Before you apply for any open positions, it’s important to have your resume and cover letter prepared. While a resume and cover letter are not always required for an application, you’ll have a MUCH better chance of being hired if you use these two documents to highlight your work experience, skills, and enthusiasm.
Employers often sift through hundreds of applications for each position, and some might even discard applications that do not include a resume or cover letter. These documents are your first introduction to an employer, which makes them an important tool in showing them you are a strong candidate for the job.
What’s the difference?
Resumes and cover letters present some of the same information, but they serve two distinct purposes.
A resume is a one to two page document—often in the form of a bulleted list—that provides an overview of your professional qualifications. Resumes are typically written in the third person, and use as few words as possible to summarize your experience.
An effective cover letter is a short declaration of your enthusiasm for the job itself, and an extra chance to make yourself look like the ideal candidate. While a resume is concise and to the point, a cover letter can provide detailed examples of how your work experience relates to the job you’re applying for.
It can feel like a challenge to write these documents, but the Library has resources, materials, and staff expertise to help you!
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Library staff can review your resume and cover letter, conduct a mock interview, and more!
Contact Us: 412-622-3114 or info@carnegielibrary.org
Here are some general resources to help you get started:
Library Resources
DigitalLearn: Creating Resumes
DigitalLearn a rich resource for self-directed learning that won’t be overwhelming. All courses are broken down into short videos with helpful handouts so you can follow along. You can learn everything from computer basics to Microsoft Excel and more! Click here to see all DigitalLearn courses.
* Log into LinkedIn Learning with your Library card number, then search for the class title.
Print Books Available at CLP: Expert Resumes Series
The Expert Resumes book series is a useful resource if you’re looking for resume examples for specific job types. These books can give you examples of good (and bad!) resumes, as well as provide guidance on how to think about getting your work history down onto paper and into resume shape.
Print Books Available at CLP: Knock ‘Em Dead Series
The Knock ‘Em Dead series is another great resource for resume examples, templates, and more.
Internet Resources
Indeed: How to Make a Resume (With Examples)
The Balance Careers: How to Write a Resume (With Examples)
Indeed: Resume Examples by Industry
Monster: Resume Examples by Industry
Zety: Resume Examples and Samples for Any Job and Industry
Resume Review
CareerLink RezScore
Once you have a first draft of your resume, you can use CareerLink’s useful, free tool for resume review called RezScore. Upload a copy of your file to the website and RezScore provides you with a score that can help you make effective edits to improve readability.
Resumes can be formatted in several different ways, but there are certain elements every hiring manager will be looking for, including contact information, work or professional history, educational background, and skills.
Before sitting down at a computer to write your resume, it can be helpful to gather the information you want to include in your resume. Our Resume Worksheet can help you have all your information ready.
How to Digitize Your Resume
Once you’ve gathered the information you want to include in your resume, you can start typing up your resume on the computer. Here are some ways to get started.
Pro Tip: Keep It Simple. It can feel tempting to spend a lot of time making your resume flashy and full of color and graphics. However, unless you are entering a design field, a basic resume with clear information is most important for your applications.
Microsoft Word
You can access the full, desktop version of Microsoft Word on any Library computer. You can also access a free, online version of Word by creating a Microsoft account with an email address. Use the search bar in either the desktop or online version to find ready-to-edit resume templates, or browse downloadable templates at office.com.
Google Docs
Similar to the online version of Microsoft Word, Google Docs is accessible with a Google account and offers template options for creating your resume. Your progress will save in the cloud, and you can download, print, and email your document when it’s finished. Hover over the “plus” icon in the bottom right corner and click “choose template” to find ready-to-edit resume templates, or browse available templates at ResumeGenius.com
Resume Builders
A word of caution about resume builders: there are many available online, but be aware that most are not free of charge. Many resume builders will allow you to write your whole resume before requesting payment for full access to your document, costing you time, effort, and money.
resume.com is a simple, free resume builder that allows you to build, download, and print your resume for free. You can even download a text version of your resume to save and edit later. However, you’ll need to have or create an Indeed account if you want to download or print your resume.
If you’re willing to pay, some resume builders include resume critiques, reviews, and proofreading. Check out this guide by Balance Careers to find a resume builder that suits your needs. However, keep in mind that you can make an appointment with the Library to have your resume reviewed for free!
Parts of a Resume
Heading: The heading of your resume includes your full name and contact information, like your phone number and email address.
Email Address: Include a professional-sounding email address, ideally something that contains your first and last name. If you do not have an email address, library staff can help you set one up, or you can click here for a quick guide.
Phone Number: You should include the best phone number to reach you, and make sure your voicemail box is set up so you can receive messages.
Home or Mailing Address: You can include your home address if you’d like, but most employers won’t need it until further into the hiring process. If you are applying for jobs outside of the city where you currently live, consider leaving your home address out of your resume (though keep in mind that if you’re chosen for an interview, they’ll likely expect you to appear in person).
Career Summary: Including a summary of your professional achievements can be a more effective way of grabbing an employer’s attention. Remember to keep it short; include one or two sentences that sum up the skills and experience you think are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
What About the Objective Statement? If you’ve written resumes in the past, you may remember the “Objective Statement” that used to start most resumes. The Career Summary is a more modern introduction to your resume that allows you to highlight your qualifications, rather than stating what you seek in a position.
Resources for Writing a Career Summary
Indeed: A Complete Resume Summary Guide
Monster: 15 Awesome Resume Summary Examples
The Balance Careers: How to Write a Resume Summary Statement with Examples
Professional Experience: This section makes up the bulk of your resume. Here, you’ll list your past jobs and other professional experience. For each entry, you’ll include:
Pro Tip: The most common way to list your professional experience is chronologically, with your most recent job first. However, if you’re writing a resume for a career change, or have a large gap in your professional history, you might want to explore using a functional resume or a combination resume. Be aware that some application tracking software programs reject resumes without a chronological work history.
How to Write About Your Professional Experience
Pro Tip: If you’re having trouble finding the right words to talk about your accomplishments, try using O*Net Online to search for your job title. O*Net provides descriptions of common occupation-specific tasks, technology skills, work activities, and more.
Resources for Describing Your Professional Experience
The Balance Careers: How to Write Job Descriptions for Your Resume
Indeed: How to Write Resume Job Descriptions (With Examples)
Drexel University: Work Experience Descriptions
O*Net Online: Occupational Data
Education: If you completed your education or degree in the last 5 years, you can list your education section at the top of your resume, before your work experience, as it is likely the most prominent piece of your resume. If you graduated more than 5 years ago, move your education section below your professional experience. List the name of the school or certifying body, the dates you attended, and the degree or certificate you achieved. You can also include any honors received, and your GPA if it is above 3.4. If you are currently enrolled in a program, list the year of intended graduation. Learn more about including your education history on Indeed, Monster,
Skills: Here, you can list specific skills you possess that relate directly to the job you are applying for. You can include computer skills, technical skills, and soft skills. Learn more about listing skills on your resume on Indeed, RobertHalf, and The Balance Careers
Optional Categories: Achievements, Languages, Awards, etc.: There may be additional information you’d like to include on your resume that doesn’t fit in other sections, or skills that you’d like to draw special attention to.
A cover letter is the place to connect the content of your resume to the opportunity and demonstrate that you have done your research about your potential employer, plus any details that may strike an employer as odd. Maybe there is a large gap between jobs or you wanted to expand on a project in your resume. You will want to gather those extra details and the research you did about the job to compile into a cover letter that will show your personality to the employer.
Our Cover Letter Worksheet can help you collect these thoughts and create an outline to write a strong and personal cover letter. There is also a template included.
Here are some more resources to get you started with your cover letter:
Library Resources
* Log into LinkedIn Learning with your Library card number, then search for the class title.
* Log into Udemy with your CLP Library card number, then search for the class title.
Print Books Available at CLP: These books will help you learn about how to tailor your cover letters to each individual job posting efficiently and successfully. They’ll also provide information on common mistakes so you can avoid them.
Internet Resources
GCFGlobal: Cover Letter Tutorial
Indeed: How to Write a Cover letter
Monster: How to Write a Cover Letter
Harvard Business Review: How to Write a Cover Letter
The Muse: How to Write a Cover Letter: The All-Time Best Tips
Robert Half: Writing a Cover Letter That Will Stand Out
Cover Letter Samples and Templates
Indeed: Cover Letter Samples by Industry
How to Format a Cover Letter
You can start your cover letter by using a template from one of the resources listed above, or through Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Generally, your cover letter should:
Parts of a Cover Letter
Heading: In most cases, your heading should match the look and format of your resume. You’ll include your full name and contact information. Remember to use a professional email address, preferably with your first and last name. If you do not have an email address, library staff can help you set one up, or you can click here for a quick guide.
You can also include the employer’s name and address, especially if you are presenting a hard copy cover letter by hand or mail.
Greeting: Do your best to avoid a generic salutation like “To Whom It May Concern." Instead, aim to address your letter to the hiring manager, the direct supervisor of the position, or the head of the department. The best ways to learn contact names are to call the organization’s front office or to review their website. Find out more about cover letter salutations at The Balance Careers, Indeed, and The Muse.
First Paragraph: In your opening paragraph, mention the job title, where you heard about the opportunity, and express your enthusiasm for the position. Is there a specific reason you chose to apply? What interests you about the company or organization? This is where you can explain your reasons and show a little about what you know about the employer.
Middle Paragraph: The middle paragraph will serve as your body paragraph. Here is where you will identify what the employer is looking for in a candidate and connect that to your own skills and experience to demonstrate that you are a strong candidate for the job. It is also good to set yourself apart from other candidates by including something unique about yourself, such as an anecdote about a time your skills helped you achieve a goal or solve a problem.
Pro Tip: Remember to incorporate keywords and phrases from the job posting in your cover letter. Find out more at Indeed, The Balance Careers, and Resume.com
Third Paragraph: This will be the conclusion to your letter. Focus on another key achievement or skill that is relevant to the position, or expand on specific stories that display why you would be a good fit for the role. Invite the employer to contact you via the methods listed in the heading. Make sure you thank them for their time and end with your signature!
Customizing Your Cover Letters
Taking the time to customize your cover letter for each of your job applications can make a real difference in your hiring prospects. Personalizing your letters to each company or organization will present a compelling argument for why you are the best fit for the position. Here are some ways that you can tailor your cover letters to each position:
Resources for Customizing Your Cover Letters
Indeed: How to Write a Personalized Cover Letter
TopResume: How to Tailor Your Cover Letter for Each Job Application
The Balance Careers: How to Write a Custom Cover Letter
The Muse: This Is the Cover Letter Advice Everyone Misunderstands