Resumes and cover letters

The goal of your cover letter is to highlight relevant skills and experience through examples. It should also:

• show the employer you understand the organization
• demonstrate your writing and communication style
• show your passion for the work, the position, and the employer

1. Introduction and “Roadmap” Statement

The Introduction:

• Where did you see or hear about the job? (IF it adds value)
  • Website, referral to job by employee, LinkedIn, etc.

• If possible, include a “connection” to the organization

The “Roadmap” Statement:

• The top 2-4 qualities you offer to the organization and a statement of confidence about your ability to use those qualities to excel in the position
• Choose based on top qualities the employer seeks that you know you possess

Example: “Because of my excellent management skills, intercultural competencies and passion for your organization’s mission, I would be an excellent candidate for this position.”

2. Body Paragraphs (Proof Statements)

• Follow the order listed in your Roadmap Statement
• Make connections for the employer between your skills and the needs of their organization
• Use specific examples, tell a brief STAR story
  • What can you do for them?
  • What do you bring that they need?

3. Conclusion

Begin by generally restating your Roadmap statement:

• “Given how strongly my skills match (potentially reiterate most important skills for position) your organization’s needs, plus my passion for your mission, I believe I am an excellent candidate for the Business Manager position.”

This is the place to mention:

• Contact information
• Finally conclude with “Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you” or something similar
• Possible next steps

For your cover letter to stand out, it should be based on the job description and show how your skills and experience match those of the hiring organization.

To inspire your writing think about:

• What is it about the position that excites me?
• What are the unique strengths I would bring to the position?
• What have I done that demonstrates my ability to do the job? Tell a brief STAR story
• In what ways are the organization’s goals/missions consistent with my own?
• Use this as a chance to show you have done your research on the organization

Cover letter writing resources
Madison Writing Assistance – Free resume and cover letter assistance

Online cover letter writing resources
Resources to help you nail your next cover letter – from The Muse
Cover letter writing resources – from The Balance Careers

Examples
The only cover letter guide you’ll need in 2021 (+successful examples) – from LinkedIn
Top cover letter examples in 2021 (for all professions) – from Novoresume
Cover letter examples for all job applications in 2021 – from ResumeGenius
The best cover letter examples for every type of job seeker – from The Muse

• Prioritize your content so that the most important and relevant experience is listed first.
• In general one page is the rule but if you have extensive experience or education, going to two pages is acceptable.
• How far back? We often get this question. In general, employers want to see about 7-10 years back, but you could use older experience if it is relevant to the job.
• Education can be listed at the beginning or after experience, depending on how long ago you obtained your education and how relevant it is to the job.
• Be consistent about how you list dates, use bullet points, title sections, and use indentation.
• Make sure your resume is easy to read by using a font style such as Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial and a font size that is easy on the eyes. In most cases, 10- 12-point fonts are best (except for headers which can be 14-16 point). Your content should not be too dense, you want the resume to have some “white space” for readability. Using bold font is fine as long as you don’t overdo it. Avoid underlining.
• Avoid mistakes with grammar and spelling.  Mistakes are often interpreted as lack of attention to detail. If in doubt, look it up.
• Proofread! Get a few other people to read your entire resume and cover letter looking for spelling, grammar, spacing, or other mistakes. Then, proofread again. And one more time for good measure.
• When submitting online, your resume and cover letter should be sent as a PDF using a meaningful file name such as, BadgerBuckingham.doc
• Always include a cover letter with your resume.

• Contact information – name, phone number, email address. It may also include your LinkedIn, blog, and/or online portfolio
• Summary or Highlights of qualifications – highlights specific skills or knowledge the employer is seeking
• Experience – Employer name and location, your job, dates worked there (it is acceptable to list years vs month and year). Note, if you want to highlight your role at the company, list that before the company. But be consistent throughout your resume. Under each experience, list 2-5 bullet points that describe your accomplishments or skills. Include relevant volunteer experience.
• Education – List college/university name, location, degree earned, major, and/or program. Including dates is optional. If you didn’t complete a degree at an institution, list the number of credits earned.
• Other sections – This varies depending on your experience or the job. Examples are, Technical Skills, Community Involvement, Professional Memberships, etc.
• What not to include – Personal information (height, weight, DOB, gender, race, social security number, religious affiliation.

To list your skills and experience, use bullet points rather than paragraphs.

Writing effective bullet points

• Use keywords throughout as many employers now use applicant tracking systems (ATS)
• Use power verbs
• Go beyond listing your “duties”
• Think about:
  • Who did your job help?
  • What were the results of your job?
  • When did this task happen? Daily? Weekly? Etc
  • Where did you do your work? Did you have to travel? Interact with people outside your organization?
  • Why did you do this and How did your work help or benefit the organization?
• Quantify and qualify your experience.
• Consider creating a master resume of bullet points you can pull from as you tailor your resume to each job. You can add any new skills,  tasks, and accomplishments to the master document as your progress through your career.

Resume writing resources
Madison Writing Assistance – Free resume and cover letter assistance  South Central Wisconsin Job Center – Free resume reviews

Online resume websites
Blue Sky Resumes – Free information and samples. You can also pay a resume writer, but this tends to be expensive. Use this site to learn how to do it yourself. Before and after examples.
The Balance Careers – Resume formats with examples and tips.
WorkItDaily – Free resume and cover letter guides
The Muse – Free job search articles, including resume information

Examples
Best resume examples listed by type and job – The Balance Careers
Resume examples for every job title – myPerfectresume