ut resume help

Cover Letter Guide

The cover letter (or letter of interest) is a one-page document commonly requested with a resume as part of an employment application. Liberal Arts Career Services has resources, including recommendations for content and formatting, to assist you when developing application materials targeting a specific employer and opportunity.

Cover Letter Guide  |  Cover Letter Template  |  Sample Cover Letter  |  Job Posting Analysis

To ensure that your application materials highlights your skills, schedule an appointment with a Career Coach or use our drop-in hours. It is helpful if you can bring your job posting to your appointment. 

Related Guides

Email Signature Block : When using email to correspond with prospective employers, be sure your email signature block looks professional and contains relevant information. 

List of References : References should not be included on a resume, but in a separate document. References are provided upon employer's request, typically after an interview because employers want to know what your work performance was like in other professional settings. It is common for an employer to request for three references.

Letters of Recommendation : Letters of recommendation are requested in support of applications for graduate or law school.

Writing Sample : A writing sample only needs to be submitted if it is specifically requested as part of the job application (typically for writing intensive, research or law-related positions).

SWOT Analysis : Use this tool to help evaluate your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to help strengthen your cover letter.

Thank You Letters : Use this tool to help formulate a strong thank you letter or email to send to your interviewer after your interview. 

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Main-jindal-menu, write a résumé that gets results.

Step 2: Write Your Résumé

Our JSOM Résumé templates highlight your academic and professional accomplishments. Write a résumé that beats artificial intelligence within the applicant tracking systems.

Download the JSOM Résumé Templates

Download the jsom résumé examples, download the jsom action verbs, download the jsom resume action verbs & key terms, download the jsom résumé guide to beat ai, improve your resume with quinncia.

Quinncia shows you how to stay on track with a proven process of resume enhancements, tailored mock interviews and personalized engagement tools.

FAQs – Résumé-Writing

I don’t have any experience; how do i fix that on my résumé.

As a student, part of your experience may be gained from student activities/clubs, academic projects and volunteer efforts. Join organizations and volunteer to begin to build experiences which can demonstrate, communications skills, teamwork, leadership and project management.

Can a resume be more than one page?

The JSOM standard is one page, remember a resume is a summary of your experience to prompt the interest of potential employer to give you an interview. For MBA’s with extensive professional experience related for the job being sought an additional page may be warranted.

Should I include high school or other school’s activities on my resume?

College resumes drop the high school information, it is assumed that your professional experience begins at college.

Should I include jobs that I have had that don’t relate to the job I’m seeking?

Your resume should demonstrate not only your direct experience, it should also include transferable skills which you gained from working or volunteering. The more directly you can link your job skills to the job for which you are applying, the stronger your application will be.

Why do I have to use the JSOM Resume format?

The JSOM format was developed with our employer partners, and employers like the JSOM format, in short it works! In addition, the format has been optimized to be compatible with applicant tracking systems which almost all companies use for applicants to apply for positions. Lastly, the JSOM format is part of the UTD brand, employers know that you are from UTD by the look and feel of your resume.

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The Career Development Center

• Students & Alumni

Resume Guide

Our Resume Guide offers a full array of examples to choose from along with excellent ideas on how to get started with building your resume. We recommend you read through this before you start your resume.

We have three methods for you to learn how to create your resume and/or cover letter.

Virtual and/or in-person resume and cover letter workshop, virtual resume and cover letter online course .

• Pre-recorded Resume and Cover Letter Workshop

Held twice a month, this workshop will help you to build your resume and cover letter so you can be successful when applying for jobs and internships. Head to  Handshake  to see when the next Resume and Cover Letter workshop will be held and what format it will be (virtual or in-person).

You can view the information from our Resume and Cover Letter Workshop at any time through our self-paced course on Canvas.  Visit this page  and follow the instructions to login.

Pre-recorded Resume and Cover Letter Workshop 

You can view this at any time. This pre-recorded version is the same as our Resume and Cover Letter Workshop, however, you will be unable to ask questions during it. You can find the video here .

Need a little help getting your resume started?

Resume Examples and Templates

Here are some samples to help. We encourage you to use these resources and then send it to us for a critique. A career consultant can make sure you are putting your best foot forward on your resume.

There are two primary ways to have your resume and/or cover letter reviewed.

• Career Spot Drop-In
• In-Depth Resume Review

Career Spot Drop-Ins are for brief, 15 minutes or less, consultations to answer any career-related questions you may have, including networking, interview help, job search strategies, resume and cover letter reviews, or an overview of our services. Career Spot Drop-Ins occur from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. every Monday-Friday while the university is open. See how you can visit with us at drop-ins by logging into Handshake.

For a more thorough review of your resume, submit it through Handshake by clicking on ‘Career Center’ then ‘Resources’ and then ‘Resume/Cover Letter Critique Submission Form.’ We will email you feedback within 5-7 business days.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV is a curriculum vitae or vita and is used to detail your academic credentials and your experiences. Preferred in academic settings, it is usually longer and more detailed than a resume.

Writing a Federal Resume

The federal resume is the official application for position vacancies within the Federal Government. Make sure that you read the federal job vacancy announcement VERY carefully and follow it to the letter. It is important to remember that YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION. Some agencies have their own requirements for presenting your application materials. If you fail to submit required documentation or present your application materials exactly as they state, your application can, and/or will be, subject to loss of valuable rating points to elimination from consideration for the vacancy.

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Welcome to the Engineering Career Assistance Center

Texas Engineering students are high-caliber candidates for jobs in engineering, technology, business and many other fields. View Salaries and Statistics Data

Of Texas Engineering undergraduates are employed or attend graduate school upon graduation

Average starting salary for B.S. graduates

Employers recruit Texas Engineering students every year

In the Engineering Career Assistance Center (ECAC), students are guided through the recruitment process with career counseling and workshops to help develop resumes and interviewing and job searching skills. Throughout the year, we host employers and recruiters for student interviews, career fairs and information sessions. During their academic careers, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through externships and co-op and internship positions to help prepare them for full-time employment after graduation. We encourage students and employers to utilize our job posting database and take advantage of our on-campus recruiting opportunities. View additional information for employers

Engineering Career Assistance Center Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (closed 12:00 PM -1:00 PM during summer) Counseling Hours: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Campus Location: EER 2.604

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• Department of Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Mechanics
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Resources & Tools

Need a helping hand with finding an internship or job? Check out these resources and tools available to all UT Dallas student and alumni! We provide a library of information for various aspects of taking the next steps in your career. From the highly-detailed career guides in our Career Resource Library to the first-gen tools we provide access for, the University Career Center is proud to be able to offer the most up-to-date in employment trends and best practices.

First Destination Survey

We would like to invite all recent UT Dallas graduates to submit a first destination survey (FDS) response. This information is used to provide information to your fellow Comets (and future ones) about what UT Dallas graduates are doing after graduation. For example, the  Career Outcomes  page of our website shows information that previous graduates provided in the FDS. You can access the survey by  clicking here . Graduates are able to provide current information about themselves, and update their responses within the next few months to reflect any changes to their plans after graduation.

The career services platform used by the UCC. Handshake allows you to schedule appointments with our team, browse jobs specifically targeted to UT Dallas, and view upcoming career fairs and events! Available to currently-enrolled students and alumni.

Career Resource Library

Want a reminder of what you learned in a recent appointment? Not sure where to start your career development process? The Career Resource Library has the expertise you need. Browse our collection of original guides and videos to deepen your knowledge and professional development. Topics include resume and cover letter writing, interview prep, salary negotiation, and steps to success for each year of your undergrad experience.

The UCC has acquired Quinncia to provide students the ability to receive resume feedback. Students who are looking to receive resume assistance from the UCC for the first time are asked to  use Quinncia  first before scheduling an appointment with our Career Consultants.

Career Exploration Assessments

Interested in exploring your unique work interests, personality, values, and leisure interests and how they relate to your possible future career plans? FOCUS 2 is a self-guided assessment available free to UTD students. Use the link above to log in or create an account. Be sure to use your  UTD email address  and the access code,  utdcomets .

The Strong Interest Inventory® assessment provides robust insight into your interests, so you can consider potential careers, your educational path and the world of work. Built on psychologist John Holland’s theory, it’s backed by more than 80 years of research into how people of similar interests are employed, and what motivates individuals in the workplace. It delivers effective and powerful results that contribute to your success. Schedule with a career consultant to get set up for the Strong Interest Inventory Assessment today.

Through a series of questions, the MBTI assessment helps you identify your natural preferences in four areas of personality, which sort you into one of 16 distinct MBTI personality types. Understanding these types gives you objective insight that you can use to enhance your professional and personal relationships, as well as your direction, focus, and choices. Schedule with a career consultant to get set up for the MBTI Assessment today.  

Discover the challenges that you want to work on. SparkPath was founded to help students create extraordinary careers by exploring the real-world challenges that inspire them. By changing mindsets through innovative programs, coaching, and career tools, SparkPath helps the next generation discover their values, interests, and talents and visualize how they can make a real and unique contribution to the world.

Go to  app.mysparkpath.com  and click “Sign Up” to create a student account with your UTD email and insert the unique code ( utdallas2024 ).

International & First-Gen Support

Designed for international students, Interstride unlocks an almost limitless and robust support for the career journey of international students. Log in using your UT Dallas email address and SSO.

A great resource for first-generation college students! CareerSpring provides resources such as personalized career advice from numerous industry representatives, networking reach, and tools to help map out your career.

Use access code:  UTD

Major & Occupation Investigation

Free online database that contains hundreds of occupational definitions to help students, job seekers, businesses, and workforce development professionals to understand today’s world of work in the United States.

The OOH provides information on what workers do; the work environment; education, training, and other qualifications; pay; the job outlook; information on state and area data; similar occupations; and sources of additional information, for 324 occupational profiles, covering about 4 out of 5 jobs in the economy.

Discover some potential career paths associated with several popular majors using the What Can I do With My Major resource. Don’t see your major listed in the resource or need more in-depth guidance? Set up an appointment with a Career Consultant to learn more about major exploration and careers for any major.

Project-based Resume Boosters

Develop skills for your career with Micro-Internships through Parker Dewey . Micro-Internships offer an incredible opportunity for students across all majors to delve into professional assignments, showcasing and enhancing your skills in real-world scenarios. These short-term, paid projects, similar to tasks assigned to new hires or interns, are a great way to build a strong skill set and expand your professional network. *International students at UT Dallas are not eligible to participate in micro-internships due to visa restrictions. *Academic credit is not available.

Learn direct from leading companies and gain valuable career skills by completing virtual work experiences on Forage .

Salary and Negotiation Tools

SeekUT presents straightforward and understandable data that tells you what real UT graduates are earning – based on campus and major – one, five, and ten years after graduation. It also tells you what Industries are employing UT graduates in Texas along with predicted job openings.

Use Payscale to ensure pay accuracy. This salary calculator uses salary market data to generate a personalized dashboard in response to a questionnaire. This tool can help you negotiate salary as well as show you areas to consider improving to secure higher pay.  

Salary.com is a compensation suite. Real-time analytics provide a reliable record of employee pay levels, best practices, trends and policies related to compensation processes. You can leverage this tool to discover what factors contribute to your earning potential, and to see national median salaries for different occupations.

Explore median salaries for a desired occupation using OOH . Compare median salaries for a role across different industries. This tool can help you assess a salary in a job offer as well as help you decide which industry to target for the role of your choice.  

The University of Texas at Dallas

University Career Center

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Appointments

• Exploration Course
• Career Counseling Practicum Program
• Scholarships
• Career Peer Mentorship
• Resumes & Cover Letters
• Professional Attire
• Offer & Salary Negotiation
• Career Communities
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• Online Career Resources
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Meeting with the TCE Career Education team can be helpful at all stages of your career journey, from early exploration to landing your first job.

How to Schedule an Appointment with TCE

To schedule an appointment with Texas Career Engagement, follow the steps below. If you have any trouble scheduling or have any further questions, please let us know at [email protected] .

Log on to HireUTexas. If you are a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student, you already have an active account. Please log in to your current account using your UT EID credentials at utaustin.joinhandshake.com .

Click on the “Career Center” option in the top right corner of the homepage.

Select the “Appointments” button under the header, “What can we help you find?”

Click the blue “Schedule an Appointment” button, then proceed to select the category “Texas Career Engagement Undergraduate Student” and the appointment type you would like to book.

Finally, select the day and time that work best for you and complete any additional questions on the booking site.

We look forward to seeing you at your appointment!

Types of Career Appointments

Career counseling.

Career counseling is a process to better understand yourself. In these one-hour appointments, you can discuss your values, interests, personality, skills and how these connect to majors and careers that may be a good fit for you. Career counseling is provided by a licensed professional counselor associate or psychologist.

Career Counseling Appointments

Career Coaching

Career coaching is a great way to start the conversation on your career plan. In these 30-minute appointments, you can brainstorm ways to gain experience, learn about how to navigate UT’s career resources, and get feedback on resumes, cover letters, personal statements or online profiles.

Career Coaching Appointments

College/School Career Coaching

Connect to a career coach in your college or school career center for industry-specific career development and industry-specific connections traditionally aligned with your college or school, as well as major-specific job boards, programs and resources.

College/School Career Coaching Appointments

Longhorn Career Peer Mentors Drop-In Hours

Get career support from trained UT students Monday-Friday in FAC 2.236; no appointment needed! Longhorn Career Peer Mentors are available for Spring 2024 on Mondays from 1-4p.m. and Tuesdays through Fridays from 12-4 p.m. for 10-15 minute meetings about:

• Resumes & Cover Letters
• Job & Internship Search Skills
• Networking Tips
• Career Fair Prep
• Internal Transfer Resume Feedback, and more!
• Monday, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST
• Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST

Location: Texas Career Engagement, FAC 2.236

Professional and Graduate School Planning for All Majors

UT Austin provides specialized advising for students pursuing pre-professional and advanced degree paths. While these services may take place in a particular college or school, they are available to all UT Austin majors.

Graduate School Advising

Career counselors at Texas Career Engagement help students explore options for graduate or professional school.

Schedule Appointment

Law School Admissions Coaching

The College of Liberal Arts law school admissions coach offers comprehensive support, including considering and preparing for law school and navigating the application process.

Health Professions Advising

The Health Professions Office offers support exploring and preparing for applications to health professions schools, including pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-physician assistant, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, and pre-veterinary studies.

Access virtual help—anytime, anywhere

Find online career resources to help you in all stages of your career journey, from assessing majors or careers of interest, to preparing for interviews, to finding jobs and professional contacts.

Explore Career Tools

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• Cover Letters

Resume/CV/Cover Letter Resources and Assistance

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A resume or a CV is required in order to apply for almost any job, and you will typically need to submit a cover letter, too. In addition, it’s important to write a thank you letter following an interview. Below, you can access multiple resources, tools, videos and personalized assistance to help you craft these important documents.

Personalized Assistance

For assistance with your resume, CV or cover letter, schedule an in-person, virtual, phone or email appointment or meet with us without an appointment during Drop-Ins. To find your Career Coach and for times and locations, go to Connect with the Career Center . Business majors should access Connect with the Career Resource Center for times, location, and Drop-In information.

Resume Writing Tool

• Resume Builder – Resume writing tool that’s part of Big Interview and provided by the Career Center. This video explains how to access Resume Builder and get started .

Resume Writing and CV Resources

• How to Construct Each Section of Your Resume
• Action Verbs for Your Resume
• Common Resume Mistakes
• Basic Chronological Resume Template
• Basic Functional Resume Template
• Resume and CV Samples – Specific examples based on your college, area of interest, and experience.
• Business: Approved Resume Format – Information about the required format for all Business majors plus examples.

Videos to Help with Writing Your Resume or CV

• Resume Basics – A UNT Career Coach explains the types of resumes, sections, formatting and other rules.
• Resume Development – Career Development Specialist at UNT at Frisco, demonstrates how to write a chronological resume.
• Resume Tips – Get advice from a UNT Career Coach on how to write an effective resume.
• How Applicant Tracking Systems Impact Your Job Search – Covers the basics about applicant tracking systems (ATS) and how to approach job applications and your resume with ATS in mind.
• Disney College Session – Resume 101 & Interview Tips – Learn some of the best ways to formulate resumes and excel at interviews when applying to Disney opportunities and other positions.
• Graduate CV Workshop – Amy Hicks, Career Coach for graduate students, explains how to write a CV, when it’s used and more.

Cover Letter Resources

• How to Write a Cover Letter
• How to Write a Great Cover Letter

Thank You Letter Resources

• Thank You Letters
• Post-Interview Thank You Messages – Video with tips on how to express appreciation following an interview.

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• Resume Basics

A resume is a snapshot of your professional qualifications and experience. It’s meant to quickly inform potential employers that you could perform the duties of the position they are looking to fill. It acts as a marketing tool for your skills and helps you get noticed by recruiters. You don’t need to include your entire professional life in a single resume. See the Career Design Center Resume & Cover Letter Handout for examples.

Since resumes are only one to two pages in length, they have a limited set of components. The most typical components that make up a resume are contact information, an objective and/or summary statement, education, experience, and skills.

• Resume Formats

The first step of creating your resume is using a suitable resume template. There are three universal resume formats used by candidates.

• Reverse Chronological Resume Format: This resume format starts by beginning with your most recent experience followed by your previous experiences in reverse chronological order. This helps you to highlight your most recent skills and experiences in a systematic way.
• Functional Resume Format: The functional format focuses more on your core skills than your recent experiences. That is why this resume is best if you have a career gap or you are switching industries.
• Hybrid Resume Format: The hybrid format has features of both reverse chronological and functional resumes. This helps you focus more on skills along with you recent professional experiences.

QUICK TIPS: For most college students or recent graduates, the reverse chronological resume format works well to accurately present your most recent experiences and skills to the recruiters, and it is also highly Applicant Tracking System (ATS) friendly.

• Resume Sections

Resume Summary/Contact Information

If an employer likes what they see on your resume, they need a way to contact you to set up an interview, which is why it’s important to provide the best ways to get in contact with you.

• Use your first & last name as the resume header
• Below your name, list your current phone number, active email address, and your location in City/State format. Such as Logan, UT
• Add a link to your LinkedIn profile, provided it's optimized for recruiters

QUICK TIPS: Make sure to exclude any personal information that could lead to any sort of discrimination (photo, age, height, religion, marital status, etc.)

Profile Objective (optional)

An objective is a good way to inform an employer your intentions and why you applied for the position. Some employers want to see an objective on your resume, and others do not. Either way a targeted objective can help the employer recognize the position you are applying for with a quick glance. For example: “Marketing professional seeking the position of brand manager with XYZ Corporation”

Profile Summary (optional)

A summary may be the first key section in your resume. In your summary, give a brief snapshot of your skills and accomplishments to get the recruiters’ attention and convince them to read the whole resume. It is recommended to write the summary in a single paragraph not exceeding 3-4 lines and avoiding the use of personal pronouns. For example: “High-achieving college student with an aptitude for marketing, social media, and brand management. Experienced in building advertising campaigns through related course projects and student organizations. Eager to use skills in a marketing internship with an advertising agency.”

If you are an entry-level professional with limited experience, place the education section directly under the resume summary or objective. Include the education you are currently obtaining and education you have previously received; this includes any certifications or licenses. Education example:

BS, Computer Science                                                                                                                   December 2022 Utah State University, Logan UT                                                                                                               GPA 3.76     •    Minors: Statistics and Spanish     •    Certified Data Professional (CDP)     •    Awarded Dean's Scholarship

QUICK TIPS:

• Once you reach your junior year in college, you can eliminate your high school-related information
• List two or three courses that you have taken that you feel are relevant to the job you are applying for; this is especially helpful in showing that you have the knowledge of certain topics if not yet the real-world experience
• List honors and awards related to your education in this section
• Add any study-abroad experience to your education section as well

Internship and Professional Experience

When listing your work experience, start with the most recent and work backwards. Make sure that each position is relevant showing that you have skills and experience pertinent to the position or that your skills and experience are transferrable to the position you are applying for. Include job titles, the company name, date of employment by month and year, and a list of responsibilities that focuses on any achievements for each position that you list.

• Write your experience and accomplishments using bullet points
• Begin each bullet point with power verbs and focus on achievements/accomplishments/results

The skills section of your resume allows you to inform an employer of any skills you have that may not have been specified in your work experience. Remember to keep your list applicable to the position you are applying to. Employers don’t care if you are great at knitting if you are applying to a computer science position.

Search the job description and look for skills and expertise, and then make sure you include all the skills you match with the description.

Additional Resume Sections

These sections are generally at the end of a resume and highlight your strengths to help you stand out. You can include leadership, volunteer and community involvement, and membership and offices in clubs and organizations.

Drop-in Appointments

Students can get their resume reviewed by one of our graduate Career Peers. Drop-in Appointments are held via Zoom or in-person during fall and spring semesters, and typically last between 10-15 minutes. The Career Design Center Resume Handout will help you prepare for your appointment.

Career Tutorials

Access the career development content anytime, anywhere! The Resume Module is filled with great, short, videos and content so it is convenient to you and easy to follow. The Resume Module delivers excellent advice for tailoring your resume.

Career Coach

Students can also meet with their designated Career Coach for a deeper review of your resume. To prepare, you can view sample resumes related to your major. Set up an appointment with your Career Coach on AGGIE Handshake or by contacting our office.

• ATS Compatibility

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is a resume screening tool companies use to sort resumes according to specific skill criteria. More than 95 percent of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS to streamline the recruiting process and keep up with the thousands of applications received weekly, but plenty of smaller employers have embraced the tool too, according to data collected by Jobscan. 

• Use a consistent resume format
• ATS friendly format recommends staying away from columns and tables
• Extract keywords from the job description and weave them into various sections of your resume
• Ensure that your resume has all of the requirements listed by the company
• Make sure the resume doesn't have any grammatical or spelling errors
• Stay away from personal pronouns and long paragraphs
• If you are an undergraduate, it is recommended your resume is one page
• References should be listed on a separate page or document

Build a new resume:

• Select the "Use a Pre-Written Sample" option and select the resume design of your choice
• Choose a job profile closest to your industry
• Customize the resume by providing your information
• Utilize options like, "AI Assistant," "AI Review," and "Job Match" from the left side of the page to ensure that your resume is up to the mark

Edit an existing resume:

• Choose the "Upload an Existing Resume" option and upload your resume from your files
• Select a resume design of your choice
• Customize your resume and add sections to categorize your resume further

Job Match feature:

• Use the "Job Match" feature to the left and upload your job descriptions to see if your resume fits their requirements
• Based on the suggestions, you can edit your resume to ensure maximum ATS optimization

On This Page

Example Resume

Moody College of Communication

Career center, moody college career center.

Explore your career options and take steps to launch your future with our innovative and comprehensive career support offerings. We offer personalized career coaching, specialized programming and a number of other resources to help you prepare for the career of your dreams!

Student Services Offered

Career Counseling

Career Prep Resources

Career Expos and Events

Engage with us, career center events, meet our team.

Meet the Moody Career Center team! We’re focused on supporting students in all their career-related endeavors and nurturing relationships with employers in communications-related industries. 

Director & Career Coach

Ashley Nash

Assistant Director

Rachel Van Middlesworth

Career Coach

Ian McEntee

Employer Relations Lead

Sierra Mayle

Office Manager

Contact the Career Center

[email protected] @MoodyCareerCenter 300 W Dean Keeton Austin, TX 78712

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5 things to do this summer for a successful job search

1. Work on your resume 

A resume is the most common document requested when applying for a job. If you are networking or interested in an opportunity, having a well-crafted resume ready to go will benefit you. 

Build a resume showcasing your skills and experience. For each highlighted skill, back it up with specific details. Your resume is an opportunity to sell yourself to potential employers. Be sure to include accurate and detailed information to help you stand out, and tailor your resume for each job application. 

Career Services offers AI Resume Editor by Quinncia , a free online resume review tool to help students enhance their resumes. The tool uses AI technology to provide personalized feedback on your resume based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices.  

2. Create a template cover letter 

A tailored cover letter can be the most vital piece of an application. The cover letter lets you elaborate on why you are applying to this specific role. A well-written cover letter will connect your reasons to your experiences and skills, showing why you are the ideal candidate for the position. 

While you won't be able to finalize a cover letter until you find a position you're interested in, you can develop a template cover letter as a starting point. You can build the template around the foundational skills you hope to use in a future role or the experiences you've gained that are relevant to positions you're interested in. 

3. Update your online profiles 

Online profiles are essential for finding a job or internship. In fact, Handshake is the place where many college students find jobs.  

Keep your online profiles, like Handshake and LinkedIn , up to date. You’ve likely expanded your skills and added experiences over the last year. Take time this summer to review your profiles and update them with any new information: 

Consider classes, part-time work, leadership roles and other experiences you could add to enhance your profile. 

Rewrite and update your summary section on LinkedIn with your goals, projects and interests.  

Update your profile image with a recent professional photo. Career Services offers a free self-service photo booth you can use if you need a new profile photo! 

4. Build an online portfolio 

For relevant majors and job positions, an online portfolio gives you a way to highlight your work and projects. Some positions may ask you to submit a portfolio with your application. Even when it’s not required, you may still want to provide the link to your portfolio in your resume or cover letter.  

Students can create a free online portfolio using BuffsCreate .  

5. Prepare for recommendation and reference requests 

Summer can be a great time to connect with mentors, discuss your professional goals and ask for recommendations or references. While past professors, supervisors and volunteer coordinators are excellent resources, anyone who can reflect on your skills and professional identity can make a good reference. 

Prepare for the job search 

Take time this summer to get a head start on your job or internship search. Career Services offers career counseling, on-demand tools and more to support students. 

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What’s Open at U of G on Victoria Day Weekend?

The University’s normal business operations will be reduced on Monday, May 20 for Victoria Day weekend. Normal operations resume Tuesday, May 21.  

What’s open    

Service areas open on Monday, May 20 include:   

• Reduced hours   
• Main floor is open  
• Emergency referrals only   
• Hospital is closed. For after-hours emergencies during the holiday period, please call 519-823-8830 for further instructions on obtaining emergency care.     
• Lab open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to receive samples only (no testing performed). Sample drop-off in vestibule is available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.   
• The Arboretum – grounds are open, buildings are closed (except for private events)  
• East and Gordon Residence Desks – open 24 hours a day   

The McLaughlin Library is closed for the weekend, May 18 to 21.  

All Hospitality locations will be closed on Monday, May 20.  

Please check each unit’s specific website for hours of operation. Administrative offices are closed on May 20, resuming services on May 21.  

Campus Safety Officers are on duty all day, every day, all year, including during statutory holidays. They may be reached at 519-824-4120, Ext. 52000, in case of emergencies and at Ext. 52245 for non-emergency calls.  

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• What’s Open at U of G on Family Day 2023
• What’s Open at U of G Over the Thanksgiving Weekend?
• What’s Open at U of G on Victoria Day 2020
• IMPACT Mental Health Program at U of G Sees Success in First Year 

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Cover Letters

Your cover letter is one of the best marketing tools you have in finding a position. It’s often one of the first things asked of you in the job or internship search process. Learn about how to write an effective cover letter to help you land your next interview!

The purpose of a cover letter is to make a compelling case for yourself as a candidate for a particular job, and it complements what’s in your resume. It’s an opportunity to tell an employer more about you than just what they’ll see in your work history. Other things matter too, like work habits, communication skills, drive, people skills and overall enthusiasm for the job. A good cover letter doesn’t summarize the resume that follows; it adds new details that aren’t on the resume that explain why YOU would excel at this particular job .

We suggest thinking back to past compliments from supervisors or teammates when you’re trying to come up with skills to highlight and tying them to an anecdote to make things feel a little more grounded. Anyone can say they are a “team player” who “works well under pressure,” but not everyone can talk about how their successful presentation sealed the deal with a hesitant client, or brag that they’ve got spreadsheet customization skills that their coworkers have described as a “game changer.” 

To take the pressure off the writing process, imagine you’re writing an email to a friend about why you think you’d be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history; you’d talk about what you’re good at, how your experiences align with what it takes to do the job well, how you’d approach the work, and why you’re excited about it. That’s a good basis for any cover letter.

Cover Letter guide

Be Mindful of the Medium 

Hard copy/electronic.

For a hard copy cover letter or a word document for electronic application submission, use the same heading as you have in your resume. This will make sure all of your documents match and looks very professional.

• If you’re submitting the cover letter as an email, the subject line should include your name, the job title, and/or the posting number
• When emailing your materials, write your cover letter in the body of the email — omit the header, date, and address section; only keep whom the letter is addressed to and the body of the letter 
• Make sure to include your contact information in the signature of the email when emailing a letter, in case it’s forwarded

What to Avoid

While different job descriptions will require you to think differently, here are some points you should always avoid:

• Don’t use a generic letter for every position you apply for, instead, take the time to tailor each cover letter to the particular company and position that you’re applying for
• Don’t be in a hurry — be sure to follow the instructions in the job posting, and include any information specifically requested
• Avoid typos, misspelled words and false or exaggerated information — always have someone else proofread before sending
• Don’t address the letter to “To Whom it May Concern”! Use the name of the hiring manager or you can use one of the following salutations: “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Team”

Below you’ll find cover letter examples paired with respective job descriptions. For these examples, read the job description closely and then the matching cover letter to better understand how to write a cover letter that’s tailored to the job. These examples are intended for inspiration only — to show what our cover letter advice can look like in practice.

• Cover Letter Example for an Internship
• Cover Letter Example for a Research Opportunity
• Cover Letter Example for a Full-Time Position

Want a Cover Letter Review?

Make an appointment with a CNS career coach

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Columns will be published on June 10 and 24 and July 8 and 22. Weekly publication will resume in Aug. 5.

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