Résumé and Cover Letter

For this assignment, you will be writing a résumé and cover letter, both of which you may have done before. If not, this will be your opportunity to prepare for the upcoming job market. If so, this will be your chance to make your résumé even better by applying many of the information design techniques we've learned so far.

Before preparing your first draft, be sure that you read Chapters 14 and 19 in the Burnett textbook, as there is some invaluable information there about writing various types of correspondence and about job searches in general. Next, take a look at the following web pages for helpful tips on how to write a résumé and cover letter:

• Preparing a résumé
• Cover Letters

Once you've read these online guides, write up a first draft of both your résumé and cover letter and bring three (3) print copies to class on Tuesday for peer response.

NOTE: Using Adobe PageMaker or InDesign to lay out your résumé gives you much greater control over the document design.

Electronic Résumé Resources on the Web

These resources may help in your upcoming job search. You do not have to do an electronic résumé for this class, but you may find that certain employers will require some idiosyncratic forms in the application process.

• eRésumés 101 - site covers résumés in ASCII, HTML, and scannable formats.
• Guidelines for Electronic Résumés - tips for ensuring your résumé is optimized for electronic environments.
• Gallery of Electronic Résumés - links to a variety of electronic résumés in many different fields.
• Newbie TechWriter Résumés - provides tips on writing résumés in ASCII, HTML, scannable, and PDF formats.
• Adobe’s PDF Writing Service - trial version of Adobe service that converts documents into PDF files through your Web browser. Allows three free document conversions.