In General
• When submitting material electronically, documents should be in MS Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat
(.pdf) format. The only way to guarantee that your fonts and formatting are preserved is to convert the
.doc to a .pdf.
• Title your documents in a way that is helpful for the recipient. “OrchestraCoverLetter.doc” is not as
good as using your last name, e.g.: “Wingert letter.doc.”
• Do not use color, borders or clip art on either your resume or cover letter.
• Do not paste a headshot or other photo on your resume or letter.
• Use a typeface that is large enough to be read easily. If in doubt, ask a member of AARP to take a look.
• Consider creating a common letterhead on each document. If you use a nice font and layout for your
name, address, phone number(s) and email, you can use this as your header on your letter, resume,
references, salary history, etc.
• Even if submitting materials electronically, print a copy to see what the document really looks like in
person, on paper.
Cover Letter
• Keep the letter to a reasonable length, a page to a page and a half or so.
• Write a unique letter for each application. It is obvious when a form letter is used.
• Include the organization’s name and position’s title in the opening paragraph.
• Find a balance between discussing yourself and the organization. Show the reader that you have done
some research and have a genuine interest the organization.
• Talk about results. Include specific accomplishments with data, e.g. XX% growth in ticket sales over X
years, etc. But if you use percentages, give some base numbers for context.
• Explain what makes the position appealing to you.
• When the letter is finished, count how many times the word “I” is used. Too many applicants use “I” to
start most sentences and/or paragraphs which results in weak, redundant writing with an ego.
• Address letters to a specific name, if possible, or to “Members of the Search Committee.”
• Scan your signature and save it as a small .jpg to paste into your letter. Your signature will also convert if
you turn your .doc into a .pdf.
Resume
• Resumes need not be limited to one page. In general, two to three pages is fine.
• The keys to a great looking resume are consistency and organization. For example, if you indent one job
title, be sure to indent them all throughout. Note small differences like “2005-2006” and “2005 – 2006”
and use one or the other consistently.
• Resumes are easiest to read and navigate when they have a good amount of “white space.” Leave a blank
line between job listings, etc.
• Don’t use abbreviations unless they are well known and widely accepted.
• It is helpful to include a sentence or two describing each organization listed on your resume.
• It is presumed that you will provide references, when necessary. You do not need to include “References
Available Upon Request” on your resume.
• Do not list your references on your resume. This information should be provided on a separate page.
- Christopher Wingert
Catherine French Group
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rev. 10/2008
Application Material Tips