Resumes, CVs, and Cover Letters
Your resume should be ONE PAGE, with clear headings that highlight your relevant experiences (listed in reverse chronological order), skills, and accomplishments. Use ATS-friendly formatting to ensure your resume is easily scanned by applicant tracking systems. This concise format helps employers quickly see why you’re a good fit, making a strong first impression.
Your resume should have clear headings that cover the following areas:
The main heading should include your Full Name, local Phone number, professional email, and current City, State.
(eg: YOUR FULL NAME | Aliso Viejo, CA | (818) 555-1212 | yyodaa.gmailz.com)
College name, location, Degree & Concentration with month/year of graduation (or “expected graduation”). You may also include related coursework, research, class projects, and Learning Clusters (“Team Research Project”) in this section. (Listing your GPA is optional.)
List your most recent and relevant work experience in reverse chronological order (current/most recent at the top). Volunteer work, unpaid position and part-time jobs count! Describe your work using bullet points with skill/action words and metrics/numbers that highlight accomplishments. Past tense for previous work, present tense for current work, third person (no “I” or “my”). Thoughtfully craft description bullet points in this format: Power Verb + How you completed the action = Results & Outcomes. Example: “Created marketing materials and publicized events through social media, resulting in a 25% increase in program attendance.”.
Highlight honors, leadership, school activities, volunteer, service, and relevant hobbies. Include Professional Development, Community Service, Memberships, International Travel, etc. List in reverse chronological order.
Emphasize skills, activities or interests that might appeal to your targeted employers. Include languages, platforms or programs you know (eg – Python, Excel, Slack, Tableau, MacOS, Microsoft, etc.)
A cover letter introduces you, personalizes your resume, and aims to secure an interview. It highlights key skills and experiences relevant to the job, demonstrates your writing ability, and shows that you’ve researched the employer and field. Keep it to one page to ensure clarity and focus, making it easier for hiring managers to quickly assess your qualifications and interest. Always include a cover letter unless explicitly told otherwise. If limited to uploading one document online, combine your resume and cover letter into a single PDF.
A Curriculum Vitae (CV), which means “course of life” in Latin, is a detailed document that outlines the full history of your academic and professional journey, including achievements, publications, and awards. Unlike a resume, a CV has no page limit, allowing for a more comprehensive presentation of your qualifications. For early career professionals, a CV typically ranges from 2 to 4 pages.
A CV is essential when applying to graduate school, academic positions, or roles in science or research-oriented industries. It emphasizes academic accomplishments and includes detailed information on your research background, presentations, publications, committee memberships, and other relevant experiences. In some European countries, such as the UK, a CV is standard for all job applications.
Applying for federal employment and internship opportunities can seem daunting, with challenges like navigating USA Jobs, understanding job announcements, completing application questionnaires and essays, writing a federal resume, and handling background checks and security clearances. But don’t let these hurdles deter you from pursuing incredible opportunities!
Don’t forget to list related courses, labs, fieldwork, and projects! Use the SUA Course Catalog descriptions and review your courses and labs syllabi for Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities gained and applied throughout your educational experiences!
Discover how to successfully apply for federal government positions with the help of this excellent GoGovernment resource!
After an interview, it’s highly recommended to send a thank-you letter within 24 hours to reaffirm your interest in the position and the organization. This prompt gesture can set you apart from other candidates.
Sending a thank you note after an interview serves a few important purposes:
- Expressing Gratitude: It shows appreciation for the opportunity to interview, which is courteous and reflects well on your professionalism.
- Reinforcing Interest: It reaffirms your interest in the position and the company, potentially keeping you fresh in the interviewer’s mind as they make decisions.
- Highlighting Qualifications: It gives you another chance to emphasize key points discussed during the interview or to clarify any answers that you felt needed more elaboration.
- Building Relationships: It contributes to building a positive relationship with the interviewer and leaves a good impression, which can be beneficial for future interactions or opportunities.
Overall, sending a thank you note is a simple yet effective way to leave a lasting positive impression after an interview.
References are individuals who can speak to your professional abilities and character, typically contacted by employers to verify your qualifications. Letters of Recommendation are formal written endorsements from individuals who know you well, providing detailed support for your skills and achievements. Both serve to validate your suitability for a position or program.
Employers often request references before making a hiring decision. References may be requested as a part of an online job application, or at the conclusion of an interview. It’s important to have 3-5 individuals ready who are willing to provide a strong, supportive statement about you. References should be people that know you and your work product well: professors, supervisors, managers, or mentors who can attest to your skills and qualifications.
Suggested Format: Prepare a separate document with reference information, using the same header as your resume and cover letter. List at least three references, and include their contact information (name, job title, company, email, phone number).
Before listing someone as a reference, always ask for their permission. Ensure you have their up-to-date contact information, and help them prepare by sharing your current resume, cover letter, and the job description.
Letters of recommendation are formal endorsements written by someone who is familiar with your work, such as a professor, supervisor, or mentor. They provide a detailed evaluation of your skills, achievements, and suitability for a job or academic program. These letters are often required to offer a more comprehensive assessment of your qualifications.
Typically, letters of recommendation are written on letterhead and signed by the recommender. They are either submitted directly to the employer or institution or included in your application package.
To ensure a strong letter, give your recommender plenty of advance notice—ideally 4-6 weeks, but at least 2-3 weeks. When asking, consider phrasing your request as: “Would you be able to write a strong letter of recommendation for me?”. Help your recommenders prepare in advance by sharing your current resume or CV, cover letter, and the position description with them.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software used by employers to streamline the hiring process by automatically filtering, organizing, and ranking job applications based on specific criteria. Many (if not most!) companies in the USA are now using ATS software in their recruitment and hiring process. This software collects, sorts and ranks the resumes the company receives for open roles. Make sure you have an ATS friendly resume, so you are not screened out!
Using standard fonts in a resume ensures that an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can accurately read and parse the text, reducing the risk of formatting errors that could cause important information to be overlooked or misinterpreted. Some of the best fonts for ATS-friendly resumes are Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia, and Times New Roman. These fonts are widely recognized and compatible with most ATS systems.
The easiest format for an ATS to read is a one column, reverse-chronological style. This format emphasizes your work experience by putting it on top of the page. Then, it sorts your experience from most to least relevant. This format is also the most popular among recruiters.
Including photos or graphics in a resume can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which are designed to read and parse text. These non-text elements may not be recognized or processed correctly, potentially leading to formatting issues or causing important content to be missed.
Although in some countries, a photo is often included on a Resume/CV, this is NOT best practice for applying to positions in the United States because it can lead to potential bias and is generally discouraged by employers who focus on skills and experience rather than appearance. Additionally, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which may not process images correctly, potentially causing issues with your application. Post a nice headshot on LinkedIn instead!
