Professional Documents
Career & Professional Development | Students | Professional Documents
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Your resume, cover letter, and other application materials help tell your story and show how your experiences connect to the opportunities you’re pursuing. Whether you’re applying for a job, internship, grad school, or something else, having clear and tailored documents can make a real difference.
Resume and Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Purpose: Used for most job, internship, and fellowship applications
Length: Typically one page (sometimes two for graduate students or students with extensive experience)
Content: Summarizes your most relevant experience which includes education, work, leadership, skills, etc.
Style: Concise, tailored to each role, achievement-focused
Audience: Employers in business, nonprofits, education, and most industries
Most students will use a resume for internships, part-time jobs, and full-time roles.
Purpose: Used for academic, research, teaching, or fellowship positions
Length: 2+ pages (grows over time)
Content: Comprehensive listing of background which includes research, publications, presentations, teaching, awards, affiliations
Style: More detailed and structured, less tailored to each job
Audience: Academic institutions, graduate schools, and research organizations
You may need a CV when you’re applying to graduate or professional school, research-focused positions or assistantships, or academic conferences or funding opportunities.
For detailed information, check out our Resume Guide
VMock: Resume Feedback Anytime
VMock is a smart resume review tool available to all UNCG students. It provides instant, personalized feedback on formatting, language, and how well your resume showcases your skills.
It’s a great first step, whether you’re building a resume from scratch or improving a draft.
What to Expect:
While VMock gives instant scores and suggestions after uploading, using it well takes a little time. Expect to spend 20–30 minutes reviewing the feedback, making edits, and re-uploading for improved results.
We recommend using VMock when:
- You’re creating your first resume or revising a prior version
- You want suggestions before scheduling an appointment
- You’re preparing to upload your resume to Handshake to apply to opportunities
- Log in to VMock with your UNCG credentials
- Upload your resume as a PDF
- Wait a few seconds for your resume score
- Click “View Feedback” to see detailed suggestions
- Make edits to improve your score—we recommend reaching at least 65
- Once you’re happy with your resume, upload it to Handshake to apply for jobs
Need a walkthrough? View our VMock Guide
Each student has up to 10 uploads per academic year
Start applying for jobs!
- Log in to Handshake
- Click your name (top right) → “Documents”
- Upload your resume (PDF) and name it (FirstName_LastName_Resume)
A staff member will review and approve it within 48 business hours
Cover Letter
Cover letters give you a chance to tell your story, show enthusiasm, and explain why you’re a great fit for a specific role. Cover letters are the bridge between your resume and the job description and should be tailored for each job application.
Key Elements of a Strong Cover Letter
- Opening Paragraph: Introduce yourself, name the position you’re applying for, and express your interest.
- Body Paragraph(s): Share 1-2 examples that highlight how your skills/experience connects to the job decision.
- Closing paragraph: Restate your interest, thank the reader, and indicate your availability.
For detailed information, check out our Cover Letter Guide
