Your resume and cover letter are a brief "advertisement" of your skills, knowledge and relevant experience. Their content and appearance are extremely critical as they are your first contact with a potential employer and will determine if you will receive an interview for the job you are seeking. Ideally, your resume and cover letter should emphasize your strong academics while also expressing your uniqueness and individuality. Typically, employers spend less than 15 seconds reviewing your resume before making the decision to consider you for an interview - it is imperative to grab their attention with content and formatting.
Don’t cheat yourself out of your dream job by procrastinating. Don’t wait until you need a finished polished resume or cover letter to start writing it. Producing a quality resume, cover letter or Curriculum Vitae takes time, but it is well worth the investment of time and effort.
Resumes
Resumes often serve as your initial contact with employers and are the most critical item in determining whether or not you will obtain an interview. The document is a brief "advertisement" of your skills, education, and relevant experience. You may need to have several versions of your resume, especially if you are seeking various positions. It should be specific to each type of job you are seeking; a general or generic resume gets far fewer interviews.
See recommended resume formats below:
Resume Sample - Jane Researcher
Cover Letters
The primary purpose of a cover letter is to acquaint the prospective employer with your unique talents, experiences, and skills, and to request an interview to discuss employment possibilities. The cover letter should highlight your resume by identifying how you are qualified for the position and the reasons why it will be to the employer's advantage to hire you. It is valuable to state the reasons for your interest in that particular employer and the position.
Don’t forget about a strong cover letter:
