Preparing Resume Cover Letters - Rutgers University

Quick Job Search GuideRESUME WRITINGIt’s no secret that the resume is an important tool in the job search process. It can beuseful in helping you obtain interviews for competitive part-time, summer, or internshippositions. Below are some suggestions to make it easier to put your resume together.RESUME BUILDERResume Builder is an interactive program available through RaptorLink,which will help you design and format a professional looking resume.Students can choose from a variety of targeted resume templates thatbest showcase their qualifications and experiences.THE BASICSs Target your resume. Research the field you are entering, know thekey qualifications and skills for the position and include them in yourresume.s Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments and jobresponsibilities.s Unless you are a traditional freshman or sophomore, do not list highschool information.s Give your resume visual appeal – plenty of white space, use of boldfacing, attractive fonts.s Bullet format vs. large paragraphs will invite people to read yourresume.s Use 8 ½ x 11 inch paper and 10 to 12 point font size.s One page is all you need and all anyone wants to read!ContactInformationYour name, address, one phone number and e-mail address appear atthe top of your resume.ObjectiveAn objective tells the employer what your target job is or what skills youhave to offer. Most employers prefer an objective, but there can besituations where it is best to omit the objective. If you have more thanone objective, it is recommended to create more than one resume.A Good Objective: is concise and to the point; states your immediatecareer goals and skills you possess which relate to the job; has adirect relationship to the employer’s needs; never uses “I” or “me”8 /RESUME WRITINGEducationList colleges, with city/state, in reverse chronological order. Includegraduation date (or expected date), major, minor/concentration,degree(s), honors, and academic accomplishments. Grade pointaverage is optional, but you should include it if it is a 3.0 or over.Education should be placed toward the beginning of your resume if youare a recent graduate. As your experience broadens, your educationsection should move towards the bottom of your resume and includeonly essential information (such as college, degree, major, date ofgraduation).RESUME CRITIQUEThe Career Center offers a resume critique service to students andalumni. E-mail your resume to careercenter@camden.rutgers.edu ordrop it off at the Career Center. Your resume will be critiqued within24 – 48 hours.

Resume Sample 1Resume Sample 2Rutgers University-CamdenRESUME WRITING / 9

Resume Sample 3Resume Sample 4Quick Job Search Guide10 / RESUME WRITING

Rutgers University-CamdenCOVER LETTERDO:DON’T:Send a cover letter with every resumeAddress to just a title or departmentAddress letter to a specific person and titleCreate a separate cover letter for each positionLimit to 1 page containing 3 paragraphsSign your nameBe pushy or assumingMass produceHave your cover letter critique by the Career CenterELEMENTS OF A COVER LETTER (WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE)COVER LETTER/ 11

Quick Job Search Guide(Signature here)12 / CAREER CENTER SERVICES

COVER LETTER DO: Send a cover letter with every resume Address letter to a specific person and title Create a separate cover letter for each position Limit to 1 page containing 3 paragraphs Sign your name Have your cover letter critique by the Career Center DON’T: Address to just a title or department Be