Job Search Process Communication

A well-written and visually appealing resume and cover letter are absolutely necessary to land you that job interview. They are critical to the job search and must be error-free and capable of marketing the knowledge and skills you have to offer to an employer. Begin building your resume and cover letter using the tools on our website. After you have developed your resume to the best of your abilities, you may schedule an appointment with one of our career counseling staff for a resume review and suggestions for improvement.

Getting a telephone call from an employer inviting you for a job interview is a great feeling, but don’t let your excitement make you feel overly confident. Although most of us know the importance of composing a resume and cover letter, many fail to recognize the need for preparing for job interview. The resume may get you in the door, but the interview will be the determining hiring factor. Access the Career Services Interviewing Assistance section of our web site to assist you in honing those interview skills. You may also schedule an appointment with one of our career counseling staff to participate in a mock interview.

Many Human Resource Managers are busy and may not select and notify applicants immediately regarding their desire to schedule an interview. For each resume that you send, follow up! Call or email within two to three weeks of submitting your resume. Following up will set you apart from other candidates and reaffirm your interest in the position. When you follow up, demonstrate professionalism. State the position for which you’re applying and the date your resume was sent, reiterate your interest in the position, and request the status of your application. Give employers a few days to respond before contacting them again. While persistence is essential, you do not want to turn employers off by aggravating them. Make sure you’re tracking when you’ve submitted applications so you can follow up using a document like the Career Services’ Job Search Tracker.

Dear Ms. Mendoza,

I am interested in any curator internships that may be available at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. I am a freshman history major with a minor in art history.

I have done research on my own about the exhibits housed at the museum and would love to assist in choosing themes and displaying the artwork. I have developed strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, but it would be a pleasure to develop my skills even more while also working for a company I admire.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum has a dedicated curator team, and I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to assist any of them. I have attached my resume to this email for your review. Should any positions at the Smithsonian American Art Museum become available, I would greatly appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,

Linette Lion

Dear Ms. Howard,

Thanks again for the opportunity to meet you at the Southeastern Louisiana University Career Fair today. It was great learning more about the new branch you all plan to open soon in Slidell, and it would be a pleasure to contribute to the transition to a new office space.

From our conversations, I was excited to hear that The Soleau Group is very invested in the local community. My current volunteering has been one of my favorite parts of my college experience and was glad that your organization values community involvement as well.

I would love to connect to further discuss a potential career with The Soleau Group. I have attached a copy of my resume and have applied in Handshake. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Thanks again for your time!

Sincerely,

Salah T. Tiger

Dear Ms. Knope,

My name is Daniela Garcia, and I am writing regarding my interest in the Fisheries Biologist Intern position at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. I applied to the position on Handshake yesterday and feel as though my scientific knowledge from academic courses in biological sciences as well as my organizational skill from my student worker role make me an excellent fit for this internship.

I have attached a copy of my resume for your consideration. Please contact me for any additional information by cell at (985) 549-2121 or through email at [email protected].

I look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

Daniela Garcia

Dear Mayah Stewart,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today about the Nonprofit Leadership Internship. It was a pleasure to virtually meet you and hear more about the opportunities available at The Borgen Project. I am excited about this internship and will continue to pursue supporting your organization.

I enjoyed speaking with other professionals on the call and learning how each role works together to successfully contribute to the team. My political science courses have given me foundational knowledge of government affairs and campaigning. I believe my Social Media Chair role on campus will also allow me to contribute to the creative promotion of The Borgen Project.

Thank you again for the consideration for this position, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Lilo Stitch

Dear Ms. Knope,

I am writing to follow up about the Fisheries Biologist Intern position that we spoke about a few weeks ago. Thank you again for your time! I enjoyed hearing about the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the close-knit team this intern position would collaborate with day-to-day.

I’m very interested in this opportunity and wanted to inquire about my status in the interview process. Please let me know as soon as you’re able.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Daniela Garcia