Résumés and Letters

Résumés and cover letters are key elements in executing an effective opportunity search. Whether you are looking for a part-time job, internship, volunteer experience, graduate school acceptance, or full-time work, you will most likely need to create and maintain strong professional documents in order to apply. Résumés are professional documents that introduce an employer to your skills, experiences, and professional history. Cover letters, on the other hand, are professional letters that provide an introduction to employers regarding your interest in a position (or in being considered for potential positions) and your perceived fit with a job and organization.

Employers often review résumés and cover letters in less than one minute. You may have the best personality in the world or possess exemplary professional skills but if you are not able to sell yourself on paper you will never get the opportunity to show an employer why they should hire you.

Your résumé:

• is a marketing tool used to briefly highlight your educational background, experience, and skills.
• must be well written, concise and organized to be effective.

There are several types of résumés: Chronological, Functional, or Combination. There is no one correct way to write a résumé. It depends on your unique education, experiences, and skills.

The Office of Career and Professional Development has both online tools and in-person assistance that can help you to develop your professional documents. See below to get started!

Receive Staff Assistance

• Visit Drop-in Hours
  OCPD staff are available on Tuesdays-Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. to assist you with creating your first résumé or providing feedback to improve a résumé you already have.

• Make an Appointment
  Make an appointment to meet with your Career & Internship Advisor to receive a higher level of feedback and advice on how to improve your résumé for your specific career field.

Online Resources

• Résumé & Letters Guide
  OCPD staff are available on Mondays-Fridays from 1-4 p.m. to assist you with creating your first résumé or providing feedback to improve a résumé you already have.

• Upload Your Résumé to Handshake
  Uploading your resume to Handshake will allow our staff to provide virtual feedback within 1-2 business days. Once reviewed, be sure to make your résumé viewable to employers! You can also use your uploaded résumé to complete your profile in Handshake with ease.

Last updated: 11/7/2022