Professional documents such as a resume or cover letter are how employers understand your skills, abilities, experiences, and strengths. These documents express your qualifications and interest in the position you are seeking and can potentially lead to an interviewing opportunity. Show
The Career Services Center is available to help you learn how to construct a resume and cover letter and offer advice for making improvements and updates.
Resume WritingThe suggestions that follow are based on several years of experience with the recruiting process and employer feedback. Most rules for a good resume are not set in stone, but strong guidelines. There is no one “right” way to write a resume. Employers have different opinions on what they prefer; therefore, it is important for your resume to best highlight your skills and interests. Expand all | Collapse all Overall Appearance
Resumes tend to be very conservative in format with the primary goal being readability. In some fields, such as advertising, marketing, and fine arts, creativity is more acceptable and often expected. Creativity should not deter from the overall content and flow of a resume. We suggest that you never use templates provided by Word or any other source. Templates limit formatting choices and the amount of content on your resume. In addition, many employers ignore resumes when they have seen the same template multiple times. Tabs and BulletsBulleted action statements are not complete sentences, so periods are not needed. If you do choose to use them, however, be consistent and use them throughout the document. When creating bullet points, use the bulleting functions in Word rather than a bullet point symbol and spaces. LengthIf possible, one-page resume for undergraduates and recent grads is recommended. Margins should be between .5 and 1 inch (often this makes the difference between a one and two-page resumes) FontOne font and one color should be used throughout the document. Font size between 10-12 point (font size will vary depending on the font you choose, the same applies to the size of your margins). Differentiate section headers, selectively use different types of highlighting text. Serif fonts are easier to read than sans-serif fonts. Google those font styles if you are not familiar with these font styles. Times New Roman has been popular, but doesn’t allow the letters to blend together in some cases. Popular fonts:
Grammar, spelling, typosNo grammatical or spelling errors No personal pronouns should be used (I, me, my etc.) Unless necessary, avoid definite and indefinite articles such as, a, an, the, in descriptions All information is delivered in bulleted action-word statements Elements of a Resume
Your name as you want to be referred to professionally (Jon Baker, Jonathan Baker, Jon E. Baker) and formatted to stand out appropriately using larger font, bold, etc. Current address and home/permanent address (if looking for employment in that area) Phone number with area code, cell phone is best. Voicemail should be set up so that your name is stated to indicate to employers that they have the right phone number. Email address (professional addresses only) LinkedIn profile link if your account is up-to-date (optional) Example 1: Example 2: First Name Last Name, PhD 1324 W. Wisconsin Ave | Milwaukee, WI 53233 Objective or summary of qualificationsObjectiveA clear objective helps focus on select information. Although you may wish to make your objective broad, do not make it so broad that it says nothing. If you are pursuing employment in more than one field, simply create different objectives for each field and job application. There should only be one objective per resume. Also, remember to omit personal pronouns like I, me, and my. Your career objective should answer the question, “What do I want to do?” Is it for graduate school, a part-time job, an internship, a professional position after graduation, a scholarship? Make sure your objective is clear. Example: Seeking a summer internship in a communications related field to utilize skills in organization, public speaking, and media communication. Summary of QualificationsAnother option, instead of having an objective, is to have a “summary of qualifications”. A Summary of Qualifications should summarize your resume and accomplishments much like an introduction might summarize a book. You could also think of this as a "tagline" for yourself and the rest of the resume will have the supporting information for your "advertisement". You can use this space to match your accomplishments to the qualifications of the job to which you are applying. These should be written in the third person, not using "I" or "me" throughout, and should provide the top items that set you apart as a candidate. Think of the top three or four things that highlight you as a candidate and differentiate you from the other candidates in the pool. If you speak other languages, you could highlight it here. Additionally, if you are from abroad, your work-authorization status may be mentioned in order to reduce confusion with prospective employers. Example 1: Personable and motivated entry-level marketing professional with experience in both non-profit and for-profit environments. Skilled in marketing plan design and implementation. Efficient presentation and communication skills acquired through student leadership positions. Example 2:
EducationFor each degree-conferring institution beyond high school:
Additional/Optional items to include:
Example: Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, May 20xx GPA: 3.207/4.0 High School InformationIf you are a first year or sophomore student, having high school information is acceptable on your resume. Once you have enough experiences during your college years, we recommend all high school information be removed. Transfer StudentsDo not list schools from which you did not receive a degree. ExperienceThis part of your resume may include several sections such as: Career Related, Related (or) Relevant Experience, Work Experience, Additional Work Experience, Internship Experience, Volunteer Experience, Campus Involvement, Service, Leadership, Activities Career Related or Related or Relevant Experience: really any area in which you may have significant experience and is related to your career goal, even remotely. Additional Work Experience: use this to list jobs you have had to show consistency, longevity, or just simply that you know how to work. Sometimes this section does not include bulleted action word statements because what you are doing may be obvious such as Bartender. Briefly describe for each position:
Example: Office and Employer Relations Assistant
List your most recent experiences first, and your oldest experiences last. If your most career-related experience was a year ago or more and is listed towards the bottom of your resume create a new section to highlight that experience. The section can be titled many things such as career-related experience, related experience, relevant experience or any title which groups your most significant experiences related to the position together. Optional ElementsCourseworkCourses you took related to the position you are applying for can be included on your resume. List the title of the course (course numbers are not necessary). Include the semester and year taken. Example: Computer Literacy in Business (Spring 20xx), Media Writing (Spring 20xx), Public Relations Principles (Fall 20xx), Media Law (Fall 20xx), Ethical Problems of Mass Communications (Fall 20xx) Class projectsIf you have little experience related to your career objective, think about class projects that demonstrate your skills. List these just like a position with the name of the project, name of the class, Marquette University, and semester (Fall 20XX). Then list the objectives, tasks and accomplishments of the project just like you would list bulleted action statements under each position. Example: General Psychology Course, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI “Be Well Marquette” Class Project, Spring 20xx
Honors, activities, leadership, or special skillsFront load these with those most important or most pertinent to your objective (career goal). You may want to use specific headings such as professional organizations, computer skills, and leadership positions. Include any honors, scholarships or recognition awards you have received. If you were actively involved in any clubs, teams or committees while in college, those may be included also. If you want to include more details about these activities, use the guidelines from the Experience section and make it a complete section. InterestsThe trend is to keep away from any extraneous information that does not clearly connect to your career goal. However, if you are applying for a position in which you have experience through a hobby or leisure activity, you may want to consider adding it to your resume. For example, if you are applying for a forest ranger position and you enjoy hiking in the wilderness, include it by stating: Skilled in all-terrain hiking, camping and navigating. What you need to ask yourself is, “Will this information help the potential employer learn more about how well I can do the job?” If your answer is yes, then be sure to include the information. Technology/ computer / language skillsMore employers are asking about these skills, and many assume college students today are very tech-savvy. Many of you do not have industry-specific tech skills, but if you do, then those need to be highlighted. It may be that you do not have space for a separate "technology" section, in which case a "Computer skills include ..." line could be added to your profile, or you could address the skills in the description of the job in which you used them. You do not need to list Microsoft Office programs or other commonly used applications. You should include your level of proficiency for each skill, such as Advanced or Intermediate. Writing Bulleted Action Statements
Bulleted action statements are concise phrases describing your skills, accomplishments, or attributes related to your work experiences. These phrases begin with action words. The bullet point in front of these concise statements serve as visual landmarks to aid the reader in navigating the document quickly. Steps to Write a Bulleted Action Statement:
Action Statement Writing Tips:
Action Words
Transferrable SkillsPlanning and Organizational Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Human Resources and Interpersonal Skills
Oral and Written Communication Skills
Research and Investigation Skills
Computer Skills
Personal Skills
Creative Skills
Leadership/Management Skills
SamplesSample 1 - EXAMPLE FOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTSExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
Objective Section
OBJECTIVE Obtain a Resident Assistant position at Marquette University Education Section
EDUCATION Marquette University - Milwaukee, WI May 20xxBachelor of Arts GPA: 3.87/4.00 Major: Undecided Awards and Scholarships: Dean’s List (Fall 20xx), Marquette Ignatius/ Magis Scholarship Relevant Experience Section
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Resident Hall Association, Marquette University - Milwaukee, WI Sep. 20xx– Present
Work Experience Section
WORK EXPERIENCE Brew Café, Marquette University - Milwaukee, WI Sep. 20xx– Present
Rhee Household - Oak Creek, WI Jan. 20xx–Aug. 20xx
Involvement Section
INVOLVEMENT Midnight Run, Marquette University - Milwaukee, WI Sep. 20xx– Present
Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Marquette University - Milwaukee, WI Sep. 20xx– Present
Sample 2 - EXAMPLE WITH LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCEExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name 1324 W. Wisconsin Avenue | Milwaukee, WI 53233 | 414-288-7423 | Objective Section
OBJECTIVE Entry level corporate communications role with a focus on writing, editing and social media Education Section
EDUCATION Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI Santa Clara University - Casa de la Solidaridad, San Salvador, El Salvador, Summer 20xx
Related Experience Section
RELATED EXPERIENCE Assurant Health, Milwaukee, WI
Ott Writing Center – Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Office of Advancement – Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Leadership Experience Section
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Orientation Staff – Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Activities Section
ACTIVITIES Sigma Tau Delta, Member (English Honor Society), Aug. 20xx – Present Public Relations Student Society of America, Member, Aug. 20xx – Present Marquette Tribune, News Reporter, Jan. 20xx – May 20xx Volunteer Experience Section
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Community Day of Service, Volunteer, Annually 20xx – Present Sample 3 - EXAMPLE WITH SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONSExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name 1324 W. Wisconsin Ave. | Milwaukee, WI 53233 | 414-288-7423 | Summary of Qualifications Section
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Related Experience Section
SAINT JOHN’S ON THE LAKE NURSING HOME, Milwaukee, WI September 20xx-Present Certified Nursing Assistant
LUKE’S HOSPITAL, Milwaukee, WI Summer 20xx Cardiac Telemetry Unit Nurse Intern
Education Section
EDUCATION MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, Milwaukee, WI May 20xx Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing GPA: 3.435/4.0 Clinical Experience Section
STUDENT CLINICAL EXPERIENCE Childbearing Family Nursing Nursing of Communities Nursing Care of Adults Family Centered Nursing of Children Nursing Care of Acutely Ill Adults
Additional Experience
Desk Receptionist Receptionist Professional Affiliations and Additional Skills
MU National Student Nurse Association, Treasurer Wisconsin Nurses Association, MemberSigma Theta Tau (Nursing Honor Society), Member CPR/AED Certified through American Heart Association Sample 4 - EXAMPLE WITH AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPSExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
Objective Section
OBJECTIVE Seeking admission into a Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences Strengths Section
STRENGTHS
Education Section
EDUCATION MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, Milwaukee, WI May 20xx Awards and Scholarships:Dean's List (Spring 20xx, Fall 20xx)Biomedical Sciences Department Scholarship Marquette Ignatius/Magis Scholarship Hoyt Scholarship Relevant Experience Section
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE PHYSASSIST SCRIBES INC, Milwaukee, WI October 20xx-Present
AURORA MEDICAL CENTER, Milwaukee, WI August 20xx-Present
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, Milwaukee, WI Fall 20xx
Activities Section
ACTIVITIES KAPPA DELTA SORORITY, Marquette University
SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN, Milwaukee, WI
Sample 5 - EXAMPLE WITH RELATED EXPERIENCEExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name 1324 W. Wisconsin Ave - Milwaukee, WI 53233 - 414.288.7423 - Objective Section
OBJECTIVE Seeking a summer internship in a communications related field to utilize and develop personal skills in organization, public speaking and media communication Education Section
EDUCATION MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, Milwaukee WI Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies May 20xx Minor: Business Administration Relevant Coursework: Related Experience Section
RELATED EXPERIENCE M MAGAZINE, Milwaukee, WI
MARQUETTE WIRE, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
ASSURANT HEALTH, Milwaukee, WI
Activities Section
ACTIVITIES ABBOTSFORD HALL COUNCIL, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Computer Skills Section
COMPUTER SKILLS Advanced knowledge of Adobe Illustrator Sample 6 - EXAMPLE WITH RELEVANT COURSEWORKExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
Summary of Qualifications Section
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Education Section
EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Minor in French May 20xx Universite Catholiqué De Lyon, France September-June 20xx
Relevant Coursework Section
RELEVANT COURSEWORK Organizational Behavior (Spring 20xx) , Industrial Psychology (Fall 20xx), Social Psychology (Fall 20xx) Management Experience Section
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE Student Manager
Leadership Experience Section
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE President
Additional Experience Section
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE Sales Associate
Student Ambassador
Activities Section
Volunteer, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Milwaukee, WI May 20xx-September 20xx Sample 7 - EXAMPLE WITH CLASS PROJECTSExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name Objective Section
OBJECTIVE Seeking Full-Time Manufacturing Engineering position at Briggs & Stratton Technical Skills Section
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Education Section
EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering | MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | Milwaukee, WI | May 20xx Engineering Experience Section
ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE Mechanical Engineer | PENTAIR CO-OP | Milwaukee, WI | September 20xx-August 20xx
Relevant Class Projects
RELEVANT CLASS PROJECTS Drafting Project | ENGINEERING DISCOVERY | Marquette University | Spring 20xx
Final Design Project | ENGINEERING DISCOVERY | Marquette University | Fall 20xx
Work Experience Section
WORK EXPERIENCE Marketing Design Assistant | ALUMNI MEMORIAL UNION | Milwaukee, WI | October 20xx-April 20xx
Campus Involvement Section
CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT Engineers Without Borders, Member | MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | Fall 20xx-Present
Hackathon | MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | Fall 20xx-Present
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Member | MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | Spring 20xx-Present
Sample 8 - EXAMPLE WITH STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCEExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name Permanent Address: 2808 N. 79th Street • Des Plaines, IL 60016 • (414) 323-1237 • Education Section
EDUCATION Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI June 20xx Student Teaching Experience Section
STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE Student Teacher-First Grade, Lincoln Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI Jan. 20xx-Present
Student Observation Experience Section
STUDENT OBSERVATION EXPERIENCE Field Experience-Fifth Grade, Catholic East Elementary School, Milwaukee, WI Fall 20xx Field Experience-Eighth Grade, Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI Spring 20xx Field Experience-Fourth Grade, Escuela Vieau School, Milwaukee, WI Fall 20xx
Other Related Experience
OTHER RELATED EXPERIENCE Career Intern, Marquette University Career Services Center, Milwaukee, WI Aug. 20xx-Dec. 20xx
Service Learner, Penfield Children’s Center, Milwaukee, WI Spring 20xx
Tutor, Cathedral Center, Inc., Milwaukee, WI Fall 20xx
Lifeguard, Des Plaines Park & Rec, Des Plaines, IL Summers 20xx-20xx
Leadership Experience & Extracurricular Activities Section
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Peer Advisor, Marquette College of Education Peer Education Advising Resource Program Aug. 20xx-Present Your resume to-do listExpand all | Collapse all CONTACT INFORMATION
OBJECTIVE OR SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
CONTENT
Each experience includes:
EXPERIENCE - FORMAT
ADDITIONAL CONTENT (OPTIONAL)
OVERALL APPEARANCE
GRAMMAR, SPELLING, TYPOS
Cover Letter WritingEffective cover letters convey a sense of purpose, project enthusiasm for the position or program, and demonstrate your knowledge of the employer or graduate program’s goals and needs. A positive first impression requires that your cover letter be neat and concise, containing no errors in spelling or grammar. Each cover letter should be customized to fit the position for which you are applying. You will want to customize your cover letter depending on its purpose. Possible reasons for sending a cover letter:
No matter what your reason for sending a cover letter, be sure It contains the following information:
Suggested Cover Letter StructureExpand all | Collapse all Heading
Use the same heading from your resume on the top of your cover letter Beginning Paragraph
Middle Paragraph(s)
Final Paragraph
Closing
SAMPLE 1Expand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name 1324 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI, 53233 | 414-288-7423 | Date + Name, Title, Organization, and Address of Recipient
March xx, 20xx Hiring Manager Alma Center, Inc.2568 N. Martin Luther King Dr.Milwaukee, WI 53212Dear Hiring Manager: Beginning Paragraph, Middle Paragraphs, and Final Paragraph
This letter is in regards to my application for the Case Manager-Life Skills Specialist position currently available with the Alma Center, as posted on the company website. Based on the position description given, I am confident that my skills and abilities are a good fit for this organization. The position of Case Manager-Life Skills Specialist at the Alma Center is very appealing to me for a number of reasons. The mission of the organization, to eliminate violence and abuse in intimate relationships, matches my personal values. One of my core beliefs is that peaceful interaction is always the best path, and being a part of an organization that also holds those beliefs is something I value highly. Having the opportunity to work with fathers to foster this belief directly is another strong point of interest regarding this position. My background is in working with children and teenagers at an environmental risk, and working with the Alma Center would provide me the opportunity to assist this client base, albeit in a different manner than in the past. The traits I hold match very closely with those you seek in a Case Manager-Life Skills Specialist. Through my internships I have had the opportunity to work in case management at South Shore Teen Rehabilitation Center, with public welfare programs. These skills are all important traits for any counselor to have, and especially for a Life Skills Counselor. During my time at South Shore, I handled numerous case files, working with teenagers to overcome drug and alcohol addictions. This experience taught me the value of remaining open-minded and compassionate while maintaining a positive attitude, as without those aspects, the clients would not be able to receive the aid they required. I feel that my experience and strong desire make me an excellent candidate for the position of Case Manager-Life Skills Specialist. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you in the near future. If you have any questions regarding my documents or qualifications, please contact me at 414-288-7423 or through email at . Thank you for your time and consideration. Closing
Sincerely, First Name Last Name (in script if sending electronically) First Name Last Name SAMPLE 2Expand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name 1324 W. Wisconsin Ave ● Milwaukee, WI, 53233 ● 414-288-7423 ● Date + Name, Title, Organization, and Address of Recipient
February x, 20xxMs. Patricia DavisVice President of Sales, National Firm123 Technology DriveMilwaukee, WI 53212 Dear Ms. Davis: Beginning Paragraph, Middle Paragraphs, and Final Paragraph
I would like to be considered for the Proposal Writer role, which I learned about through your posting on Marquette University’s Career Manger system. This May I will be graduating from Marquette University with a degree in Writing Intensive English. I feel that National Firm would be the ideal place to apply my writing skills to a business setting. The following examples demonstrate how my educational background and professional experience make me an exceptional candidate for this position. While working as a Peer Tutor at the Ott Writing Center, I partnered with students across all majors to achieve their writing goals. Being able to switch from creative prose to explaining how semiconductors work in a matter of minutes enhanced my ability to switch tasks quickly and work in a dynamic and often ambiguous environment. Additionally, as part of this role, I successfully completed advanced training in editing and listening. All of these skills will help me to effectively compose proposals for National Firm. Furthermore in my current role as a Communications Intern at Assurant Health, I craft a variety of written materials including product guides for customers and internal memorandums for the intranet. These projects require me to work collaboratively with representatives from the legal, sales and public relations teams to turn thoughts into final products. For each project, I listen to each department’s requirements, synthesize this information into written form and then organize it into an aesthetically pleasing format. These experiences have taught me value of teamwork, flexibility and attention to detail, and I hope they will convince you to learn more about me in an interview. Additional details regarding my qualifications can be found in the attached resume. I can be reached on my cell phone at (414) 288-7423 or via email at . I will call to follow up on this letter within the next week. Thank you for considering me for this position. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Closing
Sincerely, First Name Last Name (in script if sending electronically) First Name Last Name ReferencesReference
Choosing Your References
After They Have Agreed
Reference ListFor each reference you should list their:
When You Accept Your New PositionAlways follow up with your references when you have accepted the position. Send them a thank you note telling them about your new opportunity. SAMPLEExpand all | Collapse all Header Section
First Name Last Name 1324 W. Wisconsin Ave. • Milwaukee, WI 53233 • 414-288-7423 • References Section
References Dr. Sally Wilcox Professor for one class and my curriculum advisor for three years. Dr. Ken Smiley Professor of my advanced seminar course and advisor to my international relations project. Mr. Jordan Jameson Supervisor and trainer for my Department of Intelligence internship. Ms. Angelique Brown My supervisor and mentor for working with troubled teens. You can have your individual questions, concerns, and goals addressed by scheduling an appointment. |