Resume and Cover
Letter Workshop
UC Davis Washington Program
Adapted from ICC Career Resource Manual
Question for You
Question:
On average how long does a potential employer look at a cover letter or
resume?
Answer:
30-60 seconds!!!!
Insight:
We cannot get insight into every single person’s head who will be reading
your material, but we can share some knowledge. It is easier to quickly
place someone in the “NO” pile than the “YES” pile.
APPLICATION PACKET
 CONSISTENCY
 Use the same paper, color, font, style for all documents, you are submitting one
cohesive package to internships
 Put a header on every document so your name is on every document.
 Make sure that each piece is its own document (references should be on a separate
page!
 SAVING and SENDING
 Always make sure to send your cover letter and resume in with your name in the
document title so that the reviewer doesn’t have a hard time finding your
documents.
 Employers will see what you title your document and using your name is another
way to cement yourself in their minds
 Example: “Ng, Carina - Resume UCD”
 ALWAYS convert to a PDF before applying, it is unprofessional to send in an
editable document
APPLICATION PACKET:
BASICS
 TYPOS
 When a hiring coordinator sees any of these it comes off
as, “I didn’t take my time and I don’t really care”
 Have your friends or peers check for grammar
 TONE
 Skip the gushing/boastful language, and write so that you
are connecting your experience with the requirements of
the position
APPLICATION PACKET:
WRITING TIPS
 Use strong action verbs
 See Action Verb Handout
 Do not use passive language
 Switch up your verb choice
 Give concrete examples!
 Customize to the organization’s needs, create parallels
COVER LETTERS:
WHAT DO THEY DO?
Cover letters are a one page document that
you send with your resume when applying for
an internship that gives the employer a better
idea of who you are and your qualifications
It is meant to:
 Introduce yourself to the hiring manager in 250-500 words
 Argue why you'd be a good fit for the job
 Tell a story to an employer that your resume cannot convey
COVER LETTERS:
DO
Keep it simple, direct, clear and short
Use common language and speech patterns
 Read out loud for flow
Use Confident language such as, “I was responsible
for…”
Demonstrate your understanding of the company with by
connecting them to your relevant skills and history
Ask what you can do for the company, and answer it!
COVER LETTERS:
DON’T
Don’t be generic
Don’t exaggerate your skills, responsibilities or previous
experience
 Don’t be overly formal by using insincere/robotic
language or filling with irrelevant filler words
Don’t sound selfish by writing about how the internship
will boost your career
Don’t focus on GPA, the classes you took or your thesis
if not asked, they won’t be a high metric for determining
your eligibility over activities or responsibilities
COVER LETTERS:
ADDRESSING
 Your Address
 Upper left
 Date
 Below your address on left hand side
 Employer Address
 Below date on left hand side
 Greeting Address




Make sure it is formal
Dear Ms./Mr./Dr. Last name: (Use a colon not a comma)
Don’t Guess!
If you don’t know, Dear Internship Coordinator:
COVER LETTERS:
INTRODUCTION
Paragraph 1 should include:
 The job you are applying for (give official job title)
 Introduce yourself and give your year, school, major, and
minor
 Connect your enthusiasm with a strong summary statement
of why you are qualified to work for that organization or
department
COVER LETTERS:
BODY
Paragraph 2 & 3 should include:
 An explanation of why you would be a good candidate
 Tell a story to enhance your experience
 Analyze your background and skills and connect them to the
internship to which you are applying
 Give one to two examples of related experience
 Sometimes you may want to separate out the examples into
two paragraphs
 Keep your paragraphs short and concise; get to the point!
COVER LETTERS:
BODY
Closing paragraph:
 State that you are UCD Washington Program participant
and the dates you are available to intern
 Tell them you are looking forward to hearing from them
 Use the example we provide!
COVER LETTERS:
BODY
Closing Signature
 Include a polite sign off
 Examples: Best Regards, Sincerely, Warm Regards, etc.
 Include your first and last name
 Use a scanned signature, or cursive font to endorse the
letter!
•
•
•
1 inch margins
11-12 point font
Match color &
style of font with
resume
First Paragraph:
• Identify the internship
position you’re
applying for
• Highlight education
• State why you’re
interested
Jane Doe
One Shields Ave
Davis, CA 95616
January 1, 2016
Mr. John Doe, Internship Coordinator
University of California Corporation
If you cannot find a name:
1608 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Dear Internship Coordinator:
Washington, DC 20036
Dear Mr. John Doe:
Remember to use a colon,
not a comma
I am currently a junior at the University of California, Davis, applying for the open Policy
Internship position at the University of California Corporation. The Policy department of your
firm is of great interest to me as I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Political
Science with intention to attend law school after I graduate. As a first-generation college student,
I have experienced and witnessed many of the issues and polices directly affecting the
community.
This past summer I had the opportunity to intern for Daffy Duck College, and really gained an
appreciation for the importance of policy work. I familiarized myself with the legislative process
at a local level, and was able to address issues I saw in my community from a policy perspective.
I learned how to draft legislative proposals, press releases, as well as memos. What I really
enjoyed was being able to attend the Board of Supervisors and Committee meetings. It was eyeopening to witness the different discussions that go on when deciding the fate of a piece of
legislation which ultimately affects all the residents of the city.
Closing Paragraph:
• Thank the person for
consideration
• Highlight your
participation in the
Washington Program
In addition, my experience as an undergraduate researcher in the Department of Communication
at the Bixby Campus, has allowed me to further develop my writing and analytical skills. My
research is focused on identifying trends in laws and looking at how to most effectively
communicate to a community. Through this experience, I was able to familiarize myself with the
law and connect how applicable the law was to every day settings.
As a Washington Program participant, I will be available for work beginning <Day/Date/Time>.
My internship completion date will be <Day/Date/Time>. To discuss my qualifications further,
please contact me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
Enclosure
Second/Third Paragraph(s):
• Why you’re a strong
candidate
• Highlight one or two
accomplishments
• Detail positive
characteristics
RESUMES:
WHAT DO THEY DO?
 Resumes are a one page account of a
person’s education, previous experience and
other relevant information
 It is meant to:
 Truthfully highlight your most relevant experiences
 Create parallels between your experience and experience
needed by an organization
RESUMES:
DO
List transferable skills, relatable side projects, etc.
Optimize word usage by mirroring key words
Think of new ways to frame your accomplishments
Tell the truth!
Make it fit comfortable on one page with readable
font and enough white space so it is easy on the eyes
Keep the format consistent
RESUMES:
DON’T
Don’t steal the internship’s exact wording
Don’t have confidential information
Don’t include obvious or implied information
Don’t provide explanations about your past
organization and what they do, focus on yourself
Don’t have high school information
Don’t use cliché jargon or filler words
RESUMES:
BASICS
CONTENT
ESSENTIALS
TIPS
CONTACT INFO
Name, address, phone number &
email
Make sure all email, social
media, LinkedIn and voice
messages are professional
EDUCATION
Name of school, degree,
major/minor, expected graduation
date
•
•
•
RELEVANT
EXPERIENCE
(Professional,
Volunteer,
Leadership)
Job title, company name, dates of
experience, describe job duties and
accomplishments only
List highest degree first
List study abroad/special
programs
List GPA only if asked
Include paid & unpaid
positions, military duty,
any awards/results, list
most recent first
RESUMES:
NEED TO FILL MORE SPACE?
CONTENT
ESSENTIALS
TIPS
SKILLS/ ABILITIES
List what is important
to the organization
and/or department
List things you can do
independently, such as
languages, computer skills, etc.
PROJECTS/ RELEVANT
COURSEWORK
Relevant classes and/
or projects
List course title not
number
HONORS/ AWARDS
Relevant awards
Can be listed separately or
with education
TRAVEL
List countries and
travel experiences
Only if RELEVANT
RESEARCH/ PUBLICATIONS/
CERTIFICATIONS/ LICENSES
List if applicable
List title, where and when
OBJECTIVE
One specific summary
line
Let’s Practice!
Which do you think is stronger?
Remember, they are probably looking for someone who has effective organizational, research, time
management, and written skills.
Intern, KFB Public Affairs, Sacramento
(6/16 – Present)
•
Research relevant news stories
•
Update excel document with new media contacts
•
Search news outlets
•
Make copies of important documents
•
•
Intern, KFB Public Affairs, Sacramento
(6/16 – Present)
•
Perform research and market analysis activities for
government affiliated clients
•
Build and update media contact databases
•
Assist with maintaining relationships with both local and
national media
Go to various events on behalf of the company
•
Schedule, coordinate and attend various events
Write marketing reports for my boss
•
Create monthly marketing reports
•
•
•
½ - 1 inch margins
11-12 point font
Match color &
style of font with
cover letter
Jane Doe
One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616
Phone: (555) 555-5555 E-Mail: [email protected]
Name & contact info is
centered at top of page
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
University of California, Davis, expected graduation June 2018
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Leave
space!



Global English Communication
International Economic Relations
Mass Media and Politics



Theories of Persuasion
Policymaking for Science and Technology
Elementary Statistics



Articulate, professional speaking abilities
Ability to thrive in team environment
Strong analytical skills
Only if you
have 2 or more
relevant
classes (change
depending on
job description)
SKILLS
Use bullet points!
What is the
employer looking
for?
Stay consistent
with verb tense
Use active
language!



Professional fluency in Spanish
Strong in multitasking and prioritization
Empathetic listener
EXPERIENCE
Intern, Daffy Duck College, Davis
 Drafted legislative proposals, press releases and memos
 Communicated with constituents by email, phone and walk-in appointments
 Attended Board of Supervisors and Committee meetings
(6/16 – 9/16)
Undergraduate Researcher, Department of Communication, Bixby Campus
 Analyzed how to effectively communicate to a community
 Identified trends in laws through manipulation of data
 Presented research findings to all staff members
(1/16 - 6/16)
Barista, Coho South Cafe, Davis
 Provided quality customer service and handled customer complaints
 Acted as cashier; entrusted by supervisor to record and deliver bank deposits
 Trained and supervised five staff members
 Maintained accurate inventory count of all products
(9/15 – 6/16)
ACTIVITIES
Academic Chair, Fraternity for Women, UC Davis
 Develop weekly academic goals for all members
Why is this
membership
meaningful for
this job?
NO HIGH
SCHOOL
INFO!
Who did you work
with? What skills did
you need? What did
you accomplish?
(9/16 – Present)
Member, Pre-Law Club, UC Davis
 Consult with other pre-law students on application best practices
(3/15 – Present)
Volunteer, Yolo County SPCA, Davis, CA
 Organize all incoming donations
(1/16 – Present)
REVIEWING DOCUMENTS
All students MUST submit at least one
editable (Word Doc) copy of their resume
and cover letter for review
 Send to [email protected]
 An Advisor will be looking at your
resumes and cover letters
 We will provide feedback and suggestions on strengths and potential changes
 We will always explain the logic behind our suggestions, so you can make an
informed decision on how to proceed
REVIEWING DOCUMENTS:
SEEING COMMENTS
 Open the document
 Go to the review tab
 Select All Markup
MASTER VERSIONS:
WHAT DO THEY DO?
 It is one large document that includes ALL of your
education, experience and skills.
 You’ll have one “go to” document for every resume
 You won’t have to keep rewriting items you eliminated for another internship
MASTER VERSIONS:
HELPFUL TIPS
 Prioritize! What can be eliminated?
 Tweak the wording of your experience to match the
job description language
 Add and take away from certain experiences to
magnify the weight of more relevant positions
Master
Position Specific
•
A large document that contains all of your
education, experiences, and skills
•
Modify the language in your cover letter to
match that of the job description
•
Used as resource to copy and paste into
more specific resumes and cover letters
•
Switch out general work experiences for
more relevant ones (if your resume is longer
than a page)
WRITING SAMPLES:
WHAT DO THEY DO?
 Writing samples are a potential employer's first look into




Your writing ability
Your thought process
Organizational capability
Communication skills
WRITING SAMPLES:
BASICS
 Unless they give you a specific topic to write on, follow these
simple guidelines to select a writing sample to submit:
 Use a paper you’ve already written for a college class.
 Choose the sample based on quality of the writing first,
relevance to the internship second.
 Your sample should be: 2-5 pgs, double or 1.5 spaced, have 1”
margins, and 11-12 pt font. You can also use a 2-5 pg excerpt
from a longer work.
 Include a short explanation of what it is.
 Unless specifically requested, DO NOT use any creative
writing/ personal-statement samples. Organizations want to
see evidence that you can state, support, and conclude an
argument.
WRITING SAMPLES:
TIPS
 Put your name on it!
 Double check for errors and incorporate suggestions from professors/peers
 Submit a clean copy without grades or marks
 If you cite works in the sample, include the bibliography
 Include a brief note about the context of the sample
Example:
"This writing sample is an excerpt from an essay I wrote for my Women's Studies class
'Gender and American Society.' I worked with a partner on this assignment, so I have
included only the section of the paper on 'Gender and the Family,' which represents my
individual work."
REFERENCES
 They should go on a separate sheet of paper with the same header/contact info
and the same format as the top of your resume (name, address, phone & email).
 Title called "List of References" and then a numbered list of your references
(including name, title, mailing address, telephone number & email address).
 If the application doesn't specify how many references to include, use the info for the
two people who wrote your letters of recommendation to get into the DC Program.
 DO NOT include personal references (friends, family, or peers).
 Consult the most recent edition of the ICC's Career Resources Manual as an
example.
LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION &
TRANSCRIPTS
 You can use the same letters and transcript(s) you
turned in as part of your application to the DC
Program.
 If an application requires more than 2 letters of
recommendation, you should ask a faculty member/
supervisor as soon as possible. This should be
someone who can speak to your academic and/or
work performance.
RESOURCES
 ICC Career Resources
 Resumes
 Resume Samples
 Cover Letters
 Sample Cover Letters
 Creating an Employment Reference List
 ICC Resume Webshop
 http://iccweb.ucdavis.edu/webshops/resume/resume.htm