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September 06, 2007
Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews: Basic Tips From Employers
As part of our efforts to increase employer outreach in different markets, the CSO spent much of the month of August meeting and communicating with employers in New York City, Los Angeles, and Northeast Ohio. Although the bulk of the meetings and discussions were spent talking about the law school and learning about the employers, many employers also took the opportunity to share some basic cover letter, resume, and interview advice for us to pass along to students. Almost every employer we met with emphasized the following:
• Make sure that any cover letter and resume that you submit to an employer is free of typos. A typo in a cover letter or resume almost always gives the employer an automatic reason to stop considering the resume no matter what else is listed on it.
• Make sure that your cover letter is addressed to the correct person and the correct employer. And make sure, if you mention particular practice areas in the cover letter, that the employer actually has those practice areas. Employers dread receiving a cover letter that is addressed to someone else, that is addressed to the wrong firm, or that mentions working in a practice area that the employer does not have.
• Make sure that you can talk about everything that is listed on your resume. One employer in Los Angeles emphasized that if a person chooses to list personal interests or hobbies on his or her resume, the person had better prepared to talk in detail about those interests and hobbies in an interview.
• Do your best to make sure your cover letter specifically explains why you are interested in the particular employer. Employers can tell when they are receiving a mass-mailed cover letter and most employers prefer to see a letter that specifically explains why you are interested in working for the particular employer. An alum in New York City explained that, although it took her some time to tailor each cover letter to a particular employer, it really helped her obtain interviews with small and mid-size New York City employers.
• Do your research. Be prepared to explain in an interview what specific reasons you have for wanting to work for the employer with whom you are interviewing. Use the interview to demonstrate that you have familiarized yourself with the available information about the employer.
Feel free to schedule an appointment with the CSO to discuss cover letters, resumes, and interviewing tips. Remember that the CSO is available to review your cover letter and resume, provide substantive suggestions, and help you avoid typos! We’re also available for mock interviews and to answer any questions you have about the job search process.
Posted by kcc17 at September 6, 2007 11:30 AM