Resumes, CVs and Cover Letters

Resumes

Steps to building a winning resume

The purpose of a resume is to introduce your qualifications and skills to employers. The goal of a resume is to get an interview so that you can further share your qualifications and learn more about the internship or job as well if that position and company or organization is a good fit for you.

We recommend developing a master draft of your resume which includes your education and all relevant experiences and skills. You can then make a copy each time you apply to a position and customize your resume for that specific position.

1. Develop a resume draft

• To get started with developing your resume, download the Resume Checklist which includes recommendations on length of your resume and formatting.
• View this resume model to use as a guide in developing your resume.
• For additional tips on building your resume draft we recommend this video on resume tips. 
• Attend a Career Services Resume Writing Workshop. See Career Services Events for dates. 

2. Have your resume critiqued

• Upload a draft of your resume to Quinncia for feedback.
• Connect with alumni on Forever Buffs Network who are working in the industry that you interested in to review your resume.

3. If you need additional help with your resume

Meet with an Engineering Peer Career Advisor or Engineering Career Advisor in a drop-in or individual advising appointment. Access these through Buff Portal Advising or through Career Services.

CVs

Writing an effective curriculum vitae (CV)

Curriculum Vitae literally means “course of life” and is a detailed document highlighting your professional and academic history. CVs typically include information like work experience, achievements and awards, scholarships or grants you’ve earned, coursework, research projects and publications of your work. A CV is typically two or three pages long, but it’s not unusual for it to be much longer as it serves as a full outline of one’s career accomplishments.

The purpose of a CV is to get an interview for a position in academia or for a graduate program.

• Visit Career Services to get started with writing your CV.
• For additional help with your CV,  meet with an Engineering Peer Career Advisor or Engineering Career Advisor in a drop-in or individual advising appointment. Access these through Buff Portal Advising or through Career Services.

Cover Letters

Writing an effective cover letter

There are some jobs and internships that specifically require a cover letter and others specify that including a cover letter is optional. If you are willing to take the time necessary to write a cover letter we recommend submitting a cover letter when it is required and when it is optional. Be ware that a generic cover letter (using the same cover letter to apply to multiple positions) will not help your application and will be easily recognized as generic by a hiring manager.

The purpose of a cover letter is to: demonstrate your interest in a position and the company, market yourself as the ideal candidate, explain any red flags that your resume might raise, explain how the achievements listed on your resume make you the perfect fit, and provide space to elaborate on your qualifications. Limit your cover letter to one page. If written well a cover letter can be a great way to stand out as an applicant.

Here are some resources to help you write an effective cover letter that will get your application noticed:

• Visit Career Services to get started with writing your cover letter.
• Use these sample cover letters as a model for your own: sample cover letter #1 and sample cover letter #2
• If you need additional help with your cover letter, meet with an Engineering Peer Career Advisor or Engineering Career Advisor in a drop-in or individual advising appointment. Access these through Buff Portal Advising or through Career Services.