Things Everyone Should Know
Cover Letters
Read these tips before writing your letter. If you'd like an individual critique of your application, email Michele: mplante@illinois.edu for an appointment.
Résumés
Résumés are a scannable list of your skills and accomplishments, usually in reverse chronological order. What you list and how you list it depends on your major and the job for which you are applying. I am happy to meet with students to fine tune your résumé. Here are some common categories:
Objective
Don't list an objective unless you will be handing out the résumé without a cover letter. If you must list an objective, limit it to your specific field of interest. Do not describe what you feel the job should do for you.
Education
List your college degree, the year you graduated, and the university. Do not list your high school, the year you entered college, or any junior colleges. If you have little to no work experience you can list "relevant coursework" as a subset of education.
Professional Experience
List the skills most relevant to the job first.This can be in bullet form or you may wish to use brief sentences. For each entry, list:
Your Title, Name of Company, Location (Unless obvious--eg University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Dates worked
Description of duties: Paint a vivid picture of what you did for the employer. Don't say "taught a class," say "Instructed class of 20 intermediate and advanced students, grades 9-12, in bassoon technique."
Software Skills
List those specific to the industry first (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator), then general software (Microsoft Excel), then operating systems (if relevant.)
Selected Performance Experience or Selected Shows
If applicable.
Awards and Honors
Be selective.
Related Skills
As related to the job. E.g. "Fluent in Spanish and English."
Professional Memeberships
If applicable.
References
Either choose to list them or not. Do NOT say "references available upon request."
Name, Title, Institution or Company
Street address, e-mail address, phone number
Asking References
Make sure to ask people if they'll be a reference for you, and if they'll be a good reference for you. Some time might pass between job applications so let them know each time you're calling upon them to help you, and let them know something about the details of the position. It's easier for a reference to help you when they know what each employer is looking for. If you get married and change your name, tell your references!
Elevator Pitches
Maybe you'd like someone to donate space for your class or performance. Maybe someone has aked "why should I hire you?" Either way, you should know how to pitch an idea in 30 seconds or less to someone outside your industry. Here's an example of how to refine an elevator pitch: before and after.
U of I e-Placement File (letters of recommendation)
In some fields, education for example, employers look for letters of recommendation. If you are a U of I alumnus (or have comleted even one class) you may wish to take advantage of a service offered by the College of education called ECSO e-placement file. This service will house your resume and letters of recommendation. For complete details and forms, please see the education placement file web site.