Resources

Résumé

The purpose of a résumé is to put your job qualifications in the best light while demonstrating the relationship between your experience and/or education and the job you are seeking. The ultimate goal of a résumé is to help you get an interview by persuading potential employers that you can do the job. Prospective employers recognize the effort put into producing a quality résumé and conclude that you will put the same amount of effort into the job; therefore, it is important to consider the following information.

The characteristics of an effective résumé include good organization, careful design, consistent format, legibility, and lack of errors. These same characteristics apply to the cover letter which should accompany your résumé. See this site's section on cover letters for more information.

Elements of a résumé can vary somewhat, but most résumés include personal data, educational background, and work experience. Personal data, usually at the top of the page, may include name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and fax number. A career objective statement of no more than three lines might be next. A one- or two-line summary may also appear (e.g. An experienced designer of educational software). The résumé writer should determine whether to emphasize education over job experience or vice versa by listing first the element that is most likely to impress potential employers. Work experience entries, which may include volunteer and military positions, should begin with either company names or job titles. Special skills, awards, or hobbies might be given if these relate to the position sought. If references are included on the résumé, be sure to give phone numbers and addresses for the individuals who have agreed to recommend you for the position. Commonly, "Available on request" appears after the references heading. Unless the employer requires you to state salary requirements, you may choose to not address pay on your résumé. You may also use the term "negotiable" or give a range, unless the posting directs you to specify the minimum acceptable salary.

Résumés, typically one to two pages long, may be organized a number of ways, but the usual order is reverse chronological with most recent educational or work experience listed first. One alternative is a functional résumé that lists experience in terms of job skills rather than specific positions held. The appearance of your résumé should be professional, yet reader-friendly, and should result from a simple design that does not overuse highlighting and spaces content so that information stands out. Language in a résumé is concise, marked by the absence of the word "I" and by the occurrence of resulting fragments. Strong action verbs are used to describe current and past activities.

Cover Letter

A cover letter (letter of application) gives potential employers a first impression by emphasizing key information from your résumé. Its tone should be articulate, interesting, and professional. It ought to directly and concisely include special reasons for applying, such as specific short-term goals or a particular interest in the company. The contact person's name and address should appear on the letter. Use appropriate titles such as director, manager, vice president, and so forth; if a name may be spelled more than one way, find out how the contact person's name is written.

The cover letter's structure is typically based on a three-paragraph minimum. The introductory paragraph should announce the specific job you are seeking, tell how you heard about it, and include a thesis that states your ability to do the job. The body, which consists of at least one paragraph, outlines your most prominent qualifications and convinces the reader of your claim to be able to do the job. A concluding paragraph states that the résumé is enclosed, asks for or suggests an interview, gives available interview dates, and ends with a positive note.

Letter of Thanks

After the interview, you should write a letter to thank the interviewer(s) and anyone else who significantly contributed to your interview process. Name the specific job for which you interviewed and the date of the interview. If you still desire the position, note your continued interest and reaffirm your ability to do the job. Offer to provide more information and conclude with a positive note. If you are no longer interested in the job, let the employer know that you have carefully considered information and perspectives gained from the interview, give logical reasons for withdrawing from consideration, and end with a positive tone.

Acceptance Letter

A letter of acceptance should thank the employer and indicate your acceptance of a job offer. To make sure there are no misunderstandings, you should reiterate the salary offered, the start date, and other details about your plans to report for work such as moving, undergoing health exams, or completing entry paperwork. You should conclude the letter with an enthusiastic statement about working with the new employer.

Refusal Letter

A refusal letter should express your thanks for the offer of employment and convey a tactful, courteous refusal. Details of your serious consideration and logical decline of the offer should be presented. You might conclude by articulating something positive about the application experience or interview process with the company.