Resume Essentials
Ensure your resume includes the following key elements to help you stand out:
- Tailor your resume to the specific job by incorporating relevant coursework, memberships, and organizations. Classroom experience can be just as valuable as traditional work experience.
- Carefully review the job description for keywords to identify the skills the company values.
- Strengthen your experience descriptions by highlighting outcomes or results from your achievements. You can find more tips on crafting accomplishment statements below.
- A well-formatted, error-free resume reflects professionalism.
- If your GPA is 3.0 or higher, make sure to highlight it on your resume.
Writing an Accomplishment Statement
Creating strong accomplishment statements can be challenging. Each job under the Experience section of your resume should include bullet points detailing your achievements, customized for the position. Use the APR (Action + Project + Result) method to craft effective statements:
- Start with an action verb.
- Provide a brief description of the project or task.
- Explain the result or impact of your contribution.
- Quantify your results when possible.
Key Elements of a Cover Letter
When hiring managers review cover letters, they want to learn two crucial things about you:
- Understanding the Organization’s Challenges
Does the candidate grasp the problems the company is currently facing? Employers are looking for individuals who can connect with the challenges of the industry or business. The aim is to demonstrate how your skills and experiences—outlined in your resume—align with solving these issues. Review the responsibilities when drafting your cover letter and ask yourself: Why is this task vital to the company? Keep questioning until you reach the root need. The true problem typically lies at the end of this exploration.
- Demonstrating You’re the Solution
A common mistake, especially for students and recent graduates, is focusing too much on academic achievements. However, hiring managers are more interested in what you can contribute from day one based on your work, volunteer, research, and extracurricular experiences. Unsure which experiences to highlight? Pay attention to the job listing—critical qualifications are often listed first or repeated throughout. Your cover letter should clearly show how you can meet these key expectations.
Vocabulary
Review the job description looking for the most frequently mentioned words. These frequently used words are usually what the hiring manager values most. Try incorporating this vocabulary into your Cover Letter.
Additional Cover Letter Tips
- Keep It Brief In most cases, both resumes and cover letters should not exceed one page.
- Include Quantifiable Results Employers appreciate metrics—they highlight the impact you’ve had. Whether it’s saving time, cutting costs, or boosting efficiency, use figures to show your achievements.
- End with Impact Don’t waste the final lines with a generic closing like “I look forward to hearing from you.” Use this space to reaffirm your enthusiasm for the role and how you’d be an excellent fit. For instance, you might say, “I’m excited about [Company]’s goals and believe my [skills] would be a valuable asset to the team.” You can also include any other important details here, such as your willingness to relocate for the role.
