Skip to main content
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Report a Concern Give Apply Visit
  • Academics
    • Degree Programs at Greater Allegheny
    • Academic Calendars
    • Academic Advising
    • Center for Academic and Career Excellence (ACE)
    • Commencement
    • The Honors Program
    • J. Clarence Kelly Library
    • John H. Gruskin Learning Center
    • New Student Orientation (NSO)
    • Undergraduate Research Opportunities
  • Admissions and Financial Aid
    • Visit Us
    • After Admission
    • Adult Learners
    • First-Year Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment
    • International Students
    • Student Veterans
    • Transfer Students
    • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Contact Admissions and Financial Aid
  • Campus Initiatives
    • The Digital Fluency Project
    • Food Security Initiatives
    • Growing Older
    • Internships: From Campus to Career
    • Sustainability Efforts
    • Travel and Experiential Learning
  • Information For
    • Alumni and Friends
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Visitors
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Outreach and Continuing Education
    • Mon Valley LaunchBox
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Greater Allegheny
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Report a Concern Give Apply Visit
  • Academics
    • Degree Programs at Greater Allegheny
    • Academic Calendars
    • Academic Advising
    • Center for Academic and Career Excellence (ACE)
    • Commencement
    • The Honors Program
    • J. Clarence Kelly Library
    • John H. Gruskin Learning Center
    • New Student Orientation (NSO)
    • Undergraduate Research Opportunities
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • After Admissions
    • Adult Learners
    • First-Year Students
    • Transfer Students
    • International Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment
    • Student Veterans
    • Contact Admissions
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Affordability
    • Contact Student Aid
  • Student Life
    • Student Clubs and Organizations
    • Counseling and Psychological Services
    • Health Services
    • Residence Life
    • University Police and Public Safety
    • Contact Student Affairs
  • Athletics
  • About Us
    • Campus History
    • Campus Initiatives
    • Campus Leadership

Find Information For:

  • Alumni and Friends
  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Visitors
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Outreach and Continuing Education
  • Mon Valley LaunchBox

Helpful Links

  • Events Calendar
  • Closing/Weather Protocol
  • Contact Us
  • IT Help Desk
  • Make a Gift to Greater Allegheny
  • Map
  • PSUAlert
  • University Police and Public Safety

Connect With Us

  • instagram
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • youtube
  • tiktok
  • flickr
  1. Home
  2. Career Services
Person holding red pen over printed document

Resumes, Cover Letters, and References

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
  • Cover letters
  • Correspondences
  • References

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 - Luke Producer 

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: 

Cover Letter Sample 
 

Career Services

  • About Career Services
  • Career Exploration
    • Career Planning Timeline
    • Job Search
    • Salary & Relocation
    • Resumes, Cover Letters, and References
    • Interview Preparation
    • During the Interview
    • After the Interview
    • Graduate School
    • Social Media Presence
  • Career Services for Alumni
  • Meet the Career Services Staff
Visit Us
Schedule a visit
Request Admissions Info
Request Information
Apply to Penn State
Apply Now
Greater Allegheny Virtual Tour
Tour our campus
Map of the campuses of Penn State throughout Pennsylvania highlighting the location of Penn State Greater Allegheny

Penn State Greater Allegheny

Penn State Greater Allegheny, located in McKeesport just 15 miles from Pittsburgh, offers a supportive, close-knit campus community with access to the vast resources of Penn State. As the only Penn State campus to offer a Bachelor in Social Work, it provides unique academic opportunities in a convenient, student-focused environment.
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • youtube
  • tiktok
  • flickr
Give Apply Visit
  • About Us
    • Campus Leadership
    • Campus History
  • Academics
    • Degree Programs at Greater Allegheny
    • Academic Calendars
    • Academic Advising
    • Center for Academic and Career Excellence (ACE)
    • Commencement
    • The Honors Program
    • J. Clarence Kelly Library
    • John H. Gruskin Learning Center
    • New Student Orientation (NSO)
    • Undergraduate Research Opportunities
  • Admissions and Financial Aid
    • Visit Us
    • After You've Been Admitted
    • Adult Learners
    • First-Year Students
    • High School Dual Enrollment
    • International Students
    • Student Veterans
    • Transfer Students
    • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Athletics
  • Student Life
    • Campus Calendar
    • Campus Map
    • Counseling and Psychological Services
    • Current Students
    • Student Organizations
    • Health Services
    • LiveON Greater Allegheny
    • University Police and Public Safety
  • Campus Initiatives
  • Outreach and Continuing Education
  • Contact Us
    • Campus Directory
    • Faculty Directory
    • Staff Directory
Penn State University
4000 University Drive, McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15132 412-675-9000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2025
  • We Are Penn State