Syllabus

Schedule

Assignments

Extras

Assignment 3
Resume and Cover Letter

The cover memo should provide an overview of the two jobs for which you are applying, a description of what you know about the two employers, and an explanation of how you have adapted your resume and cover letter to address the expectations of these two different employers. This information will be important to you as you write cover letters to these two employers. If possible, attach printouts of the two job listings to this memo.

You will choose two job listings from the standard job resources available on campus or on the Internet. This will be your first step, because you will be tailoring resumes and letters for these two jobs. The two jobs you choose should be different enough to require you to emphasize different parts of your experience to qualify for the positions.

Resumes describe your qualifications for a specific type of job. You will typically make numerous copies of a single resume and send those to many different employers, but the resume should change if the type of job changes. The contents of both of these resumes will overlap somewhat, but there will also be many differences to accentuate your suitability for the different types of jobs.

Resumes should include contact information, relevant details of your educational training, professional training, special accomplishments and skills. Be somewhat selective in your choice of details. Remember that you are arguing that they should employ you and not simply providing an overview of your life experiences.

Resumes should be no longer (and no shorter) than one page. There should be clear differences between the two resumes reflecting the different demands of the positions to which you are applying.

Cover letters are tailored to specific employers. Stronger cover letters make references to specific characteristics of the employer and the job for which you are applying. Weaker cover letters are those that look like a form letter in which you have simply changed the names and addresses.

These letters follow a standard format beginning with an introductory paragraph that explains why you are writing. Explain that you are looking for a particular kind of job and that you would like such a job at that particular company. Then present those of your qualifications that particularly suit you for this job. In the body of the letter, develop these qualifications support them with concrete details from your experience and specific references to terms in the job listing. This section should show that you know what the company needs and that you have got what they are looking for. The closing of the letter should invite a response.

By the way, typographical and mechanical errors in letters and resumes will definitely hurt your chances of getting the job. If I find more than two such errors, I will decrease the final grade for the assignment by one letter grade.