{"id":136,"date":"2019-06-07T18:10:38","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T18:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev-cu-sites.pantheonsite.io\/cuwrite\/?page_id=136"},"modified":"2025-09-11T11:20:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:20:49","slug":"resumes-cover-letters","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.clarkson.edu\/cuwrite\/writing-resources\/professional-writing\/resumes-cover-letters\/","title":{"rendered":"R\u00e9sum\u00e9s and Cover Letters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When applying for an internship, summer employment, or your first position post-graduation, most employers anticipate that you will include in this process a cover letter<\/strong> as well as a professional r\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/strong>. Employers will often receive hundreds of applications for a single position, which means it is important that yours are both exceptionally well-written and formatted to help you stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Writing Center likes to work hand-in-hand with the Career Center personnel and resources. Here is a link to the Career Center website with samples of resumes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C O V E R  L E T T E R S<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A cover letter should be only one page. It should not be a summary of the information on the resume. <\/strong> The cover letter and the resume work together. The resume is the list of experiences and skills. The cover letter is the place to give a sense of your priorities and talents.<\/strong> The cover letter is where you convince the potential employer that you are the right person for the job. It is a sales letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to cover in a cover letter<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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  1. In the Intro, indicate why the readers should spend time on your letter. In other words demonstrate that YOU have something to offer THEM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. In two brief body paragraphs, demonstrate how your experience and talents will address the job description. Start with the key elements of the job description.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. In the concluding paragraph, make a call for action.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The Introduction<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    [1] Indicate which position you’re applying for. [2] Give your elevator speech indicating how you are a strong candidate for that job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Commonly horrible introduction<\/em> <\/strong>— the focus is on the writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I am applying for the position of xxxx. I will receive my BS in biology in 2021. This is my dream job!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Good Introduction<\/em><\/strong> — the focus is on the reader<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I am applying for the position of xxxx. I hope that my experience with lab research, various tools including MatLab, and an internship with your company make me a competitive candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Body Paragraphs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    You have two paragraphs in which you need to demonstrate <\/p>\n\n\n\n