Resources & Guides

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Resources & Guides

This page contains a collection of helpful guides and resources that will help you prepare career materials, network and interview effectively, and ultimately find success in your career pursuits.

Resume Guides

A resume is one of two documents that list educational accomplishments, work experience, skills, and professional activities (the other being a CV).

The resume is a shorter, more concise record of a job-seeker's experience and background. The main goal of this document is to present yourself as a potential employee.

The resume is a shorter, more concise record of a job-seeker's experience and background. The main goal of this document is to present yourself as a potential employee.

Resumes are often skimmed in seconds, not read word for word. Here are some major things to consider when developing your resume.

  • Use bullets instead of writing in paragraphs (but use them sparingly).
    • Bullet points help your reader skim more quickly and guide them through the page. 
    • Start with an action verb, describe your main tasks within your previous positions and your impact within the company, and make sure to highlight your “soft” or transferrable skills as well as your “hard” skills. 
    • Bullet points are great for expressing an overarching view of your role within your previous position.
    • However, your entire document should be filled with bullets (or a variety of bullets). 
    • Aim for 3-5 bullets for each experience, though for short-term or long past experiences, you may use less. 
    • Use them to help you describe the work in your positions and use headers and formats to help organize information.
  • Be consistent with format.
    • Use the same spacing, font, sizes, placement of headers, etc. so that people reading your resume can focus on the content. 
    • Inconsistencies will catch the eye and shift the focus onto formatting instead of your accomplishments.
  • Make headers larger than body text.
    • Use them to organize your content and make it easier to find relevant information.
  • Choose a standard font that is easy to read.
    • Recommended fonts include Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, Tahoma, or Verdana.
  • Do not go lower than 10.5 font. Try to stick to 1-2 pages.
    • Use a master resume to list all your experiences, and then for each job you apply to, tailor down to maximum 2 pages of relevant experience.
    • If you are a recent graduate applying for a non-academic/non-research job with no professional experience, you should consider only a single page. 
    • Similarly, if you came into your master’s or Ph.D. with more than 10 years of relevant work experience, you may need to scale up a page to contain all of your experiences.
  • Leave some "white space."
    • One-inch margins are standard. Do not go less than ½ inch. White space not only gives your reader’s eyes a break, but it also leaves room for notes.
  • Applicant Tracking Systems
    • Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are electronic systems often used by companies as the initial scan of your resume. They are finicky and often influence formatting of resumes and the ways in which one should tailor their resume. 
  • Some things to remember when making an ATS-compliant resume:
    • DO NOT include photos of yourself, logos, or icons, as the ATS often cannot read them
    • DO NOT use tables, charts, or columns, as the ATS often cannot read them. Instead, rely on tabs
    • For the most part, avoid italics (or use them sparringly) since they can be misread by scanners or electronic systems. If you are going to use italics, make sure you use them consistently throughout to covey meaning
    • For the most part, avoid underlining. It may cause page breaks for some ATS or disrupt readability of p’s, g’s, and q’s
    • Use ALL CAPS and bold to express differences in job, company, location, etc. as those are easily read by ATS.
    • Always submit your resume as a word document or PDF. Other formats may not be readable by ATS
    • ATS systems are only programmed to look for specific words. Although you and I both know that “teamwork” and “collaboration” are very similar concepts, to tailor your resume, we suggest matching keywords to the job description to ensure that the ATS recognizes your compatible transferrable skills
  • Other things to consider:
    • It’s VERY important to customize or tailor your resumes to each job you are applying for. 
      • This means matching key words, choosing which aspects of your previous experiences to highlight, and even which jobs you choose to include on your resume.
    • Use your knowledge of the position and organization to make decisions about how you describe your experience and skills.
    • Active, skills-based language is the best way to write your resume. Even a quick skim by a reader should give them enough to know whether they want to read more.
    • Go beyond duties and responsibilities and be specific and results oriented. If possible, quantify your accomplishments. We encourage you to use the WHO method: WHAT did you do? HOW did you do it? And what were the OUTCOMES of your efforts? 
    • Employers are interested in what you’ve done recently. Leave out your undergraduate activities, such as student organizations, unless they are extremely relevant to the position you’re applying to.
    • Your resume will need to be updated regularly to reflect new skills and experiences as you gain them.
    • For most positions, colored paper, funky fonts, and fancy graphics aren’t going to help, and in fact, may hurt your chances if the design interferes with electronic scanning. Content is key.
    • When emailing or uploading your resume, the best format is PDF. However, you should always follow instructions you are given.

DO NOT use templates downloaded from Canva or other online websites, as many of those templates are not readable by the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).

ATS-compliant resume templates are offered by the MSU Career Services Network. 

View ATS-Compliant Templates

Federal Resumes

Please note that many government positions require a federal resume. A federal resume uses a different format than a resume. 

Attend one of the CSN federal resume workshops, view this Federal Resume Template provided by the government, or make an appointment with a career advisor to learn out to translate your resume into a federal resume.

CV Guides

A curriculum vitae, or CV, is one of two documents that list educational accomplishments, work experience, skills, and professional activities (the other being a resume).

A CV is used almost exclusively in the domain of scholarly or academic employment, though it can also be relevant when applying for some research, government, and academic administrative positions. CVs have no page limit and contain comprehensive lists with full bibliographic information for published papers, conference presentations, and other professional activities. The main goal of a CV is to present yourself as a scholar or scholar-practitioner.

In general, the main thing to consider when developing your CV is readability.  It is important because reviewers will likely read 100s of CVs for applications. You will want to make this as easy and painless as possible.

  • Use 12-point font (or no smaller than 10) and one-inch margins (or no smaller than 8)
  • Include a footer starting on the second page with your name and "page 2 of X".
  • A CV generally uses a paragraph structure for description, compared to a resume which is typically formatted using bullet points. However, if you have strong bullet points created for a resume, don’t hesitate to include them in your CV. 
  • The following are the most common sections found in a CV:
    • Education
    • Experience (Research, Teaching, and Professional. Sometimes separated into 3 sections, sometimes included as one)
    • Projects
    • Publications
    • Presentations
  • You may also see the following sections on some CVs:
    • Community or Academic Service
    • Honors & Awards
    • Fellowships & Grants
    • Skills/Languages 
    • Professional Memberships
  • Emphasis should be on academic accomplishment, research inquiry, methods or techniques used, and analytical approaches.
  • Briefly highlight your dissertation or thesis in the Education section. 
    • When describing a dissertation or thesis in a CV, one typically includes the title within the Education section included just under the degree.
    • The details of the work will be included later within the Research Experience section. Those in the Humanities can add their Dissertation description to their Projects section or add a Dissertation section with a brief synopsis of your research.
  • A CV can include names of collaborators and your PI, research outcomes or future areas of inquiry. This is beneficial to include if your collaborators or PI are big names in your field. 
  • Skills and abilities are also included in a CV. Those skills particular to graduate students and postdocs include the ability to analyze data, conduct archival research, test hypothesis, and reason logically.
  • Include a reference section. 
    • A Reference section is typically included when applying for a faculty or postdoc position.
    • Be sure to include the name, department, email, address, and phone number. Referees for academic appointments generally send the reference letter directly to the institution, so you will want them to know exactly how to contact your references in case the letter does not arrive.

Cover Letter Guide

For positions in industry, government, and non-profits, a cover letter is a one-page document that typically accompanies a resume. The purpose of a cover letter is to explain anything that you didn’t get to delve into in the resume/CV. 

You can briefly explain context of any experiences that may be unclear in your resume (any gaps, changes in field, explanation of why you left a job after such a short time, etc.) or draw connections between your previous experiences by establishing through-lines of motivation, transferrable skills, etc. 

The cover letter is also your chance to show that you’ve been thinking about how your specific skills can benefit the company you want to work at. You should send a cover letter even if it is not requested or listed as optional.

  1. For most job applications, cover letters should be kept to one page. Generally, a 3-5 paragraph letter is best.
  2. Refrain from disclosing personal data (marital status, weight, race, etc.) that does not support the goal of the cover letter. 
  3. Find out who you should address the letter to. This may involve emailing or calling the company to ask directly. “Dear Dr. Smith” is a much stronger opener than “To Whom It May Concern.”
  4. Single spacing is standard for cover letters.
  5. Use the same header you used for your Resume/CV to help with consistency/to build a brand
  6. Use a 10-12 point font. Use the same font that you plan to use in your resume or CV.

In your heading, include your name, address, and other contact information.  This is followed by the date, and the name and contact information of whom you are addressing the letter.

Using the 3-5 paragraph structure, you should follow the guidelines below: 

  • Research the employer before you write the letter. That way, you can address the letter more personally, highlight things you know the company values, and generally tailor the letter to the employer.
  • In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and answer the reader's question, "Why should I be interested in this candidate?" Name the position you are interested in, and how you learned about the opening (e.g. it is not necessary to state that you found the job online on Handshake or LinkedIn, but if appropriate, say who referred you). State where you currently work or attend school and why you believe you are a good fit for the position.
  • In the middle paragraph(s), directly link your experience to the needs of the employer. Give specific examples of transferable skills, accomplishments, and results. 
  • Use specific examples to demonstrate how you would be a strong candidate for the position. 
    • For example, instead of stating your skills, "Communication and outreach skills," show you're experienced with evidence and provide an example: "I am proficient in communicating scientific concepts to non-scientific audiences, as exemplified by my experiences teaching introductory science courses at Michigan State University and volunteering with grade school students at the annual Science Fest event in East Lansing."
  • Your cover letter should convey confidence in a professional way. Avoid coming on too strong ("You should hire me for this position"). 
  • Create a concluding paragraph that reiterates your interest and qualifications for the position. Refer the reader to your enclosed resume and state you will follow up within a given period of time. Confirm how to contact you (phone and email), and thank the reader for reviewing your application.

Tips

If you are having difficulty getting the tone of your cover letter right, try this:

  • Write a letter to someone you know well. Tell them about the position you are applying for, how you found it, why you are interested/excited, why you think you would be a good candidate, what parts of the job you would especially enjoy, and what you know and like about the employer.
  • Now that you have a letter that sounds like you, put it into cover letter format, fill in any pieces that are missing, and edit the language to make it a little more professional or formal if needed. It’s much easier to make something informal sound more formal than the other way around.
  • Do not guess the gender of the reader. 
    • Do not start your letter with “Dear Sir” or “Dear Madam”. Instead, find out the name of the person who will be reviewing your résumé by contacting the company’s human resources department, or if they won’t give you a name, address your letter “Attention: Human Resources Department”. 
  • Don’t forget to say which position you are applying for. 
    • Many companies advertise more than one position at a time.
  • Don’t send a cover letter that has not been thoroughly proofread. 
    • Typographical and grammatical errors (such as confusing “you’re” with “your”) create a poor impression. Also, don’t forget to address the letter to the right company and position.
  • Don’t focus on what you want. 
    • Focus instead on what value you can bring to the employer, such as increasing revenues or cutting costs.
  • Don’t send a generic letter. 
    • You can make a much better impression by mentioning the company name and doing a little research so you can say something flattering about the company. You can learn what companies pride themselves on, including their products and achievements, by checking their Web sites.
  • Don’t appear desperate. 
    • Avoid comments such as “I’ve already sent out a bunch of résumés without much luck.” Employers may wonder if there’s a good reason why no one else has hired you.
  • Don’t challenge them to hire you. 
    • Employers will be turned off if you say something like “It’s your loss if you don’t hire me.” Instead, show them, with examples of your accomplishments, why you would be an asset to their company.

Sparty Smith

466 W. Circle Dr. 2nd floor 

East Lansing, Michigan 48824 

 

Jorge Vargas, Executive Director

Community Mentorship Program

1234 Hope Street

Traverse City, MI 49048

 

Dear Mr. Vargas:

I am interested in the Managing Director of the Community Mentorship Program. I have been working with a troubled youth for seven months through an at-risk youth mentor program at Michigan State University. I hope to continue my community-focused work, with a particular interest in government work. I learned about this position from the Kalamazoo County Government employment website.

Through the MSU Adolescent Diversion Project, I was assigned to a youth in legal jeopardy with the juvenile justice system. During my mentor and advocate experience, I was in charge of coordinating and planning each session, educating my youth on self-advocacy, as well as providing necessary resources during the eighteen week intervention period.

My experience in the project has helped me improve my skills in leadership, organization and teamwork and has provided me with extensive knowledge working with troubled youth. I will be graduating with my PhD in psychology from Michigan State University in August and plan on relocating to Traverse City.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am looking forward to discussing the position and my qualifications with you in more detail soon. I feel confident that I would provide the best care possible for the residents and staff at the Juvenile Home. Please contact me by email at spartysmith@msu.edu or by calling 517.555.5555.

Sincerely,

Sparty Smith

Professionalism in Written and Email Communication Guide

It is critical to project professionalism in your email and written communications when searching for a job. 

Things to consider:

  • Who is your audience?
  • What do they know?
  • What do they need to know?
  • What is the goal of this communication?
  • Formal greeting
  • Proper grammar
  • Email template
  • Clear and concise language
  • No slang or texting language
  • Subject: “ENG 800: Research Ethics”
  • Salutation with professional name: “Dear Dr. Sparty”
  • Warm introduction: “I hope you are doing well!”
  • Body: Skimmability, frontload information, clear and concise
  • Closing: “Sincerely”, “Thank You”, or “Best”
  • Signature:

Blaire Crockett M.S. | Masters of Human Resources & Labor Relations, May 2024

Michigan State University

(734) 945-0566

Crocke53@msu.edu*

*If you are currently a research, teaching, or graduate assistant, you may also include your job title and department in your email signature. 

  • Aim to follow up within 1-2 business days.
    • The sooner you can respond, the better.
  • For urgent messages, include “Urgent” in the subject line.
    • Allow 2-3 business days before following up.
    • Adhere to business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
  • Don’t hesitate to follow up, especially if you have not heard a response in a week. “I hope you’ve had a great week! I am reaching out to follow up regarding the email I sent last week…”
  • Avoid negative emotional language in written communication.
  • Ask a neutral party if your message is appropriate.

Interview Guide

The MSU Career Services Network contains numerous helpful resources that prepare students for job interviews.

View this Resource

Networking Guide

You may be asking, “how do I get to know people at a workplace where I don’t know anyone?” The best way to build your network is to conduct a series of informational interviews.

An informational interview is a brief meeting (typically lasting around 30 minutes) with someone working in a field you are interested in. It is a great way to build your network and learn a bit more about potential career options.

People often begin building their network by reaching out to alumni from their department or research group, MSU alumni, alumni from other colleges and universities they’ve attended, people they’ve met at conferences, speakers who have come into classes, friends, family, classmates, colleagues, former teachers/professors/PIs, and anyone working in a field they’re interested in. 

If you don’t know anyone in the field that you want to go into, a good place to start is by reaching out to graduate alumni from Michigan State who work in the field or at the organization you would like to work at. 

Second, identify the positions that would be the best fit for you and reach out to people currently working in these positions, stressing you want to learn more about the work they do. The best resources through which to find potential informational interviewees is through browsing the staff page of company’s website (if available) and by using LinkedIn to connect with new people, especially through MSU LinkedIn page. 

While LinkedIn is a dedicated networking website (among other things like Job searches), a cold email is also an acceptable way to make a connection as long as you provide a purpose for why you are reaching out to this particular person and what you hope to learn from your meeting.

Informational interviews can be conducted in person or over the phone, and are an excellent opportunity to ask questions like:

  • How did you become interested in the work you are now doing?
  • What are your major responsibilities in your current position?
  • What skills are necessary to succeed in this field?
  • What steps did you take in order to successfully break into this field?
  • How do people new to this field like myself break in?
  • What is your favorite part of your job?
  • Do you recommend talking to anyone else?

Remember, an informational interview is about gathering information and building a genuine connection. The purpose is not to ask for a job!

For more information on informational interviewing, visit the CSN’s page on Informational Interviews. 

In today’s world of AI, it is important to have a LinkedIn profile so that employers are able to verify that you’re a real person and quickly check the authenticity of your resume. You don’t need to build it out too much, but you should include a good photo of your face, your education, and at least your most recent position. 

  • For your photo: You can get professional headshots at any time in the Career Exploration Center (and even borrow professional clothes for the photo from the Career Closet) in the Student Services building room 113. 

LinkedIn is one of the best ways to network, as well as one of the most popular job search tools. Following pages whose content aligns with your interests can be a great way to tailor both your feed and the jobs that show up in your job searches. Connecting with faculty, staff, students, and alumni from MSU, conferences, or other academic experiences can be a great way to build your network. You’d be surprised how many job postings will come across your feed when you tailor your LinkedIn through connections and follows.

Check out the MSU LinkedIn page, which can connect you to current students and alumni. Also check out our Office of Graduate Career Development page for career advice, information on upcoming events, interesting career reads, and general LinkedIn networking.

The MSU Career Services Network contains numerous helpful resources that help students successfully network and connect with professionals.

View this Resource

Job Search Tools

Handshake is where you will find most on-campus jobs posted (GA positions, hourly positions). The Graduate School’s main page occasionally hosts news about graduate assistantships. 

For major-specific RA and TA positions, we encourage you to reach out to your advisor or department director to see what opportunities exist based on their available funding.

Search for a Job

Many jobs, workshops, company events & career fairs for students at MSU are posted on Handshake. Brought to you by the Michigan State University Career Services Network.

Access Handshake

MSU Career Fairs are a great way to meet potential employers and explore potential career options within various sectors. 

Career fairs are most beneficial when you prepare for them beforehand; the Career Services Network has written guidelines for “Getting Results at Career Fairs.”

View Upcoming Career Fairs

The following list contains various third-party tools that can aid you on your job search. You can filter and sort by focus area.

LGBTQ Workplace Resource Guide

Resource guide that provides information on inclusive companies, getting comfortable with the interview process, coming out at work, and LGBT rights by state to help you navigate the corporate landscape as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

View this Resource

International Students & Scholars Resources

International students will use many of the same strategies for career and professional development as domestic students.

However, the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) contains resources that are unique to international students, including where you can work, English language proficiency, and networking and professional culture in the US.

Contact OISS

If you are not a native speaker of English and would like to improve your communications skills in English, check out these opportunities for networking and public speaking:

Networking resources for international students:

Public speaking & outreach experience for international students:

Where you can work

Resumes, cover letters, & interviewing

Entrepreneurship

The Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) can explain your work authorization options and assist you with your documentation.