Title: Harvard Law School Office of Career Services OCS
1Harvard Law SchoolOffice of Career Services
(OCS) Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest
Advising (OPIA)Fall 2008
- First Year Resume and Cover Letter Workshop
2Application Materials
- Cover letter
- Resume
- List of references
- Writing sample
- Transcript
- Proofread all and have someone else proofread as
well!
3Resume Essentials
- A marketing tool
- Easy to read
- 20 seconds
- One page limit focus on highlights
4Resume Goals
- Set forth relevant experience transferable
skills - Communication - oral and written
- Time management
- Interpersonal
- Leadership
- Initiative/ambition
- Character/interests
5Resume Style Basics
- Bond or plain paper neutral color is best
- Dates consistent format
- Format -
- Use simple fonts (for example, Times New Roman,
size 11) - Bold - only use for section heads like EXPERIENCE
and for your name, educational institutions, and
organizations you worked for (these also look
good in ALL CAPS) - Italics - only publications, Latin honors and
titles of jobs or offices within organization - Underline - dont use it
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7Resume Sections
- Heading
- Education
- Experience
- Other -language
- -interests
8Resume Heading
- Name (in UPPER CASE and bold looks best), email
address, phone number (cell phone with caution) - Permanent/local address
- No job objectives
9Resume Heading with two addresses
ELLEN MEAGHLER Current Address
emeaghler_at_law.harvard.edu Permanent
Address 10 Holmes Hall
125 East 78th Street Cambridge, MA
02138
New York, NY 94110
(617) 495-6478
(212) 648-0537
10Resume Education
- List school, city and state
- Indicate degree expected and graduation date
(month and year) - List most advanced degrees first
- List joint degrees separately
- List study abroad separately or within undergrad
section (space dependent) - Thesis Not necessary, but be prepared to
discuss! - Omit LSAT, GPA (some exceptions) and high school
information
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12Sample Study Abroad
13Honors
- List in order of selectivity within individual
schools - Separate subsection for each degree
- May need to drop some if they take up too much
space - Describe honor if not obvious (e.g. Rose Prize
for Best English Paper)
14Activities
- List under individual school
- Memberships
- Elected offices
- Sports
- Journal participation and leadership roles
- Format Name of organization, followed by role
(e.g. BLSA, Vice-President for Membership)
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16Resume Experience
- Reverse chronological order
- Any substantive work includes volunteer and
clinical experience usually all in one section - Proportional length
- Vary language
- Use dynamic descriptions
- Action verbs, short sentences
- Paragraph form or bullets
- Titles
- Dates consistent format
- 2 jobs at one place or 2 titles at the same place
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18SETH D. COHEN 6034 HLS Holmes Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 495-8721
scohen_at_law.harvard.edu___________________________
__________________________________________________
____________________
- EDUCATION
- Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA
- Candidate for J.D., June 2008
- Activities Harvard Negotiation Law Review,
Subciter - Harvard Journal of Law Public Policy, Subciter
- Law School Council, Section Representative
- Duke University, Durham, NC
- B.A., cum laude in Political Science, Minor in
Psychology, May 2005 - Honors Golden Key National Honor Society
- Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor
Society) - Activities Senator, Student Government
Association - Student Counselor, Duke Pre-Law Advising Center
- Assistant Sports Editor, The Chronicle
-
- EXPERIENCE
- Dallas Environmental Neighborhood Network,
Dallas, TX
19- Eliza Doolittle
- 1234 HLS Holmes Mail Center Cambridge, MA 02138
617-876-5432 eliza_at_jd10.law.harvard.edu - EXPERIENCE
- Bingham, McCutchen LLP, Boston, MA
- Summer Associate, June 2008 August 2008
- Researched and drafted legal memoranda regarding
rights of shareholders in derivative suit and
anti-competition clause in executive employment
contract. Reviewed documents in antitrust
litigation and observed motion argument in the
case. - State Senator Henry Higgins, Annapolis, MD
- Legislative Assistant, September 2006 June
2007 - Researched and drafted reports regarding issues
of environmental safety, including analysis of
Clean Air Act, state land conservation issues
and Chesapeake Bay run-offs. Drafted college
intern training manual. Attended sessions of the
legislature. - Hartford, Hereford Hampshire, P.A., Silver
Springs, MD - Legal Assistant, September 2005 August 2006
- Provided administrative and paralegal support
for small litigation firm. Organized document
productions, court filings and case files.
Organized exhibits for employment discrimination
trial. Drafted correspondence to clients and
opposing counsel regarding cases.
20Resume Other information to include
- Foreign language(s)
- Military service
- Publications - use bluebook form
- Exceptional technical skills, if relevant
- Community service
- Professional license(s)
- Interests/activities
21 - Josephine Kale
- 6 HLS Holmes Mail Center
- 22 River Street, Cambridge, MA 02140
- (617) 442-3744
- jkale_at_gmail.com
-
- LANGUAGES
- Finnish (native), English (fluent), Swedish
(proficient), Chinese (conversant), German
(reading knowledge), French (working knowledge) - PUBLICATIONS
- Note, Womens Legal Rights in the Surrogacy
Debate, 34 Harvard Womens Law Journal, 351
(2005) - The Right to Development, 26 International
Journal of Refugee Law 160 (2003)
22Resume Sensitive Issues
- Political affiliation
- Religious beliefs
- Sexual orientation
-
23Resume Review Service
OCS - reviewed during session OPIA -
reviewed before appointment - Resume
Drop-Off Service (lt5 days) - Format the
resume first!
24Cover Letter Basics
- Accompanies your resume in targeted
mailings/applications - First writing sample and impression
- Identify appropriate hiring contact
- Never write Sir or Madam - use specific name
- Bond or plain paper
- PERSUASIVE by highlighting strengths,
accomplishments and transferable skills - Do not reiterate your resume
- Tailor skills to employers needs
- Conclusive follow-up
- Proofread sign the letter!
25Cover Letter Structure/Overview
- One page
- Must personalize content to the job
- 3 paragraphs minimum
- Paragraph 1-Introduction
- Paragraph 2-Substance
- Paragraph 3-Closing
-
26Cover Letter Structure
- Introductory Paragraph
- Who you are and what you are seeking
- Referrals/reason for interest
- If unpaid volunteer
27Cover Letter Structure (example)
28Cover Letter Structure
- Middle Paragraph(s)
- Set forth reasons they should hire you
- Highlight your strengths, transferable skills,
qualifications interests - Specific examples of relevant experiences are
persuasive
29Cover Letter Structure
Example of Middle Paragraphs
30Structure (cont.)
- Closing Paragraph
- Indicate when you will call
- Provide contact and relevant information for
follow up - Thank the employer
- Note Further details on cover letters may be
found in - -OPIA Job Search Guides
- -OPIA Website
- -OCS Website
31 Sample Closing Paragraph
32Conveying Your Application Packet
- Either email or snail mail are fine.
- Email is most effective for
- Capitol Hill
- International Employers
- If you do use email
- - DONT put cover letter into text of email
- include both cover letter and resume,
plus any supplemental materials, as
separate attachments. - - PDF Format - best to prevent formatting
changes. However, some public sector
employers might not be able to open PDFs. Ask
them in advance. - - Microsoft Word - if this is your only
option, acknowledge that formatting may
be thrown off and follow-up with a hard
copy.
33List of References
- When to provide
- Separate reference sheet
- Choose 3 - 5 references
- Former employers
- Professors - law/undergrad
- NOT family or personal friends
- Some can be non-legal
- Request permission
- Forward resume/explain job search
34YOUR NAMEStreet Address City, State ZIP
Telephone Number
- REFERENCES
- Name, Title (General format)
- Company Name
- Company Address (City, State)
- Telephone Number and email
- Relationship to you
- John Smith, Weld Professor of Constitutional Law
(Example 1) - Harvard Law School
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- (617) 495-1234 jsmith_at_law.harvard.edu
- Relationship First-year Law Professor
- Raymond Howard, Esq., Partner (Example 2)
- Sachs, Firth and Avon
- New York, New York
- (212) 345-6789 howard_at_sachs.com
- Relationship Supervisor/Mentor
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36Writing Sample
- Analytical
- Short memo or brief
- Work performed for employer
- Request permission
- Protect confidentiality
- Usually 5-10 pages
- Cover sheet w/context and contact info
- Comment and error-free
- Copy paper is fine
37Conclusion
- OPIA
- www.law.harvard.edu/current/careers/opia/
- OCS
- www.law.harvard.edu/ocs/