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Application Materials

Strong, tailored application materials are key to a successful job search and to securing interviews. Resumes and cover letters should be specific to the job or internship that you are applying to, and all application materials (LinkedIn profiles, reference lists, writing samples) should be well and consistently formatted.听

Need help with application materials?

Drop-in with one of our career advisors. We are happy to help!

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Resumes

A resume is a one- (or two-) page summary of your skills, experience, and education. A resume is brief and concise and highlights the information most relevant to the job for which you鈥檙e applying.

Writing a resume

When writing a resume, you must be thoughtful about the format and the content of your document. Here are some important things to consider.

Format

  • Consistent format (if you bold your organization names, put all organizations in bold)听

  • No spelling, capitalization errors听

  • Text size: Keep in scale. Works well to have your name at 16-18 pt, and have the body text at 10-12 pt听

  • Margins: 陆 inch (鈥淣arrow鈥 in Word) 鈥 1 inch (鈥淣ormal鈥); keep consistent all the way around the page听

  • Length: 1-page is expected for most undergraduates. Graduate students can go to 2 pages IF they have enough relevant experience and it鈥檚 written concisely.听

Content

  • Always, tailor your content to the skills the job description is asking for first. Then, highlight experiences where you have shown听听

  • Start each bullet point with an action verb听

  • Make your resume an impact statement: From a recruiter who鈥檚 an SIS alum: 鈥淚 always suggest that candidates make their resume metrics driven with a focus on impact rather than responsibilities so the resume reads as a branding statement focused on accomplishments rather than a list of job duties 鈥 i.e., what did you complete in X role and what was the outcome compared to what anyone would have to do in X role.鈥澨

AI has a lot of valuable uses in the job search, including exploring career directions, preparing for interviews, and even practicing virtual interviewing online with Big Interview (free to you as an 小蓝视频 student). But resumes need to be personalized to not only the job you鈥檙e applying to, but to your experience. Only you can do that well! We do not recommend you use ChatGPT for writing a resume or cover letter.听

Cover Letters

The purpose of a cover letter is to get you an interview, reflecting different information from your resume. While resumes are used to list all your relevant experiences, cover letters take a different approach. A great cover听letter听tells a few select stories of you doing the skills they need well, so the employer can picture you in their context.

Writing a cover letter

There are many ways to write a cover letter well. That said, it can be hard to start, so it helps to have a structure you know works. Here鈥檚 the structure we recommend everyone learn. Once you鈥檝e learned this 鈥渞ule,鈥 you can 鈥渂reak it鈥 and write your cover letter in different ways that still accomplish the goals.

Common mistakes in cover letters

  • Too generic or not tailored to a specific job
  • Failing to show evidence of employer research and knowledge of the job
  • Tries to include too much. Reads like a "greatest hits" for the r茅sum茅,
    rather than painting a picture (through stories) of skills you can bring to them
  • Focusing on what you need or want versus what you can contribute
  • Spelling and grammatical errors
  • Making it too brief or wordy
  • Omitting contact information

Tip: Read your cover letter out loud. This can help you catch awkward phrasing.

AI has a lot of valuable uses in the job search, including exploring career directions and preparing for interviews. But cover letters need to be personalized to not only the job you鈥檙e applying to, but to your experience. Only you can do that well! We do not recommend you use ChatGPT for writing a resume or cover letter.

References

How to choose professional references

What are employers looking for when they contact your references?

  • To verify your work history
  • To establish your integrity
  • To evaluate your working style or personality
  • To confirm their decision

Employers typically ask questions like these to references:

  • What were your primary responsibilities?
  • How did you get along with co-workers?
  • What were your top skills?
  • What were your limitations or weaknesses?
  • What was your attendance record?
  • Would the employer hire you again?

Whom should you choose as references?

Here are some suggestions:

  • Someone who has witnessed you in responsible roles (e.g., an advisor, a professor, or an internship supervisor)
  • A current or previous supervisor (if you haven鈥檛 informed your current employer that you鈥檙e looking for another job, indicate that on your list of references or in the interview, and ask that the employer wait to contact your current employer until further along in the process)
  • A current or previous co-worker once you鈥檙e more established in your career

听In general, don鈥檛 list family members, or friends who know you only in a social capacity.

Do you need to ask your references for permission?

Yes! Before including anyone on your list of references for any job, you must ask for permission. Asking permission will also:

  • Allow you to check for accurate spelling and the most current contact information.
  • Ensure that the reference is happy to speak for you and will say something positive.
  • Give you a good opportunity to continue to network.

Many people will be happy to be a reference, but if any seem hesitant, politely let them off the hook. You want your references to be enthusiastic about you and your abilities! Let each reference know what type of position you鈥檙e seeking and what aspects of your background you鈥檙e emphasizing, and be sure to provide each of them with the latest copy of your r茅sum茅.

If it has been a while since you have connected with your references, take the opportunity to invite them for a cup of coffee and get reacquainted (it can be virtual!). They might even have some helpful suggestions for your job search!

What should your reference sheet look like?

  • It should have a consistent look and feel with your other application materials.
  • It should include your name and contact information.
  • It should include each person鈥檚 full name, job title, relationship to you (e.g., former supervisor, faculty advisor), and contact information (including phone number and email address).
  • It should be free of errors, and easy to read and understand.

Final tips

  • You do not need to include 鈥淩eferences available upon request鈥 on your r茅sum茅. Employers expect you to have your list completed and available.
  • Some employers will ask for references on the job application. Be prepared.
  • Keep your references apprised of where your job search stands and who might be calling for a reference.
  • When you get a new job, be sure to send a thank-you note to those who provided references.

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Resources

LinkedIn

In addition to as a networking tool, LinkedIn is very important as an application tool. When you apply to a job, recruiters typically look you up on LinkedIn. Focus on these key parts of your profile first to represent yourself professionally:

Profile Picture

Adding a picture ensures connections that you are a real person. Use a clear, professional photo with a neutral background and without any other people. Dress like you would for a networking event in your field. Your face should fill about 60% of the photo.听

Heading

Your headline is what defines you. It says who you are, and what makes you someone that someone would want to hire. Customize it to highlight your career aspirations and interests. Remember that searches read keywords from the headline.听

  • International Studies Student at 小蓝视频 | Emerging Immigration Policy Professional
  • International Development Master鈥檚 Student at 小蓝视频 | Aspiring Monitoring and Evaluation Intern
  • Global Environmental Policy Master鈥檚 Student | Federal Policy Intern at Chesapeake Climate Action Network
  • Peacebuilder focused on creating sustainable social impact in developing countries

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Summary

Give an overview of yourself in 1-3 paragraphs. There is no one right way to do this, but here are some options to structure it:听

  • Tell a short backstory about what you鈥檙e interested in professionally and why, and what you鈥檙e currently looking for.听
  • Use your elevator pitch as inspiration: in a clear, compelling, and concise way, tell the reader what you鈥檙e doing now, share a few of your past accomplishments (highlight relevant skills), and connect the past and present to what you want to be doing next.

I am a bachelor鈥檚 graduate from the School of International Service at 小蓝视频 with a primary focus in Justice, Ethics, & Human Rights and a secondary focus in Environmental Sustainability & Global Health. I am currently working in [immigration legal services, focusing on refugees and asylees in the DC Metro Area. I primarily work on applications to USCIS such as adjustment of status, naturalization, family petitions, work authorization, and refugee travel documents. My academic interests include refugee law/ policy and the intersection between migration and climate change, as well as women鈥檚 rights and postcolonial studies.听听

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Source: , BA SIS, 2021听

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Experience

Highlight the relevant jobs, internships, unpaid work, and volunteer experiences where you鈥檝e built your professional skills, using key words from your field. While a resume typically needs to be 1-2 pages, your LinkedIn profile can act as your master resume with more experiences. Copy the bullets directly from the Experience section(s) of your resume. Fill out each section of the 鈥淎dd experience鈥 form on your LinkedIn profile. If the organization has a presence on LinkedIn, select it in the dropdown menu so the logo shows up.

Education

Including your education history will connect you to alumni, as well as ensure that you appear in searches where you meet educational requirements. Include any relevant details that could differentiate you, like a high GPA (3.0 +), leadership in a student organization, or any honors or awards.听

Tips for an Advanced Profile

  • Customize your LinkedIn URL (ideally the same as your name, with a dash in the middle)听
  • Add websites, articles that show the work you鈥檝e done in any section (Experience, Education, Featured)听
  • Ask for recommendations from former bosses, coaches, or professors to enhance your credibility听
  • Connect to at least 5 groups or companies听
  • Try to reach at least 30 connections. After that, LinkedIn will show you more people when you search the Alumni Tool and elsewhere

Handshake

One of the simplest, quickest things you can do to help facilitate your job search is to fill out 2 key areas of your .