Preparing Your Application

Completing an Online Application

Collect and organize information about your work history, education and references prior to filling out an application. Use the Application Worksheet as an example.

Get familiar with navigating online job applications with Purdue University's Job Applications Worksheets and Stratford Library's Practice Employment Application.

Allow yourself enough time to complete an online application without rushing, and be prepared to be directed to a follow-up evaluation or assessment after submitting an application. You will need to create an account for each job board or company site that you apply on. Remember your usernames and passwords for job sites and email, and remember the answers to security questions. Without this information, you will not be able to recover passwords to access email or profiles on employment websites.

Writing a Resume

Your resume is not just a list of jobs that you have held. It should convey that you have the skills, traits, and experience that will enable you to perform the job you're applying to successfully.

Quick Tips

• Describe responsibilities with the formula Action Verbs + Details + Results.
• Use keywords and phrases from the job description.
• Most resumes should be 1–2 pages.
• Most resumes no longer need an Objective or Summary. That information can go in your Cover Letter, if one is requested.
• Only list your graduation year if it is recent or explains an employment gap, and only list GPA if it’s over 3.0.
• Keep a separate page for references. Do not say “References Available Upon Request”.
• Keep your formatting simple and avoid gimmicks like colored paper or heavy formatting.
• Resume Samples
• More Resume Samples
• Use O*NET Occupation Quick Search for ideas for your resume. The skills section has good action verbs and descriptions for most professions.

Resume Templates & Builders

Resume Template created by Job and Career Information Center staff

Anne Arundel Community College Resume Builder

• Pros: Free account; suggests tasks and skills based on your job field; easy-to-read formatting; can download as Word File
• Cons: Will have to edit tasks to past tense; suggested skills not always strong

Resume.com

• Pros: Free; suggests tasks and skills based on job field; multiple templates to choose from
• Cons: Can only download as PDF or Text file (loses formatting); suggested skills not always strong

Other Resources

• University of Maryland Career Center’s guide to resume preparation.
• Career One-Stop’s resumes and interviews.

Writing a Cover Letter

A cover letter should:

• Be written specifically for each application.
• Amplify and reinforce (but not repeat) the sections of your resume that are relevant to the vacancy for which you are applying.
• Positively connect your previous experience to the open position.
• Explain why you are the best candidate for the position.
• Use this Cover Letter Worksheet to gather the information you need to write an effective cover letter, then use the Cover Letter Template to see how to use that information in a formal cover letter.
• Purdue University’s cover letter guide.

Interviewing

Before your interview, write down important information about the company and your experience on the Interview Preparation Worksheet. 

Get an idea of what might be asked and how you can be prepared to answer questions with Live Career's interview question examples.