Making a Good Start

Put It on Paper

Your cover letter and resume are all about you, but when it's time to start writing you should take an employer's point of view, says Louise Fletcher, president of New York-based resume writing firm Blue Sky Resumes. Ask yourself: What is the company looking for? What skills do they need? How can you show them you're a valuable asset?

Before applying to a job, Fletcher suggests reading the job description carefully, highlighting the key requirements -- then address them right away at the top of your cover letter. "Show them that you have what they want," Fletcher says.

This goes for your resume too. Fletcher suggests that you follow a format that combines both functional and chronological aspects. (Functional resumes focus mainly on experience and skills, while traditional chronological ones are essentially a timeline of employers and duties.) This approach, she says, will help you target your application to the employer's stated needs.

A strictly functional format, says Fletcher, sets off alarm bells in the minds of some hiring managers: "Recruiters tend to look for what you're trying to hide" when they see functionary resumes, she says, because they are commonly used by job seekers who hope to de-emphasize long employment gaps or look qualified despite irrelevant experience.

With most graduate applicants, the lack of experience is self-explanatory -- which is why Fletcher says to avoid a strictly chronological format that would only reinforce that fact.

Instead, open with a profile that highlights your skills and individual strengths -- the things that will help you stand out. If you worked while in school, it would be wise to mention it here even if it wasn't in your field, Fletcher says, because you'll show determination and work ethic.

Next, discuss your educational information -- schools you've attended, degrees, your major -- and highlight especially relevant or meaningful coursework, publications or projects.

Follow up with a job chronology. Here, list jobs that allowed you to utilize skills required of your chosen field and explain any accomplishments you may have achieved -- even if they weren't in the field you're targeting, the employer will see the skills you learned and put into action.

Finally, close with a section that lists community work, awards received and other details you find noteworthy to round out your profile. This section is essentially a "catch-all" for accomplishments that don't make sense anywhere else, Fletcher says.

Because you'll likely have little working experience, there's no need for your resume to be longer than one page, says Fletcher, and this simple format allows you to put your strengths and accomplishments at the forefront.