2  

 

 

 

 

   

               

Communication Skills (written) 76.6%

Leadership 76%

Analytical/Quantitative Skills

73.1%

Strong Work Ethic 72%

Ability to Work in a Team 71.4%

Problem-Solving Skills 70.3%

Communication Skills (verbal) 68.6%

Initiative 68.6%

Detail-Oriented

65.7%

Computer Skills 62.9%

Technical Skills 61.1%

Flexibility/Adaptability 59.4%

Also on the List: Interpersonal Skills – 58.3%

Organizational Ability – 42.9% Strategic Planning Skills – 33.7%

Friendly/Outgoing Personality – 32.6% Entrepreneurial Skills – 23.4%

Tactfulness – 22.9% Creativity – 21.7%

 

What Skills do Em

ployers Want to See in Candidates?

 

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HOW DO I CREATE A RESUME?

Before writing a first draft, it is important to create a list of all of your experiences. Think back through work experiences, volunteer activities, team and/or research projects, as well as campus activities. By first jotting down the following info, the resume-writing process will flow easier for you.  What is the exact name of your degree program or programs? (i.e. Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Management, emphasis in Human Resources) • Have you declared a minor? • When do you expect to graduate – month and

year? • Do you have a GPA over 3.0? (cumulative or

within your major classes only?) • Have you studied abroad?

o List the school where you studied o When did you study abroad?

• What software programs you have used? Technical equipment operated? • Do you have any language skills? What is your level of proficiency? (basic, conversational, proficient,

fluent) • Are there any other skills related to your target job that are vital?  

Have you received any scholarships or honors while at Clemson? List each.  

Do you have any previous work experience – paid or unpaid – related or unrelated to career objective? For each experience: • List the employer and job title • List dates of employment (was it every

summer? a school semester? certain months?)

• What was the scope of the experience? • What did you do and accomplish? • Did you have any significant contributions

such as saving money, earning sales, managing others? Try to determine a quantifiable value for each.

• Did you work with a team? Rely on others to accomplish your goal?

• Identify any transferable skills may have gained from your experiences. Transferable skills are those that are “portable” to any role such as working with others, sales skills, etc. (See the examples of transferable skills following)

Have you participated in any Creative Inquiries? If so: • What was the scope of the project? • What was your role? • What did you accomplish while involved?

(quantify!) • When were you involved? • How many people were involved?

Are you involved with any campus and/or organizations? • Have you held any leadership roles in those organizations (Officer, team/committee chair, event

organizer, etc) • Have you made any significant contributions to the organization by raising money? Organizing events?

Participating in philanthropic activities? • When did you become involved with the organization? Are you still involved? •

 4  

     

 

     

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS You will often hear that you should focus on your “transferable skills” during the job search. But what, exactly, are “transferable skills”?

Transferable skills are skills that you develop through a variety of experiences that you can “transfer” to any job or life experience. Transferable skills might be acquired through classes, leadership activities, campus/community involvement, sports, travel, internships, part-time jobs.

Examples of Transferable Skills

Working with People Selling - Training - Mentoring

Teaching - Supervising - Organizing Motivating - Mediating - Negotiating

Delegating - Entertaining - Representing Advising - Translating

Working with Data/Information Writing - Editing - Accounting

Working with spreadsheets Researching - Computing - Auditing

Analyzing - Forecasting - Budgeting - Testing - Calculating - System Dev’t

TYPES OF RESUMES

Chronological Resume • Lists experiences with details separately. • Lists in reverse chronological order,

starting with most recent and moving backward through time.

• Most commonly used type for college students with work experience.

Functional Resume

• Lists experiences by skill categories. • Can be used by students with limited

work experience to position themselves with work-related, transferable skills gained from non-work related experiences.

Curriculum Vita Commonly known as a CV, this document is used mostly for research-oriented positions and higher education. Also, people seeking employment overseas often use a CV rather than the 1-page resume that is customary in the US.

Q: Can I have more than 1 resume? A: Absolutely! In fact it is recommended that candidates have a targeted resume for each position they are applying for. At the least, create a separate resume for each TYPE of job you are seeking which highlights key aspects as related to the target position.  

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OTHER TYPES OF RESUMES

You will probably run across the term “scannable resume” if you are doing any research about the resume-writing process online. If you Google the term, you’ll find lots of information on how to write one. Scannable resumes were popular in the late 1990’s to 2000’s because they allowed employers to scan the content of a document and get that information into their database. However, that doesn’t mean that scanners are currently being used or that you need one! In fact, due to new laws regarding applicant tracking, most employers use newer technology via an Automated Tracking System that allows them to gather a candidate’s information via online job applications. In most cases, you will also be able to upload a resume with an online application. By uploading a pdf version, your formatting with remain intact (vs a Word document which could change depending on the software in which the end-user views the resume). In the event an employer does request a scannable resume or one in ACSII American Computer Standard Information Interchange) format, directions are typically provided by the employer on how to create this document.

Scannable Resumes…

Curriculum Vitae… A Curriculum Vitae (or commonly known as CV) is a document that provides much more detail than the standard 1-page resume does about your academic and professional accomplishments. Typically, you would use a Curriculum Vitae to apply for:

• International positions • Graduate school • Teaching and administrative positions in higher education

A curriculum vitae often includes information about professional publications, presentations, committee work, etc. Here are some of the sections you might see on a CV:

• Education • Course highlights or areas of concentration • Research experience and interest • Consulting experience • Internships or practica • Fieldwork • Publications • Professional papers and presentations • Professional association membership/leadership • Certificates/licensure • Special training • Academic awards, scholarships, & fellowships • Foreign study/travel abroad • Language competencies • Technical/computer skills  

 6  

   

RESUME SECTION HEADINGS Divide your resume into sections that highlight you and your experiences the best.

Choose headings based on the professional image you wish to project. Some examples follow, but you may create your own based on your background information.

 OBJECTIVE CAREER OBJECTIVE PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ACADEMIC BACKGROUND CERTIFICATION(S) EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS COURSE HIGHLIGHTS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS HONORS HONORS/AWARDS SPECIAL HONORS ACTIVITIES & DISTINCTIONS  

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES TECHNICAL SKILLS COMPUTER/SOFTWARE SKILLS LANGUAGE COMPETENCIES FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS RELATED SKILLS SPECIAL SKILLS MILITARY SERVICE  

RESUME COMPONENTS – Contact Info

WORK EXPERIENCE RELATED EXPERIENCE ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE RESEARCH PROJECTS PRESENTATIONS PUBLICATIONS PUBLIC SPEAKING  MEMBERSHIPS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS  

Full name with middle initial Your name should be the most prominent words on the page – use a larger size font, bold or all caps to help it stand out from other bits of info. Address For full-time positions, consider using campus address as well as permanent address (unless you do not plan to move from your current location within 12 months after graduation). For internship positions, consider using both campus address and permanent address (unless the internship is local to campus in which case you can use your campus address only). Phone number Make sure you have a professional voicemail message and that any roommates are aware recruiters may be calling. Email address Use a professional email address that you check daily – if your Clemson email is forwarded, make sure someone will not receive an “unable to send message” reply.   LinkedIn URL If you have an active LinkedIn account that provides additional details, consider listing it here. You can create a vanity URL for your LinkedIn account to shorten the link.          

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CONTACT INFORMATION EXAMPLES

TIGERS R. SUPERB ###-###-#### tigers@g.clemson.edu 567 Superb Way, Atlanta GA 30327

 

Tigers R. Superb Campus: ###-###-#### Permanent:

100 Tiger Trail tigers@g.clemson.edu 567 Superb Way Clemson, SC 29633 Atlanta, GA 30327

 

Tigers R. Superb ###-###-#### tigers@g.clemson.edu Campus Address Permanent Address 100 Tiger Trail 567 Superb Way Clemson, SC 29633 Atlanta, GA 30327

 

Tigers R. Superb 100 Tiger Trail, Clemson SC 29633

tigers@g.clemson.edu ###-###-####

www.linkedin.com/in/tigersrsuperb

Tigers R. Superb Campus Address Permanent Address 100 Tiger Trail 567 Superb Way Clemson, SC 29633 Atlanta, GA 30327

###-###-#### tigers@g.clemson.edu

www.linkedin.com/in/tigersrsuperb  

TIGERS R. SUPERB ###-###-#### tigers@g.clemson.edu 567 Superb Way, Atlanta GA 30327

 

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RESUME COMPONENTS - Education

College students and recent graduates should lead their resume off with their Educational Qualifications. Your college degree is likely the most important piece of information to an employer at this point in your career. Many examples you may see online will have the Education section at the end, but this is only appropriate for candidates with 5+ years industry experience.

Clemson  University     Bachelor  of  Science  in  Political  Science            May  2016           Emphasis  in  International  Politics           Minor  in  Spanish           GPA:  3.33    

Example  with  2  majors:    Clemson  University     Bachelor  of  Science  in  Political  Science            May  2016  Clemson,  SC       Bachelor  of  Arts  in  Spanish           GPA:  3.33    

Example  with  2  Study  Abroad:    Clemson  University     Bachelor  of  Science  in  Political  Science            May  2016  Clemson,  SC       Bachelor  of  Arts  in  Spanish           GPA:  3.33    Universidad  de  Barcelona   Summer  Abroad  in  Barcelona,  Spain                        Summer  2015    

Different  layout  highlighting  degree  rather  than  university:    Bachelor  of  Science  in  Marketing   Clemson  University                May  2016  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  French     Clemson,  SC  Minor  in  Global  Studies  GPA:  3.33    Study  Abroad  in  Spain       Universidad  de  Barcelona                        Summer  2015  

Q: I’m a transfer student. Do I need to include my previous school(s) on the resume? A: Unless it is your first semester at Clemson, it is not necessary to include your previous school. The employer is focused on where you will obtain your degree more than all of the schools you have attended. Be prepared, however, to discuss your educational background and reasons for transferring when interviewing!

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RESUME COMPONENTS - Experience

Some people will have more experience to list on their resume than others. Use this section to highlight any internships, part-time or full-time jobs, summer positions, volunteer jobs, etc. that have given you industry-related and/or transferable skills. List experiences in reverse chronological order – with current/most recent experience first, then working backward through time. If you are creating a Functional Resume, your order may differ since experiences will be grouped by skill area. If you have completed an internship or experience related to your target job, consider creating a Related Experience section to highlight your industry experience, and an Additional Work Experience section for any unrelated experiences. For each experience: • Include organization name, location (City/State) your title, dates worked (can be a semester

and year or months and year) • Write succinct bullet statements highlighting your accomplishments in this role. Each bullet

statement should start with a strong action verb (see Action Verbs for Resumes list), and provide an aspect of your experience. Vary word choice and do not start more than 1 statement with the same action verb.

• QUANTIFY your experience as much as possible to show $ saved, sales growth, % growth, # of accounts, etc.

• Recent experiences should have more bullet statements than experiences from earlier in your work history.

• Avoid the use of complete sentences – do not use I, me, my, the etc.

Random Marketing Co. Greenville, SC Spring 2017 Marketing Intern • Developed marketing proposal for new product line incorporating social media platforms to

reach target market • Conducted market research to determine appropriate product launch dates • Planned and managed “Random Company Marketing Event”, attracting 1500+ customers

and 50 vendors.  

Local Restaurant Anderson, SC Summers 2017 - 2019 Server • Ensure customers are highly satisfied with their restaurant experience by working effectively

with team members to expedite food orders accurately.  • Trained new servers on restaurant procedures and customer service.  • Recognized by manager for meeting goals during restaurant competition.  

 

Did you know? Many companies like to see restaurant experience because it means you can provide excellent customer service, resolve conflict, and work effectively with a team.

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RESUME COMPONENTS – Add’l Sections

The remaining sections of the resume should highlight YOUR background and skills so that the resume is the best marketing tool it can be for you! Your resume does not and SHOULD not look like anyone else’s. To get started, look back at the list of Resume Section Headings to see which ones are most applicable for you. Choose 2 to 3 – or you may prefer to create your own headings or combine some of the ones from the list to best suit you. If you have participated in a Creative Inquiry project, you will likely want to highlight that experience in a Research Experience or Research Projects section. Since Creative Inquiry is specific to Clemson and most recruiters are not familiar with these projects, you will want to provide an overview of your project, how many people were involved, your role, what you accomplished, etc. Students with limited industry experience sometimes prefer to list their Creative Inquiry project in the Related Experience section instead. Maybe you have participated in a lot of volunteer and community service projects – consider a Community Service section. Have you received a lot of awards and honors? You could include a section for this info. Some people have a lot of technical skills – especially Graphic Communications majors. If you have special skills that set you apart from other candidates, use a separate section for this. Look back over the graphic from Page 1 listing top soft skills and qualities employers seek and consider how you have gained those skills. Highlight any leadership roles within organizations.

CAMPUS & PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Student Government Association 2015-Present Secretary 2016-2017 Delegate 2015-2016 Delta Sigma Pi 2016 – Present Special Events Coordinator Intramural Soccer 2015 - Present  

Q: Should I include personal information on my resume? A: Most recruiters would prefer that you highlight any industry-related experience rather than personal interests. Personal information such as age, marital status, height, weight, etc should NOT be included on the resume!  

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 CHRONOLOGICAL  FORMAT  

FirstName LastName Street Address, City, State Zip

Email Address Phone Number LinkedIn URL

EDUCATION Clemson University

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in _________________ Grad Month & Year List any additional majors List any minors GPA: #.## (only include GPA if over 3.0) If Overall GPA is not 3.0, but major GPA is, include it instead)

Include any Study Abroad location and school Semester & Year  List  any  additional  certifications  earned  (Sales,  Bloomberg  CPA  Eligible,  etc)    EXPERIENCE Most  Recent  Company  Name City, State Fall 2015 – Present Position Title • List your positions in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Quantify your accomplishments and results.

Highlight your role and level of responsibility. • All work experience can be relevant and indicate that you have the transferable skills to be successful. • Begin each bullet statement with a strong action verb and avoid the use of personal pronouns such as I, me, we,

our, etc. • Sometimes employers will scan for key words in the resume, so be certain to tailor the resume to the job by

aligning it with the job description. Company Name City, State Summers 2013 – 2015 Position Title • The first bullet of each experience should provide the strongest, most relevant statement. Consider using it to give

an overview of the organization and your role there. • Use PRESENT tense verbs for current positions you are still working in and PAST tense verbs if you are no longer

working in that role. • End bullets with periods – or not – just be consistent throughout. LEADERSHIP & ACTIVITIES Name of Organization Semester(s) & Year(s) • Officer or Leadership Role Semester(s) & Year(s) • Officer or Leadership Role Semester(s) & Year(s)

Name of Organization (If you have several organizations to include, consider using 2 columns instead) Semester(s) & Year(s) HONORS/ACHIEVEMENTS Highlight any honors or achievements received – spell out the entire name of awards) Semester(s) & Year(s) Include President’s List/Dean’s List if applicable – how many times recognized Semester(s) & Year(s) Also list any merit-based scholarships Semester(s) & Year(s) SPECIAL SKILLS • Computer Software Packages • Social Media Platforms • Technical Equipment • Foreign Language (conversational)

SAMPLE RESUMES

 12  

 Chronological Format

First Name I. Last Name 123 Tiger Court 555.555.5555 Clemson, SC 29633 student@g.clemson.edu  

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Marketing, GPA 3.6 May 2017 Minor in Sociology Clemson University, Clemson SC

LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL • Spanish (Advanced) • French (Intermediate) • Travel: Paris, France; London, UK; Belgium Summer 2015  

EXPERIENCE Special Events Student Director, TigerPaw Productions, Clemson SC Jan. 2015-Present • Promoted to Special Events Director Dec. 2014; supervise and coordinate communication between

diverse student team  • Plan and preside over weekly team meetings by setting agenda and conducting the meeting  • Aid the Assistant Director of Special Events with planning, organization, and execution of existing

departmental special events in addition to creation and development of new programs  • Designed and implemented Excel database to maintain extensive participation-tracking for reporting

to division and university  Administrative Assistant, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Greenville SC Summers 2015 & 2016 • Assisted local real estate agency with daily business operations, improving efficiency and

organization  • Collected and input data for client properties on the Multiple Listing Services, Realtor.com, and

other real estate web portals  • Designed and created promotional items, including special greetings and brochures  • Updated client database by eliminating 98% of invalid information and obtaining correct data    

LEADERSHIP Student Ambassador, College of Business & Behavioral Science, Clemson SC Jan. 2013 - Present • Selected to serve students, faculty and the community by representing the College at campus events,

including receptions, appreciation events, calling campaigns and prospective student events  • Educate potential students/parents about the College by answering questions and providing tours  Treasurer, Tri-Alpha, Clemson SC Aug 2016-May 2017

COMMUNITY SERVICE Habitat for Humanity house-build on campus, 2013-Present

March of Dimes volunteer, 2014-Present

SAMPLE RESUMES

  13  

 FUNCTIONAL FORMAT

Phoebe  Functional  phoebe@clemson.edu  

555.555.5555  Present Address Permanent Address 10001 Gray Drive 45678 Alamo Lane Charlotte, NC 28201 San Antonio, TX 78201  OBJECTIVE To obtain an internship with a law firm EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 5/2020 Clemson University, Clemson SC RELATED COURSEWORK Criminal Law, Political Science, Economics, Sociology PSYCHOLOGY EXPERIENCE

RESEARCHING/WRITING • Researched brain development in infants utilizing experimental data and library resources • Generated written report of research project results

ORGANIZING/SUPERVISING • Led marketing campaign for Clemson’s senior class project • Organized several small committees to assist in publication and promotion of senior class

activities • Created fundraising goals for senior class project and development guidelines on how all

members could help in achieving those goals

PUBLIC SPEAKING/COMMUNICATING • Acted as undergraduate student government liaison to University President and his staff • Presented new undergraduate student government regulations to 14 campus organizations • Conducted impromptu interviews with various media representatives • Coordinated public speaking events to promote college-wide mentoring program

FINANCIAL PLANNING/BUDGETING • Managed budget of $10k for senior class project • Met with campus procurement officials to bid out jobs for completion of class project

RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT Counseling Intern, Department of Social Services, Pickens SC Summers 2008-10 HONORS & AFFILIATIONS Psi Chi Professional Fraternity Gamma Eta Beta Sorority Class of 2020 Senior Project Director President’s

SAMPLE RESUMES

 14  

             

           

RESUME POWER VERBS Administrative Administered Coordinated Designed Established Evaluated Headed Hired Interpreted Interviewed Managed Mediated Negotiated Organized Prepared Planned Supervised

Cler ical Approved Arranged Catalogued Classified Collected Compiled Computed Dispatched Executed Generated Implemented Indexed Inspected Inventoried Logged Monitored Operated Prepared Processed Purchased Recorded Retrieved Screened Specified Systematized Tabulated Validated Verified

Communicat ion Addressed Arbitrated Arranged Authored Communicated Corresponded Developed Directed Discussed Drafted Edited Enlisted Formulated Handled Influenced Interpreted Lectured Published Spoke Translated Wrote

Counseling Advocated Assessed Assisted Clarified Coached Demonstrated Diagnosed Educated Expedited Facilitated Familiarized Guided Intervened Mediated Mentored Motivated Referred Rehabilitated Represented

Creat ive Acted Adopted Composed Conceptualized Created Designed Developed Directed Established Fashioned Founded Illustrated Improvised Instituted Integrated Introduced Invented Originated Performed Planned Revitalized Shaped

Development Analyzed Applied Catalogued Compiled Conceived Created Designed Developed Established Formulated Founded Influenced Implemented Initiated Instituted Supported Surveyed Updated

Financial Accumulated Administered Allocated Analyzed Appraised Audited Balanced Budgeted Calculated Computed Decreased Developed Financed Forecasted Earned Economized Managed Marketed

Organizat ional Analyzed Applied Arranged Coordinated Developed Documented Expedited Facilitated Handled Implemented Initiated Organized Planned Prioritized Summarized Systematized

Time Management Administered Developed Directed Generated Improved Initiated Increased Promoted Reduced

Training Adapted Advised Assisted Clarified Coached Communicated Coordinated Developed Enabled Encouraged Evaluated Explained Facilitated Guided Informed Initiated Instructed Motivated Persuaded Presented Stimulated

Research Analyzed Checked Clarified Collected Conducted Correlated Critiqued Deleted Diagnosed Discovered Documented Evaluated Examined Experimented Extracted Identified Inspected Interpreted Interviewed Invented Investigated Researched Reviewed Summarized Surveyed Systematized Theorized Verified

Management Administered Analyzed Assigned Attained Authorized Chaired Contracted Controlled Consolidated Coordinated Delegated Developed Directed Discharged Established Evaluated Executed Improved Led Managed Organized Oversaw Planned Prioritized Produced Recommended Reviewed Scheduled Strengthened Supervised

Problem Solving Analyzed Clarified Collaborated Compared Compiled Conferred Confronted Consulted Contributed Decided Evaluated Forecasted Helped Investigated Prepared Recommended Reorganized Researched Resolved Reviewed Solved Surveyed

Technical Assembled Built Calculated Computed Designed Devised Developed Engineered Fabricated Maintained Modeled Operated Mediated Moderated Motivated Negotiated Persuaded Promoted Provided Publicized Reconciled Recruited Spoke Taught Trained Translated Wrote

  15  

   Accounting Administration Advertising Analysis Artistic Auditing Bookkeeping Career Development Clerical Communication Community Relations Community Organizing Computer Use Consulting Contract Administration Coordination Counseling Curriculum Development Client Relations Customer Services Data Analysis Data Collection/Entry Data Processing Database Design/Dev’t Design Editing Education Evaluation Faciliating Finance Financial Research Financial Analysis Forecasting Fund Raising Graphic Design

Group Work Human Resouces Human Services Information Systems Instructional Design Interpreting Interviewing Investigation Inventory Control Investment Layout Leadership Management Market Research Marketing Materials Handling Media Productions Media Relations Mediation Medical Service Merchandising Negotiation Network Design Network Administration Nursing Office Support Office/Clerical Operations Analysis Organization Personnel Planning Political/Public Action Presentation Printing Problem Solving

Product Development Product Presentation Production Program Analysis Program Development Program Evaluation Program Planning Program Promotion Promotion Public Relations Publicity Purchasing Quality Control/Assurance Record Keeping Reporting Research Resource Development Retailing Sales Scheduling Social Work Special Events Planning Staff Development Supervision Systems Analysis Systems Design Systems & Procedures Teaching Team Building Testing Training Volunteer Management Writing Youth Counseling  

   

     

FUNCTIONAL RESUME SKILL CATEGORIES

NOTE: Consider this list as a guideline. You may choose to create your own headings that best highlight your skills. You may even combine a couple of similar headings in this list to create a more substantial section.

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RESUME FORMATTING ADVICE

1 Page Maximum! If you want recruiters to read your resume, limit it to 1 page. Remember that the resume should include highlights – not every detail! If you have trouble condensing your resume, visit the OSE to meet with a career coach. Exceptions to the 1 page rule are research-oriented and/or international positions.

No Complete Sentences! Resumes do not follow traditional rules of writing. Do not use complete sentences. Instead, use short, succinct statements that give a strong image of the work performed. Words such as I, my, the, a, an can almost always be omitted.

Spell Out Acronyms Spell out any acronyms the first time you use them. Remember that people outside of Clemson will not know certain acronyms. If in doubt, spell it out!

Font Choice Choose a font that is common and easy to read such as Arial Narrow, Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica. Don’t make the reader squint – size 11pt or 12 pt are best.

YOU BE THE RECRUITER It’s your job to make it as easy as possible for whoever is reading your resume to gather

information about you. Put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes and consider what will be most relevant to them.

Think of your resume as a funnel List most important items at top

Then next most important Next most important

Least relevant Etc.

Use the “funnel” concept in the Experience section too.

List the most important bullet first, next most important, etc.

Tailor to Jobs When possible, tailor your resume for each job by highlighting your most relevant bits of information. You can tailor the Objective too (if you are using one).

Check, Check, Check Too many people rely on spell check to find errors. Spell check only check to see if words are spelling correctly – but not if you chose the correct word or usage of the word! Have someone else read through your resume to look for spelling errors and typos.

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COVER LETTERS

Q: What is a cover letter’s purpose? A. A cover letter is a document letting the reader know the purpose of your communication. The purpose of the cover letter is to let the reader know why you are the best candidate for the position.  Q: When should I use a cover letter? A. Every time you apply for a position, you should include a cover letter! Many employers will make the cover letter optional – but when given the option, take it and submit a cover letter. Granted, there are some employers and recruiters who do not read cover letters, but it is always better to send one in case they are a recruiter who DOES.  

Q: To whom should I address the cover letter? A. It’s always best to try to find the name of the hiring manager for the position. Is the recruiter listed in ClemsonJobLink? Is there someone in your network who might know? If you are applying to a “blind” position and have no contact information, you can address the cover letter to “Hiring Manager.”

Q: How long should the cover letter be? A. The cover letter should never exceed 1 page.

Q: Do I need a cover letter for a career fair? A. You do NOT need cover letters for career fairs. Since each cover letter is written based on a specific job description, you would not be able to craft a persuasive cover letter for career fair purposes. Also, at a career fair, you will probably talk with many companies – it would be tough to manage all of your paperwork if you wrote individual cover letters for each company! Resumes are all you need at a career fair!

Q: Can I use the same cover letter for every position? A. NO! The purpose of the cover letter is to state why you are the best candidate for THIS PARTICULAR position. You will want to align your cover letter with each job description so that you provide the best examples of how you meet the qualifications. Q: What’s the proper format for a cover letter? A. The cover letter should include your contact information (you could use the same name/address header from your resume to create a cohesive look), the date, the Hiring Manager’s address, and your letter. This means that the letter cannot be very long – but should provide enough information to influence the reader to read your resume. As with your resume, be certain to proofread and have someone else double-check the cover letter.

Q: What should I include in the cover letter? A. The cover letter is typically broken into 3 parts. The introductory paragraph should state which position you are applying for and how you found out about. If a person referred you, be sure to mention this in the cover letter. The middle section (usually 1-2 paragraphs) states why you are the best candidate for the position. You will need to use the job description to come up with examples of how you meet the qualifications. You may want to provide an example or 2 of how you have successfully functioned in a similar role or situation. The last paragraph simply restates your interest in the position and tells the reader how they should follow up – or if you will be following up with them. For sales positions and other roles that require an assertive individual, you will want to indicate that you will follow up with the reader to schedule an interview – then BE SURE TO FOLLOW UP! If you do not have a contact person, you will simply state your interest in talking with the reader about your skills and how they should contact you. In the closing of the cover letter, be certain to leave space to sign the letter (you can insert an e-signature if sending via email).

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First Name I. Last Name 123 Tiger Court 555.555.5555 Clemson, SC 29633 student@g.clemson.edu

March 20, 2018

Contact’s Name (or Hiring Manager, if unknown) Contact’s Full Title (if not known, omit) Organization’s Name Organization’s Street Address City, State Zip Hiring Manager: Use a colon rather than a comma. Only use Hiring Manager if you cannot find the person’s name. In the first sentence, state why you are writing and/or the position or type of work for which you are applying. State how you heard about the opening or the organization, including the name of your reference person, if applicable. The last line should give a brief synopsis of who you are and what you can contribute to the organization or position. A good way to do this is to indicate the two or three skills that make you a great fit for the position/organization. Explain why you are interested in working for the employer by demonstrating your knowledge of the organization. Tell the employer how you will perform in your desired position based on concrete references to your previous accomplishments. Think from the employer’s point of view as you write. How are you a good fit for the organization? Enhance your resume by connecting the dots between what the employer wants and how your past experience will enable you to fill their needs. When appropriate, talk about the results of your past responsibilities. Write with concise, confident statements. Remember that this letter will serve as a writing sample. If this paragraph gets too long, split it into two short paragraphs to make it easier to read. Indicate that you would like to talk with the employer in person to further discuss the opportunity. Provide your preferred phone number and email address (eliminate the hyperlink and change to black font) in case they would like to contact you for further information. State your planned next steps such as calling to ensure your application materials have been received. Close by thanking the person for their time and consideration. Sincerely, (Leave room to sign your name or include a signature image) Type your name Enclosure (This indicates your resume is enclosed in the envelope. Do not add for emailed documents).    

COVER LETTER EXAMPLE

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Always read back through your cover letter to ensure it meets the following criteria: Business Format & Overall Writing Ability _____ Uses correct business letter format including date and addresses at top and signature at

bottom. _____ Is clear and concise _____ Uses a professional tone throughout _____ No spelling or grammar errors Introduction _____ Identified the position for which you are applying _____ States how you heard about the position _____ Wording is creative, but professional, and catches the reader’s attention Identification of skills and experiences related to position _____ Identifies 1 or 2 of your strongest qualifications _____ Clearly relates how these skills apply to the job you are applying for _____ Explains specifically why you are interested in the position, company, and/or location Closing _____ Refers the reader to your resume or any other enclosed documents _____ Thanks the reader for their time _____ Describes how you will follow up with the employer, if applicable                  

COVER LETTER CHECKLIST

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REFERENCE LIST

You will want to include your Reference List as a separate document. You do not need to include the statement “References available upon request” on your resume because employers assume

you will be able to provide references if asked.

First Name I. Last Name 123 Tiger Ct. 555.555.5555 Clemson, SC 29633 student@g.clemson.edu  

Professional References  

Reference #1 Name Title

Organization Name Mailing Address

City/State Phone #

Email address

Reference #2 Name Title

Organization Name Mailing Address

City/State Phone #

Email address

Reference #3 Name Title

Organization Name Mailing Address

City/State Phone #

Email address

Reference #4 Name Title

Organization Name Mailing Address

City/State Phone #

Email address  

Sample Reference Page

Who Should Serve as References? • Ask people who have a positive opinion of you and

who can describe your work-related qualities and personal characteristics.

• Past and present supervisors can usually speak to your reliability, initiative, and ability to work with others. This information is valuable even if the experience was not related to your target job.

• Faculty members know about your academic ability, productivity, and timeliness. They may have also observed how you work with others.

• Advisors and coaches will be able to talk about your maturity, initiative, interpersonal skills and/or leadership qualities.

• Do not include family or friends – employers want to talk with people who know you in a professional capacity.

Get Permission and Keep Them Informed • Never give someone’s name as a reference without

first securing their permission. • Ensure that references will provide POSITIVE

feedback. In most cases, NEUTRAL = NEGATIVE. • Verify spelling of names, titles, and all contact

information for each reference. • Provide a copy of your resume to each of your

references. When possible also send a job description so they can be prepared. Keeping your references informed will help them serve as a better reference for you.

• Keep your references up to date on your progress. • Thank your references. When you accept a job

offer, take time to write each of your references a thank-you note. They have played a valuable role in you receiving an offer.

• Keep in touch. Don’t end contact with your references. Send an email, call, or meet them for coffee on occasion.

 

Submit references when asked by the employer. If you are attending an interview, have your Reference List printed and ready to deliver at the end of your interview.  

Aim to have 3-5 positive references in your list. Consider using the same Name/Address header as you used on your resume to create a cohesive look.