The Preparing Application Material community is designed to help you create strong professional documents. These tools help articulate experiences, skills, and career goals to potential employers and academic programs.
Things to Consider
Purpose Matters: Each document serves a different function—tailor content accordingly.
Clarity & Readability: Use clear formatting, strong action verbs, and relevant details.
Customization: Align documents with job descriptions, academic programs, or professional expectations.
Revision is Key: Review and refine your work regularly using AI tools, peer feedback, and coaching resources.
Technology & ATS Compliance: Ensure resumes are compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Guiding Questions for Developing Your Resume, Cover Letter, CV, and ePortfolio
What experiences demonstrate your skills and achievements?
How can you quantify your impact using the action verb + task + result formula?
Does your resume align with industry expectations?
Is your resume ATS-friendly with clear formatting and keywords?
How does your background connect with the position or program?
What unique skills or experiences set you apart?
Are you demonstrating enthusiasm and knowledge about the role or organization?
How does my CV showcase my relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments for my career goals?
Is my CV well-organized, easy to read, and tailored to the industry or role I’m pursuing?
Have I included key sections such as education, experience, skills, and leadership, highlighting my most impactful contributions?
What projects or experiences best showcase your skills?
Is your portfolio organized and easy to navigate?
Does your portfolio reflect a strong personal brand?
FAQs
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that employers use to manage job applications. It scans resumes for keywords and ranks candidates based on qualifications. To improve your chances, use clear formatting and include relevant keywords from the job description.
A resume is typically one page, focused on relevant experience, while a CV is longer and includes academic achievements, publications, and research. Resumes are for industry and CVs are for Academia.
Use keywords from the job posting, highlight relevant experiences, and customize bullet points to showcase transferable skills.
Highlight your skills, experiences, and enthusiasm for the role, connecting them directly to the organization’s needs.
Create sections for work samples, projects, skills, and an ‘About Me’ section. Use a clean, professional design.
Self-Guided Activities
You don’t have to do them all—just the ones that resonate with you or help you gather the insights you need. You are the author of your life, and only you know what will help you design a path that feels right. Explore, reflect, and take action in a way that works for you!
Resume Review: Use Quinncia or the C3 resume template for formatting and content guidance.
Key Word Identification: Analyze job descriptions for key skills and incorporate them into your documents.
Review & Feedback: Use Drop-In Career Planning to meet with a Career Ambassador for a 15–20-minute drop-in session where no appointment is needed to review your professional documents and receive feedback.Â
ePortfolio Content Audit: Assess which projects and experiences best demonstrate your skills and accomplishments.
Resources
These resources give you access to valuable information, real-world insights, and connections that can help you explore your options and make a confident, informed career decision.
Follow these for best practices, templates, and examples. (Look on the Career Hub for more specific resumes like Federal Resume Guide or Technical Resume.)
Use an AI-powered resume and interview feedback platform to enhance your professional documents.
Complete virtual job simulations from top employers to enhance your professional documents.
Use this tool to identify relevant skills and action verbs to strengthen your application materials and make informed career decisions.
Next Steps
- Assess your needs and determine which documents you need to create or improve.
- Draft & Review using templates, AI tools, and feedback from professional connections or career coaches.
- Refine based on feedback, ensuring clarity, relevance, and professionalism.
- Utilize resources like Quinncia, Forage Job Simulations, and LinkedIn Learning to enhance your documents.
- Share & Apply with confidence, knowing your materials effectively showcase your skills and potential.
This self-guided community empowers you to take charge of your career journey. Use these tools to craft compelling, professional documents that highlight your strengths and aspirations!
If you need additional support, career ambassadors and career coaches are available to provide personalized guidance. You can meet with a Career Ambassador for a 15–20-minute drop-in session where no appointment is needed with Drop-In Career Planning
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