Writing resumes, CVs, cover letters, thank-you notes, business cards, personal statements and e-mails is a key element of your job search preparation, networking and communication skills development. We encourage you to attend our workshops, borrow our books, and submit your practice materials for review early in the job search process so you will be well-prepared.

Resume Writing

What is a resume? A concise summary (1-2 pages) of your experience (work, volunteer, and leadership), education and skills that are relevant to your employment interests. It is NOT a chronicle of everything that you have ever done. The resume often creates a first impression of you to potential employers by communicating your professional qualifications and experiences. Your goal is to use the resume to get an interview with an employer. Resumes should be tailored for each career field. Some people choose to create a slightly different resume for each job posting. The below resources will get you started.

Resume Basic Tips from Career TV

Seven Things to Know Before Writing Your First Resume, from Experience.com
Resume Rules: Dos and Don'ts for Success, from Careerbuilder.com
Presenting Yourself on Paper: Resumes and Cover Letters, David Schachter, from Idealist.org's Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers, downloadable pdf

Writing KSAs for the US Federal Job Application

The US Federal job application often contains a section called KSAs, which stands for knowledge, skills and abilities. Download this pdf for a comprehensive insider guide to writing effective KSAs.

F&ES Business Cards

Yale RIS offers a student F&ES template for easy ordering of business cards. Current price is $30 for 120 cards featuring the F&ES shield. Business cards are an excellent tool for networking at career fairs, conferences and with visitors on campus. Sample below.

E-mail Writing and Etiquette

Check out these internet resources on writing effective emails while networking and communicating with potential employers:

10 Tips for E-mail Etiquette, Marjorie Brody, FabJob.com
10 Tips for Effective Emails, mindtools.com
Effective Email, mindtools.com

Cover Letter Writing

A well written cover letter is an effective way to present your qualifications to an employer. Cover letters are read, compared, and used to screen candidates for interview consideration. Your resume, when accompanied by a cover letter, is a sign of a serious and professional approach to job hunting. It will give employers whom you approach an indication that you are sincerely interested in their organization, and that you are giving them personal attention that would not be shown by the arrival of an unaccompanied resume. Also, cover letters present your ability to communicate in writing, as well as your organizational ability, both of which are pertinent to most positions.
The purpose of the cover letter is to get an interview. Jobs develop from interviews, not letters, so the application letter must achieve a number of things in a minimum of space:

a) introduce you to employers
b) catch their attention and arouse their interest
c) persuade them that you are the person to interview


Presenting Yourself on Paper: Resumes and Cover Letters, David Schachter, from Idealist.org's Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers, downloadable pdf

Writing A Personal Statement

Personal statements may be required for fellowship programs, job applications or for admission to degree programs. Check out one of our personal statement writing books from CDO library, and read the below guidelines from a workshop given by Dean Edward Barnaby, Yale Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Intended "to help applicants think critically about the type of relationship with the reader that one can establish through the personal statement and how to approach the writing of such a statement."

Proposal Writing and Proposal Budgeting

On-line free Proposal Writing Short Course through the Foundation Center: in English; French; Mandarin; Portuguese; Russian; Spanish

On-line free Proposal Budgeting Basics through the Foundation Center: in English and Spanish

CV, Teaching Philosophy and Statement of Research for Ph.D.'s

Ph.D. students applying to academic or non-academic positions will usually need to include more application materials than master's students. The below document covers writing a CV, statement of teaching philosophy, and a statement of research.