As a software engineer, doing boring stuff like writing a resume and cover letter don't just cut it. And this is not peculiar to the tech nerds alone, even creative guys whose job doesn't include writing copy, do not find it interesting.
Mostly this is because of the thinking that our works are out there and that should weigh more than any resume I can ever put together.
But, as you advance in your career, the need to start writing - reports, budget, strategic plans etc. becomes almost inevitable.
And if you plan to change the company where you presently work, then it is essential you know what a good resume and cover letter look like.
Even if you plan to use a CV/Resume agency to do the work for you, how do you know what a good CV and cover letter should look like?
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Essential Resume Tips
- Don't include personal information about your age, religion, health or marital status. Photos are generally not preferred for resumes. Typically you will not be expected to share past salary information on a resume.
- Line up references, but don't include them on your resume unless asked. Employers assume that "references will be available upon request," so you don't need to say so.
- Employers may use keyword scanning on resumes, so know what words are relevant to the industry and position and ensure they appear in your resume.
Cover Letter Tips
- In a few sentences, explain why you're a great fit for this specific role. State why you’re excited about the job and the company, and how the job matches your career goals.
- In one or two paragraphs, connect your past accomplishments with the requirements listed in the job description. Focus on your most relevant experience, qualifications and skills. When possible, quantify your accomplishments with facts and data. Avoid repeating the bullet points from your resume.
- Close by thanking the employer for their time and consideration. You may also want to sum up your qualifications for the role and express an interest in continuing to the next stage in the hiring process.
Below are 5 workable tips to help you, and we've attached some templates to help you reduce the stress of starting out. (We find the tips by Developer Davo useful, so we just replicate them here)
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5 Resume and Cover Letter Tips
RESUME TIPS
1. Use the position description to decide what to include.
While you might keep a ‘master resume’ detailing all your experiences and awards when applying for a job you want to build a resume that targets a specific position or employer. Look at the skills required for the position and select experiences where you demonstrated those skills. Remember: experience comes in many forms. In addition to jobs, internships, UROPS or leadership roles, consider including class projects, competitions or even personal projects. Just be sure to describe the experience in terms that make its relevance clear.
2. Pick a standard and consistent format.
Resume templates become increasingly difficult to edit with time, so it’s best to start with a blank page and look at sample resumes (pdf). Recruiters don’t have time to search your resume for information, so they appreciate familiar formats. Use a conservative font no smaller than 10pt and leave at least half inch margins on all sides. Stick to one page, unless you have extensive experience or an advanced degree. Use bold text sparingly to highlight key information or section headings.
3. Describe your experiences with specificity and strong action verbs.
Resumes don’t require complete sentences and you should avoid using the first person (I, me, my). Start descriptions with a strong action verb like built, managed, developed, wrote, etc. See this list of action verbs for resumes (pdf) for ideas. Include more than the technical aspects of your experiences. Collaboration and communication such as reports or presentations are also valuable skills in most fields.
Whenever possible, include how you performed tasks, not just what you did. For example, if you wrote software, say what language you used. For lab work, mention specific techniques. Although you might choose to list these skills in a Skills section, including them in experience descriptions reinforces them by putting them in context.
4. Record accomplishments and contributions, not just responsibilities.
The best way to articulate your impact is with factual accomplishments. Your experience descriptions shouldn’t read like job descriptions. While it might be technically accurate to say “was responsible for delivering projects on time,” it’s much more effective to say “ensured projects were delivered on or ahead of schedule.” Did you improve a process or make a crucial discovery? Don’t wait for an interview to talk about it. Quantify if you can. If you gave a presentation, including how many people attended. If you raised or managed money, say how much.
5. Revise carefully!
The simplest error can undo all your hard work. Even a resume without a single typo is worthless if you forget to include your contact information. Read and reread everything carefully before sending it anywhere. Your best bet is to have a few people proofread it for you. A friend or family member is a good start, but your best bet is to visit us during our drop-in hours or schedule an appointment with a counsellor.
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COVER LETTER TIPS
Tip1: Start with how you got to know the company. This will make the cover letter a lot more personal and not just the same cover letter you send out to hundreds of companies. Example: “After looking at your website, which I discovered on glassdoor.com, I got the impression that Forty2 is a modern and dynamic company that enjoys taking on challenges.”
Tip 2: Describe relevant experiences and what you learned from them. Anyone can list their skills in a cover letter but a more effective cover letter is one that describes your experiences. Example: “In this project, I have been able to learn how to write code efficiently in a team, improve the legacy code and implement new features according to the client’s needs.”
Tip 3: Show your enthusiasm. Enthusiasm leads to motivation and motivation leads to results. If you’re applying for a position as an Android developer an example would be “My passion for Android development started when…”
Tip 4: Try to use the company’s name as often as you can. This adds to the personal touch that your cover letter started within tip 1. Example: “I would like to improve these skills and learn new ones with Forty2”
Tip 5: End strongly. If you have already described your experiences (tip 2) and shown your enthusiasm (tip 3) sum up your cover letter with the strengths and enthusiasm you have portrayed. Don’t forget to name the company (tip 4) and the position you are applying for once again. Example: “With my determination, passion for software development and the ability to adapt to new situations, I believe I am a good candidate as an Android developer at Forty2.”
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