Cover letters are often the first impression of you to a potential employer but they take time, preparation, and thought to write so understanding the basics is vital.

It’s not even your first full week of classes yet but we are getting right down to business here. Hopefully you’ve had a relaxing break and now it’s time to jump back into things – starting with the Internship & Job Fair on Tuesday, January 31st. The fair will be held in Davis Gym from 11-2:30 and we have several programs to help you get prepared: 1. Attend the Resume & Cover Letter workshop on Monday 1/23 at Noon in ELC 217 or at 5pm in Taylor 203. 2. Attend the prep sessions for the Internship & Job Fair on […]

Did you know the Writing Center offers some great workshops on Resumes and Cover Letters? What’s the difference between ours and there’s you may ask? Well, the Writing Center focuses on…well…the writing! We do that as well but also have a big focus on formatting and structure. I think it’s great to go to both! You can never have too much help on a resume or cover letter. So, with that being said, we’d like to share with you their workshop schedule for the fall: Please call 73141 to register for the workshop of your choosing Resume and Cover Letter […]

Not sure where to start in the career process? Make sure you check out our “Steps to Success Series” which are a series of workshops designed to help  you on your way and in the meantime…can you teach me how to dougie? httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZglqkCRNt8 Fall Workshops: Resumes for Engineers – Sept. 1 at Noon in Dana 117: Not just a general overview, at this workshop  we’ll spend time highlighting what employers look for on engineering resumes and go over how to highlight any research, technical tools or summer experience you may have Resume and Cover Letter 101 – Sept. 7 at […]

Not sure where to start in the career process? Make sure you check out our “Steps to Success Series” which are a series of workshops designed to help  you on your way. January Workshops: Resumes – Jan. 20 at Noon in Taylor 203:  You could leave this workshop with a resume in hand! Review resume basics while working at a computer to type up the framework for your resume or updating an existing resume Choosing A Major – Jan. 24 at 5:30 in ELC 217: This workshop is offered in the spring for sophomores who are Bachelor of Arts majors.  […]

These days, the professional cover letter has taken a backseat to its much more popular cousin, the resume. Although it is often seen as stuffy, antiquated, and even frivolous, the cover letter actually has the power to establish the all-important.

Not sure where to start in the career process? Make sure you check out our “Steps to Success Series”which are a series of workshops designed to start you on your way. September Workshops: Resumes – Sept. 9 at Noon in Taylor 203:  Review resume basics while working at a computer to type up the framework for your resume or updating an existing resume Resumes for Engineers – Sept. 9 at Noon in Dana 117: This workshop will review several general resume rules and then spend time highlighting what employers will seek/expect from engineering students and how to best highlight any […]

Tailoring your resume and cover letter is an important part of the applying process that many job seekers tend to overlook. By tailoring your application materials to the jobs you’re applying for, you will show those potential employers that you are that ideal candidate for their specific position. Simply Hired has tips and tricks for tailoring your resume and cover letter. Your main point of reference when tailoring your cover letter and resume should be the job description for the position to which you are applying. In a job description, employers write out the exact requirements of the role they […]

By: Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter; visit her website for more. This was one of our most popular blog posts this year, and we think the advice is so good it should be repeated! If you’re looking for some awesome cover letter advice on how *NOT* to start your cover letter (and some great examples of how you should be starting it) then read on! On a weekly basis any hiring manager probably receives between 50 and … well, probably hundreds of resumes and cover letters. The key is to […]

It is a jungle out there, whether you have a job or are out of work and looking to find new employment. But this is about more than just surviving in the jungle, it’s about being successful in the jungle (like the lion pictured here) and in order to be successful you need to have the best tools. These tools can be broken up into two categories: Preparation (resume, cover letters, references, Thank You letters, prep for interviews, your Elevator Speech and your network) and Job Hunting (research list of companies, list of recruiters, job search sites, list of social […]

By Jessica Holbrook Hernandez: expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter. In a world where many job applications seem to disappear into a “black hole”, job seekers often wonder if there is any point in sending a cover letter with their application. The answer is absolutely yes! An effective cover letter communicates to an employer why you’re specifically interested in the open position. With so many job seekers indiscriminately applying for hundreds of jobs, your application will automatically stand out if you can demonstrate that you truly have a personal interest in a particular position. Effectively […]

If you’ve ever wondered if cover letters are really important just Google it…I got 109,000,000 results. That’s a lot of people who think cover letters are important. While you may feel that the resume is “good enough” you should know that, while the resume provides an overview of your background, the cover letter allows you to talk in your own voice, link your experiences to the specific job opening, share your special abilities and show that you can write cohesively and effectively, which is important in any job; essentially it helps you sell yourself. And while I did get a […]

“Resume and Cover Letter Workshop” Wednesday, September 9 5 – 6 p.m. in 200G Roberts Hall Registration required by contacting the Writing Center or calling 7-3141 Are you conducting a job search? If so, the Writing Center invites you to their workshop, “Writing Your Resume and Cover Letter.” We can help you with everything from making a list of skills and experiences appropriate for your resume and cover letter to developing strategies for tailoring them to the job you want. At this interactive workshop, you get to talk with Writing Center staff and with peers about how to create the […]