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Career and Graduate School Assistance
This page includes downloadable guidebooks on everything you need to apply for a job, including guidelines on resumes, cover letters and interview advice.
The Resume
A Resume, or Curriculum Vitae, is a brief summary of your education, qualifications, skills and history of employment or voluntary work that represent EVERYTHING you have done to become desirable in the employment marketplace. A brief summary of the main points are listed below, or feel free to download the Resume Guidebook
Please also download the European CV Template and the Instructions on how to complete it.
Sections of a Resume
- Heading Your name, present address, permanent address, telephone number and e-mail address
- Objective This part is optional, but if used should indicate to the hiring manger the type of position you are seeking and the relevant skills towards it
- Education Indicate the name and location of you university, your degree, expected/date of graduation, Minors, GPA if 3.0 or above and any relevant course work under ‘Significant Courses’
- Honors and Awards Such as Dean’s list, Scholarships, Competition Awards etc.
- Work Experience Indicate most recent information first. Be brief, include information from the last five years. Include paid jobs, internships, volunteer experiences, leadership or teamwork in student organizations, special academic projects/research
- Skills and Qualifications You may wish to indicate Computer skills, Language skills, Professional affiliations, Accomplishments not covered by your degree or high school
- Privacy Statement In Italy you CANNOT send a Resume without the following statement indicating your agreement for HR to process your application:
Autorizzo il trattamento dei dati personali ai sensi della Legge 196/03
I authorize the disclosure of my personal data in compliance with Law 196/03 (Italian State).
The Cover Letter
Your resume must be sent with a cover letter. This letter introduces you to the company, and should therefore be addressed to a specific person, not to ‘Dear Human Resources’. Pay attention to format and spacing, spelling and grammar; make it one page and use the same paper as your Resume (these things get noticed…).
The format of a cover letter is in three parts:
Who you are and want you want:
State if you are writing in regard to a specific job opening, and where you saw it. If it is a speculative application, state that you are enquiring into an opening within a particular sector within the company.
What demonstrable relevant skills and interests you have:
Apart from stating your skills and education and experience, you must also demonstrate them – i.e. ‘I have strong leadership skills, as exhibited by my 2 years experience as captain of my college football team/editing my school newspaper’ etc.
Why therefore your relevant skills and interests make you qualified to work specifically for them:
If the organization requires someone with demonstrable leadership skills, highlight the fact that you can provide them, i.e. ‘… which relevant skills I can bring to the position of Team Leader’. It exhibits the fact that you have clearly thought through and are able to demonstrate why you are a strong candidate for the position.
Use a strong closing ("After you have had an opportunity to review this letter, I will call you..."
Before sending the letter, ask for opinions, advice and feedback from friends, a career counselor, or someone in the profession. The cover letter should look business like and conservative. Remember to personally sign the letter and include your telephone number and e-mail address.
The Interview
The interview is one of the most important phases of the job search process. Your resume and cover letter are simply means to get you to the interviewing stage. If you consider that employers do not tend to interview candidates that they do not feel are qualified for the job, if you are invited for an interview you have made it past the initial screening process.
Before the Interview
Research is critical. The applicant who has worked hard to prepare is much more likely to get a call back for a second interview or an offer of employment.
- Prior to an interview, clarify the skills and abilities you have to offer an employer, thinking of an example for each one.
- Research the career field/position you are pursuing to convince yourself if this is an occupation you would enjoy.
- Conduct thorough research on the organization, developing a checklist of information based on your research to share with the interviewer during the interview.
- Practice for interview. Attend a Interviewing Workshop conducted each semester or have a friend play the part of the interviewer to enable you to practice your responses.
Scholarships or Grants
You may wish to be involved in post-graduate research or to discover new research opportunities, which is a great way to further your academic endeavors. You may wish to start your investigation by reviewing information on Fulbright scholarships. Information is available at: www.iie.org/fulbright.
For Americans wishing to study in the UK, Marshall Scholarships are available.
Finding a Masters Course
The GMAT: http://www.gmattutor.com
MBA: http://www.mba.com/mba
Master’s Programs: http://www.findamasters.com
UK Grad schools: http://www.grad.ac.uk |