3 Create a Professional Résumé and Cover Letter.
What is a resume? A resume is a document that summarizes your skills, experiences, and education.
What is a cover letter? A cover letter is a letter you write to introduce yourself to a potential employer.
Creating a resume and Cover letter can help you:
- Get noticed by employers: Your resume and cover letter are often the first things an employer sees about you. Having good ones can help you stand out from other people applying for the same job.
- Show what you can do: Even if you have not had a real job yet, you probably have skills and experiences worth mentioning. Maybe you’ve helped with a school club, volunteered, or learned a useful skill. Your resume and cover letter let you talk about these things.
- Be ready for opportunities: Having a resume and cover letter ready means you are prepared when a job or internship opportunity comes up.
Information
Creating Your Resume and Cover Letter
- Take a look at the provided sample resume and cover letter ( Below) to understand the format and content required for a professional document.
- Read the tutorial on how to create a resume and cover letter.
- Gather your personal information including your full name, contact details, educational background, work experience, and any relevant skills or achievements.
- Use the tutorial and the sample resume as a guide to create your own resume and cover letter
- After creating your resume and cover letter, review and edit them for clarity, accuracy.
- Submit your completed resume and cover letter for review to the Career Management Center, Academic Support Center, or your advisor for feedback.
RESUME
Tutorial: Creating a Resume Using ResumeBuilder.com
Step 1: Accessing ResumeBuilder.com
Visit the Website: Go to ResumeBuilder.com.
Sign Up or Log In: If you don’t have an account, click on “Sign Up” to create one. If you already have an account, click on “Log In” and enter your credentials.
Step 2: Starting a New Resume
Create New Resume: Once logged in, click on “Create New Resume” to start the process.
Choose a Template: Browse through the available templates and select one that matches your style and the job you’re applying for. Click on the template to start editing.
Step 3: Entering Personal Information
Basic Information: Fill in your name, address, phone number, and email address. Make sure the information is accurate and professional.
Professional Summary:
Write a brief summary that highlights your career goals, key qualifications, and what you can bring to the prospective employer.
Step 4: Adding Work Experience
Work Experience Section: Click on the work experience section to start adding your job history.
Job Details:
Enter the job title, company name, location, and dates of employment for each position.
Add bullet points to describe your responsibilities, achievements, and key contributions in each role.
Step 5: Adding Education
Education Section: Click on the education section to add your academic background.
Educational Details:
Enter the name of the institution, degree obtained, field of study, and graduation dates.
Step 6: Listing Skills
Skills Section: Add your relevant skills that match the job you are applying for.
Specific Skills: Be specific and include both hard and soft skills. Use keywords from the job description to make your resume stand out.
Step 7: Including Certifications and Awards
Certifications: Add any certifications or licenses that are relevant to your career.
Awards: List any awards or recognitions that highlight your accomplishments.
Step 8: Adding Optional Sections
Volunteer Work: If applicable, add any volunteer experience that is relevant to the job.
Languages: List any languages you speak, especially if they are relevant to the job.
Projects: Include any significant projects you have worked on, highlighting your role and achievements.
Step 9: Reviewing and Finalizing Your Resume
Proofread: Carefully review your resume for spelling and grammatical errors.
Consistency Check: Ensure all sections are formatted consistently.
Step 10: Downloading and Sharing Your Resume
Download Resume: Once you are satisfied with your resume, click on the “Download” button.
Choose Format: Select the preferred format (PDF is recommended).
Save and Share: Save the file to your computer and share it with potential employers.
COVER LETTER
Tutorial: Creating a Cover Letter Using ResumeBuilder.com
Step 1: Accessing ResumeBuilder.com
Visit the Website: Go to ResumeBuilder.com.
Sign Up or Log In: If you don’t have an account, click on “Sign Up” to create one. If you already have an account, click on “Log In” and enter your credentials.
Step 2: Starting a New Cover Letter
Create New Cover Letter: Once logged in, click on “Create New Cover Letter” to start the process.
Choose a Template: Browse through the available templates and select one that suits your style and the job you’re applying for. Click on the template to start editing.
Step 3: Entering Personal Information
Contact Information: Fill in your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the cover letter. Ensure this information matches the details on your resume.
Date: Enter the current date below your contact information.
Step 4: Adding Employer Information
Employer Details: Below the date, add the name of the hiring manager (if known), the company name, and the company’s address.
Step 5: Writing the Salutation
Salutation: Address the hiring manager by name if possible (e.g., “Dear Mr. Smith,”). If you don’t know the name, use a general greeting such as “Dear Hiring Manager,”.
Step 6: Crafting the Body of the Cover Letter
Introduction:
State the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing.
Briefly introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in the position.
Middle Paragraphs:
Highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments that make you a strong candidate for the position.
Use specific examples to demonstrate how your background aligns with the job requirements.
Show your enthusiasm for the role and the company.
Conclusion:
Reiterate your interest in the position and express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the company.
Mention that you have attached your resume for further details.
Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration.
State your availability for an interview and provide your contact information again.
Step 7: Adding a Closing
Closing Statement: End with a professional closing such as “Sincerely,” or “Best regards,”.
Signature: Leave space for your handwritten signature (if printing) and type your name below the closing statement.
Step 8: Reviewing and Finalizing Your Cover Letter
Proofread: Carefully review your cover letter for spelling and grammatical errors.
Consistency Check: Ensure that the formatting is consistent with your resume.
Step 9: Downloading and Sharing Your Cover Letter
Download Cover Letter: Once you are satisfied with your cover letter, click on the “Download” button.
Choose Format: Select the preferred format (PDF is recommended).
Save and Share: Save the file to your computer and share it with potential employers along with your resume.
Tutorial: Creating a Cover Letter Using Cover-Letter-Now.com
Introduction
Welcome to this tutorial on creating a cover letter using Cover-Letter-Now.com. This guide will help you create a professional cover letter step-by-step using the Cover-Letter-Now.com platform.
Step 1: Accessing Cover-Letter-Now.com
Visit the Website: Go to Cover-Letter-Now.com.
Sign Up or Log In: If you don’t have an account, click on “Sign Up” to create one. If you already have an account, click on “Log In” and enter your credentials.
Step 2: Starting a New Cover Letter
Create New Cover Letter: Once logged in, click on “Create Cover Letter” to start the process.
Choose a Template: Browse through the available templates and select one that suits your style and the job you’re applying for. Click on the template to start editing.
Step 3: Entering Personal Information
Contact Information: Fill in your name, address, phone number, and email address at the top of the cover letter. Ensure this information matches the details on your resume.
Date: Enter the current date below your contact information.
Step 4: Adding Employer Information
Employer Details: Below the date, add the name of the hiring manager (if known), the company name, and the company’s address.
Step 5: Writing the Salutation
Salutation: Address the hiring manager by name if possible (e.g., “Dear Mr. Smith,”). If you don’t know the name, use a general greeting such as “Dear Hiring Manager,”.
Step 6: Crafting the Body of the Cover Letter
Introduction:
State the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing.
Briefly introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in the position.
Middle Paragraphs:
Highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments that make you a strong candidate for the position.
Use specific examples to demonstrate how your background aligns with the job requirements.
Show your enthusiasm for the role and the company.
Conclusion:
Reiterate your interest in the position and express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the company.
Mention that you have attached your resume for further details.
Thank the hiring manager for their time and consideration.
State your availability for an interview and provide your contact information again.
Step 7: Adding a Closing
Closing Statement: End with a professional closing such as “Sincerely,” or “Best regards,”.
Signature: Leave space for your handwritten signature (if printing) and type your name below the closing statement.
Step 8: Reviewing and Finalizing Your Cover Letter
Proofread: Carefully review your cover letter for spelling and grammatical errors.
Consistency Check: Ensure that the formatting is consistent with your resume.
Step 9: Downloading and Sharing Your Cover Letter
Download Cover Letter: Once you are satisfied with your cover letter, click on the “Download” button.
Choose Format: Select the preferred format (PDF is recommended).
Save and Share: Save the file to your computer and share it with potential employers along with your resume.
Sample Resume and Cover Letter
MEC Sample Chronological Resume
Resume-Cover Letter MEC Presentation – Embarking on Your Career
https://www.intelligent.com/careers/student-resume-examples/
SUPPORT/FEEDBACK
- MEC Career Management Center – Career Management Contact Information website: https://www.mec.cuny.edu/student-success/career-management/resources/
- For those in AGRO 103 course ( SEEK Career Readiness Course), you can get feedback from your Professor.
- Get help with creating a resume and cover letter by submitting your request through the SEEK Academic Support Center (ASC) system. Click here to complete the survey.
- Contact your advisors for assistance:
Dr. Rebecca Cenatus – rcenatus@mec.cuny.edu
Ms. Takisha Randall – Trandall@mec.cuny.edu
Dr. Jewel James – jjames@mec.cuny.edu
