Your Cover Letter and Resume

U.S. companies expect candidates to send a cover letter and an American-style resume. Internship searches are competitive—some companies receive hundreds of cover letters and resumes and may spend only a short time looking at each one. A well-written cover letter and resume will catch their attention and help you make a strong first impression! A good cover letter and resume should convince them to grant you an interview.

Keep in mind that the information below is general in nature. You should do whatever is appropriate for your career field or for the company you are applying to.

Writing an Effective Cover Letter

The cover letter is your first opportunity to convince a company that you’re the perfect candidate! It should contain a short introduction, two or three specific examples of relevant skills and experiences, and a brief closing paragraph requesting a phone or webcam interview. If your cover letter is interesting to read, the hiring manager is more likely to want to learn more about you.

As an international candidate, you should also mention that you’re applying for a J-1 Visa through CIEE. Your search for an internship or training position will be more successful if employers know that they’re not responsible for your work authorization documents.

Some employers will be unfamiliar with the J-1 Visa, so you can refer the hiring manager or Human Resources representative to the CIEE Host Company website for more information on what it means to host an international intern. Here are some additional tips:

• If possible, find out the name of the specific person who will read your documents. It will be worth the effort. Address your cover letter to that person. If you can’t find a contact name, address it to “Hiring Manager,” or “Human Resources Manager.” To increase your chances, make contact with more than one person at each company. Send your materials to both the Human Resources department and to the hiring manager for the position you’re interested in.
• Create a well-written standard letter, but adjust the content for each different position you apply to. Remember, you are trying to convince them that you are the perfect candidate for that position, and every position is different.
• When highlighting relevant skills and experiences, be as specific as possible, and use examples that highlight those skills. Tell the reader about a project you worked on or a process you improved. If teamwork is one of your strengths, tell them why. Give a specific example of how you have solved problems.

Writing an Effective Resume

A resume details a candidate’s professional experience, qualifications, relevant skills, and educational background. The format and content of an American-style resume differs considerably from C.V. formats used in many other countries. The U.S. resume is typically shorter and includes general academic information, rather than the specific details often included in a CV.

Although formatting and structure can differ from one resume to another, following these basic guidelines will make sure your resume meets employers’ expectations and catches their attention:

• Make it as short as possible while still being clear. Choose your words carefully and be specific. What did you do? What skills did you develop? What problems did you solve?
• When listing your education and experience, start with the most recent and work backwards.
• Carefully consider the formatting. Be sure to organize the information logically, and use a visually pleasing font and size.
• Do not include graphics, photographs, or icons unless specifically requested.
• Leave out personal information like your age or marital status.

• If possible, use page size 8.5 x 11 inches. If you have A4 sized documents, reformat them to make it easier for the employer.
• Keep it short—your cover letter and resume should ideally be no more than one page each.
• For most companies, emailing your resume and cover letter is appropriate, but sending a paper copy as well is a good way to stand out from the crowd.
• Give your files logical names. Companies receive hundreds of email attachments named "resume" and "cover letter." Use a clear combination of your name, the words "cover letter" or "resume," and the date. For example: "AMartinCoverLetter2010."
• Unless a company states otherwise, send your documents as PDF files. This will ensure that they are viewed as you intended.
• In addition to attaching the files, paste the text into the body of the email to give the recipient another option for reading them.
• Be clear about how and when you can be reached, and make it as easy as possible for employers to contact you if they are interested.