How do you know where to start?

A successful job searcher has many qualities and many tools. 3 of those tools are a good resume, a good cover letter, and a good follow up email. Below is a downloadable example of each.

*A word of caution. These are examples, not templates. Templates are difficult to work with and usually detrimental to your ability to create, maintain, and update a resume over time. Take inspiration from these examples and then create your own from scratch.

Also listed are brief explanations of what these documents are and how they fit into your search.

Resume

A resume is really just a one-page ad for a product - your services.

Even with new job search tools like LinkedIn and Handshake, it is still customary (and will be for the foreseeable future) to use a resume. It lets you pitch the best qualities and experience you have to offer without having to verbalize all of it.

All resumes should contain some basics. Your name, contact information, location, education, work experience, and skills. Other information can include volunteer work, research done, papers published, leadership experience, and professional/student organizations you belong to. See the example to get a better idea.

The goal of a good resume is to get you the interview. That’s it. A resume can never get you a job. Just the interview. The only thing that can get you a job...is you.

International students will have some separate items they might need to consider on a resume and in the job search process.

First, be honest and ethical about your situation. While you do not need to put your work authorization on your resume, do realize it will come out in the employment verification process, so best to be upfront about it in the interview process. Being dishonest about work authorization status will result in a rejection letter and can actually be illegal on many applications.

Secondly, don’t let anyone tell you your experience (either academic or work related) from another country should not be on your resume. If it is relevant to your major/career it should absolutely be on your resume. We live in a globally interconnected world. Employers would be thrilled to see global experience.

Cover Letter

A Cover Letter is one of those career tools that almost everyone asks for - and no one will read.

Mostly because it is traditional. Don’t be fooled by the above comment – every employer will look for a Cover Letter.

Including a Cover Letter doesn’t say as much about you as not including a Cover Letter.

Not including a Cover Letter shows a potential employer that you are:

  1. Lazy
  2. Lack interest
  3. Lack professionalism

So why should you include a Cover Letter? Because everyone else will.

A Cover Letter should include a few basics. Your name, contact information, a heading or starting sentence with the company, the job you’re applying for, and the manager’s name if you have it. It should also include a one page sales pitch on why they should interview you or at least look at your resume. Here you can include the best hits from your resume (work experience, education, skills, leadership, etc.). This can also be a great place to mention relevant and positive skills/experiences that relate to the position but that you ran out of space for on your resume.

Thank You Emails

A Thank You email is exactly what it sounds like. You are sending an email thanking someone for their time. Generally for an interview or for the time at a networking event.

You should use a Thank You Email for 3 reasons:

  1. It’s professional courtesy and presents a good image.
  2. It lets you remain “top of mind” after an event or interview. It reminds them who you are.
  3. It’s a great follow up tool.

Ideally within 24 hours or less of the networking event or interview. If that’s not possible, aim for 48 hours. If your event/interview was on a Friday DO NOT wait until Monday to send the email. Send it on Saturday. It shows initiative, time management, and promptness of action.

You can usually call a company’s front desk or mainline and ask for an email address. 9 times out of 10 they will give it to you. If you worked with HR or a recruiter to set up the interview, you could also ask them if they have the manager’s contact information. They usually do.

While ideally, you should have sent it 24-48 hours after your interview or networking event - it’s never too late. Send one now - today. If you haven’t heard back from the company before this, usually a Thank You email will get them to respond with an update.

Permission is not given for any copying, duplication, or reposting of these pages without written authorization. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Contact Curtis Fields for permissions.