As you know, Career Services has been reviewing resumes and cover letters for the past month or so for the fall hiring season. Listed below are some tips we would like to share:
COVER LETTERS
· A cover letter is a formal business letter. Cover letters must be addressed to the specific recruiting contact and include a complete address block (i.e., Contact Name, Title, Employer Name, Street Address, City/State/Zip Code) Always use a colon following the greeting, NOT a comma. The greeting line should read: “Dear Ms. Smith:”.
· This is your first writing sample to the organization. It should be no longer than 3-4 paragraphs and should not include everything under the sun. Showing your ability to convey a clear message in a succinct manner is essential. Do NOT simply repeat what is on your resume.
· Your main paragraph should have a topic sentence. The rest of the paragraph should relate to that thought.
· Focus on what skills you bring to them, not what you hope to gain from the position.
RESUMES
· Class rank is more relevant than GPA. If you list your GPA, always list your class rank as well. Keep in mind that Mason’s curve is lower than other area law schools—class rank is a better indicator of your academic success than your GPA.
· Details are essential in work descriptions. The more specific you can be about the work you performed and the issues involved, the more interesting you are to the interviewer.
For all documents (resume, cover letter, and reference list), use the same heading and font. Err on the conservative side; Times New Roman is a safe choice. This is not the time to show your creativity.
** For more detailed information, please refer to our handouts on Cover Letters and Resumes found here: http://www.law.gmu.edu/career **