purdue owl resume sample

• Military & Veterans
• Transfer & Credits
• Education Partnerships
• COVID-19 Info
• 844-PURDUE-G
• Student Login
• Request Info
• Bachelor of Science
• Master of Science
• Associate of Applied Science
• Graduate Certificate
• Master of Business Administration
• ExcelTrack Master of Business Administration
• ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science
• Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Certificate
• Associate of Applied Science (For Military Students)
• Programs and Courses
• Master of Public Administration
• Doctor of Education
• Postgraduate Certificate
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Master of Health Care Administration
• Master of Health Informatics
• Doctor of Health Science
• Associate of Applied of Science (For Military Students)
• Associate of Science (For Military Students)
• Master of Public Health
• Executive Juris Doctor
• Juris Doctor
• Dual Master's Degrees
• ExcelTrack Master of Science
• Master of Science (DNP Path)
• Bachelor of Science (RN-to-BSN)
• ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science (RN-to-BSN)
• Associate of Science
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Master of Professional Studies

The average Purdue Global military student is awarded 54% of the credits needed for an associate's and 45% of the credits needed for a bachelor's.

• General Education Mobile (GEM) Program
• AAS in Health Science
• AS in Health Science
• BS in Organizational Management
• BS in Professional Studies
• AAS in Criminal Justice
• AAS in Small Group Management
• AAS Small Group Management
• Master's Degrees
• Bachelor's Degrees
• Associate's Degrees
• Certificate Programs
• Noncredit Courses
• Tuition and Financial Aid Overview
• Financial Aid Process
• Financial Aid Awards
• Financial Aid Resources
• Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions
• Financial Aid Information Guide
• Tuition and Savings
• Aviation Degree Tuition and Fees
• Professional Studies Tuition and Fees
• Single Courses and Micro-Credentials
• Time and Tuition Calculator
• Net Price Calculator
• Military Benefits & Tuition Assistance
• Military Educational Resources
• Military Tuition Reductions
• Military Spouses
• Student Loans
• Student Grants
• Outside Scholarships
• Loan Management
• Financial Literacy Tools
• Academic Calendar
• Admissions Process
• General Requirements
• Technology Requirements
• Transfer Students
• Alternative Credit Center
• DREAMers Education Initiative
• Student Identity
• Student Experience
• Online Experience
• Student Life
• Alumni Engagement
• International Students
• Academic Support
• All Purdue Online Degrees
• Career Services
• COVID-19 FAQs
• Student Accessibility Services
• Student Resources
• Transcript Request
• About Purdue Global
• Accreditation
• Approach to Learning
• Career Opportunities
• Diversity Initiatives
• Purdue Global Commitment
• Cybersecurity Center
• Chancellor's Corner
• Purdue Global Moves
• Leadership and Board
• Facts and Statistics
• Researcher Request Intake Form

Most Commonly Searched:

• All Degree Programs
• Communication
• Criminal Justice
• Fire Science
• Health Sciences
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Legal Studies
• Professional Studies
• Psychology and ABA
• Public Policy
• Military and Veterans
• Tuition & Financial Aid Overview
• Tuition and Fee Finder
• Financial Aid FAQs
• Military Benefits & Aid
• Admissions Overview
• Student Experience Overview
• Academic Support Overview
• 15 Tips for Resume Writing

15 Resume Writing Tips: How to Craft a Resume That Gets Noticed

Preparing a solid resume is a critical step on your path to a rewarding job. While you may have years of experience, your resume can still go unnoticed if you don’t optimize it for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and ensure it stands out to human reviewers, too. As you create your new resume or modify your last one, keep the following 15 tips in mind.

1. Tailor Your Resume to Your Desired Position or Industry

As you create your resume, keep in mind the needs of your target employer and tailor your resume to show how you fit the needs of that employer. If you’re applying for a specific position, review the job requirements and description carefully and make sure that your resume reflects how you fit those requirements.

You should also research the employer and then review your resume to see if there is additional, relevant information you can add. For example, if you’re applying for a job in the medical field, make sure your resume includes any medical or health care-related experience you may have.

2. Use a Clean, Visually Appealing Format

While your qualifications are usually the greatest indicator of whether you’re a good candidate for a role, a resume that’s clean, easy to read, and visually appealing could play a part in a hiring manager reading it.

As you create your resume, focus on formatting your resume so that it’s easy to read. For example, your resume should include:

• 1-inch margins
• Section headers
• Bulleted lists
• The same font throughout the document
• Consistent line spacing

3. Use an Appropriate Font

Use a professional, clean, modern font. Times New Roman has been a historical go-to for resumes, and is still acceptable, but you may want to consider a different font, like Arial.

Additionally, ensure that your font is appropriately sized. A 10- to 12-point font is usually best.

4. Use a Professional Email Address

You might be surprised at how many people still include unprofessional email addresses in their resumes. Have a dedicated professional email address, if you don’t already. Your first initial and last name is a common and recommended format for your email address. You may want to avoid using a number in your email address because this could be assumed to be your birth year, which could lead to perceived ageism.

Imagine you were a hiring manager, and you saw the following two email addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

As much as we love sports, we’re willing to bet most hiring managers would rather continue reading the resume of the second candidate.

5. Include a Summary Statement

A summary statement at the beginning of your resume is important. It’s a brief statement that covers your experience and goals as they relate to the position you’re applying for.

Keep it concise at about 3 to 5 lines.

“Think about the words you are using and try to use quantifiable information,” says Jennifer Lasater, vice president, employer and career services at Purdue Global. “Instead of ‘hard worker,’ it's better to state that you ‘increased sales by 25%’.”

 Use this space to summarize your experience, strengths, and goals as they relate to the position you are applying to.

6. Ensure All Information Is Up to Date

Some job-seekers create many resumes for many different positions. When reworking your resume for the job you’re applying for, ensure that all the information is current and relevant to the given position. Check that you haven’t left anything behind from an older version of your resume or one that was written for a different role.

7. Use Reverse Chronological Order

Putting your work history in reverse chronological order (so your most recent role is listed first, under “Experience”) is the standard practice, and it’s what your reviewer will be expecting.

The same is true for your education section. Your most recent schooling is most likely most relevant to the role you’re applying for now, so list education in reverse chronological order as well.

8. Be Concise About Experience and Job Duties

Your experience and previous job duties are some of the most important words on your resume. It’s tempting to want to elaborate on your accomplishments and make sure they’re properly explained, but hiring managers want to get right to the meat of your experience to see how it aligns with their current needs.

Be concise about your previous duties and accomplishments. Use bullet points instead of full sentences or paragraphs. Instead of elaborating on your biggest accomplishments, clearly communicate them in 1 to 2 bulleted lines that begin with action verbs such as “managed” or “developed.”

9. Make It ATS-Friendly

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a type of software that helps employers collect, organize, and rank candidates’ resumes. Three-quarters of recruiters and talent managers use some form of recruiting or applicant tracking software, Capterra reports .

An ATS helps hiring managers find the most relevant candidates by searching for certain keywords in resumes. To optimize your resume for an ATS, review the job description carefully for important keywords and include those that are relevant to your job or educational experience in your resume.

>> Read More: How to Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

10. Decide: Education or Experience—Which Comes First?

The answer to this question is fairly simple. If you recently graduated from school with little to no relevant work experience, list your education first. This will be more relevant to employers than any unrelated jobs you held while earning your degree. If you had any internships that are relevant to the role you’re applying for, put the internships first, then education.

Moving forward in your career, your experience should be placed above the section about your education. Your professional experience will almost always be more relevant to hiring managers than your education, unless there are strict educational requirements in your field. But even in that case, experience should be listed first.

11. Include Only Relevant Educational Information

You want your resume to be concise, so if you’ve enrolled at a college or university, you can exclude education previous to that, including your high school. You should include any education that you’re currently working on, but don’t include educational programs from the past that you started but didn’t complete.

List any academic honors you’ve received, and only include your GPA if it’s above 3.0.

12. Exclude the Reference Statement

Historically, standard practice when writing resumes was to add a statement along the lines of “References available upon request.” This is unnecessary. Again, you want your resume to be as sleek and streamlined as possible, and excluding this statement saves room. Hiring managers know they’re able to request references from you if they’re interested.

13. Include Additional Section(s) if Relevant

The important thing here is “if relevant.” If you have other past experience that’s not necessarily related to the position itself but speaks to you as a candidate, you can include it. Some examples of additional sections include:

• Internships
• Volunteer experience
• Community service
• Languages spoken
• Professional memberships
• Associations/affiliations

14. Include a Cover Letter

You might think it’s unnecessary or unlikely to actually be read, but a cover letter gives you the opportunity to provide your potential employer with a well-spoken narrative about your qualifications and career objectives. It also serves as a way to get ahead of or explain certain aspects of your resume—for example, a gap in employment—if necessary.

Try to include some aspects that aren’t in your resume—you don’t want your cover letter to repeat your resume in story form. “We recommend that students identify three qualifications from the job description that they have and illustrate in the cover letter how they meet those requirements,” says Jennifer Katz, director of career services at Purdue Global.

Your cover letter should also be highly targeted and unique to each position you apply for.

>> Learn More: Tips on Writing a Stellar Cover Letter

15. Proofread (Then Proofread Again)

This tip can’t be emphasized enough. This is your chance to make a good first impression, and one spelling or grammatical error could compromise the credibility of your entire resume. That might sound harsh, and not all hiring managers are such sticklers on this, but some are.

Read it and reread it. Send it to family and friends who will read it and give you feedback. In addition to helping identify any spelling or grammatical errors, this will also help identify any issues with words that have multiple spellings (e.g., role vs. roll, their vs. there). The more people that can help you review your resume, the better. Other people may be more likely to pick up something you missed, even if you have reviewed it yourself several times.

If You Need Additional Education to Land Your Dream Job

If you’ve already put in the work to become qualified for the position you’re applying for, all you need to do now is clearly and effectively communicate that to your potential employers with a clean, concise resume. Good luck!

But if a college degree could help you reach your career goals, learn more about Purdue Global. We offer more than 175 online programs, from certificates to doctoral degrees. We’ve tailored higher education to meet the needs of working adults. Request more information today .

About the Author

Purdue Global

Earn a degree you're proud of and employers respect at Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. Accredited and online, Purdue Global gives you the flexibility and support you need to come back and move your career forward. Choose from 175+ programs, all backed by the power of Purdue.

• General Education
• Legal Studies & Public Policy
• Online Learning

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Learn more about online programs at Purdue Global and download our program guide.

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

* Employment and Career Advancement: Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement or career advancement. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience and opportunities for employment.

Career Resources: Resumes & Cover Letters

• Career Exploration
• Finding a Job

Resume vs. Cover Letter

Resume & cover letter help.

• Cost of Living
• Career Research
• UHV Career Development Center

What exactly are resumes and cover letters?

A resume is a document used and created by a person to present their background, skills, and accomplishments. It is formatted as a list of experiences, education, and qualifications.

A cover letter  is a written document that outlines a person's qualifications and interest in a certain job position. 

So, a resume is a list of your experience and a cover letter allows you to explain why you think you are a good fit for the job.

Usually, employers will make clear in their job ads or their application websites whether or not they want a resume, cover letter, or both. Many jobs require both. 

• UHV Career Development Center Career Services provides quality counseling in the areas of choosing a major, job search strategies, pursuing employment and/or graduate school opportunities to UHV undergraduates, graduates, and alumni.
• CareerOneStop - Resume Guide Tips on what to include in your resume, formatting, and sample resumes.
• Purdue OWL Writing Lab - Resumes & Cover Letters These OWL resources will help you compose effective résumés and curricula vitae (or CVs) for your job search. This section includes resources on page design (which includes using white space, headings, and fonts), as well as resources on tailoring your résumé for specific employers. This section also contains links to other OWL resources geared for entry-level and skilled labor positions.
• << Previous: Finding a Job
• Next: Cost of Living >>

Career Research Guide

• Exploring Careers
• Hunting for Jobs
• Researching Employers

Creating Your Resume

Resume examples, selected books & ebooks from the ccsu library.

• Writing Cover Letters
• Interviewing

There are two main styles of resumes: chronological and functional

Chronological : this type of resume highlights your employment history. You should use this type of resume if you have a lot of career experience in one field and are planning to apply for a job in that field.

Functional : this type of resume highlights your skills. You should use this type of resume if you do not have a lot of work experience , or if your work experience is in a different field from the job to which you are applying. This type of resume is ideal for first-year students or people who want to switch career paths.

 Visit the following links for guides to help you create your resume:

• CareerOneStop A great place to visit to start assembling your resume. This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the process of creating a resume, providing examples along the way.
• Penn State Career Services From Penn State. Explanation of parts of the resume & CV
• Purdue OWL: Resumes and Vitas From Purdue University. Includes parts of resumes & vitas. Includes information on how to make a resume scannable.
• Chronological Resume Sample From Purdue OWL
• Functional Resume Sample From Purdue OWL
• Skills Resume Sample From Purdue OWL
• CareerOneStop Examples
• Climbtheladder Resume Examples
• << Previous: Researching Employers
• Next: Writing Cover Letters >>
• Last Updated: Aug 29, 2022 9:57 AM
• URL: https://libguides.ccsu.edu/career

Report a tech support issue

Elihu Burritt Library Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050 - Map

CCSU Home | Central Pipeline | CentralSearch / Catalog | Sign In to CentralSearch | Search Library Website

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

These resources will help you write your résumé. These pages will also help you design your résumé so it looks professional.

Introduction

These resources will help you write your résumé. These pages will also help you design your résumé so it looks professional. To use these pages, you may select links in the navigation bar on the left, you may select links from the list below, or you may advance through the pages using the links at the bottom of each page. Click here to download the PDF file containing sample résumés and employment letters. The résumé pages are organized into the following sections:

• What is a résumé?
• Why do I need to do a résumé?
• What should I do if I'm a veteran entering civilian life?
• What should I do if I am transitioning from the automotive industry?
• What should I do about time I was not working?
• What should I do if I have been incarcerated?
• What should my résumé look like?
• What should my résumé include?
• Contact information
• Work experience
• Summary of skills
• Optional section - professional affiliations
• Optional section - other experiences
• Designing your résumé
• Four-section Method (balancing your résumé)
• Using columns in your résumé
• Résumé fonts
• Other types of emphasis
• The twenty-second test for checking your résumé's effectiveness

•   LibGuides
•   A-Z List
•   Help

Career & Talent Development Resources

• Career Research
• Company & Industry Research
• Resumes & Cover Letters
• Interviewing Tips
• Entrepreneurs & Sales Professionals
• International Business
• Sustainability & Environment
• Hospitality & Tourism Management
• Journalism and Mass Communication
• Other Majors
• Fast growing Careers
• Jobs for International Students
• Internships
• New Career Books in the Library

Useful websites

• Resume Workshop - Purdue OWL
• Resume & Cover Letter Guide - Career Onestop
• Resume Examples

Books in the library

Looking for more books on this topic? Try the search term below to search the Library catalog: 

• << Previous: Company & Industry Research
• Next: Interviewing Tips >>
• Last Updated: Mar 5, 2024 1:12 PM
• URL: https://library.fiu.edu/career

Information

Fiu libraries floorplans, green library, modesto a. maidique campus, hubert library, biscayne bay campus.

Directions: Green Library, MMC

Directions: Hubert Library, BBC

Professional Writing

Many people engage in specific types of writing, particularly non-academic and technology-based writing, that they might not even think of as “writing.” But these specific types of writing–such as emails and web-based writing–require writers to meet certain guidelines in order to be effective. This section provides resources for writing emails, writing for the web, and writing for the job search.

Also see: Writing in the Disciplines and Across the Curriculum for specific types of academic writing in Business, Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences | Conducting Research for resources on how to write a research paper | Writing with Technology for information on free online tools, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Note for Montclair State University Students : Montclair State University’s Center for Career Services also offers assistance with writing related to career and graduate school applications. See their on-demand workshops .

WORKPLACE WRITING

Writing for email.

Email is one of the dominant ways people communicate at home, work, and school. Even though email is used for both formal and informal communications, one needs to consider the setting and audience when composing a message. In other words, it may be appropriate to use a casual tone in an email to a friend, but that tone may be inappropriate when making a formal request of a professor. These resources address such issues involved in email etiquette.

Effective E-mail Communication (The Writing Center, UNC Chapel Hill) Thorough guideline for writing effective, professional email that includes examples you can use.

Email Etiquette (Purdue OWL) “Although instant and text/SMS messaging is beginning to supplant email for some groups’ primary means of Internet communication, effective and appropriate email etiquette is still important. This resource will help you to become an effective writer and reader/manager of email.”

Email Tune-up (businessenglishpod.com) Posted on YouTube | April and November 2008 A series of video podcasts for ESL students who want to improve their business email writing skills. Here is a list of several of these 9-10 minute videos.

• Email Tune-up 01: Overview (9:43)
• Email Tune-up 02: Asking for Feedback (9:21)
• Email Tune-up 04: Bad News Messages (10:49)

Email Writing (Texas A&M University Writing Center) “Many of the best practices for writing an effective business letter or memo also apply to writing a business email. For instance, when sending email, it’s just as important as ever to tailor your message specifically to your recipient and keep it brief, direct, and engaging. There are, however, some special considerations for conducting business via email.”

How to Practice Email Etiquette (Tracy Goodwin, expertvillage.com) Posted on YouTube: September 25, 2008 Series of short (1 – 1 1/2 minute) videos on email etiquette in a business environment. Here is a list of segments in this series:

• Greetings and Closings (1:13)
• Replies (1:24)
• Subject Lines (1:15)
• CC & BCC (2:18)
• Conciseness (1:05)
• Editing (1:18)

3 Ways to Boost Gmail Netiquette (University of Iowa) “Here are three tools that could save your life, give your emails a professional, unique look, and possibly save you some minor embarrassment.”

WRITING FOR THE WEB

General Tutorials on Web Content, Writing for Web Sites (Jimdo.com) “Good website writing is the key to beating these odds. Well-written content that’s optimized for the web rises to the top of search results and holds readers’ attention.”

Writing for the Web: Articles & Videos (Nielsen Norman Group) A list of articles related to “Writing for Web.”

WRITING FOR THE JOB SEARCH

• General Resources for Professional Writing

Cover Letters

Resumes/cvs.

• Asking for references or recommendations
• Serving as a reference or writing a letter of recommendation

Correspondence with Prospective Employers

General resources.

Action Verbs

• What is an action verb? (Purdue OWL) An explanation of why we should use action verbs when writing professionally and applying to jobs.
• Categorized List of Action Verbs (Purdue OWL) This categorized list contains only a few action verbs you can use to compose concise, persuasive , reader-centered resumes, cover letters, or other types of workplace documents. The examples are illustrations that overview the uses of action verbs in professional writing.
• List of Action Verbs for Resumes and Professional Profiles (Wake Forest University) (PDF) A list of action verbs categorized according to skill sets.

Career Services (State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development) Resources including Resume Writing Guidance .

Determining Audience (Purdue OWL) “This handout provides information on how to tailor your employment documents to a specific audience.”

Example Employment Documents (Purdue OWL) (PDF) This PDF contains “examples of resumes, CVs, and cover letters for a variety of disciplines.” It is annotated with comments on organization, grammar, layout, language and other useful tips.

Job Interview Worksheets (Empowerment Through Opportunity) (PDF) A collection of worksheets that can assist job seekers in defining their objectives, collecting information for their resumes, writing their cover letters, filling out application forms, and acing their interviews.

Job Skills Checklist (Purdue OWL) “The following is a sample list of skills found in a cross-section of careers. Circle every skill that applies to you. Jot down examples of situations in your working life that demonstrate this skill. Then try to incorporate these skills into your resume and/or cover letter.”

Reading and Using Job Ads (Purdue OWL) This resource discusses the organization and language used in job ads, along with strategies for critically reading and understanding ads.

Conduct a Job Search (Career Services, Montclair State University) A variety of online resources and tools for students and alumni.

• College of the Arts
• College of Education and Human Services
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• College of Science and Mathematics

Tailoring Documents (Purdue OWL) “This handout provides information on how to tailor your employment documents to a specific audience.”

Cover Letters 1: Quick Tips (Purdue OWL Workplace Writers) “This page provides a down-and-dirty guide to writing cover letters. Here you will find brief answers and lists of what you should include in a cover letter, how to order and format such a letter, and what to do before sending it out.”

• What is a Cover Letter?
• Quick Content Tips for Cover Letters
• Quick Formatting Tips for Cover Letters
• Showing off knowledge of company
• Before sending the letter

Cover Letters 2: Preparing to Write (Purdue OWL Workplace Writers) “Before you start to write a cover letter, you should gather information about yourself, the company, and the job. This page will help you learn what kind of information to find, where to find it, and how and why to use that information to ‘sell yourself’ in a cover letter.”

• Impressing Prospective Employers
• Reading Job Ads
• Researching Companies
• Communicating with Insiders
• Using University Career Centers
• Addressing Qualifications

Cover Letters 3: Writing Your Cover Letter (Purdue OWL Workplace Writers) This page includes information on writing your heading, addressing your cover letter, and writing your introduction, body, and closing paragraphs.

• Cover Letter Headings
• Addressing Cover Letters
• Cover Letter Introductions
• Cover Letter Body Paragraphs
• Cover Letter Closings

Curriculum Vitae Guide (Marquette University Career Services Center) Describes how a CV differs from a resume and how to compile information for your CV.

Curriculum Vitae Samples, Templates, and Writing Tips (Alison Doyle, The Balance Careers) Here are some CV examples, formats, and templates for academic, IT, medical, and international positions, among others.

Guide: Curriculum Vitae (Writing@CSU) A step-by-step guide to writing your CV. Use the navigation bar on the right to view different categories.

Resume Examples (NC State University Career Development Center) Includes resume examples for various industries.

Resumes and CVs (Purdue OWL) “These OWL resources will help you compose effective résumés and Curriculum Vitae for your job search. This section includes resources on page design (which includes using white space, headings, and fonts), as well as resources on tailoring your résumé for specific employers. This section also contains links to other OWL resources geared for working class positions.”

Writing Curriculum Vitae (Alison Doyle, The Balance Careers) Includes information on when to use a CV and how it differs from a resume.

Writing the Curriculum Vitae (Purdue OWL) “This handout provides an overview of strategies for writing an effective curriculum vitae. This topic is particularly important for graduate students who are entering the academic job market for the first time.”

100 Potential Interview Questions (Thad Peterson, Monster.com) “While there are as many different possible interview questions as there are interviewers, it always helps to be ready for anything. So we’ve prepared a list of 100 potential interview questions. Will you face them all? We pray no interviewer would be that cruel. Will you face a few? Probably. Will you be well-served by being ready even if you’re not asked these exact questions? Absolutely.”

Interview Questions (LiveCareer) “A great interview boils down to one thing: sound preparation. With the right amount of research, practice, and persistence, you’ll be ready to give the best answers to even the toughest interview questions. To get started, have a look through our list of sample interview Q&As and professional tips. From example responses to salary negotiation guidance, we’ve given you the helpful advice you need to ace your next interview.”

Interviewing Skills Guide (Virginia Tech, Career and Professional Development) The guide provides a comprehensive review of interview skills including the following topics: ethical issues | standards of conduct, types and locations, DOs and DONTs, employer information sessions, skills and demeanor, interview attire, typical interview questions, questions to ask the employer, practice interviews and after interviews.

References and Recommendations

Asking someone to be your reference or write you a letter of recommendation:

Applicant Request for a Reference (Purdue OWL) Here are some suggestions for contacting people you wish to serve as references for you.

Asking for Letters of Recommendation (Stanford University) Simple guidelines for managing your letter requests.

How to Ask for a Reference (Alison Doyle, The Balance Careers) Here are some suggestions for asking someone to serve as a reference for you and creating your reference list.

Sample Reference Request Letter (Alison Doyle, The Balance Careers) This is a very basic template for writing a letter/e-mail asking someone to serve as a reference for you. You might also want to describe the position you are applying for and attach your current resume to the e-mail.

Serving as a reference or recommendation:

Guidelines for Writing Letters of Recommendation (Linda Kaiser of University of Missouri, Columbia; Retrieved from Saint Mary’s College) (PDF) A two-page handout on what to include in the opening, body, and conclusion of a letter of recommendation. The PDF also contains a sample letter.

How to Write a Recommendation Letter (Susan M. Heathfield, The Balance Careers) Useful tips on what to include/not include in a letter of recommendation.

“If your reference says this, you’ll get a job” (Amy Levin-Epstein, CBS News) This article explains what you can do to prepare your references to speak about you or, if you are serving as a reference for someone, what you can say to help the person sound like a top candidate.

Top 10 Sample Recommendation Letters (Karen Schweitzer, Thought Co.) “Writing a recommendation letter for someone else is a huge responsibility and getting everything just right is important. If you are seeking inspiration, the following sample recommendation letters should help. These sample recommendations are the most popular samples on the site.”

Acceptance Letter (Purdue OWL) General guidelines for what to include in a letter/e-mail when you are accepting a job offer.

Follow-Up After No Response to an Interview (Purdue OWL) General guidelines for what to include in a follow-up letter/e-mail when you have not heard back from a company after an interview.

Follow-Up to an Interview (Purdue OWL) General guidelines for what to include in a follow-up letter/e-mail after an interview along with a model letter.

Interest Letters (Noelle Carver, Bizfluent) The transcript of an interview with Charles Purdy, editor of Monster, about how to write a letter of interest to a prospective employer.

Inquiry about Cover Letter and Resume (Purdue OWL) General guidelines for what to include in an inquiry letter/e-mail when you have not received a response to your job application. This site also provides a model letter.

Letter of Interest Samples (Alison Doyle, The Balance Careers) An example of a letter/e-mail you would write to a company that has not advertised specific openings. This letter allows you to inquire about potential openings, emphasize your interest in the company, and highlight your skill set.

Letter When You Receive a Rejection (Purdue OWL) “Consider writing a letter even when you receive a rejection. Sometime later when you have had additional experience or training, you may want to apply to the firm once more. The letter shows that you were extremely interested in working for the particular company and states your interest in applying for another position at a later date.” This site offers suggestions about what to include in this letter/e-mail.

Model for Writing a Request for Further Negotiations (Purdue OWL) An example of how to professionally and politely discuss a job offer you would like to negotiate.

Rejection of Job Offer (Purdue OWL) General guidelines for what to include in a letter/e-mail when you are not accepting a job offer.

Phone Skills (Virginia Tech, Career and Professional Development) “In your search for an internship or job, your resume and cover letter alone are not the only tools to success. Employers will be evaluating you on all forms of communication and how you handle and present yourself. Be a pro on the phone.”

Three Simple Rules for Emailing Potential Employers (Peter Weddle, CareerCast) An article about how to converse with prospective employers that includes three key tips: use formal language, pay attention to your tone, and think about how you’re representing yourself.

Writing Professional Letters (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Career Services) (PDF) This document discusses the structure and content of different correspondence between you and your prospective employer. Some topics include an interview confirmation letter, a post-interview thank you letter, and job offer acceptance/declination/clarification letters. Sample letters are located at the end of the document.

WRITING FOR PUBLICATION

Writing a proposal.

On the Art of Writing Proposals (Adam Prezeworski and Frank Saloman, Claremont Graduate University Writing Center) “Some Candid Suggestions for Applicants to Social Science Research Council Competitions.”

Planning and Organizing Proposals and Technical Reports (Richard Johnson-Sheehan, Sponsored by Indiana DOT) (PDF) An extensive guide to planning for a proposal, from identifying your purpose and audience to drafting your conclusion. This resource includes charts you can fill in while you’re preparing to write. The second half of the PDF (p. 18-end) provides tips for writing a technical report.

Resources for Proposal Writers (University of Wisconsin – Madison, The Writing Center) “This page lists some useful books and websites for graduate students working on research proposals.”

Sample Academic Proposals from the Purdue OWL (Purdue OWL) (PDF) Includes sample proposals for conferences, articles and book chapters..

Writing Academic Proposals: Conferences, Articles and Books (Purdue OWL) A guide to writing conference proposals.

PREPARING YOUR MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION

4 Editing and Proofreading Techniques for Your Novel (Courtney Carpenter, Writer’s Digest ) “Joseph Bates, author of The Nighttime Novelist , shares tips for editing and proofreading a novel or book.”

The 10 Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Query Letter (Brian A. Klems, Writer’s Digest ) “While query letters vary a little depending on who the agent is (and their guidelines) and what type of book you’re writing (novel, nonfiction, poetry, etc.), there are many elements that remain the same. That’s why I’ve developed this list of dos and don’ts to help you navigate what’s really important to include in your pitch and, also, what should be avoided at all costs. By sticking to these 10 specific dos and don’ts of writing a query letter, you’ll give yourself the best opportunity to find success and land an agent.”

10 Proofreading Tips for Self-Publishers (Anna Lewis, MediaShift) “No matter how many times you’ve read through your work, it’s amazing how often errors can sneak through to the final stages. The problem: You’re so familiar with the text that you see what you think you have written rather than what you actually wrote. For this reason, at the very least, it’s good to ask a few friends to help you proofread. Don’t forget to carefully proofread the cover, copyright, and title pages as well as any indices, tables of contents, and dedications — mistakes in these areas happen surprisingly often. So, short of hiring a professional proofreader, what else can you do to make sure your book is as close to perfect as possible? Here are some tips.”

Anatomy of a Query Letter: A Step-by-Step Guide (Writer’s Relief Staff, Huffington Post ) “When submitting book queries, your letter has precious little time to grab the attention of the literary agent reading it. If you don’t get to the meat of the book right away, your query might end up in the recycling bin. The following guidelines will help you compose a letter that will keep agents’ attention long enough to give your manuscript a fighting chance.”

Author’s Permission Guidelines (The University of Chicago Press) Most of the information regarding permissions on this site is not particular to The University of Chicago Press. This page can help any writer who wants to know more about copyright, fair use, public domain, and when permission is needed for previously published materials.

How to Write the Perfect Query Letter (Mary Kole, Writer’s Digest ) Here you’ll find an example of a successful query letter, followed by an agent’s comments.

Preparing Articles for Publication in Peer-Reviewed Journals (Siobhan Bowler, Academic Publications Writer) (PDF) “This paper focuses on preparing articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Four areas of article preparation are covered: (1) what you should be thinking about when selecting a journal for your paper and at what stage you should start thinking of journals; (2) style guides and the most important things you need to follow in journal style guides; (3) simple ways in which you can improve clarity when writing papers; [and] (4) what happens to your paper once you send it to the journal and the various types of responses you can expect to receive.”

Preparing Manuscripts for Publication in Psychology Journals: A Guide for New Authors (American Psychological Association) (PDF) “This guide provides an overview of the process of preparing and submitting a scholarly manuscript for publication in a psychology journal. Drawing on the experiences of authors of scholarly writings, peer reviewers, and journal editors, we seek to demystify the publication process and to offer advice designed to improve a manuscript’s prospects of publication. To exemplify the process, we describe specific publication procedures for journals of the American Psychological Association.”

WRITING AN ABSTRACT

Abstracts (UNC at Chapel Hill, The Writing Center) “This handout provides definitions and examples of the two main types of abstracts: descriptive and informative. It also provides guidelines for constructing an abstract and general tips for you to keep in mind when drafting. Finally, it includes a few examples of abstracts broken down into their component parts.”

How to Write an Abstract: Tips and Samples (Leah Carroll, University of California Berkeley) (PDF) This resource provides “the basic components of an abstract in any discipline” along with abstract samples from history, the humanities, biological sciences, and engineering.

What Exactly is an Abstract? (University of Michigan) “An abstract is a short summary of your completed research. It is intended to describe your work without going into great detail. Abstracts should be self-contained and concise, explaining your work as briefly and clearly as possible. Different disciplines call for slightly different approaches to abstracts . . . so it would be wise to study some abstracts from your own field before you begin to write one.”

Writing Abstracts (Indiana University Bloomington, Writing Tutorial Services) This site includes tips for writing and polishing your abstract and describes the components of informative and indicative abstracts.

Writing an Abstract (George Mason University, The Writing Center) This guide provides the definition of an abstract and the structure of an abstract for papers in the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering sciences.

Writing Report Abstracts (Purdue OWL) “This handout discusses how to write good abstracts for reports. It covers informational and descriptive abstracts and gives pointers for success.”

WRITING GRANT APPLICATIONS

About Grants (National Institutes of Health (NIH) Central Resource for Grants and Funding Information) “Read on for an orientation to NIH funding, grant programs, how the grants process works,and how to apply.”

All About Grants Podcasts (NIH Central Resource for Grants and Funding Information) “The Office of Extramural Research (OER) talks to NIH staff members about the ins and outs of NIH funding. Designed for investigators, fellows, students, research administrators, and others just curious about the application and award process, we provide insights on grant topics from those who live and breathe the information. Episodes are available as mp3s for download here or via RSS feed.”

Candid “We connect people who want to change the world with the resources they need to do it.”

Candid Learning “Candid Learning is your destination for all of Candid’s live and on-demand trainings, webinars, and other resources designed to improve your fundraising, overall sustainability, grantmaking, and transparency.”

Grant Basics (NIH Central Resource for Grants and Funding Information) “Before getting started, learn why it is important to understand the structure of NIH and how we approach grant funding, what types of organizations and people are eligible to apply, what we look for in a research project, and the types of grant programs we offer.”

Grants and Funding: Grants Process Overview (NIH Central Resource for Grants and Funding Information) “Any successful project requires planning, development, implementation and follow-through. Obtaining NIH funding for your research idea is no exception. The Grants Process Overview below provides an overview of the steps required for an application to proceed from application planning and submission through award and close out. Look to the related resources on each page for special guidance from NIH experts that can help maximize your understanding of the grants process and help you submit a successful grant application.”

Grants.gov Search for federal grants and learn about the process of applying for federal grants.

Grant Writing (Purdue OWL) “This resource provides a general introduction to grant writing and provides information on how to ensure clarity in grant proposals.”

• Introduction to Grant Writing
• Clarity in Writing: Avoiding the Department of Redundancy Department
• Making the Request
• Specificity in Writing: Say Exactly What You Mean

Grant Writing in the Sciences (Purdue OWL) “This resource provides general guidelines for grant writing in general and in the scientific disciplines. While grant proposals are almost always overseen by a faculty member serving as the primary investigator (PI), this resource is intended primarily for graduate students and junior faculty seeking to learn more about grant writing in their fields.”

• Introduction

Grantwriter FAQs (Puget Sound Grantwriters Association) Responds to many frequently asked questions about grant writing, from how to become a freelance grantwriter to how to find corporate and government grants.

What is in a Grant Proposal? (Grant Writing Resource, Inc.) Outlines the standard components of a grant proposal.

• Resumes & CVs
• Writing the Resume
• Writing the CV

THE CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)

The Curriculum Vitae (CV) is used to market your scholarly background for PhD level positions, research opportunities, or graduate school admission. While the sections of the CV are similar to a resume, the CV can be more than 1 page.

KEEP IN MIND: CV sections can vary widely based on which field you are in (for example, a biology and literature CV may have different formats).

View the CCO Handbook for CV examples

Career Pathways: Writing Resumes and CV's

• Writing Resumes and CV's
• Writing Cover Letters
• Career Exploration and Job Hunting
• Interviewing

Creating your Resume

There are  two main styles  of resumes:  chronological  and  functional

Chronological : this type of resume highlights your employment history. You should use this type of resume if you have a lot of career experience in one field and are planning to apply for a job in that field.

Functional : this type of resume highlights your skills.  You should use this type of resume if you do not have a lot of work experience , or if your work experience is in a different field from the job to which you are applying.  This type of resume is ideal for first-year students  or people who want to switch career paths.

 Visit the following links for guides to help you create your resume:

A great place to visit to start assembling your resume. This tutorial will take you step-by-step through the process of creating a resume, providing examples along the way.

From Penn State. Explanation of parts of the resume & CV

From Purdue University. Includes parts of resumes & vitas. Includes information on how to make a resume scannable.

Resume Examples

From Purdue OWL

CareerOneStop Examples

Climbtheladder Resume Examples

• << Previous: Home
• Next: Writing Cover Letters >>
• Last Updated: Feb 23, 2024 10:20 AM
• URL: https://libguides.cuesta.edu/careers

• Graduate Students
• Undergraduate Students
• Online Students
• First Generation
• International Students
• Create a Resume / Cover Letter
• Expand Your Network
• Explore Your Interests / Self Assessment
• Negotiate an Offer
• Prepare for an Interview
• Prepare for Graduate School
• Search for a Job / Internship
• CareerBound
• Business Analytics
• General Management
• Human Resources Management
• Integrated Business & Engineering
• Supply Chain Management
• Undergraduate Outcomes
• Graduate Outcomes
• Our Mission, Vision and Values
• Undergraduate Advising Team
• Graduate Advising Team
• Employer Recruitment Team

Cover Letter Creation Guide

• Share This: Share Cover Letter Creation Guide on Facebook Share Cover Letter Creation Guide on LinkedIn Share Cover Letter Creation Guide on X

A cover letter can be a valuable tool to provide additional context to your application beyond what you can provide in your resume. For example, you might include why you are interested in working in the industry, organization, or that particular role. A well-written cover letter can help to demonstrate your fit for the role.

FIRST PARAGRAPH OR INTRODUCTION: ACTS AS BASIS OR PURPOSE OF THE LETTER

• Briefly introduce yourself (“I am a graduate student at Purdue University’s Daniels School of Business interested in…”).
• Do not include your name; it is obvious who you are because you will sign the letter.
• State the position for which you are applying, including position number if available and exact title.
• Indicate where you learned of the opportunity or what prompted you to write.
• If you are trying to set up an informational meeting to learn about the organization or trends in the field, state that you would appreciate an opportunity to talk with an organization representative about these issues.
• Transition to the second paragraph with a closing sentence that may reference what qualifies you for the position, what intrigues you about the company and/or how you fit with company goals.

SECOND PARAGRAPH OR BODY: SUPPORTS YOUR CLAIMS FOR BEING THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION/ORGANIZATION

• Make a concise and focused case for how your experience, interests and skills fit the employer’s needs.
• Thoroughly research the company or organization and position description.
• Identify key words within the position description — skills and requirements — that will help you match the position and organization to your background and experiences.
• Avoid merely reciting your resume but provide enough interest for the reader to want to examine your resume for detailed information on your experiences.
• Emphasize contributions you can make to the position and why it is in the employer’s interest to hire you.
• Do not emphasize what you will get from the position or organization.

THIRD PARAGRAPH OR CLOSING: REITERATES YOUR INTEREST IN THE POSITION/ORGANIZATION

• Thank the individual for considering you as an applicant.
• Provide contact information (typically both email and cell phone) even if shown in the header or at the bottom.
• Demonstrate initiative by stating that you will contact the individual within a specific time period (“I will contact you the week of…to discuss the potential opportunity to interview, answer any questions he/she might have, or discuss the position in greater depth”).
• Include closing sentence to express enthusiasm for company/position and that you look forward to speaking with this individual.

TOP 10 BLUNDERS

• Shows no knowledge of company
• Addressed to the wrong person or company
• Spelling, grammar, punctuation errors
• Passive voice and/or awkward language
• Overly aggressive, boastful, presumptuous
• Self-centered rather than employer-centered
• Looks unprofessional and/or informal
• Merely repeats content from resume
• Too short — no value added
• Too long — won’t get read

The  Online Writing Lab  (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional materials, and provides its services at no cost.

University of South Florida

Office of National Scholars

Main navigation, student resources.

Resumes and CVs (curriculum vitae) communicate your life experiences to reviewers, including things like education, professional work, volunteering, and awards. Different academic and professional fields have different expectations for these documents. For national awards, your ONS advisor can offer you specialized advice for how to organize and format your resume or CV.

For general advice on how to get started with a resume or CV, please check out our resume tips sheet . Make sure to do your own research and have someone take a second look at the document before you submit it.

For further assistance, we recommend the following resources:

• Visit the Purdue OWL Resumes and CVs page