Resume and Cover Letter
Starter Kit
Office of
Career Services
Elmira College
One Park Place  Elmira, New York 14901
Student Learning Commons, GTL
(607) 735-1830
eccareers@elmira.edu
NRB: eb 3-4-15
Introduction from the Office of Career Services
Your resume is just one of the many steps along the way to receiving a job offer, but it is essential
that you write a superior one. Excellence has more to do with how you put your resume together
than how much experience you have. Read the following pages and let this starter kit help you
through your first draft. From there you can depend on members of the Office of Career Services
to critique your work through the many drafts it will take you to be satisfied with the result.
Best wishes to you for a successful resume!
Michael Blasic
Director of Career Services
Elmira College
Writing Your Resume
You may write several drafts of your resume before you are satisfied.
Be patient and persistent.
Purpose of the Resume:
 To sell yourself, your experience, and your education effectively in as few words as possible
 To present the image you desire while being personal and unique
 To serve as preparation for an interview and remind the interviewer about you afterwards
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RESUME DOs AND DONTs

Do use professional looking resume paper in a subdued
color such as white or ivory.

Do include your GPA only if it is a 3.0 or higher.

Do use your Elmira College email address or another
professional address such as your_name@gmail.com.

Do include academic honors, scholarships, and
certifications.

Don’t list relevant coursework unless your work
experience is extremely limited, relevant
coursework is usually used only on your
curriculum vitae

Don’t feel obligated to include personal interests
or personality traits. While you can include them
for a creative touch, they should be relevant to the
position you’re applying for.

Don’t include your references on your resume.
Use a separate page.

Do include activities you have been actively involved in.

Do use strong action words in the correct tense.

Don’t ask relatives to serve as references.

Do make sure the “header” and overall format is
consistent and uniform on your resume, cover letter,
and reference page.

Don’t use templates to format your resume. Start
with a blank Word document.

Don’t send out your resume with errors or
misspellings.

Don’t include high school information. The only
exception is if an award or job was phenomenal
and is related to your career or prospective
employer or if you are a freshman with little
experience.

Don’t use sentences on a resume. Explain what
you actually did briefly using bulleted phrases with
precise wording. No punctuation.

Don’t include personal information such as age,
health, marital status, social security number, etc.
Don’t include a picture.

Do make sure that you and your references can back-up
anything listed on your resume.

Do send a cover letter with a resume, even if the
employer does not request it.

Do clarify acronyms and group names. Ex. Model UN
(Model United Nations) or Orchesis (dance troupe)

Do save your resume as a PDF when an employer
requests that you send it electronically. This avoids
formatting issues.

Do use technical language sparingly to show knowledge
of the field.

Do consider having an “Everything Resume” as well as
a specific resumes for the position you’re currently
applying for.

Don’t print on the back side if you need two
pages. Use two separate pages and make sure to
fill the entire second page.

Do proofread and have multiple drafts.

Don’t use personal pronouns such as I, my or me.

Do have multiple people read it over.

Don’t exaggerate your accomplishments (be
honest).

Don’t let your resume look exactly like one of
your friend’s. Make sure that yours is in some way
unique.
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Resume Exercise
Now it is time to gather your information together and organize the content of your resume.
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Permanent Address: _________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State: __________________ Zip: ______________
Current Address: ___________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State: __________________ Zip: ______________
Cellphone: (
)___________________ Email Address: _________________________________________
EDUCATION: Degree: __________________ Major(s): __________________________________________
Minor(s): ____________________ College: _______________________ City, State: __________________
GPA: _____/4.0 Expected Graduation date: _____________
List other colleges from which you received degrees (include other colleges if attended in foreign countries or
those of special significance):
Degree _______________________ College _________________________ City, State __________________
Degree _______________________ College _________________________ City, State __________________
Certification Information: ____________________________________________________________________
*This can be a separate section. Include date of receipt or expected date. This applies especially to Education and Nursing
majors, etc.
RELEVANT COURSEWORK (OPTIONAL): Three to six upper level courses which relate to the position you
are applying for. You may include courses for which you are currently registered:
_______________________________________
______________________________________
WORK & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE: Include any significant experience, internships, student teaching,
and-or strong co-curricular activities.
Organization: ______________________________________________________________________________
Dates: ______ - ______ Title: ________________________________________________________________
Duties and responsibilities: ___________________________________________________________________
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: Any volunteer experience you have that is not directly related to the position
you are applying for.
Organization: ______________________________________________________________________________
Dates: _____ - ______ Title: _________________________________________________________________
Duties and responsibilities: ___________________________________________________________________
HONORS: Include Who’s Who in American College Students, National Dean’s List, academic scholarships and
prizes, community awards, sports awards, and extra-curricular awards:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITIES: Include athletics, clubs, campus organizations, and off-campus involvement and leadership:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED SKILLS-ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR QUALITIES: Mention the languages you speak, computer
skills, research papers, publications, portfolios, and travel experience. These should be hard skills, or skills that
can be measured or defined:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Basic Resume Format
Next, use the information assembled on the previous page to format your resume.
Name
Include address (permanent and college), phone number (most commonly used), and professional Email address
Education
Bachelor of ____ in ______
Elmira College, Elmira, New York
Expected Graduation: month and year
GPA: __/4.0
Career-Related Experience
Title of position
Employment Organization
 Describe specific responsibilities or accomplishments that highlight skills
month and year - month and year
City, State


Title of position
Employment Organization
 Describe specific responsibilities or accomplishments
month and year - month and year
City, State


Title of position
Employment Organization
 Describe specific responsibilities or accomplishments
month and year - month and year
City, State


Volunteer Experience
Title of position
Organization
 Describe specific responsibilities or accomplishments
month and year - month and year
City, State
Title of position
Organization
 Describe specific responsibilities or accomplishments
month and year - month and year
City, State
Leadership Activities
Name of Activity
Leadership position or honors received
month and year - month and year
Honors
Name of Award (may need a 3-5 word description)
Scholarship/Deans list
month and year
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Sample Resume
Ima Sample
Present Address:
One Park Place
Elmira, NY 14901
Sdigregorio@elmira.edu
Permanent Address:
1030 North Main Street
Sturbridge, MA 15201
215-562-5225
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Adolescent Education
Elmira College , Elmira, NY
Anticipated Graduation May 2014
GPA: 3.6/4.0
Career Related Experience
Student Teacher (3rd Grade)
January 2013 – April 2013
Riverside Elementary School
Elmira, NY
 Developed class lessons in all academic areas
 Effectively implemented strategies to improve academic performance of 25 third graders
 Utilized Smart Board technology in classroom lessons daily
Reading Tutor (2nd Grade)
September 2012 – December 2012
Diven Elementary School
Elmira, NY
 Lead small group activities to review and practice reading skills
 Developed strategies to strengthen reading comprehension and fluency
 Monitored students’ understanding of topics and provide one-on-one instruction
Additional Work Experience
Career Assistant
Elmira College Office of Career Services
 Advise students on fulfilling field experience
 Assist with the design, set-up and marketing of student workshop
 Review resumes and cover letters for students seeking employment
May 2011 – Present
Elmira, NY
Volunteer Experience



T.E.A.C.H. President
Elmira College Circle K
Children’s Department, Steele Memorial Library
September 2013 – Present
September 2010 – Present
January 2011 – May 2011
Academic Honors
Omicron Delta Kappa, Leadership Honor Society
Salutatorian Scholarship, $136,000 over 4 years, 3.4 GPA must be maintained
Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Freshman Honor Society
September 2012
June 2010
September 2011
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How to Structure Your Experience
Check out the “Resume Binders” available in the Office of Career Services for structure and formatting ideas!
There are two basic resume formats: chronological and relevant. Any format should provide an easy to read
pattern of information:
1.) The Chronological Format: focus on dates of experiences (placed in a clear or noticeable place consistently
throughout the resume), job titles, and places of work. Education and work experiences are arranged in one of
two ways: 1) most recent first or 2) least recent first. Reverse chronological is the most commonly used format.
2.) The Relevant Format: instead of listing experiences by chronological date, you can arrange experiences in
order of relevance to the job or graduate school to which you are applying. The dates are not the important
aspect of this format.




You should have 3-5 bullets underneath each work position. If you can only think of one or two, consider
excluding the experience.
The bulleted information should tell what you did and how well you did it, using adjectives and adverbs to
highlight your excellence. Use figures whenever possible and do not be afraid to approximate. Examples:
Taught class of 30 students, Exceeded sales goals by 20%, Increased production by 10%, Attended to a 15-bed unit.
In addition, you need to be able to back up the information you provide. For example, do not simply say that
you have excellent interpersonal skills - discuss the award you received for best customer service.
Focus on accomplishments, not day-to-day tasks!
Bullet Examples:
o Patiently encouraged second grade students to learn and grow in the classroom
o Efficiently maintained large customer database to compile daily projections report
o Thoroughly research local and regional media archives for events relating to the Elmira, New York area
The Formula for Writing Resume Bullets
Optional Adjective + Action word + object receiving the action = result
• Cleaned over 500 pieces of pottery for cataloging
• Skillfully created daily lesson plans to stay organized
• Tailored tests and activities to accommodate all learners’ needs and abilities
• Patiently advised undeclared students in choosing an academic major that matches their strengths
• Documented over 500 articles to be processed
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Verbs for your Resume
Action verbs are used to help enhance your Career-Related Experience. Remember to use the appropriate verb
tense when describing past or present experience. Avoid using the same verb twice.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Allocate
Arrange
Catalogue
Classify
Compile
Document
Implement
Plan
Prepare
Retrieve
Validate
CREATIVE
Act
Create
Customize
Establish
Illustrate
Initiate
Institute
Integrate
Invent
Revise
Visualize
MANAGEMENT
Administer
Assign
Balance
Coordinate
Delegate
Evaluate
Execute
Manage
Organize
Oversee
Supervise
TEACHING
Adapt
Advise
Coordinate
Enable
Encourage
Explain
Facilitate
Guide
Inform
Instruct
Teach
COMMUNICATION
Advocate
Collaborate
Generate
Interpret
Mediate
Negotiate
Persuade
Promote
Propose
Publicize
Translate
HELPING
Aid
Assist
Counsel
Educate
Expedite
Familiarize
Inspire
Motivate
Participate
Provide
Support
RESEARCH
Critique
Diagnose
Evaluate
Examine
Extract
Identify
Investigate
Research
Review
Survey
Theorize
TECHNICAL
Assemble
Calculate
Compute
Design
Devise
Maintain
Operate
Pinpoint
Program
Fonts for Your Resume
For your name, use a font that is not on any other part of your resume. For business, stick to “milder” fonts,
for other majors, you can be more creative. Make sure that your entire resume is readable in the font chosen.
Here are some possibilities:
Maiandra GD
Bodoni MT Black
Black Chancery
Eras Bold ITC
Script MT Bold
Imprint MT Shadow
Impact
Rockwell
Engravers mt
Serif Fonts (these have “feet” on the letters: good for titles and small sections of your resume)
Goudy Old Style
Calisto MT
Georgia
Book Antigua
Century Schoolbook
Rockwell
Bookman Old Style
Garamond
Perpetua
Sans Serif Fonts (No “feet” on the letters: good for the majority of your resume)
Antique Olive
CG Omega
Tahoma
Albertus Medium
Maiandra GD
Tw Cen MT
Calibri
Lucida Sans
Verdana
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Ways to Make Your Titles Stand Out
Making your titles stand out is essential to success with your resume. Employers often read part of a section then
skip to the next section. If your resume looks like one illegible section, they may only read the top of it and miss
the rest. However, if you have well-defined sections, they may read the beginning of each section, increasing the
amount of information they learn about you. Below are some ways you can format your titles:
Education
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Elmira College
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Elmira, NY
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Education
Concentration: Visual Arts
Expected Graduation: May 2009
New York State Certification: Expected September 2009
Elmira College
Elmira, NY
GPA 3.9/4.0
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Human Services
Elmira College
GPA 3.5/4.0
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Elmira, NY
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Expected Graduation: May 2009
Elmira College
Elmira, New York
GPA: 3.6/4.0
Don’t know how to insert lines into your resume? Here are some easy steps!
1. In Microsoft Word, go into the Page Layout section.
2. Click the option Page Borders, a window will appear.
3. In the bottom left hand corner of the window will be the option for Horizontal Lines.
4. Click on this option and choose one of the many lines to add to your resume!
OR
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In Microsoft Word, go into the Insert section.
Click the option Shapes, a window will appear.
Chose the line option.
Right click the box and select format shape
Customize your line to best fit your resume.
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Reference Page Guide

At the top of the page, use your “header”- your name and the contact information that you used at the top of
your resume and cover letter.

Underneath, list two sections: Professional References and Personal References.

Type of paper should be consistent with resume and cover letter.
Professional References
Name (Include suffixes such as Dr. or Esq.)
Title (If you don’t know, ask! This includes professors.)
Place of Employment
Address
City, State Zip
Phone (with area code)
E-mail (Be sure to ask if you can include this and that it is an active e-mail. If not, do not list it)
Personal References
Name (Include suffixes such as Dr. or Esq.)
Relationship (If relevant)
Profession (If relevant)
Place of Employment
Address
City, State Zip
Phone (with area code)
E-mail (Be sure to ask if you can include this and that it is an active e-mail. If not, do not list it)

Use 3-5 professional references who know you well and can discuss your work in detail. Be sure to have more
professional than personal references if you list an odd number.

Professional references should have directly observed your work, whether in a class or in an employment
situation, or even in an extracurricular or volunteer setting.

Personal references can be anyone you know, except family members (mom, dad, siblings, grandparents,
aunts, uncles) or your significant other.

Some great personal reference options are: a family friend, a neighbor, a teacher of arts or non-academic skills,
or a fellow member of a group or club. Personal references are respected for their ability to highlight your
skills and how they have developed over time, so the longer they have known you, the better.

Once you have your references page in place (or while you are working on it), contact each person you have
listed and request their permission to use them as a reference. As a courtesy, contact them each time you give
out your references page, if possible, to let them know that they may be contacted. Give each of your
references a copy of your resume so they may refer to it.

Bring copies with you to each interview. Keep your reference information up-to-date.
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Sample Reference Page
Ima Sample
Present Address:
One Park Place
Elmira, NY 14901
Sdigregorio@elmira.edu
Permanent Address:
1030 North Main Street
Sturbridge, MA 15201
215-562-5225
Professional References
Personal References
Mr. Albert Jones
Director of Human Resources
XYZ Computers
123 Bowman Lane, Suite 456
Charlotte, SC 12345
(555) 555-5555
ajones@xyz.com
Mr. Johnny Smith
Family Friend
Manager
Tiger Restaurant
789 Clemson Lane
Clemson, SC 98765
(789) 123-4567
smithj@trest.com
Dr. Susie Carpenter
Associate Professor of Management
Clemson University, College of Engineering
001 Earle Hall
Clemson, SC 12345
(555) 656-1452
dr.susie@cu.com
Mr. Brad Bailey
Former Lacrosse Coach
Sales Manager
Carnation Company
333 Corporation Drive
Richmond, VA 98765
(123) 456-7890
Dr. Mary Dyber
Professor of Childhood Education
Ferrum College, Department of Education
Ferrum, VA 12345
(555) 555-1111
mdyber@ferrum.edu
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Cover Letter Guide
Essentially, a cover letter is intended to introduce yourself to an organization, express your interest in a position,
and encourage them to interview you. Your cover letter should draw attention to your resume and serve as the
first contact between you and your employer.
Cover Letter Exercise
To help break down the information you need for your cover letter, answer the following questions.
Paragraph One
1. Why are you writing this letter? What’s your objective in contacting this person?
2. Mention any source(s) you received information from regarding this job/internship opportunity. (How did
you find out about this opportunity?) This is a good time to mention any contacts you have within the
organization.
3. State your interest and how a position within this organization would greatly enhance your career path.
Paragraph Two
1. State your current educational status and how it has prepared you for this opportunity.
2. Mention any practical experience you may have obtained outside the classroom, on or off campus.
3. Explain how your past work experience has allowed you to develop certain marketable skills.
4. Summarize your personal qualities and skills and illustrate how they would allow you to contribute to the
organization and/or optimally perform in the workplace.
Paragraph Three
1. Indicate your interest in the opportunity to interview.
2. State that you will follow-up with the employer within two weeks to see if additional information is
needed.
3. Provide contact information that you can be reached at if the employer wants to reach out to you first.
4. Thank them for their time and consideration!
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Cover Letter Format
Now, you can format your answers into paragraphs and complete sentences.
Month Day, Year
Mr./Ms./Dr. First Name Last Name
Title
Name of Organization
Street or P. O. Box Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name:
Opening paragraph: State why you are writing to this employer, including what position you are applying
for. Also mention how you learned about the organization or position. Refer to any contacts you may
have at the organization.
2nd paragraph: This is an opportunity to explain in more detail relevant skills in your resume. Tell why
you are interested in the employer or type of work the employer does. Relate elements of your
background to requirements of the position. Mention specific qualifications which make you a good fit
for the employer’s needs.
3rd paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for a position or to talk with the
employer to learn more about their opportunities or hiring plans. Refer to the fact that your resume is
enclosed. Mention other enclosures if such are required to apply for a position. State what you will do to
follow up, such as telephone the employer within two weeks. State that you would be glad to provide the
employer with any additional information needed provide information for them to contact you at.
Thank the employer for her or his consideration.
Sincerely,
(Your handwritten signature)
Your name typed
[Optional] Enclosure(s): resume, reference page, (etc.)

Do not forget your “header” heading at the top of the page.

It is important that you tailor each letter to the specific position for which you are applying.

Your cover letter should be on the same type of paper as the resume and reference page.
13
Sample Cover Letter
Ima Sample
Present Address:
One Park Place
Elmira, NY 14901
Sdigregorio@elmira.edu
Permanent Address:
1030 North Main Street
Sturbridge, MA 15201
215-562-5225
March 15, 2014
Mr. Mark Capobianco
Superintendent
Vestal Central School District
201 Main Street
Binghamton, New York 13850
Dear Mr. Capobianco:
I am writing today to express my interest in the history teacher position for Clayton Avenue Elementary school. I
learned about the open position from Mrs. Mary Stewart, a second grade teacher at the school. I am a recent
graduate of Elmira College with a degree in Education. I concentrated in History because it is the backbone of
today’s curriculum, providing young students with a structure for learning. My experiences as a Program Director
for Broome County Catholic schools and a preschool teacher have created a solid foundation for me to begin my
teaching career.
Life-long learners and responsible, contributing citizens are created by fostering the academic, social and
emotional growth of each student. In accordance with the goals of Vestal Central Schools, I believe that it is
important to construct a positive, caring learning environment. This includes building positive parent and
teacher partnerships, which I have accomplished by conducting effective parent conferences during my student
teaching experience this past fall. As you can see from my enclosed resume, I completed student teaching at
Littleton High School where I became the part-time soccer coach. I was able to utilize many classroom
technologies and share my love of history with the students through interactive projects and trips.
Vestal Central Schools has a long-standing reputation of excellence and I am excited to hear of the great
employment opportunities available. I welcome any opportunity to further discuss my philosophy and teaching
experience with you. I will contact you within the next two weeks to confirm your receipt of my resume and
placement file.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ima Sample
Ima Sample
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