Resume
A resume illustrates the breadth of your experience, providing a brief summary of your qualifications, education, and experiences relevant to your job search objective. The resume and cover letter are used to determine whether or not you will be selected for a job interview. Employers will spend less than 30 seconds reviewing your resume; therefore, the information must be conveyed in a clear, well-organized style.
- Resume Checklist
- Key Action Verbs List
- Use the Skills Profiler to create a list of your skills and match them to job types that use those skills.
- Use the Resume Builder to guide you through each section of a resume. Sign in to HireMason, click on "resources" in the menu bar at the top of the page, and then on Resume Builder.
- Have your resume critiqued by a career counselor or industry advisor
- Attend Resume Clinics and workshops throughout the year. Visit the events calendar for more information.
- See Moving On for more resume tips.
Cover Letter
The cover letter is a standard business letter that accompanies a resume. It illustrates the depth of your experience. Effective cover letters are tailored for the particular job and organization to which you are applying. Taking the time to personalize your cover letter will demonstrate to the employer a level of enthusiasm and interest in their position, and could help you stand out more as a candidate.
- Application Letter—Used to apply for an open position within an organization, which includes pertinent details about your qualifications and requests an interview
- Prospecting Letter/ Letter of Inquiry—Used to contact an employer where no known opening exists to express an interest in the organization and request an opportunity to interview for an appropriate position
- Cover Letter Checklist
- Visit Moving On for descriptions of other letters and see the sidebar for samples.
