How can you make yourself more

marketable to colleges, potential jobs, and

internships?

Personal Statements, Cover Letters & Resumes (CV)

Personal Statements1. Think strategically2. Be reflective3. Start early4. Brainstorm ideas5. Avoid clichés6. Steer away from gimmicks7. If you don’t know what a word means, don’t use

it8. Stay “on message”9. Start strong10.Conclusions are important11.Don’t take yourself too seriously12.Relax13.Proofread14.Proofread15.Proofread

Advice From Admissions Officers

1. Answer the questions that are asked2. Tell a story3. Be specific4. Find an angle5. Concentrate on your opening paragraph6. Tell what you know7. Don’t include some subjects (controversial religions,

politics)8. So some research, if needed9. Write well and correctly10.Avoid clichés

Jigsaw1. Read an example of a personal statement.

2. Think about: a. What the essay aims to do

b. How it goes about achieving it

c. The goal

d. Strengths

e. Weaknesses

3. Discuss with your group members

4. Get into new groups and you will each take 5 minutes to share the personal statement that you read.

ResumesA resume is used for people to present their

background and skills.

A typical resume contains a summary of relevant job experience and education.

*A resume is also sometimes called a CV, curriculum vitae – Latin for “the course of my life”. However in the US, English-speaking Canada, and Australia, a CV is similar to a resume, but considerably longer and more detailed.

Resume Styles AdviceSet your margins to 1 inch all around

Use the same font

Use bigger sizes for your name and heading

Always use clean white paper and black ink (unless otherwise told)

Resume HeadingShould include:

Name (size 16 font)Address (size 12 font)Telephone number (size 12 font)Email (size 12 font)

Action VerbsUse action verbs when describing what you have

accomplished.

EXAMPLE:

Provided academic support for high school seniors.

Reverse Chronological Resume

With this style of resume, individuals list their education history and work experience in reverse chronological order. The main focus is mostly the individual’s experiences showing gradual increase in position

EXAMPLE:Internship Building Community, Columbia University, New York 6/09-

8/09 - Senior Resident Advisor at Columbia University’s Summer Program

for High School Students- Coordinated all extracurricular excursions

Internship Building Community, Columbia University, New York, 6/08-8/08- Resident Advisor at Columbia University’s Summer Program for High School Students

Functional ResumeThis style resume is used for specific positions. If I

am applying for a job as a teacher, I will only list past experiences that relate to being a teacher. This focuses more on specific skills that I have that would help me to be a teacher.

EXAMPLE:Substitute Teacher, Ossining School District, Ossining, NY, 6/05-5/11

- Taught grades K-8 in all subjects- Used Spanish with bi-lingual, ESL, and special education classrooms

Hybrid ResumeThis style of resume is a combination of both the

reverse chronological and the functional resume styles.

Example Resumes