Resume & Cover Letter Support

Resume DO's

1) Be consistent through the entirety of the resume.

• Use 10-12 sized font.
• Use Serif/Sans Serif font – Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Verdana.
• Set your margins to 0.5 or 1 inch.
• Your headings, spacing, bullet points, dates styled, and sizing should all be the same.
• When listing states, if you write it out as Colorado, make sure to use that same format the whole way – same goes
  for if you use a state’s abbreviation (i.e., CO)

2) The length of your resume should be 1-2 full pages (unless looking at government jobs).

Resume DON'Ts

1) AVOID USING a pre-designed resume template, because:

• They are hard to edit when needing to be updated.
• It does not always send the way it looks on your computer.
• Information can be filtered out in the application process.
• There are many templates that are “flashy” – your resume should always be basic and professional, let what’s in the resume capture the attention of the hiring personnel.

2) Similarly, AVOID using graphics/images, fancy fonts, and tables/textboxes.

3) Avoid too much and too little white space – it’s important to find a balance.

• Too much white space could mean that you are trying to fill up the page with space.
• Too little white space could mean that the page is cluttered and cramped.
• Fill the space with information that’s needed rather than to just fill the page.

Things to Consider When Writing a Cover Letter

• Write the letter in your own words and in professional but conversational language.
• Be brief and concise. Your message needs to be absorbed in less than 30 seconds.
• Tailor your cover letter to the needs of the employer.
• Include information relevant to the job you are seeking.
• Show interest and pride in your profession; demonstrate energy and enthusiasm.
• Discuss the position you are applying for and why you want this particular job.
• Show that you have done your homework on the company by mentioning something that it values, how it is growing, or why you’re interested in them.
• Describe your main qualifications and accomplishments and explain what you have to offer.
• Be sure that the skills you address in your cover letter are also demonstrated in your resume.
• Remember that the person reading your letter will search for clues to determine what kind of person you really are.

Formatting Tips

• Make sure that your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct.
• Address the letter to an individual whenever possible. Ex: “Dear (full name of contact person), “Dear Hiring Committee”, “To Whom it May Concern.”
• Keep to about 1 page
• Limit the use of “I” or “me”
• Use size 11-12 font in black, and choose an easy to read style, such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri.
• Use 0.5″ – 1″ margins
• Use the same contact information style as you did in your resume