{"id":11,"date":"2019-05-20T20:18:43","date_gmt":"2019-05-20T20:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/?page_id=11"},"modified":"2025-01-21T16:56:57","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T16:56:57","slug":"writing-resumes-and-cover-letters","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/writing-resumes-and-cover-letters\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing Resumes and Cover Letters"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resume<\/h2>\n\n\n<section class=\"link-group block-container\" >\n        <div class=\"link-group__featured-row\">\n        <div class=\"link-group__featured-inner\">\n            <div class=\"link-group__featured-inner-inner\">\n                <ul class=\"link-group__featured-link\">\n                                            <li class=\"link-group__link-item\">\n                            <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1py1fzpWJo5Quzpx4gxNuRb1mWky17uVoADPmCZgg_mQ\/preview\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    Resume Quick Start Guide (pdf)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li class=\"link-group__link-item\">\n                            <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1wWc77p3YgxC4tXBTguK9MYlln2rBIaRYf7wVAXUj_Pg\/preview\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    Resume Quick Start Guide without examples (gdoc)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                        <\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iDCLANQBRTI\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1916\" height=\"1434\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.21.28-PM.png\" alt=\"Photo of a person holding a resume. The text on the image says &quot;Quick tips for your college resume.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-1040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.21.28-PM.png 1916w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.21.28-PM-300x225.png 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.21.28-PM-1024x766.png 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.21.28-PM-768x575.png 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.21.28-PM-1536x1150.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1916px) 100vw, 1916px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iDCLANQBRTI\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iDCLANQBRTI\">Watch our Quick Tips for Your College Resume video (5:23)<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A resume is a one- or two-page summary highlighting your skills, education, and experience. Some tips:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Past paid positions might not be the best ones to promote. Don\u2019t minimize your volunteer or student organization experience.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use action verbs to describe what you have done. (Use <em>Analyzed<\/em>, not <em>Looked at<\/em>; <em>Created<\/em>, not <em>Made<\/em>; and <em>Implemented<\/em>, not <em>Completed<\/em>.<\/span>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Add your GPA if 3.0 or higher. If an organization doesn\u2019t see your GPA listed, they may assume it is under 3.0.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One or two pages? Generally, most student or recent grad resumes are one page. Not sure about yours? Come and see us.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cover Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n<section class=\"link-group block-container\" >\n        <div class=\"link-group__featured-row\">\n        <div class=\"link-group__featured-inner\">\n            <div class=\"link-group__featured-inner-inner\">\n                <ul class=\"link-group__featured-link\">\n                                            <li class=\"link-group__link-item\">\n                            <a class=\"base-cta-featured\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1AQE9D8l6g4lo4UqKZs8p92HfqklnOkuTSitgMFJh27c\/preview\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    Cover Letter Quick Start Guide including sample letter (gdoc)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol base-cta-featured__arrow\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-arrow.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n                        <\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2VIaEDlMZn8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1910\" height=\"1432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.19.34-PM.png\" alt=\"A hand typing on a keyboard. The text on the image says &quot;Quick tips for writing a cover letter.&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-1039\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.19.34-PM.png 1910w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.19.34-PM-300x225.png 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.19.34-PM-1024x768.png 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.19.34-PM-768x576.png 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/278\/2020\/03\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-23-at-1.19.34-PM-1536x1152.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1910px) 100vw, 1910px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2VIaEDlMZn8\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/2VIaEDlMZn8\">Watch our Quick Tips for Writing a Cover Letter video (6:15).<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A cover letter is no longer than one page and is meant to be a quick snapshot of your experience and skills. Cover these three key focus areas:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong>. Introduce yourself and explain why you are writing. Indicate what position you are applying for and state how you learned of the opening (2-3 sentences).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Why Me?<\/strong> Use this section to make a case for why you\u2019re the best person for the position. Mention two or three related qualifications, achievements, or accomplishments that you think would be of greatest importance to the employer. Be specific and use examples (4-5 sentences, or up to 2 paragraphs).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Closing.<\/strong> Reiterate your interest in the organization\/position. Close by making a specific request for an interview, including how best to reach you. Be positive and enthusiastic. Thank the reader for their time and consideration (2-3 sentences).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Resume Watch our Quick Tips for Your College Resume video (5:23) A resume is a one- or two-page summary highlighting your skills, education, and experience. Some tips: Cover Letter Watch our Quick Tips for Writing a Cover Letter video (6:15). A cover letter is no longer than one page and is meant to be a [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":244,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4191,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11\/revisions\/4191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/career-exploration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}