McNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY
Many employers will ask you to include a cover letter along with your resume when applying for a job or internship. A cover letter is intended to provide an employer with more information on your specific skills and experience, and what makes you qualified for a job. Rather than repeating the information contained in your resume, think of your cover letter as an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to employers in a more personalized way than a resume allows.
To apply for a job, it’s nearly always necessary to have a resume, whether you’re applying in person or through an online listing. Your resume is a brief overview of your personal information relevant to employers, including your educational background, employment experience, training and qualifications, personal achievements, and other information relevant to the industry or role.
Your resume is your personal advertisement and has the tremendously important job of making a first impression on your behalf. It does not need to tell your life story, but it should make an employer say, “I want to talk to this person!”
On average, prospective employers spend only 6 seconds on a preliminary evaluation of each resume, so when you’re writing your resume, it’s important to focus on both brevity and impact.
A basic, professional resume should have the following information:
All information should be presented in the past tense and should use action verbs. For example: Lead six classmates in group assignment; Reorganized facility records; Supervised one other employee; etc. Unless you have an extensive and relevant work history, your resume should be no more than one page.
These sample resumes are just a starting point for your own resume.
Need more help writing your resume?
Make an appointment with the Career and Student Development Center today!
I am a McNeese graduate with a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Science and a concentration in Child and Family Studies. As a student, I competed on the rodeo team and served on the SGA board. I earned my master’s degree in 2022 from the University of South Dakota in Educational Administration and Leadership with a concentration in Adult and Higher Ed. I have over 13 years of experience in adult education and 20 years of educational experience.
My favorite part of being a Freshman Advisor is helping students navigate their new life routine as a college freshman by offering support with in-person office visits or by email to help students meet their goals. I always remind students of my favorite BB King quote – “Education is one thing no one can ever take away from you.” I believe that supporting students is vital to a student's success.
In my spare time, I raise registered American Brahman cattle, and I enjoy all the "country girl" things like hunting, fishing, growing a garden and cooking.