Question:

Where can I find samples of cover letters and resumes?

First Answer:

There are many places where you can get samples of cover letters and resumes:

1. Visit the Career Center of colleges and universities in your area. Most of them will have a wealth of information on these subjects available free.

2. Check out books from your local library. Each book you check out will have more examples that you can imagine!

3. Cruise the internet. There are many sites out there that will list sample resumes and resume formats to follow.

There are as many ways of writing resumes as there are people who write them. Remember, choose a resume that will sell you to the employer for the job you are looking for. The best style of resume is not always that old "Chronical Resume" format. Each person's resume needs to be unique and tailored to their specific skills and job needs.

-- Linda Wyatt, Career Center Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College

Second Answer:

There must be 6 million books and an equal number of web sites such as Job Boards, college and university. electronic magazines (e-zines) and professional recruiters that offer information on cover letters and resumes construction. It seems like every time I get mail, a new book or e-zine/web site on the subject is offered.

Check out your local library, nearby college or college career center for more resources.

Additionally, professional resume writers are available both electronic web and bricks & mortar locations. These locations can be found in your local Yellow Pages or through a web search.

Now a word from the pulpit: Write your own resume and cover letter. Do not copy one from a book and put your name on it, no matter how great you think it is. It is okay to use the books available to learn what is effective, how to format your documents and such other technique elements, but to purloin someone else's work is both unethical and self-defeating. Ethics are for you to work on. I'm going to address the elements of how I see borrowing a "canned" resume/cover letter to be self-defeating. By writing your own resume/cover letter you:

• Organize your thinking-let's you review your background, think about what you have accomplished, think about you want to go.

• Increase your self-confidence-as you review your past experience and what you have accomplished, you will begin to recognize what you contributed to your past employers and how you have grown personally.

• Prepare yourself for interviews-The thought processes of resume/cover letter preparation will help refresh and imbed in your mind the information you may need to answer interview questions.

• Demonstrate your written communication skills-if someone else writes your documents you are in effect borrowing their skill and saying it is yours. At some point in your future you may be asked to write a report or document in your job and others will realize (probably your boss) that you "ain't got it."

• Show your understanding of employers needs here your company research will be used and shown off. You will tailor your cover letter to the needs of the company to which you are applying. This will demonstrate the time and trouble you went to in learning about your prospective company.

• Show your intelligence, your self-confidence and your business savvy, things that will aid in your getting hired. Again to borrow someone else's skills misrepresents you.

• To paint a picture of yourself instead of merely stating facts and encourages use of appealing facts or "carrots" to create interest and show how you background will aid in solving specific problems you prospective company may have.

You will not have any problem finding resources, as they are as prolific as dandelion seeds. The problem may become the thought and time you will have to invest in developing your job search paperwork. But realize that the time is an investment in your future and the reward will be yours to enjoy, so do a good job and do it yourself.

-- Robert C. Resch, Career Center, Triton College

Third Answer:

Lots of books have samples. Resume books by Susan Britton Whitcomb, Donald Asher, and the late Yana Parker come to mind. My books, Dynamic Cover Letters and Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates, offer cover letter samples. On the Web, you can find samples at many sites, including, http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_samples.html (resumes), http://www.quintcareers.com/sample_resumes.html (resumes), and http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter_samples.html (cover letters).

Keep in mind that resumes and cover letters should be customized for the job-seeker. Read this article to find out why: http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letter_success.html. If you'd like a resume or cover letter customized to you, consider seeing a college career counselor or professional resume writer for assistance.

-- Katharine Hansen, former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for the Web site, Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and prepares job-search correspondence as chief writer for Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters

Fourth Answer:

Before the Internet, I would have had just one resource to suggest: the library which always has an extensive collection of books by various authors on this subject. Numerous sample cover letters and resumes are included often grouped by industry, candidate's experience level, resume format (functional, chronological, combination styles) and showing samples of various layouts and design. Now you have even more resources because their is help available on line. Check out what's available at CollegeRecruiter.com, Quintcareers.com, RileyGuide.com and JobHuntersBible.com for starters. You might find additional sources by doing a search using the key words resume or cover letter. Good luck on your job search!

-- Debra Feldman, founder of JobWhiz, creator of the JOBWHIZQUIZ, and specialist in cyber savvy strategic job search consultations

Career Videos