• Course Introduction

        • Time: 5 hours
        • Free Certificate
        If you are entering the job market or pursuing a job or career change, you should create a professional résumé to provide potential employers with a brief account of your work, educational, and personal qualifications. For most job applications, you should also include a cover letter to market your unique strengths for a specific position.

        In this course, we explore techniques to help you construct a résumé and cover letter to help you stand out among other job candidates. We study several formats you can apply to various situations and help you assess your professional skills so you can be more competitive in today's job market. Finally, we discuss how to turn an average résumé and cover letter into a polished and effective marketing tool.

        • Course Syllabus

          First, read the course syllabus. Then, enroll in the course by clicking "Enroll me". Click Unit 1 to read its introduction and learning outcomes. You will then see the learning materials and instructions on how to use them.

        • Unit 1: Introduction to the Résumé

          In this unit, we discuss the function and purpose of a professional résumé. We explore three traditional résumé formats: a conventional résumé, functional or skills-based résumé, and chronological résumé. We also look at examples of CVs to help you present your credentials to potential employers in the academic world or other positions that require a different type of résumé called a curriculum vitae (CV). You will notice that the type of résumé you choose depends largely on what you want to market about yourself and who your audience is.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.

        • Unit 2: Key Components of a Résumé and Cover Letter

          Now, let's focus on the key components your résumé should contain in greater detail. What consider the categories do you wish to include to highlight your major accomplishments, professional skills, and other pertinent information? How should you organize these components to showcase your abilities to a potential employer? In this unit, we examine common design elements and simple techniques to format and style your résumé. After all the effort you have put into your résumé, you want your target audience to read it! You should include an effective cover letter to accompany your résumé. This unit provides helpful information to formulate this important marketing tool.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 2 hours.

        • Unit 3: Enhance Your Résumé and Cover Letter

          You do not need to be technically skilled to create an attractive résumé. You can strengthen the language and organization of your résumé by using action verbs, keywords, and clear headings or markers. Always edit and review your résumé and cover letter to ensure their quality. Ask a friend to review your materials. Be sure to tailor your application materials to a specific position opening. In this unit, we continue the theme of developing marketing tools to introduce yourself, communicate your qualifications, and express your interest in the job. Clearly state how you can provide the ideal solution to the employer’s hiring needs.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 2 hours.

        • Course Feedback Survey

          Please take a few minutes to give us feedback about this course. We appreciate your feedback, whether you completed the whole course or even just a few resources. Your feedback will help us make our courses better, and we use your feedback each time we make updates to our courses.

          If you come across any urgent problems, email contact@saylor.org.

        • Certificate Final Exam

          Take this exam if you want to earn a free Course Completion Certificate.

          To receive a free Course Completion Certificate, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on this final exam. Your grade for the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam on your first try, you can take it again as many times as you want, with a 7-day waiting period between each attempt.

          Once you pass this final exam, you will be awarded a free Course Completion Certificate.