Before you start typing, take some time to evaluate yourself. Consider the following:

Your contact information is typically centered at the top of the page, with your name in the largest font. Include your mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address. Remember that prospective employers may hear your outgoing phone message, so be sure it’s appropriate.

An objective is a short summary of the job you’re seeking and how your skills will apply to that job. Objectives should be specific to the job for which you’re applying. Generalized objectives don’t tell a prospective employer anything about you and don’t get anyone’s attention.

Read the following objective and analyze it from an employer’s perspective.

• Objective: To employ my advertising knowledge by working for a successful company that will help me get experience to kick-start my career.

What position is the applicant applying for? This objective doesn’t specify the position. It also describes what the applicant wants the job to do for him or her, not what he or she can contribute to the company. Employers already know that you want to learn and gain experience. Reiterating it makes you look selfish.

A good objective is specific and short. Here’s an example.

• Objective: To obtain a position at Doyle and Associates as an entry-level graphic designer where my creativity and technical ability will add value to the operations.

With this objective, an employer knows what position you want and why you think you’re the right person to fill the opening. It also shows you’re serious about the position because you took the time to tailor your résumé to this specific position and company.

Begin your education list with your most recent educational experience. Be sure to detail your degree, major, minor, dates of attendance, and the name and location of the school. If you haven’t graduated yet, list your expected degree and graduation date. Include your grade-point average (GPA) if it is 3.0 or higher. Including a GPA that is lower may inadvertently invite questions about your studying skills that you may not be comfortable answering. Or, you may get passed over altogether for the job.

If you don’t have relevant work experience, list your educational background first. If you have pertinent work experience, reverse the sections so your work history comes before your education.

List your previous work experiences chronologically, starting with the most recent job, and include each company’s name, its location, your dates of employment, and your title or position. For each experience listed, include at least three bullet points that highlight your achievements or undertakings. You don’t have to put specific dates of employment but do list the month and year. If you include the years only, you may give the impression that you have gaps in your employment history. If possible, include specific, quantifiable data about your accomplishments and how you benefited your employer.

This section should include your hidden talents or skills, such as whether you speak a foreign language or are knowledgeable about a certain software package. Also include the extracurricular activities and professional organizations you belong to that relate to your career field. You don’t want to restate anything you’ve said in your education and experience sections, so if you don’t have anything to add, omit this section.

References can attest to your work ethic and skills and are important to have ready to go. You should have three professional references expecting to be called on to help you. If you have no professional references, obtain references from teachers, instructors, professors, clergy, and other people who know about your character. Avoid using family members and friends. Always ask permission to use someone as a reference before listing him or her. Be sure your references know you’re engaging in an active job search in case a potential employer calls them so they can be prepared to answer questions accurately.

Employers generally won’t need references until they interview you, so it’s customary to include at the bottom of your résumé the line “References are available upon request.” However, if you choose to provide information for each reference on your résumé, you should include for each reference the person’s name, title, employer, contact information, the nature of your relationship, and the length of time he or she has known you. Including references shows that you have professional contacts with people willing to recommend you. When you are invited to an interview, bring additional copies of your references with you.

There are three main types of cover letters: an application letter, a prospecting letter, and a networking letter. An application letter is sent as a response to a job opening. A prospecting letter is a letter asking about potential positions at a company where you want to work. A networking letter is sent to further a relationship with someone you think could help you in your job search. Each cover letter you send out needs to be tailored to fit the job opening you’re applying for or inquiring about. Look at the requirements in the ad. Find the key words and phrases used to describe the position and then describe your skills and experience using the same terms. Highlight your major relevant accomplishment in the terms used by the employer. Include how you have or will address the needs of the employer. Overall, demonstrate in your cover letter that you fulfill the specific requirements the company is looking for.

All cover letters should explain to potential employers what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.2 Don’t tell them how the job will give you experience in a particular field. Instead, tell them how you have what it takes to perform the required tasks.

After you’ve explained that you can do the job, discuss why the company should hire you. Think about what sets you apart from the competition. Be both assertive and descriptive. Instead of saying, “I’m flexible,” say, “My years in customer service have taught me how to effectively interact with people of different ages and backgrounds. As a result, I have learned to be flexible, persuasive, and tactful. These abilities have allowed me to maintain long-term customer relationships that have boosted sales for my previous employers.” Use concrete examples to show how you can be an asset to the company.

Each cover letter you send out should be limited to one page with at least three paragraphs. The first paragraph explains why you are writing, whether it is to respond to a job opening or to ask about available positions. The goal of the first paragraph is to start strong and get the reader’s attention. Here is an example:

The body of the letter lets the employer know your experience as it relates to the desired position. For example,

The final paragraph thanks the reader and leaves contact information:

Because your résumé states only facts, your cover letter is a valuable opportunity to highlight your skills, show a bit of your personality, and sell yourself. Consider time invested in writing your cover letter as time invested in your future.