Resume Checklist
- Is 100% honest.
- Free of grammatical and spelling errors.
- Presents your most important information first.
- Emphasizes your assets and avoids information that might eliminate you from consideration.
- Is brief, concise and easy to read.
- Format is consistent and visually attractive.
- Do not list your references on your resume.
- Do not exceed one page if you have a bachelor鈥檚 degree and two pages for master鈥檚 degree.
- Include name, address, phone number, email, and LinkedIn or professional website (optional).
- Use professional voicemail and conservative email address.
- Eliminate personal pronouns such as 鈥淚鈥 and 鈥渕y.鈥
- Include biggest professional selling points: highest job title or degree, years of relevant experience, and main responsibilities or achievements.
- Include institution, city, state, degree, major, minor, concentration.
- Use graduation date or expected graduation date in month and year format.
- If applicable, include scholarships, honors, awards, special training and relevant courses.
- Provide the organization's name, city, state and dates of employment (month and year).
- Include relevant full-time, part-time, internships and volunteer work.
- Use bullet points and avoid first person pronouns.
- Utilize strong, descriptive action verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments.
- Use past tense for ALL employment experiences, or use present tense action words for present jobs and past tense action words for past experiences.
- Include numbers and percentages to quantify experiences wherever possible.
- If applicable, include languages and fluency level.
- If applicable, include laboratory skills, equipment skills, computer/programing skills.
- Name software programs you are proficient in.
- If applicable, include certifications, licenses, and relevant achievements.
- Include relevant extracurricular activities.
- If applicable, indicate leadership roles.
Cover Letter Checklist
- Use the same heading as your resume.
- Include submission date.
- Address letter to specific person if possible or to 鈥渉iring manager.鈥
- Do not rewrite what you have on your resume.
- Identify what position you are applying for, and the reason you are sending the letter.
- Describe how you heard of the opening.
- Identify one or two of your strongest qualifications and how these skills apply to the job.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of the company.
- Free from grammatical and spelling errors.
- Do not exceed one page.
- State the purpose for writing including name of position.
- Tell how you heard of the opening or organization. Add who referred you if applicable.
- Tell why you want to apply for this job and why you are interested in this position.
- Summarize your qualifications which you think would be of greatest interest to the employer.
- This should respond directly to the job description and include examples that are related to the position you are applying for.
- Cite relevant education, leadership experience, projects, assignments, organizations.
- State your interest in their organization, position and/or type of work.
- Describe why you would like to work for their company based on their mission, values and projects.
- Do your research on the company.
- Express your appreciation for being considered for this position.
- Thank them for taking the time to review your resume and application.
- Let them know that you are looking forward to the next step in the process and the opportunity to meet with them for an interview.
- Give them your contact information and how you can be reached if they have any questions or need further information.
Email careerservicesFREEWEST_VALLEY to set up an appointment to review your resume and/or cover letter.