Résumé and Cover Letter
For this assignment, you will locate a job advertisement from within your field or major, then create a résumé and cover letter to apply for that job. Feel free to apply for a "future" job by imagining you've completed up to a four-year degree. We will work on tailoring your application materials to specific qualities and attributes the employer values. Ultimately, you are marketing yourself—your experience, education, skills, and professionalism—to an employer.
Assignment Objectives
Identify the needs of employers as an audience
Cater an argument to a specific situation
Format a resume and professional letter
Preparing to Write the Resume and Cover Letter
1. Locate a job listing for a position in your desired field.
2. Build an Ideal Candidate Profile:
Identify key elements of the job listing – What qualities seem to be important to the employer?
What specific experience or skills do they require? What do they not require, but prefer?
3. Identify how your own work and educational experience match the required and desired candidate profile. If you do not have these requirements, how might you position yourself to be considered anyway?
Formatting Requirements
Cover Letter – Single spaced, with the proper business letter “heading” information, salutation, and closing. The letter will be no longer than one page.
The Résumé – Formatting will vary. Choose a format that best highlights your skills and qualities. Format should also help the reader “sort” through your resume. The résumé should be no longer than two pages.
Submission Requirements Submit the following:
1. The Cover Letter
2. The Resume
3. The job listing or advertisement
4. "Ideal Candidate Profile"