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Resumes and cover letters
You have more experience than you think. Learn how to identify and articulate employable skills through your resume and cover letter.
This guide is written with all students in mind. However, if you’re a graduate student, review the additional career resources specific to you.
Most employers spend less than one minute scanning your resume in their first pass through of job applications. In those few seconds, you need to clearly demonstrate how your skills, experience, education, and characteristics match the employer's needs. Here’s how you can do it.
Customize your resume
Make sure that you have reviewed and tailored your resume to match the job posting and requirements:
Develop a “summary” or “highlights” section at the top of your resume that speaks directly to the top skills, experience, and knowledge the role requires.
Review the statements under each role on your resume and make them relevant to the job to which you are applying.
Accomplishment statements
Accomplishment statements are the foundation of an outstanding and competitive resume. By the end of the following video, you will:
- Deepen your understanding of how resumes function,
- Be able to identify the components of an effective accomplishment statement, and
- Know how to create accomplishment statements that reflect your own skills, abilities and potential.
Consider how you might apply what you learn from the video to your resume. Here are some questions to consider:
- How have you described your experiences in your resume? Where are you already sharing about your results or the quality of your work?
- What about your experience can be better described with the VERB + TASK + RESULT formula? How might you quantify and qualify your experience even better?
- How can you apply “fast numbers” (e.g., service to over 250 clients, collaborated with a team of four classmates, raised $4,000 dollars, supervised 10 volunteers) to the statements in your resume? These give the employer a better sense of the scope and complexity of your work.
Formatting and readability
It’s important to ensure that your job application documents are professional, consistent, and error free. While some of this can be subjective, make sure to complete the following:
- Review your documents for spelling and grammar
- Format your documents for easy reading. For example, pay attention to fonts and white space.
- Keep formatting consistent across your job application documents, like your resume and cover letter.
Remember, employers have many resumes to review and they can often look similar. Make sure that key elements of your resume stand out in a quick scan. This includes the key qualifications that you believe are going to be most important for the role and the unique assets you bring to the table.
- Resume samples
For undergraduate students
- Bachelor of Applied Science: Integrated Engineering (pdf)
- Bachelor of Arts: Psychology (pdf)
- Bachelor of Arts: English (pdf)
- Bachelor of Science: Biology (pdf)
- Bachelor of Science: Food and Health (pdf)
- Bachelor of Social Work (pdf)
- Bachelors: Dietetics (pdf)
For graduate students
- Masters: Engineering Physics (pdf)
- Masters: Political Science (pdf)
- Masters: Sociology (pdf)
- PhD: Biomedical Engineering (pdf)
- PhD: History (pdf)
- PhD: Immunology (pdf)
- PhD: Marketing (pdf)
Get additional tips (pdf) on how to tailor your application to make a strong first impression.
- Cover letters
Unless the job posting says otherwise, always write a cover letter to go with your application. It personalizes your application and is a chance to emphasize your most relevant qualifications and make a case for why you're a great candidate.
Ideally, your cover letter should fit on one page. Read these additional tips (pdf) on writing a cover letter that will help you stand out from other candidates.
Things to put in your cover letter
Contact information and date.
- Include your name, telephone, and e-mail. You do not need to include your mailing address. Keep the format of this section consistent with the header of your resume.
- Include the name of the contact person or hiring manager, as well as their job title, company name, address, and postal code. Try to identify as many of these details as possible by looking at the job posting and the company website. If in doubt, use “Hiring Committee” or “Hiring Manager” in place of the name.
- Add a “RE:” line at the top of the letter that includes the title of the job and a job ID if it is listed on the job posting (e.g., RE: Social Media Coordinator, 544321).
- State the month, day, and year (e.g., May 15, 2021).
- Begin with “Dear” or “To”.
- Address the contact person by their full name (e.g., Santa Ono). If you know that the person holds a professional title such as Dr. or Professor, you may wish to use the full title (e.g., Dr. Santa Ono).
- If you don’t know the person’s name, address the person by their job title, or address your letter to “Hiring Manager” or "Hiring Committee".
- Avoid writing “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam”.
- Avoid using Mr/Ms/Mrs because doing so can put you at risk of misgendering the employer.
Opening paragraph
Keep your opening paragraph brief with just a few sentences.
- Start with a compelling statement about who you are and why you are applying for the role. Like a good story, this should hook your reader into the rest of your letter. For example, “As a current student in Earth and Ocean Sciences with past experience in event planning I am excited to express interest in the role of Event Planner. I bring strengths in communication, research, and commitment to the David Suzuki Foundation’s mission is to protect nature’s diversity and the well-being of all life, now and for the future.”
Demonstrate knowledge of the position. Mention why you are interested and briefly mention 2 or 3 strengths that make you a strong candidate for the position.
Mention if you have a referral from someone internal to the company. Reference the position you are applying for and how you learned about the job (e.g., through a referral or advertisement). For example, “Jane Chu, Manager of Customer Service, suggested I write you...”.
Follow-up paragraphs
The body paragraphs of your cover letter give the employer more information about just a few skills or experiences that you have listed on the resume. The purpose of this section is to show evidence of your qualifications and convince the employer that you are a good fit for their organization.
Pick 2 to 3 key strengths or past experiences that have equipped you to succeed in this role. They should be the things you can speak in depth to that are also very relevant to the position to which you are applying.
These can be from accomplishments from paid work, volunteer roles, academic or community-based experiences that show your strengths and skills.
Use the next 2 to 3 paragraphs to explain the strengths or skills you have picked, provide examples of when you have showcased these well, and connect it back to your value to the potential role. Focus on quality, not quantity. One of the most common mistakes we make with cover letters is trying to talk about everything.
Second-to-last paragraph
Depending on the length of your body paragraphs, you may or may not be able to include this paragraph. Either is fine, but make sure you speak to your interest in the employer somewhere in your cover letter. It can be woven into other paragraphs.
- Showcase your knowledge about this organization and explain why you are interested in working for them in particular. This is a very important element of a tailored cover letter. Not including this information puts you at risk of looking like you sent the same cover letter to many employers.
- Indicate the organization’s values, culture, or areas of prospective growth, and describe how these are similar and relevant to you, your previous accomplishments, and interests. Reassert your interest in supporting them to reach their goals.
Closing paragraph
This should be a short paragraph with no more than 2 or 3 sentences.
- Thank the employer for their time.
- Reassert your interest in the role.
- Request an opportunity to interview for the role.
- When appropriate, take a more proactive approach by arranging to call the employer.
- Cover letter samples
- Bachelor of Applied Science: Electrical Engineering (pdf)
- Bachelor of Arts: Communications (pdf)
- STEMCELL position (pdf)
- Race Forward position (pdf)
- Clinical Research Coordinator (pdf)
- Director of Engagement (pdf)
- Assistant Forester (pdf)
- CareersOnline
Use your CWL to log into the online job and volunteer board for UBC students and alumni.
- Career events
Whether you're looking to improve your job applications or find resources to help you develop your career, UBC has events and workshops to support you.
- Access LinkedIn Learning
As a UBC student, you have full access to LinkedIn Learning . LinkedIn Learning provides short courses and individual videos to help you develop employable skills and learn about career options.
- If you have questions
Contact the UBC Career Centre for any questions regarding the Launch Your Career in Canada event or career-related information.
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Cover Letters
« Back to Tell Your Story
The goal of the cover letter is to bridge the facts and experiences on your resume with the position for which you are applying. In other words, it should connect the dots for the employer so they don’t have to think too hard about how you might be qualified. Many find success organizing their cover letter around a few key skills they want to highlight and then backing them up with proof from experience. Because the cover letter is also an example of your writing abilities, you should spend quality time on it.
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How to write a cover letter, featured resources.
Cover Letters: Getting Started
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Overview of structure, content, and guided questions to consider when deciding what to include in your letter.
Cover Letter Samples
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Here are three great examples of cover letters that each demonstrate different ways of formatting and tailoring your content to …
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Let's make those applications shine. Get some quick tips on résumé and cover letter writing from our video resources. Learn all about cover letters! When to write a cover letter, how to format it and the importance of writing key paragraphs. Watch how a summary of qualifications allows an employer to see your most relevant experiences and ...
Employers are busy - make your cover letter stand out! The process of writing cover letters benefits YOU Tailor your cover letters - efficiently! Study the job description carefully Match your skills/experience with what they're looking for! Show don't tell Use the S.T.A.R. model PAGE 31
Practice reading through an academic job ad to determine the department's needs and their values. Identify and assess how specific experiences can serve as evidence in a cover letter. Articulate your research/teaching expertise effectively in a cover letter. Identify the components of an effective CV. Evaluate the structure and organization ...
Cover Letters Effective letter writing Effective letter writing is an essential part of your job search. If you want to convince a potential employer not to hire you, send a résumé with no cover letter or with a standard form letter. Or address your letter to "Dear Sir" and have it opened by a female manager. Good writing takes time.
Résumé and cover letter tips Work abroad Entrepreneurship Internships ... University of Waterloo. 43.471468-80.544205. Campus map 200 University Avenue West. Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1 +1 519 888 4567. Contact Waterloo Accessibility ...
The Centre for Career Development can help you build a meaningful future. Whether you are a student (undergrad or graduate), postdoctoral fellow, alum, or employee — we can help you explore opportunities. Our career advisors are available to support you in mapping your career route. Whether you are seeking career planning advice, career ...
The cover letter narrates who you are, summarizes other documentation that you have supplied (research statement, CV, teaching statement, etc), and asserts why you are a fit for the department. In your cover letter, identify and convey how you differentiate from many other applicants for the position by highlighting the unique value of your ...
Access tips for résumés and cover letters and explore diverse opportunities on WaterlooWorks, including co-op, full-time, part-time, and volunteer roles. Dive into international job searches, entrepreneurship, internships, and volunteering. ... University of Waterloo. University of Waterloo. 43.471468-80.544205. Campus map 200 University ...
Cover letter templates. Notice: Work on a new CareerHub site is underway and will be in-progress over the next year. During this time, the platform will have limited functionality. Users will be unable to save results from activities, and some of the downloadable content (e.g., PDFs) may no longer be available. Home.
A cover or broadcast letter accompanies your résumé to introduce you to a prospective employer as a knowledgeable and capable applicant. It should be written in business format and be no longer than one page. If you are a co-op student and wish to include a cover letter with your other application documents, load it onto WaterlooWorks as the ...
Yes, other people might not care about the cover letter, but some interviewers do. Here is the content of my cover letters for jobs I applied to this term: Anyway, got interview, got offer, rejected offer for a better one, and the job didn't get filled (just checked WaterlooWorksn't now).
This is about getting you through the door and not straight to the finish line. 3. DO NOT IMMEDIATELY START APPLYING, just keep adding these jobs to your shortlist until all the jobs have been ...
yep. This is unironically a really great cover letter. When writing a cover letter, include three paragraphs. 1-4 sentences each is fine. These should describe the following: 1: Who I am, my qualifications, and what position I am applying for. 2: Why I am excited about this position or company.
Decide on the focus of your letter, tailor your information to the reader, and ensure that you remain on topic. Keep your letters to one page. Let your enthusiasm shine. You do not want to lose the reader's interest before the end of the page. Avoid writing "as you can see," because the reader may not "see" the point as you do.
Format your documents for easy reading. For example, pay attention to fonts and white space. Keep formatting consistent across your job application documents, like your resume and cover letter. Remember, employers have many resumes to review and they can often look similar. Make sure that key elements of your resume stand out in a quick scan.
Cover Letter: Including a cover letter with an application package may be mandatory or optional. If you'd like to include a cover letter in an application package, be sure to tailor it for the specific job and upload/submit as you would a résumé. Résumé: You are responsible for creating and uploading your résumé into WaterlooWorks.
As you probably know, some companies REQUIRE the cover letter. It would be cool to gather the stats as to whether or not cover letters increase interview rates, but I personally have not seen much difference (although if you are picky, a tailored cover letter might be a big advantage) 4. Reply. UWCS2022 4b cs (cali reject) • 5 yr. ago.
Middle paragraph (s) Closing paragraph. Letter ending and signature. Your cover letter should be one page long and use a simple, professional font, such as Arial or Helvetica, 10 to 12 points in size. Your letter should be left-aligned with single spacing and one-inch margins. Show Transcript.
A Cover Letter Includes: 1. Your Personal Letterhead: The same as on your resume. 2. The Current Date. 3. The Employer's Information: Name, Position Title, Company Name, Full Address, if you can have it or can find it (you may need to research). 4. An Opening Salutation: "Dear" or "To" the person's name, if possible, or use "Hiring
As someone who previously hired Waterloo co-ops for engineering, I generally could take it or leave it as far as cover letters go. You can tell a catch-all cover letter from a mile away and at best gets groans from us filtering it. However, a good cover letter is to the point and explains why you're the right person for this specific job.
Cover Letters. The goal of the cover letter is to bridge the facts and experiences on your resume with the position for which you are applying. In other words, it should connect the dots for the employer so they don't have to think too hard about how you might be qualified. Many find success organizing their cover letter around a few key ...
Cover letter sample for a chief financial officer To help you learn more about cover letters, here is a sample cover letter for a CFO: Richard Smith Birmingham 44 (0)1632 960513 [email protected] 30/04/2024 Mr D Brown Wavewood Dear Mr D Brown, I am delighted to present my application for the Chief Financial Officer position at Wavewood. As a seasoned finance executive with over 10 years in ...
Cover letter sample for a client advisor To help you learn more about cover letters, here's a sample cover letter for a client advisor: Richard Smith Birmingham 44 (0)1632 960513 [email protected] 30/04/2024 Mr. D Brown Wavewords Advisory Dear Mr. D Brown, I would like to express my interest in the client advisor role at Wavewords Advisory as advertised. . With my strong background in customer ...
Résumés, Cover letters, Digital portfolios, Job interviews, Academic job applications and interviews, and Negotiating job offers Succeed in today's economy; generate opportunities and identify professional development/training resources
The ones that ask for cover letters want "culture fit", so if you don't care enough, you probably aren't fit. Put in your resume twice and YOLO it. The advice is not to put cover letters if they're not asked for. If they're asking for it, clearly they want one.
Respiratory therapist cover letter sample Here is a sample respiratory therapist cover letter to help you understand the format and style: Chuck Ferris Vancouver, BC 613-555-0123 [email protected] March 19, 2024 Mr. Bob Richardson Wavewood Care Dear Mr. Richardson, I am writing to apply for the respiratory therapist position recently advertised on Indeed.
General worker cover letter example To help you learn more about cover letters, here is a sample cover letter for a general worker: Chuck Ferris Chicago, Illinois 304-555-0192 [email protected] March 14, 2024 Mr. Bob Richardson ABC Company Dear Mr. Richardson, I am writing to express my keen interest in the general worker position at ABC Company as advertised.
Classroom teacher cover letter example To help you learn more about cover letters, here is a sample cover letter for a classroom teacher: Richard Smith Birmingham 44 (0)1632 960513 18 March 2024 Mr D Brown Wavewood School Dear Mr D Brown, I am writing to apply for the Classroom Teacher position as advertised. With a Bachelor's degree in Education and a state teaching certificate, I am well ...
In your cover letter Use your cover letter to tell a story. For example, you can describe a time when your excellent communication skills saved the day during a busy service or when your culinary expertise received customer commendation. During an interview In an interview setting, anticipate questions about your skills and rehearse answering them.
PMO cover letter example Here is a sample cover letter for a PMO: Marcus Ong Beng Chin Singapore [email protected] +65 9555 5555 8 March 2024 Mr. Robert Chan Wavewood Pte Ltd Dear Mr. Chan, I am writing regarding the PMO position recently advertised on Wavewood's website. With my background as a PMO in major IT projects and my expertise in Agile and Scrum methodologies, I am confident ...