This document provides guidance on resumes, cover letters, and the job application process. It discusses the purpose and components of resumes and cover letters, including formatting, sections, and how to construct effective bullet points and body paragraphs. Key tips include focusing resumes on achievements and skills, using active verbs and quantifying accomplishments. Cover letters should demonstrate how one's qualifications align with the employer's needs. The document concludes by recommending scheduling an appointment with career counselors to finalize application materials.

1. Resumes & Cover Letters
Barnard Career Development
212-854-2033
CD@barnard.edu

2. Agenda
• What is a Resume? - Do’s & Don’ts
• Resume Basics
• Resume Sections
• Constructing Bullet Points
• What is a Cover Letter?
• Cover Letter Basics
• Cover Letter Sections
• Constructing Body Paragraphs
• Letter of Inquiry
• Next Steps

3. What is a resume?
• Tool to present yourself effectively throughout your job
search
• A summary of your accomplishments, skills and experiences
and how that makes you qualified for the internship or job
you are applying to
• Purpose: gets you an interview

4. Resume
Do’s…
• Make it achievement/accomplishment rather than task focused
• Begin each achievement statement with an active verb: “Handled all
client correspondence” or “Analyzed customer interaction for
monthly report.”
• Use the active voice with verbs that indicate you're in charge:
“Represented firm at international symposium.”
• Edit to include the most relevant and significant elements
• Stick to a basic, clear format that helps the reader glean
information quickly and with minimal effort
• Quantify and identify scope where possible - use numbers where
appropriate to clearly describe your accomplishments, as in “led a
team of nine students”

5. Resume
Don’ts…
• Try to differentiate yourself with an unconventional
format or tactics such as graphics and colored paper,
unless you are applying for jobs in arts-related fields.
• Give vague descriptions.
• Include reasons for leaving your jobs, salary information,
or references on your resume unless specifically requested
• Make distinctions between full or part time work, or paid
or unpaid work.
• Submit the exact same resume to many different jobs.

6. Resume Basics
Formatting
• Simple & clean
• Font:
• Header: 16-20 pt. (name), 9-10 pt. (contact info)
• Section Titles: 12-14 pt.
• Body: 11-12 pt.
• Margins:
• ½ - 1 inch
• 1 page
• Reverse Chronological Format
• First person tense:
• Present vs. past tense
Components
• Sections:
1. Header
2. Summary (optional)
3. Education
4. Professional
Experience/Work History
5. Leadership/Community
Involvement
6. Skills/Interests

7. Section 1: Header
Justine Goldberg
207 Altschul, New York, NY 10027 | (201) 890-0987 | justinegoldburg@barnard.edu
Justine Goldberg
(201) 890-0987 • justinegoldburg@barnard.edu
Current Address: Permanent Address:
207 Altschul 89 Cherry Hill Rd.
New York, NY 10027 Milwaukee, WI 53211
Your email address must
be professional!
Use both addresses when
applying out of state
Only include the one
phone number and email
address you will be
checking for job
applications
Justine Goldberg
(201) 890-0987 | justinegoldburg@barnard.edu
You can use just your email
and phone number to
protect yourself from
“address prejudice”

8. Section 2 (optional): Summary
Optional feature at the top of a resume
• Effective place to customize resume to a particular job description
• Includes your most important attributes and what makes you stand out from
other candidates; speak in terms of accomplishments-awards
• Highlight number of years of experience, passions and you reputation,
recognized-known for
• Can use paragraph style, bullet points, or both
• Particularly helpful if you are changing to a new field, or if
you have a diverse work history
• Focus on the skills and experiences that are most transferable to the new job or
field

9. Section 3: Education
EDUCATION
Barnard College, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts (BA), May 2011 GPA: 3.3/4.0
Major: Film Studies Minor: Economics
EDUCATION
Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY May 2011
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science GPA: 3.6/4.0
Honors & Awards: Dean’s List 2007-2008, Student Council Leadership Award
Study Abroad: Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain Jan 2011-May 2011
List relevant, specific and/or specialized coursework
EDUCATION
Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science May 2011
Relevant Coursework: International Politics, Persuasive Public Speaking, Business Administration
Only include GPA if above a 3.0
Study abroad can be included here

10. Section 4: Professional
Experience/Work History
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Macy’s, Fashion Buyer, New York, NY, September 2010-Present
• Examine, select, order, and purchase the most favorably-priced merchandise consistent
with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other factors
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Macy’s, New York, NY
Fashion Buyer, September 2010 - Present
• Examine, select, order, and purchase the most favorably-priced merchandise consistent
with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other factors
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Macy’s New York, NY
Fashion Buyer May 2010 – Dec 2010
• Examine, select, order, and purchase the most favorably-priced merchandise consistent
with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other factors
Professional experience ≠ paid experience

11. Section 5: Leadership/Community
Involvement
• Same format as experience section
• Highlight transferable skills related to the internship or job
posting:
• Communication
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Organization
• Research and analysis

12. Section 6: Skills & Interests
SKILLS & INTERESTS
• Computer: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Constant Contact, SPSS, Facebook, Twitter
• Language: Basic Mandarin, fluent French
• Interests: Southern Italian cooking, hip hop choreography, marathon running
• Computer: Include general information systems skills as well as
specific software or programs that benefit the position. Include
Social Media for marketing and analytical purposes or if it’s in the
job description
• Language: Include proficiency
• Interests (optional): Focus on unique & specific, include 2-4

13. Constructing Bullet Points
• Refer to the job description
• Start with an active verb
• Numerically measure what you accomplished (if
applicable)
• Provide a baseline for comparison (if applicable)
• Detail what you did to achieve your goal
• Explaining how you did each task adds credibility and
gives insight into your strengths
Formula for making your accomplishments stand out:
Accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume

14. If you were a leader of your sorority:
• Managed sorority budget
• Managed $31,000 Spring 2014 budget and invested idle funds in appropriate high-
yielding capital notes
• Managed $31,000 Spring 2014 budget and invested $10,000 in idle funds in
appropriate high-yielding capital notes returning 5% over the year
If you participated in a leadership program:
• Member of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)
• Selected as one of 230 for this 18-month professional development program for
high-achieving diverse talent
• Selected as one of 230 participants nationwide for this 18-month professional
development program for high-achieving diverse talent based on leadership potential,
ability to contribute to this MLT cohort, and academic success
Constructing Bullet Points cont.
For example…
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume

15. Finance or consulting:
• Responsible for negotiating service contracts with XYZ
• Negotiated 30% ($500k) reduction in costs with XYZ to perform post-delivery support
• Negotiated 30% ($500k) reduction in costs with XYZ to perform post-delivery support by
designing and using results from an online auction of multiple vendors
Sales:
• Achieved annual business plan commitments for volumes, model mix, wholesale revenue,
selling expenses and brand
• As a team member, contributed to 21% increase in advertiser spend by achieving 158% of
target number of customer contacts (80 contacts per week)and 192% of target interaction
depth (20 minutes per customer)
Candidate with skill-based resume:
• Skills: Excellent customer service skills. Friendly and positive attitude
• Skills: Excellent customer service skills and positive attitude as demonstrated by receiving employee
of the month in four consecutive months in 2014
Constructing Bullet Points cont.
For example…
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140929001534-24454816-my-personal-formula-for-a-better-resume

16. What is a cover letter?
• Gives context to your resume
• Avenue to communicate your personal brand
• Sets you apart as a candidate
• Further highlights your skills & experience – as they relate to the
position
• Demonstrates your passion & interest in the position

17. Cover Letter Basics
Formatting
• In same font as resume including
your same header
• Addressed to a specific person if
possible
• No longer than one-page
• Typically 3-5 paragraphs
• Give each paragraph a
focus/theme
• Font: 11 – 12 pt
• Margins: ½ - 1 inch
Components
• Know yourself
(skills/strengths, values,
goals) and know the
company (mission, skills
needs, responsibilities)
• Keep it authentic and
personal, but professional
• Use specific examples from
your past experience to
describe what your skills will
look like when contributed
• Refer to the job description

18. Section 1: Header
Justine Goldberg
207 Altschul, New York, NY 10027 | (201) 890-0987 | jgo23@barnard.edu
Organization Name
C/o Contact Name (if available)
Organization Address
City, State, Zip
February 21, 2015
Dear Ms., Mr., Dr. _______:
Dear Hiring Manager:
•Use Mr. or Ms. and last
name
•Investigate/Call for a
name
•If unable to get a name,
use title - Dear Hiring
Manager

19. Section 2: Opening Paragraph
• Include:
• Position you’re applying for – Why you are writing and where you
heard about the opening (indeed.com, NACE, event, referral, etc.)
• If you were referred to the position from a specific person, ask
permission to use their name
• Why you are interested in that position and/or the organization
• Don’t say that the opportunity will help you develop your skills or
career. It’s about what you can contribute to their organization.
• State resume is enclosed
• Most successful letters:
• Are authentic
• Demonstrate depth of research on company

20. Section 3: Supporting
Paragraphs/Main Body
1 – 3 paragraphs: One paragraph about education, class projects, lab experience and internships
One paragraph about professional experiences, community involvement, etc.
• Focus on qualifications, skills and
experiences the company
wants/needs
• Use concrete examples
• Describe what you can do for the
organization
• Demonstrate what you know about
the company/organization/field
• Avoid passive language
• “I think”
• “I believe”
• “I hope to…”
• Restate your resume
• Use examples not on your
resume
• Copy and paste job description
• Be afraid to exude confidence!

21. Section 4: Closing Paragraph
• Mention that you would like to further discuss qualifications in an
interview
• Give specific date you will call to request an interview or meeting (optional)
• Phone number/email and best contact method to reach you
• Statement of appreciation- Thank reader for time and consideration
• Including salary requirements if asked for in job description:
• “As requested in your job posting, my salary requirements include a range from $35,000-
$45,000 with flexibility depending on position responsibilities and company guidelines.”
I look forward to meeting with you in an interview to further discuss my qualifications.
Please feel free to contact me at jgoldsburg@barnard.edu or (555) 555-5555. Thank you
for your time and consideration.

22. Constructing Body Paragraphs:
Education
If the job posting is for aParks Management Intern and the description asks for:
• Degree seeking student in environmental science or related discipline
• Skilled in use of GIS and Python coding
• Experience with NYC mapping
Include in your paragraph:
• I am a sophomore at Barnard College, majoring in Environmental Science. I
have taken classes in climate, geology, ecology, environmental policy, and the
Python coding language. In preparation for the Park Management/GIS Intern
position, I also took a course in the Fall 2014 semester learning the fundamentals
of GIS, working with New York City data, spatially mapping the information in a
variety of contexts, and writing reports of the findings.

23. Constructing Body Paragraphs:
Experience
If the job posting is for a Parks Management Intern and the description
asks for:
• Advocacy for environmental sustainability
• Team work, collaboration
Include in your paragraph:
• Outside the classroom, I am a member of the Sustainable Initiatives
Consulting Board, a student government subcommittee dedicated to
implementing sustainable practices on campus. This position teaches me
effective ways of reaching out to the public and makes me an active team
contributor. I am currently implementing a mug share program that will give
every Barnard student a reusable mug in the Fall 2015 semester in order to
encourage sustainable practices and build a stronger community. I co-
proposed this program with another student, and after a competitive process,
we secured funding for the initiative.

24. Constructing Body Paragraphs:
Skills
If the job posting is for a Parks Management Intern and the
description asks for:
• Social Media Management
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Administrative and general office tasks
Include in your paragraph:
• Also, as a Barnard Student Admissions Representative, I write blog
posts at least twice a month for the Barnard Admissions Blog, and
maintain the reception area in the Admissions office. With this
position I’ve strengthened my writing skills and have gained
experience operating effectively and professionally in an office
setting.

25. Cover Letter vs. Inquiry Letter?
• Advertised position
• Skills relate specifically to
job description
• Asks for job interview to
be granted
• No advertised position
• Talks about your most
transferable skills in
relation to company –
not job
• Asks for informational
interview
Cover Letter Inquiry Letter
“I am writing to inquire if the XYZ Department is currently in need of a person with management and customer
service experience.”

26. Next Steps
• Meet with PCAs
• Bring polished draft of resume and cover letter
• Bring a copy of the job description
• Finalize resume and cover letter with a counselor
• Call 212-854-2033 or email cd@barnard.edu for appointment
• Apply 
…Questions?