COMPILING A RESUME AND COVER LETTER

How do you paint yourself desirable on one to two sheets of paper?  A potential employer may only spend mere seconds with your resume before deciding whether or not to consider you for a job.  Scary?  Perhaps it’s so scary that you are afraid to even apply for internships with such a sparse resume.  Well, absolutely do not let this be the case.  Everyone begins with a seemingly “lousy” resume, but you have to start somewhere.

As a current student or recent graduate, the most useful type of resume is typically a chronological resume.  The elements that are covered in this form are typically ordered:

1. Contact Information

- In school, you may want to use your parents’ address if yours changes     frequently.

- Be sure to include your phone number and email.

2. Education

- Unless you attended an ivy league institution or the most prestigious school in your field of study, always list your major before the school you attended.

- Include the date of your expected graduation.

- Disclose your cumulative GPA and your major GPA (if it is higher than your cumulative). 

3. Internships

- If you've had previous experience in something related to your area study, keep it towards the top of your resume.

4. Non-Ind. Tech. Related Employment

- This is the section where you'll list any recent or significant work experience.

- While not immediately relevant, note how these jobs developped generally useful charateristics.  For example, time management, multi-tasking, social skills, management skills, etc.

5. Honors and/or Notable Extracurricular Activities

- If you have participated in collegiate level sports or academic societies or honor societies, list these here.

6. Skills

- List various Microsoft Office applications in which you are profficient.

- If you are fluent in any language besides English, definitely include that fact in this section.

7. References

- If a short list of two or three references will fit neatly at the end of an already started page, list names, occupations, relationships, and contact information for each one of your references.

- If the information you have already placed in your resume leaves no room at the bottom of the first or second page, simply not that "References are available upon request."  And of course, have these references ready to hand over if this is the case.

If you don’t have any information to provide in some of these categories, don’t worry!  Consider all of the possible things that you could enter under these categories, and then take time to pick the elements of which you are most proud or from which you learned the most.  For instance, say you spent a summer delivering pizzas.  Perhaps it’s not the most glamorous job to flaunt on a resume, but if it taught you useful people skills and the importance of time management, then it was absolutely a valuable work experience!  Clearly it didn’t teach you much about working in the field of Industrial Technology, but again, everyone has to start somewhere.  Eventually, you will hopefully have a plethora of more relevant experience to fill your resume. 

Worst case scenario, say you really don’t have much of anything to express on a resume besides the fact you are seeking a college degree in a rigorous field (which is an accomplishment to be proud of in itself, never forget this!), don’t lose hope or confidence.  There is one more element to a resume that allows applicants to explain themselves a bit more personally than an objective list of jobs – the COVER LETTER. 

A cover letter should be stapled on top of any resume you submit.  Include your contact information, the recipient company's contact information, and then address the letter to the individual to whom you are submitting your resume directly.  In well written prose, the applicant should then acknowledge the position for which they are applying, why the job and the company are good fits with your qualifications, and then briefly what you plan to offer and learn through this work experience.  If you have never held a job, definitely admit that you are enthusiastic and prepared to learn the responsibilities needed in a professional environment.  Also perhaps mention how your devotion to school has developed your sense of discipline.  Remember, any shortcoming apparent in your resume can be briefly discussed in your resume.  Mostly that this shortcoming is something you are eager to address.  If your GPA is low, emphasize your skills and responsibilities outside of the classroom.  There is always something that can be said to twist a supposed "weakness" into an opportunity to grow!  Take some time to personally accomplish this, and then if an employer does give you an opportunity, absolutely stick by your word!