Writing Resumes and Cover Letters
Topics: Resumes, Cover Letters, Job Search, Materials
Build Your Brand: Getting Noticed on LinkedIn
Topics: Personal Brand, Marketing, Job Search, Networking
Alumni Career Services
Alumni Career Services: Resumes and Cover Letters
Whether you’re getting ready to embark on a job search, or are steadily adding to your professional experience and accomplishments, we recommend keeping your resume updated. As your career evolves and progresses, your resume will evolve and progress as well. Alumni Career Services can help you to market your skills and experience via your resume and cover letters to position you for the next step in your career.
Featured Webinars
Featured Resources
Downloadable Resume Templates
Frequently Asked Questions: Resumes & Cover Letters
Feel free to schedule an appointment with an alumni career consultant for personalized feedback on your current resume, or detailed pointers for starting a new resume. We also regularly offer virtual resume and LinkedIn profile critiques, so be sure to check out our newsletter or Handshake for dates and times.
- Once you have several years of experience, or you have completed an advanced degree, you can move to a two-page resume.
- Add a summary of qualifications at the top of your resume. The summary should provide a high-level view of your career to-date, and provide context for the rest of your resume.
- Move your Education section to the bottom of your resume. Now that you have more experience, you’ll want to highlight your professional accomplishments. Along the same lines, you can consider removing some details from your education, like GPA, scholarships, activities, and coursework.
- When writing your position descriptions, focus on accomplishments rather than tasks. Think about the impact or outcome of your work, and use quantifiable metrics whenever possible.
- Use an updated format and font to give your resume a contemporary look.
- Be sure that your email address is modern – gmail.com is one of the best options. Additionally, include a link to your LinkedIn profile.
- Include only the last 10-15 years of your experience. Most recruiters and hiring manager are most concerned with your recent history, and often your most recent roles speak to your higher-level experiences and skills.
- Remove the dates from your Education section.
During your job search, remember that your documents should indicate that you are a good “fit” for each position to which you apply. Ask yourself how each role has prepared you for your next step, and include the relevant details that “add value” to your candidacy. It’s perfectly acceptable to remove irrelevant roles, or to truncate the job description to minimize the space allotted. Keep in mind that your LinkedIn profile can be much more comprehensive, so include a link so that employers can learn even more about you.