Application Packets

Career Service Categories:

Resume

You found a job posting and now you are going to apply; however, the application takes forever. Applications will become faster and easier if you already have the key components ready. As a rule of thumb, it is normal for a student to spend 2 hours on an application. Please budget your time accordingly. If you are taking less time, then you are probably submitting applications with errors. Typos on the job in the healthcare field cause significant problems. The application process is part of the assessment of whether you will be a good fit for the organization and typos would be a red flag, so please review your work before you submit. Your application packet will be reviewed to make sure that you are thorough and detailed.

Many companies will ask that you fill out an application on their website. You will create a username and password. Because you may be asked to submit additional documentation or proceed through the hiring process online, it is a good idea to keep an excel sheet or other record of usernames, passwords as well as job descriptions. It is recommended that you save it as a .pdf file because content on the internet can disappear in an instant, which normally happens when the company has reached the interview stage since the company is no longer seeking applicants. When you save the job description, you can reference it before the interview, during the interview and after!

Your chosen job posting has been carefully written Human Resources and your future supervisor. The words were carefully chosen to portray what are the essential job duties and the employer’s values. The first “person” to review your application is actually not a person. Human resources will program key words found in the job description to search the applications and find the top candidates who had the most amount of key words. This can be a daunting task because how can you know what these words are? WSU pays for a virtual intelligence service called ResumeWorded where you can upload the job description and upload your resume. Artificial intelligence will review both and make recommendations on what words need to be included to receive an interview. Once you update your resume to match the employer, it is recommended that you include the resume’s changes inside the application as well. By law, applications are the only required document that an employer has to review. For more information on what to include in a Resume, please visit here: Resume Writing Guide (pdf) OR visit here for more information on different resume formats and to view sample resumes: Sample Resumes (pdf)

Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)

It is also advisable to maintain a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.), which means “Course of Life.” This is significantly more detailed and includes everything that you have ever done. In essence, it is a summary of your professional portfolio. For more information on writing a CV, please visit here: Curriculum Vitae (pdf)

Read more about the differences between a Resume and C.V.: Curriculum Vitae vs Resume

Cover Letters

Although cover letters may not be required in the application instructions, it is still a good idea to write a cover letter because the letter ensures that your application packet will be directed to the correct person. We also like to show off that you can write professional correspondence. It’s an art that not everyone is confident in. Check out WSU’s school of business’s guidelines: Sample Cover Letter (pdf)

References

Applications may ask for your references up front or the interviewer will ask for professional references after the interview. Why not take a step more and get letters of recommendations from your contacts? This helps save the employer time and helps give them a starting ground when they reach out to your contacts. Professional references can be former or current contacts in your life: supervisors, co-workers, students in group projects together, professors, internship coordinators. Feel free to reach out and test the waters before the employer asks for contacts.