Whether you’re writing a résumé and cover letter or discussing your skills in an interview, you will need to think like the person you’re hoping will hire you. You need to persuade them that you’re the answer to their prayers. To do that, you’ll need to do a little background research.

Indispensible preparation

If you do these 3 steps below, you’ll be ready to write a great résumé; to craft a convincing, relevant cover letter; and to know how to sell yourself in an interview. You’ll know what the job requires, and you’ll know your greatest strengths relative to it.

1. Name the job you are applying for. If you’re looking at more than one, do this process separately for each different goal.

2. Develop a list of the tasks you will do in that field. Go to O*Net and click on “find information”to get a great list including strong action verbs.

3. Task by task, identify the ways you have already developed related skills in your past. These are called your “transferrable skills” because they were formed in a different context. Be generous with yourself as you brainstorm here!

To make this easier, build a chart that looks like this:

Editorial Assistant

Skill	Related Experience
Correct copy errors	IS; Learning Center tutor; Triangle contributor, research papers; over 50 5-10 page papers for class
Use standard proofreaders’ style (AP or Chicago)	Have become familiar Chicago Manual of Style proofreader’s marks; Triangle
Check to ensure all changes were made	Learning Center, Triangle
Verified facts	Triangle, research papers

To turn this chart into a résumé:

1. Draw all your skills from a single activity together. So with the example above, Triangle would look like this:

Contributing Writer, Hanover College Triangle Newspaper, 2009 – 2011

• Corrected copy errors using standard proofreaders’ marks
• Checked to ensure that changes were made
• Wrote stories for publication
• Verified facts for accuracy

2. Demonstrate that you make an impact by focusing on results of your activities. You don’t just do a task, you do it well.

Again, with the Triangle example, you might add these bullets:

• Consistently met tight deadlines
• Was given additional proofreading tasks due to excellent attention to detail

For examples of formatting and for tips on layout, download a PDF of our Résumé Guide. Be sure to proofread your résumé carefully!!!

To turn the chart into a cover letter:

A cover letter serves as your introduction, accompanying your résumé any time you are not hand-delivering it. The purpose of the cover letter is to point out key themes about your background that make you qualified for the position.

• Select 3 – 4 main ideas that you want to convey about yourself
• Write a sentence about each.

For example, if you are applying for a job in event planning that requires “great organizational skills, and an ability to work with the public,” and you have strengths in these areas, they could be two of the themes you describe. You can find detailed explanations and examples of each aspect of effective cover letter writing in our Cover Letter Guide.

To turn the chart into an agenda for an interview:

For each of the main ideas you’ve chosen for your cover letter, flesh out an example for your past that shows that skills or trait in action. Tell a story about a time when you planned a successful event, carefully listing the ways that you approached each task to ensure its success. For lots of tips on interviewing, check out our guide, The Art of Interviewing.

Good luck! And remember, the Career Center is open throughout the summer, and our services are free to alumni, including résumé and cover letter critiques, and mock interviews.

Margaret Krantz