Advisor Tool Kit
Starting the Career Discussion
✓ 4-Year Plan of Career Development
..........................1
........................................................3
✓ List of Resources for Starting the
Career Discussion
.......................................16
✓ How to Prepare for the Fair
...............................................10
✓ Cover Letter Starter Kit
.......................................................4
✓ Resume Starter Kit
Internship and Career Center (ICC)
University of California, Davis
for
530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
4-YEAR PLAN OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT
While the Internship and Career Center (ICC) recognizes that every career path is unique, we encourage you to explore this
guide and to take advantage of the suggested resources in each section. Content adapted from icc.ucdavis.edu/undergrad
Freshmen Year: Self-Discovery
Career
Career
Academics
Academics
Extracurricular
Extracurricular
☐ Log in to Aggie Job Link, update your profile,
and view the events calendar.
☐ Take career self-assessment inventories at
Counseling Services.
☐ Talk over career ideas with an ICC peer or sta
adviser, and with parents, friends, instructors,
and roommates.
☐ Enroll in a Freshman Seminar on career
exploration.
☐ Attend ICC workshops to learn how to prepare
for an internship or job search.
☐ Become a member of the Student Alumni
Association to start building your network.
☐ Attend Internship and Career Fairs to explore
internships and careers.
☐ Learn about the life-long process of career
planning.
☐ Pursue internship opportunities.
☐ Talk with ICC career adviser about narrowing
career interests.
☐ Develop a resume and attend a resume writing
workshop for further guidance.
☐ Attend ICC workshops, company information
sessions and career fairs.
☐ Learn about conducting an informational
interview or job shadowing experience.
☐ Find out about how undergraduate research
can be applied to any major.
☐ Take a variety of courses to explore majors.
☐ Attend oce hours to build a relationship
with instructors.
☐ Attend study skills and time management
workshops.
☐ See an academic coordinator or peer adviser in
the residence halls to create a four year plan.
☐ Explore undergraduate research opportunities.
☐ Attend Residence Hall Advising Team academic
programs in the residence halls.
☐ Meet with an academic adviser.
☐ Declare major and layout courses for each
remaining quarter at UC Davis.
☐ Explore the UC Davis Washington Program, the
UC Center Sacramento and UC Davis Study
Abroad.
☐ Get involved in residence hall activities, student
organizations or community service projects.
☐ Apply for a peer adviser, resident adviser or
student assistant position for the next academic
year.
☐ Strengthen your involvement on campus through
student organizations.
☐ Find a summer experience that will help
you explore your interest and begin to gain
transferable skills.
Your freshman year is a time for self-discovery. Take this time to familiarize yourself with campus, and wait until
sophomore year to get started in internships. This will allow you the time to acclimate to a rigorous academic
setting and also gain a better understanding of your interests.
Your sophomore year is a time to expand your career horizons and begin pursuing experiential education
opportunities, such as internships. In order to obtain most internships, you will need to apply with a resume
and cover letter, and be familiar with common job search strategies.
Sophomore Year: Expand Your Career Horizons
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Junior Year: Try Out Your Options
Career
Academics
Extracurricular
☐ Complete an internship.
☐ Meet with ICC career adviser about your career
goals and plans.
☐ Update your resume quarterly.
☐ Conduct informational interviews.
☐ Create a LinkedIn account to expand your
professional network.
☐ Invest in appropriate business attire for
interviewing.
☐ Search for a summer job/internship that aligns
with your educational and career goals.
☐ Supplement major courses with practical skills
courses (writing, public speaking, statistics,
accounting, computer skills, etc.).
☐ Consider applying to the UC Davis Washington
Program, UC Center Sacramento or UC Davis
Study Abroad.
☐ Research graduate or professional schools, and
request letters of recommendation, if appropriate.
☐ Explore and consider research opportunities.
☐ Develop a relationship with an academic mentor
adviser or faculty member.
☐ Continue to strengthen communication and
leadership roles through student organizations or
other activities.
☐ Work at a part-time job to build transferable skills
and build a professional network.
☐ Volunteer for campus or community service.
Your junior year is the time to test out your options, and to start clarifying your career goals and your plans
after graduation. Try to find internships and summer jobs that are aligned with your career goals to continue
building your resume. If you are still unsure about your goals, consider meeting with an ICC adviser.
Senior Year: Make Decisions
Career
Academics
Extracurricular
☐ Tailor your cover letter and resume for the
specific industry and positions you are
interested in.
☐ Begin conducting your job search: online, by
telephone, and in person.
☐ Use Aggie Job Link to search for open positions.
☐ Research and develop a target list of
potential employers.
☐ Meet employers on campus.
☐ Consider participating in on-campus interviews;
interview schedules start in September.
☐ Attend internship and career fairs.
☐ Develop an active network by joining
professional organizations.
☐ Attend workshops and meet with sta at the ICC
to develop your job search strategy.
☐ Be aware of your online presence and how this
may aect your job search.
☐ Research and apply to graduate or professional
schools.
☐ Conduct a research project. Consider presenting
at the Undergraduate Research Conference in
spring.
☐ Confirm your remaining degree requirements
with your major/academic adviser.
☐ Take a leadership role in a class, project, or club.
☐ Explore lifelong learning interests.
☐ Prepare for the transition from undergraduate
experience to graduate school or the professional
world.
Senior year is the time to make decisions about your career after graduation. We recommend you start
looking for a position as soon as you start your senior year. ICC sta are available to assist you throughout the
job search and application process, so be sure to connect with an ICC adviser early during your senior year.
2
Starting the Career Discussion: Resources
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/advising.htm
Career Advising at the ICC
• Provides information on advising services and a link to our online appointment scheduling system.
530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
The Internship and Career Center (ICC) maintains many resources that can be used to start the career
discussion, several of which are listed below. We encourage you to explore our website at icc.ucdavis.edu to
learn more.
Career Exploration and
Research Resources
icc.ucdavis.edu/research/what-can-i-do.htm
• Includes Occupational Outlook Handbook,
CA Career Zone, Career One Stop and O*Net
List of Career Research Webpages
icc.ucdavis.edu/data
• Provides information on typical career
areas and the types of employers that
hire people with each major, as well as
strategies to make you a more marketable
candidate. Note: Major is NOT prescriptive
in terms of career path in most cases.
What Can I Do with This Major?
icc.ucdavis.edu/data
• UC Davis specific information on students’
first positions after graduation from the First
Destination Survey.
Career Data by Degree, UC Davis
icc.ucdavis.edu/research/industry.htm
• Includes job titles and links to local
professional associations by industry.
Information by Industry
Interest Area
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/fair.htm
icc.ucdavis.edu/find/part-time
• Dates and times of the upcoming
Internship and Career Fairs at
UC Davis.
• Part-time positions on and o campus
can deliver income and also help develop
career-related experience, skills, and
connections.
Internship and Career Fairs
Find Part-Time Jobs
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/workshops.htm
• Provides information about our
workshop oerings and several online
webshops on a variety of career topics.
Workshops and Webshops
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/calendar.htm
• Provides information on our regular
workshop oerings and special events.
ICC Events Calendar
icc.ucdavis.edu/find/resources/ajl.htm
• Search for internships and jobs.
Aggie Job Link
Job and Internship
Search Resources
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Resume Starter Kit
Internship and Career Center (ICC)
University of California, Davis
A resume is a summary of your experiences, skills and accomplishments. It is not every detail of
your work history. You may tailor them to each position.
How to Get Started on Writing a Resume
Use the information on the next two pages of this packet to learn the basics of writing and formatting
a resume.
1)
Review the additional resume resources on the ICC website.
2)
Attend a Resume Basics Workshop - see ICC Calendar of Events
3)
Start with the Resume Content Worksheet on the last two pages of this packet to create a rough
draft of the key points you want in your resume. Focus on content rst, then on format. Include
everything here as it’s easier to edit things out than add them in.
4)
Bring the completed (printed) Resume Content Worksheet or a rst, rough draft resume to meet
with advisers at the ICC.
5)
30 Min Appointments
with ICC Career advisors
Appointments are scheduled
online
Drop-In Advising with
Peer Advisors
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.*
Mon – Fri
* Exact times vary. See website for
more info.
icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/resume
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/calendar.htm
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/advising.htm
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Employers are looking for well-rounded applicants with clearly articulated skills, academic accomplishments,
work experience and extracurricular activities. Incorporating this content into your resume will demonstrate your
overall t for the job. Remember, there is no one perfect format.
You should tailor your resume to show you are a
good t for the position. You will need to clearly
understand the mission, focus, goals and objectives
of the organization and job that you are applying to.
Research is key. To get started, follow the steps below:
1. Collect Experiences and Skills
Use the Resume Content Worksheet on the last two
pages of this packet.
2. Tailor and Format
Visit icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/resume/step2.htm
for more information.
3. Submit
Visit icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/resume/step3.htm
for more information.
• One page for recent graduates; two pages if you
have extensive work history. Do not include more
than 10+ years on your resume.
• Direct the reader’s eye using layout/headings.
• Proofread! No typographical, spelling or
grammatical errors.
• Don’t rely on spell-check.
• Tailor contents to each job/application.
• List information in reverse chronological order.
• Sell yourself—be selective about what you include
and organize information logically.
• Use consistent verb tense—use either past or
present.
• Some job boards and employer sites ask you to
upload a text version of your resume.
Resume Tips for Specic Fields
How to Get StartedGeneral Resume Guidelines
Arts and Communication
• Portfolios/work samples are sometimes expected and
should be noted on your resume. If you have an online
portfolio, include a link in your resume contact information
heading.
• Graphics are invited in this eld and will be seen as a
demonstration of your creativity.
• It’s okay to translate your internships into job titles that
accurately describe your duties, e.g. using Public Relations
Assistant instead of the ofcial job title of Student Assistant.
• For journalism opportunities, include uency in other
languages if applicable.
Business
• In most cases “management” isn’t a very realistic
objective.
• Focus on a particular area—nance, marketing, human
resources—and express long-term interest in management.
• Business employers are interested in results. Be sure your
resume highlights specic achievements, times when you
exceeded goals, etc.
• Quantify your experience: “Increased sales by 30%.”
Show accomplishments in previous experience.
• Stress tangible leadership experience when listing
extracurricular involvement.
• List transferable skills such as time management, conict
resolution and decision making.
Human Services
• For many of these occupations, experience as a volunteer is
considered a strong measure of knowledge and commitment.
List key responsibilities and outcomes.
• For teaching jobs, experience you had working with young
people and any tutoring or teaching experiences are important.
Life Sciences/Physical Sciences
• Research and lab techniques should be listed for jobs in these
elds. List scientic techniques you are most familiar with or
have recently used.
• Because the employer may be looking for certain majors, your
education should be near the top of your resume.
• Healthcare jobs place a strong emphasis upon communication
skills, including bilingual ability.
• Include science organization memberships.
Technology
• Employers in this eld prefer objectives that are precise,
indicating a particular area of interest or expertise.
• Include technical courses and projects to support interest and
objective.
• GPA should be included.
• Break technical skills into subcategories. This will make it easier
for the reader to pick up the specic skills they are looking for
(i.e. Operating Systems, Hardware, Software, Networking and
Programming Languages).
• Be sure your resume is loaded with keywords denoting skills.
Have a text version of your resume for sites requesting this
format.
• Including both technical and non-technical work experience
demonstrates experience working in professional settings.
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Content Essentials Hints
These components are ESSENTIAL for EVERY resume and CV.
Contact Information
Full name, address, best phone number and
email to reach you, and web address (e.g.
your LinkedIn or online portfolio) you would
like employers to use to contact you.
Make sure email and phone number are
professionally appropriate and typo-free.
Do not include your address or phone
number if posting your resume or CV
publicly online.
Education
Name of school, degree earned, major
and minor, expected graduation date, and
sometimes GPA (depends on eld and
employer). GPA is not included on CVs.
List your highest degree rst followed by
other degrees you have received. Listing
community college is optional, especially
if no degree was awarded. Can also list
study abroad experiences.
Relevant Experience
Job title, company name, dates of
experience, describe job duties, signicant
accomplishments and contributions. You can
include volunteer or leadership and research
experience related to your objective here (or
below) as well. Experiences should be listed
in reverse chronological order.
Can include paid and non-paid positions,
internships and military duty. Present
achievements, contributions and results.
CVs could include professional, research
and teaching (mentoring) experience
sections.
The following categories are optional and can be included on a resume or CV—include the categories that best describe
your skills and experiences that relate to the position you are seeking.
Objective
Only used when describing a very specic
position (e.g. “Summer internship at Intel,”
“Career position in nance,” or “Senior
analyst #6532 at Sandia National Lab”).
This is a one-line description of the
position desired that may include job title,
job number and company name. It can
be omitted in most cases, and is typically
not included in CVs.
Qualications/Skills
Identify skills the employer is looking for.
They may be grouped by category such as:
laboratory skills; computer and sotfware
skills; research techniques, processes and
analysis; language skills; and administrative
or professional skills, but do not have to be.
List only the skills you can perform with
little or no supervision. Consider using the
ICC’s transferable skills list.
Group/Class Projects/Relevant
Coursework
Relevant classes and/or projects. Include
if it demonstrates skill set or knowledge
gained through coursework or project
implementation, but make sure it is relevant
to the position.
List the course title, not the course number.
Relevant classes can be listed as a
subsection under Education.
Honors and Awards
Honors, awards, grants, and scholarships.
Be sure to include a description and year
received. Focus on merit-based scholarships
and grants.
Can be listed separately or as a
subsection under Education. For a CV,
this section should follow the publications
and presentations section.
Travel
List countries and travel experiences, if
relevant to the position for which you are
applying.
Step 1: Collect Experiences and Skills
The table below covers content to consider as you brainstorm experiences and skills for your
resume. Source: http://icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/resume/step1.htm
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Content Essentials Hints
The following categories are optional and can be included on a resume or CV—include the categories that best describe
your skills and experiences that relate to the position you are seeking.
Research/Publications/
Presentations/Posters
Project title, where published and when.
Undergrads—List roles as Research
Assistant, name the lab, project or
techniques.
For CV, list publications in citation format.
STEM elds ususally number publications
and bold your name in the list of authors.
Relevant Volunteer and
Community Activities/
Leadership/Academic Service
List organization, ofce(s) held and
time frame. A brief description of
accomplishments can also be added if
highly relevant.
We suggest that you place internship
positions under the experience section
instad of this section.
Certications/Licenses/Patents List if noteworthy and/or applicable to the
position for which you are applying. Only
list if current.
Add date issued or future expiration date.
Write out abbreviations.
Professional Afliations Include current memberships only, add
leadership positions within organizations if
appropriate.
For advanced degree resumes, it might be
best to include this information below the
education section.
References Not included on a resume, but included
on a CV and should include full contact
information.
See references page for more information:
icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/references.htm
Step 1: Collect Experiences and Skills (continued)
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530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
Name: __________________________
Begin the process of writing your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) by making note of all of the
experiences and positions you’ve had using the grid below.
Date: ______________
Essential Resume Content
Resume Content Worksheet
Optional Resume Content
Contact
Information
Education
Relevant
Experience
Objective
Qualications
and Skills
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Group/Class
Projects and
Relevant
Coursework
Honors and
Awards
Travel
Research,
Publications,
Presentations
and Posters
Relevant
Volunteer and
Community
Activities,
Leadership
and Academic
Service
Certications,
Licenses and
Patents
Professional
Afliations
References
Optional Resume Content (continued)
Once completed, bring this paper to the ICC for help crafting your resume or CV. For drop-in hours or
to make an appointment, visit icc.ucdavis.edu/services/advising.htm
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Cover Letter Starter Kit
Internship and Career Center (ICC)
University of California, Davis
Cover letters are a way to create a personalized statement that explains how you as the applicant
meet the needs of the employer or internship sponsor. This is about marketing yourself, telling
your story. It goes with your resume, which is a summary of your experiences, skills, and
accomplishments. Use a cover letter unless specically told not to do so.
How to Get Started on Writing a Cover Letter
Use the information on the next two pages of this packet to learn the basic purpose and formatting
a resume.
1)
Review the additional cover letter resources on the ICC website.
2)
Attend a cover letter writing workshop - see ICC Calendar of Events
3)
Start with the Cover Letter Content Worksheet on last two pages of this packet to create a rough
draft of the key points you want in your cover letter.
4)
Bring the completed (printed) Cover Letter Content Worksheet or a rst, rough draft to meet with
advisers at the ICC.
5)
30 Min Appointments
with ICC Career Advisors
Appointments are scheduled
online
Drop-In Advising with
Peer Advisors
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.*
Mon – Fri
* Exact times vary. See website
for more info.
http://icc.ucdavis.edu/materials/cover-letters.htm
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/calendar.htm
icc.ucdavis.edu/services/advising.htm
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530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
A cover letter or letter of intent should go with most resumes submitted for consideration for jobs or internships.
If you can only upload one document, you can make your letter/resume into a two-page document with a page
break in-between the two sections. A cover letter is important because:
• It introduces you and your resume.
• It explains why you are a good t for
this opportunity.
• It bridges the gap between your resume and the
reader/employer.
• It supplements and expands on projects,
education and experiences directly related to the
opening.
• It can make the difference between having your
resume read or ignored.
• Unless told explicitly not to, you should always
include a cover letter in your application.
• Don’t use text abbreviations or emoticons if you
are using emailing.
• Don’t be too wordy or write just to ll the entire
page.
• Don’t submit a generic “one size ts all” cover
letter; tailor your cover letter to t each position.
Thus, none of your cover letters will be exactly the
same, though a lot of content will be similar in
each.
• Don’t repeat or summarize your resume in your
cover letter. Instead, focus the cover letter on your
enthusiasm for the job, excitement about working
with that organization, to highlight unique skills
that make you qualied for the position and a
good t for the employer.
• Don’t overuse adjectives or superlatives, especially
subjective ones (e.g. “You are the best company in
the world” or “I am the most hardworking student
intern you will ever meet.”).
• Quantify when possible. “I’ve helped organize
three club events, including two successful
initiatives attended by 25 people” is a better
descriptor then “I’ve helped organize several club
events, including a couple successful initiatives
attended by many people.”
• Don’t exaggerate your skills or experience.
• Don’t use UC Davis letterhead, logo, or UC seal
in your cover letter. [NOTE: For graduate students
and postdocs, some departments allow use of
department letterhead for tenure-track faculty
applications. Check with your department before
using.]
• Limit the cover letter to one page if possible,
unless applying to academic faculty, teaching or
research positions.
• Use the same font and formatting in the cover
letter as you use in your resume.
• You might also want to use the same header
in both a cover letter and resume. See header
formatting examples.
• If providing a printed copy, use the same type
of paper for both your cover letter and resume.
Resume paper can be purchased at the UC Davis
Bookstore or at an ofce supply store.
• Many tech companies prefer the cover letter not
be attached, but uploaded as text in an email with
the resume attached.
• Use formal, professional language in a cover
letter. This is true when sending your cover letter
as text in an email (above point).
• Personalize each cover letter to the specic
position you are applying to.
• Address your cover letter to a specic person or
the hiring manager whenever possible. If you
don’t know their name, use one of the following
examples: Dear Hiring Manager,” “Dear [insert
department here] Hiring Team,” “Dear Recruiter,“
“Dear Search Committee Chair and Committee
Members:” (used for academic teaching positions)
“To Whom It May Concern: “ Note, this last one
uses a “:” not a “,”
• Check for typos, proper grammar and accuracy.
• Use spellcheck, but do not rely on it to catch all
errors.
• Have multiple people review your application
materials.
• Make an appointment with an ICC adviser to
review your application materials before you
apply.
Cover Letter Don’ts
Cover Letter Do’s
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Cover Letter Format and Content Description
12
Name, Title (who is it going to ….format: First Name Last Name, Title)
Company Name
Street Address
City, State Zip
In the FIRST PARAGRAPH, tell how you heard about the job and, if appropriate, name the person who
told you about it. Mention the specic job title. Express your interest in the company or position. Say
you are enclosing/attaching a resume that shows how you are qualied for this job. (optional)
In the SECOND PARAGRAPH (AND MAYBE IN A 3RD PARAGRAPH), analyze your background and
skills in relationship to the specic job description. Show how you make a ‘good t’ with this job/
organization and how you can contribute.
It is about what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. Give one or two examples of
related experience. Keep the job description in mind and do NOT restate your resume. This letter
shows brief highlights of your ‘t’ with a specic job using specic skills, qualities, knowledge, interests
you have that relate to the opening. (Break big paragraphs up, using one paragraph for each skill set
is one way to organize them. Smaller paragraphs are more readable.)
In the LAST PARAGRAPH, tell how you will follow through with this application. For example, “I
am eager to meet with you to discuss this opportunity. I am available for an interview at a mutually
convenient time. And remind the reader how to reach you best.” For example, “I will be in the Bay
Area during the week of March 25.” or “I am able to drive to Roseville any day except Tuesdays and
Thursdays.” And “I can best be reached at 530-555-1212 or james.stewar[email protected].” I look
forward to hearing from you
Dear Ms., /Mr., /Dr., (or Hiring Manager, or To Whom It May Concern: )
Sincerely,
(typically leave 4 spaces for your signature)
James Stewart (if emailing, use a script-like font to simulate your signature in this space)
James Stewart (Just type your name here—2 spaces below signature)
Return Address (yours, the sender) City, State Zip
Telephone with area code
Email address
Date
Avoid overuse of adjectives and adverbs.
Strive to be objective. Avoid: I am an
incredibly hard worker. Better: My past
supervisor noted that I am able to complete
projects earlier than deadlines.
Explain in the cover letter how your
experience relates to this opening using one
or two key examples. Do not summarize your
whole resume
Use SPELLCHECK often, but do not rely on it
to catch all errors. Then copy and paste your
letter as the text of your email and attach it in
pdf format.
Attachments (if email) referring to your resume or Enclosures (if paper mail)
530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
Cover Letter for Internship Position
13
Human Resources Department – Internship Program
National Public Radio
123 Government Street
Washington, DC 20301
I am very interested in the internship with the Communications/Public and Media Relations Department
during the Winter Quarter. I am a Junior at the University of California, Davis, pursuing a bachelor’s
degree in American Studies with a minor in Communication. My research experience has sparked my
interest in the way that media is delivered through marketing and advertising. I believe in the mission
of National Public Radio and would be excited to be an intern with your organization.
This summer while studying abroad I was able to look at American culture from a different perspective.
This has increased my interest in news delivery and how it helps to inform citizens. I was the only
freshman to be elected to the position of Senator for the Associated Students of UC Davis, and rose to
the challenge of representing rst-year students while collaborating on larger university issues. Through
these experiences I learned the value of effective communication through all forms of media.
I am condent that my experiences, skills and strong interests in the goals of NPR have prepared me
to be a strong intern for your program. I have attached my resume and look forward to discussing my
qualications with you. Thank you for your time and consideration
Dear Internship Coordinator,
Sincerely,
Josie Beech
Josie Beech
Attachment
555 A Street
Davis, CA 95616
(520) 867-XXXX
November 10, 20XX
530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
Name: __________________________
Begin the process of writing your cover letter by using the grid below.
Date: ______________
Cover Letter Content Worksheet
Personal Contact
Info
Name, Address,
Phone, Email
Optional:
LinkedIn, Online
portfolio
Date
Employer ‘s
Contact Info
Name, Department,
Company, Address
If no specic
person’s name
use position title
or dept. name, If
no address use
email with city/
state
Greeting
“Dear Ms., Mr.
______,”
Or…
Dear Chris Bender,
If unsure about
gender use rst &
last name, If no
specic name can
use “Dear Search
Committee,”,
“Dear Hiring
Manager”, or
“To Whom it May
Concern:”
Beginning
Paragraph
Possible ideas:
Position applying for,
Organization name,
How you discovered
position, Who you
are – Year in school,
university, major, Why
you’re interested in
job/ company (be
specic!), Why you’re
qualied
Why you’re
qualied section
(last sentence of
this paragraph)
should be a quick
one sentence
summary of why
you are a good
t for the position,
similar to a thesis
statement of your
qualications
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530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
Cover Letter Content Worksheet (continued)
15
Middle
Paragraph(s)
Describe 1-3 of your
experiences/projects
that show your job
specic skills and
qualications (Refer to
qualications section
on job description
and select applicable
skills to showcase)
– You may include
your position title,
organization, main
roles you had,
transferable skills, how
you can add value to
organization.
Add scope
(quantity, quality,
impact), Be
modest/objective,
Avoid using
words like “best”
or “excellent”
(but okay to say
“my supervisor
remarked that I
am the best…”),
Focus on what
you will bring to
the organization
that will make
them glad they
hired you
Ending/
Summarizing
Paragraph
Final interest and
t statement, Refer
to materials that
you have attached,
Express willingness
to provide additional
materials, State
practical remarks,
Proactive statement –
“I look forward to…”,
Thank you statement
Practical remarks
section is where
you can state
things like if you
will be going
on vacation and
will not be able
to be contacted,
if you have not
completed a
certication yet
but are scheduled
to take the exam,
if you will be
relocating or will
be visiting the
area soon
Closing and
Signature
““Sincerely”, “Best
Regards”, “Yours,’
Hand-written signature
AND Typed name
Best to hand-write
signature but if
you are unable
to scan document
you can use
script-like font
instead
530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
To Resume or not to Resume
What to Wear
Prepare for the Fair
• Bring resumes if you have them ready.
• If you do not have your resume ready, ask the recruiter where you can send your resume.
• Do not give out an ill-prepared resume! It is better to send it to them later and make sure it looks good. Be
sure to have someone from the Internship & Career Center critique it prior to the fair.
• Speak to the recruiter rst and then ask them if they would like a copy of your resume.
• Do not get discouraged when companies ask you to submit online. This may be a company procedure—it
does not indicate they are not interested.
• You do not need to wear a suit, but if you are close to graduation it may be a good idea.
• Wear business attire.
• Males: Nice pants, dress shirt, tie is optional.
• Females: Skirt or slacks with a nice shirt or a business-style dress. Jacket is recommended. Heels are not necessary.
• No jeans or messy clothing. Dress a cut above the “Student Look.”
Who are the Recruiters?
• They are representatives of the company comprised of: Recruiters/Personnel/Human Resources (HR),
Supervisors or Managers, company employees or specialists, and UC Davis Alumni.
Be Aware
Supervisors or Managers may have positions they are trying to ll so they may do a brief interview at the fair.
Specialists may not know hiring/personnel issues. Human Resources people may not know much about the
job responsibilities or how to answer specialized questions. You may talk with someone other than an industry
specialist. Do not disregard someone’s position title because they may determine whether to pass your resume on
to the hiring management.
You may only have 1-2 minutes to talk to you, so be prepared with what you want to ask.
Make a Strong First Impression
• Be bold and positive!
• Introduce yourself, provide a rm handshake, and make eye contact.
• Let representatives know that you are condent and excited to meet them.
• Make a note of the recruiter’s name as many do not give out personal business cards. However you may still
request a business card for a follow up.
Interviews
• If it seems like you are being interviewed during the fair, you probably are. Some company reps will take this
opportunity to conduct a mini interview to see if they are interested in conducting a formal interview with you.
• If companies do not specify when to follow-up, send a brief e-mail one to two weeks after the fair asking about
the status of your application. Attach an updated copy of your resume to the e-mail.
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530–752–2855 South Hall, 2nd Floor icc.ucdavis.edu
Preparation
Prepare Questions to Ask
Be Prepared to Answer Recruiters’ Questions
Follow Up
Aggie Job Link
• Time passes quickly, decide which organizations you are most interested in.
• Log into your Aggie Job Link account to view up-to-date list of companies attending the fair and to get links
to company websites.
• Check Aggie Job Link to see if the company has a job posting, on campus interviews dates or if they have an
information meeting scheduled.
• Explore company websites and take notes on where they are located, what positions they have to offer and
what skills and qualications they are looking for.
• Look at the oor plan in the Career Fair Program Guide to nd out where organizations you want to visit are
located. Expect some cancellations and some last minute arrivals.
• Travel as light as possible. You’ll be shaking hands and collecting company literature. There is no coat check.
• Prepare a “1-2 minute commercial” of the skills and talents that set you apart from others. Give a little
background about yourself, e.g. your skills, your interests and whether you are looking for a career position,
internship, volunteer position or just general information.
• Rehearse your commercial!
• What opportunities are available for someone with my background?
• What kind of candidate does your organization look for?
• Can you tell me something about your internship program?
• What can I be doing now to prepare myself for a job in this eld?
• How can I go about applying for a position with your organization?
• What do you look for when you interview?
• What is the application process for these positions?
• What are the differences in responsibilities for bachelors vs. masters students?
• Try to avoid the question, “What does your company or organization do?” That information is available in
the organization descriptions on their web page.
• Be honest. Keep in mind who you are talking to and what they may be looking for.
• Recruiters may ask:
• Do not forget to post your resume to the organization through Aggie Job Link, if they will
be interviewing on campus.
• Do not forget to submit your resume to the company website if you were instructed, in some cases you need
to apply through Aggie Job Link and the company website.
• Lots of companies schedule their on-campus interviews around the career fair so make sure your address,
email, and year in school are current in your prole, resume and cover letter uploaded in the system so you
can quickly submit your materials to companies
Did you know that only a small percentage of people send thank you cards or emails after a meeting or
interview? Set yourself apart by sending a brief note thanking the representative for their time. You may want to
attach a copy of your resume to the note.
What classes are you taking? What is your favorite class? What is your major? What are your career goals?
Why did you select UC Davis? How do you like it?
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