Create a resume that effectively markets your background, skills, and experiences to others. Enhance your resume by including a cover letter that elaborates on your “why” and showcases your writing ability.
Resume
Your resume is essentially a marketing tool that concisely communicates the value of your experiences, skills, and accomplishments in one document. In the case of a job or internship search, the purpose of your resume is to get you an interview.
Recruiters report spending on average 6-8 seconds scanning a resume.
With that in mind, it’s important to be strategic about what information you include and how you present it.
There are many different resume formats and styles out there, and there is no “perfect” way to write a resume. However, there are certain guidelines to take into account regarding structure, content, and formatting.
Once you are familiar with resumes in general, it is important to tailor your information to the position and industry you are applying for.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a special type of resume traditionally used within the academic, scientific, and research industries.
CVs are much more comprehensive than resumes including earned degrees, work history and experiences, as well as sections dedicated to teaching, research, publications, and presentations. A CV tends to be much more static in nature and is only updated as your accomplishments grow.
Cover Letter
Cover letters are important because they give the hiring manager an understanding of who you are, how you learned about the opportunity, why you are interested in working for the organization, and why you would be a great fit for the position.
The content of your cover letter will expound upon a few key points from your resume that highlight the skills and experiences your potential employer is looking for. Keep in mind that this is also an opportunity to demonstrate your writing ability. Make sure that your writing is cohesive, concise, grammatically correct, and confident in tone.