Preparing Resumes and Writing Cover Letters
Section 3: Education
This section is used to profile and highlight your education in terms of completed
degrees, diplomas, certificates, or any of the above that are still in progress. Also
include any evening programs that you are enrolled in. In other
words, you are answering the primary question:
What academic qualifications do you have that are related to the position?
Section 4: Professional and Personal Development
This section is used to highlight any courses, workshops or seminars you have
successfully completed to upgrade your skills and knowledge that are relevant to your
career. In other words, you are answering the question:
What have you done lately to improve and expand your skill set?
III. WRITING THE COVER LETTER
A cover letter is a personal introduction that accompanies your resume; as such,
it should augment your resume in a more personal manner. As a rule, the more
personal your cover letter is, the better.
Think of your cover letter as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other job
seekers, by highlighting what makes you a unique applicant. Your cover letter also
plays a critical role in creating a hiring manager’s sense of you as a person. Use the
cover letter to convey more fully who you are than your resume. Go into detail about
your background instead of reiterating information on your resume. Remember, your
cover letter provides a sample of your writing to a perspective employer.
Your cover letter should be kept to one page, personalized to an individual whenever
possible, including his or her title (avoid “ To whom it may concern,” if possible),
and always for a specific organization.
Your introduction should indicate how you came to apply for the position such as:
• Responding to a posting
• Referred by Jane Smith in Department Y.
Next, summarize your qualifications related to the position for which you are
applying. It is important to address: your qualifications as they relate to the
requirements of the position, if known, such as with an advertised position.
Amplify or augment information contained in your resume, do not merely