Undergraduate Resource Series
Oce of Career Services | 54 Dunster Street
Harvard University | Faculty of Arts and Sciences | 617.495.2595
www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu
RESUMES &
COVER LETTERS
OCS
© 2012 President and Fellows of Harvard College
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written
permission of the Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences Oce of Career Services.
08/12
Oce of Career Services
Harvard University
Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 495-2595
www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
A
resume is a brief, informative summary
of your abilities, education, and experi-
ence. It should highlight your strongest assets
and skills, and dierentiate you from other can-
didates seeking similar positions. Although it
alone will not get you a job or internship, a good
resume is an important element towards obtain-
ing an interview.
Tailor your resume to the type of position you
are seeking. is does not mean that all of your
work history must relate directly, but your
resume should reect the kind of skills the
employer would value. Find additional guidance
on resumes and cover letters , as well as resume
samples, on the OCS website.
Create a Strong Resume
NEED HELP?
• Attend a Power ½-Hour Resume Workshop. Learn the nuts and
bolts of getting started. See the OCS website for dates.
• Come to drop-ins. Every day from 1:00-4:00pm—get any career
question answered and have someone look at your resume.
• Look for industry specic resume review clinics. Listed on the
On-Campus Interviewing Calendar.
TOP 5 RESUME MISTAKES:
1. Spelling and grammar errors
2. Missing email and phone information
3. Using passive language instead of “action” words
4. Not well organized, concise, or easy to skim
5. Too long
RESUME LANGUAGE SHOULD BE:
• Specic rather than general
• Active rather than passive
• Written to express not impress
• Articulate rather than “owery”
• Fact-based (quantify and qualify)
• Written for people who scan quickly
DON’T:
• Use personal pronouns (such as I)
• Abbreviate
• Use a narrative style
• Number or letter categories
• Use slang or colloquialisms
• Include a picture
• Include age or sex
• List references on resume
• Lead each line with a date
RESUME TIPS
PLAN TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY?
DO:
• Be consistent in format and content
• Make it easy to read and follow
• Use spacing, underlining, italics, bold, and
capitalization for emphasis
• List headings (such as Professional Experience) in
order of importance
• Within headings, list information in reverse chron-
ological order (most recent rst)
• Avoid information gaps such as a missing summer
• Be sure that your formatting translated properly if
converted to a .pdf
Resume guidelines can vary from country to country. Check out
Going Global at www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu.
Accelerated
Accomplished
Achieved
Acted
Adapted
Added
Administered
Advised
Analyzed
Arranged
Assembled
Assessed
Broadened
Budgeted
Built
Calculated
Centralized
Changed
Claried
Classied
Collaborated
Collected
Compiled
Completed
Composed
Conducted
Conceived
Concluded
Constructed
Controlled
Coordinated
Counseled
Created
Dened
Delegated
Delivered
Derived
Demonstrated
Designed
Determined
Developed
Devised
Directed
Discovered
Documented
Earned
Edited
Enabled
Energized
Enhanced
Established
Evaluated
Examined
Executed
Expanded
Expedited
Fabricated
Facilitated
Followed
Formed
Formulated
Founded
Gained
Gathered
Generated
Governed
Guided
Handled
Headed
Identied
Impacted
Implemented
Improved
Increased
Initiated
Inspected
Installed
Instituted
Instructed
Interviewed
Interpreted
Introduced
Invented
Launched
Lectured
Led
Liaised
Maintained
Managed
Marketed
Mastered
Maximized
Mediated
Minimized
Modeled
Monitored
Motivated
Negotiated
Operated
Optimized
Orchestrated
Organized
Originated
Participated
Performed
Persuaded
Planned
Predicted
Prepared
Presented
Prioritized
Processed
Produced
Programmed
Promoted
Proposed
Proved
Provided
Publicized
Published
Purchased
Recommended
Recorded
Recruited
Redesigned
Reduced
Regulated
Reinforced
Renegotiated
Reorganized
Reported
Represented
Researched
Resolved
Reviewed
Revised
Revitalized
Rewrote
Scheduled
Screened
Selected
Served
Shaped
Simplied
Sold
Solved
Spearheaded
Standardized
Steered
Streamlined
Strengthened
Structured
Studied
Suggested
Summarized
Supervised
Supported
Surpassed
Surveyed
Synthesized
Taught
Tested
Trained
Translated
Unied
Updated
Upgraded
Utilized
Verbalized
Veried
Visualized
Worked
Wrote
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Action Verbs for your Resume
Write an Effective Cover Letter
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Your cover letter is a writing sample and a part of the screening process. By putting your best foot forward, you can increase your
chances of being interviewed. A good way to create a response-producing cover letter is to highlight your skills or experiences
that are most applicable to the job or industry and to tailor the letter to the specific organization you are applying to.
Your Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Date of Letter
Contact Name
Contact Title
Company Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear _________:
Opening paragraph: Clearly state why you are writing, name the
position or type of work you’re exploring and, where applicable, how
you heard about the person or organization.
Middle paragraph(s): Explain why you are interested in this employer
and your reasons for desiring this type of work. If you’ve had relevant
school or work experience, be sure to point it out with one or two key
examples; but do not reiterate your entire resume. Emphasize skills or
abilities that relate to the job. Be sure to do this in a condent manner
and remember that the reader will view your letter as an example of
your writing skills.
Closing paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position, and
your enthusiasm for using your skills to contribute to the work of
the organization. Thank the reader for his/her consideration of
your application, and end by stating that you look forward to the
opportunity to further discuss the position.
Sincerely,
Your name typed
Use complete
title and address.
Address to a
particular person
if possible.
Make the ad-
dressee want to
read your resume.
Be brief, but
specic.
Ask for a meeting
and remember to
follow up.
Always sign
letters.
•
Address your letters to a specic person if you can.
• Tailor your letters to specic situations or organizations by
doing research before writing your letters.
• Keep letters concise and factual, no more than a single page.
Avoid owery language.
• Give examples that support your skills and qualications.
• Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. What can you write that will
convince the reader that you are ready and able to do the job?
• Remember that this is a marketing tool. Use lots of action
words.
• Have someone proofread your letter.
• If converting to a .pdf, check that your formatting translated
correctly.
• Reference skills or experiences from the job description and
draw connections to your credentials.
Some general rules about letters:
Sample Resume
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Always use your @fas or @college
email account and check it frequently,
even if you have enabled forwarding.
If an employer asks for your SAT
scores or GPA, you can include them
in your education section.
Watch out for typos!
Note that relevant interests and skills can be
demonstrated through campus and volunteer
activities as well as through previous employment.
Roberta Josephina Maddox
433 Mather Mail Center (714) 439-6547 17 Rodeo Road
Harvard College Irvine, CA 92720
Cambridge, MA 02138-6175
Education
HARVARD UNIVERSITY Cambridge, MA
A.B. Honors degree in History. GPA 3.73. May 2013
Coursework in International Political Economics and the European Community.
Commit 25 hours per week to the Harvard Varsity Field Hockey Program.
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON London, UK
Study abroad coursework in Investment Analysis and Financial Accounting. Fall 2011
IRVINE HIGH SCHOOL Irvine, CA
Graduated with high honors. SAT I: M:780 V:760. June 2009
National Honor Society. Member of Varsity Field Hockey Team.
Related Experience
PEPSI-COLA NORTH AMERICA BEVERAGES New York, NY
Marketing Analyst Intern Summer 2012
Examined profitability of foreign market for new fruit drink using analysis of comparable local brands.
Managed focus groups and consumer surveys gathering >500 data points. Created ideas for niche marketing
campaigns including use of social networks and viral marketing. Presented findings to senior managers using
quantitative analysis and creative visuals in a combined PowerPoint presentation.
THOMAS WILCK ASSOCIATES Newport Beach, CA
Assistant Account Executive Summer 2011
Researched and assembled requests for proposals for medium-sized public relations and communications firm.
Actively participated in staff meetings and brainstorming sessions. Generated correspondence with top
executive officers.
TECH HILLS Laguna Hills, CA
Technology Intern Summer 2010
Implemented new web site, including backend database storage system and dynamic web pages.
Leadership Experience
HARVARD UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN IN BUSINESS (WIB)
Executive Committee Member Spring 2010–Present
Organized marketing and advertising campaign to increase membership. Coordinated business conference and
networking reception for 50 business professionals and 500 students.
HARVARD COLLEGE MARATHON CHALLENGE
Training Program Director
Spring 2010
Developled training program for 25 charity runners. Raised over $25,000 to support Phillips Brooks House
Association and The Cambridge Food Project.
Skills & Interests
Computer: Microsoft Excel, Power Point, and Access, Stata, SQL, Java and HTML.
Language: Fluent French and Conversational Spanish. Traveled extensively in Europe.
Interests: Snowboarding, cake decorating, and foreign films.
September 20, 2012
Ms. Ellie Wells
Senior Manager
Wallaby Yogurt Company
110 Mezzetta Ct
American Canyon, CA 94503
Dear Ms. Wells:
I am a senior at Harvard University and would like to be considered for the Manager in
Training opportunity at the Wallaby Yogurt Company. I am very interested in the field of
marketing and would welcome the opportunity to contribute my research and writing
skills and experience to your growing business.
I am excited about Wallaby’s commitment to organic, all-natural ingredients in its
products. As a varsity field hockey player, I am very aware of the importance of healthy
food as the foundation for a healthy life. Your emphasis on “learning by doing and
leading by serving” is also consistent with the training I received as an athlete. Whether
on the field learning new drills in the worst weather conditions or patiently working with
a new team member, I am most fulfilled when contributing to the team effort.
At Harvard, my concentration is in History while also exploring coursework in
Economics. My academic work has strengthened my research and writing skills as well
as my understanding of the economics of business growth and development. Working
with Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business (WIB) over the last two years gave me
the experience and confidence to work in a dynamic, fast-paced organization where
learning quickly and pitching in are instrumental to success. As a member of the
Executive Committee, for example, I managed campus advertising campaigns that
increased overall membership and attracted more than 500 students from 12 different
schools to our annual Intercollegiate Fall Conference.
Thank you for your consideration. I very much look forward to the opportunity to speak
with you in person about my interest in this position.
Sincerely,
Roberta Maddox
Sample Cover Letter
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Sample Resume
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Peter J. Lee
250 Winthrop Mail Center – Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
781-444-6892 – pjlee@fas.harvard.edu
Education
HARVARD UNIVERSITY Cambridge, MA
A.B. in Social Studies with honors and language citation in Spanish expected, May 2014. GPA 3.56.
Awarded Mill-Taylor Prize for one of two top papers out of 100 students in yearlong sophomore tutorial;
Starting Shortstop, Varsity Baseball Team.
MARINA BAY HIGH SCHOOL San Diego, CA
Valedictorian, Class of 2010. Captain, Speech and Debate team; First Cello, Marina Bay High School
Orchestra; Shortstop, Varsity Baseball team; President, Best Buddies. SAT V-800 M-750.
Public Service and Education Experience
MISSION HILL AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM Boston, MA
Director Summer, 2012
Be consistent presenting data. Use
either numerals or words but not both.
• Managed staff of 20 student coordinators and 120 volunteers to work with 50 elementary and
middle school children
• Partnered with community leaders, parents and school board committee to develop programs that
support educational and personal growth
• Raised more than $40,000 through phone-a-thon and dance contest
CRIMSON SUMMER EXCHANGE PROGRAM Hong Kong, PRC
English Language Teacher Summer, 2011
• Developed curriculum for teaching English to over 800 high school students
• Trained 75 undergraduate and graduate students to teach classes over 8-week period in cities
throughout China
• Created learning activities based on Olympic theme for 2 classes of 40 middle school students
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER Sacramento, CA
Communications Intern Summer, 2010
• Researched and wrote talking points, newsletter articles and memoranda which summarized issues
relating to high school youth
• Collaborated with Governor’s Summer Youth program to deliver academic enrichment programs
to over 12 inner-city communities throughout state
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY New Orleans, LA
Volunteer Spring, 2009
• Built 2 houses over spring recess
Use
different
action
verbs
Computer and Language Skills
Proficient with Excel, PowerPoint, Stata, and Dreamweaver
Fluent in Spanish
Sample Cover Letter
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
Mr. Joseph Turner
Save the Children Foundation
54 Wilton Road
Westport, Connecticut 06880
Dear Mr. Turner:
I am writing to express my interest in the Early Childhood Development Research
Assistant internship with Save the Children. I am completing my Junior year at Harvard
University and will graduate with a B.A. in Social Studies in May, 2014.
I believe strongly in the need for social change, especially as it affects children. The
work that Save the Children delivers both advocating and taking action in countries
throughout the world has set the standard for more than seventy-five years. It is your
history and persistent search for solutions on behalf of children that makes me eager to
join your team. Early childhood development is central to my academic interests. Next
year I hope to complete my thesis on the influence of after-school programs on
homework performance among children of immigrant Chinese families.
The opportunity to work with your ECD unit this summer will allow me to apply
experience that I have gained in the classroom both as a student and a teacher. My
concentration in Social Studies requires extensive research and writing across a broad
spectrum of subjects. I am also adept at managing large sets of Excel data and preparing
graphs, charts and other visuals to illustrate research findings. I spent two summers
teaching in diverse classroom settings. The experience I gained in China taught me to
manage my time carefully in order to complete the curriculum I had created. Managing a
team of more than 120 volunteer teachers for an after-school program in Cambridge,
Massachusetts required attention to detail around scheduling, training and orientation that
will help me contribute to your project.
I understand that the internships with Save the Children are unpaid and I am prepared to
seek grants or fellowships to support myself. Thank you for your time and consideration.
I look forward to meeting with you to discuss the internship in more detail.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Lee
Sample Resume
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
CAROL SOZAKA-DIAZ
[email protected]ard.edu
499 Kirkland Mail Center 66 Wedgewood Road
95 Dunster Street Providence, RI 02906
Cambridge, MA 02138 401-532-1184
Education
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
A.B. with anticipated concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology, May, 2015
Recipient: Herchel Smith Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Summer 2012.
Providence High School Providence, RI
Valedictorian, Class of 2011. National Merit Scholarship; Rhode Island Governor’s Academic
Scholarship; Rhode Island Distinguished Merit Senior in Math, Science and English.
Research Experience
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Division of Tumor Immunology Boston, MA
Lab Research Assistant June-August 2012
• Conducted lab research on oncogene lck in T lymphocytes using cell culture, microscopy, gel
electrophoresis, and FACS analysis.
• Managed all cell lines, created lab reagents and media, and conducted related assays and
experiments including ELISA, BCA, Western, and spectrometry; tracked experiments in lab
notebook.
The Miriam Hospital, Department of Behavioral Medicine Providence, RI
Research Assistant July-August 2011
• Conducted statistical analysis of data for study which determined effects of personality on heart
risk factors.
• Summarized results of analysis and presented to Principal Investigator and senior research team.
Activities and Leadership Experience
Harvard Undergraduate Council
Cambridge, MA
First Year Social Committee Representative October-May 2012
Planned social events for first-year students including Valentine’s Day Dance, which was attended by 70%
of freshman class.
ProjectHEALTH Boston, MA
Volunteer Asthma Prevention Educator, Boston Medical Center January-August 2012
Conducted weekly classes on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise for families with
children suffering from asthma.
Providence Science Support Providence, RI
Founder Providence High School tutoring service September-June 2011
Provided after-school science and math support for local Middle Schools; recruited 20 volunteers to work
one-on-one with 50 eighth grade students.
Note about this sample:
Carol is interested in a scientific research position and includes technical skills and scientific jargon in her
descriptions. If she were applying to non-lab or non-science positions, she would use lay terms to describe
her accomplishments such as “Conducted basic scientific research designed to isolate the role that T cells
play in cancerous tumor growth.” She chose a visually appealing and balanced format highlighting science
and additional experience to provide a complete picture of her skills.
Sample Cover Letter
RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS
300 Currier Mail Center
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
December 20, 2012
Dr. Peter Walker
Cancer Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
220 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Dear Dr. Walker:
I am writing to express my interest in the position of Clinical Research Assistant in the
Cancer Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I am in my sophomore year at Harvard
University, where I’m planning to concentrate in molecular and cellular biology. My
professional interests lie in both lab research and clinical healthcare related to cancer, and
I’m eager to make a positive impact while interacting with patients undergoing treatment.
This position particularly caught my attention as it involves clinical research trials, which
would complement my previous activities conducting lab research and statistical analysis.
My experience last summer at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute allowed me to work with
Dr. Jane Hagopian, performing assays and experiments supporting tumor research. I
learned valuable lab techniques and analysis, and the experience further solidified my
interest in the area of cancer research. My research assistant role at the Miriam Hospital
introduced me to data related to the effects of personality on heart risk, and I was able to
use my analytical skills to organize and assess that data for future research efforts. These
experiences have reinforced my strong interest in healthcare, and inspired my goal for a
career in public health.
In addition to the skills developed in my research experiences, I also strengthened my
oral and written communication and organizational skills through two campus positions
at Harvard. My Advertising Representative and Office Assistant experiences have
required me to successfully multi-task, work under pressure, prioritize, and solve
logistical or organizational problems. These skills will be valuable in the Clinical
Research Assistant role, enabling me to analyze and organize data while communicating
and interacting with patients. I look forward to relating with patients on a personal level
while effectively helping them benefit from the center’s medical care services.
I have included my resume for your review. Thank you for your consideration and I look
forward to the opportunity to speak with you about my candidacy in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Carol Sozaka-Diaz
