Resumes and cover letters are typically submitted simultaneously for a job inquiry or application. A resume outlines your educational qualifications, work experiences and other skills related to the job opportunity. In a cover letter, you provide strong supporting information about why your background is a good fit for the job.
Resume Basics
Resumes are typically one to two pages depending on your amount of work experience. You want to have a visually attractive resume; otherwise, the content of your background will not get noticed, points out the University of Utah Career Services. Standard type size and font are suggested. This includes a 10- to 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font. A header with your name and contact information should go at the top of each page, and your cover letter should have the same header.
Finer Points
Resumes are broken into categories that can include objective, summary of qualifications, education, experience, skills, volunteer experience and other categories that highlight hobbies and interests, honors, or other useful add-ons. People with strong work experience and education are more likely to benefit from focusing on these categories and limiting use of some of the less pertinent categories. People with less work experience and education often use these extra categories to demonstrate relevant qualifications not as common. New college graduates may also use them to gain entry-level work. In listing experiences in each category, maintain a uniform look and use brief, quick-hitting statements.
Cover Letter Basics
A good cover letter has at least as much, if not more, importance in getting the attention of a hiring manager. Your letter is an open opportunity to sell yourself to the position. Cover letters are most effective when targeted to the specific position you want. This begins with the use of the hiring manager or committee chair's name. Your goal with a cover letter is first to get the hiring manager to read your resume, and then to get him to take you seriously as a candidate for an interview.
Finer Points
In the letter, demonstrate an awareness of the company and the needs of the position. Then highlight three to four relevant strengths you have that specifically address a few of the most impacting qualifications desired for the position. Your letter follows similar formatting guidelines to your resume and should have a similar look with the header. Your first paragraph should indicate why you are writing with reference to how you learned of the position, according to Virginia Tech Career Services. The next two paragraphs are your outline of the company needs followed by your relevant strengths. Your close should include a thank you, indicate your interest in an interview and provide a phone number, and note that you will follow up within a week, or another specific period of time.
