University of Minnesota Athletics
Resume and Cover Letter
Purpose of a Resume
A strong resume highlights your most relevant skills and best qualities. The resume shows the reader that you are a good candidate for the position and convinces them to invite you for an interview.
Resume Format
A resume needs to be clean, concise, and easy to scan for information. You only have 6 seconds to catch the reader’s attention. Use one of the resume samples below to get started:
A cover letter, also known as a letter of application, introduces you to an employer and explains why you are the best candidate for the job. Your cover letter should be targeted to a specific organization and position, and updated for each application you submit. The cover letter is a companion piece to your resume and it is your opportunity to insert some of your personality into the application process.
Cover Letter Format
A cover letter is a 1-page document that contains 3-4 concise paragraphs. Always utilize consistent formatting throughout your professional documents, including your resume, cover letter, and references. Include the same header on all of your documents and keep font style consistent. Be sure to proofread your document multiple times for grammatical and spelling errors. Cover Letter Content
A cover letter provides a narrative description of how you are a good fit for the role by using a couple specific examples that highlight relevant skills and professional qualities. Make sure you include why you are interested in their organization. Maybe their mission aligns with your values or they serve a particular population or community that you are passionate about serving; it all depends on you and your unique set of skills, strengths, and goals.
A strong resume highlights your most relevant skills and best qualities. The resume shows the reader that you are a good candidate for the position and convinces them to invite you for an interview.
Resume Format
A resume needs to be clean, concise, and easy to scan for information. You only have 6 seconds to catch the reader’s attention. Use one of the resume samples below to get started:
- Resume Sample 1 - VIEW PDF | DOWNLOAD WORD DOC
- Resume Sample 2 - VIEW PDF | DOWNLOAD WORD DOC
- Resume Sample 3 - VIEW PDF | DOWNLOAD WORD DOC
- Getting Started and Resume Format (video)
- Experience Descriptions and Accomplishment Statements (video)
A cover letter, also known as a letter of application, introduces you to an employer and explains why you are the best candidate for the job. Your cover letter should be targeted to a specific organization and position, and updated for each application you submit. The cover letter is a companion piece to your resume and it is your opportunity to insert some of your personality into the application process.
Cover Letter Format
A cover letter is a 1-page document that contains 3-4 concise paragraphs. Always utilize consistent formatting throughout your professional documents, including your resume, cover letter, and references. Include the same header on all of your documents and keep font style consistent. Be sure to proofread your document multiple times for grammatical and spelling errors. Cover Letter Content
A cover letter provides a narrative description of how you are a good fit for the role by using a couple specific examples that highlight relevant skills and professional qualities. Make sure you include why you are interested in their organization. Maybe their mission aligns with your values or they serve a particular population or community that you are passionate about serving; it all depends on you and your unique set of skills, strengths, and goals.