Intern & Applicant Resources

Tips to Create Your Resume and Letter of Interest 

Resumes and Cover Letters or Letters of Interest MUST be typed…

Every resume and cover letter or letter of interest you create, whether for a scholarship, for a job, or even for volunteering, should always be typed. No application packet should ever be handwritten. If you do not have a computer at home, work with your school, a friend, or the library. If you are in a bind, the Malheur Works team would be happy to assist you.




Haven’t had a job yet? Think of your volunteer and leadership experiences as jobs…

What have you done? How have you grown? What skills have you developed as a result of participation in these volunteer and leadership experiences? How have you personally changed as a result of your experiences?


Newest to oldest…

Organize all your activities and projects in chronological order from most recent to oldest. Dates are important! You do not need to include an exact date, use the month and year, for example June 2020 – March 2021.


Edit, edit, edit…

Every document of yours should have ZERO spelling and grammar errors. Use spell and grammar check. Always have two people proofread your documents. When we look at our own creations over and over again, we often overlook minor mistakes.


References: 

Consider these people when making your reference list:

Note: Don’t list family members as references.


Before listing references on your resume…

It’s important you ask your contacts to be a reference before you provide their names. Not only is this a common courtesy, but it also gives them time to prepare for a phone call or email. Giving your references plenty of notice also ensures they have time to recall specific examples that highlight why you’re the best candidate for the role. Whether you call, email or ask your prospective reference in person, be sure it’s something they’re comfortable doing. Your best references will be people who enjoyed working with you and are excited to discuss your talents.


Format…                                                                                                                                                                                       

Your resume needs to be organized and easy to read and understand. Choose an appropriate font and font size (11-12 pt.). Use the same font throughout your documents. Both your resume and cover letter/letter of interest should look balanced on the page. 

Any description should begin with an action word such as developed, led, accomplished, secured, designed, or created. This should be short and concise and to the point. Your resume should be no more than one or two pages long. *When applying for a professional job, the general rule of thumb is to have a one page resume unless you have ten or more years of experience.

Resume Outline

RESUME OUTLINE.pdf

Resume Sample

Sample Resume.pdf

Letter of Interest Outline 

COVER LETTER OUTLINE.docx

Letter of Interest Sample 

SAMPLE LETTER OF INTEREST.pdf

Interview Resources


BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Be prepared to answer the following questions: 


Plan your interview outfit. 


Know your resume. Brainstorm examples/stories of your past experience ahead of time. 


Anticipate the questions you’ll be asked and be prepared how to best answer them.


When an interviewer asks you to give them an example about a time when….Always use the S.T.A.R. format


Practice interviewing. 


Ask about Covid19 restrictions.  


Visit your interview location ahead of time so you don’t get lost the day of your interview and show up late.

Arrive 15 minutes early for your interview.


Virtual Interviews.


Research the company and the leadership team of the company BEFORE the interview. 


Bring 3-5 extra copies of your resume and a list of references. 


It is fine to bring in a pad of paper with notes and to take notes. 


Come with at least three meaningful questions for the interviewer(s).

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Greet everyone you meet politely, pleasantly, and enthusiastically. 


Virtual Interview.


Maintain proper posture.


Use proper vocabulary and speech.


Use your resume and references as tools.


Always state things in a positive way. 


Interviewing is a two-way process. 

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

After the interview.


Follow-up with a thank you.


If you have not heard anything after 2 weeks, it is appropriate to check back in. 

Application Resources

The application process can seem overwhelming, but it is great practice of a skill that we guarantee you’ll use in the future! 

Please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. The Malheur Works team is more than willing to help!

Be sure to save your documents in the proper format.