Resumes & Cover Letters
Resume Basics
Resumes highlight and capture your experience(s), education, and skill(s). Your resume acts as a first impression piece, allowing you to introduce your qualifications to the employer, and it is an important component in landing the interview.
Tips
- Remember the following words when constructing your resume: concise, consistent and relevant.
- Recommended length of resumes is 1-2 pages. For most undergraduate students, we recommend one page of content. Two pages is acceptable in Education, Government, Healthcare, and Nonprofit industries, and for experienced individuals.
- Avoid use of templates to optimize the space on your page. It is easier to start with a blank Word document, where you can add the content first, and then go back to adjust formatting and visual appeal. Reminder: Font can be as small as 10 point and margins as small as .5.
- Use simple font styles, i.e., Cambria, Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial, and Calibri
- Please do not use headshots or professional photos on your resume, as your resume acts as an objective document. Headshots and professional photos are more fitting on platforms such as LinkedIn and Handshake.
Cover Letter Basics
The purpose of a cover letter is to convey motivation and passion for a position of interest. It is an opportunity for you to elaborate on your experiences and skills, as mentioned in your resume. While your resume acts as the objective piece, your cover letter can be subjective, with use of personal pronouns. Be sure to update and personalize your cover letter for each role you are applying to and remember to utilize positive and confident language.
Tips
- Use the same font style as your resume for means of consistency.
- Include up to one page of content using block style (e.g., no paragraph indents, left aligned on page).
- Address the letter to a specific person in the organization or utilize "Dear Hiring Manager.” Please avoid use of “To Whom It May Concern.”
- Attach the cover letter and resume as separate documents when emailing your documents and write a brief message referencing your attached materials
Cover Letter Outline
The content below demonstrates the standard cover letter format and provides an outline of content to include:
xxx W. High Street
West Chester, PA 19383 (Your Address)
Month xx, 20xx (Today's Date)
Ms. Breanna Jones
Human Resources Manager
ABC Company
500 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19118 (Employer's Address)
Dear Ms. Jones:
Opening Paragraph (Length: 2-4 short sentences): PROVOKE INTEREST
Use an opening sentence that clearly and concisely states your reason for writing.
Mention the position about
which you are corresponding. There is room for creativity but be appropriate. Use
an "Interest Creating
Sentence" to:
- Refer to the employer's job description or company goal/mission
- Show your knowledge of the employer and their needs
- If someone referred you to the opportunity and/or you have permission to use someone's
name when
reaching out to the employer, do so here
Give information to show your specific interest in the company. Similar to a thesis
statement, identify why
your unique skills, education, and related experiences would make you an asset.
Body of the Letter (Length: 1-2 short paragraphs): STIR CURIOSITY
Share examples of key educational, work, and extracurricular experiences that demonstrate
your strengths,
competencies and abilities. Align your skills and experiences with the needs of the
employer as stated in the
job description. Demonstrate what you can contribute in this role. Select items on
your resume that are
directly related to the position or organization and expand on them. Do not simply
repeat what is on your
resume! Researching both the position and company will facilitate the writing of this
second/third
paragraph(s). Give details of your background that will show the reader why you should
be considered as a
candidate and how you can add value.
Closing Paragraph (Length: 2-3 short sentences): REITERATE GOAL
Take time to thank the employer for looking over your application materials, and restate
your interest in the
position and/or organization. Include a "confidence statement" as a summary without
introducing new
information (e.g., I am confident that my customer service experiences and marketing
training have me well positioned to contribute to your team). Also, express your willingness
to follow up with more information if
needed, and provide your phone number and email address for contact. Refer the reader
to your enclosed
resume or other materials.
Sincerely,
Rammy W. Chester (Type your name under your handwritten signature)
Document Feedback
Once you have created and/or updated your document to align with best practices, we recommend having it review by the office. First impressions matter, so it is important to put your best foot forward!
Resume Review Options:
- Get instant feedback through Big Resumeon Big Interview
- Schedule an appointment via Handshake
- Come by Drop-In Hours – no appointment needed. Hours vary by semester, click here for the current schedule.
Cover Letter Review Options:
- Schedule an appointment, through Handshake account, to meet with a staff or student staff member.
- Come by Drop-In Hours – no appointment needed
- Email your cover letter to cdc@wcupa.edu (note that emailing is not an option for resumes) and include the position description for the opportunity to which you are specifically writing your cover letter.
Handshake Process
Document Upload
Students and alumni can upload necessary documents to their Handshake account by selecting their profile in the upper right-hand corner and clicking ‘Documents’. Here you will be able to add Resumes, Cover Letters, Transcripts, or Other Documents that may be requested by an employer for an application. We encourage you to upload files in PDF format.
Documents uploaded to Handshake will NOT be automatically reviewed in the system. Please see 'Document Feedback' section above for details on how to get your document(s) reviewed.