Preparing for Summer Jobs - Resume/Cover Letter ✔

Summer is when most students are hired. Whether it is co-op placement, internship, part-time or full-time positions, some companies and organizations have been preparing to hire since January. If you are looking to work this summer, it’s important to prepare too!

Below I have highlighted a few useful pointers that I found most important to understand. The advice below comes from the UTSC Academic Advising and Career Centre. Click here for the full list, other subtopics and even the proper format for both cover letters and resumes.

Cover Letter

• Tailor your cover letter to each position. Show your interest and enthusiasm by analyzing and addressing the employer's specific needs. 

Sometimes it is easier to write one generic cover letter, and upload it for every job application, but customizing each one for every position is a lot more effective and will usually make you stand out.  

• Order your assets based on the posting. If customer service is the key qualification, start your second paragraph with that experience. 

Reading the job description, if available, can do you wonders. A list of “desired” skills are usually accessible for a reason. Be the perfect match the organization is looking for.

Resume  

• Quantify your tasks to show concrete results. 

This is something I wasn’t always aware of. Whenever you can add numbers, figures or put statistics, it is best to do so. Be specific when it comes to tasks that can be described quantitatively.

• Both paid and unpaid work experience can be valued by the employer if you describe skills and achievements that are relevant to the position.

Consider the skills you developed, rather than the title of the position. If you ran a small bake sale for your high school club, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should exclude it. If, for example, you executed leadership, worked well in a team, or resolved a conflict successfully, organizations would likely appreciate hearing about it.

For more useful information, visit here. Good luck summer job searching! 

Cornell Jones