Résumé & Cover Letter Writing
Here you’ll find guidelines for creating a solid résumé and a tailored cover letter. For industry-specific advice, be sure to check out the Career Communities. When you’ve got a draft of your résumé or cover letter completed, make an appointment through Handshake to go over your document(s) with a CLS adviser.
Résumé & Cover Letter Writing Resources
Tips for Writing Your Résumé
Writing and updating your résumé is a life-long endeavor. The foundation you create in college will serve you throughout your employment journey, so take time to get the early version just right.
Get Started with Cover Letters
Your cover letter, carefully tailored to the position for which you’re applying, may ultimately be more important than even your résumé. Learn how to write these essential documents with care.
Curating Your Résumé
At the end of four years at Grinnell, your résumé will reflect a variety of experiences. For your own reference, keep a growing résumé file that includes ALL of your experiences. This will be a lifelong practice that will make creating a customizable résumé much easier.
Don’t Neglect Thank You Notes
Writing thank you notes goes beyond the handmade card you sent to a relative after receiving a gift. While that relative would most likely love to hear from you, thank you notes are an important part of the application/interview process, whether for jobs, internships, scholarships, graduate school application, or academic pursuits.
Students: Are you seeking to build skills over a school break (or even a weekend)? You can engage in free, short virtual work experiences through Forage. Committing just a few hours can help you to better understand career pathways, build …
It’s time to boil down your college experience into a one-page document that sells who you are to a stranger. Where do you list your major? How do you summarize your invigorating internship or great part-time job? What kind of …
Applying for your first job can be intimidating. Luckily, there’s a way to significantly improve your chances of getting hired: including a cover letter in your application whether it’s required or not. Doing so shows a level of professionalism that …