RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
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I think people get really excited at the thought of ‘Oh, they want me for this job.’ But lots of places want you. So it’s important to think about how that job would be serving you (other than financially). Is it good experience? Is it fun? Are you learning lots? Are you doing it ‘just cuz?’ All are valid reasons, just make sure to think about them when picking.
Resume and cover letter writing is a significant skill that you will learn during your time at UBC. The average employer spends anywhere from six seconds to two minutes scanning your resume and cover letter. Within this short period of time, you must demonstrate how your skills, experiences and characteristics match what they are looking for. Here’s how you can make an excellent impression. JOB DESCRIPTION Start off by carefully reading through the job description, not once, but twice. This way you will have a better understanding of the company and position that you are applying for. Figure out the exact qualifications and skills the employer is looking for
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and include the relevant skills and experiences you have in your resume. ORDERING BY RELEVANCE With such little time to make an impression, it’s important that you organize the content in your resume effectively. Place your strongest work experiences and skills at the top and your weakest at the bottom. This way you can ensure that your strengths are highlighted and make it easier for employers to better understand your capabilities and skills. ACCOMPLISHMENT STATEMENTS Accomplishments statements are the building block for a great resume. They are normally written in point form and appear after you introduce a job title. Rather than explaining what your tasks were in a spe-
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