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How to Build a Professional Resume and Cover Letter

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What you need to make a well-organized resume are:

  •  Heading
  •  Education
  •  Experience
  •  Skills (Computer, Languages, etc.)

 Heading

  • Name
  • Street address
  • City, State, ZIP Code
  •  Area code home and home phone number
  • Area code and business or cell phone
  • Professional E-mail address

  Education

  • Name of College (bold)
  • City and State without zip code
  • Type of degree
  • Program of study/major
  • Graduation date (month and year)
  •  Achievements
  • Relevant courses (Specific Names)
  • GPA if 3.0 or above

Experience

  • Name of company
  • City and state without zip code
  • Position title
  • From month/year to month/year
  • Action verb with bullets (description of responsibility)
  • Achievement

Skills

  • Computer Skill - List the programs you are familiar with (i.e Microsoft Word, Execel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, Accounting Software. Etc.)
  • Language Skills - If you speak more than one language, you should consider including language skills. Be certain to accurately represent your skill level (i.e., Fluent in Spanish, Basic Knowledge of French, Bilingual in Cantonese and English)
Your Resume Should:

  •  Be Typed Have no errors of facts, spelling, or grammar
  •  Have a layout that is consistent
  •  Have skills and interest related to position
  • Be proofread by professionals
  • Give you a sense of pride
Cover Letter Format

  • Heading and Greeting
  • Introduction 
  • Position for which you are applying 
  • How you heard about the position
  • Two or Three previous work or education experiences as support for why they should hire you 
  • Thank employer for their time, availability for follow up

 Ten Tips for Writing a Great Cover Letter

  • Make it personal
  • Make opening sentence catchy
  • Write each letter for a specific job
  • Describe skills as related to job
  •  Be specific and concrete when describing your experiences
  • Type and proof-read your cover letter
  • Be brief, use descriptive words
  • Be confident, creative, and upbeat
  • Avoid negativity
  • Don’t forget to follow-up

Job Fair Tips

  • Dress Appropriately - The first impression is one of the most important things you should pay attention to when attending a job fair. Make sure you dress professional interview attire and carry a portfolio as well.
  • Arrive early - We would suggest that you arrive 10-15 minutes before the fair opens in order to avoid the long lines. 
  • Research the companies in advance - It is recommended that you find out information about the companies that interest you prior to the job fair. This would avoid spending time in companies that do not offer a job that would interest you.
  • Take notes - Considering the crowded environment that job fairs usually take place at, it would be more convenient for you to take notes on different companies so that you do not forget information that may be crucial.
  • Take initiative and ask questions - It is very important that you are very clear about everything regarding the job position you are interested in. Therefore, feel free to ask as many questions as you have to the company representative in order to clarify every doubt you might have. In addition, taking initiative and showing enthusiasm as well as positive can be a quite decisive component at a job fair.

You should be polite and professional in every way. Talk slowly and quietly. Make sure to shake hands before and after the conversation.

 William Cayambe & Ueda Elbasani

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