CAREER CONNECTION
Resume and Cover Letter Writing
CAREER CONNECTION
2nd Floor, Younkin Success Center
1640 Neil Avenue
614-688-3898
www.careerconnection.osu.edu
Resume Writing
Identifying information
Job objective
Education
Experience
Additional skills
Optional sections
References
Identifying information
Name (should be prominent)
Present address
Alternate or permanent address (if you’re moving within the next 6
months)
Phone number(s)
E-mail address (use your OSU account or other professional looking
address)
***Do not include age, marital status, religion, or other personal
information. Do not use abbreviations - spell out everything
Job objective
Answers the question, “what do I want to do?”
State the type of position you are seeking or the actual job title
Consider including how you will benefit the employer – not what you are
seeking from the employer
1. An exciting position within any clinical research company doing interesting
things.
2. To obtain a Clinical Research Associate position in a pharmaceutical and
biotech industry where the amount of responsibility varies a great deal, including
writing investigator brochures, discussing abnormal lab values, and that is located
in the Northeastern part of the U.S., preferably in New England.
3. A Clinical Research Associate position where I can be promoted to a Senior
Research Technician in order to prepare complex assays and manage a team.
4. To obtain a Clinical Research Associate position with Cardinal Health, utilizing
my previous experience in a lab and strong organizational skills.
Education
Name and location of institution(s) attended in reverse
chronological order
Degree(s) awarded
Anticipated or actual dates of graduation
Majors and minors
GPA (if 3.0 or higher)
Study abroad experiences
Experience
Name and location of employer
Dates of employment
Title of job position
Knowledge, skills, and abilities developed on the job as well as accomplishments
Use present tense for current job responsibilities and past tense for previous
responsibilities
Any experience that is particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying
should be given more space for its description.
***Avoid using passive language such as “Responsible for”, “Duties included”, or
“Worked on” in your descriptions. Do not use articles of speech (“the”, “an”) or
pronouns (“I”).
Winning Formula: action + object + outcomes
Additional skills
Computer hardware and software with which you are familiar
Foreign languages
Work-related training or workshops attended
Academic skills that are related to the job (leadership, public
speaking, etc.)
Optional sections
Relevant Coursework
Split Work Experience in two (Relevant Experience and Other Work
Experience)
Research Experience
Honors/Awards
Community Service
Volunteer Experience
Extracurricular Activities
Professional Memberships
Publications/Presentations
Licenses/Certifications
References
List on a separate page
Copy your identifying information at the top of your reference page
Use the same format for references as the other sections
Balance of academic and professional
Consider supervisors from volunteer experiences and internships
No family members
Characteristics of a successful resume
Shows purpose and direction
Consistent (verb tense, format, etc.)
Factual
Dynamic
Visual appeal (material is balanced on the page and there are sufficient
margins)
Well-organized
Reads like a good newspaper story - with headlines and leading phrases
One page (in most cases)
Zero typographical errors
Printed on quality resume paper
Why proofread?
Excerpts from actual resumes
Received a plague for pharmaceutical sales representative of
the year
Personal Interests: Donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.
Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a research drug
facility in Dayton.
Marital Status: Often
Attended The Ohio State University from 1895 – 1999
Cover letter writing
The purpose of a cover letter is to tell a prospective
employer what you can do for them and why you are
qualified to meet their needs
It is an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills and
it opens a window to your personality
A well-planned and well-written cover letter is just as
important as an impressive resume, and should accompany
the resume whenever possible
Elements of a cover letter
Your return address and today’s date
Employer’s contact information
Greeting
Introductory paragraph
Main paragraph
Closing paragraph
Signature
Cover letter format
Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Date
Name of Person
Job Title
Company/Organization
Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr./Dr./Ms../Mrs. XXXXXXXXX (an actual name vs. “To Whom It May Concern”):
FIRST PARAGRAPH:
SECOND PARAGRAPHH:
CLOSING PARAGRAPH:
Sincerely ,
Your Name
Introductory paragraph
Get the reader’s attention, but avoid catchy phrases and
gimmicks
Tell why you are writing (e.g., name the specific position or
type of work for which you are applying)
Mention the resource used in finding out about the opening or
company/organization
Include when you’re graduating from The Ohio State
University and with what degree, and future career plans (only
if they’re related to the position)
Main paragraph
Include certain skills you want to highlight that are mentioned
in the job posting
Where and how you developed those skills (academic
background/training, work experience, personality traits)
Achievements that relate to the field in which you are
applying, without duplicating exactly what is included in your
resume
How you would make a good fit in the company based on its
mission, goals, and current projects
Closing paragraph
Your resume is included which gives a more complete view of your
qualifications
You’d like to further discuss the job opportunity or you desire an interview
How you can be reached (phone number and e-mail) to answer any
questions, or when you will follow up with him/her
Thank the person for his/her time and consideration
***If the employer is far away and you plan to visit the area soon, consider
writing that you will be in the geographic vicinity on a certain day and will
call to see if an interview can arranged at this person’s convenience on that
day
Questions?
Allison Jones
Jones.4106@osu.edu