Listen, I get it. As a student, graduating is a lot of pressure and thinking about going out into the “real world” can be terrifying! With that, I decided to do some research and compile some tips to help you create a cover letter and resume to put you in tip-top shape for your goals.
Listen to a recording of this post:
Your resume is a representation of who you are on a single, good-looking page. Your cover letter must shine compared to the rest. I know it’s a lot to digest but taking the time to truly understand each of these elements is essential to your future.
Cover letter
What is a cover letter, anyway? A cover letter is often overlooked when making resumes. It’s true that not all jobs will ask for one, but if you get the option to submit one, it will greatly help your chances to stand out! To make sure your cover letter is effective, you should start by researching the company you are applying to, as this will add an element of familiarity and effort. From here, write a concise message (1-3 paragraphs, if applicable) that allows both your skills and personality to shine through. Overall, your cover letter should be future-focused, outline your past experiences, and should also bolster you forward. If you need more inspiration for your cover letter, check out LinkedIn Learning, I especially love this course – How to Craft a Killer Cover Letter: Start to Finish, which outlines the anatomy of a killer cover letter, the lead, and more.
Resume
When creating your resume, put your best foot forward! I know it can be intimidating to have to “sell yourself” in this kind of manner, but it’s easy to update your resume once you’ve taken the time to get the structure and look down. Here’s a quick list of my favorite tips on resume building for college students:
- Pick a professional, simple font (e.g., Times New Roman).
- Align everything to the left to make it easy to skim through. Remember, hiring committees might be looking at a ton of these!
- Only put in experience from the past 10 to 15 years. Employers do not need to see your middle school accomplishments.
- Put the most important information first! What are you most proud of and who are you now?
- Utilize keywords used in the job posting. If there are any requirements you meet or skills you possess, you may want to highlight your online persona. This may require you to alter your resume for every job you apply to so that you have the best chance.
- If you are applying for a creative career or feel that showcasing your creativity will put you ahead of the pack, include URLs to your social media, websites, and/or blogs.
- Use numbers to convey value, as employers are very responsive to measurable proven value.
- Call attention to important decisions. Once you grab the employer’s attention with the important information, like how you perfectly fit the position they’re trying to fill, you want to convey yourself as well-rounded. Add examples of ambition, creativity, initiative, and accomplishments.
- Always proofread and have your friends and/or other professionals you know look it over for you! This makes a world of difference, and you’ll learn meaningful tips and tricks along the way.
Like I said before, cover letter and resume building can be super intimidating, but it’s worth it! Find more courses to help build resumes, cover letters, and how to search for a job on LinkedIn.
Our time at Texas State will fly by before we know it, and this will help jump-start you in the direction of your dreams. You can do this, Bobcats!
Isabel Lauren Loewe is a sophomore majoring in film production and a student employee in the IT Assistance Center.
