Create a Resume / Cover Letter

According to Merriam-Webster Online, a résumé is “a short account of one’s career and qualifications” or “a set of accomplishments.” Both are pretty basic but accurate descriptions.

Simply put, a résumé is typically a 1 – 2 page document that contains important educational, work, and leadership experiences, along with pertinent skills and qualifications that highlight your career and demonstrate your readiness to assume a future position.

Résumés are frequently used for job and internship applications. However, you may be also be asked to provide a résumé for leadership, scholarship, and graduate school applications. It is important for every Mercerian to have a professional résumé for their future.

Creating your first professional resume doesn’t have to be scary. Our career experts know all the resources to get you started. While you could search the internet for “how to write a resume,” it might take you a long while to find reputable and accurate information.

Instead we suggest that you try out the Big Interview’s AI Resume Builder. This is a Mercer trusted platform that provides a streamlined and easy-to-use AI platform offering an AI Resume Builder (for those who are starting from scratch). 

• The résumé builder will begin by asking users to select a template out of six approved styles.
• Next, the tool will allow users to add a target job title (among a preset list) or paste an exact target job description.
• The tool will advance the user through seven steps of content entry until the finalization of the new résumé is complete. 
• Once complete, the builder will present an option to download a Word .doc and an Adobe .pdf version to be utlized by the job seeker as they wish.

Make sure you scroll down and visit the Career Resources section of this page to see résumé templates and articles on writing the best résumé for your field.

Job seekers should customize their résumé for each job application in order to highlight the qualifications and skill sets directly relevant to that role. While this sounds like a very time-consuming task, it doesn’t have to be.

When customizing your résumé, we suggest that you use the Quinncia AI Resume Analysis platform. This is an AI-Powered Career Assistant offering an instant AI Resume Analysis (for those who already have an existing résumé). The résumé analysis be ready to view with in 90-seconds and will contain feedback in three key areas:

• Generic Improvements: Suggestions for overall clarity, grammar, and language usage.
• Formatting Enhancements: Recommendations to improve layout, margins, font consistency, and adherence to Applicant Tracking System (ATS) standards.
• Content Refinement: Advice on strengthening bullet points, emphasizing achievements, and tailoring content to your chosen industry.

In addition to performing a résumé analysis, Quinncia offers:

• Mock interviews analysis with personalized feedback (delivered via email within 1-24 hours of submission)
• LinkedIn profile analysis with personalized feedback aiming to help users enhance professionalism and visibility to potential employers (delivered via email within1-24 hours of submission)

Make sure you scroll down and visit the Career Resources section of this page to see résumé templates and articles on writing the best résumé for your field.

There is no one rule to follow in terms of knowing when to submit a résumé or CV to job openings. However, it is customary for a CV to be preferred in the fields of education (K12 and higher education leadership roles) and healthcare (clinical, leadership, and research positions). In addition, some international employers will request a CV. 

Because recruiters and employers all have varying preferences, often determined by the specific job/position, it is best for job seekers in the fields of education and healthcare to have both a résumé and a CV. Job seekers should carefully note the employer’s instructions in job postings and the advice of recruiters in the target field as to whether a résumé or a CV is appropriate and/or preferred. A well-designed résumé or CV should prompt invitations to interview!

The curriculum vitae is often referred to as a “CV,” or “vita” interchangeably in conversation and in writing. The “curriculum vitae,” “CV,” or “vita,” is a detailed document that summarizes a person’s academic and professional history. The focus of a CV is on academic preparation, research, publications, and clinical preparation (where applicable).  Unlike a résumé, a vita is not limited in length. A master’s level vita may be three or four pages, while those with doctorates may have ten or more pages. A candidate’s educational and professional background determines the length of the CV. The order of sections is determined by your industry and target job, but usually all CV begin with the education section. It is best to consult with the faculty in your academic department and/or professionals in your field about what to include and the appropriate layout for your vitae. 

Content

CV don’t need to include every section or category listed below, but it is important to highlight the information most relevant to the position you are seeking.  Be strategic about the arrangement of the sections within your CVs.  List more relevant sections towards the beginning of your CV and less critical sections towards the end. HigherEdJobs offers different samples to help you think about how to structure your CV.

• Contact Information – name, address (home and/or office), phone number and e-mail address
• Professional Development – additional CV, certifications, and workshops you’ve attended or completed
• Research/Teaching Interests – relevant experiences to the position you are seeking
• Specialized Skills – technical skills related to your discipline
• Service – a listing of your involvement on university, department or community committees
• Presentations – poster presentations, workshops, seminars, panels and conferences
• Professional Accomplishments – honors, awards, fellowships and grants
• Publications – cite them in the format appropriate to your discipline
• Experience – can be organized into multiple sections, including (but not limited to): Teaching Experience, Research Experience, Relevant Experience, Volunteer Experience, Clinical Experience, Laboratory Experience, etc.
• Education – all college degrees received and currently pursuing, institutions, locations, dates completed or expected.  You can also include thesis and/or dissertation titles and advisor names for graduate degrees.
• Professional Memberships – relevant professional association memberships in your field

Make sure you scroll down and visit the Career Resources section of this page to see CV templates and articles on writing the best CV for your field.

Writing letters and emails is a necessary part of any job search. Letter writing provides you with a marketing opportunity. Do not waste a chance to make a good impression on someone who can facilitate your getting that perfect job…now or later.

In short, cover letters are a formal method of communication where you can highlight your most important skills and qualifications, while providing the reader with some additional information that they might not gain from your résumé. Cover letters (aka job search letters) follow a formal letter writing format, including a formal greeting, recipient address, date, 3-4 paragraphs, and your signature.

You should always include a cover letter or email when you send your resume to an employer or a networking contact. In addition, it is important to write follow-up letters or emails to all interviewers or anyone you meet at a networking event. If you receive a verbal job offer, you should write a confirmation letter or email to the employer outlining the details of the offer as you understand them. Should you decide to decline a job offer, a tactful letter or email should be sent in order to maintain a good relationship.

It is important that you maintain professionalism in your letter writing, but incorporate your own style into this formal correspondence. Just as with your resume, your letters and emails must be typographically and grammatically correct.

Letters and emails should be short and succinct. Limit letters and emails to no more than 3-4 paragraphs. Use only Ms. Jones or Mr. Smith; do not address them by their first names. Incorporate what you know about the employer, part of your networking conversation, reflection or emphasis related to your interview, and always use language that expresses a positive attitude.

Keep in mind that letters are examples of your communication skills. If your resume states that you have excellent written communication skills, then your written letters must be “excellent.”

Make sure you scroll down and visit the Career Resources section of this page to see cover letter templates and articles on writing the best cover letter for your field.