Resumes and Cover Letters

Resumes

A resume is a targeted marketing tool highlighting skills, education, experience, and accomplishments for a particular position and organization. 

Presentation

UNH student writing feedback and notes on her resume during Resume Review Day.
  • Always include name, address, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn profile.
  • Bullet your descriptions and include accomplishments and skills
  • Tailor the experiences and skills for each specific opportunity you are applying to – a one size fits all resume will be ignored
  • Have both a Word (.doc) and a PDF version of your resume, and follow the employer’s instructions on which format they would prefer.  For more info, read "The Best Resume File Format"
  • When printing your resume, use high quality white or off-white paper
  • For students and new graduates, one page is best; some professions are open to longer resumes
  • Make sure your formatting is consistent throughout the document and that verb tenses match the experience
    • Ex.  Current experience: use present tense (organize, correspond, etc)
    • Previous experience: use past tense (organized, corresponded, etc)

Education

Student having his resume reviewed at UNH in partnership with Career and Professional Success
  • Degree(s), major, university, city, state, month and year of graduation (or anticipated month and year)
  • Include applicable minors, honors, awards, special projects and relevant coursework
  • Include your GPA if it is above average or better (3.0 or higher)

Experience

  • Place experiences most relevant to the job you are applying to under a heading like “Related Experience”
  • You don’t need to have separate sections for paid and unpaid experiences, so include related internships, class projects, research, or volunteer experiences
  • Unrelated experiences, such as summer jobs, can appear under a heading like “Additional Experience”
  • List in reverse chronological order (with the most recent experience first)
  • Other headings to consider include: Leadership, Technical Skills, Lab Skills, Licenses and Certifications, Languages (only if advanced/fluent), Research and Publications, Community Service, Memberships/Affiliations

Emphasize

  • Be specific in your descriptions and quantify accomplishments using action verbs, superlatives and numbers (e.g., "Effectively collaborated with a team of diverse professionals," “Only student rep. on the sub-committee,” “Trained 8 lifeguards,” “Supervised a caseload of 6 clients”)
  • Use verbs to showcase specific and transferable skills you have acquired in and out of the classroom
  • Remove all personal pronouns (no “I” or “my”)

References

  • References should not be included on the resume itself
  • Create a separate reference page listing 3 or 4 people, with their contact information, who have supervised your work (employer, professor, advisor)
  • Bring the reference sheet to the interview
  • Always contact your references before listing them ― you do not want them to be surprised by a call from an employer
  • Use LinkedIn to request “recommendations” by supervisors or colleagues you are connected to (once you have at least one recommendation, you can add “for immediate recommendations, please see (insert your LinkedIn url)” to your resume

Use VMock for a free resume review
 

UNH's College of Engineering and Physical Science has developed resumes with industry experts for students

CEPS Resume Templates

UNH's College of Health and Human Services has expert resume templates developed for students to download and build off of

CHHS Resume Templates

UNH's College of Liberal Arts have expertly developed resume templates for students to download

COLA Resume Templates

UNH's College of Life Sciences and Agriculture has developed resumes for students to use as templates

COLSA Resume Templates

UNH's Career and Professional Success has assembled resume templates for federal jobs

Federal Resume Templates

Leadership

  • Exhibit self-motivation and a positive attitude
  • Motivate individuals and groups to perform
  • Encourage effective teamwork with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Design and implement plans of action
  • Set goals and follow-through
  • Assess and evaluate situations effectively
  • Manage time efficiently and effectively through scheduling and prioritizing
  • Handle multiple demands for commitment of time, energy, and resources
  • Identify critical issues quickly and accurately
  • Meet the needs of both the organization and the employees when possible
  • Use integrity in decision-making

Program Administration

  • Interpret rules and regulations
  • Analyze data and information
  • Create innovative solutions to complex problems
  • Ensure that tasks are completed on time
  • Prioritize daily workload

Information Management

  • Research, investigate, and compile information
  • Synthesize facts, concepts, and principles
  • Compile, sort, and interpret data
  • Identify and combine a variety of resource materials into final copy
  • Formulate relevant questions and develop ways to supply and clarify answers
  • Communicate facts and ideas clearly both orally or in writing
  • Manage a budget and keep accurate financial records

Creativity

  • Solve problems creatively, logically, and practically
  • Write interesting and clear articles, reports, etc.
  • Design culturally sensitive activities to engage participants
  • Market and display products to appeal to target audience
  • Create visually intriguing and skilled designs, displays, or works of art
  • Demonstrate convincing public speaking or acting skills

Interpersonal Communications

  • Exercise "give and take" to achieve group results
  • Display understanding of, and respect for, people from diverse backgrounds
  • Understand and work within the group culture
  • Listen actively and attentively
  • Delegate tasks and responsibilities
  • Discuss cultural differences and issues openly
  • Interpret behavior and emotional patterns in individuals and groups
  • Teach, supervise, and train others using easy-to-understand concepts and hands-on experience
  • Conduct in-depth interviews
  • Express ideas and thoughts based on facts
  • Mediate conflict with tact and diplomacy

Personal Development

  • Instill self-confidence and self-esteem in others
  • Demonstrate flexibility and commitment to change and learning
  • Learn the value of hard work and persistence
  • Recognize and appropriately address bias in self and others

Cultural Competency

  • Enhanced cultural awareness, sensitivity to customs, and cultural differences
  • Increased self-confidence, initiative, and independence
  • Adapted to a new culture and environment
  • Functioned with a high level of ambiguity
  • Interacted effectively with people from diverse backgrounds

Communication

           
Admitted
Addressed
Allowed
Amended
Arbitrated
Arranged
Ascertained
Attested
Authored

Briefed
Clarified
Cleared up
Closed
Communicated
Composed
Concluded
Convinced
Consulted

Corresponded
Critiqued
Dedicated
Defined
Developed
Discussed
Directed
Educated
Elicited

Enlisted
Explained
Formulated
Improvised
Indicated
Influenced
Informed
Instructed
Interpreted

Lectured
Mediated
Moderated
Negotiated
Perceived
Persuaded
Promoted
Presented
Publicized

Questioned
Reconciled
Referred
Reinforced
Reported
Represented
Shaped
Spoke
Solicited

Suggested
Summarized
Supported
Translated
Wrote

Management

           

Administered
Analyzed
Anticipated
Appointed
Assessed
Assigned
Attained

Certified
Chaired
Commissioned
Compared
Contracted
Consolidated
Coordinated

Corrected
Correlated
Delegated
Determined
Developed
Devised
Directed

Enforced
Evaluated
Executed
Forecasted
Formulated
Identified
Improved

Increased
Motivated
Organized
Oversaw
Planned
Prepared 
Prioritized

Produced
Recommended
Researched
Reserved
Reviewed
Revised
Scheduled

Strategized
Strengthened
Studied
Supervised

Clerical/Detail

           
Activated
Acquired
Adjusted
Allocated
Altered
Approved
Arranged
Assembled
Assessed
Authorized
Cataloged
Centralized
Charted
Classified
Collected
Compiled
Confirmed
Contracted
Designated
Dispatched
Drafted
Edited
Established
Executed
Facilitated
Generated
Implemented
Incorporated
Inspected
Issued
Linked
Logged
Mapped Out
Monitored
Obtained
Ordered
Operated
Organized
Prepared
Processed

Procured
Programmed
Purchased
Recorded
Rectified
Retrieved
Scheduled
Screened

Secured
Simplified
Specified
Suggested
Systematized 
Tracked

Teaching

           

Adapted
Advised
Clarified
Coached
Communicated

Conducted
Coordinated
Critiqued
Developed
Enabled

Encouraged
Evaluated
Explained
Facilitated

Focused
Guided
Individualized
Informed

Initiated
Instilled
Instructed
Motivated

Persuaded
Simulated
Stimulated
Taught

Tested
Trained
Transmitted
Tutored

Creative

           
Acted
Adapted
Combined
Conceptualized
Created

Customized
Designed
Developed
Directed
Displayed

Drew
Entertained
Established
Fashioned
Formulated

Founded
Illustrated
Initiated
Instituted
Integrated

Introduced
Invented
Modeled
Modified
Originated

Performed
Planned
Revised
Revitalized
Shaped

Solved

Helping

           
Aided
Accommodated
Advised
Alleviated
Assessed

Assisted
Assured
Bolstered
Clarified
Coached

Counseled
Demonstrated
Diagnosed
Eased
Educated

Elevated
Enabled
Endorsed
Enhanced
Enriched

Expedited
Facilitated
Familiarized
Guided
Interceded

Modeled
Referred
Rehabilitated
Relieved
Represented

Served
Sustained
Validated

Technical

           
Appraised
Approximated
Assembled
Audited
Balanced
Bisected

Built
Calculated
Checked
Compiled
Compounded
Computed

Conserved
Converted
Designed
Disintegrated
Dispensed
Dispersed

Engineered
Estimated
Fabricated
Increased
Inventoried
Maintained

Maximized
Operated
Overhauled
Programmed
Propelled
Reconciled

Remodeled
Recorded
Repaired
Solved
Trained
Upgraded

 

Research

           
Advanced
Analyzed
Characterized
Clarified
Collected
Critiqued

Defined
Delved into
Diagnosed
Dissected
Deteriorated
Evaluated

Examined
Explored
Extracted
Identified
Indexed
Inspected

Interpreted
Interviewed
Investigated
Monitored
Observed
Organized

Outlined
Probed
Recorded
Reviewed
Sorted
Summarized

Surveyed
Systematized
Tabulated
Tested 
Validated

 

Financial

           
Administered
Adjusted
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Conserved
Corrected
Disseminated
Determined
Developed
Estimated
Exchanged
Forecasted
Managed
Marketed
Measured 
Planned
Programmed
Projected
Reconciled
Reduced
Researched
Retrieved

Accomplishment

           
Achieved
Accelerated
Completed
Expanded
Exceeded
Founded
Improved
Inspired
Pioneered
Reduced (losses)
Resolved (issues)
Restored
Spearheaded
Succeeded
Surpassed
Transformed
Won    

 

Resumes vs. CVs

True or False: A CV (curriculum vitae) and resume are the same thing.

False. While there are similarities between a resume and a CV, there are also important differences. Depending on the type of job you are applying for, you may be asked to provide your resume or your CV. Both documents showcase your qualifications and experiences—that part is true—but how you organize this information, and the content you include in each document, will vary.

When to Submit a Resume

The vast majority of employers in the U.S. are looking for resumes. Resumes, put simply, are one-page (or two-pages if needed) summaries of your education, skills, and experience. The experiences you choose to highlight on your resume are up to you, but it’s important to note that your resume should speak to the position(s) for which you are applying. Employers often spend less than 30 seconds reviewing resumes, so it is important to be concise and well-organized in your presentation for easy scanning.

For more information on building your resume, resume templates, and CEPS student resume examples, please visit CEPS Career Documents.

When to Submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

If you are looking for academic positions or non-academic positions in the sciences, higher education, research, or health care, you will want to submit a CV (unless otherwise requested). CVs are also used when applying for fellowships and grant opportunities. International employers may request CVs as well, so be sure to follow the employer guidelines. A CV is a more extensive summary of your educational and academic experiences and can be several pages in length (generally more than two pages) and will include:

  • Education
  • Research Experiences
  • Related Work Experiences
  • Academic Achievements
  • Publications
  • Related Academic Projects
  • Personal Accomplishments
  • Certifications
  • Additional Qualifications

Guidelines for Preparing a CV

  • Arrange sections to highlight strengths for the position you are seeking
  • The order of topics in a CV format is flexible, but keep your most relevant work and academic experiences near the top
  • Elaborate on accomplishments and skills within categories as you would in a resume, but go more in-depth to convey your process
  • List items within each category chronologically, the most recent appearing first
  • Include additional headings when appropriate to underscore certification, licensures, workshops, trainings, languages, and other significant achievements
  • Present information in an accessible and aesthetically pleasing format

Transforming Your CV into a Resume

Depending on your career interests, you may need an updated CV and a resume during your job search. As noted above, most employers, especially employers in industry, will prefer a resume. In order to transform your CV into a successful resume, you will want to consider the following:

  • Limit your document to two full pages
  • Re-evaluate your experiences based on the position for which you are applying
  • Focus on your technical skills and emphasize your leadership experiences, effective communication, time management, and other transferable skills through concrete examples
  • Utilize bulleted lists to capture your experiences in a succinct fashion
  • Begin each bullet with a strong action verb
  • List your professional and academic experiences in order of relevance to the job posting
  • List only the most relevant presentations, publications, and papers

Meet with your Career Team for a resume review via Handshake


Cover Letters

A cover letter emphasizes your interest in a specific position and employer. Your resume is providing the who, what, when, where for employers, the cover letter provides the why. Showcases how your background matches the needs of the employer. Cover letters are not long ― A half-page, 3 paragraphs, is best. All cover letters should be individually created for a specific job ― Do not use generic templates. It’s okay to get personal and provide examples of life experiences if they strongly highlight why you are a great fit for the role. Just remember, while personal information can help you stand out, you do not want to tell someone your whole life story, so use good judgment 

 Presentation
  • Use simpledirect language and correct grammar
  • Letters should be flawless ― no typos or spelling errors
  • Single-space your letters and put in business letter format (add your heading, the date, who it’s going to, etc.)
  • If printed, use high-quality, white or off-white paper - match resume paper
  • Online/email submission, save and send as a PDF
 Introductory Paragraph
  • State why you are writing the employer
  • Indicate the position and how you learned of it
  • A brief sentence that gives your degree, major, college, and graduation date
  • Hint at what is to come in the next paragraph by sharing general ability/value you will bring to the experience, stay broad you will get more specific in the body paragraph
 Body Paragraph
  • Describe how your education, experience, and personal skills make you a good match for the position
  • Be specific, offering proof of your experiences and clearly describe ways you will contribute
  • Outline one or two specific examples of how your skills and experiences will meet the company’s needs
  • Refer to the organization you are applying to, and discuss what it is about them and the job opportunity that appeals to you ― Why do you want to work for this company specifically?
  • Emphasize your knowledge of the organization (do research) and your familiarity with the field
  • Avoid cliché language such as passion, love, it is a dream come true, etc.
  • A genuine show of enthusiasm and knowledge will set you apart from those sending generic form letters
 Closing Paragraph
  • Always thank the employer for considering your application
  • Say what you’ll be doing to follow up on your letter, be polite and proactive but not demanding
  • Provide a summative statement of your value or your strength