Resumes and Cover Letters

A resume is a document that summarizes your relevant knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experiences. It is required for most internship and job applications and is often your first impression on an employer (often, before an employer meets you for the first time, they will read about you!). Most employers spend a short amount of time reviewing applications, so having a well-formatted resume will help you advance to the next step in the process (which is hopefully an interview!).

A cover letter is a one-page document that highlights your qualifications and is typically submitted with your resume when you apply for jobs and internships. Its purpose is to convey to a prospective employer why you are interested in the position and their organization, and to explain how you can contribute. A thoughtful, well-written cover letter can be just as impressive as a resume or CV.

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a similar to a resume. Both documents are used to showcase your relevant knowledge, skills, education, and experience. However, a CV focuses more on your academic history and scholarly pursuits. It is often much longer than a resume and its target audience are often academics in a particular field of study. CVs are often used when applying to academic, scientific, or research positions, as well as for grant, fellowship, scholarship, and tenure applications. Some graduate and professional programs will request a CV instead of a resume.

A reference list is a document — often requried for internship/job/graduate school applications — that lists 3-4 professional references. References are people who can speak to your character/work ethic. They serve as confirmation of your knowledge, skills, abilities, and past performance. Examples may include:

• Professors
• University staff
• Co-workers
• Supervisors (work, internship, volunteer)