General Guidelines for Composing Résumés and Cover Letters

• Remember that your résumé and cover letter represent you to a potential employee. You won't get a second chance to make a first impression, so make the first impression count for as much as possible.

• DON'T LIE! Lying on your résumé can come back to haunt you in the interview, or, even worse, once you've accepted the job. You should give yourself credit when and if credit is due, however.

• DO PROOFREAD CAREFULLY! It's a good idea to ask someone you trust to scan over your résumé and cover letter as well. Nothing will get you circular-filed faster than a hard-to-read, hard-to-interpret résumé, except one filled with careless errors. Employers interpret sloppy, error-filled résumés as an indication that you are not detail-oriented or thorough.

What Kind of Résumé Do I Need?

• You should choose the format of your résumé based on your educational background, your work experience, and the type of employment you are seeking.
  
• Three common résumé formats are the chronological format, the functional format, and the curriculum vitae format.
  
  • Chronological résumés present a historical summary of your education and work experience. The most common résumé format, chronological résumés are often preferred by employers. For a recent college graduate (or a college student), chronological résumés are the best bet. For more information on chronological résumés, see our accompanying handout.
    
  • Functional résumés focus attention on a candidate's areas of competence. They emphasize a list of skills and accomplishments, identifying employers and academic experience in subordinate sections. Functional résumés are best for those who are re-entering the job market after a career hiatus or those who are changing careers.
    
  • A Curriculum vitae (or c.v.) is a highly specialized résumé format primarily used by medical doctors, researchers, and academics. The focus of a c.v. is often on independent research and publications, with a subfocus on teaching experience. For assistance with a c.v., go to Temple's Career Services Center or speak with a Writing Center Tutor.