Resume and Cover Letter Critique Guidelines
On the bottom half of the page are some direct questions that you should try to cover during your critique. But first, here are some general techniques that you may find helpful:
Read through the cover letter and resume once BEFORE the writer says anything about it. Try to decide what "argument" or "angle" the writer is trying to use. Identify particular lines that contribute to this argument. Tell the writer what you're noticing: “In your third sentence, you seem to be emphasizing your ability to….”
Think in terms of four types of revision: Adding, Subtracting, Replacing, and Reordering.
DON'T BE SHY! Shyness is not a virtue in peer critique. Employers are very aggressive readers; your job is to prepare these documents for an aggressive reader.
Put yourself in the position of a smart but busy employer who needs to read this job package quickly. Particularly with the resume, view the document in addition to reading it. What sections draw your gaze? These should be the most important parts of the resume. If this isn't the case, discuss how the important parts can become more visible.
Put yourself in the writer's shoes. Given what you know about the writer's situation, what different approaches would you try?
A.Resumes:
1.First, look at the resume and decide what it emphasizes. Do the "squint test" to decide what's most prominent. Can you tell what specific credentials the writer is making on the basis of this resume?
2.Read through the cover letter. Based on the resume and cover letter, determine what qualities this job seems to require. (To put it another way: what two or three things is the writer trying to prove?)
3.Evaluate the other information on the resume. For each piece of information in the resume, decide whether it's worth the space it takes up. Think in terms of Adding, Substracting, Replacing,Reordering.
4.What are writer's best qualifications, or "selling points," and are these points given prominence? How?
B.Cover Letters:
5.Now, check to see how well the cover letter fits with the resume (and vice versa). Identify the two or three specific claims that the writer is trying to prove. Do these claims draw upon the most prominent elements of the resume? If not, discuss the discrepancy between the letter’s emphasis and the resume’s emphasis.
6.How fully are each of the writer's stated characteristics supported with direct evidence? How can these characteristics be strengthened?
7.Evaluate the "readability" of the cover letter, starting with high-order concerns: Does the opening paragraph announce the writer's objective? Does it introduce the writer's major appeal as a candidate? Do the body paragraphs focus on specific, well-chosen claims? Does the letter use clear transitions? Does the conclusion courteously invite the reader to contact the candidate? (Generally: Is it a well-strategized letter?)
8.Also evaluate the letter's style: are the sentences correct and appealing? Does the letter use vivid, expressive words (without going "over the top")? Is the tone appropriately formal without being stuffy? Is the writing concise? Look for places to improve sentences and strengthen word choice.