COVER LETTERS, RESUMES, APPLICATIONS & SCREENINGS
You found a job that interests you. Now it is time to apply for it.
Resumes
What is a resume?
A resume is a summary of your education, your work experience and your skills. It is considered an essential tool for you to have when you are looking for a job. An employer will read it to decide whether you are suitable for the job they have to offer. Regardless of the type of job offered, it should look professional.
How to write a basic resume
Header: Include your name, address, phone number, email address and links to any employment-related social network accounts, and if applicable, your online portfolio or work-related website. Do not list your social security number or other private information.
Summary: This can be a two- to five-sentence introduction to highlight your skills, interests and the kind of job you want.
Work/volunteer/internship/apprenticeship experience: For each job, volunteer position, internship or apprenticeship you have held, list your title, your employer, their city and state, the dates you worked or volunteered and your main responsibilities. You should list your experiences in order from most recent to earliest.
Education: List each school you have attended or are attending, your completion date, any degrees or certificates you have received, and any awards or accomplishments you earned at the school.
Skills: List all skills you learned through school, extracurricular programs or courses, and job training. These should include both hard skills, like techniques you know, software you can use, machines you can operate, and soft skills, which are non-technical like organizational skills, teamwork, and problem-solving.
RESUME EXAMPLE
Workbook activity: Resume
Start your resume using our basic template. This workbook can be downloaded here.
Portfolios, an alternative resume
Consider putting together a portfolio of your work for potential employers to see. A portfolio is a good way to provide visual evidence of your skills. It could include writing samples, photographs you took or pictures you created, for example. Or your portfolio can be a video of your work or of you completing a task. Use visual aids, infographics or diagrams to highlight your skills, such as problem-solving, organization or attention to detail.
Online professional profile
Build an online professional profile using platforms like LinkedIn, which allow you to showcase your experience, skills, and accomplishments. Utilize the "About" or "Summary" section to provide an overview of your background and highlight key strengths and achievements.
References
As you prepare your resume, create a separate list of your references from school and employers. Employers often ask for a list when they are considering you for a job.
Workbook activity: References
Create a list of references to share with your potential employers once you secure an interview. You should contact each to ask for their permission to be used as your reference. You should also inform them when a potential employer may be reaching out. This workbook can be downloaded here.
Cover letters
What is a cover letter:
A cover letter is a letter to your potential employer that serves as a cover to your resume. It is an introduction and is typically brief, about one page. In it, you should identify who you are, why you are applying for the job and what makes you the most qualified candidate for the position. It also should invite the employer to contact you for an interview. You should customize a cover letter for each job you are interested in and to each employer where you intend to send your resume. Like a resume, it should be professional.
How to write a basic cover letter
- Your name and contact information
- The name and address of the person you are writing
- The date (including the day, month, and year)
- The greeting or salutation (Example: Dear ,)
- The body of the letter (2 short paragraphs), including the position you're applying for
- The closing phrase (Examples: "Sincerely" or "Thank you")
- Your typed full name
Basic cover letter example
How to send your resume and cover letter
Proofread
It is critical to proofread your resume and cover letter for any spelling and grammatical mistakes. If either has any mistakes, an employer may immediately disregard it. Use your computer's programs to help you out. Many, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, have a built-in proofreading function that automatically checks for errors and make suggestions. Use these tools. After you have read it and made any corrections and suggested changes, read it again. Also, have a trusted friend or family member read it, too.
If you are emailing your resume and cover letter, it is important to consider the following:
- File format: Since your resume as an attachment to your email, so use a format that most businesses can open. Microsoft Word (.docx) is the most common professional word processing program, but converting your resume to a PDF (.pdf) can ensure more businesses can open it easily.
- File name: Name your resume document appropriately. Using your first name and last name as the document’s name will help an employer find the file on their computer. For example, it should be FirstLast.doc.
- Don’t forget your cover letter: If sending by email, you still need to send a cover letter. You can include your cover letter document as an attachment, or you can write the cover letter in the body of the email you are sending.
- Send from a professional email address: Some of us have email addresses that we use every day that might be too informal. As you continue your job search, consider setting up a professional email to use. For example, firsnamelastname@gmail.com or a variation of your name would be good to use.
By Mail
If you are mailing your resume and cover letter, it should be printed on clean, white paper with no tears or wrinkles.
Applications
What is an applicaton and what is it for?
Most employers will require you to complete an application. It is a document they will use to capture personal information about you, such as your name, your birthday, where they can contact you, where you went to school and other items to verify that you are a real person. It may ask you things already on your resume. It is very important to fill it out completely, neatly and accurately.
Ways to fill out an application
There are three ways you could possibly complete a job application:
1. Written on a paper application. Write neatly in pen and return it to the place of business either in person or by mail, or scan it and return it by email.
2. Typed on a downloaded application or digital form. After you fill it out, the employer may want you to either print it and return it or email the document back.
3. Completed online, where you would submit it electronically.
Where do you find applications?
Online
Applications may be found within a job posting on a job search website such as Indeed. They are also often available on a company’s website under their employment section.
If you don’t know the company’s website, try searching for it on Google. Once you are on the employer’s homepage, look carefully to find the employment section. Sometimes they are found on the company information section on its homepage. It might be on the sidebar, at the very bottom of the page, or at the top of page. Some terms to look for are:
- Careers
- Employment opportunities
- Job opportunities
- Join our team
- Open positions
- Job openings
- Corporate info
Once you find the right page, look for the job application. You might be able to download it and save it to your computer, or you may have to complete it directly online.
In Person
You will sometimes be able to get a paper application at a place of business, such as in a store or a restaurant. If you plan to get an application this way, make sure you are dressed in neat, clean clothes and that you have showered and combed your hair. You want to try to make a good first impression.
When you walk into the business, find an employee who is available to talk. You may have to wait if they are dealing with customers. Walk up and politely ask, “Excuse me, I’d like to pick up a job application. Can you please give me two copies, or can I please see your manager?” You should request two copies because if you make a mistake on the first copy, you will still have a second one to use. Make sure you say, “Thank you” before you leave with the applications.
What comes next after you submit a resume, cover letter and application?
After you complete and submit your resume, cover letter and application, you will need to be patient. The company may not respond to you right away, but that does not necessarily mean that you won’t get the job.
If you have not gotten confirmation that your application was received, wait at least one week and then you can call or email them.
You could say, “Hello. My name is ________________. I recently applied for a position at your company. I am very excited about this job opportunity and was wondering about the status of my application.”
Pre-Employment Screening Assessments
What is a pre-employment screening assessment?
Some companies require you to take their Pre-Employment Screening Assessment before you can be called in for an interview and hired. These assessments are online or paper tests. They can ask you to read questions and choose the best response from a selection of answers. They may also require you to read questions and rate your response using a scale (for example: rate on a scale of 1 to 5). Most of these assessments are not like the math or history tests you may have taken in school. These ask questions to determine your work-related attitude, personality, productivity, social judgment skills and reliability. There is nothing you can do to prepare or study for them. Most often, these types of questions do not have clear right or wrong answers. So stay calm and answer honestly.
Example of multiple choice questions
Question: You have noticed that many of your co-workers come to work late and leave early. The supervisor does not seem to be aware of this problem. For two days in a row, you decide to come to work late because you are tired. Your supervisor asks to meet with you, and she is obviously frustrated by your behavior. How should you handle this?
Select an answer from below:
A. Apologize to your supervisor, but also inform her that your co-workers are not following these rules either.
B. Apologize to your supervisor, and tell her that it will not happen again.
C. Ask your supervisor to meet with the entire staff.
D. Quit your job because this situation is not fair at all.
Example of rating scale questions
Question:
Rude customers should be avoided.
(5) Strongly Agree (4) Agree (3) Neither Agree nor Disagree (2) Disagree (1) Strongly Disagree.