Create a Resume / Cover Letter

Develop and Tailor Your Resume

1. Start with a clean slate
   • Best practice is to start you resume from a blank word document.
   • Prebuilt templates downloaded or found on Microsoft Word can create many challenges.
   • To get you started, here is a Bloch Business Student sample that you can download and make your own.
2. Consider all of your professional experiences
   • This includes your education, work experience, leadership, involvement, technical skills, awards, certifications, related coursework, athletic, or military experience.
3. Make sure your content is up to date
   • Try to update your resume as often as possible. This could range from updating with every new experience or accomplishment after it happens or at a minimum, updating at the end of each semester during school. 
4. Optimize your resume with quality descriptions
   • The number of bullets per job or experience can range from 3 – 8 bullets on average, but the important part is that it showcases the skills you gained and especially the skills related to the job you are applying to.
   • Here is a great article that will help you develop solid, descriptive bulleted statements for your resume. Laszlo Bock

My Personal Formula for a Winning Resume

Laszlo Bock 

VC | 2x Founder| Public Board Director | former Google SVP of People Operations (CHRO) | NYT bestselling author of “Work Rules!”

5. Tailor your resume to the job/role
   • In a time when many if not all of your applications will pass through an Applicant Tracking System, it is essential to tailor each of your resumes to the job/internship you are applying for. This involves using the skills and competencies listed in the job description that was provided.
   • Add or change resume descriptions of your experience as needed to highlight the skills required for the role you are applying for
   • If you are lacking experiences or skills in your work history, look for where you can add them in your other sections. You may need to add sections, such as relevant coursework, to demonstrate you have the knowledge and skills required for a job
   • To give you a competitive advantage, use Jobscan to better match your resume to the job description.

Jobscan

JobScan is a tool to help jobseekers tailor their resumes to specific jobs, focusing on the keywords, skills, and experiences that are important to the employer.

Get A Primum Account: Use your UMKC username with (@mail.umkc.edu) as the domain, i.e. df27um@mail.umkc.edu.

Note: If you use a “@umsystem.edu” email address you will NOT be granted access.

Jobscan: https://app.jobscan.co/dashboard
Take a look at how it works and how it will help you

Develop and Tailor Your Cover Letter

1. Before writing
   • Read through the job description and identify why you are applying for the role and why you are a good fit.
   • Highlight what skills and characteristics are required for the job and identify the top 3-4 topics you would like to focus on in your cover letter. 
2. Use the standard cover letter layout
   • This includes the date and whom the letter is addressed to, an introduction, 2-3 paragraphs that support your thesis, and a closing
3. First paragraph
   • Introduce the role you are applying for and how you found it
   • Introduce yourself and an overview of where you are as a professional
   • Finally, write your thesis sentence that includes those key topics you will focus on
4. Body
   • In the next 2-3 paragraphs showcase how demonstrate the 3-4 topics by provide examples that match the goals of the organization and position you for success
5. Closing
   • Close with a summary conclusion and reiterate your excitement for the opportunity to apply
   • State that you would welcome an interview and a chance to further show how you would be a great fit for the job
   • Finally, thank them for their consideration and that you look forward to hearing from them.
   • Below, in the Resources, are samples and layouts for thinking about and creating your cover letter.