Building your Resume, Cover Letter, or CV?

A polished and targeted resume and cover letter are essential to your job search. We can help you develop well-crafted documents that can create a great first impression and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Check out the following resources below to get started:

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Quick Tips

When creating your resume and cover letter, you will want to:

  • Highlight your skills, as employers look for transferable skills relevant for the job
  • Phrase your bullet points using action-based SAR statements to highlight your skills, experience and accomplishments
  • Use Action Verbs which relate to the skills set you are hoping to display
  • Always tailor your resume and cover letter for each position
  • Proofread your documents to ensure they are free of spelling and grammatical errors
  • Visit the Career Services office in 401 Tory for a review!

Resumes

  • Compare the 3 Types of Resumes to help you decide which template works best for you.
  • Chronological Resume emphasizes your work history and professional achievements over time in increasingly expert positions.
  • Skills-based Resume emphasizes your skills and education as they relate to the position you are applying for.
  • Combined Resume emphasizes your work experience as well as skills, accomplishments and achievements gained in other areas.

Cover Letters

Academic CVs

  • Unsure whether to use a Resume or CV? Find out here!
  • Review our CV Template and get Tips on Writing a CV to help you format and write your CV for academic or research positions.

In-person Review Services

Book an appointment online for Resume, CV, and Cover Letter reviews which includes:

  • Reviewing resume and cover letter for structure and organization – bring in a hard or digital copy!
  • Providing feedback regarding written content, including SAR statements
  • Supporting your efforts to tailor your resume to specific job requirements – bring in a job posting with your resume!

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Visit Career Services in 401 Tory!

  • For in-person support, visit the Career Centre in 401 Tory Building Monday to Friday, from 1p.m. to 4p.m  (last check in at 3:30 p.m.). To book an appointment, either virtual or in-person, please contact us via email (career@carleton.ca), phone (613-520-6611), or live chat.

Applicant Tracking Software (ATS)

  • ATS (Applicant Tracking Software) is a software application extensively used by recruiters and HR professionals to screen and organize candidate profiles during the hiring cycle.
  • From a job seeker’s perspective, an ATS is a tool that screens candidate resumes for specific keywords, experience, background, or training when they apply for a job posting. This, along with candidate contact information, resume, and cover letter, is uploaded to a database. HR personnel then use this candidate file to screen candidates, contact them, schedule interviews and eventually hire them.