The two key elements of a standard job application are a well-crafted resume and cover letter. Reference the templates linked below as you work to develop your own resume and cover letter for your job search. We recommend reviewing the RSENR Cover Letter & Resume Workshop presentation to get started.

Resumes

Just getting started? Check out the resume resources from the UVM Career Center.

Cover Letters

Just getting started? Check out the cover letter resources from the UVM Career Center.

Federal Job Applications

The USAjobs website has a lot of tools to help applicants tailor their materials to the federal format.

Get started with USAJobs. Need to rework your resume for a federal application? Check out this helpful resource for federal resumes.

Other things to know:

  • Resumes submitted on USAJobs can be LONG – be as detailed as possible. In this instance, it can be more than one page (or two, or three).
  • Items you mention in the application need to be supported by details in your resume.
  • Use the specific language of the job description – don’t worry if it feels repetitive. The first-round review will probably not be someone who works in that field (e.g., an HR specialist is not a biologist), and might not know that a dichotomous key is the same thing as an identification key.
  • To add up the experience time to match what the job description is asking for, use internships, volunteer work, field work from courses, part time jobs, research assistantships…it all counts. It’s painstaking but worth it.
  • As always in applications, talk yourself up – now is not the time to be humble. But be honest!

Interviewing

Once you've submitted your application materials, it's time to start preparing for an interview.

Review the RSENR Basics of Interview Workshop presentation for some tips and tricks.