Due to a planned campus power outage, the Center for Careers, Life, and Service will be operating in a virtual/remote format on Tuesday, March 19All meetings/appointments will take place virtually.

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.

Résumé Builder: Virtual Experiences with Forage

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 …

By Robin Bourjaily
Robin Bourjaily Exploratory Adviser
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Capital One Recruiters’ 5 Resume Tips for Students

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 …

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5 Common Cover Letter Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for Your First Job

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 …

By Firsthand
We help applicants, students, job-seekers and professionals like you find the right career path using the power of firsthand experiences.
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Resources

Build Skills

LinkedIn Learning courses are available to all current students.  For Alumni Access please visit LinkedIn Learning to start an account.

30-Minute Resume Refresh

Taught by Sho Dewan
Your resume should evolve as you do in your career. Learn how to quickly revamp the look and content of…

Writing a Resume

Taught by Stacey Gordon
View Stacey’s LinkedIn Newsletter Finding a great job starts with writing a great resume, one that speaks to your personal…

Designing a Resume for Creatives

Taught by Ina Saltz
Whether you’re a recent college grad or a seasoned professional, your resume is the most important career document in your…

Resume Makeover (2018)

Taught by Jenny Foss
If you’re looking for your dream job, you have to be prepared to act quickly. That means having an incredible,…

Writing a Cover Letter

Taught by Jenny Foss
Cover letters matter. When done right, they spell out clearly who you are, what you have to offer, and—most importantly—why…

Cover Letter Tips

Taught by Jenny Foss
Cover letters offer job seekers an opportunity to explain how their education, skills, and experiences line up directly with the…

How to Highlight Your Job Skills

Taught by Chris Taylor
There are many skills that people possess in order to do their jobs successfully and competently. You have skills you…

Find Your Dream Job: Interview Techniques and Resume Writing

Taught by Chris Croft
View Chris’s LinkedIn Newsletter Find your dream job. This course is for people who want to be excited to go…

Optimize Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems

Taught by Jenny Foss
Job seekers typically understand that there’s some sort of digital barrier standing between them and the jobs they see advertised…

Nano Tips for Writing a Resume with Sho Dewan

Taught by Sho Dewan
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. In this installment, learn…

Firsthand Vault Guides

Contact Us

Phone
(641) 269-4940
Address

John Chrystal Center
1103 Park Street
Grinnell, IA 50112

Hours

Monday 8:00am–5:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am–5:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am–5:00pm
Thursday 8:00am–5:00pm
Friday 8:00am–5:00pm
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