1. Houston, we have a
problem…with your Resume
and Cover Letter
Lauren Burmester
Career Services
Student Center, Suite 250
careers@erau.edu
(386) 226-6054
careers.erau.edu

2. The most important paper you
write while in college
• First impression you make with a company –
make sure it is a positive impression
• Nothing disqualifies a candidate faster than a
poorly written cover letter or resume
• Your resume is a marketing tool to sell your
best traits
• Employers spend less than 30 seconds
scanning a resume before making a decision
on whether or not to bring someone in for an
interview

3. Common Myths and Mistakes
• Unique or unusual
resumes attract
more attention and
are easier to read
• Resume content is
more important
than style or format
• It’s OK to
exaggerate your
accomplishments
• Cover letters are
more often read
than resumes
• Personal photos
improve your
marketability
• Salary history can
enhance your image as
a fast track candidate
• Indicating your age or
marital status will prove
that you are mature
• It is ok the round up
your GPA

4. RESUMES

5. The Basics
• Laser printed on white or ivory paper (at least
24# stock)
o Never submit photocopies
• Limit to 1 page (unless you have 5+ years of
industry experience, and then never go over 2
pages)
o Exceptions: Federal Government
resume, academic curriculum
vitae, international resume, or online resumes
• Avoid templates
• Use easy to read, attention-grabbing format

6. The Basics cont’d
• Do not include high school information
o Exception: first-year students or those applying
for positions with the Federal Government; may
also include HS if you attended a magnet school
specifically related to the position/field you are
applying to
• Do not include photos or personal
information (i.e. age, gender, marital
status, ethnicity, health
condition/status, SSN)
o Exception: those applying for positions with
Federal Government will need to include SSN
with application

7. Format
• Margins should be no smaller than ½ inch
• Use plain typeface (Arial, Times New
Roman, Verdana, Franklin Gothic Book, Century
Gothic, Calibri )
o No smaller than 10 point and no larger than 12 point
• Name should be large and in boldface (largest
text on the page)
• Use bulleted points – not everything though
o Makes information easier to find
o Do not punctuate

8. Content
• Emphasize the most important items and
weed out irrelevant details
• Include work experience, even if not
directly relevant
• NEVER falsify or exaggerate your
credentials
• Always remember your audience

9. Content cont’d
• Contact
Information
• Objective
• Education
• Relevant
Coursework
• Project Experience
• Internship
Experience
• Work Experience
Skills
Activities
Licenses
Honors/Awards
Flight Time
Military
Experience
• Publications
• Leadership
• Volunteer Service
•
•
•
•
•
•

10. Contact Information
• Name – should be large and bold
• Address (home and school unless you are
graduating) – not needed anymore
• Telephone number
o May include home or cell – ONLY one recommended
o Never include your work number on a resume
o Be sure your voice mail (or roommate) is professional
• E-mail address (pick one – and check it!)
Contact info should be at the top of page and should look
balanced

11. Objective
• One to two sentences in length
• Be specific, do not add “fluff”
• Should be specific to the company and position
you are seeking
• Example: To obtain a Staff Analyst position with
United Airlines
• Extensive Experience:
o Provide 2-3 sentence or bulleted executive
summary or professional profile highlighting
skills and accomplishments

12. Education
• List the educational institution along with the
city and state
• Do not use abbreviations for the school or
degree (Bachelor of Science in…)
• Specify any minors or areas of concentration
• Graduation date is a MUST for the recent
grad
• Please list your GPA if it is a 2.5 or above;
major GPA is also a possibility but you need
to include the CGPA

13. Sample Education
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Area of Concentration in Propulsion
Minor in Astronautics
3.0/4.0 GPA
Daytona Beach, FL
May 2014
• You can include relevant coursework under
the Education
• Include Study Abroad here too
• No need to list previous institutions, if you
did not receive a degree (i.e. transfer student)

15. Experience
• You can have work, intern/co-op, or project experience
listed
• Start with the most recent experience and work backwards
(reverse chronological order)
• Include company name, location, dates worked, job title
and main accomplishments (use bullets to make the info
stand out)
• Use concise language and limit points to 3 or 4 key
elements or accomplishments
• Start each bullet point with a verb/action word
• Use concise, descriptive and varied language
o Quantify duties and successes (#, %, $)

16. Sample Experience
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL
Student Assistant, Career Services Office May 2013-Present
• Provide computer software training and assistance to staff, students
and alumni
• Assist Program Managers in marketing, scheduling, and organizing
on-campus information sessions, interviews, and open positions
advertised through our office
• Research and record prospective employers demographic
information

17. It’s Simple—Show, Not Just Tell
• The following is from the resume of an applicant
for an operations position in a toy company:
– Managed eight reindeer.
– Managed eight reindeer to distribute toys around the
globe.
– Increased 2009 global gift distribution 60% by
successfully hiring, training, and managing eight
reindeer to distribute toys around the globe.
Adapted from 5 Resume Tips for Executives & Entrepreneurs by Blythe Grossberg, NAFE E-Newsletter (2005)

19. Skills
• This section can include
Computer, Language, Communication, or
Leadership Skills
• If you list a language as a skill, you must be
fluent in that specific language
• Computer Skills
o List or Categorize
• Type of Skill – Software, Hardware, Languages

20. Other Categories
• Activities include
memberships in
organizations, fraternitie
s, sororities, and clubs
• List any offices held in
the clubs or
organizations
• Scholarships, Recognitio
ns, Awards, and
Commendations can be
listed
• Licenses/Certificates
include
A&P, CPR, EMT, etc.
• Additional
coursework and
project experience are
great areas to include
• List interests including
intramurals, volunteer
experience, or general
likes

22. References
• Do not refer to references on your resume
– it goes without saying
• Type a separate list using same font and
paper as your resume
• Include name, title, company, contact
information (address, phone #, e-mail)
• Always check first with anyone you wish
to use as a reference

24. Curriculum Vitae (CVs)
• CVs are also used to apply for jobs
overseas
• Used when applying for
academic, education, research, or scientific
positions, and for fellowships and grants
• Usually will specify that a CV is
required, if in the U.S.

25. Difference Between CV and
Resume
• 2-3 pages long or more
• More in-depth details than resume
• Includes research and teaching
experience, publications, grants and
fellowships, professional associations and
licenses, awards, and any other information
relevant to the position
• Overseas, will also include more personal
information, such as marital status, spouse’s
name, children, health, travel, birth date, place of
birth, citizenship, secondary school
information, etc.
• May include photograph

26. Sending Your Resume
If more than 1 page, do not staple
Do not fold - Mail in large envelope
If faxing, mail hard copy as follow-up
If emailing, include cover letter in body of email
and attach resume as a Word or PDF document
(whichever version is preferred by the employer)
• If you are copying and pasting a resume into an
online application, make sure the formatting is
presentable (note: online text resumes can be as
lengthy as necessary)
•
•
•
•

27. Proofreading
• Errors suggest carelessness, poor
education, lack of intelligence, lack of
attention to detail
• Watch spelling, punctuation, verb
tense, grammar
• Proofread several times
• Have others proofread for you –
professors, peers, family members, your
Career Services Program Manager 

28. COVER LETTERS

29. Cover Letters
• The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce
yourself to the prospective company or
organization
• Keep the cover letter to a maximum of one
page
• Follow the standard business format: left
justify everything
• Use the same font as your resume
• Always address the letter to a specific
person; if you do not have the contact’s
name, use Dear Human Resource or Hiring
Manager

30. The Heading
• Your address should be the first item (do
not include name, phone #, e-mail)
• Date should follow address and 1 blank
line of space before and after it
• Contact’s name and job title (if known)
should come next after 1 line of space
• List company name and address right
after job title
• Address letter to specific person (if
unknown, use “Dear Hiring Manager”)

32. The First Paragraph
• Explain the reason for the letter
• Mention how you heard about the
position and, of course, what position you
want
• List why you want to work for the
company (Here is where you do your
homework and use the research found on
the company)

34. The Main Body of the Letter
• Detail your qualifications for the position:
give reasons why they should hire you
• Relate your strengths to the requirements
of the position (use the job description)
• Refer to experiences, achievements and
education that makes you right for the
position
• Be positive and detailed

36. The Last Paragraph
• Sum up your purpose for writing the letter
• Invite them to take a closer look at your
resume
• Make a commitment to action (i.e. You will
call them, or you invite them to call you)
• List your contact number and email address
• Follow up with the commitment you made
• Thank them for their time

38. The Closing
• You should use a general closing
statement such as Sincerely, Regards, or
Cordially
• Leave four lines of space for your
signature
• Type your name
• If you enclose your resume, be sure to list
Enclosure
• Sign your name in ink

40. Customize
• Customize your resume and cover letter
for the position you are pursuing
• Use the job description, company
research, and industry knowledge to
create a document specific for a position

41. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
• Make sure at least one or two people
proofread your resume and cover letter
for errors
• Errors allow assumptions to be made
about you
• Watch out for spelling, punctuation, and
style; (It is very easy to miss its/it’s or
effect/affect)

42. Bottom Line
• Your resume and cover letter can make or
break your chance to get an interview
• But, keep in mind there is more to landing
a job than merely looking good on
paper, so make sure you are well prepared
to interview as well

43. Sample Resumes & Cover Letters
• http://careers.erau.edu/
• You can also look on Blackboard under
the Career Services Organization
• You can also get hard copies in the CSO

44. Resume Review
• To have your resume reviewed by a
Program Manager in Career Services:
• Upload your resume to EagleHire
(http://erau.experience.com)
• Make an appointment
• Call 386.226.6054
• Stop by Student Center, Suite 250

45. Professional Dress for the Expo
Professional attire is expected for attendance to the Industry/Career
Expo.
• Suits
• Gentlemen: button down shirts and ties
• Ladies: conservative or appropriate blouses
• Colors for shirts should be muted like white, off-white or light blue
• Shoes should be polished and professional
The minimum professional dress is business casual. Flight and ROTC
uniforms are appropriate Expo dress. Religious and cultural attire will be
accepted.
Visit the Career Services Pinterest group [http://pinterest.com/eraucsodb/]
and peruse the What to Wear – Men, What to Wear – Women and What Not to
Wear – Men and Women boards for ideas on professional dress.

46. Stay Connected to Career Services
Connect, follow, join and like Career Services
via all our communication methods…
Career Services Website
EagleHire Network
ERAU Connection
ERNIE/Blackboard
Facebook
Going Places Career Blog
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Twitter