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.

— EMILY GUBSKI

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 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-

cific position, accomplishment statements illustrate the results of your work, making you stand out to employers. For example, instead of writing ‘I organized a marketing campaign,’ write ‘I organized a marketing campaign which resulted in selling over 450 tickets to students.’

FORMATTING AND READABILITY Before submitting your resume, make sure to do the following: • Remove any content that is significantly old or irrelevant to the position. • Review your resume for spelling and grammar. • Keep formatting consistent throughout your resume. • For easy reading, avoid small fonts, crazy colours and too many words.

THE COVER LETTER Including a cover letter in your application is a great opportunity to emphasize the qualifications, skills and traits that make you a great candidate.

Here’s what you should include: 1. Contact information and date:

Provide your full name, address, telephone, e-mail and the date (e.g., June 13, 2021). 2. Employer’s information: Include the employer’s name, job title, company name, address and postal code. 3. Salutation: Address the employer using “dear” or “to” and avoid using statements like “to whom it may concern.” 4. Introductory paragraph: Explain what position you are applying for and how you found out about the position.

Use this space to show why you are interested and the characteristics that make you an ideal candidate. 5. Body paragraphs: Use two to three body paragraphs to highlight your past work and volunteer experiences that illustrate your strengths and skills and connect their value back to the position. 6. Closing: Mention your interest in interviewing to discuss the position. Provide information on your availability and the best way the employer can contact you.

Feeling stuck? If you require any assistance with writing your resume and cover letter, the Centre for Student Involvement & Careers offers drop-in advising on resume and cover letter writing. Its website has lots of tips as well. U