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.
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
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 connect 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
Ai Guidance
It’s important to note that AI should not be used to replace your voice. Use it as a tool to get started or brainstorm ideas but always review and revise to ensure it reflects you.
DO remember AI is a tool, not the creator
Use AI to enhance and refine your resume, not to create it for you. Your resume should always reflect your own experiences, skills, and achievements.
DO use AI to help tailor your resume to a job description
Use AI to compare your resume to the job description to identify relevant skills and experiences you may want to highlight.
AI Prompt: “Based on the job description, does my resume reflect a strong candidate?”
DO use AI to identify key skills from job descriptions
Copy and paste the job description into AI and ask: “What are the key skills that should be visible on my resume based on the job description and my major?”
Only include the skills you possess, and remember you WILL need to speak to these skills in an interview.
DO write your bullet points first, then use AI to polish
AI can be used to polish your bullet points; however, make sure you’re writing them out on your own beforehand.
AI Prompt: “Polish my bullet points but make sure to keep my voice.”
DON’T copy and paste AI content without reviewing it
Always review and edit anything AI creates, so it reflects your true experiences, accomplishments, and writing style. Inconsistencies between your resume and interview will stand out to recruiters.
DON’T add skills or experience you don’t have
Just because AI suggests it doesn’t mean it applies to you. Be honest as you will be expected to talk about everything on your resume during your interview.
DON’T lose your voice in the process
If it doesn’t sound like you, it’s not done yet. Your resume should still reflect your tone and personality.
