Career Research & Resources: Resumes and Cover Letters

These guidelines are from MCC's Career Services office.

Call or email the office to set up an appointment for one-on-one career help.

Most resumes contain the same basic elements:

• Contact information - Name (large/bold font), address, phone number, professional email address, 
• Professional profile or summary of skills - Bullet format, use strong action words (Click here for some great examples)
• Education -  Name and location of school or institution, degree/certificate you received (or are working towards)
• Experience -  Start with most recent job, include title and date(s) of employment, list job duties (use strong action words)
• Activities or honors - Optional, avoid listing hobbies, include any scholarships or awards
• Skills - Include other languages spoken, technical or leadership skills

TIP: Microsoft Word has resume templates that allow you
to choose a layout and simply enter your information.

As an MCC student, you can download Microsoft Office 365 for free. Get started here.

More Resume Guidelines

These guidelines are from MCC's Career Services office.

Call or email the office to set up an appointment for one-on-one career help.

The purpose of a cover letter is not just to summarize your resume, but to persuade the hiring manager to look at your resume. Your cover letter should contain the following basic elements:

• Heading - Placed at top left, includes date and address of employer with hiring manager's name and title
• Opening - Include how you found out about the open position and why you're qualified for it
• Body -  Connect the requirements for the position and your past experiences, give specific examples of experiences and accomplishments
• Closing sentence - Thank employer for their consideration
• Signature - Close with "Sincerely" then type your full name (Once it's printed, sign your name in pen, above your typed name)

More Cover Letter Guidelines

Sample resume from MCC's Career Services office