Résumés and Cover Letter Toolkit

This booklet provides detailed information about creating résumés and cover letters and provides samples to get
you started.

What is a résumé and a cover letter

 Résumés and cover letters can assist you in landing an interview with a potential employer and may be
required if you apply for an award. As well, the documents give focus to your job search, and assist you in
identifying the skills you have to offer an employer. They are not static and will change to reflect your
development. As well, the documents must be targeted to the needs of the employer.

 Your résumé and cover letter should be the best fit between your skills and experience and the
employer’s needs. Remember: there will never be one final, or right way to present yourself on paper. In
fact, there are several effective ways for you to demonstrate how your skills would benefit an
organization.

 A résumé is a summary of your educational background, paid and unpaid work experience,
achievements, and co-curricular experiences. It is a strong statement of your skills, abilities, experiences,
and accomplishments presented in a way that will motivate employers to meet you to discuss
employment opportunities.

 A cover letter is a link between your résumé and what you can contribute to potential employers. Your
cover letter will demonstrate your understanding of the needs of the employer, and how your skills and
experience would make you the best fit for the organization.

How to write a résumé and cover letter

The first step is to identify the requirements of prospective positions and the respective employers. Targeted
résumés and cover letters appeal to potential employers because the documents highlight your skills and
abilities and the way they fit the employer’s needs. Potential employers are looking at the documents you send
with their needs in mind. The most effective résumés and cover letters make the link between your skills and
experience and how they could contribute directly to the employer’s needs - it is key to highlight the skills that
connect to the employer needs and use industry-specific language and terms.
STEP 1: Identify the position and employer requirements

Do your research. Start with the duties listed in the employment advertisement, if you have one. If you are
applying for unadvertised positions, you will want to learn everything you can about the industry and the
organizations in which you are interested. For a well-targeted and effective résumé and cover letter, you will
need to do the following:

 Occupational research: What does someone in that career or occupation normally do? If you are replying
to an advertised position, start with what is outlined in the advertisement itself. Further occupational
research will reveal the skills and knowledge needed by someone in that position, and the required
education or training.

 Organizational research: What is the nature of the company’s or organization’s business? What have they
done (what is their history)? Where are they headed (what are their objectives and strategies)? Who are
their competitors? Who are their clients? What are the organization’s values (look for their mission
statement)? Have there been or will there be any organizational changes?

 Industry research: What factors affect the industry? What impact do such issues as global or national
trends, political decisions, or economic realities have on the industry?

STEP 2: Identify your skills

The second step in creating a résumé or cover letter is to consider the skills you possess. Through examining your
experiences—education, paid or volunteer work, co-curricular activities, accomplishments, awards, sport, and
personal experiences—you will create a catalogue of your skills. This is the raw material you need to create an
effective and powerful résumé and cover letter.

A skill is used to get things done, to complete tasks, or to accomplish goals. It can be a trait, an approach, a style,
an ability, or an aptitude. Employers assess your skills to evaluate and predict your potential to successfully
complete the tasks and duties of the position.

There are three types of skills that potential employers will want you to bring to their organization: personal,
transferable, and technical skills.

 Personal skills: They include leadership, sensitivity, self-confidence, warmth, and flexibility.

 Transferable skills: They are learned, used, and valued in many different types of work or careers. For
example, organizational skills are transferable - you can organize an event, a filing system, financial data,
or lab equipment.

 Technical skills: These are more specialized and tend to be specific to career or work. Examples of
technical skills might include analyzing mass spectrometry, administering and interpreting psychological
tests, performing archival storage techniques for museum pieces, investigating international risk
analysis, diagnosing and treating tennis elbow, interpreting imagery in early twentieth-century Canadian
poetry, or writing C++ programs, just to name a few.
 STEP 3: Connect what the employer requires and your skills and experience

After you have considered the skills employers are seeking and the skills you have, you can begin to link them
clearly. The chart below shows how the potential employer’s needs are linked with your skills and related
experience.

Employer’s needs ►Requirements Your skills ►Your Your related experience ►Show how and
of the field or job in which you are skills or skill sets when you developed or used this skill.
interested from your research and identified from your
possibly the job ad. catalogue.

 Train volunteers  Training  Trained new cashiers at bookstore,

trained other employees in opening
and closing procedures

 Analyze market conditions  Analyzing  Analyze market trends to

and possible trading trends accurately forecast in April the
in the Pacific Rim price of gold (student project)

Additional resource: What top skills do employers want?

Visit the Conference Board of Canada, Employability Skills 2000+, for the top skills employers want, as well as a
description of their meaning http://www.conferenceboard.ca/Libraries/EDUC_PUBLIC/esp2000.sflb

Transferable skills and competencies

Employers require skills and competencies for positions they have to fill. While some of these skills and
competencies are technical (eg. ability to program with C++, ability to translate from French to English), there is
also a set of skills and competencies that are essential to many different positions.

Here are just a few of the common skills and competencies that are often found in employment postings:

Leadership Critical thinking

Effective communication Project management, organizational skills
Decision making Teamwork
Ability to research, analyze information Creativity and innovation
When creating your résumé and cover letter (and later preparing for interviews) it is essential to fully understand
what each one of these broad skill/competency areas comprises. In that way, you will successfully describe how
your experience addresses the breadth of skills the employer is seeking.

For example, analytical skills can include: identifying needs, gathering information, investigating; observing,
analyzing information/data; evaluating; solving problems.

When beginning or reviewing your résumé, consider your own experience (volunteer, extracurricular, and paid
experience and educational experience), and identify the experiences in which you have used certain skills. Here
are a couple of examples.

Experience Skills acquired

A course project where I had to interview five Communication skills in interviewing social
people in social work to ask about the social workers; gathering data through interviews;
determinants of mental health. Once we analyzing data; evaluating information for
interviewed the social workers, we had to analyze relevance; solving problems with data analysis;
the information we obtained and compare it to writing skills for report;
two articles about the social determinants of
mental health selected by the professor. We had
to further analyze the information gathered and
then write a thousand-word summary of findings.

Experience Skills acquired

Outreach coordinator with the University of Communication skills to present ideas to new
Toronto Aerospace Students’ Association. Role members; ability to influence others to join club;
involved increasing the club membership, which research skills for ideas for blog; writing skills;
involved going to large events related to technical skills (html) for improving website;
engineering and meeting new students who
might be interested in the club. I also began a
blog about the fun and cool things that involved
aerospace. I improved the website look and
content and updated content regularly.

On the next three pages is a listing of skills and what they refer to. The following is adapted from Employability
Skills 2000+, at www.conferenceboard.ca/Libraries/educ_public/esp2000.sflb
Fundamental skills
Communication

 Read and understand information presented in a variety of forms (e.g., words, graphs, charts, diagrams)
 Write and speak so others pay attention and understand (in a small group or in public)
 Listen and ask questions to understand and appreciate the points of view of others
 Share information using a range of information and communications technologies (e.g., voice, e-mail,
computers)
 Use relevant scientific, technological, and mathematical knowledge and skills to explain or clarify ideas
 Explain concepts or strategies
 Facilitate groups with discussions
 Influence individuals or groups
 Consult with individuals or groups to obtain or present information
 Editing and writing in appropriate ways to ensure that the information is appropriate for the audience
 Liaise among individuals or groups
 Translate or interpret from one language to another

Manage information

 Locate, gather, and organize information using appropriate sources

 Access, analyze, and apply knowledge and skills from various disciplines (e.g., the arts, languages,
science, technology, mathematics, social sciences, and the humanities)

Use numbers and manage data

 Decide what needs to be measured or calculated

 Compile data or information, synthesize it and classify it
 Observe, monitor, and record data using appropriate methods, tools, and technology
 Make estimates and verify calculations
 Categorize and manage records or information
 Predict or forecast data or information based on calculations
 Create, monitor and manage budgets

Think and solve problems

 Assess situations and identify problems and their root cause, as well as needs related to the solution
 Seek different points of view and evaluate them on the basis of facts
 Recognize the human, interpersonal, technical, scientific, and mathematical dimensions of a problem
 Be creative and innovative in exploring possible solutions
 Readily use science, technology, and mathematics as ways to think, gain, and share knowledge, solve
problems, and make decisions
 Analyze and evaluate solutions to make recommendations or decisions
 Implement solutions and check to see if a solution works, and act on opportunities for improvement
Teamwork Skills and Interpersonal Skills
Work with others/interpersonal skills

 Understand and work within the dynamics of a group

 Ensure that a team’s purpose and objectives are clear
 Be flexible: respect, be open to, and support the opinions and contributions of others in a group
 Recognize and respect people’s diversity, individual differences, and perspectives
 Accept and provide feedback constructively
 Contribute to a team by sharing information and expertise
 Lead or support when appropriate, motivating a group for high performance
 Understand the role of conflict in a group to reach solutions, and manage and resolve conflict
 Teach, train, or instruct others
 Listen, advise, inform, or counsel others
 Advocate for or mediate among people
 Provide care or treat or nurse others
 Promote or sell

Participate in projects and tasks

 Plan, design, or carry out a project or task from start to finish with well-defined objectives and outcomes
 Coordinate projects or tasks
 Develop a plan, seek feedback, test, revise, and implement
 Schedule events
 Prioritize tasks
 Work to quality standards and specifications
 Select and use appropriate tools and technology for a task or project
 Adapt to changing requirements and information
 Continuously monitor the success of a project or task and identify ways to improve

Manage or lead

 Make decisions about work concerns or policies

 Influence or persuade others about areas for improvement
 Supervise, delegate to, and motivate others within the scope of projects and daily work
 Initiate or lead the generation or ideas or identification of areas for improvement

Work safely

 Be aware of personal and group health and safety practices and procedures, and act accordingly
Personal Management Skills
Demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviors

 Feel good about yourself and be confident

 Deal with people, problems, and situations with honesty, integrity, and personal ethics
 Recognize your own and other people’s good efforts
 Take care of your personal health
 Show interest, initiative, and effort

Be responsible

 Set goals and priorities balancing work and personal life

 Plan and manage time, money, and other resources to achieve goals
 Assess, weigh, and manage risk
 Be accountable for your actions and the actions of your group
 Be socially responsible and contribute to your community

Be adaptable

 Work independently or as a part of a team

 Carry out multiple tasks or projects
 Be innovative and resourceful: identify and suggest ways to achieve goals and complete tasks
 Be open and respond constructively to change
 Learn from your mistakes and accept feedback
 Cope with uncertainty

Learn continuously

 Be willing to continuously learn and grow

 Assess personal strengths and areas for development
 Set your own learning goals
 Identify and access learning sources and opportunities
 Plan for and achieve your learning goals
The Résumé

Preparing a résumé
A résumé is an outline of your skills, experiences, and accomplishments. It is targeted, dynamic, and evolving,
easy to read, and well presented. In a limited number of pages, utilizing your written communication skills,
within defined parameters of content and presentation, you give a winning account of yourself.

Potential employers are seeking people who can meet their needs and produce results—people with potential.
Your résumé communicates this ability. Do you feel you have something unique to offer a prospective employer?
Can you make a difference in profits or cost-cutting efforts, or can you contribute innovative solutions to on-
going problems, or serve clients well, or help with organization management? If you can write a résumé to
address an employer’s needs, then the employer will be very interested in interviewing you.

The components: What goes where?

What follows are the components or sections that conventionally appear on a résumé. Personal information and
career objective generally appear first, but after that the order of these sections depends upon how you wish to
market your experience to the field(s) you are targeting. You will decide the best order in which to arrange your
résumé based on the potential employer’s requirements and what you think is unique about you. The tips
included below apply to most situations, but remember that there may be circumstances where you might do
something differently, depending on the type of position you are applying to.

Personal information

 Name, home address, email, LinkedIn and additional website addresses, and telephone number(s) are
usually part of the application. Make sure that an employer can leave a message for you during business
hours.
 Other information, such as height, health, marital status, citizenship and personal photos are not
included, as by Canadian law, this information cannot be asked for by an employer.

Profile

 It’s optional, but strongly recommended.

 Sums up what you have to offer the employer, and includes the following parts:
o Part 1: Your experience / education / job-specific skills.
o Part 2: 2-3 relevant skills.
o Part 3: Part 3: Your desire to contribute to that specific employer.
 Alternatively, you can discuss this information in your cover letter. In that case, consider include a
‘Highlights of Qualifications’ section to provide the employer in 3-5 bullet points an overview of the skills
and experience you have that are relevant to the employer/position.
Education

 Place the date beside your degree/diploma. If your degree is in progress, state “the date you began” to
“present” or “anticipated graduation date”.
 Start with the most recent degree or diploma attained area of study, and educational institution.
 Mention CGPA, if outstanding. Be sure to include the scale used here at the University (e.g., 3.7 on a scale
of 4.0).
 List key courses, thesis topic if pertinent.
 Include any scholarships, bursaries, and awards.

Work experience and accomplishments (commonly used in chronological formats)

 List dates, position title, organization name, and location. Supervisor’s name, mailing address, and
telephone number are not necessary.
 Describe responsibilities and accomplishments using action words (see a list of accomplishment-based
verbs on page 11).
 Use the active rather than the passive voice to describe experience and avoid using personal pronouns.
 Be direct, assertive, and honest, but not modest.
 Include course projects if relevant to the position.
 Include paid experience, volunteer experience, and extracurricular experience (experience
 Keep the information straightforward and simple.
 Use past tense to describe past experiences, present tense for current experiences.

Skills and accomplishments (commonly used in skills-based formats)

 Group the skill sets, such as communication or teaching skills which are required for the position.
 Under each skill set, list and describe responsibilities and accomplishments, using action words (see a list
of accomplishment-based verbs on page 11).
 Dates and names of organizations are not necessary under skills sets, but it is important to include a brief
work chronology after this section.
 Use the active rather than the passive voice to describe experience, and avoid using personal pronouns.
 Be direct, assertive, and honest, but not modest.
 Include information from course projects and volunteer experience.
 Keep the information straightforward and simple.
 Use past tense to describe past experiences, and present tense for current experiences.
Volunteer and Co-curricular Activities

 Skills such as leadership, organizational abilities, communication, and time management can often be
demonstrated in this section.
 Clubs, professional associations, community or campus activities, volunteer work, hobbies, and sports
may be included in this section.
 You may also choose to include cultural, religious, or political activities, depending on their relevance
and fit with the position and organization.
 Indicate whether positions were elected or appointed.
 Articulate level of responsibility, duties, and special accomplishments.

References

 Unless specifically requested, do not include or refer to references in your résumé. By applying to a
position, you are implying you have references to support the information you are providing.

 Other components or section heading possibilitiesSummary of qualifications, under which you can
include an overview of the most relevant skills and experience you offer; these may include computer
and language skills
 Awards and scholarships
 Related and relevant experience
 Volunteer and/or co-curricular experience
 Additional training, certifications, and/or professional developmentMemberships and professional
affiliations
 Presentations and publications (more commonly found in applications to academic/research position

Résumé formats

What format will you use to showcase your skills and experience most effectively? And what format would the
employer be most receptive to receiving? Make your choice based on what most powerfully highlights
everything you have to offer to an employer.

Chronological format arranges work experience, volunteer experience, and extracurricular experience in reverse
chronological order (start with most recent experience and work backwards). It is the most widely used format
because it is easy to follow. This format highlights the names of your past and present employers. The
chronological format is best used when your career direction is clear and directly in line with your work
experience. Many employers prefer to receive résumés in this format.

Modified chronological format allows the grouping or highlighting of career-related experience while maintaining
reverse chronological order. It is particularly useful when work experience is scattered or not current. Relevant
experiences or categories of experience are emphasized by listing them first.
Functional format lists skills and competencies first, followed by a work chronology section. It allows you to
emphasize skills and abilities as opposed to job titles and work chronology. This format works best when you
have an impressive list of skills but no formal work experience, such as cases of career change, or re-entry into
the job market. This format provides employers with a section that shows work experience listed in reverse
chronological order.

Creative format is a free-form approach, not used very frequently. It is most often used by people trying to obtain
work in the arts and wishing to present a résumé that, by its very structure, highlights their creativity.

Curriculum vitæ (c.v.) provides a complete profile of your academic achievements, publications, and scholarly
interests, as well as skills developed through academic degrees and related teaching or research experience. It is
appropriate for candidates who have completed a master or doctoral program and who are applying for an
academic teaching position or a research position.

The c.v. can also be required in applications to a graduate or professional program. In this case, the c.v. is really a
more “academic version” of the résumé, as often the applicant does not have publications or teaching
experience.

Accomplishment-based verbs
Have you been marketing yourself as effectively as possible? Here’s a sample list of action words designed to
make your accomplishments stand out on your résumé. Use action words in the present tense if they refer to a
position you currently hold.

Acclaimed Doubled Initiated Proved Restructured

Accomplished Enhanced Inspired Quadrupled Revamped
Achieved Entrusted Introduced Qualified Revitalized
Advanced Established Invited Ranked Secured
Appointed Exceeded Launched Rated Selected
Attained Excelled Minimized Recognized Spearheaded
Awarded Expanded Motivated Redesigned Streamlined
Celebrated Founded Overhauled Reduced Succeeded
Certified Granted Piloted Re-engineered Surpassed
Commanded Grew Positioned Refined Transformed
Conceived Honoured Presented Refreshed Tripled
Consolidated Impressed Produced Reorganized Vitalized
Contributed Improved Progressed Resolved Valued
Customized Influenced Promoted Restored Voted

Tips for your résumé

 Research the organization in order to have a solid understanding of it before you apply, and highlight
what contributions you can make to it.
 Most résumés are initially skimmed for about twenty seconds. In order to make the most of this short
time, you must create a well-written product that is easy to read and visually appealing.
 Organize your résumé so that you list your most relevant experience of interest to the employer on the
first page.
  Begin with responsibilities and duties that are of most interest to the employer when describing an
experience.
 Use point form in your descriptions, starting with action words.
 Don’t start your bulleted statements with words such as responsibilities or duties to describe your
experiences.
 Use headings on your résumé that allow you to present yourself favorably (e.g., Summary of
achievements, Relevant experience).
 Consider the number of pages - résumé conventions vary from country to country. In Canada, typically,
most employers expect to see a résumé that is no more than two pages long. For specific types of
positions, such as management consulting positions, one page.
 Use only one font - ensure the font is clear, easy to read, and professional looking.

Final step: assess your own résumé

EXPERIENCE SECTIONS

 Did you look at the job posting to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and experience to reflect in your
document?
 Did you name the sections outlining your experience with the most appropriate titles: work experience,
volunteer experience, extracurricular experience—or relevant experience, additional experience? Do the
descriptions of each experience begin with action verbs whenever possible?
 Did you use keywords and phrases in the descriptions of your experience that reflect the position
requirements? Has extra material been eliminated so that an employer will not wonder why you have
included certain points?
 Did you list position-related accomplishments? Were you able to quantify any of the accomplishments
(e.g., “Supervised forty-five phone operators,” or “Increased sales by $25,000 during 2010 fiscal year”.)
 Did you list the experience information beginning first with the most recent within each heading?

ACADEMIC PROJECTS SECTION

 Did you consider if your academic work is relevant to the position, and if so, did you add information
about your academic work?

EDUCATION SECTION

 Did you provide information about the type of degree, school, and dates?
 Did you include majors and specializations, and academic courses, if relevant to the position?
 Did you list your educational information beginning with most recent first within each heading?
 Did you include other training, licences, and certifications that further enhance your qualifications and
are relevant to the position?

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

 Are these sections relevant to the job or show skills that are necessary or useful, and if not, can they be
excluded? Awards, Honours, and Certificates; Skills or Technical Skills; Languages; Professional
Memberships; Interests (optional); Profile /Summary of Skills (optional at the beginning of résumé)
 OVERALL AND VISUAL IMPACT

 Order of sections: did you order the sections of your résumé according to their importance for the
position?
 Did you double-check the grammar, punctuation, and spelling? Did you have consistency in headings,
tenses, punctuation?
 Did you order the information within each section in a reverse chronologically with most recent
information listed first?
 Did you check if your résumé should be one page or two pages? Is the layout clean and uncluttered?
 Does this format market your skills, experiences, and accomplishments in the best possible light -
chronological, modified chronological, or skills-based?
 Is the font selection appropriate (easy to read but also stand-out, such as Arial, Calibri, Trebuchet)?

The cover letter

How to write a cover letter

The cover letter should make a good first impression with the potential employer. As it accompanies a résumé, it
showcases and highlights your skills and relevant experience, and it is the link between your résumé and the
employer’s needs. It communicates a specific and personalized message answering the questions “Why are you
sending this résumé?” and “Why should I hire you?” It takes time and practice to create an original, interesting,
yet brief letter that includes all that it should.

When writing a letter, focus on what are you offering and the key areas of interest to the employer. It includes:
 Your skills that relate to the employer’s needs. Keep in mind that some skills are in demand by most
employers - see pages 5 to 7 for a more complete list.
 Your specific knowledge that relates to the position requirements, e.g., Pacific Rim trading practices.
 Your technical skills that would be used on the job, e.g., archival storage techniques for museum
acquisitions.
 Your understanding of the organization and the industry in which it operates.
 Your education or training completed that would be useful in meeting the demands of the position.
 The contributions you could make to benefit the organization - focus on contributions rather than on
how you would benefit if you were to work for the organization.

Some tips
 Be specific. Too many cover letters contain statements that are either too general or are unlinked to the
employer’s needs; for example, “I am organized.” If you know organizational skills will be required, offer
your reader proof in the form of an example such as an experience or activity that allowed you to use or
develop those skills.
 Support your statements: link skills with related experience. For example, “In my capacity as president of
the Fine Arts Students Club, I organize special events and lectures, monthly movie nights, and sing-
alongs, as well as a yearly bus tour to New York.”
 Ensure there are no spelling and grammatical errors (employers may screen out applicants purely on
errors).
  Use the active voice - using the active rather than the passive voice, you make a much stronger
statement in your cover letter with clarity and confidence. Compare passive: “In my position at Telus
Mobility, a training manual for new staff was developed and written.” active: “In my position at Telus
Mobility, I developed and wrote a training manual for new staff.”
 When the name of the person to whom you are sending the letter is not provided, simply write “Re” and
add the position title” Avoid writing, “To whom it may concern.” However, include the hiring manager’s
name whenever possible. This may be found by looking at the organization’s website.
 When you are sending a letter for an unadvertised position, try to find out the name of the person to
whom address the letter, such as the manager or department head who is responsible for hiring. This
makes the letter more personal, and more likely to be read. Sending your résumé and cover letter solely
to the human resources department may limit the number of contacts you could reach within the
organization.

An outline of a cover letter

Date

Employer’s name
Employer’s address

Dear (contact person’s name):

The introductory paragraph should state why you are writing. Specify the advertised position or outline the type
of work you are seeking, and explain why the employer would have an interest in you. You may also mention
how you heard of the opening (such as advertised position, trade magazine, family friend, or professor).

The middle paragraph(s), at most two or three, should explain why you are interested in this position and this
organization, highlighting your strengths and abilities. Most important, try to provide examples of your skills and
experience, and demonstrate how they relate to the position you are seeking. For example, you can feature
related work or volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, interests, education, training, or any other
qualifications you may have for this type of work. Moreover, focus on what contributions you can make to the
organization rather than how you would benefit from the experience if you are hired. When appropriate, you can
elaborate on your courses, thesis topic, or fieldwork. Make sure your statements indicate that you have
researched the organization and understand the nature of the work it does.

The final paragraph should thank the employer for his or her consideration of your application (résumé and cover
letter), and pave the way for an interview. If you are applying to a company without having seen an advertised
position, suggest that you will follow up with a phone call.

Sincerely,

(your signature)

Your name
Your contact information

On the following pages, we have included several sample résumés and cover letters.
Matthew Stewart
Matthew Stewart is a Bachelor of Commerce student preparing to graduate in June. At a recent University of
Toronto job fair, he met a recruiter working for a prestigious consulting firm. While Matthew chose to include a
Summary of Qualification, he also included a headline at the end of his résumé to summarize how he can
contribute to the consulting firm.

Matthew Stuart
123 Eglinton Ave. ● Mississauga, ON ● A1B 2C3
416 123-4567 ● [email protected]

[MM-DD-YY]

Boston Consulting Group

Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2T3

Dear Neeta Sharma:

While attending a job fair at the University of Toronto on [Month Day, Year], I had the
opportunity to meet with Ms. Murphy who was representing your organization. While speaking with her,
she recommended that I apply to Boston Consulting Group’s new graduate program. I would bring to
your organization a solid understanding of accounting consulting, as well as experience in client advising.
I am excited about this position because of your organization’s mission to create a positive social impact
in partnership with clients.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as a Financial Planner intern at BMO Financial
Group. This opportunity enabled me to further develop my client advising skills, as well as my ability to
deliver information via presentations. Over the summer, I worked with 10 corporate clients (mainly small
businesses), working in partnership with a full-time financial planner, while taking on increasing
responsibility during the client meetings. One of my main responsibilities in the role was to build a
workshop aimed at convincing new small business clients to invest at BMO. I delivered this workshop
several times at the branch I was working at, to approximately 10 attendees per workshop. This workshop
was successful in convincing several new clients to invest, and the success of the program was brought to
the attention of BMO Head Office. After attending the workshop, representatives from the Head Office
decided that a version of the workshop should be rolled out to other branches that work with small
businesses, or are aiming to attract small business clients. At the end of summer internship dinner, I
received an award for my work on this project.

Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I hope to speak with you soon. I can be
reached at 416 123-4567.

Sincerely,

Matthew Stuart
 Matthew Stuart
123 Eglinton Ave. ● Mississauga, ON ● A1B 2C3
416 123-4567 ● [email protected]

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

 Excellent consulting and team-work skills

 Analytical and able to develop creative, tailored solutions that deliver social impact
 Expert knowledge of MS Office (Excel, Outlook, Access, Word, PowerPoint)
 Highly motivated to learn through experience

EDUCATION

University of Toronto
Bachelor of Commerce, Specialist in Finance and Economics
Anticipated Completion: June 2015
GPA: 3.64/4.0

Relevant coursework:
 Intermediate Accounting I and II
 Managerial Accounting
 Management Consulting
 Investing for Impact
 Creative Destruction Lab

Social Impact Scholarship:

 Awarded with a scholarship for writing an essay proposing a creative business idea with social impact

RELATED EXPERIENCE

BMO Financial Group Summer 2014

Financial Planner Intern
Mississauga, ON

 Co-consulted with 10 potential corporate clients to develop financial plans based on each clients’
specific needs and situations, and successfully convinced all 10 clients to invest
 Planned, marketed and facilitated a workshop for approximately 50 potential small business clients;
after positive feedback from attendees, the workshop was reviewed by the corporate training office
and a version of the workshop is being prepared for branch roll-out
 Performed at least 15 daily stock/mutual funds transactions, and worked as back-up teller to assist
clients in conducting transactions
Matthew Stewart 2

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

University of Toronto 2013-Current

Academic Peer Advisor
Toronto, ON

 Assisted approximately 100 undergraduate Commerce students select and enrol in courses for
upcoming semester, helping ensure students enrol in courses required for graduation while building a
well-rounded knowledge base
 Created and co-facilitated a 1-hour workshop to approximately 200 incoming students about the
University of Toronto’s academic policies and the course registration process ensuring student
awareness of academic responsibilities
 Converted the policy and enrollment workshop into an online module for posting on the program
website; five additional academic programs have requested the slides for posting on program websites

Landscape Pros Summer 2013

Construction Assistant
Mississauga, ON

 On a weekly basis, performed client follow-up maintenance for completed projects, adhering to a pre-
determined schedule and ensuring client’s on-going satisfaction with the organization
 Daily prepared the job site completing tasks, such as digging, framing, and demolition as required by
the construction team to enable new builds
 In August, assisted in the back office, learning tasks including project budgeting and scheduling
supporting my on-going learning about the financial operations of organizations

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE & HONOURS

Commerce Consulting Association 2013-2015

Director of Events (2014-2015)
University of Toronto

 Led a team of 10 students in planning the annual launch conference focused on bringing together
students and professionals passionate about creating social impact, including by:
o Assuming responsibility for securing seven seasoned professionals to serve panellists
o Recruiting six teams of students to pitch innovated ideas focused on creating social impact
o Advertising the campaign to Commerce students, resulting in a turn-out of more than 100
students

Leveraging Knowledge and Consultative Skills

to Deliver Client-Focused, Solution-Oriented Results
Jayani Lal
Jayani is a first-year student studying Visual Arts. Although she has no paid work experience, she has
volunteered in a number of positions that are relevant to the role she is applying to – a summer positions as a
counsellor and administrator of an arts-based youth camp. To fill two pages in her résumé she has included
testimonials from supervisors or colleagues describing her performance in other positions she’s held.

Jayani Lal

95 Queen's Park Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7

416-123-4567 ~ [email protected]

[MM-DD-YY]

Harbourfront Centre Camps

235 Queens Quay West
Toronto, ON
M5J 2G8

Re: Camps Admin Assistant (Job Ref. # 15SM018-AA-ET)

While reviewing the recent postings for summer positions on the Harbourfront Centre’s
website, I was excited to find your job posting for a Camps Admin Assistant (Job Ref. #
15SM018-AA-ET). As a first-year student majoring in Visual Studies at the University of
Toronto, I am passionate about contemporary art. I am excited by this position because I
hope to work for a non-profit organization that specializes in arts-based education. I believe
that my experience in office administration and camp counselling aligns closely with the
candidate you are seeking for this position.

For the past two years, I have volunteered approximately 15 hours per week at the
AFCY (Arts for Children and Youth). In my role, I divide my time between completing office
administration work, and providing arts-based education to children in schools. I regularly
provide information to educators via phone and email with regard to the types of
programming AFCY offers, and felt that social media could be an effective method of
informing educators (both current users and other community members) of AFCY’s
programming. I proposed that AFCY open a Facebook page, and that I would curate the
content on the page, and launched the page in January 2015. In February, five educators
signed-up for AFCY’s programming, all of whom informed AFCY that they had heard about the
organization via Facebook.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to review my application. I hope to speak
with you soon. I can be reached at 416-123-4567.

Sincerely,

Jayani Lal
 Jayani Lal

95 Queen's Park Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7

416-123-4567 ~ [email protected]

PROFILE

A passionate Visual Studies student with experience working in arts-based camps. Skilled in
both the teaching children, and performing camp administrative duties. Now seeking the
opportunity to apply my skills in an innovative arts-based cultural centre.

EDUCATION

University of Toronto
Anticipated Graduation: June 2019
Honours Bachelor of Arts in Visual Studies

Relevant Courses:
 Visual Concepts
 Visual Strategies

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

AFCY (Arts for Children and Youth) 2012-Current

Volunteer
Toronto, ON

 Volunteer in AFCY’s office eight-hours per week answering inquiries from educators by
phone and email with regard to AFCY’s programming, and scheduling programming in
schools using scheduling software.
 Write copy for and e-mail out a weekly newsletter informing educators of upcoming
events, with the goal of increasing enrollment in AFCY’s programs.
 Volunteer as a School Arts Assistant to deliver arts programming to children, and to
develop interactive activities for use in the program, successfully engaging children in art
while providing a safe after-school activity.

“Jayani has shown herself to be a dedicated and quick-learning. She has a knack
for detail in office work, and has – on several occasions – developed engaging and
informational activities for our after-school program.” ~ Daniel Davids, Manager
Jayani Lal 2

University of Toronto 2014-2015

Hart House Art Committee Member, Acquisitions Subcommittee
Toronto, ON

 Volunteered as a docent at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery in the University of Toronto,

providing at least two tours per week to approximately 5 students per tour, and
successfully teaching students about contemporary Canadian art as demonstrated through
participant feedback forms that rated tours as ‘excellent’.
 Reviewed more than 40 Canadian contemporary art works and acquired 3 over the course
of school year, contributing to the building of the University of Toronto’s art collection.
 Participated in 4 gallery and studio visits, gaining knowledge of Canadian contemporary
art and tasks involved in working as an art curator.

“Using the knowledge gained in her classes, Jayani has assisted in the procurement
of several art pieces for the campus collection. She has also shown herself to be
engaging docent, adding her own knowledge and personality into the tours she
delivers. ~ Deborah Hanning, Chair of Acquisitions Subcommittee

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) 2012-2014

March Break Art Camp Senior Volunteer
Toronto, ON

 Facilitated and assisted in creating the curriculum for two art-based, interactive
workshops over March Break at the AGO to a group of 20 children, 4 and successfully
recruited 4 students into AGO’s summer camp program.
 As a senior volunteer, assisted in training 5 new volunteers to volunteer with the AGO’s
March Break Art Camp, including by delivering mock versions of the camp workshops
successfully ensuring that the camp had enough volunteers to accept 60 children.
 In 2013, provided administrative assistance to the AGO’s March Break Art Camp during
February by responding to approximately 100 requests from parents via phone and email
interested in enrolling children.

“For the past two years, Jayani has been an integral member of the AGO March
Break Art Camp. Thank you, Jaynai, for using your knowledge of art and passion for
working with children to develop the camp’s curriculum and volunteer base.”
~ Sophie Jordan, AGO Volunteer Coordinator

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

 Proficient in the use of MS Office Suite and database scheduling software

 Certified to deliver First Aid & CPR to children
Jonathan Chang
Jonathan is graduating is a Bachelor of Commerce student preparing to graduate in June. Jonathan is an
international student, and has also had the opportunity to study abroad during his degree. He chose to use the
modified reverse chronological format.

Jonathan Chang
321 Eglinton Ave. ● Mississauga, ON ● B1A 3C2
416 765-4321 ● [email protected]
[MM-DD-YY]

Boston Consulting Group

Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2T3

Dear Neeta Sharma:

While attending a job fair at the University of Toronto on [Month Day, Year], I had the
opportunity to meet with Ms. Murphy who was representing your organization. While speaking with
her, she recommended that I apply to Boston Consulting Group as a consultant. I would bring to your
organization a solid understanding of accounting consulting, as well as both local and international
experience in client advising. I am excited by the opportunity to work for a multinational organization,
and hope to apply my understanding of the Asian marketplace in my role.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as a Financial Planner intern at HSBC. This
opportunity enabled me to further develop my client advising skills, as well as my ability to deliver
information via presentations. Over the summer, I worked with 10 corporate clients (mainly small
businesses), working in partnership with a full-time financial planner, while taking on increasing
responsibility during the client meetings. One of my main responsibilities in the role was to build a
workshop aimed at convincing new small business clients to invest at HSBC. I delivered this workshop
several times at the branch I was working at, to approximately 10 attendees per workshop. This
workshop was successful in convincing several new clients to invest, and the success of the program was
brought to the attention of HSBC Head Office. After attending the workshop, representatives from the
Head Office decided that a version of the workshop should be rolled out to other branches that work
with small businesses, or are aiming to attract small business clients. At the end of summer internship
dinner, I received an award for my work on this project.

Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I hope to speak with you soon. I can be
reached at 416 765-4321.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Chang
 Jonathan Chang
321 Eglinton Ave. ● Mississauga, ON ● B1A 3C2
416 765-4321 ● [email protected]

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent consulting and team-work skills, with ability to communicate (verbally and in writing) in
English, Cantonese and Mandarin
• Analytical and able to develop creative, tailored solutions that deliver social impact
• Highly motivated to learn through experience

EDUCATION

University of Toronto
Bachelor of Commerce, Specialist in Finance and Economics
Anticipated Completion: June 2015
GPA: 3.64/4.0

Relevant Coursework:
• Managerial Accounting • Investing for Impact
• Management Consulting • Creative Destruction Lab

Study Abroad:
Doing Business in China (Peking University, Beijing China)
Attended a two-week course focussed on Chinese business practices taught via cases and experiential
learning; topics included MNC operations in China and the financial marketplace

Social Impact Scholarship:

Awarded with a scholarship for writing an essay proposing a creative business idea aimed at creating
social impact

CONSULTING EXPERIENCE

HSBC Summer 2015

Financial Planner Intern
Hong Kong, China
 Co-consulted with 10 potential corporate clients to develop financial plans based on each clients’
specific needs and situations, and successfully convinced all 10 clients to invest
 Planned, marketed and facilitated a workshop for approximately 50 potential small business clients;
after positive feedback from attendees, the workshop was reviewed by the corporate training office
and a version of the workshop is being prepared for branch roll-out
 Performed at least 15 daily stock/mutual funds transactions, and worked as back-up teller to assist
clients in conducting transactions
Jonathan Chang 2

Commerce Consulting Association 2013-2015

Director of Events
University of Toronto
 Led a team of 10 students in planning the annual launch conference focussed on bringing together
students and professionals passionate about creating social impact, including by:
o Assuming responsibility for securing seven seasoned professionals to serve panellists
o Recruiting six teams of students to pitch innovated ideas focussed on creating social impact
o Advertising the campaign to Commerce students, resulting in a turn-out of over 100 students

Endeavour Consulting 2013-2015

Associate Consultant
Toronto, ON
 As part of a team of volunteers, have provided pro-bono consulting services to 4 non-profit
organizations that would not otherwise have had access to consulting services, including by:
o Meeting with the consulting team and client to gather requirements and propose solutions
o Brainstorming and researching possible solutions, and working with the consulting team to
review feasibility
o Attended on-going training as part of the role, gaining both theoretical and hands-on
knowledge of consulting services for non-profit organizations

CLIENT SERVICE EXPERIENCE

University of Toronto 2013-Current

Academic Peer Advisor
Toronto, ON
 Assisted approximately 100 undergraduate Commerce students select and enrol in courses for
upcoming semester, helping ensure students enrolled in courses required for graduation while
building a well-rounded knowledge base
 Created and co-facilitated a 1-hour workshop to approximately 200 incoming students about the
University of Toronto’s academic policies and the course registration process ensuring student
awareness of academic responsibilities
 Converted the policy and enrollment workshop into an online module for posting on the program
website. 5 additional programs have requested the slides for posting on program website

ADDITIONAL SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

MS Office (Excel, Outlook, Access, Word, PowerPoint)

Current Canadian work permit, with intention to apply for Canadian citizenship
Maxwell Smith
Matthew is an engineering student, preparing to graduate in June. Commonly in engineering, résumés are 1-
page and focus on completed project work since students in engineering are more likely to develop engineering-
related experience through class and co-curricular projects, as opposed to on-the-job.

Maxwell Smith
1234 College St. ● Toronto, ON ●
416 987-6543 ● [email protected]

[DD-MM-YY]

Dear Hiring Committee:

I am writing in regard to your posting of ‘Professional Year Experience Intern,

Engineering’ posted on the University of Toronto’s Engineering Career Centre website. I have
had the opportunity to hone skills on hands-on biomedical engineering, and I am seeking an
opportunity to apply these skills to solving real-world issues. I am eager to participate in Procter
and Gamble’s internship program, through which I would gain an opportunity to work towards
solving business issues on a multifunctional team.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as an engineering intern with Apotex Inc.
In this experience, I gained hands-on experience designing medical device parts using
SolidWorks, and had the opportunity to present my designs for review to upper management. I
tested the devices I helped to build using Instron and force gauges, completing tests of
compression, impact, and high-cycle fatigue. Working in a cleanroom in the testing of the
medical devices, I learned to use a particle counter to assess the status of the room. The results
of my work were used in creating the final design of five medical devices, which are currently in
the process of market testing with anticipated launch in the Canadian market in spring 2016.

In 2013, I had the opportunity to participate in a school project for which I worked on a
team of three students to develop a modified asthma inhaler that uses a spacer device. With my
team, I presented the inhaler’s design at a student conference at the University of Toronto,
receiving feedback from both students and engineering professionals. In the future, we hope to
test this device to further improve the design.

Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I hope to speak with you soon. I can be
reached at 416 987-6543.

Sincerely,

Maxwell Smith
 Maxwell Smith
1234 College St. ● Toronto, ON ●
416 987-6543 ● [email protected]

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Two years research and work experience in the field of biomedical engineering, including
experience working in a clean room
 Applied understanding of software and test procedures in biomedical engineering
 Computer Skills: SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Matlab, C++, Minitab, Microsoft Office

EDUCATION

University of Toronto
Bachelor of Applied Science, Major: Engineering Science & Minor: Biomedical Engineering
Anticipated Completion: June 2017
GPA: 3.8/4.0

BIOMEDICAL ENGINGEERING RELATED EXPERIENCE

Apotex Inc., Summer 2014

Research and Development Intern
Toronto, ON
 Used SolidWorks to design bone screws and ergonomic handles for five implant devices that
were used in the final design of the devices
 Performed tests of implant device parts using Instron and force gauges, the results of which
were used in determining the final designs
 Gained hands-on knowledge of machine parts (including mill, CNC, and lathe), inspection
(using calipers, micrometers, and CMM), and clean room procedures (including use of a
particle counter)
 Attended four animal implant procedures and observed how to use fluoroscope and medical
devices

Medical Device Development Project – University of Toronto Winter 2013

 Working on a three student team, designed a modified asthma inhaler with potential for
patent and presented the project at Engineering Science Praxis Showcase
 In development of the project, created a project plan and learned relevant patent law, as well
as used basic design and solid modeling techniques.

Bioengineering Student Association – University of Toronto 2013-Current

 Assisted in the planning and implementation of various organizational events, including by:
o Engaging 3 speakers for a professor panel discussion in February 2015
o Marketing a welcome event to new bioengineering students
Converting a résumé to a c.v. to apply to graduate school

The résumé and c.v.

Employers in industry may often use the terms résumé and c.v. interchangeably; however, it is usually the
résumé that is being requested. While there are some similarities between a résumé and a c.v., such as the fact
that they are both summaries of qualifications, education, experience, and skills, here are some distinguishing
features:

Résumé
 Concise summary of relevant experience, skills, education, tailored to the position
 Typically a maximum of one to two pages
 Used to apply for industry positions, such as in business organizations, non-profit, consulting,
management, or government

C.V.
 Emphasis on academic qualifications, related research and teaching experience, publications, scholarly
achievements
 Length (number of pages) is often dependent on length of academic career and associated scholarly
work
 Used to apply for academic positions (e.g., positions in teaching and/or research at academic
institutions) as well as graduate and professional schools.

The conversion process: résumé to c.v. for applying to graduate school

The process
If you are applying to a graduate or professional program after completing an undergraduate degree, you will
need to revise your résumé to tailor it for a more scholarly pursuit, as opposed to a work position. Here is how to
begin the process:
 Identify the most important skills, experiences, and educational information valued by the graduate or
professional program and ensure that you will highlight them in your document
 Prioritize the information you have gathered and decide how to organize the sections on your c.v., listing
the most relevant information first
 Ensure you expand on your academic experiences that are relevant to the program (e.g., academic
projects, and technical skills such as SPSS)

Example of how a résumé is converted to a c.v. to apply to graduate school

In the next pages, you will see Mary’s résumé and how she has converted it into a c.v. to apply for a thesis-based
master of science.

Note: For more information about how to create a c.v. to apply to academic positions (e.g., tenure track
professor), please visit our website at www.careeers.utoronto.ca
Case Study: Mary White, converting a résumé to a c.v.
Mary used the résumé below to apply for a position as an administrative assistant for the Department of Student
Life. In her résumé, Mary highlighted her organizational, administrative, and teamwork skills, as well as her
accomplishments. Mary will be applying to graduate school—a thesis-based master of science—and she will take
and convert this résumé into a c.v. for her application. See the next pages for the c.v. version of Mary’s résumé.

MARY WHITE
1839 St. George Street, Toronto ON M5V 2D7 416-481-4433, [email protected]

WORK EXPERIENCE

Summer and
part-time 2010–2011 Research assistant, Ortho Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Ensured a high level of detail accuracy when designing, organizing, and carrying out
tasks for experiments, and completed work by the assigned deadlines
• Analyzed information gathered, and presented results to team members and
supervisors
• Wrote clear and concise reports

Summer 2011 Cashier/salesperson, Calderone’s Bookstore

• Priced, stocked, and organized displays
• Interacted with customers, and named twice as Employee of the Month

Fall 2010 Volunteer, Canadian Physicians for Africa

• Coordinated a team of seven people that raised $100,000
• Raised $16,000 for the Food for Africa Campaign.

Part-time 2009–2010 Clinic volunteer, Manulife Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic
• Contacted registered blood donors to regularly attend Red Cross Clinics
• Registered 500 blood donors in a busy Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic

Summer 2009 Barista, Starbucks

• Collaborated closely with a team to deliver fast and courteous service to customers
• Organized a new method of processing catering orders that saved time and improved
efficiency

EDUCATION

2012 Bachelor of Science, University of Toronto

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

Fitness, weightlifting, science magazines, theatre, and music (play piano)

Mary has now converted the résumé she used for administrative positions to a c.v., which she will use to apply to
a thesis-based master of science. Mary is highlighting her research skills and her technical laboratory skills.

MARY WHITE
416-481-4433—[email protected]
Current address: Permanent address:
1839 St. George Street 4632 Oxford Street
Toronto ON M5V 2D7 Montreal QC H3R 5T2

EDUCATION

2012 Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Neuroscience, double major

University of Toronto

HONOURS AND AWARDS

2012, 2011, 2010 Dean’s List: CGPA of 3.5/4.0 or higher

2010, 2009 University College In-Course Scholarship:
One of seventy-five awards given for top academic achievement
ACADEMIC PROJECTS

2011 Advanced Microbiology Project ( IMCC01H3), University of Toronto

• Performed lab experiments on protein separation
• Maintained lab equipment regularly
• Compiled and analyzed data using SPSS
• Prepared detailed reports summarizing findings

2010 Neuroscience Course (HMB200H), University of Toronto

• Researched the effect of anti-psychotic drugs on the brain
• Conducted literature reviews on a range of scientific topics
• Wrote numerous papers, several as long as twenty-five pages.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Summer and
part-time 2010–2011 Research assistant, Ortho Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Performed DNA isolations and used restriction enzymes
• Designed Michaelis-Menton enzyme kinetics assays
• Performed syntheses, purification, distillations, and crystallizations
• Generated cellulose ion exchange and gel exclusion chromatographs
• Conducted statistical analysis of experimental data, and evaluated arguments based
on research data
• Presented ideas and results to team members and supervisor
• Wrote clear and concise laboratory report
M. White (416-481-4433) /2

LABORATORY SKILLS

• 1H, 13C, 1H-1H COSY NMR spectroscopy

• IR, GCMS, and UV spectroscopy
• Standard chemical laboratory techniques
• Chromatography (gas, thin layer, column)
• Preparing of microscope slides and blood samples
• Staining procedures, including globin IHC trials, ferric ferricyanide, erythosin B, and acid elution
• Accurate record keeping in a laboratory notebook

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Summer 2011 Cashier/salesperson, Calderone’s Bookstore

• Managed problems with inventory and customer requests
• Worked closely with rest of staff to provide excellent service to customers
• Named Employee of the Month

Fall 2010 Volunteer, Canadian Physicians for Africa

• Coordinated a team that raised $100,000 for the Food for Africa Campaign, as well as
fundraised $6,000 for the campaign

Part-time 2009–2010 Clinic volunteer, Manulife Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic
• Telephoned and encouraged registered blood donors to regularly attend Red Cross
Clinics
• Registered and categorized 500 blood donors in a busy clinic

Summer 2009 Barista, Starbucks

• Provided excellent service to customers and worked well as part of a team

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

Fitness, weightlifting, reading science magazines, theatre, and piano

Electronic Applications

Most employers require applicants to submit their résumés and cover letters electronically, and the instructions
on how to do it vary from employer to employer. As well, large employers will ask you to complete online
applications to apply for positions. Here are some general tips to consider:
 If you are asked to send a résumé, do not forget your cover letter.
 Use a professional sounding email address.
 Ensure your email is error free and professional (no emoticons, nor abbreviations).
If the employer prefers attachments, consider sending the cover letter as plain text in the body of the
message and attaching the résumé.
 When completing online application forms, take the time to review the online application ahead of time
before completing the form and sending it in. Enter the information carefully.
 Generally, it is best to send your documents in a PDF file format. If you are targeting a company
specifically, and you will be applying several times, you can contact the employer to ask the preferred
attachment format.
 Have a plain text résumé version available when completing online application forms.

Creating plain-text documents:

To create a plain-text résumé and cover letter, first open your regular text in a word processor. Then, save your
document as a text-only document. Open your text document using a text editor such as Notepad and make any
necessary changes. Here are a few tips for formatting plain-text résumés and cover letters:
 Bold, italics, bullets, and various sizes of fonts will not appear in a text résumé. Instead, you can use
capitals for headings in place of bold or underlining. Use a sans serif font such as Helvetica and Arial or a
plain common font such as Times New Roman.
 Most email programs wrap text at about sixty-five or seventy-two characters, including spaces.
Therefore, it is a good idea to type no more than sixty-five characters per line with a hard carriage return
at the end of each (i.e., press the Enter key). If you don’t, any characters after this point may be dropped
down to the next line, and your résumé will appear disorganized and hard to read.
 If your résumé or cover letter contains page numbering, remove this information from the text version.
 Do a test and send your résumé to a friend or family member to ensure it looks good on the other end.
 Make sure your subject line is appropriate—include the title of the position for which you are applying.
 Make sure you use keywords throughout your résumé (e.g., position titles, skills, education).

Scannable résumés
A scannable résumé is formatted to be compatible with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software that
converts a paper résumé into electronically readable text. In other words, a scannable résumé is a lot like a plain-
text résumé. By storing résumés in databases, recruiters can conduct keyword searches (checking for specific
words that refer to skills, experience and knowledge) to find suitable applicants.

HTML/web résumés
A web résumé is one that contains hyperlinked, clickable text and images created in HTML. Create this type of
résumé if you want to promote yourself on the World Wide Web.
 Posting résumés on a résumé database
Another alternative is posting your résumé on a résumé database, found on many Internet job boards, including
WorkopolisCampus. Note that there are drawbacks, such as privacy concerns. The success rate using these sit-
back-and-wait methods to find work is less than 10 per cent, therefore, in your work search, use this method as
one of many.

Note: Employers might want to review your LinkedIn profile, as it will potentially include additional information.

Career Centre services and resources

Please visit the Career Centre online for a listing of our services and resources - www.careers.utoronto.ca or the
Career Learning Network at cln.utoronto.ca.