Questions about job hunting do not always have simple “yes” or “no” answers. These answers can help you address many of your major concerns.

Cover letters

• Should I send a cover letter? Yes. The cover letter quickly introduces the person to you and your resume. It should be short and to the point. (See Example)

• Should I send a cover letter if I am sending my resume over the internet? Yes. You can use the actual email as the cover letter or you may attach the cover letter with the resume. If you are sending it as an attachment, make it part of the same document as the resume so the person printing does not have to open two files. Also, call your file by your name.

• What do I do if I can’t find out the name of the person I am sending the letter to? Use the phrase: Dear Recruiter. However, first pay the price to find out.

Resumes: General questions

• How long should a resume be? One page is the standard. Generally, only those with about 20 years experience should consider a longer resume. And even those with many years of experience should be careful to make sure they are adding value with an additional page.

• What kind of paper should I use? White, high quality paper is the standard.

• What font should I use? Times Roman and Ariel are typical.

• What size font should I use? 11 point for Times Roman. 10 point for Ariel.

• Should I use color for highlight? No.

• Should I use bolds, italics, or underlining to highlight text? No. Bold, italics, or underlining should only be used for section headings and titles. Do not use them within the text.

• Should I put the company name or the title of the job first? Generally, it is easier to read a resume if job titles are listed first. This allows the recruiter to quickly see a progress history of work. However, some argue that if you worked for a big name firm that putting the name first creates credibility.

• Do I need to put the month that I started and finished working? Generally, you want to put the month and year that your work started and finished. Leaving it out could suggest you are trying to hide something.

• Which format should I use? Find out what the employer prefers. Format examples are included in the resume section.

• Should I include references on the resume? No. They would be included in the cover letter if requested.

• Should I include an objective statement? Generally, No. Your cover letter has done this.

• Should I use a chronological format or a functional format? We recommend the chronological format. Recruiters coming to BYU expect this format. Information should be in reverse chronological order with newest information first.

  Generally, the functional format is considered a red flag that the person is not qualified for the job. The functional format creates sections based on types of activities such as leadership, project management, and teamwork rather than a history of work.

• Should I include an executive summary? Placing an executive summary in the first section is common. The process of creating a summary helps you to understand what you are really selling. However, a few companies prefer the traditional format of education first. You need to know what the company expects.

• Do I need to include all experience, even if it is unrelated? There is no requirement to list all experience. However, holes in your resume can bring up questions in a recruiters mind. If you have a highly unrelated experience then you have to make a choice: is it a bigger risk to include it and distract a recruiter or is it a bigger risk to leave it off and create questions about your work history?

  It is not essential to show consistent work while you were in college. So, if you worked as a copy machine operator or teaching assistant while you were in college and it is not related to the job, then you don’t need to include it. However, if you are short on experience and your work section is empty, you may want to include it.

Resumes: Church related experience

• Should I put my mission? Each situation is different, so this is not a simple “yes” or “no” question. For many MBA students the answer is “Yes” because it adds to your depth of experience. However, remember that the goal of any information on a resume is to align with the needs of the job. A few things to consider before including mission are relevance to the job, your other experiences, and your age.

  If the job is looking for someone with experiences related to where you were on your mission, then putting your mission on your resume is consistent. Similarly, if you performed duties related to the job then including your mission can be appropriate.

  If you have had many other job experiences since being on your mission then a mission may not be as relevant.  Also, if you are in your mid to late 30s or older, it may not be as relevant because it was a few years ago.

• Should I list mission as work experience or some where else? Your missionary experience could be listed in any of these sections: Work Experience, Experience, Service, Community Service, or Volunteer Experience. The choice of where to place it will depend on how much other experience you have related to the job and how related your mission is to the job.
  

• What activities on my mission are most important to list? Those relevant to the job or those that may be unique are most critical. Leadership, service, and scope of responsibilities are key. Language skills may also be appropriate. Remember the goal is to show results, processes, and skills related to the job you are seeking.

• What title should I use for missionary? Some of the most common choices include the following:  Missionary, Volunteer, Volunteer Representative, and Representative.

• Should I list bishop, relief society president, ward clerk, or other church responsibilities? The answer depends on its relevance to the job. Most of the time these are not listed. However, if you were the financial clerk and you have limited financial experience in a paid position then it may add to your depth of experience.

  Beware that most of the titles listed above can come across as jargon, so be careful not to confuse people. Changing “Relief Society President” to “Service Leader” can make it easier for someone to understand your role.

  If you choose to use these, they are typically listed under the Service or Volunteer section.

Resumes: Personal activities

• Should I list my hobbies? It depends. Know what the company tends to like. If you do list hobbies, try to show some type of uniqueness. So rather than listing “Avid Runner,” list that you “Competed in 3 marathons.”

• Should I list my family, my age, or marital status? No.

• Should I list high school accomplishments? Generally speaking the answer is “No.” These accomplishments are too many years ago to be important. However, if these activities show some skill or achievement that needs to be emphasized over a period of time then it may be appropriate. The older you are the more caution you should use.

• Should I include a picture? No.

• Should I include Eagle Scout? Opinions are split on this. Because it was something you did when you were 16, it can be old information. However, it also shows initiative and completion from a young age. Many people include it. The question is always “How will this help me get an interview and then connect with the interviewer?”

Resumes: Education

• Should I put my GPA? If you have a high GPA, you may want to include it. However, check and find out if it is important to the company.

• Should I put my GMAT? Check and find out if your potential employer expects to have it. If you have a high GMAT (690 or above) then it can be a differentiator.

• Should I put my high school? No.

• Should I put my Associates degree? Generally, yes. However, if you have a lack of space it may be left off because you have a bachelors degree.

Resumes: Skills, Qualities and Certifications

• Should I create a list of skills? The answer is generally “No” for basic skills such as MS Word, Excel, Office, etc. Those in the technical and computer areas should list skills IF they are relevant to the job.

• Should I list certifications? Generally, the answer is “Yes.” The deciding factor is relevance to the job. Typically, don’t list a certification that is unrelated to the job.

• Should I list character qualities? The answer is “No” for such things as hard worker, honest, go getter, and dependable. Show your character through the results you produce.

• Where should I put my skills? Sometimes a set of skills should be listed in the executive summary so it becomes a key selling point. For example, if a language skill is important to the job, then list it in the executive summary, not at the bottom of the page. However, if language is just a nice addition, then it may go at the bottom of the resume. Some choose to create a skills section. It all comes back to what is the customer buying.

Interviewing

• What questions should I be prepared to answer? First, be ready to talk about anything on your resume. Have a concise story with the process you used and the results you accomplished.  Second, be ready with examples of how you have led, initiated, managed projects, handled a difficult coworker, solved a problem, and negotiated. Third, be ready to answer questions about your goals and plans. As part of this, be ready to discuss why you are interested in the company. Fourth, be ready to answer what you know about the company (stock price, industry trends, challenges, successes, etc). Additionally, before an interview, ask your class mates what questions companies are asking. If you want more information on questions, do an internet search for frequently asked questions or get a list from the career center.

• What do I do if they ask me about my weaknesses? Although this question is hard to know how to answer, some basic understanding of why the interviewer is asking the question is important. Interviewers are looking for self awareness and your ability to learn from your experience. So, answering in terms that show you are aware of your need to improve can be helpful.

  For example, “I have struggled with project management and have had to force myself to create the plan and really use it. I have found that it pays off but for me it is something I have to be very intentional about. I have taken classes to improve and I am making progress. We delivered the last project on time and within budget, but it is a work in progress.” Basic advice: Be honest, brief and show that you are willing to learn. However, don’t give an answer that will cost you the job (“I am really lousy at working in a team”). Think through this ahead of time and remember the real question the interviewer is asking.

• What do I say if they ask for my salary requirements? Before arriving do your research so you know what you should be paid. You should know the salary range and where you fit in the range. If you do not know where you fit in the range, you have no grounds for negotiating!

  A general answer the question is the following: “Based on my research, I know the range for this job is about $65,000 to 80,000. Based on my experience of three years as a financial analyst at a Fortune 500 firm, my internship with your company, and my MBA in Finance, I believe I should be in the middle of the range. However, the final number depends on the overall compensation package.”

• How long should I wait before I follow up with a status update? You should ask the interviewer at the end of the interview what is acceptable. If you were unable to ask, two to three weeks is a typical guideline.