertainment.

4. Use common (“buzz-words”) from the job/ scholarship announcement in your job descriptions For example:
    • A job listing may ask for someone who has good time management skills and has experience with clerical tasks.
    • Try this: include time management in your list of skills (if it is true for you) and describe the experience you have from your internship doing clerical tasks such as filing, organizing, and scanning.
Resume Improvement Checklist:
  • Name & Contact Info
    • City, state
    • Phone number, email address

  • Skills
    • Listed in bullet points
    • Examples: Bilingual (Fluent in Spanish), highly proficient in Microsoft Office, Customer Service, Multitasking, Teamwork, etc...

  • Relevant Experience
    • Jobs or internships in chronological order (most recent at the top)
    • Formatting is important: bold or italicize things to stand out
    • Use of strong action words for listing tasks

  • Extra-Curricular Activities/Volunteerism
    • Clubs, sports, involvement in religious groups etc
    • Any time you volunteered: doesn’t have to be ongoing

  • Education
    • Full name of high school, city and state
    • Expected graduation: month and year
    • List academic honors or awards you have received

  • Other Notes
    • Resumes should only be one page long
    • The font should be simple and readable
    • Use numbers whenever possible to illustrate impact!

Cover Letter Example

Tips:
  • Don’t overthink it and keep it simple!
  • One page only
  • Check For typos/ have someone else proofread for you
  • Save it somewhere so you don’t have to start from nothing the next time you need to write one!

Follow this Format:
[Your Name][City, State, ZIP Code] [Phone Number] [E-mail]
[Date]
[Recipient Name (if known)][Company/Organization][Address][City, State, ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient]:
Introduction: Why are you applying to this job at this specific place? Where did you discover it? Do you know someone who works there? Name-drop if possible. Keep this section short
Highlight skills: How does your experience from past settings translate to this job? Include skills (about 5) that they are looking for: use the job announcement as a guide.
Close out: Any additional comments, thank them for taking the time to review your application, and say you are looking forward to the opportunity to speak with them in person.
Sincerely,[Your name]