Library and Academic Services: Employment Skills: Resumes & Cover Letters

Resumes & Cover Letters

Whether starting out or in a career transition, resumes and cover letters represent the first step in the job process. The materials below represent a starting point in writing a resume or giving an existing one a makeover beyond adding past employment history.

Featured Titles

15-Minute Cover Letter by J. Michael Farr; Louise Kursmark
Location: eBook
Publication Date: 2013
"Mike Farr and Louise Kursmark present proven methods to find better jobs in less time. They give you the essentials for building effective cover letters - without getting bogged down in the details."--Back cover.
Cover Letter Magic: Trade Secrets of Professional Resume Writers by Wendy S. Enelow; Louise M. Kursmark (Editor)
Location: eBook
Publication Date: 2013
Professional resume and cover letter writers reveal their inside secrets for creating phenomenal cover letters that get attention and land interviews. Features more than 130 sample cover letters written for all types of job seekers, including the Before-and-After transformations that can make boring letters fabulous.--Amazon Description
Knock 'em Dead Bundle by Martin Yate
Location: eBook
Publication Date: 2017
*Knock ’em Dead: The Ultimate Job Search Guide
*Knock ’em Dead Cover Letters
*Knock ’em Dead Resumes
Whether you’re making a strategic career move or seeking your first job, with the Knock ’em Dead Collection, you’ll be better prepared to navigate the twists and turns of a long and successful career.--Amazon Description
Resume rescue :essential resume saving techniques by Barbara J. Bowes
Location: HF 5383 .B693 2010 (Notre Dame Campus)
What makes this book unique is the focus on specific skills which is useful for individuals who are interested in different positions using a comparable skill set. Barbara Bowes is President of Legacy Bowes Group and an authority on human resources. She is a Certified Management Consultant, (CMC), a Certifi ed Human Resource Management Professional (CHRP- Fellow) and holds a Master of Administration in Education. She is a highly recognized career columnist and radio show host. She is a popular speaker able to inspire a variety of audiences, speaking on topics including human resources, career management, women in leadership and leadership effectiveness.--Amazon Description

Resume Verb Resources

At a loss for words, especially on a resume? Have a look at these lists to best represent your skills and experiences.

139 Action Verbs to Make Your Resume Stand Out
From Indeed.com, a list of actions verbs organized by category, complete with an overview of tips to pick the right one and when.
Resume Action Verbs
From MIT Career Services, a reference list of action verbs organized by category.
List of Action Verbs for Resumes & Professional Profiles
From Wake Forest University's Office of Personal & Career Development, this list includes technical action verbs, financial data skills and others.

LinkedIn Learning Courses

Sign through HUB.rrc.ca to access these videos and more from LinkedIn Learning

Cover Letter Tips
Cover letters offer job seekers an opportunity to explain how their education, skills, and experiences line up directly with the job they’re vying for. A great cover letter connects the dots for hiring managers—and allows applicants to showcase a bit of their personality in the process. In this course, career strategist and Certified Professional Resume Writer Jenny Foss answers some of the most common questions people ask about how to create a memorable, results-generating cover letter. Get tips on how to tie your strengths to what the employer is seeking, explain missing skills, address a career gap, ensure that decision-makers actually read your letter, and land the interview.
Writing a Cover Letter
Cover letters matter. When done right, they spell out clearly who you are, what you have to offer, and—most importantly—why your skills, experience, and interests make you the perfect person for the job you’re vying for. In this course, join career strategist and Certified Professional Resume Writer Jenny Foss as she dives into the topic of cover letters, detailing how to craft one that helps you land the interview and—ultimately—the job. Explore the elements of an exceptional cover letter and learn how to craft a killer lead, provide direct evidence for why your skills align with a position, and close on a strong note. Plus, Jenny shares tips for getting your polished letter directly into the hands of decision-makers.
Writing a Resume
Finding a great job starts with writing a great resume, one that speaks to your personal and professional strengths. Learn how to write a resume that stands out and makes employers take notice.
Resume Makeover
If you're looking for your dream job, you have to be prepared to act quickly. That means having an incredible, on-point, "you had us at hello" resume. Is yours in working order? This course helps anyone make over a lackluster resume into something truly special. Career strategist and nationally recognized resume writer Jenny Foss takes you through the very same process she uses at JobJenny.com to develop resumes for her own clients. She teaches you how to condense years of experience into a compelling marketing document, address resume gaps and job hops, and choose the right format for the final document. She also explains how the hiring process works (from the perspective of both the resume scanning software and the human reviewer), so that when you do apply for that incredible new job, you have a real shot at landing an interview.

Provide Feedback

Found a broken link? Want to suggest a resource?

Email the Library's general mailbox or email the guide owner to provide feedback for this Library guide. Guide owner information is on the "Getting Started" page of each guide.

You may also want to...